1/28/16

A Fresh New Voice

So I'm super excited to share with y'all the shake ups I've been shaking up here at fanfuldevices. (Right after we take a moment to admire this juicy-ass necklace right here. Damn.)
Luminous Night.  Rustic assemblage necklace with polymer clay and rainbow Aura pyrite crystal. 
Luminous Night.
If you go to my shop's about page, shop announcement and listings, you're going to hear a whole new voice from what I used before. Basically, my girl Penny of SparrowSalvage is helping me meld together the spaz I am here with the pretentious, autistic, minimalist, I-don't-know-what voice I was using in my shop.

Even my section names are just straight forwards now. And instead of coming up with clever quotes and stuff for the listings, I'm focused more on describing each element in detail, much more like I sometimes do here, really letting out my excitement for each piece. Telling its story and showing it off more.
Bluebell’s Ring. Primitive assemblage necklace with roman glass and found objects. 
Bluebell’s Ring. 
Like here, that ring is torch enamel from RomAntiqueSoul- isn't it awesome? The dangle on the left I made in collaboration with shipwreckdandy, isn't that awesome? All the links are soldered together and everything glows- isn't it awesome?


Basically streamlined everything to be more SEO friendly (like she specifically told me which tags to use) and just more... me.  Sister Moon. Mixed media lariat necklace with antique coin and pyrite crystal beads. 
Sister Moon.
And the photos! She's been helping me a lot with those too. As you can see- sexy new background. I had an old printer's tray that I washed in black acrylic and voila, problem solved. (Although thank you Kirsten Jakobsen for suggesting slate in the comments section. I actually had a big slab of slate somewhere and that would be a really good background.)



Also been learning from Sparrow not to obsess over tiny little flecks and stuff. Like here, above, that big scratch mark in the middle of the necklace would've driven me crazy before and I would've spent ten minutes getting rid of it. Now I'm letting it be. Though I still obsess over tiny white flecks that appear everywhere I photograph but I'm trying to get over it.

←Check it, I used one of my faux druzies here and idk, I think it looks awesome.Chronos. Found object necklace with beach pottery and artisan beads. Rustic assemblage jewelry.
Chronos.
She's also advised me to take bigger pictures, which meant getting a memory card for my camera for the first time ever, like a grown up.

And now my images are big enough to print into a book or pamphlet or portfolio if I ever wanted to do that.

Tectonic. Tribal assemblage bracelet with antique buttons and artisan beads. Primitive mixed media jewelry.
Tectonic. 
[Check out this freaking bracelet though. Kuchi between two crocheted connectors by shipwreckdandy, wow. Also, vintage button solder-pinned (I made up that term) to textured copper. Double wow. Ancient archeological find button clasp. I really like how this turned out I don't know if you can tell.]

Golden Roses. Rustic statement earrings with vintage tin and gold leaf - primitive artisan jewelry. 
Golden Roses.
I even got a mouse after struggling with that damned track pad for months, and I purchased the latest version of Photoshop Elements. Not that I think 14 is a huge improvement over the version 6 I was using, but my version wasn't very happy in the new computer and kept shutting down.
Addendum. Artisan earrings with polymer clay art beads and ancient Roman glass.  
Addendum.
PHEW! Like, this is my career and I'm not poor so it's time to loosen the immigrant-raised-by-socialists pursestrings and buy some basic stuff, sheesh.
Clay Underfoot. Rustic artisan earrings with polymer clay art beadsin soft mauve.  
Clay Underfoot.
In that vein, I'm going to be making all sterling silver ear wires now cuz why not. L'oreal tells me I'm worth it. I got a load of 21 gauge sterling eye pins to give myself a head start on that.
Sky Fire. Victorian tribal rustic fringe earrings with hammered hoops and vintage stone. Assemblage jewelry.
Sky Fire.
Though I haven't set it up yet, I'm going to make an option using the etsy 'variations' feature where you can switch out the lever backs to sterling hooks for an additional maybe $4 or so.Havisham. Statement caged faux pearl earrings. Mixed media assemblage jewelry. Vintage baroque glass pearls.
Havisham.
Should I just oxidize everything or make oxidizing an option?
Frostfell. Primitive caged pearl earrings. Mixed media assemblage jewelry. Vintage baroque glass pearls.
Frostfell.
Nah, screw it. You come to fanci D's, you be ready for some oxidized metals, son. (I'd like to see the day when I address potential buyers as "son" in my listing descriptions.*guffaw*)
Blazing Unnatural Light. Victorian tribal assemblage necklace.
Blazing Unnatural Light.
Oh so another thing I did is to re-take a lot of pictures using the new background and more help from Sparrow.
Crepuscule. Grey stone choker necklace. 
Crepuscule.
Cuz people need to know how freakin' pretty my makies are.
Brume. Victorian tribal asymmetrical assemblage clip on earrings in rustic grey.
Brume.
Especically the stuff in my last batch with that awful rubber mat background. I need to retake all of those.
Euphonia. Artisan lariat necklace with vintage beads and sea pottery in blue, green, and white. Mixed media jewelry.
Euphonia.
So far I have some done and already my shop is looking way sexier.
Sundrops. Victorian tribal assemblage earrings.
Sundrops.
Like, look at the dimension in these images.
Mask of Divinity. Earthy brown rustic assemblage bracelet with Baltic amber, Buddha and Virgin Mary..
Mask of Divinity.
Looks like you could reach right in and pick them up.
Tartarus. Rustic assemblage necklace with druzy amethyst.  
Tartarus.
I sold this one already right after updating the images. Look at this odd little creation, this little character I made. Great googly moogly I love making things.

Etsy Shop Critique - personalised etsy shop report for creative sellers who want an authentic storeSo the first step in this shop facelift was a report Sparrow made for me in which she explained exactly what I was doing right and what needed fixing and WHY. Like, why her solutions made sense. And she held my hand through the whole process.
It was so cool to have someone just tell me specifically what needed doing to take my online presence to the next level in a way that was tailored to me, to where I was, and not just general advice you get from, say, the etsy seller handbook or even courses and ebooks which you can find out there for $300-900.
Anyways, she's selling this service right here. No she hasn't asked me to promote it here, I just wanted to share, like I share everything. Now, my cheap self, this is exactly the kind of thing I would never have bought if I just saw this listing. My choice came after I realized I was so burnt out writing descriptions and she said yeah you could tell that. In the descriptions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Perry Smith and his son with an icy pigletToday in honor of Wee Wee, the piglet that was saved from a blizzard in Maryland by this nice family over the weekend, we're doing pig gifs.

Angry Birds beach swimming pig splash
Did I ever tell you guys I have a neighbor nearby who owns a pixie pig and walks it around like a dog?

And he grunts all happily and snuffles its crazy snout into your hand. He wags his tail like a dog and eating ice cream pig ice cream cone
tries to make friends with the other dogs which are sometimes terrified and sometimes don't even notice.
dog pig animal friendship shelterpig piglet
And every time I've seen him- which have been heartbreakingly few- I just sit on the ground with this stupid expression on my face as he does his grunting and snuffling and tail wagging at me, the ground, and other dogs. Just sit there until the woman is all awkwardly, "Ok, time to go back home..."

15 comments:

Anvil Artifacts said...

Your new photos are proof that Penny knows her stuff. They look fabulous! As do your new goodies. Those necklaces....yum! The printers tray background brings a richness to your pictures that really shows off the detail of your work. Great post!

PipnMolly said...

I echo Janet's comment. Fabulous. Your new about page is wonderful too.

Jennifer Valentine Morford said...

I love the new pieces, and the dark wood really looks great. What a great service SD offers. I have always admired you, so you can do no wrong anyway!

FadeandRemain said...

Sniffle, our Fanci is growing up. But in a good way. Will you still name things? There's something special about that, even if it doesn't end up in the title description. Doh, maybe I should just look at the new listings. The background looks sexy as heck (and reminds me that I have to do something about my background game. half-heartedly looking at art papers then not buying any doesn't count)

Rebecca said...

I'm sold, I've hopped over and purchased SS's critique already! It'll be good to get some outside opinion of my shop as I don't think I've ever had that, really, aside from from my wife. Hope she's kind, but not too kind, if you know what I mean! Sounds like you've had a great injection of enthusiasm and ideas and it's all looking great. I would miss the AWESOME names which you give your jewellery though. It gives them a stillness and a depth that makes me look closer at them - I dunno, I am a blog reader so maybe that doesn't translate if you're just browsing etsy, but I still think they're a great thing.

Subconscious Dad said...

While looking at your post and admiring your "fresh voice" I read the poem-piece by Russell Edson on the side panel. Has it always been there?
Anyway, it made me think of our cat Blanquito. Like the stone, we think we own him, but he owns us. We are utterly conquered by him, since the day you brought him to us from the shelter, all skinny and sick. He dominates us, who only get older.
Also, like the stone, he is asleep most of the time (we don't know what the stone does when we don't see it).
This analogy is as much a stretch as the one at the end of the poem.
Then again, I don't think I own you, and I definitely love you.

Zia said...

I love your stuff and have been enjoying both the photos and especially the descriptions (on your blog) for the last few months. But, yeah, things are looking way cooler now.
I wish I could help prove that your upgrade has improved your sales by buying something right now, but alas, I'll have to continue as a window shopper for a bit longer until I have some extra buckos for jewels.
Please never stop writing you blog because I so love your "voice"!

Beatnheart said...

your new pics looks wonderful...

I think Sparrow is offering a needed service to some people who need the help...but to
be honest, I wouldn't want to see any changes to your own brand of voice and writing style.
You don't need it...why change something that is already so personal and unique to you...You
have a special voice...i love it...and look at your sales...do you really need help?

as some wise old sage said "why fix something that ain't broken"

I am saying this in reference to your blog I guess...I'll pop by the shop to see the "new you"

signed,
Love U Just the Way U R

Alessandra said...

I think Penny is doing a fabulous job with her critiques, and yes, I definitely see the improvement on the pictures...I'm clearing out my clusterfuck of a shop at the moment...I'm transferring some items out of there and into my supply shop and taking some stuff apart that no longer voices my work...I'm even gonna rename the shop...I have more clarity now on what I need to do, and I've been needing to do it for a loooonnnggg time now! I'm gonna check out your shop to see your about page :) rock on sista!

Penelope said...

Awwww you pimped me! You precious spazz. That new background is defuckinglicious - maybe you should tell people to zoom, cause especially with those Brume earrings every time I look up close I see this luminous crusty chalky texture and the depth in the rhinestones and nom nom nom.

@beatnheart I don't want her to lose her voice! That was the catalyst for the descriptions, that she's so great in her blog but the listings were getting a bit 'whatever'. I want her listings to be as engaging to read as her blog is.

Believe me I am 100% committed to getting people's shops 100% them; the only changes I recommend are ones that help them showcase their uniqueness while at the same time improving their sales/general presence. the last thing I want is for everyone to look and sound the same, in fact that was the catalyst of my doing these services at all. Most of these teachings online are boring and strip the soul from a shop. Not on my watch!

TheEuropeanMarina said...

My dear Muse, it was great to have Penny to help you in all of the...stuff. Like you, I'm clueless, and I intend to get her help too very soon! Your about page rocks, is fresh, full of information that make the reader interested in YOU and your art, the process, the origins, so unique! Brava!
Sooo, I see I have a lot of jewelry with intriquing, crusty, delicious, black, iridescent, glorious details to gaze upon for the rest of...the night, omg, it's night here! I'd better make myself some coffeeee

Emy Watson said...

where can i buy cheap tiffany jewelry online?
indian gold jewellery

Anonymous said...

You're welcome - new background looks great, though!

And so much new awesomness......*sigh*...

Anonymous said...

Why is technology so hard for me? Trying to send you a picture!

fanciful devices said...

anonymous, send it through etsy convo