Smile at This Note

I receive so many emails and notes of praise from customers and onlookers alike and 99.999% of the things said I really don't feel worthy of , but, nevertheless, they always brighten my day.
I just wanted to share with you guys what others are saying about Morasha Jewelry.

"I saw your Star of David with whistle necklace on a treasury and was so impressed that that I had to go and immediately read your profile. What a wonderful artist you are to take things "old" and transform them into such beauty. I'll be visiting your "shop" again."

"Thanks so much for the beautiful jewelry. I was really excited to receive them, and they were just as nice as they look in the photographs. I'll be giving them as gifts to some very special people. :)"

" Im so excited to see your new stuff I just found this website and I fell in love with all your stuff!"

"WOW!!!!!! I love the conceptualization of this ring!!!!"

"I am very smitten with your work. If you are ever interested in a trade please let me know. I would jump up and down!!"

"You should know that this necklace is the reason I fell in love with etsy. Your jewelry is the stuff dreams are made of (or at least mine). It's a bit outside my price range at the moment, so I haven't had the chance to purchase anything. Just wanted to let you know that you are extremely talented."

Ok, let's do some brainstorming...
I need to come up with some sort of daily concept for this blog because the random musing that I'm doing right now just isn't enough to keep my interest. My favorite teachers in school were ones that were truely passionate about what they were doing and I am that way with my jewelry, but just not this blog. SOOOOO I need to find some passion and quick!

Here's the new schedule. I'm going to try it out for a week and then tweak it from there.
Sunday's Jesus
Monday's Website
Tuesday's Trashy Desk
Wednesday's Color
Thursday's Personal
Friday's Random
Saturday's Sweet Find

And inbetween I'll be posting the same randomness, but it'll be covered in structure. Ah, I just love structure. I would describe myself as "spontaneously structured".

In other news, I purchased an ad space in Bust magazine today. It will be in the November issue (release date Nov 25).

Stitch

I really want to learn how to sew. Growing up my mom had a sewing machine, but it was off limits to my curious hands and then, when I was finally old enough to where she would have trusted me, she sold it.
Now, I see all of these amazing handmade creations on Etsy and it's so inspiring! I want to SEW!

I stopped by Joann Fabrics today and roamed around their machines, but the cheapest was $100 and, frankly, I'm not sure if that's really a good deal for the most basic machine. I think if I'm patience I'll find a score on craigslist.
However....I did buy fabric. Hmmmm. I think I'm doing this backwards. Haha. They had a sale and I couldn't resist!

The Etsy Edit

I see more forum posts on the subject of pictures than any thing else on Etsy. It's no seller's secret that great photos can turn into great sales. But how do you get good, bright pics? I can guarantee that those big store don't just point and shoot, posting whatever their camera creates. And if they do, well, I'd like to know their camera brand. No, good pictures take just as much time in the editing room as they did to shoot.
Great photos is key to sales and great editing is key to great photos. So how? Well, first I would reccommend Photoshop to anyone. I know, the program costs an arm and a leg, but if you are serious about your business and are in it for the long haul, then I say it's more of a requirment.
Now, Photoshop can be quite scary, but, really, great pictures aren't that far away and there are only a few steps you can follow with every picture to get what you want.
And for your entertainment, I've broken it down into 13 steps!!
Sit back and hold on....

STEP ONE
Open Photoshop and open up the picture you'd like to edit. Below is the ring picture I'm going to use.


STEP TWO
Click on that little circle and then click on "LEVELS"


STEP THREE
As you see, the levels box will open. Do you see where that red arrow is? Click on that tiny white eye dropper.


STEP FOUR
Now find the whites bit in your photo, which for mine was above and to the left of the ring. And you can click all over the picture, seeing how it changes the color and brightness depending on where. Now what this is doing is tell the program what to make the whitest and basing the rest of the pictures white scale off of that. Although I didn't do it for this photo, usually I'll put something white in the corner before I take the picture and use that when building this histogram.


STEP FIVE
Now, you can move these three arrows back and forth, seeing how they change the photo. Moving the far right makes it brighter. Moving the far left, will make your photo darker. This is a great way to bring brightness and contrast. When you are satisfied click save.
Oh, and if you mess up at any point, just click cancel and don't save it, then reopen the levels and start over.


STEP SIX
Now go back to that little circle and open "Brightness and Contrast" this time.



STEP SEVEN
Move the arrows...ever so slightly...and see what happens. Now, changing the levels in STEP FIVE might make this unnecessary, but I think it's still good to know. For my photo, I actually didn't use it.


STEP EIGHT
Now onto my favorite feature....Hue and Saturation. Back to that little circle:


STEP NINE
You won't need to touch the HUE or LIGHTNESS arrows, but you can still move them around to see what they do. The important one is Saturation. This arrow will brighten up your dull colored photo or dull it down.
Try moving it all the way to the left and see how your photo becomes black and white. Now move it to the right. This feature can easily be over done, so use it wisely. Too much saturation will miss lead your buyers or just look weird and cheap.
Because of the type of jewelry I sell, I actually enjoy muting my colors slightly, giving it a smooth, old-world feel, but most will want to highlight them.


STEP TEN
Open IMAGES on the top and click IMAGE SIZE.


STEP ELEVEN
Etsy requires your images to be 1000 pixels or smaller, so we need to shrink the picture to fit.
See where my arrow is? Whatever is the larger number, change it to 1000 and the other will automatically be changed too. Now save.



STEP TWELVE
Go back to the top and click on FILE and then SAVE AS.


STEP THIRTEEN
Last step!! Chose where on your computer you want to store it, name your file and VERY IMPORTANT...change it to a JPG or JPEG. Etsy doesn't accept Photoshop files. (Your picture might automatically say JPG and then you don't need to)


CONGRATS!!
Ok, let's see again my before and after pic:

I've been featured in a few shops by some really lovely people. Just another reason I am so thankful for Etsy and the great community it creates.

Sweet Figments
Mary and Bob's Journal

Check them out and support the bloggers!

This move to Portland is turning out to be much more complicated than I expected. Both of the people who initially were moving (and begged me to join) are now pulling out. Well, sort of. One, can't move till spring of next year and he was meant to be the one getting the apartment/home. The other has now changed her moving date to the middle of November. I have to move by the middle of October and, frankly, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I don't want to make a rash, last minute decision and just move anywhere, but what choices are there really?
Ugh. Life. Complexity.

Impulse

I am such an impulse buyer. While looking for pictures for a treasury I was creating on Etsy, I found this new artist, jybfashion. And as a result, bought this dress....

FP

I was recently featured on the Front Page again in a beautiful treasury...

Featured

I'm featured on a blog...check it out!
http://www.inspirationblog.nl/

OK, it's official...I'm really bad at this blog thing. Maybe if I didn't spend all my time on facebook!

I just got back from a GREAT vacation to New Jersey. My days were spent relaxing at the beach, strolling NYC, jamming at a John Mayer concert, and watching fireworks over the ocean. Yep, amazing. I feel most at home in Jersey even though I haven't really lived there in nearly 4 years. I was just good to drive on roads so familiar.

John Mayer is singing tunes in the background.



On our way to the concert.


Jonathan, Tristan and I went to NYC one day. Tristan has this thing where she has to take pictures by graffiti everywhere she goes, so Jon took a few shots.


At night on the Brooklyn Bridge


Tristan and Jon




I literally just got back a week ago and I'm already leaving again. Thursday I head out to LA for a swing dancing camp. Yes, they do exist. I've actually never been to one, so I'm pretty stoked. I'll have tons of photos of that too.


I came across a new website yesterday after reading an Etsy post about it...
www.postcrossing.com
So, pretty much the coolest thing EVER. I just bought old school magic eye postcards (yeah, remember those?) and I'm anxious to get my first penpal postcards out.

I am floored by some the amazing artist there are on Etsy. I seriously reccommend that you take time to search around there...but make sure you check out mine too :)

So there was a forum on Etsy that asked what was the biggest compliment an artist can get and at first I answered a repeat customer (which is an AMAZING compliment), but I'm also extremely humbled when an artist that I admire buys from me.

I came across this one artist that makes beautiful victorian/vintage inspired clothing and thought, "I know I've made it when I can buy from her". Seriously beautiful stuff. And she's been my plumb line for success. BUT, a few weeks ago, she contacts me telling me how much she loves my stuff!! What a weird world. I sold her this bracelet:


What a flippin' amazing compliment!!
Now I don't know if I've "made it", but I covet this one dress she's made so much that I JUST HAVE TO HAVE IT!

So, check her out guys.....introducing BONZIE
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5104063

And here's the dress I want:

PS: She's Irish which makes her all the more better, right? I miss that lovely British country side! (And that disgusting instant coffee all you British people drink)

I organized some boxes of old things I had stored at my parents house. I found some great trinkets....
Come on, any one of you would have pranced around in that wedding dress if you had the house to yourself too! I can't believe I actually still fit into it.
Now there's honesty! Haha.

Starbucks and Beads

I'm sitting at my home-away-from-home, Starbucks. Is it really surprising that this is where I find the most solitude? With an "Iced Grande toffee nut x-milk Double Shot on Ice" to my right, I'm filing all my paperwork with this great new program I just bought from JJMfinance.
You can find him @ his Etsy shop, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5418829.

And as I'm plugging away, another Starbucks enthusiast sits next to me. I have yet to catch her name, but we start to chat about life, work and God. An ex-Luthern pastor gone teacher, she's expecting a baby and stopped by for a quick sugar rush hoping it will perk up the baby to show "its" true colors. (Their going to find out the sex today).

Let's see..what's new?
Well, for all my lovely New Jersey friends, I'm going to make a trip out there in the middle of July. Elena recieved John Mayer concert tickets and was so lovely to ask me to join her. A day of Mr. Mayer and Mrs. Baxter...amazing.
I didn't think I'd be able to come out with my finances being so tight lately, but I crunched some numbers and it turns out that with all my frequent flyer miles (thank you, England) it's only going to cost me $5.00!! Yeah, that's a deal.

I still haven't made a final decision on if I'm moving to Portland or not. Actually, my heart is very set on it and I'm just waiting for my pal, Tristan, to decide. Whatever I chose, I know my life is going to dramatically change in the next few months. I hope for the better.

Grace.

The Start

Well, I've not only made the big plunge in opening my Etsy shop, but I've also applied for a tax id number. If you don't know, it is telling the government, "Yes, I have a business. Yes, I'll pay the due taxes on it."
To me it means a bit more, something along the lines of "Yes, I'll spend countless hours I don't have filing papers." Dang it. Of course there are perks like I won't have to pay taxes for my supplies and I can buy wholesale...I just hate paperwork.

I also made a trip to the bank to open up a seperate account. That's where I met Brad who handled my account. He was a swell guy and made the process enjoyable. Yesterday I even recieved a little note congradulating me on my new business.

My first blog entry! I am hoping I can keep on top of this for you guys. And if you have stopped by to witness this first entry, how bout some encouragement? I haven't written for a blog since the livejournal days.

Hmmm...maybe we'll take an adventure together? What was I thinking 5 years ago on this day....

" Igrieve.
I know many peoples love will grow cold, I just didn't know it would effect me this way. So many close to me are trading in the blessings of God for the passing things of this world.It is interesting how God can continue to use these people to draw me closer to Him.
The last few weeks I've desired to know Christ more than ever before and this strong ambition can be attributed to those who have forgotten their First Love. No matter what situation I come to, I run to His throne.
I witness it and I want more of God. I see someone turn away, I'm reminded how greatful I am. I endure knowing of my foundation.I meet someone backsliddin, I am grieved and therefore pray hardcore, growing my prayer life.I WILL not give up. I will run this race. Not just trotting by, hoping that I'll make it, hoping there even is a prize, but KNOWING that I will win. As everyone slows their pace or stops not able to go on, not wanting to, I will sprint. I'm not slowing down. Even if I'm the last one in the race and sure of the victory. I will still run with all my might. There you will see me cross the finish line, recieving the crown of victory, the crown of life. "

As for my jewelry, I'm working hard trying to crunch in any designing time around my other job, Starbucks, as possible.

Grace,
Courtney