I'm jealous, I admit it

Yes, I am a jealous girl. Why you ask? I see photo upon photo of bright, colorful craft studios that make my mouth salivate and it punches me in the gut a little bit. Why can't I have that too?


Like, I just love the eclectic/fancy/colorama atmosphere of Boopsie Daisy's workspace!


The colors, paper lanterns, gingham and warmness inspire me in Jenny B Allsorts space


The girly vibe and color pink make me swoon (along with that chair!) in the Cupcakery Girl's studio.


I love the simplicity and muted colors in Somethings Hiding Here's studio. So clean and refreshing.


The milkglass organization in Peptogirl's studio mixes new and vintage and I just love that.

It's not to say that I can't have it, I just have to make it happen. Yep, I'm one of those people you see on those shows like Clean House where people have to come in and overhaul the space. Now, now. Not always (currently my living room, kitchen, and dining room are somewhat clean), but I have yet to attack my office. It just seems soooo overwhelming to me. Always have. All the little embellishments, paper scraps, documentation, photo frames...everything makes my head spin. So you want to know what my space has going for it...do you really? I seriously can't believe I'm showing this, but here goes:


So, there's really not much excuse. I am renting, so I can't paint and I think a splash of color and more permanence would inspire me to shape it up more. This room has actually become more of a catchall room than anything. Does anyone else have a room like this that they are totally embarrassed over or is is just me and my extreme sloppiness?

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

3 Thrift Store Revamps I just love!

I'm always trying to find a way to create something from very little. I think true innovation in crafting is found when you find a way to get a high end look from very simple materials. Today, I thought I'd share three ideas that just WOW me in their simplicity and beauty.


I just love this revamped old painting from Design Sponge that makes something unnattractive very sophisticated and cool! You could total use Tulip® Soft Paint (perfect for canvas) to paint over a giant canvas that you purchase at the Goodwill or Salvation Army. Actually, I was in the Salvation Army a few weeks ago (I actually think they have cheaper stuff than Goodwill) and there was a gigantic 60" canvas just like this for only $8 bucks! I can't say that this idea would fit into my current décor, but perhaps in the future I will need to visit this idea!


These thrift store plate mirrors from Craftynest are so fabulous and so easy to make! If you didn't like the color of a plate set, you could totally spray paint it a solid color as well. I love that it's as simple as gluing one thing to another! How easy is that?


I am enamored with this decopauged bunny from A Soft Place to Land. It seems that we all have knick knacks that are tired and boring. I just love that you can make them look like a clean and classic or alter mixed media piece with tissue paper, collage papers, or fabrics! Along the lines of this idea, we created some for the iLoveToCreate booth using Collage Pauge Instant Decopauge™ (that's a cat I Collage Pauged below...the dots are tissue paper cut with a paper punch). Cheryl Ball decopauged a dog figurine for the show using fabric and it looked just as cool! On a somewhat related note, hop over and read how she upgraded a necklace with nail polish. I saw it today in person and it totally wowed me! You have to go see here. I love colored enamel soooo much.



Hope you found these revamped ideas inspiring. What thrify projects have you seen that totally blew you away?

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

30 reasons you may be a Flickr addict

Sometimes I get on random creative kicks and today was one of those days! Inspired by Vickie Howell's iLoveToCreate post, I wrote up this blog post for the iLoveToCreate blog and I wanted to do one for my Flickr friends to enjoy as well. Below is a list of 30 reasons you may be a Flickr addict. I'm assuming some of you guys aren't totally aware of Flickr, but it is where all my photos I post on my blog are housed and it also is a social media venue where I've made friends all over the world! It's a really cool way to meet people and connect with other photographers who share my same style, profession, views, etc. I mean, there's a Girl with Glasses group! That fits me to a T! By the way, the photo above is of me wearing buttons in the color of the Flickr logo. If you weren't an avid Flickr user, you prob. wouldn't understand it, thus why I compiled this list! So now...onto the show!



30 Reasons you may be a Flickr addict...

1. You check your Flickr account at least 10 times a day to see if you have any new comments.

2. You see people and places in public that you would like to "fave".

3. The screen "Hold your clicks a moment...Flickr has hiccups. We are looking into the problem right now." sends you into a state of panic.

4. You have ever attended a local Flickr walk on multiple occasions.

5. You are closer with your Flickr friends than you are with your real life friends.

6. Your real life friends don't know the secrets you tell to your "Only friends can see this" group.

7. You put your photo in more than 5 groups in the hopes that it will make "Explore".

8. You tag your photo with naughty tags just so it gets more views.

9. When you meet your Flickr friends in real life, you refer to them by their Flickr screen name.

10. You would rather stay in on a Saturday night and surf your Flickr contacts over going out with friends to a dinner and a movie.

11. You and the Flickr contacts you do know gossip about other Flickr contacts that you have.

12. You have to sneak to check your stream when you are around your friends and family and when they realize you are gone, they ask, "Are you on Flickr again?"

13. You have www.bighugelabs.com's Scout page bookmarked and you visit it every day to see if any of your photos have made Explore.

14. Depression sets in if you spend several hours hours color correcting an image only to find it gets little to no comments.

15. Your self esteem plummets or excels based on the number of faves your photos get.

16. You take photos of certain subject matters (candy, shoes, feet) or do special effects like HDR on your photos because you know it will be more likely to make Explore.

17. You feel really guilty if you go a few days without replying to comments or commenting on your Flickr friends pages. ( www.flickr.com/photos/garris this is for you)

18. You actually fill out Flickr testimonials for your contacts.

19. You actually participate and follow the rules in the Post 1, Comment 2 photo groups.

20. If someone mentions the phrase "365", "100 strangers", "What's in my bag?", etc. you immediately know what they mean.

21. You've upgraded your camera to impress your Flickr friends (or I guess you could just want to take better photos).

22. You have put yourself in a law-breaking, death defying situation just so you could get the "shot" that's going to get your photo noticed on Flickr.

23. You've ever created your own off the wall/niché Flickr group and you administer it religiously and hold the members by strict guidelines.

24. If you meet a fellow photographer, the first thing you ask is "Are you on Flickr?"

25. You actually welcome bad clipart and twinkly graphics because it means more hits to your photo.

26. You actually research/google ways to get more of your photos into Explore (ex. posting at certain peak hours).

27. When you go on vacation, you forego staying at a hotel, opting to spend the night with your Flickr friends instead.

28. You have a Flickr twin(s) or soulmate that likes everything you like and shares your same sensibilities, profession, beliefs. You know that if you met in person, you would be best friends (mine are www.flickr.com/photos/starrdesign/ & www.flickr.com/photos/peptogirl/

29. You send your other Flickr friends actual snail mail filled with goodies cause you know they'll like it and also photograph it and share it with others.

30. Your goal in life is for you photo to be featured on the Flickr home page (that is, if they ever do change the ones that have been up there forever).

And now a few Flickr tidbits (for all my non-Flickr friends)

– What is Explore you ask? Read about it on Big Huge Lab's FAQ section. There's some simple,common language explanations for Scout (the program that lets you know if you made the Flickr Explore pages) as well.

– If you really want a full rundown of Flickr, visit their help section and get schooled. Like most programs, it's the type of thing, you need to go play around with, upload, and then research to get a full grasp of.

How do I use Flickr?

– I love using it for trend/idea research. For example, look at these amazing photos that popped up when I typed in "Craft + Supplies" in the search engine. If you're into fashion, for example, you may be inspired by Flickr groups like Wardrobe Remix.

– I love getting inspiration from there. If I were to do an engagement photo session, I would research photo ideas before I go out in the field. Check out the amazing ones I found in a simple search.

– It's great photo storage. Admittedly, I don't save every photo I take on my hard drive or a disk, but Flickr backs up my photos and stores them if I need them. My stream goes back almost 2 and a half years now, so I know where to go if I need to find a photo I took on the fly.

– As a graphic designer, there are so many times when I use a photo blown up in the background for texture and appeal. If I need something red for example, I simply search in my archives for a red image to use. I don't always find exactly what I need, but it's there as a possibility if I need it!

Do you love Flickr and have a "You might be a flickr addict" comment to add? Post it below!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Swell goes to Savannah and Tybee Island

Sorry peeps for not letting you know of my weeklong (actually more than that) hiatus. I had a busy week, some visitors, and then a trip with the fam. I went to Tybee Island/Savannah! That's my nephews and niece above on the shore trying to save their pool they dug out of the sand. Unfortunately, it couldn't be saved (I did try to forewarn them though).

I've never been to Tybee Island before and it was really nice. My favorite part of the trip was actually a camera-less time. We went walking at night on the beach in search of crabs...we found a few shells, styrofoam, plastic bottles, and soggy potato chips, but no crabs. Oh, well. It was fun walking in the almost complete darkness next to the waves. I've never walked by the beach at night. It was really peaceful!

One of my favorite photos I took was this one of my niece. We took some family portraits and I always to shoot her too, cause she's so darn photogenic.



Other things I did? I had a seafood dinner at the Crab Shack (it's on Tybee and sooo good...you have to go if your in the neighborhood), went shopping with my sis in the quaint stores that downtown Savannah has to offer, walked with the fam up and down River Street, and went on a ghost walk (cough, cough, it was kinda a waste of $16). Oh well, it was all fun and I had a great time. Our condo was super nice and everything was laid back. I needed it!

Check out all my photos from my trip on my flickr stream. I took a bunch more that I will upload tomorrow. I just like to edit and color correct all my photos before I process them.

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Crafty Blogger Links!

Check out what the crafty bloggers are up to this week!

About Family Crafts
I need your help! Be the first to submit a photo of this completed craft and be featured on the Family Crafts site!

Aileen's Musings
Your help is needed...Please take a moment to help make a difference We have a chance to get our ovarian cancer charity project on the cover of a northern CA magazine. Your vote is needed! The project benefits the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Deadline for voting is July 23rd so hurry and cast your vote!

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
Alexa shares the mental process behind creating a post on her swell craft blog

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside's got a how-to's on bleaching photos and juxtaposing images, a mixed-media journal out of a wide variety of recycled materials and a video with Scatha G. Allison where she shows the incredible designs from her book Jean Therapy. Be sure to answer the day's questions to be entered to win a free book!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Have you thought about taking your craft hobby to a different level? Tammy has some thoughts to consider before crossing over the hobby/professional line.

CraftyPod
SisterDiane is thrilled to unveil her new ebook, Weaving Un-Loomed: Simple Ways to Weave Cool Things.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Have fun trying out these new free Candlewicking patterns Connie's sharing. If you use one, send in a photo to show it off!

Mixed Media Artist
Using two very different book pages, you can create a found poem for an altered book...or just because!

Naughty Secretary Club
Jen shares clever and crafty uses for suitcases that have nothing to do with holding clothing. Side tables, laptop cases and portable craft studios oh my!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Drink Mermaids take the plunge into some silver paint and get transformed into some swimmingly fun necklaces inspired by the wonderfully innovative book- A Charming Exchange.

The Artful Crafter
Eileen shows you how to make a multi-strand fiber bracelet.

The Crochet Dude
Drew reviews the new Simplicty Rotary Cutting Maching - offers up a free crocheted project using fabric strips - and he's giving away a Rotary Cutting Machine to one lucky commenter!

The Impatient Crafter
Madge shows you how to make a quick and easy Altered Chinese Paper Lantern in her first post on Kid/Teen Crafts for I Love to Create!

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love
Check out Vickie's free pattern for a knitted lace, iPhone cozy!

I heart postcards!

These are postcards from a set from the Museum of Modern Art and I just love them. I love modern art much more than ancient art. It's so much more colorful, kitschy, and expressive. I quickly laid these postcards out and now I realize I picked the most risque of the bunch to showcase in the front. Eh, I think I'll leave it. Anyway, I have never been to go to MOMA (I did go to the MET once), but one of these days, I want to take a day trip to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, since it is only 3 or so hours away from me! Part of the reasons I want to go to them is for the fab gift shops. I'm pretty certain this is where this postcard set was purchased for me (I'm pretty sure by my friend Steve :) Anyway, I'd love to do a creative project with them one of these days and put them on display. It's so sad they sit in a bin most days, not getting to be enjoyed? Do you have any cool ideas for them?

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

The craft blog thought process

I really enjoy writing my blog and sometimes I am super, super inspired to post a new project or something cool I experienced, but there are times where (like now), it is 11:37pm on a weeknight and I have no clue what I'm going to write about for my daily blog post.

As you probably notice, I really try to come up with new content that's somewhat interesting (at least I hope it is for your sake...ha ha). When I was thinking about what I was going to do tonight, I had an idea...why don't I share with you the randomness that comes into my head when I develop a blog post (esp. a last minute one). I'm fascinated by how people formalize their ideas and how an idea gets from point a to point b...so, with that in mind, I want to share with you my thought process behind my a post...so here's the inner dialogue straight from my brain.

You are now entering Alexa's Brain

"Oh, no. I really need to think of something for my blog. What kind of project can I do in 30 minutes? Hmm...maybe I can do a post on a 30 minute craft and it become a regular feature. But what if I flake out and it doesn't become a regular feature. Ugh, I can't make a promise to do a regular feature and not pull through...I don't think I'm going to do that.

Hmm...hey, I could do a contest and give away some fun stuff from my craft stash. Let's see...I have this charm, a cool goblin bead, and let's see, I have some paper clips. Ugh, I can't give away paper clips. That's dumb. OK, I do have this tin. I could fill it with beads, charms, and stickers.



But I kinda like it. I don't want to give it away. Um, and I don't know if I would ship it right away. I'm going on vacation and it would be several weeks till I would get around to mailing it out. Ugh, can't do that idea.

Hey, what project do I have around that I could post. Let's see...oh, there's that Creative Techniques project I did...people prob. won't remember it, but I don't want to have to go and find the instructions in my e-mail. That would take longer than rewriting them from scratch. Can't do that one. Oh, wait...I do have this John Mayer frame. It has a cool technique on it...



But I don't really like John Mayer like I used to. He's too Hollywood now and not as cool. I guess it looks cool and that they are my own photos that I burned on the frame, but I don't want to have to write instructions and think of how to explain it.

OK, let's see...hmm, there's that vase of colorful buttons I could blog about...



Um, yeah, it's a vase of buttons. That will make for a real exciting read!

Hey, what about if I show off the project that I created just for my blog? I've been waiting to feature it...



Ugh, but I'm not entirely finished with it and again, I'd have to write instructions. I don't want to be up for an hour and a half finishing it and writing instructions too.

I'm at a total loss. I don't know what the heck to blog about that people actually will want to read about...hey (looking down next to keyboard), I could do something cool with this measuring tape. It would make a super cool vase or bracelet or something.



I don't have a surface to start with. Hmm, I need to go to plan Z."

Wait, why don't I do a blog about how I decide how I choose what to blog...yeah, I think I'll do that. That won't take too long and it will be easy to write. I'll just snap a few pics and I'll be done in no time. Yeah, I'll think I'll do that.

You are now exiting Alexa's Brain

Hope that made sense and was somewhat easy to follow. I've never been one to be perfect about grammatical phrasing. I need to study up.

Hope you enjoyed this little venture inside my head and thinking up a crafty blog post. I promise, it's not always this hard or this much of a stretch. Some days it just comes, other days it is a little harder, but it's all worth it. I do enjoy it.

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Living the colorful life

I love color. I really do. I wanted to share a few things in my life that inspire me with popping color! First off, the photo above is a detail of some stacking boxes I bought at Ikea. They break down to fit into one small round box; however, I like to display them stacked. Actually, they are like 2 feet tall if you stacked them from top to bottom, but realistically, that's just not going to work. It falls over in an instant. I use these little boxes to store small trinkets and embellishments for crafting.


Love this little colander I picked up at Michaels for only $2 in the value section. Thought I would spice it up with some multi-colored buttons.


Love these trays I bought for 68¢ a couple years back. I actually use the pink one for a paint palette, but I actually own more than this. I have an idea in the back of my head that I want to do down the road with these fun little trays!


These little umbrellas were a major steal at the local antique store. I got them for a $1! I want to make something with them...the inspiration just hasn't hit yet.


Oh, yeah, I'm totally pimping myself out above. These are my colorful button rings. Buttons are just so much fun to photograph! I never get tired of looking through a boxful or bowlful of bottons, don't you. A couple of rings are posted on my Etsy shop. Check them out here.

Well, going to head off to bed. Hope you have a great Wednesday!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

My niceness pays off!

If you know me in person, you know that I'm generally a pretty nice, tolerant person. Some may say a little "too nice". What does "too nice" mean? Well, I think it means that I could be swayed (Yes, I did buy the lotion from the lotion guy in the mall once...I honestly hate admitting it). I don't like to hurt peoples feelings and I'm also not one for a major conflict, so I don't generally sweat the small stuff.

Today, however, I really felt a need to stand up for myself over a very small issue. This past week, someone has parked 3 times in my parking spot here at my apartment complex. It's not that it's a great or close spot to my apartment, but a lot of it is just principle and the fact that having to park elsewhere takes me more time to get around and is much less convenient.

So, you know what I did? I wrote the driver this little note...



I'm sure I could have got mad, complained, and have been rude or have been a bit more stern...but perhaps they didn't realize they were taking my spot. When I first moved in, I didn't realize it and accidentally parked in somebody's spot. Also, I wrote the note cause I could have called security and dealt with it that way; however, I feel like, just like if you are blasting your music...wouldn't you rather be approached nicely by a neighbor rather than have the security guard show up to scold you? Anyway, that is what I did.

Well, I had to run out to the drugstore 30 or so minutes afterward, and I totally noticed the dude walking to his card and picking up the note from under the windshield wiper. Not one for conflict, I ducked behind a car. How lame is that? I'm pretty sure he didn't see me. I then ran back inside for a bit. I had no clue what I would say to him. Ha ha.

Well, I did go back out and go to the drugstore and you know what? When I got back, his car was moved to the visitor area! I guess my note worked. Well, for tonight atleast...who knows...he may be back in my spot tomorrow, but I think he got the point.

So, is there a better way you think you would have handled it?

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Getting back in the groove

First off, I want to thank all of you guys who left me sweet and kind thoughts through the passing of my grandmother. The funeral wasn't quite as hard as I thought it would be, mainly because it was lighthearted like my grandmother and more a celebration of her life. Just up until a week before her passing, she was playing cards with her buddies and going bingo-ing, so she knew how to break loose and have a good time her way before she passed and isn't that what we all want when we leave this earth? I'm glad she left in a dignified way and her quality of life didn't take a turn for the worse before she died.

I wanted to share with you a doll I found in her things that I played with as a kid. It's crazy, but I hadn't seen this doll in 25+ years. It was stowed away in her cedar chest. Isn't it weird when you have a connection with something, forget about it, and then rediscover it again? It is such a cool feeling! I tried to photo process it in Photoshop a retro way. I think I achieved it, but there's a lot to learn. I'm always fascinated how people have an eye for giving old vintage looks to photos.



I went through a lot of her things in her trailer. She actually had moved there 7-8 months ago, so when she moved, she purged a LOT of things, which was good. It wasn't as weird going through her trailer, cause I had more of an attachment to the house she lived in for 30+ years. I did keep some neat things that my mom is shipping out to me. I'm not one of those crystal/china people. I'd rather have things that have more a sentimental value or appealed to me as a child. To me, it's not really about expensive material things.

Anyway, hope you had a great weekend and have a great week!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

To Grandmother's house I go...

This is one of my favorite pictures of me and my Grandmother. It was from my first overnight visit with her. She told me that my mom and dad were certain they were going to have to wake up in the middle of the night and get me, but they were wrong. I slept the whole night without waking up or getting homesick. I think that was little bit of my independence at a young age showing through.

My grandmother drove a big brown Ford LTD. It was HUGE...and I mean HUGE. Def. a lot safer car than the cars they have today.

I remember my grandmother always being very proud of whatever she was growing. She had huge elephant ear plants and tomatoes in her garden.

She loved her game shows! I remember many days spent watching Joker's Wild, $25,000 Pyramid, Name that Tune, and many more (I think they used to come on USA or TBS during the day back before the Game Show Network). She was also a Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy watcher as well. Another one I remember getting a kick watching with her was "Hoosier Millionaire". That was a very low-budget lottery game show that was fun to watch.

My grandmother smoked for 50+ years, but kicked the habit 10 years ago, pretty much cold turkey. I don't know how she did it, but I was really, really proud of her.

She was the most organized person I knew...a gene which was passed on to my Dad. Somehow it missed me and my brother...I'm not exactly sure why. She had a place for anything and everything. I always really admired how she took a lot of pride in her home and took care of her things. It's something I should strive more for.

There's certain things your grandma's cook that take the cake and for me it was my grandmother's pot roast and potatoes. She also made a mean BLT as well as egg over easy. There was something very magical about the way she made toast that I've never really achieved in my adult life. I know that sounds silly, but I think maybe it was just better because my Grandmother made it. I don't know.

If you can't tell, I'm going to miss her very much. She was very special to me and gave me unconditional love.

Until next time Swellions.

Alexa

Repost: Wednesday is Lensday: Changes

Here's a post from last year where I talk about my grandmother moving from her house. I'm very glad that I documented my memories and have them to keep. If you haven't captured memories of your childhood home, favorite toys, people you love, I suggest you do so. Especially today in our digital world, it is very easy to capture moments/feelings/personal memories that you hold near your heart. Maybe you want to keep them as memories, and that is fine too, it's just nice that I have these to look back at and possibly share in the future if I want to.


From the post "Wednesday is Lensday" on 8/6/08

I discovered yesterday that my grandmother is moving out of her house that's she's lived in forever (ever since I've been on earth). She seems ok with the move actually. She realizes she is getting older and needs more assistance than she used to. Also, the upkeep on her place is getting hard for her to do. She recently had to pour a lot of money into a new furnace and air conditioner. And the move will be easier on her and my folks. She's going to live just below them on their property.

I guess the whole thing about it is that with her changing locations, I realize a lot of things about myself...that I must face the inevitable...death of her, death of my family, death of myself. And that things are changing around me whether I like them or not. Life just evolves like that. I just always liked the feeling I had when I went to her house and enjoyed my memories there. I think it makes me sad to know that a lot of those days are behind me. It's not to say that good, new memories aren't ahead of me and that my life, too, will evolve...it's just hard saying goodbye to phases/things/loved ones and the reality that goes with it.

The last few times I visited her, I took a few pictures here and there of her place. I knew that it was only a matter of time before things would change and I wanted to have those memories documented...here's just a few of my favorite things from her house that I cherished and loved about it.


Faded portraits on the wall...that's me on the right and my big brother Charles on the left.


Here's the scale in her bathroom. I always liked it even as a kid...prob. cause of the retro graphic.


Here's her percolater and her stainless steel backsplash.


Here's a detail of her Stained Glass window on her front door.


Her junk drawer...always with Juicy Fruit waiting just for me and my brother!!


I always loved that dog on that chain link fence gate.

Spending time with Grandmother

This is a little drawing I did in 3rd grade about my Grandmother and me. I think the assignment was to do a drawing about a family member or someone you liked to spend time with.

I chose my grandmother. Going to her house was always a treat for me as a kid. It was the typical kid experience of getting away with what you didn't get to do at home. She always stocked the house with junk food (Cheetos, ice cream, soda, etc.) and I always knew I could watch TV as much as I wanted and she would never object. The only times I generally had to watch what she wanted was when I flipped past bowling (she loved watching bowling) or an old movie was on. I think I liked going there mainly cause I got my way and got to feel special.

She would take me out to eat, we would buy lottery tickets and scratch them, and she would take me to the mall and occasionally buy me a few things. I think with me being her only granddaughter, she wanted to do what would make me happy and cater to me. That was always her way with everyone. She was very welcoming to her guests and their needs. She wanted everyone to be happy.

This past year, she moved from her home to a trailer on my parents' property. I felt very sad about this, knowing that the end was near. It happened a lot sooner than I expected, but I'm glad that she's at peace now. I will always look back fondly on our special times together and how she cared so very much for me.

Until next time Swellions.

Alexa

Another beautiful portrait of my grandmother

This photo and the one in yesterday's post were taken about 7 years apart, but it's obvious that she changed a lot during that time. Her face was thinner here and she had the '40's slim eyebrows. She looks very glamourous here, even though I know she didn't lead an incredibly glamourous life.

My grandmother had a couple jobs that I'm certain of. First off, she was a beautician and had her own shop. I believe it was called "Opal's Beauty Shop" or the like. She did many a permanents in her day. After that, she worked on the factory line at Westinghouse, a light bulb manufacturer. She retired there in the early 80's. I know she was a very dedicated and hard worker and valued employee.

Until next time Swellions.

Alexa

One of my favorite things

A silhouette of my grandmother and dad hand cut at Rock City in the 50's.

A tough week ahead

My grandmother passed away yesterday and I'm returning home from California to Kentucky this week for the funeral. It's going to be a tough week for me. I was my grandmother's baby, so it's going to be hard for me and the rest of my family, so please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

I thought I would blog about her this week (I'm actually going to post several tonight that will show up throughout the week). My blog tends to not be too emotional or personal, but I want to pay tribute to her. She was a constant in my life for 30 years and loved me unconditionally.

The photo above is from when she was 18 years old. Her name was Opal (I've always loved this name), I'm sure you would have guessed that by the signature. She gave me this photo, and another one I'll share tomorrow. I love these hand tinted photos. I don't know that many places still do this, but it is very much a treasure to me. She was a very beautiful woman with a big heart. I'm going to miss her very much.

Until next time Swellions.

Alexa

Get more for your social media mileage!

So, last night, I figured out how to link my flickr account to my twitter account. It's relatively pretty easy to do. When I posted my Flickr picture to the Twitter account, I immediately got a large handful of views to my photos as well as a lot of new Facebook comments (my Twitter is then liked to update my Facebook status). I know this may sound kinda overwhelming and confusing, but if you are on the internet a lot and are trying to build traffic and hits to your various sites, it's a great to link all your social media apps to each other. You just cover a lot more bases doing this and it saves you a lot of time and work! I thought I would share how-to's I compiled on how to do this as well as some other helpful social media streamlining articles if you are interested. There are still a lot of kinks I need to work out to streamline my web usage, but these are some great social media tools that have helped me out!

How to link your Flickr and Twitter Accounts

How to link your Twitter and Facebook Accounts

How to post to Blogger from your Iphone

And for my Etsy and crafty friends, thought you might like to check out these resourceful articles...

Twitter- Branding Your Etsy Business 140 Characters at a Time This article features some cool Twitter tools you may want to try.

How to use Flickr to get exposure in your Etsy shop

Social media articles on Handmadenews.org marketing section

Oh and I wanted to share a shoutout I got on Curbly's newsletter. It was so sweet. Check it out below!



Well, gotta get to bed. Hope you found these articles informative!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa