Thursday, July 15, 2010

CPR---a demo video to save someone's life


How to perform CPR if someone collapses. Many people are afraid to act because they worry they may worsen a person's condition. Don't wait, just do it!
They don't teach the breathing part anymore nowadays. You just do very fast chest compressions until an ambulance arrives.
Step 1. Call 911
Step 2. Fast chest compressions one hand linked over the other in the middle of the breastbone.

HUGE Christmas in July Sale! 20% OFF

See how HAPPY I am!! That's because I am one of approximately 750 etsy sellers who are having a "Christmas in July" SALE from July 15th through July 31, ending at midnight PST.

I have already adjusted most tags and take the 20% off, but I got tired of doing it. So there's still a little over 1 page that I did not change.

If you buy something that has not been tagged "christmasinjuly" then I will refund the difference within that day. So don't worry!

Now's a time to get some great deals.

If you're getting married and have spent $1000 to $2000 for a wedding dress, why buy an inexpensive factory made veil and fascinator when you can get a beautiful, quality handmade one that looks professional in every way. Buy handmade!



Wednesday, July 14, 2010

From my friend--Hilarious!

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.15am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Poster

Hi I opened the screen door yesterday and my cat got out and has been missing since then so I was wondering if you are not to busy you could make a poster for me. It has to be A4 and I will photocopy it and put it around my suburb this afternoon.

This is the only photo of her I have .
She answers to the name Missy and is black and white and about 8 months old. Missing on Harper street and my phone number.


Thanks Shan.




From: David Thorn
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.26am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,

That is shocking news. Luckily I was sitting down when I read your email and not half way up a ladder or tree. How are you holding up? I am surprised you managed to attend work at all what with thinking about Missy out there cold, frightened and alone... possibly lying on the side of the road, her back legs squashed by a vehicle, calling out "Shannon, where are you?"

Although I have two clients expecting completed work this afternoon, I will, of course, drop everything and do whatever it takes to facilitate the speedy return of Missy.

Regards, David.



From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.37am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Poster

yeah ok thanks. I know you dont like cats but I am really worried about mine. I have to leave at 1pm today.



From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.17am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,

I never said I don't like cats. Attached poster as requested.Regards, David.




From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.24am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah thats not what I was looking for at all. it looks like a movie and how come the photo of Missy is so small?





From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.28am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,

It's a design thing. The cat is lost in the negative space.

Regards, David.





From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.33am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Thats just stupid. Can you do it properly please? I am extremely emotional over this and was up all night in tears. you seem to think it is funny. Can you make the photo bigger please and fix the text and do it in colour please.

Thanks.





From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.46am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,

I have amended and attached the poster as per your instructions.

Regards, David.







From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.59am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

This is worse than the other one. can you make it so it shows the whole photo of Missy and delete the stupid text that says missing missy off it? I just want it to say lost.





From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.14am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster








From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.21am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah can you do the poster or not? I just want a photo and the word lost and the telephone number and when and where she was lost and her name. Not like a movie poster or anything stupid. I have to leave early today. If it was your cat I would help you.

Thanks.






From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.32am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Awww

Dear Shannon,

I don't have a cat. I have attached the amended version of your poster as per your detailed instructions.

Regards, David.




From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.47am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Awww

Thats not my cat. where did you get that picture from? That cat is orange. I gave you a photo of my cat.



From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.58am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Awww

I know, but that one is cute. As Missy has quite possibly met any one of several violent ends, it is possible you might get a better cat out of this. If anybody calls and says "I haven't seen your orange cat but I did find a black and white one with its hind legs run over by a car", do you want it? You can politely decline and save yourself a costly veterinarian bill.


Regards, David.



From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.07pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Aww

Please just use the photo I gave you.



From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.22pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww






From: Shannon Walkley
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww



I didnt say there was a reward. I dont have $2000 dollars. What did you even put that there for? Apart from that it is perfect can you please remove the reward bit.


Thanks Shan.


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.42pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww






From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.51pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Can you just please take the reward bit off altogether? I have to leave in ten minutes and I still have to make photocopies of it.



From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.56pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww




From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 1.03pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww


Fine. That will have to do.

How to Store and Organize cats!

My little sis sent me this--soo cute!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Easy Peasy Photoshop tips anyone can use!


(My first abstract, hanging in my dad's house--his photo)
So photoshop is pretty complicated and there are all sorts of things you can do with it.But if you don't want to take a class, there is a VERY EASY way to get the most out of your photos. It's very simple.

Using the "image" tab.

With the "image" tab, you can:

1. Brighten your photos
2. Color correct if they are too blue, too yellow, etc.
3. Make a color pic into a black and white photo
4. Saturate your colors so they really popThere are more things you can do with the image tab, but I will just stick with the basics.

--------------------
Go to adobe photoshop
click "file"
click"open" and choose a pic.

Now you have your pic and it's time to start fixing it.

A. To brighten your pics:

There are two options: "levels" or "auto levels"

1. Click "image' tab
2. Click "adjust"
3. "Click "auto levels". If you don't like the look of it, click" edit" and "undo" (that's how you can always go back a step)
4. If you want to try the manual one, click "levels".A little box will pop up with 3 arrows. Slide the arrow on the right side until your pic is bright enough.

You will see a HUGE difference in your pic.

----------------
B. Color correction:

1. Click the "file" tab and "open" and choose a pic.
2. Click the "image" tab.
3. click "adjust"
4. click "color balance"a little box will pop up. If there is too much blue, slide the arrow on the yellow side. Add red and yellow if you want good skin tones.

Red will warm up a pic. Blue will make a pic colder.

-----------------

C. Make a color pic into black and white:

1. click "file"
2. click "open" and choose your pic
3. click the "image" tab
4. click "adjust"
5. click "desaturate"

That's it! Your pic will now be black and white.

--------------------

D. Saturate your colors to make them pop!

1. click "file"
2. click "open" and choose a pic
3. click the "image" tab
4. click "adjust"
5. click "hue/ saturation"
6. Slide the middle arrow until your pic is colorful and bright.

-----------------------That's it! You'll have great pics!*don't forget, if there is anything you do not like, click the "edit" tab and click "undo"

Good luck!

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Etsy is NOT for bargain basement goods.

Handmade is worth more. It's made by one artist, with two hands. We are not able to take advantage of true wholesale prices when buying supplies for our creations because we're just small indie companies and cannot afford to buy huge bulk orders.

I have always felt, even before I joined etsy, that handmade goods could be found in specialty boutiques and I was always willing to pay a higher price, as I felt they are more valuable than massed produced goods, especially a handknit sweater.

Judging by what people request on alchemy, it seems "handmade education" is not very widespread. Many will ask for a copy of a big box store item or designer couture, saying it's way out of their budget, so they came to etsy to get a cheap price!

One etsian said she read on a bridal site that etsy has the rep of cheap prices. People wrote in to go there to get a cheap wedding dress---ugh!

Etsy seems to have aquired this bad rep and I am not sure why. But as long as sellers are willing to bid on very low prices on alchemy, and not even cover their cost in materials, let alone receiving any sort of profit, this mindset is here to stay.

Helful Business Sites:

These are places I have found useful:

Advertise a giveaway on:
http://indiesmiles.com
http://byhand.me/
http://etsygiveaways.blogspot.com/
http://soapdelinews.blogspot.com/

http://socialmention.com/ See who is blogging about you

http://whois.com/ owner name, address, and other info about a website

http://rtisan.blogspot.com/ Blog and website ranker from 1 to 10 (scroll down a ways on left side) and
list of PR etsians who promote for a fee

http://www.wikio.com/blogs/top/beauty Top beauty blogs

http://youtube.com/ tutorials on crafts

http://www.fiverr.com/ a place where people will do odd jobs for $5 for you, like twitter about your shop, etc.

http://efreeme.com/ a free site to list and sell

http://esellerads.com/report.php?key=1a00ba2476c09d20be8d49b8855a4c04 free ads for your facebook, blog, etc.

http://spypig.com/ free email tracking

http://spypig.com/ IP address tracker