Today is the anniversary of my first blog post. It’s almost hard to believe a whole year has come and gone. When I look at my blog archives, I am reminded of all the fun things I’ve done this year. I decided to celebrate this milestone by doing a sort of “my year in review” retrospective. Here we go, not necessarily in chronological order. Continue reading
Category Archives: Creative Journey
Moving from Weebly to WordPress
If you’re considering moving your blog from Weebly to WordPress, and you’re not a code geek, I’m here to tell you it can be scary. But, just like any kind of move, having some hired-muscle can make all the difference.
I recently transitioned my blog and the rest of my website from a Weebly platform to WordPress. I did not do it on my own. I wisely sought help from a consultant. I’ll tell you more about that in a minute. But first, let me tell you why I moved. Continue reading
On Becoming a Social [Media] Butterfly
I was always that kid reading a book while others played together. I prefer solitary pursuits like reading, baking, and making jewelry over going to parties, playing team sports, or otherwise hanging out in crowds. The only times I ever kept a journal were when it was a required assignment for class.
So, how is it that I now have profiles on all these social media sites, publish a blog, and am a member of an ever growing number of groups and teams? I blame Paisley (my creative alter ego and lovely model for my logo). She’s the emerging social butterfly who has lured me into all these interactive fora. Continue reading
Sending a Cup of Bead Soup to a New Friend
I am beyond excited to be participating for the first time in the Bead Soup Blog Party. This year is the 8th Bead Soup Blog Party hosted by the intrepid Lori Anderson of Pretty Things Blog. There are over 400 participants from across the U.S. and around the world. Each of us is partnered with another jewelry designer and will be swapping ingredients for making something marvelous, which we will then be sharing on our respective blogs later this spring. Continue reading
Celebrating My Five-Year Etsy-versary!
Five years ago today I opened a shop on Etsy. My original Etsy shop name was “Moonlighting Jewelry.”
I knew long before then that I wanted my business name to be Paisley Lizard, but making a logo that went with the name was beyond my abilities. So I went with a name even I, with my limited PhotoShop skills (and help from a more graphic savvy friend), could create a logo to represent. Continue reading
Because of My Friends
I am here, blogging, because a friend pushed me toward it. The same friend urged me to set up a shop on Etsy. (check out her Etsy shop – BleuRidgecreative) And start a Facebook page for my business. Now she has me tweeting, too. And she wants me to learn html so I can code my own webpages. (eep!)
Putting a Price on Handmade
Prices, and how to arrive at them, can be an uncomfortable topic for many artists and craftspeople. It is one of my least favorite aspects of operating a small business, right after keeping track of paperwork for taxes.
Introduction to the Paisley Lizard
Welcome to the first blog post from Paisley Lizard, my creative alter ego. I thought I’d kick off my blogging adventure by telling you my story.
I have a career in environmental compliance that followed from an education in biology, chemistry, oceanography, and wildlife management. I create things with words: policy document, environmental impact assessments, technical reports, various and assorted emails and memoranda. It’s fulfilling to contribute, in my small way, to conservation of precious marine resources. Continue reading