What to Wear to Work...

Smart Casual

A smart casual and comfy pulled together work week look with a little splash of pick me up color!

Longsleeve Shirts by J.Crew
Totes by J.Crew

Using the iphone for business

I love my iphone! I am not saying it is for everyone, but I personally think it makes my life much easier! I am trying to find new technologically advanced ways to jump start my jewelry business and I have found some very cool things out there to add to my business wishlist (yeah I actually have a wishlist for that too).

Taking Photos of Jewelry with an iphone 4 and Modahaus Desktop Studio

As I was browsing the web in search of tips for taking pictures of jewelry I found this site. They use this very cool desktop photostudio. I really like this idea because it can fold up and it doesn't take up space. I could take it with me when I travel and still be able to have room in my little studio room here at home. The price is not bad considering that if I use the app they suggest for my iphone ($1.99). The app is call "Camera +" and I found it quickly on itunes.  I would spend well over $300 for a new camera and a pop up tent on ebay, which is what I was considering before seeing this. Check out it out:  http://www.modahaus.com/



http://blog.modahaus.com/2011/06/20/how-to-shoot-jewellery-using-iphone-4-and-modahaus/


Credit Card Swipers

Currently researching this option to have a card reader for my iphone. This is also available for the ipad (maybe my husband will give me his ipad 2 and upgrade to another one). I plan on doing some craft fairs and possibly farmers market in future so this may come in handy. I would love to take this to the next level and I like the technological advance aspect of the card reader on the phone. I have never had a merchant use this so it would innovative and easy to use. I also like the simplicty of design. I do not want to have to purchase a cash register or use paper receipts (now I am going all green SOL). I do not have a brick and mortar store so I think that for ease of possible phone orders or internet orders this will work wonders.

ProPay

ProPay is a company I found through http://www.artfire.com/.  They have a ProPay Jak which is a small card reader that works with smart phones. They do not have a monthly subscription fee but you pay $49.95 for the card reader and you pay annual fee for the ProPay account which varies depending on which one you choose. I am looking at the pros and cons of utilizing this company because I could use it with my Artfire studio shop, but I also have an Etsy shop now.

http://www.propay.com/


Square

Square is another company who does card readers, you download the app on ipad or iphone and they send you a card reader for free. There are no hidden costs or monthly subscriptions. Even the app is free. You pay 2.75% for each card transaction. It has a very streamlined look and I like that I can get additional card readers free of charge. I found out about this one through a friend and think I may go this route since the reviews look good, but I  like to research so the hunt will go on till I am happy.

https://squareup.com/

Born Again Lace Cardigan Tutorial

The kids started school yesterday and I have been going through ratty, tattered, outgrown clothes for weeks. I came across this lovely cardigan at a school clothing swap before school ended months ago. It was free because there was a tiny hole near the tag on back. It looked as if it had been worn maybe once or twice so I could not just throw it away because of a tiny hole. Because it is still warm outside but the mornings are getting cooler, I thought it would be perfect to cut out the fabric and insert some pretty lace instead. My daughter can now layer this over a tee or tank top.

I forgot to take a picture of the sweater prior to cutting it but you get the picture. I basically just cut out the back leaving a little room for a seam and the binding on the top for neck and binding along bottom.

fig.2

I carefully cut out the lace using the cut out from the back as a pattern. Remember to leave some room for the seam. (fig. 2)

fig. 3

I pinned the lace cut out to the sweater matching up the corners and edges.

fig. 4

I used a serger to serge the seams. I find that it makes it easier, faster and a little more comfortable when wearing it.

Now you have a lovely and breezy little transition cardigan! Best part is that I only paid $2.99 for the chantilly lace and I was able to utilize something old!





Organic Chocolate Truffles

My daughter asked me to make chocolate truffles for her birthday last week. Actually she asked for "those chocolate ball things you make". Since I am moving to more and more organic foods I decided to get organic chocolate for this dessert. You can find organic chocolate at Safeway, Raley's or your local health food store. You can also find the organic heavy whipping cream, and organic butter to go all organic; although I just used what I already had.

These pair well with fresh organic strawberries and whipped cream. Another request from my youngest daughter.

Organic Chocolate Truffles


8 oz. organic semi-sweet chocolate chips or baking chocolate broken into smaller pieces.
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons Brandy (or other alcohol if)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (cut into pieces)
Cocoa powder

I melt and mix the chocolate and buter, pour in the cream, let boil. Let it sit for about 2 minutes and pour in brandy and mix well. Place in covered bowl and let set in the fridge unitl firm enough to form into balls. Using my hands (this does get messy so I normally powder my hands with the cocoa powder first) I form small balls and roll them in cocoa powder. Place them on a tray or plate and chill in fridge before serving.

My Favorite Latest Shopping Finds and Wants

What I am shopping for: 

Effortless, Classy Shorts

 J. Crew Shorts. www.jcrew.com $49.50; LC Lauren Conrad shorts. www.Stylefind.com Kohls $33.00

Classic and Comfy Espadrilles

Espadrilleshttp://www.stylefind.com/Splendid/-/1-SPLN-SAXX5329/Canvas-Espadrille-Wedge $112.00

Franco Sarto Kashmir http://piperlime.gap.com  $49.50

A Breezy Chambray Summer Dress 

The Dupont Dress. http://www.rag-bone.com $110.00 

Target is also carrying a lovely chambray dress but I was not able to locate it online so I took a picture of it in the store!  I believe it is $24.99.

Simple White Jeans

Paige Premium Denim 'Hidden Hills' Bootcut Stretch Jeans (Optic White Wash) (Petite) www.nordstrom.com $119.00 sale price.

An Academic-Minded Bag

Fine-Ruled Satchel by Anthropologie. www.anthropologie.com $268.00.

Sneak Peak of Craft Room

So here is a sneak peak of my craft room. No surprise the walls are green! I chose a lighter green for my side and a darker green for my husbands side of the room.  It is still bursting at the seams (just a little sewing humor lol..) but I am slowly unpacking the boxes and finding my lost things from the big move. I am sharing this little room with my husband so his side is very business like (that is the way my daughter has described it) with all the computers and files and my side is well kind of a mess right now but you can see more of my personality shining through each day. I was able to hang all of my husbands frames and the shelves on his side of the room today (I got tired of tripping over boxes trying to get to my desk).  My sewing machines are up and that makes me feel like making stuff. Soon this will all be organized and I will post more pictures!!

Giddy Over Organic

I picked up my share of organic vegetables and fruit from Lucero Organic Farms. I met some wonderful people like Karen (owner) who greeted me with a warm hug! I was welcomed as a new member and I was eager to see how they pack the boxes. Lucero Organic Farms is only located a few miles away from our home here in Lodi, Ca. I actually ran by it a few weeks ago with my husband and did not reailze it was an organic farm. I received a beautiful array of zucchini, squash, cucumbers, red leaf lettuce, gourmet strawberries, peaches, and the cutest little carrots!!! I set up a scheduled pick up once a week and I am so excited to get all this fresh and delicious food! I was just giddy when I arrived home with my box. It was overflowing with color! I made a refreshing salad with cucumbers, strawberries and the lettuce, and steamed squash last night to accompany our dinner. If you have a chance to get local organic food you should really give it a try. Hmmm.. think I will go make dessert now (writing about strawberries makes me hungry). ;)