Pulp Sushi

What I Love - Reading Blogs

I mentioned on Tuesday that I'm bringing some new features to my little web home and this is the first of them - What I Love... Other blogs have their "Love" posts which I enjoy reading, but I hope to not always just share random items I wish to have. For example, my first entry of this series isn't even something tangible. Blogs!!!

I claim to be a blogaholic - just check my Google Reader.  Don't be fooled by my links page, there's a lot that I read.  Below are just a couple of blogs that I have really been enjoying and look forward to their updates. 

Mandy's blog is simply adorable and she has fantastic taste in things. Overall just a sweet and uplifting blog to read.  

Ever come across a site and ask yourself "Where have you been all my life??" I learned about Andrea and her blog through the Indie Biz 3.0 class.   Her art is pretty amazing too. I haven't swooned over someone's this much since Emily Martin (The Black Apple)

Ashley is the first person to allow me to do a guest post on their blog lol!   Another talent I met through my Indie Biz class and now I follow her everywhere.

There are a lot of food blogs out there, but the photos and easy to follow instructions on Stephanie's site keeps me coming back for more.

Now you have some new reading material!  Do you have any blogs suggestions I can check out?

 

Indie Biz Recap - Week 4

Is it really week 4 already? Holy moly!  The time is flying and the reading and reading and reading is tiresome but still a lot of fun.  I am pretty fortunate that I can actually keep up with the lessons while at work and during my daily commute.  Plus I don't have any children to take care of.  I don't know how others can do it.  I'm tired!

Here's my latest Style Portfolio.  I've been thinking about these colors a lot lately. I would like to make something combining the two.  

The big thing I took away this week is my blog.  I'm always trying to figure out ways to make my blog better and hopefully have people come back.  I don't want it to just be shop updates and treasuries. I've tried things in the past but I never kept up with them.  I have a different mindset now in my approach to blogging and I'm going to be implementing some changes.   First, I had to clean some things up.  That's why I moved my links to a separate page and I deleted some of my Categories. So yes, changes starting later this week! 

I also put together a small Wholesale/Consignment binder.  One of my goals for this year was to get into more local businesses. So far I've only added one but it's still only March.  I do need to keep better track of what I'm sending where and what's selling. 

 
Every time I sit down on the couch in my livingroom, I look at my work space. It's a messy corner. It doesn't help that there was a Hoarders marathon on recently that I just got sucked in to.  That show makes me want to throw out everything I own. Anyway, I do need to go through it and straighten it up a little.  I wish I had my own separate room for Pulp Sushi but for now it's just a corner of the livingroom. At least I can make it more pleasing to the eye. What's your workspace like?

New This Week

I am SUPER excited to present all of my latest items this week.  Here is why....

Blue Flower Brooch will be the first of I hope many brooches coming to the shop.   This kind of happened as a fluke, it was originally going to be another necklace but then something in my head said "Sweater!!!!!" and I thought brooch.  Yeah, my mind works like that sometimes.

I love how the colors in the Sangria necklace came out.  My boyfriend cast and painted the flower, I put it together.  Plus I just find that to be a sexy shade of red.  Like something Audrey Horne from Twin Peaks would wear. I was totally channeling her. 

Last, in the spirit of Summer (I know we just got into Spring!) are my Rainbow earrings.  Although now that I think about it, the colors also make me think of a hot air balloon.

I really like the size of these beads and I wanted to use them in something else other than on a necklace. And I wanted to make something with lots of color in it.

Friday Treasuries 3.25

Here are some more treasuries I wanted to share for this week. I have to admit, I did not really start getting into treasuries until last year. Before that, it was such a rarity that I was ever included in one. I think as I started to do more of them, others would find me that way and return the favor. I just think they're so neat and a nice way to promote which is why I continue to post these every week. I do hope you check them out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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RIP Liz

I was a little bummed out when I heard that Elizabeth Taylor passed away early this morning. I know she has been sick for a while but she was one of those figures who you sorta felt like would be around forever. I put a tribute treasury together for her.

 

I spent a good part of the morning looking at older pictures of her. She was a beauty and style icon.

 

 

Indie Biz Recap - Week 3

A lot of cosmetic talk this week, meaning appearances from a window display to photography.  I must say my photography has come a long way since I started my Etsy shop.

I can't believe I had any sales at all with pictures like that, they kind of make me cringe now lol!  While the camera I've been using for the last couple of years have done the job, I dream of getting something like this...

 

I have a Nikon SLR that I have loved for many years but it is not a Nikon and I have not touched it in a couple of years since switching to digital.  Of course a camera would like this is surely a great investment but I am almost afraid of plunking down that much money on an item.

I learned about the website Colour Lovers which is a nice resource especially if you like to work with a lot of colors.  Here are some palettes I created.

Color by COLOURlovers

Color by COLOURlovers

I don't know how much time I will spend here but it's a nice site to play around with especially if you feel like you've hit a wall and need some inspiration.  Speaking of inspiration, I was at a newstand recently and noticed Katy Perry on the cover of Elle magazine and wearing an interesting combo of colors. So I made another Style Portfolio out of it.

Last, if you want to check out some of my talented classmates, a directory has been put together with all of our links, you can check it out and click away: Indie Biz 3.0 Classmates

Hello Spring!

Spring is finally here officially and it's pretty darn chilly out! As much as I love my coat, I'm ready to wear something a little lighter.  And I will try to ignore what appears to be snowflakes mixed in with the rain we're having today.   If I see that Groundhog, I'm gonna kick his little booty!

Here's what I added to the shop over the weekend. Click on images to go to the item on Etsy.

I made a pair of those earrings for myself. Wore them to work last Friday, I actually have a top that works with these earrings perfectly so I'm pretty happy about that. It was completely unplanned. The bracelet was fun to make. I have not made a charm bracelet in a long time.  I generally don't like making bracelets because I worry about the length all of the time. But this one was made entirely of jumprings, I can adjust the length easily.  I just went through my stash of red charms and went nuts!

Friday Treasuries

Another Friday is upon us and I'm happy to share some more treasuries I was a part of this past week.  So bright and cheerful!  We all could use a bit of cheer.  Please click on the images for a closer look and to check out the other great items.  

 

 

This treasury made the Etsy front page around 2:00 AM (EST) this morning - gained a lot more faves. Nice to wake up to. :)

 

Yay Sunday marks the first day of Spring! It's been real Winter but it's time for you to go. I almost welcome my allergies at this point....almost. Have a nice weekend!

Midweek Update

Happy St Patrick's Day!  How do I celebrate? I stayed the heck home! Yeah I did not want to deal with public transportation today.  Which leaves me hanging out at home sharing some more new items with you.  More necklaces!

I would like to share one photo from when I went to Ireland back in 2003. I still think about that trip. It is a beautiful country and I hope to go back.

Indie Biz Recap - week 2

Today I'm bringing another progress update on the Indie Biz class.  

I purchased this book, Style Statement: Live by Your Own Design .  It was  recommended by another student during a discussion on constructing your style. It's not so much as a business book as it is a lifestyle book.  It helps you define what your style is in two words. 

This has been a pretty introspective week.  We're really digging deep and learning more about what exactly makes us tick, strengths, weaknesses, habits, traits, etc.  It's really interesting putting all of that into perspective on how to approach running your business.  A lot of it makes sense when you think about it.

Back to the Pulp Sushi name issue, I'm sticking with it. It's been reaffirmed that I am heading in the right direction and that Pulp Sushi is a fresh and fun sounding name.  I have thought of ANOTHER name for another project I'm starting to work on.  Before I found out I needed open-heart surgery last Summer, I was toying around with the idea of opening a shop.  That had to get put on hold until now.  Some of my ideas have changed slightly but I still want to work on another business in addition to Pulp Sushi, crazy right? I know!!!

So the pieces of my wacky business adventure puzzle continue to come together.  Despite any setbacks, I'm gonna keep on truckin'. 

Here's another set for the Style Portfolio.

The latest @ Pulp Sushi

I've been busy....

Pink Lemonade

Grape Drop Bouquet Necklace

Candy Apple Green Flowers

Black & Red Falling Heart earrings

More items to be added later this week.  Sorry for the image heavy post, I don't have much to share today as I had a very low key weekend - just out to dinner Saturday night.  

There are some behind the scenes things going on that I'm dying to share but I'm holding off because I'm pretty superstitious and I'm afraid of jinxing anything. :)

Friday Treasuries?

I don't know if this is a new weekly tradition I'm starting (maybe? I hope so) but last Friday I shared some treasuries my shop was in. I thought it would be nice if I did it again today.  C & C!! (click & comment)

Red Velvet (YUM!!!!)

Spring Optimists

INSPIRED

95 % of CURCUMIN

I have a lot of product photos to take and edit this weekend so expect to see a few new items in the Etsy shop next week. Have a nice weekend!

Me & a monkey!

My Indie Biz classmate Louana from Eleventh Monkey has featured me on her blog yesterday and I had such a good time answering her questions. You can check it out by clicking here.  This is such a fun, bright, cheerful blog, I'm happy to have a small part of it. :)

 
Tomorrow is Friday! Trying so hard to hang in there just one more day.   Doesn't help that today is raining and gloomy.  I'm gonna move extra slow today.  One more thing, my Formspring has been moved to my About Me page in case you want to throw any questions at me.

Indie Biz Week 1

It has been exactly one week since the Indie Business class has begun and my brain is already fried lol!  It's been a while since I've taken any kind of class and I forgot just how challening an online class can be.  Very heavy on the reading but I'm doing my best to stay on top of things. 

I have to say that this class so far has exceeded my expectations.  It has given me so much to think about and also helped  bring some order to the thoughts and ideas I have in my head.  See I'm taking this class not just for my Etsy shop but for new business ideas I've been thinking about and serious about pursuing. 

It's made me think about the Pulp Sushi name more.  I really like the name and I've been using it for almost five years now.   I wonder sometimes if it's too far "out there" or is it possible to associate the name with playful, pretty jewelry?  I'd hate to change it. It's not like when you think about 'Apple' you think about apples, you'll probably think about sleek white computers and iPods. I still have a lot to learn and think about.

I started a Flickr set as a visual journal for this course, I already shared my binder pictures with you last week. Here's some more images I've uploaded since then, they also include Style Portfolios I created on Polyvore.

Swimming In Beads

In case you missed it, I added some new items this past weekend.

Carnival Hairpin Set
Wildberry Bouquet Necklace
Kiwi Strawberry Bouquet Necklace
White Butterfly & Rose Necklace

I really wish I could add items throughout the week but the way my schedule is set up, it is so hard for me to work on stuff when I come home from work because I'm so tired. Plus it is hard for me to duplicate natural lighting so the only time I can actually experience that light at home is during the weekend, sad isn't it?

There as a Bead Expo just down the street this past weekend and boy did I stock up!  The last time I went to this show a year ago was a bit traumatizing but this year was much more pleasant.  There seem to have been less people there this year. I don't know if it is a reflection of the economy, less people are making jewelry because they can't afford the hobby? I don't know but I did find some pretty lovely beads that I like working with (more jade & pearl beads) and some other findings.  Plus you get super good deals at these things as oppose to going to a bead shop or ordering online.

Treasury Love

Another Friday is upon us and I eagerly await the weekend.  There is a Bead Expo going on just down the street this weekend so I will be there hoping to stock up on some pretty beads and other supplies.  I'll try to keep my cool too as sometimes the people who go to these things have no manners - hate to say it.  They have no problem bumping into you and keep walking or reach over you as if you're not standing there looking at something. No manners I tells ya! But I don't want to turn this into a gripe post.  /rant

I wanted to share some cool Etsy treasuries I'm happy to be included in. Hope you'll check them out (click & comment).

 

 Havea  good weekend!

Indie Business Binder

I am not into Scrapbooking (paper or digital). I do appreciate the thought and time people put into them. It is a total reflection of who they are and their personality.  It just was never something that interest me.

The Indie Business class I signed up for officially started yesterday. It's kind of crazy because for a couple of weeks now, everyone has been chit chatting in the Student Lounge on Flickr and having some great discussions.  I can already tell that signing up for this class was a good investment. It helps when you take it with others who are super enthusiastic about it.

One of the things I did this past weekend was make my Indie Biz binder look all nice and pretty.   This is probably the closest I will ever come to scrapbooking...

I am ready to get down to business! I'm happy with how my binder looks, of course some of my classmate's binders look like brilliant pieces of art!

Example 1
Example 2
Example 3

Good thing I had a bunch of cardstock on hand.  Each Subject tab is a different design, some of which you see as part of the cover.  I will be taking all of notes in this binder and make it all messy and crazy, just like in High School. I already have completed my first assignment and my first page is already messy with notes and scribble.

Are you taking the class? What do you think so far? I'd love to hear from you!

Pink & Purple

I have not made an Etsy Treasury since the beginning of the month. Sometimes I run out of ideas or an idea comes out of left field. Yesterday I made a treasury inspired by the dress I was wearing.  Yes that's the Ladies Room at work.

  

It's one of my favorite dresses, vintage from the 70s I think.  This is what I came up with. Hope you'll check it out.

Now I'm in the mood for a grape Now & Later candy, who's with me??