February 07, 2010
Inspired to Keep in Touch - The Beginner's Guide to Blogging
- Give your blog a name - fun, distinctive, whatever.
- Post regularly. It doesn't need to be often though. Readers will learn to expect your posts, say, every Monday, 3 times a week or whatever. You could even make an announcement about when you will be posting.
- Be concise. Online reading is different to reading books. People expect you to be focussed and brief. Yes, there is a place for longer posts but, in general, concentrate what you want to say into fewer words and less space than on paper. Remember too that a picture paints a thousand words.
- Learn to add proper links. Check your chosen blogging tools for 'How-To's' Don't pepper your page with links, they lose their value - chose one or two that you think make your case or point best.
- Remember that what you write is in the public domain. Your blog is a useful tool for a seller to communicate about an ArtFire shop, or the latest Etsy item or share family fun. Just remember, the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright apply online.
- Be patient. It will take time to generate views and respones on your blog. A good way to generate a bit of interest is to visit other blogs and leave comments.
- Add your blog address to your email signature. You may have your online shop address there, and adding a blog will give people a chance to find out more about you.
- If you sell, add a link on your blog such as an Etsy Mini or an Artfire Shop Window. There are a variety of shapes so you can choose the one that works best with your new blog. This way people can click straight through to your store.
January 27, 2010
Sketchbooks and Journals - Inspiration from Ineke Berlyn
January 22, 2010
BlogFire! Artfire Bloggers Celebrate Knitting
January 13, 2010
5 minute Inspiration!
- Listen to your favourite music and work with your favourite materials at the same time. Give yourself permission for some me time with no end result.
- Go to a gallery or museum. No, I mean ESPECIALLY if you don't usually go, get your butt out there and visit one. Pick a department and take a look around. If the gallery has a kids guide - buy one and use it. The kids one's do away with a lot of the grown up stuff and concentrate on spotting new things and having fun!
- Turn a picture upside down then drawn it. Think of it as shapes not 'things' and just go for it. Even if it's not like the original it may inspire you to move in a new direction.
- Turn off the TV and turn on the radio. Listen to an audio book. Concentrate on the 'listening' not the looking. While you do, have your favourite craft to hand. Relaxation and an open mind = inspiration.
- Work on being positive. How? By remembering good things people have said or written about you. Are you an online seller? Have you made sales that people loved. Go back and read their feedback and remember next time you face a tough patch that someone, somewhere has something of yours and loves it!
January 02, 2010
Hot Stuff! Inspiration Right Now!
If you sometimes find inspiration hard to come by then look into the past. If you loved History or Art then there is a good place to start. Find one thing that really appeals to you - one period of fashion, decoration, architecture or history.
Look to your own country's past, it's folklore and stories. Grab a pencil and paper, sit with your books on front of you and sketch outlines of what appeals to you. Shapes, outlines, or designs - perhaps it's the music of the period. The Jazz Age, lute music from the distant past, electric guitars. They all resonate in our hearts and memories. Try to make marks that reflect the feelings you have about these things.
No, don't worry about it being 'art' just concentrate on how it makes you feel. The important thing is not to judge at this point. The big plus is that you can use All of your feelings. After all, life can be a struggle, all is not sweetness and light - there are challenges and obstacles to overcome. Maybe this will make your art better or stronger. Before you decide if it's good or not however - put things to one side.
Sometimes thoughts feelings or emotions can be very heavy, and hard to cope with. Give them some space and, like a favourite tea, or fragrance, they develop over time to be something bigger than the sum of your feelings, thoughts and hopes. It is this step beyond that might make your idea, design or concept worth pursuing. Give every idea time and space.
Even bad times can produce good ideas - just try to keep a focus a step beyond what might be a low period. Sometimes the idea isn't fantastic BUT sometimes it really is - this takes vigilance on your part and trust in your own developing skills.
Good luck and make 2010 your new creative year.
