It's been another busy weekend (aren't they always, really?).  I did something impulsive and opened a new online store at a new site.  Similar to Etsy, I think.  Anyway I thought it might be a good idea.  The place is called ShopHandMade.com...you can see my store here: Merimask Designs.  It is sad and wee, with just two items.  I'll add more no doubt, but I want to have the stock to run both this place and my Etsy site, so I'll build it slowly.  Basically it'll be a copy of my Etsy shop, just at a new venue.

I hate change.  The new store feels all odd and clunky.  Etsy is like an old friend to me; I think I could list stuff in my sleep, there.  The SHM site is...just new.  And weird.  And not familiar.  Setting it up was scary and tedious...but then, I remember Etsy was scary at first too.   Everything is scary at first, until you get used to it.

I just thought it'd be wise not to have ALL my eggs in the "Etsy basket".  What if something happens to that site?   It's good to have a contingency plan. 

In other news; I've been getting a lot of requests for pictures of my masks with people in 'em.  Oddly, I do not have any of these!  I don't know why...I guess it's just something I never bothered to do.  Still, it's a good idea so what follows are a bunch of pictures of Charlotte wearing a few of my masks.  She very kindly offered to be my model,  'cause she has such a cute little face!  
 Steampunk mask

 

Fox mask:
 


Ginkgo Leaf mask:
 
 

Asian Cloud mask:


 
 


And there you have it!  Char deserves a hearty round of applause because it was SO COLD today and we had to take these pictures outside (of course I was outside too, so I guess I deserve applause as well).  She was a good sport though.

Back to work, here.  I have so many orders to fill & things to make!  ^_^
 

kelkyag: notched triangle signature mark in light blue on yellow (Default)

From: [personal profile] kelkyag


Charlotte in the fox mask with her bangs over the mask is totally adorable. It matches her hair nicely, too. (Custom fox masks to match hair colors ... there's a bad plan.)

From: [identity profile] merimask.livejournal.com


LOL oh no...that's actually a very GOOD idea! Hmm... ;-)

From: [identity profile] ramblingrican.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)

Nice!


That's a great idea to have a model for the masks :) And they look cuuuuuuute :D She's a great model! And yes I agree teh bangs over the mask is uber kawaaaiiii.

From: [identity profile] merimask.livejournal.com

Re: Nice!


Thanks & Char thanks you as well! ;-) Yeah, any mask with animal ears HAS to be played with, as far as hair is concerned. It's a law.

From: [identity profile] madshutterbug.livejournal.com


I shall see what I can do to help with this lack. *G* Of pictures of your masks with people in them, that is, not of cute models. Hmm... yes I believe I see a family resemblance there.

From: [identity profile] merimask.livejournal.com


Awesome! Yes, any pics you might have of people in my masks, please send links. I need to build a portfolio...

From: [identity profile] golden-meliades.livejournal.com


I might be able to get a good pic of me in the morning glory mask or the koi mask you gave me. I'm not sure because I look a little bizarre in them because my eyes fill the entire eyehole (which is a little unnerving).

Yep, just checked. The eyeholes are filled from edge to edge, lol. (Though since they are more slanted than real eyes they aren't filled top to bottom.)

You can tell they are sized for a much smaller person than me, as they don't go the full width of my face, but depending on how you position the head that doesn't necessarily need to show in the pic. So I can try to take pics of that if you want me to. :)

From: [identity profile] merimask.livejournal.com


That would be so awesome...thanks! When it comes to masks & good pictures of people in masks, practicality isn't as important as drama. ^_^

From: [identity profile] ramblinsuze.livejournal.com


Definitely a good idea to have a second shop. Etsy definitely seems to be going strong (I happened to have Martha Stewart's show running the background the other day and she mentioned it in passing, so that's pretty good press!), but share out those eggs, just in case.

I can't TELL you how much I love the pictures of Charlotte wearing the masks. First, she's utterly adorable (the fox mask shots are the cutest thing EVAR), and second, they really show off your masks perfectly. As great a job as you do with photographing the masks themselves, these photos really bring them to life. I'd hate to make more work for you, but I bet if you had an "on a person" shot for each of your masks, you'd sell even more. I know...more work. ;P

From: [identity profile] merimask.livejournal.com


It's a good idea but so far, the second shop is kind of dead. I don't think anything has quite the audience that Etsy has. If you hear of anything else that's etsy-like, let me know 'cause I'll try that too. I'm just hedging my bets here.

A sample photo of someone in each mask is a great idea...I just need a better range of models. ^_^

From: [identity profile] zannachan.livejournal.com


Oooh, I love the pictures of Char with the masks--particularly the fox with her bangs falling over it and the steam punk one. She's a great mask model.

Best of luck with the new website!

Would you mind if my brother contacted you at some point with some questions about selling stuff on line? He's been thinking about selling some jewelry he makes. He's a very talented artist--in many mediums (I'm so jealous, hee)--but he doesn't have any experience marketing.

From: [identity profile] merimask.livejournal.com


I'll be happy to help your brother. :-) I'm no good with web graphics though so he'll need to find someone who can build him a banner & an avatar for his shop. But I have plenty of tips for starting up.

From: [identity profile] golden-meliades.livejournal.com


Yep, Charlotte is definitely still cute. :)

Funny you decided to photograph on a model...I've actually been looking around for more styles of wigs and so on (and mannequin heads) so that I can take more pics of my sticks 'in hair'. People just want to see accessories like this being USED, as many can't imagine them that way without something to go by.

I'm in the middle of ten jobs, atm, lol, so I gotta get going. At least the sticks I'm working on are turning out great. That sort of makes up for my aching back...

(But chocolate would be better. I wish chocolate was a metabolism booster. I'd be so slim...)

From: [identity profile] merimask.livejournal.com


You & Char both have great big eyes...perfect for masks. :-) Me, not so much.

You sound like a busy little bee today (I know the feeling). It's good to be busy though, right?

Actually, dark chocolate is good for lots of things including metabolism and as an antioxidant and all sorts of other things. I'm just not nuts about most dark chocolate 'cause it's bitter (Dove makes a pretty good dark chocolate though...it's really sweet. Hmmmm)

From: [identity profile] golden-meliades.livejournal.com


As long as I'm not this busy for days in a row, yeah, it's good. :) I just finished making a corn-potato-ham stew-sort of dish (cooked in cheddar soup with a bit of green pepper and onion flakes) which at least was very fast...just chop the ingredients and throw them in the slow-cooker. :)

I actually think smaller eyes would look really good in masks because more of the surrounding area would show. I would LOVE a mask that fit around the eyes like a facial mask (um like a clay mask...a spa treatment, like, you know what I mean...something that doesn't actually cover any of the skin immediately around the eye, leaving you clear up to your eyebrows.) I know why you don't do that...because it takes away from the space you can actually use for the mask...but I think that would be sexiest (Well, on me, anyway. Have I ever mentioned that I look peculiarly good in facial-type masks? Imo, of course.)

I don't like dark chocolate either...it IS bitter. For me it's definitely milk chocolate. Mmmm...

From: (Anonymous)


Hi there! Taking a break from some tedious work. Yes. Charlotte does look adorable, especially in the fox mask. I'll submit a photo of me in my cat mask once I get my hand on the outfit I want to wear it with!!! LOVE Carol

From: [identity profile] merimask.livejournal.com


That would be too cool, thank you dear. ^__^ Maybe wearing a colorful red & white yukata or something like that? So adorable with that mask!

I have to say, everyone here is just plotzing over the article you wrote. My mom actually cried...
.

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