What Do Grown-Ups Do On a Snow Day?

If they have an etsy shop, they use the unexpected time to take photos. I have several new necklaces that I need to list and that involves taking photos. Over the years, I have tried many different backgrounds for my jewelry. I am happy with the natural stone background I have been using for a while. It has a minimalist, unfussy look that I feel compliments my jewelry designs and because it is the stone in which the railing on my small apartment balcony is embedded, it is easy for me to shoot in natural light...which definitely gives the truest colors to photos.

But my balcony now has snowdrifts 4 feet high and it will be days before I can get out there again. So, I thought I'd fool around with white backgrounds on my snow day off. I photographed two new necklaces on large pieces of white art paper on a sunny window ledge inside my apartment.

I have noticed that many etsy sellers use white backgrounds to advantage and it seems as if items on a white background are often chosen for treasuries. I must say, I'm not very happy with the results. I understand now why there are so many articles on blogs and websites about building light boxes and enhancing your photos. Even though the two necklaces were shot on the same day (5 minutes apart), the light is different in both....one too gray...one too blue and the colors of the beads are not right. I know what I have to day with the rest of my day... sweep the snow off my balcony. Maybe if I have another snow day this winter, I'll fool around with building one of those light boxes!

What Do Grown-Ups Do On Snow Days?

What do you do when you're grown up and have a snow day? I used the unexpected time off yesterday to go through my stash of vintage chains.

I found three delicate snake chains (from the 1940's probably) that I had put away because, as beautiful as they are, they could not be shortened and used in my three section necklaces. When I looked at them again and admired the workmanship again and saw how they "pool" in such a lovely way again...I just had to use them. So I came up with a new design (for me at least). I am using only the snake chain to support one section of recycled vintage beads. The necklaces are still made without clasps and slip on over the head. They are long and light like all my necklaces are and they look good worn with the beaded section centered or slightly askew.

One of the necklaces is already in my etsy shop. I called it Condiment Love because of the colors of the beads: mustard yellow, ketchup red and mayonnaise white! Someone has already marked it as a favorite. It must be person who likes to put ketchup AND mustard on hot dogs like I do!