Memorial Day Sale

I am offering free shipping at my on line store for the remainder of May in honor or those who have served our nation. http://www.lilypadfashions.com

You can not open a conversation about national service without encountering issues of conscience, duty, liberty, violence vs non violence, etc. Regardless of one's personal values and ideals, those who serve America do so at the direction of the leader of the country.

Growing up in a Marine Corp family, I am all to familiar with the cost the service member and their loved ones endure. I saw a bit on ABS news last week about a camp program for service members children, to help them express their feelings, and heal their wounds. I was happy and proud to see that we as a society have grown in our understanding and willingness to support the military family, as well as the service member.

If you know a service member 's family please hug them for me and then again for yourself.
Together we evolve and grow, hopefully in love and kindness.

Other Blog Too

Happy Saturday I wanted to be sure to post here that I have an additional blog:
Lily Pad Boutique Lily Pad Fashions, and I hope you will visit it as well.
My most recent post over there is about sharing our knowledge with others in business. Hope you hop on over to it.
Jacqueline Lunger
www.lilypadfashions.com

Progress Underway

Welcome to new beginnings and increased beauty in the world and in your own life as well.

Saturn turns direct today, May 2, 2008. It's long retrograde has kept us churning in our old issues, ones we thought we were free of. Perhaps now we truly have healed old wounds and let go of what must pass away. We are able to see more clearly.

With the month's New Moon coming up Monday, May 5th, we are asked to prepare ourselves to enjoy expansion as we sow new seeds. What do you wish to create this time?
Keep in mind this which is so true "as you sow, so shall you reap".

Sale in Progress

Memorial Day Sale in Progress to be followed by Father's Day Sale beginning June 8th. Free Shipping for both events.

Amazon Guidelines for Photographing Jewelry

I'm still struggling with the shiny object photos inspite of all the effort and assistance I've had recently. I went to see what else I could find that might improve my results and here it is:
Amazon States:
Jewelry Image and Data Guidelines
Image Format, Size, and Type Guidelines

Images must be border-free and on a white background.
Images must not include text, typeset, or your company watermark.
Products must be recognizable, in focus, well lit, and occupy 80%-90% of the image area.
Items must be outside any packaging, shrink-wrap or any type of display
No models wearing products.
The entire product must be depicted in the image – no part of the product can be cropped out.
Minimum acceptable size is 72 dpi @ 500 pixels on the longest dimension.
Maximum acceptable size is 300 dpi @ 2100 pixels on the longest dimension.
Images must be .JPG files.

Hopefully this will be just the knowledge it takes to improve my pics. A friend who is very creative and resourceful suggested placing a piece of non glare glass in front of the subject. That will be my next plan of attact if the above doesn't help.
I'm open to other suggestions so please post your methods here.

Better Photos of Shiny Stuff

Out of learning the hard way, in frustration with multiple redos, comes a desire to share knowledge gained with others.
It's challenging to get good photos when shooting shiny objects, like jewelry.
Here are some pointers I gathered talking with those who do it pretty well:
1)Turn off your flash
2)No sunlight needed
3)Use Overhead lighting directly above the item, but not too much
4)Use a non glare surface and background
5)Shoot at an angle
6)Take many, many pictures, some will be better than others.
7)Use rechargeable batteries
8)Use a tripod to hold the camera still
Try different things and share the good results here.

Russian Nesting Dolls 5 blue

The Lily Pad Boutique in Wagglepop.com just listed this wonderful set of wooden carved nesting dolls made in Russian. They are hand made and signed by the artist. A rare find and a good price too. I know they are also selling a larger set in purple.

NEWS: Wagglepop.com is having a 99 cent sale the whole month of April. Lily Pad Boutique will have at least 10 itens per week listed for 99 cents during the month of April.

If you know of any other good shopping deals on the horizon feel free to post here.