New look

I have FINALLY come up with a new style for my business cards and sites. Took long enough.
Not that I have much to promote these days.
But I am really happy with the result.
I still have to rethink my packaging...but all in good time.
I still haven't decided what to do next. I am really disheartened right now and have not much motivation for anything.

I ordered the cards from Moo. I am really pleased with the quality.

And I have also got a new look for myself. I really wanted a new pair of glasses as my previous ones kept falling apart (to the point I had a litle screwdriver in my bag). They were barely one year old and not cheap at all.
Then I heard of an online brand called Polette. They have recently opened a showroom in Brussels. and they're really cheap. I decided to give it a try.
The process is rather easy. You go to the showroom to try the frames (or you don't but I wanted to find a pair that really suits me). If you don't have a doctor prescription, they can check you eyesight there too.
Then you either order online or there.
The glasses are made in China and shipped to you. Mine took 2 weeks to arrive with the cheapest shipping method.
I am lightly near-sighted and very astygmatic and don't need special lenses.
The new pair  costs 52 euros...including shipping...when my previous pair was almost 500 euros...with supposedly thinned lenses...which I just found out is COMPLETE BULLSH*T for my prescription. The Polette lenses are not thicker NOR heavier than the supposed"fancy" lenses.
I've only had them for 2 weeks but so far I am happy. I'll probably order some sunglasses from them next.
And this is NOT a sponsored post ;)

New earrings in new shop

Some of the new earrings are now available on dinafragola.com
They are rose gold toned, with copper metallic accent. Simple but lovely.
Available in 4 colors.
I am not very happy with  the photos as for some reasons the lack of light makes it look like the black background is dusty :/  I'll have to re-shoot at some point.

Nerves

OK, all the stuff I need for my first new item line have been ordered.  The first batch of patches is being produced, I have finalized how I am going to ship them out...and now I am over anxious.
What if this idea crashes and burns like pretty much all my other plans?
My first pin design is ready, all I have to do is to send it over to the manufacturer...but all the "whatifs" are creeping in my mind...

 I ordered new paper stickers (from Vista Print)

I decided to use up all my "old" business cards before ordering new ones...just in case...

 Fingers crossed the design  comes out as vivid and cute as I envisioned it...

Lots of new items at Dina Fragola

 Lots of new items in my shops.

Etsy  ---- Dawanda ------- A little market

1. Panda and flower mismatched earrings
2  Pink and blue teddy bear earrings
3. Pink and blue bunny bells earrings
4. Geometric pattern earrings
5. Galaxy ring
6. Galaxy ring
7. Retro cat brooch
8. Retro fox brooch
9. Babushka statement necklace

Etsy is changing the shops appearance (again)...

 Well, that was bound to happen sooner or later as mobile devices are growing in numbers. The old familiar shop design no longer fits the requirements for those.
Here's a short summary of what you need to know about it...because the infos on Etsy are spread out on several different pages...

Shops banners are now called "cover photos", it is a bit like on Facebook.
You'll have 3 options:

1. Keep your old banner and your shop will look like this

   Be aware that the banner will only be visible on computer screens, not on mobile devices. Your shop will be bannerless on tablets and phones if you choose this option.

2. The new "cover photo" style.
  Your shop will look like this with the new cover photo

on a computer screen

On a tablet or phone (horizontal view)

On a tablet or phone (vertical view)
Note that the shop icon is slightly over the shop cover photo, so keep this in mind when designing your new "shop cover"

3. No cover photo. The first photos will be your listings. In my opinion this would be missing out on a branding opportunity, but some like the "down-to-business" style.

So far there's no way to check the new style in the Etsy app...currently there's no banner on the app but it seems that this will change.


Now if you decide to go for the new cover photo style here are some tips:

*  Minimum size : 1200 X 300  px
  Recommended size : 3360 X 840 px (yes, that's big)

* Don't add  your shop name UNLESS your name is also your logo (like in my case with The Captain Cosmos).
  If you go for text, keep it centered (my guess is that the cover photo sides will be cut off on the Etsy app, I may be wrong though) and big so it's still visible on mobile devices. And, as I've already written above), keep in mind that in the vertical view the shop icon covers the bottom of the "cover".

* Don't add your tag line. It wouldn't be very visible on mobiles devices + it would be redundant as it appears right under your shop name


If you are not familiar with Photoshop, Gimp or similar softwares you can use this: CANVA

Shop icons and profile photos don't change.
Shop icons are 500x500
Profile photos are 400X 400

The switch will take place on April 5, 2016