It's a ...

It's that time again! Oh, yes indeed :) 

I am giving away one pink and purple rose hair crown known as "paradigm" seen here:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/97201018/wedding-flower-crown-pink-bridal-hair?ref=shop_home_active

TO ENTER:

Please comment on this blog post with your e-mail address. This is how I will contact you if you are the winner. I will not send any correspondence to the e-mail.

TO WIN:

On August 13, my 6-year-old niece, Ella, will pick a winner at random.

Good luck!!! :) 

The goose and the golden egg.

I don't know if I've written about this in the past, so if this is a repeat, feel free to click away.

What does my business name mean? Where did it come from?

I've been asked these questions a few times, but not as many as you might think with such a weird business name!

Here's the big secret: It randomly popped into my head. Not even kidding.

BUT, it turns out there is a deeper meaning.

I now sometimes even claim I had thought about this and planned the whole thing out :)

I like to say my business name, Whichgoose, harkens back to the Aesop fable about "The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs."

You know the story:

One day a farmer sees that his goose has laid a solid gold egg. He is so excited. The next day it lays another ... then another ... pretty soon the guy is rich.
He decides he wants all the eggs right now and cuts open the goose. Alas, there are no golden eggs inside and he can have no more because he killed the goose. Sucker.

So what does that have to do with my shop???

I think that in life, we tend to value the "eggs" in life (the material possessions that are fleeting) over the "goose" (or the means to get the eggs that come only with patience).

I think that finding out "which goose" is the most important to you is the struggle of finding true happiness.

For me, it's my creative energy and an outlet that allows me to make a living doing what I love!

If I start to value to money or the rewards of a popular business over the creative force that started it all, only ruin can come.

Hope this wasn't too "out there" -- just rambling :)

Top photo tips!

Welcome to my photo studio!! 

I know I've shared this before on Facebook ... but really, good Etsy photos can
come from a very low-tech set up.

You don't NEED a fancy lighting system or backdrops
to get a pretty good end result.

This is just a basic overview of how I do it -- but there are many ways to make your own set-up... Just find the pretty light!

Hope you enjoy :) 

Here's the "product photography" set up:

1.) This white backdrop is a large sketchbook. I tape one piece to the door and lay the rest on the ground to get a nice large backdrop. 

2.) Pillow to sit on since you need to crouch down low to get fancy angles.

3.) **THIS is the most important bit *** See that line of the sun and shade? Find this in your own doorway in order to determine what time of day is best to take photos. This division for me happens around 10 a.m. You want the paper to *JUST* be in the shade. This gets you a dreamy lighting that always looks nice.

Here's the "styled photo/model photo" set up: 

4.) This is my tripod ... and I need to crank it up all the way to get the head-shots. I also use a remote shutter (wireless) that is not pictured. This allows me to be able to get shots of myself without a timer or photographer. 

5.) This is the angle -- more straight on --- like a 90 degree angle from the tripod to the door to the backdrop. And the backdrop here is a BIG piece of canvas (you can buy a roll at the craft store.) 

I had to put a couple nails in the door to hang it, but that's the only evidence left after my photo shoot is complete!!

:) 

Goals for 2013

(Photo by Girlhula via Flickr).

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

It's a bit of bad time of year for me, what with taxes and a whole year of being responsible for my income spreading out before me.

BUT, I try to remain positive and concentrate on the whole "fresh start" mentality.

Here is my shortlist of goals for Whichgoose in 2013.

1.) Blog more (obviously!)

2.) Be on top of social networking in general.

3.) Get a real photo studio set up with back drop (no more white sheet on door.)

4.) Set aside at least a few hours per week to DO NOTHING.

5.) Spend less.

6.) Save more.

7.) Be grateful everyday.

8.) Get some awesome photos.

9.) Keep innovating.

I wish I could think of one more for an even "10" but I can't!

xo -Emily 

eye candy!

http://www.yunaleonard.com/

Movie inspiration: Water for Elephants

I read the book "Water for Elephants" a few years ago .. so it wasn't recent enough in my head to make me want to watch the movie with any real excitement.

BUT -- watching the movie made me remember what a good book it was! The movie definitely does it justice, but the best part was the 1930's wardrobes and costumes!

It's basically a romance set in a traveling circus in the 30's ... super glamorous.

LOVE the headpieces!!!

There's also some fab evening gowns ... definitely worth a watch if you come across it.

Awesome sauce!

Today me and Kate (other friend named Kate!) made homemade apple sauce!! Kate is a canning professional and this was my "introduction"to the wide world of food preservation.

FIRST, get a lot of apples. Wash with a produce wash if available. The main thing about canning is cleanliness. Anything you can do to keep things sanitary is good.

NEXT, peel and core your apples. We had this fancy apple peeler from Pampered Chef. It didn't always work though ... but it sure helps with hand cramping from the regular peeler.

Put your apple pieces in a big pot with about 2 inches of water. Cook until soft (about 20 minutes or so.) 

Drain your apples and puree in a food processor (things are starting to shape up --- and smell AMAZING.) 

Re-heat your pureed applesauce in a pot until it gets to 200 degrees F. In the meantime, boil your lids and gather your jars. The jars should be freshly washed and sanitized with heat in the dishwasher.

Fill your jars with a funnel to about the bottom of the lid (do not over-fill.) Return them to a boiling water bath with the lids on and cook another 20 minutes to seal and pressurize.

Allow jars to cool and you will hear them "popping" as they contract and seal up nice and good :)

NOTE: You can certainly add sugar, cinnamon ... what have you. We kept them simple since the apple variety was pretty sweet on its own.

ENJOY! :)