Constructive Criticism (and a Giveaway)

Help!

I am in some sore need of criticism. Specifically speaking, I need to revamp my Etsy shop and am almost clueless as to how to go about doing it. What I would like from my readers is honest suggestions of what I could do to improve the overall look of the thing.

www.vanishingpearl.etsy.com

Please pop over and have a look. For everyone who leaves a comment, I'll put you in a draw for this simple button necklace in a recent color scheme. I have earrings to match, but no photo to show. (sorry) They will be included as well. Lookie!

Here is what I'm looking for. (I already had my banner redone a few weeks ago and am currently happy with it, but also welcome new ideas.)

1. Photo quality.
2. Background preference: solid or props? or other?
3. Overall feel.
4. Quality of description of pieces.
5. Tips on other information. Ex. shipping, repairs, etc.
6. Shop Sections.
7. Should I have a crap ton of tutorials for sale?
8. Anything else you can think of! The more info, the better.
9. Shop owners, I would also appreciate tips and techniques that work for you. :-)

Please, please comment. I'll be taking advice from now until August 7th. Shortly after, I will post the winner! Share with your friends and let them on the action too. International entries welcome. I'll ship anywhere.

Vintage Style

Tada! I have recently decided to drag myself to the grocery store to mooch internet every chance I get. The reason: to show you guys the wonderful, yet sometimes many months old pieces I have recently made and finally edited. This one I know for sure made it on Facebook right when I completed it, but did  not earn a blog to the best of my knowledge. So, here is Baroque Heart!

Notice the tiny gears? Yep those are stitched in. Even I'm not crazy enough to attempt rivets that small.

Full view, including a button I bought on Portobello Road in London.

Alas, I cannot duplicate the earrings, for I have forgotten where I bought the findings and cannot find them locally. Plus, internet ordering is not something I participate in unless absolutely hounded by someone to finish a certain project with no exceptions. If you would like to purchase the necklace or see more pictures, you can traipse on over to my Etsy listing for a closer look. 

In regards to my bead stash, it keeps growing even without the help of monetary assistance on my part. Over the years, I meet a variety of people who, for one reason or another, give up beading as a hobby or prioritize their jewelry making skills along other lines. This means I usually get a ton of seed beads running my direction and spilling out of my drawers. So, last night I bought a ton of circular containers and attempted to tame part of the overflow. I'm still working on it and will eventually upload a glamour shot of my collection in all its rainbow organized glory! (hopefully)

Diamond in the Rough

Matching earrings to a necklace that is being published in a magazine in December!!! And here I was thinking that 2012 was going to pass by uneventful. These little guys didn't make it into the box, and since the publication had only seen the necklace, I figured I'd post them here and in my Etsy shop. Diamond earrings anyone?

In other news, I'm 100% free of my student loans! I paid that sucker off three days before my grace period ended. It's possible if you pretend that you don't have any money for a stretch of nine months straight. Granted, it was under $5,000 to start with, but I'm still pretty stoked! :-)