Bird Baths Are A Topic For Spring

Have any brainstorms that resulted in unfinished lenses? I had  some lingering in unpublished mode for a long time, and they degrade in rank the longer they languish. So I am knocking out a few, the first finished is Birdbaths Are For The Birds.

It turns out that a birdbath is important for avian health. They are also one of my favorite garden ornaments.

One thing I didn't know before writing this lens was that some baths aren't as good as others. Hopefully when buying this item for attracting our flying friends we will be able to make better choices from a birds eye point of view.

It was surprisingly difficult to find good photos for this lens. Most of the best shots are of feeders and the visitors who congregate around them.

Back In The Zazzle and Squidoo Work Groove

Vintage Hungarian Embroidery on Black iPad Mini Covers by caseNpoint
Browse Hungarian Cases online at Zazzle.com

I had to take time off of my usual projects to post every single day in my Advent blog, and of course, get ready for Christmas. We had a nice one, thanks, and I didn't even go through the usual utter exhaustion.

Now I am producing lots of new stuff on Zazzle and playing around with different styles and designs. I sure hope I find my "voice" sometime this year. One of the things that fascinated me was the vintage Hungarian embroidery and folk art style. So I worked on that along with some chevron designs.

 I had to step away from Hubpages and Squidoo for awhile. They require so much concentration just to keep up this past year and I needed a break. But I recently made a few new pages.

For Squidoo, the classic format:
 Perennial Garden Book List as a review of really helpful, well-written garden books on the topic of perennials. A subject close to my heart.


 For Hubpages, garden writing, also:
 Everything You Need To Know To Build A Rock Garden. An ambitious title, I know, and the first time I have tackled that subject in garden writing.

 Save Money With An Arboretum. A different perspective on visiting public gardens.

 Lemony Kossuth Cookies. This was my first attempt at a recipe hub. I went with my mothers favorite Hungarian cookie.

 So those are some of the newest things... and I have been trying to get ilona1.com and myreflectingpool.com up and running, too. I think I might transfer this blog to one of them.

Another new creation from my Zazzle endeavors:

Orchid And Extras Wedding Binder by ilonagarden
Look at more Orchid Binders at zazzle

I used the new Pantone colors for 2014. This one is Radiant Orchid, although I may have brightened it up a bit. The contrasting color is the Violet Tulip, which almost looks like blue violet here. 

Changes At Squidoo

I haven't written here very much because there were so many huge changes at squidoo and I wasn't sure where they were going. I stopped writing lenses for awhile and was very unsure of the new formats.

However, I found I love the new formats for writing, although they make no earnings for me.

Here are the biggest changes:

• Lenses now are geared towards personal stories, anecdote, shorter and much more original.
• Amazon links are limited
• Shorter, more succinct writing.
• All original content, including photos is desirable. Made new just for Squidoo is not mandatory, but certainly what best fulfills the new ideals.
• Focused through the new formats, one single focused topic centering around one personally used product is the new lens norm.
• Quest that guide topics has stepped up considerably. (Although it is the quantity, not the presence of these quests that has changed)
• No more Squid Angels. Squidoo retired the program of peer review and points and ranking boosts from the Angel squad. I missed it briefly and then was over it.

These are the most noticeable changes, and while the rate of change towards the new goals has slowed, it will continue to be more evident. The filters shook up the community mid-year, but now the guides on publishing, the new formats, and the quests all work towards changing the face of the content at Squidoo.

My Newest Lenses

• Sitting Pretty In an IKEA Chair
• Soaking In A Hot Tub 
• Review of The Hobbit Movie 
• Conversation Starters 
• Lalaloopsy Party 
• Best Scents For The Home 
• My Garden Weeding Wonder

All are done in the new format.

Happy Days On Squidoo

My Newest Topics

One hint: Calla Lilies,... Brimberg &... Buy This at Allposters.com

True, I haven't been as active making lenses as last year, but it was always in the plan to resume building my own sites and writing articles for Ilona's Garden and the Garden Journal. I still am behind in posting to the garden blog, but it is better than before I slowed up on Squidoo at the start of the year. 

But I am not completely dormant. I created some new lenses and the latest ones that have been published are:

• Calla Lily Wedding Flowers
• Fresh Summer Candle Scents
• Summer Fashions For Over Forty

I haven't had the time to resume making lenses for quests, although those are great ideas. It simply felt a little overwhelming and I took a break.

Sales in Zazzle:

Joy Morning Glory Tee Shirt by HigherLife
See more Joy T-Shirts

Vintage Butterfly Collection Business Card by ilonagarden
Order business cards from Zazzle.

Many are still struggling with the filters that Squidoo has installed to weed out the poor quality lenses. After working very hard for a couple of weeks, I cleared through all of mine and have not had any additional flags so far. I filled in content (wrote more) inside some lenses, deleted extra "selling" modules ( although not too many). I updated titles and made sure my photos were cited. I worked on anything that I found that was not current ( Amazon products that were 404), and most of all deleted or changed too many keywords that were repetitive.

Those are the main faults I was finding in my own lenses. Now I spend more time updating and improving the ones that I have already created, and the new lenses are to make more of a niche with previous topics of mine.

I wouldn't claim this to be the best policy, but it works for me. Unfortunately, I become attached to my writing, good or bad. I tend to treat articles like children that I cannot bear to let go of... and to delete a lens is too hard to do. I allow the hoarding tendency full rein in the writing arena. All three of my new lenses are branches of previous ones. 

The money on Squidoo has reduced due to their google woes. I make less now than back in the end of 2012 because the payout is less, even though my lenses rank higher and some are continually making Amazon income. This is the rule rather than the exception in online income, in my own experience. The going advice, which I'm taking for myself, is to branch out. I've seen some uptick in Zazzle sales, and improved the Google adsense by reducing the sites I posted ads on and improving keyword targeting ( I use a wp plugin to help me with that).

That is my Squidoo news for now. Toodles!

Squidoo Action

Spring will be here soon-before you know it

While I have posted a new lens or two, with all of the actions that Squidoo is taking I have been working on sprucing up my older lenses and making sure they are up to snuff. Quite a few have had Amazon products that went out of date, and others seem to have had some problems with some of my photos. Especially some of the affiliate photos.

As I go through lenses to update, I tend to add new content... that's just the way my mind works. This kind of distraction is why I never can clean up my house. I tend to get caught up doing some little organizational thing or fixing something broken, or sorting through papers. It takes me forever to get things done.

Anyway, new lenses published:

• PC to Mac the story of how I made the switch. This lens was on the back burner for more than a year, I think. but I have plenty of experience to draw on to update it, now.
• Out of Your Gourd Gardening tells the story of all the gourds I grew a couple years ago and the neat projects that I want to make of them.
• Flowering Hanging Planters made a sale recently and it is a fairly new lens with loads of beautiful hanging planters. Some truly unique and beautiful planters that I know I would love to own.
• In time for St. Patricks Day, the Claddagh symbol lens showcases the many ways this adorns products and also has the meaning and symbolism - it was a fun lens to produce because I love Celtic culture.

There were more, because I haven't updated this site with all of them, but that is a start if you want to check them out.

The updated lenses are too numerous to mention, mostly my gardening lenses. Although there is an avalanche of winter themed lenses falling to the bottom of my Squidoo account. I may have to allow some of them to go WIP. Not sure I can keep up with that amount of work in the spring, with all my RL garden chores coming up. Plus there is always the visits to the grandchildren!

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I'm hoping that the new software sweeps don't end up snagging my lenses, even though I have so much originality built in that I shouldn't worry about it. We'll see. It certainly is shaking up over there! Trying to take more pictures and hope that I have plenty of original material to work with for this year. The reduction Angel blessing is actually a blessing in disquise for me. I was worried that I wasn't active enough, but it looks like I was overdoing it. That is me!

It Is 2013

a new leaf

I was busy in the last month, since Christmas is a big holiday for me. Still, I managed to fit in some time learning about Zazzle and finishing and creating new lenses. I also started organizing my old desktop computer at the beginning of this month.

Not too much headway in getting more exercise, if you except our two attempts to cross country ski (that is over for now since the snow all melted).

Zazzle Report

I have managed to get some regular orders, although it has been pretty meager, and suffered some cancellations. This month there have been some new images uploaded and creation of more products. I worked alot on eLaine's Locker, which is the store for my daughters  artwork. She FINALLY got a few orders on her stuff, not much in money, but it is a beginning.

I will continue to read up on how to make these stores a success. I created a couple more stores to separate topics, but they aren't live and have no products in them.

Squidoo Progress

The income steadily has been increasing since I now have a ...what should I call it?... stable of lenses? Some have risen in rank, while many dive to the bottom, and I have a number that struggle even though I think they are pretty good lenses.

Still, I keep trying to improve them, and the amount of Amazon sales are rising on them, so it seems that I must be getting a few things right. I try to stay active in the community, but Christmas holiday was challenging for that effort. I had to let most of the quests go by, and mostly tried to Squid Angel bless as many worthy lenses as I could, but wasn't able to spend as much time exploring other lenses. I often tried to find good lenses to like or bless from people who had visited and liked my lenses.... although normally I try to widen my range and go actively looking through Squidoo for good lenses.

New lenses I made since November of 2012:

1. Soup Tureens
2. What To Give Your True Love
3. The Christmas Play Costumes
4. My Vibram Shoes
5. I Spy Picture Riddles Book
6. Ugly Christmas Sweaters
7. Irish Claddagh
8. Decorating Ideas For Christmas
9. Hungarian Apple Bundt Cake
10. Adorable Diaper Bags
11. Flowering Hanging Planters
12. Woodland Christmas Decor

Now I realize just how busy I'd been. That is a lot of work represented there- I take several days worth of work to complete a lens, usually. And it is important to keep up with finished lenses to maintain them. They have images that go missing, or modules that no longer work, comments need to be moderated or responded to, and they often drop in rank if nothing is contributed to their upkeep for awhile.

That is most of the news... except that I've been giving attention some of my websites. I forgot all about posting on myreflectingpool.com until I started updating its software. When I saw that I was reporting on Squidoo lenses, etc but hadn't made entries since sometime in 2011, it reminded me to post here. I will work on things over there, too -eventually.

After all, it is a new year, with new possibilities.

New Page For Eyes

One of the pages I started quite a long time ago has finally been finished and published. It doesn't have all the information I wanted to add, but that can come later. The lens on trabeculectomy eye surgery can now work itself out of its WIP status.

Lens drop lower and lower in rank as they remain unfinished, but sometimes you brainstorm an idea and then it languishes in your unfinished lens list. The topic of eye surgery is not one that I expect will make any money, but will perform a service for those who are looking at facing this same type of surgery that I did a few years ago.

In Love With Hawaii

Can you blame a person for being in love with a paradise? A new lens about Flower Arrangements made with Hawaiian Flowers. Makes me wish I had a visit planned to Maui, not that it is in my budget... but that doesn't stop me from wishing.

I Picked Up Some Photography Tips

While researching for the biography I wanted to publish on Saxon Holt, a garden photographer I really like, his photography tips gave me inspiration to try a new outlook for my photo expeditions into my garden... as well as vacation photos I take. That is part of the fun of making lenses- you learn so much.

Would you like to see the biography with insightful photo tips? Look here at Saxon Holt, Garden Photographer. It was a lens I had started some time ago, so it was high time to complete work on it. I found photos to illustrate it on the very helpful Pinterest.

The Perfect Girly Birthday Party

Putting on a party for a little girl- or a girly girl of any age? What would such a party theme have? Pink, for sure, princesses, and pretty much all sorts of fun. I got the idea for my "Princess Party How-to" from my daughter who gave the best, most adorable, Princess Party for her daughter and her little friends (with help from me and her sisters).

Of course we took pictures and I added them to the how-to guide which covers everything from invitations to party decor, along with fun activities and Pink Lemonade Princess Party cake. Don't forget the tiaras to dress up all the courtiers, as well!

We had so much fun decorating with the imaginative ideas that my daughter thought up, and the party is a proven success- one which everyone, from each guest to the birthday girl will be happy they attended. Consider the theme for your next girly birthday party to be one fit for a princess.

Addition to the Beach Scene

Curiousity 381
The newest addition to the Beach Scene on my Squidoo Dashboard is.... a lens look at 'Beach Scenes. I was inspired by one picture by artist Lucelle Raad, and remembered all the beautiful seaside pictures that I enjoyed looking at over the years. A little gallery composed of beach art began to form in my mind and now the gallery is published!

Beach Scenes, A Seascape Afternoon

 

 

Go Take A Hike!

If you are in Ohio and have read my newest lens, that is.  Back when I had finished Gardens in Ohio, 7 Great Places to Hike in Ohio was begun. That was sometime in 2011! It lingered at the bottom of my to-do list until the other day.

Now that this lens is finished and published I am inspired to take a hike. The destinations of Mohican State Park and the Adams County Preserves both compete for the next great hike I'd like our family to try. Read about all the great places to hike in Ohio for yourself.

7 Great Places to Hike in Ohio

Be At The Beach - As Much As Possible

You already know how I love the beach, so it is no surprise that I keep making Beach House Lenses.

I added more to the group:
Coastal Decor
Beach House Dining Room
Beach House Kitchen

These are added to Beach House Colors, and Beach Glass.
All of which are inspired by trips to Maui and Destin beaches.

Brand New Lens: Coastal Kitchen

The newest lens to be published is an addition to the Beach House decor category,

Coastal Kitchen Comfort

Finishing Up Two More Lenses

From when I was trying to accomplish that ambitious quest to create 30 lenses in one topic (Bellydance), this lens on Gypsy Dance languished in the background.

It is published, now, as well as a lens on some of my favorite Christmas crafts . Photos of our Christmas tree were waiting to be used- yes, they were taken just for this lens. Well, now the lens is ready for this coming Christmas, and might undergo further transformations closer to the holiday season.

Life Is A Bowl Of Sweet Cherries

Life is sweet! And here I have completed yet another lens, this time celebrating the Sweet Cherry. I'd like to work on it more, but it is complete enough to publish and my goal is to reduce the number of unfinished pages in my lens list.

The Sweet Cherry lens originally was going to tbe about the garden aspect of growing the tree, but I felt that it had developed more along the lines of recipes and eating... so that is how I wrote and continued to add modules that would give more of the culinary facet of what is a truly beautiful and delicious fruit.

Red Green is Not a Color Scheme

Not Christmas colors

That is what I titled the lens that I just published. When making the DIY lenses, I used Red Green quotes and that gave me the idea to make a lens focusing on the Star of this once popular Canadian comedy. It is classic DIY humor.

 Things that Red Green Says highlighted on my DIY lensography.

 The new lens, Red Green Is Not A Color Scheme coming to a screen near you (yours, I hope).

New Lens From Old

Sometimes I get ideas and make a new lens that stays in WIP (work in progress) stage for quite a long time. I had enough of those that I decided it was time to finish them and get them in a published state. The result is two new lenses.

One, was an idea to give a little inspiration to those who like to create and give Gift Baskets. That stemmed from the memories of how delighted I had been to receive this type of gift from sisters in years past. There are some great ones already put together and available on Amazon, too.

Gift Basket Favorites

The other newly published lens is a tour of Autumn color decor.

The Autumn Look Leaves A Warm Impression
Guess when I brainstormed that lens? Yes, well it is finished and published and I found some really pretty home goods that add a touch of Autumn to a room.

On another note, I do the reading quests from HQ about how to improve making lenses and creating within the Squidoo community. Recently I read an article on improving the headlines, so I started experimenting with making headlines that are more descriptive. Even with regular blogging I've always had trouble with getting good headlines. So I am checking the ranking and the stats to see if a new headline draws more traffic or not, as an indication that I am getting the right mix of words. 

OH YES-
My new lens on Japanese Dolls won a purple star, and I was so happy to see it come up on the front page of Squidoo :)

New Lens About Giverny!

The new lens is Flowers of Giverny, Flowers that Monet Grew

Latest Lenses, Updated Lenses

It is all about improvement

Working through the stubs of new lenses I finished and published Ilona's Garden Shed which is a lens highlighting my Cafepress store. The idea came from the posts that others had made on utilizing Squidoo to work with Zazzle and Cafepress. It has spurred me to develop my understanding of Cafepress and to try and get the store going like the Zazzle store has this year. I hope to improve my, and the readers, grasp of how to use Cafepress to make some income.

Landscaping 101 is a new lens under the gardening topic. Home improvement should include a basic knowledge of how to care for your landscape... so this lens is a starter for that pursuit. Color in Your Garden is another general garden topic, newly published. It concentrates on the use of foliage along with flowers for garden color.

I have been trying to improve older lenses and those improvements have lead to raising some nominal lenses from the red zone. Squidoo has new filters working to weed out duplicate content, so more attribution links are needed to identify quotes, etc. They are overly strict in some respects, but the way to avoid being unpublished is to link to another source of the information. I put source links in the Women's Gift Suggestions and it improved ranking  right away.

Some content has been edited for clarity and in the case of 'About Ilona's Garden' Lens I removed some peripheral content to create a new lens that I hope to publish soon.

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I have leveled up to 65 and won a new trophy for 500 SquidAngel blessings given out.  When I went to Atlanta, my momentum was thrown off and I am behind in recording blessings given me. Maybe I can play catchup later this summer? These are the big news events at my Squidoo diversions for now.