topics & features

March 5th, 2010 · Comments Off

Here you can browse Mint by topic or category, as well as learn more about Mint’s weekly features.

Howdy Do It
Howdy Do It came from “how do you do It,” the question Ellie & Margot found themselves asking about their freelance lifestyles, and so Howdy Do It was born, a weekly column about the things we do to keep ourselves organized, inspired and on track while self employed. Margot posted on Mint each Monday, and Ellie posted over on Margot’s blog Pitch Design Union at the same time.

Tuesday: This Week’s Recipe
Each week Ellie finds a favorite recipe to share! Since she certainly has no talents in the kitchen, recipes are shared from her favorite food blogs or by guest contributors.

Thursday: Quick Queries
Artist Lindsay Preston joins Mint on Thursdays to show work by contemporary artists, along with answers to the questions everyone has been wondering about them, like “pancakes or waffles?”

Friday: Links for Your Weekend
A round-up of favorite links from other blogs and sites, along with Raleigh/Durham, NC local happenings.

Monthly: Favorite Three
Instead of a traditional blogroll (it would be a mile long!) Mint features 3 favorite blogs a month and displays their banners on the left-hand sidebar.

Every So Often: Currently Reading
Ellie shares the books she’s reading (well, the good ones).

A few of Ellie’s favorite Mint posts:

+ The Gocco FAQ page
Past questions from readers are answered on this page, and questions placed in the comment section are answered the same day.

+ 3 Etsy Sellers Talk Packaging
It’s easy to forget about packaging when your product is sold online. However, since your customers don’t get to experience your work in a brick-and-mortar shop, how you package your product becomes the customer’s first impression. Three Etsy sellers talk about how they designed their packaging, where they get materials, etc.

+ The 5 c’s of Photo Styling with Kim Ludy
Kim’s talent for finding beautiful antique objects and art combined with her self-taught talent for photography and styling has made her a name in the craft world. Kim shares her tips for photo styling and taking great product shots.

+ What I learned at the Altitude Design Summit 2010
2010 was the first-ever Altitude Design Summit (“Alt”), geared toward design and lifestyle bloggers. Over the few days in Salt Lake City, I took lots of notes and met many inspiring bloggers, then came home and wrote a day-by-day recap for Mint readers.

+ Taking Photos with a TTV setup with Amy Jones
A TTV setup involves 3 things: A top camera, a bottom camera, and a contraption to block light. Amy shares some photos she took at my wedding with her own TTV, along with some steps for creating your own TTV setup.