Featured in Niche

I was contacted a while back by an editor that works for an online magazine called Niche that advertises for retailers. She asked if I would be interested in being featured, and I said sure! Today the article came out and I was excited to see my little whale party kit on the screen! You never know where it will go, but it's exciting none the less!
You can check it out here:
http://www.nichemagazine.com/2010/09/paper-arts/

Featured again...

Well it's been months I know...I have been so busy. We welcomed the birth of our first son and ever since then life has become crazy! But crazy good. I cannot complain, I'm so in love with our new little boy and I'm loving every moment with him. Sooo my shop had to be put on the back burner again. I have still received orders here and there which has been great since I'm not working to promote right now. But it's still in my list of things to do once our life becomes a little more routine.
I received an email from a new site that had let me know they were featuring my whale theme party pack on their web page:
http://www.theindietot.com/best-of/birthday-party-theme-whale-of-a-time/
how delightful and such a nice surprise! Perhaps it will bring in more viewers which equals more sales.
Here I am along with some other sellers and their adorable whale items. I may have to have a whale themed party for our little boy...although it will be a while.

Featured

I had a nice surprise yesterday when I logged onto my Etsy account. I had been (or still am) featured on the Storque on Etsy! What an unexpected blessing that was. I suddenly received a hundred hearts and was wondering why...how cool is that?

I have been busy with life and haven't had as much time as I would like to devote to my store- but soon friends! Hopefully this summer I will be updating with some new items, so be on the lookout. I have had a couple requests for things that I plan to bring to the shop. I welcome and value feedback, so that I can better provide what you want!

Just so I can capture and remember this moment:

One thing at a time, at a turtles pace it seems

Well where has the time gone, and what have I been up to? Life in all it's intensity! I've been so busy with work (my full time job aside from my business) and the many things in our lives that the business has kind of been on the back burner. Not to say that I won't be turning it into a business but it's slower going than I thought. I did spend some time organizing my files on the computer so that everything is in one space and easy to find. I'm weeding through past designs and current ones I have posted at my shop, and seeing what I can add or delete. I know some things have gained a lot of views, but have not had any sales. So I'm wondering if I should take the design and make it a different item, or find a way to change my price for it. I'm interested to see why something is popular, but will not sell. Always a mystery I suppose. I think building my business will allow me to have faithful customers that I can reach out to for their opinions about why things are popular.
I did update my banner in my shop as well, keeping the colors fresh and modern. My palette lately is blues and greens, but then again I guess it always gravitates towards that palette, especially considering my favorite color is green.
So check it out if you haven't yet, but you probably saw it when you looked in my shop! I'd also love feedback on my products if you happen to visit my blog here. I appreciate my customers so much and love the fact that I get to create something that will bring smiles to others. I enjoy what I do with a passion and I hope that comes through in my final products.
Until next time, I'll try to post an update soon. My next project is selling some of my things in a shop, with some business cards. Finalizing the business cards now.... :)

Building a business

Well where has this month gone? I set out to accomplish a list with goals and new products, and the busyness of life seems to have snuck up on me.
But on an optimistic note it is only January. I have a vision for this new year! I'd love to turn my business into an official business, as the Lord guides. I still feel passionate about things I design for my shop, and that is enough for me to know I enjoy it. When there comes a time I no longer enjoy but despise it I think it will be time to move one. But I'm not there, I'm here and I'm excited about pursuing this passion.
Perhaps this is what I'm supposed to be doing? I guess we never really know until we step out in faith. Many changes are upcoming for me for the year and so why not add this to the list :)
I went ahead and ordered the book Craft Inc. that I have talked about on here. I'm so excited to receive my very own copy. I was so impressed with how it was written, I think it will be the perfect help for me while I step out into the scary world of being a business.
I have a lot of questions about doing this, but excitement as well. I have visions of marketing my company to local shops, and what I need to do to create a marketing package for them. First things first, solidifying my logo, and all the collateral that goes with it. Next is making sure all my files are organized and easily accessible for any design changes. Organization is not my strong point unfortunately, but I've slowly developed a file system that has graduated into a more simplistic and understandable system. Now to go back to my old old files and re-organize them into the new. Sigh. This is the part that is not fun, but needed.
Prayer is my final and most prevalent tool. I seek a job that is honorable to the Lord and if this isn't the right road for me, I trust that God will provide the right one.
Now to just step out on faith, that will be the challenge!

Goals

It's been a long time since I have posted on this blog. I am sorry to those that have visited only to find no new posts, week after week.

Life has been busy and full for me lately and I have had to put my shop on hold. The good thing about Etsy is that there is no pressure to update. Since I work full time during the day, I can only devote free time to my shop.

But I am back and thinking ahead to the new year and making goals for my shop! I think the only way to get things done is to make a target list as well as dates to reach those goals. I am planning to start small. My first item on the list is to develop a new item- and to provide it in several options. I am going to wait to post the item until I have all variations ready. I may provide it in boy and girl. I'm not sure.

My plan right now is to research a little more, and see what is popular in the market. My target market is still geared towards moms, and new babies and nurseries. I try to think of things that I would like to put in my own nursery, as I think that is the most honest approach to selling things. Why would I sell something I wouldn't want to buy?

So updates to come! Keep a lookout in my shop, or on my blog here. I will post soon with a target date for new projects!

for the first time

I have been featured!
I received an inquiry about an order from a customer that had seen one of my products via another blog. I was interested to find out who, so I emailed back asking which blog.
It's here:

http://mymomshops.blogspot.com/index.html

Wow, that's kind of cool that someone out there found my shop and that it brought in a customer!