Business cards to promote my shop

Remember a while ago I talked about how I could promote my shop outside those people that sell and shop on Etsy anyway. I have been checking via Google analytics to see whether the search engines are bringing in extra visitors and yes they are , but not as many as I would like. Now I have got into twitter I am trying to promote through there and Facebook as well. 

But I really need to tackle the people I see everyday , that are not aware of Etsy and don't even know that lovely hand made items are even available on the Internet.

So I am having some business cards made up and thought you would be interested in a sneak preview. I am using these 2 sets of photos on the back of the business cards so that interested shoppers can see the range of items I sell. I intend to take them with me on my little jaunts round the country in my motorhome. I do feel more comfortable talking to people I don't know yet about my shop rather than my friends and family. Strange I know....

DayZeeLoveDesigns http://www.etsy.com/people/DayzeeLoveDesigns will be making up the order in the next few days once I have designed a logo for my shop to go on the front of the business cards.

I am really pleased with the result and will be looking forward to them arriving in the post.

Custom Order - v shaped orthopedic cushion / pillow cover

Morning everyone

I mentioned the custom order in a recent post. Well it's finished now and I thought you may be interested in the finished result. 

Also I would like some comments from you all as to whether you think it's something I should be adding to my shop. Maybe giving the customers a choice of fabrics and colour of yarn.

Also , whilst I was knitting it , I was concience of keeping the shaping as simple as possible because then I could write this up as a pattern to sell on-line. Again , if you could leave a comment if you have had experience of making and selling pdf patterns it would be much appreciated.

Anyway to get back to the main point , below are some piccies taken of the finished cushion.

A close up of the knitted side of the pillow

The other side

In situ

Book shelf plan

Book shelf plan

I decided this morning that I need to get organised before I do any more crafting or even decorating.

This should take my mind of crafting for a little while, even though it is related (organising my crafts sounds wicked) and should get me in the mood for sorting my house out (mentioned in my previous post) .  I’m also rubbish at doing any paperwork , paying bills etc, although some how they always get paid and on time.  I feel that it is something I don’t do very well. 

So I went and bought myself a bookcase (well it’s a CD / DVD case really) and came up with a plan.

1. Put next to the desk / near electric points
2. Work books / physiological books  / crafting books – organise
3. Desk light – get bulb, place on top of bookshelf
4. Electronic photo-frame – set up
5. Use sticky labels – so know where to put things back when I move them
6. Boxes to keep odds and end in (for crafts working on now?) – label
7. Organise letters/ bills – those read / those not read / those that require some work to – in / out / pending
8. Organise desk drawers & label
9. Magazines – where do these go?
10. Stuff in files – organise / sort out – where do these go?
11. Stuff in filing cabinet – can I sort out so can replace with coffee table?
12. And then ............ & only then create something handmade to go on my bookcase (pinched this idea off one my followers - thanks Joy)

Can you all make sure I stick to the plan , especially number 12 please.

So here is my bookcase now , lets see what it is like in a few days

Is crafting and trying to sell on Etsy addictive?

I talked one day about whether Etsy BNR’s (Buy Next Round – I think it stands for) were addictive or not . I think I came to the conclusion that they were.

But now, wondering whether the whole crafting thing and trying to sell on Etsy is in itself addictive . Yes the whole thing!!

You see , since I started crafting again (after many years not doing it) and trying to sell on Etsy I’ve let the whole house go to wrack and ruin. Normally during the winter months I get decorating (and I do love doing it) and I know now that the hallway and staircase is in need of some tender loving. The walls were painted a loving light blue a few years back , they now look a shady grey . I stencilled a gold architectural border and now it looks rather naff. The coat hook’s are hanging off the wall cos I put up the wrong size (obviously need a much bigger one) and the wooden floor in the hallway , which I lovingly sanded needs a right good varnish.

And that’s only the start of it, the settees in the back lounge come dining room are broken (its really painful now to sit on them) so I need to buy new ones and that means re-decorating, the garden fences all need re-painting as well as the whole garden needing a tidy up.

The bathroom needs a new carpet in it (we never did like that dark brown one I put in) and the walls and ceiling could do with a lick of paint.

So……………...do I force myself to stop crafting and Etsying for a while and do some sorting out of the house!

Please tell me what to do ! I’m addicted to crafting at the moment and can’t see a way out !