Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Ugh

Sometimes starting a business is really, really, really hard. There are days when I wake up I just don't want to move. There are days when I am so exhausted and so worn down that I don't want to go into the studio. There are weeks where there are no sales (sometimes even months) and I get so discouraged and feel like the whole world is against me. I know intellectually that the entire world itself is not looking to destroy me, but some days my brain is not working on the same level and my heart is all that's working.

It is so discouraging to have Black Friday and Cyber Monday go past and not make a single sale. Last year we did much better. Maybe its time to change something? Maybe I need better marketing? Better products? More products? Better photography?

What do I change?

Can I go back to bed now?

Monday, November 26, 2012

Working hard. But not on here. Fail.

I was supposed to be posting on here, I really was. I just suck at staying on top of things. I'm in the midst of finals right now, so my online presence is suffering, but I'm going to get this working.

Here's what I've been doing:
1. Writing a 45 page business plan to take to the bank and get my crafting business off the ground.
2. I hired a photographer to take my Etsy photos. He has taken 500 photos for me already. Best. Investment. Ever. (I really hate taking photos)
3. Putting all of those listings up on Etsy and getting as many views as possible.
4. I ran my first ad on Facebook. It was decently successful, but it was really scary, and I still don't know what I'm doing on it.
5. Attempting pinterest marketing. I'm not sure how that's going yet.
6. Thanksgiving dinner with the in-laws. My mother-in-law helped me get all my packaging together. Love her!
7. Putting 100 items into 100 baggies, and getting ready for my first craft show.

So, like I said, I've been working my butt off, but I haven't been on here a whole lot. This is going to be changed because I just realized that I can use this as a to do list and to tell you guys about what I'm doing, rather than just advertise. I really, really, really don't want to become that person who just keeps on posting pics of her Etsy stuff. I want you to come visit me because you WANT to come visit me!

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

A year in the waiting.

Its been a very long, tiring, and strange year. I'm back. (I somehow managed an exact year after my last post!)

Here's the deal. I started another blog somewhere else to test what it was like having my own website. I hated it. The customization options were awful considering how much I paid, and I didn't understand what I had to do to get anything set up. So, I'm back here where things make sense again.

A quick run down of the last year.
Tom took me to see Seether in concert at DTE.

We went to the Michigan Renaissance Faire, and I bought a ridiculously expensive (but incredibly well-made) corset.
I worked my last shift and Casa Dominick's! The ladies say they will miss me.

This is Christmas at Aunt Dorothy's house. In the picture is Aunt Dorothy (at the piano) Jeff, Jack, Lee, Steve, Grandpa, and Brad. Here they are singing Christmas carols. It's sort of become a tradition that the men and the women sing their own separate song at least once so the other group can heckle.









Here is my old car, Lady Eleanor, heading off to star in a derby. She had been rough for quite some time, and I needed to get something more reliable, but it was still really sad to see her go! We had some interesting times together.















This is Valentines Day just before we headed out for our date!
Emilie Autumn Concert, FLAG tour 2012. This was the second time that I'd seen her live and it was extravagant!
Then my little nephew Mason came into the world. 27.5 hours my sister was in labor!
Lee got a new job at Citi and got to wear pretty clothing to work!
Indian Lake with Emily, Aunt Debbie, Aunt Dorothy and Grandpa!
Quilt show with Aunt Dorothy, Marty, and Lee. Aunt Dorothy was even featured!  
Went to Mongo, IN to visit my Grandmother and brought Frances along. Went to Shipshewana.
My Mom got married on August 31, 2012.
Fran, Lee and I walked in the Labor Day parade again. Working hard to get Prop 2 passed!
At 3:00 AM Lee and I left for our big adventure to Washington D.C. We spent four days in the city before leaving to go on the second leg of our trip.
This is the second leg of the trip. We spent the night in the MOST BEAUTIFUL bed and breakfast ever, went out for a great dinner, got all gussied up, and spent the night soaking in a warm (claw foot) bathtub until the week of walking around D.C. had all but disappeared.