Another break!

Well, after yesterday's SUPER sales, I have pondered why it was so..... It could be one of many variables that all came together at the same time. According to the statistics found on http://www.etsytools.com/, Mondays usually have the most sales, and yesterday had ALOT. On the other hand, I purchased my first showcase spot in the Children's category page and it ran yesterday. So, I was thinking last night that it was probably the showcase spot, which I originally didn't think would be THAT helpful. It was just an experiment. Well, the experiment was a success.... so I thought. So, this morning I got up and decided to purchase two more showcases. One will be on December 5th, the other on December 10th. So, I shelled out $14 this morning working off the assumption that it was the showcase that gave me the great sales.

It's likely that I am WRONG! I got an email this morning from a customer who forwarded this newsletter to me:

I was apparently featured in the December 3rd issue based on her suggestion! Thank you SO much Barbra at AllAboutTheButtons!

Here is a screenshot of ME in the newsletter:

Also, Barbra told me that Danielle at Etsy told her they were going to put an I Spy Bag in the Gift Guides. AND THEY DID! It's in the boys (3-7) category. This is the one they picked:

This is all very exciting for me and my mom (probably more for me haha)... I hope it keeps up after the holiday rush.

Tonight I'm working on some more I Spy Bags in shapes. I have some more hearts cut out, and I'm trying some stars. More later!

YIPPEEEE

Today was my best sales day EVER! Okay, so I know it hasn't been THAT long (just wrapping up my first month on Etsy), but today was my best day so far. I've sold so many I Spy Bags that I have almost totally run out of supplies! I have to figure out fast how to get some more so I can keep striking while the holiday iron is hot! Here are some of the things I listed today:

The heart shaped one sold almost right away. I relisted it - I have plenty of fabric, I'll just have to make another if someone orders another right away. I sold 4 today of the large bag made out of pirate fabric. I'm so glad that I bought some more of it. I think I'm going to run out by tomorrow, though!

I have to admit that I am SO happy doing this! I've got my creative outlet allowing me to get away from the kids at least mentally if not always physically. I'm having so much fun, and I'm SUPER busy. I love being busy. It's nice to be busy doing something other than changing diapers, fixing booboos, doing laundry, or cooking. Or, I don't know, sweeping the kitchen floor for the sixteenth time since my two youngest put EVERYTHING into their mouths... Yes, I am happy with the hum of my sewing machine, the fibers flying around and settling in my hair, the repetitive motion of turning the wheel, putting the foot up and down.... the crunch crunch of the scissors gliding along the table as I cut fleece. This is probably my mother's worst fear - I just MIGHT be turning into her. But how cool is that?! My mom is awesome...

Oh, how I wish this could be my full time job! I can just imagine all that I could get done in a day! I would have so many new designs and I would be able to branch out into different areas. Ah well, a girl can dream :) Speaking of dreaming, I gotta go to bed.

Another Treasury!!!!!!

Yippee! We are in another treasury! This time our children's sweater is featured.







Thanks to aktie9 for featuring us!





More great news - I sold my first I Spy Bag yesterday! This one is now gone...

We're in a Treasury!!!!!!!!

Yeh! We've never been in a treasury before. I guess someone out there is finding our stuff! I would put a picture of it here, but I don't know how yet. :)

Thanks to tagyourit for featuring our Christmas tags backed with vintage sheet music.

Ah, just when I'm on a roll...

Etsy just crashed, I think. I was on a listing roll! hm. just my luck.

I have been busy over the past few days! My mom made some absolutely FABULOUS Christmas tags to put up on Etsy. So yesterday I tried to capture their essence in photographs. How did I do? I know, it doesn't do them justice! They are just SO pretty.


I have also been working hard on making I Spy Bags. I finally got a good group made and I have listed some! Finally! I came up with some cute ones shaped like stockings. My daughter says they look like elf boots.

I'm gonna try Etsy again. My *nap* time is limited :)

Too much to do!!!

Well, yesterday is over and I don't feel like I did much! I guess that's not exactly true. I did get a few purses listed in my Etsy shop, so now I have a whopping 14 items for sale!!!!! With any luck, I'll make a sale today :)

This morning I sat at the sewing machine and tried to fix the I Spy bags my mom and I are making. The original batch just didn't look professional enough. Mom originally sewed them with raw edges out, which looked fine... but then I tried to fill them with the stuff and sew them up and it was a *nightmare* to do! We talked on the phone and decided we would try making them like a pillow and turning them in. Customers won't be able to see that they are double stitched, but we will put that on the tag. I think it will look nicer (and be easier) in the long run. I made one this morning out of this nice pink/orange retro looking fleece with an eye shaped hole. I think the eye shaped hole will become our signature on these bags since others are making them too. We want ours to be a *little* different.

I need to figure out how to post a picture right in the post. I know I have seen others do it. Maybe I'll post on Etsy this evening to find out how. Etsy is such a great community! Everyone is just so helpful, it's refreshing!

Well, I only have a half hour now before my husband goes to work and leaves me with the kids, so I better get something crafty done! LOL Not that my kids wouldn't *love* to help :)

Another Saturday Morning

I stayed up too late last night :)
BUT, I vow to get some things done today regardless!

I need to take new photographs of my stickers and cards. I like how the purse pictures turned out, but now the paper goods seem lost and disorganized.I've been spending so much time getting all this computer marketing stuff set up that I regret to inform you that I've created NOTHING new this week. Ahem.

That is about to change! I plan to start a new line of graphic cards - starting today (hopefully). We'll see if my kiddos give me a chance this afternoon (read take a nap) to get some work done! It's easy to get a little computer stuff done here and there because I have my laptop right in the middle of the action in the kitchen. Sneaking off to my studio for some 'me' time is a whole 'nother story, though!

I got my flickr account opened! Here is the link:http://www.flickr.com/photos/greathouse/So far only one photo - as a test - but check back often as I figure out how to work this to my benefit!

Hello world...

I'm new to this blogging thing, but here goes..... My mom and I just opened shop on Etsy.com. What a cool site that is! We started out as addicted Etsy buyers, and finally got up enough courage to start a shop of our own. We are 'those Greathouse women.' Check us out!

www.ThoseGreathouseWomen.etsy.com

I'm JS, the younger of the two ;-)
Welcome to my blog!