Promoting

It appears that being on etsy is about more than just making stuff. In fact that's the easy part. The forums, the promoting, the blogging, passing out business cards, well you get the picture. But I guess like any business, new or otherwise, if people don't know about them, will not prosper. So, what did I do today?

Gave a friend some business cards to pass out to her friends that have small children, posted on the forums, updated here, asked to be on the etsymini blog (which I'm linking to). Oh, I relisted one of mom's quilts, too.

On the production end, I finished 2 more aprons completely, almost finished a third, and figured out a small accessory design that I will make some of tomorrow (tune in here and my etsy shop to see what they are... it'll be a surprise). And did an initial design of 2 more items that have been swirling around in my head, or at least got them on paper and out of my head.

On a more depressing and humiliating note, I was reading another blog from a fellow etsian and saw myself in the "what not to do when taking pictures" tip. Yikes, I guess if the shoe fits. But, for now, those will probably stay as they are (not telling which ones).

And yet with all that, this "job" is the most fun of any I have ever been not paid for.

Taking Pictures

Here's the thing. I love sewing and making all kinds of things. Just not taking the pictures of them. I got some great tips (and even had some direct help... thanks!) from a fellow etsian, Rob, RobertSocha. I haven't really tried them yet (although I took advantage of the cloudy day today). It was also really windy, so I tried to be artsy with the aprons blowing in the wind.

Well, the bottom line is that taking pictures takes almost as much time as making the skirts and aprons themselves. Hopefully, it will go faster as I take more pictures. Oh, and here is the apron blowing in the wind.... cute, huh?

Still no sales

Boo hoo. No sales yet on etsy. And now lots of ebay sellers are apparently abandoning ebay (there's a strike on there, so I hear), and coming to etsy. That's fine, but they're already established, and while (allegedly) their buyers will follow and browse, will they look at the new little etsy shops that are just starting out?

OK, I'm done whining. I need to promote more, and when I get back from Phoenix, I will. And I have more to list, which will help. And more to finish making.

Found It

I knew that that silly cord would turn up, and sure enough, about 4:30 a.m. that's when it happened. The dog. That's why I was up that early, so I sat on the plaid chair to wait for her to finish her business, and there it was. So you can see in the picture... the plaid chair, AND the dog. Not exactly the safe place I thought it was, but never mind.

You can see the aprons I listed in my etsy mini shop.

I'm excited about the weekend... I'm finishing some "spinning skirts" tomorrow, and I have a little 3-year old model ready to spin for me. No photos of any finished yet, but I'll have 4 different fabrics to start with. Laura is coming home to visit this weekend, too, and she's going to come with me for the "photo shoot" and then we'll do some shopping =).

Frustrating

Aaargh! I am so frustrated with myself. I have 2 aprons ready to list in my shop, and I can't find the cord that connects my camera to the computer. I tried putting the memory card directly into the computer, but it's not working for some reason. I ended up listing another bib since I have several more to go, but I'm ready to put more variety in the shop. I'm also really curious how the mom/daughter aprons will be received.

I know I put that cord someplace really safe... just TOO safe I guess. So, I'll have to add Best Buy to my errand list, along with more thread, checking out Little Quilts in their sale section. And something to make for Roland for our Valentine's dinner... he's not a romantic in the least, and we've agreed not to get anything for each other, but I think I'll cook a special dinner. The rest of the day I want to be sewing.

"The Lasts"

Spring semester year is a time of "lasts". Tonight was the last winter band concert. As usual, I couldn't see Kyle but he was there. Two more concerts to go. I had to find several pictures to turn in for the senior band tribute. Here's one of them:
He's a cutie-pie. Kyle, too. =)

Lazy Day

This was pretty much a do nothing day. Church this morning, then lunch as usual. It's a little soon to be counting the last Sunday lunches we have with Kyle, but his senior year is flying by! Sundays always mean getting my Weight Watcher meetings ready for the week. I'm packed up for tomorrow, and have my notes ready... but it's all about fun, laughing spontaneously, telling jokes. I'm a terrible joke teller so I don't think I'm going to have much fun ;-).

I listed my tablecloth tote bags today. Spent a little time practicing making rolled hems with my new rolled hem presser foot, and mostly surfed etsy forums, read some blogs, and that about it. I feel lazy, lazy. I'll be re-energized tomorrow.

Colleges

TV update... turns out it did need a new lamp, but Roland has taken care of it, and it should arrive Monday or Tuesday. Expensive, but not as bad as feared. In the meantime, we just have to watch one of the other tvs in the house. I don't think we're hurtin' there!

Kyle has heard from another school... he got into Univ. of Maryland! He is 3 for 3 so far, with yes's from Auburn, Colorado, and Maryland. Colorado so far has offered the most money, but it's so far away. It is still in the running, but with his girlfriend going to Univ. of Richmond, Maryland may have leapt ahead. Next week we should hear from Clemson, then we have to wait until April 1 for the other 2.

In sewing "news", I cut out about 12 aprons and 6 skirts yesterday. Cutting out is the most tedious part for me, so it's great to have stacks of pieces ready to go. I made 2 aprons this morning. Fun!
Hope to get them listed tomorrow or Monday.

The TV Blew Up

Just finished watching Lost (wow, I'm confused as ever!)... and suddenly there is a loud pop from the back of the tv. Screen goes blank. Can't really turn it off, and more weird noises. The button on the front keeps flashing Lamp. Roland says it will cost $200-300 to replace the lamp. :-(

I hate when stuff like this happens. I guess I'll just go to bed now.

Laura's Bag

It's done! Finished it this evening, and it turned out really well I think. The monogram could have been darker, or a heavier style, but I'm still pleased. I think she'll like it, and she'll have lots of room for all her stuff!

Work in Progress

Finally, a post with meaning! ;-) I've been working on a duffel bag for Laura using one of the Taylor Made Designs pattern books. I've only used one other of hers (Cindy Taylor Oates writes these)... the one for the pajama pants. It was really easy and informative. Kyle, my 17 year old son, even managed to make a pair of pants for his girlfriend.

Back to the duffel bag. I was going along pretty well until strap time. The directions failed to say that the measurements, ironing and batting width all had be exact or there will not be enough overlap. I could see it coming, but thought I could fake my way through and this is what happened:
Not good. Four options. 1. Leave it. No, it's the strap, that won't work. 2. Rip it out. Not happening. I only rip out if there are no other options. 3. Start over. Too much time and a waste of perfectly good fabric. 4. Cover it up. That's my choice!

I did the math, cut out a 1-1/2" wide strip long enough to cover both straps, pressed under a 1/4" on all sides, and applied a strip of heat bond. This strip, by the way, is the main fabric, and has the added advantage of being dark, which will help the strap stay looking nice longer. OK, we're up to here:The heat bond stuff is great. I applied it over the offending strap, and then using my edge stitch foot, sewed it on. Now it looks like this:

Sooo much better. I was hoping to have a picture of the finished bag tonight, but, alas, I ran out of thread ... again. The machine quilting, and triple stitching that I'm using to apply the strap to the bag are eating up the thread! Maybe tomorrow.

Go Look!

It's taken me all day, but I have listed 4 things to my etsy shop. You can go check it out at downthestreet.etsy.com.