Thursday, February 17, 2011

Blog Love!

So for starters, I'm adding a few pictures of my latest projects (while I've got your attention)


Especially great for the silent bragging mom (like myself)


                                  

A little jeweled up...


Simple.

And here is some blogging love for my fellow bloggers (to keep your attention).




http://www.etsy.com/shop/MountainGoth?ref=top_trail


That's all for now, thank you!

Business lessons

I have become a kid in the virtual candy store.  Now I want to buy a metal stamp for every person I know!  The paw print for the dog lover.  The bee for the bee keeper.  The footprints for the new mom.  The heart for the newlywed.  The list goes on and on.

I also, however, run a mental game with myself.  "If I sell a necklace today, I can buy a stamp."  I guess I learned from my husband who still owns a business but it is no longer his primary occupation.  He tells me to "put my money back into my company."  So now I'm learning business lessons.  I guess so long as I'm learning, that's a good thing right?

Sunday, February 13, 2011

For starters...

This is the final piece.  The final piece that will make me an authentic Etsy seller.  So the posts in the chat rooms say.  :)

I really hadn't given much thought to blogging because after all, what do I have to say that is so interesting?  Then I read a fellow Kentucky Etsy artisan who said, "I feel like I'm talking to myself."  I laughed because I knew that's how I would feel right now...and I do.  ha ha  But I was really interested to read her view point in all of it's honesty and genuine nature.   So I thought I would give blogging a try.  So now it's time to explore the joys and tribulations of blogging along with any other "newbie" bloggers.  (Am I officially a blogger now?)

I guess after all of this rambling a good place to start would be to tell a bit about myself?  I am a physical therapist at an outpatient clinic and my focus is the pediatric world.  All the time, really.  Because I'm also the mother to two beautiful, energetic twin boys.  Fortunately I have an amazing husband and a naughty, big white dog to round out our family portrait.

I have heard many people charge me with being "crafty" and I'm guilty for choosing to start art projects in lieu of housework.  I like to make things for my boys' room and to decorate our home and that is where Etsy began.  After I slapped an owl project started for a window valance for the boys on to a Christmas stocking, I sold it on Etsy.  And then the obsession began.  Since then I've sold hand painted towels, name art, stockings, and jewelry that I hand stamp.  I'm having a good time with it and after completing over 50 orders and close to 100 projects (with custom orders), I feel like I'm getting a good feel for how things run.  I really like the fact that I use quality material so I can feel good about what I sell.  The jewelry is my focus.  I want a mother to buy a necklace for her daughter and for it to last a really long time.  And have a really good story behind why she chose it...

Thanks for reading.