Thinking out Loud

Hello there, interwebs!

I know that I can't possibly have any loyal readers out there, as I am very un-loyal to actually writing.  Since the last time I was here typing...

1. I canned over 400 jars of various sundries, and filled the pantry to explosion potential.

2.  Following the three months of putting up food from the garden, I experienced a run on Harry Potter Sweaters of monumental proportions.  Over 100 sweaters were embroidered by hand and sent out into the world in the months of October through January.......

3.  I also experienced a small run on custom handknit sweaters, which I believe each deserve their own beautiful snapshot........

Melissa Leapman's Fabulous Cabled Turtleneck Pattern in Malabrigo Maxima

Heavily Improvised Cropped Version of Amy Miller's Gradient Pullover

Beautiful Silk Wedding Bodice from Stephanie Japel's Gorgeous Simple Knitted Bodice Pattern

A Classic Lopapeysa

A Downton Inspired Cardigan from an antique 1920's pattern

Downton Inspired Lace Pullover from another antique pattern

4.  And, finally--- I got caught up in miles and miles of roving, and put together giant blankets and scarves for sale in the shop--- one of which was to be seen on a little old runway during NYC Fashion week.  You know, no big deal.  *runs around flapping arms like an albatross and screaming like a hyena*  Totally cool.

So.... that's my excuse.  I literally had not the time, nor the finger strength, to type anything.  To let you know how I was doing.

But turns out..........I'm doing just fine.  I'm ready for the spring let down.  It came, like the weather, a little later than last year.  But I'm all caught up, and ready for a month of hibernation before the seeds go in the garden.

My two seedlings are doing wonderfully, and the hubster is out for training in California for a month.

I'll try and write regularly until..... well...... I run out of time again.  Being seasonally self-employed is tough on time management skills.  :)

♥Rose

ETA:  I'm available here, here, and here for your purchasing pleasure.

How to on Etsy - Opening a Shop, Fees, and Listing

How do you open a shop on Etsy?  How much does it cost?  How do you list something on Etsy?  I've created a great How To video for you to learn these "how tos" on Etsy.

Do you make something handmade?  You can sell it on Etsy!  Have a ton of vintage dresses?  Sell them on Etsy!  Like to make papercrafting supplies, but could never use them all?  Sell them on Etsy!  Etsy is a user friendly online storefront that allows independent business owners to sell handmade, vintage, or craft supply items through their marketplace.  There is no better place to start your eclectic shop than right on Etsy!

This video is a screencast how to video.  How to open a seller account on Etsy.  I go through and explain the basics, including how the fees on Etsy work, how to list an item, and some tips and tricks for stocking your Etsy storefront.  It's great fun, and I'd love to be the one to walk you through the basics today!

First off, I'll show you how to login or register, and open up an Etsy seller account.  After we do that, I'll explain the fee schedule behind Etsy which is as follows:
Listing: 0.20 /four month listing + 3.5% transaction free + 3% + 0.25 credit card fee.

After you get a basic understanding of how the fee schedule works, I'll walk you through a new listing- beginning with choosing your category of handmade, vintage, or supplies.  Reselling of commercial items on Etsy is strictly prohibited. 

After you choose your listing category, you'll then choose an item category!  Then it is a simple process of adding a title, description, pricing, and shipping cost!  Voila- you've just listed your first item, and for the low cost of 20 cents: started your very own internet storefront.

Finally, I'll show you some great examples of successful Etsy shops- in all three categories.

Best of luck, and have loads of fun!
♥Rose

Weekly Roundup!

Sooooooooooo... What have I been up to besides letting my blog go dead for a couple of weeks?

Sewing.  Embroidering.  Enjoying my first week with the boys in school and a quiet house, and getting whatever I want done during the day.  :)

I've been stitching sweaters:

Custom Harry Potter Sweater!  SewEcological $100

Hermoine Hoodie SewEcological $80

I've been knitting:

Beehive Beanie SewEcological $40

And I've been packing orders and mailing them out!!!!!  :)  Life is good.

See you on Wednesday for a tutorial!  Want to learn duplicate stitch?  I'll show you how!

♥Rose

Week in Review......

So... this is my first "Week in Review".  I've set my goal of updating the blog three times per week, or else I just "let it go" sometimes for months!!!

So, what I've been up to this week......

Mostly?

1.  Dancing. I've had the best sales week EVER on etsy.  I've almost surpassed my MONTHLY goal for August (which I thought was aiming too high, btw,) and it's only the 11th!!!!!!!  Mark me down as "Surpassing my Teaching Salary" please!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

2.Sticking to my task list.  I strongly believe this is one of the reasons for my success.  I'm making sure to take the time not only to create my goods to sell on etsy, but also to promote, discover marketing ideas, research, and tweak current listings.

3.  Embroidering for SewEcological.  My Harry Potter Sweaters have sold like gangbusters this week.  8 so far, with many messages flying back and forth to customers about what they are thinking about ordering.  I think the fact that I've upgraded to a higher quality sweater (from Land's End or Woolovers) has really pushed the fact that this is the best quality you can buy!

Ready to Ship in my shop!

4.  Sewing for SewEcological.  I had the fun idea of sewing old boy scout patches onto cotton and corduroy this week, after researching on Google Adwords (tutorial here) that Hipsters search for scarves on a regular and high traffic basis.  Aren't they fun?

Cadet Blue Cordurory "Hipster" Scarf

Red Cotton "Hipster" Scarf

5.  Listing and working on SEO for Rotifera.  I made bunches of earrings, hair clips, and hair combs this week, as they seem to be taking off!  I also created links within all my matching listings for easier shopping for the customer!

Button Earrings!

Threaded Hair Combs!

 6.  And finally...... I've been spending loads of time packing orders, making promotional goodies, marketing on facebook (SewEco on FB , Rotifera on FB), and just enjoying the fact that my decision to go to work full time for myself, and quit the world of public school teaching is PAYING OFF!!!!!!!!!!

Right now, I'm the happiest gal on the planet we call Earth.  (I HAVE been watching a lot of Star Trek....)

Live Long and Prosper, Ya'll!

♥Rose

Finding Balance...

So, you all know that being home full time for etsy is new to me.  The only problem I've found, so far *crosses fingers*, is finding time to work on projects for etsy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who knew. 

Now that I'm home full time, I seem to find more and more cleaning that I have time to do, more home improvement projects I've been putting off, and more time to rollerblade. <------oh yes.  People still do that.  (okay.  I still do that.)  Also, I may have started watching seasons 1-6 of How I Met Your Mother.  That counts as serious work, right?

So, over the past week, I have: gutted, decluttered and reorganized both my bedroom --2005 wanted her clothes back, my laundry room (HELLO JUNK.  Six trash bags full of junk.), and my kitchen.  All of my craft supplies are organized, I bought a new vacuum......

Do you see how this has been going?  So, last night I decided that I would SIT and sew.  I would not find a reason to get up, unless it was from the cutting desk to the sewing machine.

And?  The result?

I got my sewing mojo back!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are two "skirprons" I upcycled last night:

Mini Tutorial:::::::::
1.  Find a cotton skirt that you don't wear, for whatever reason.
2.  Using a seam ripper, remove the back seam and zipper (if there is one.)
3.  Double fold in the back ripped seams: iron, pin and sew.
4.  Cut a package of bias tape in 1/2, and sew both sets of raw edges under, and down the length of the tape.
5.  Add each "strap" made of bias tape to the back side of the apron!

VOILA!!!!!  The "skirpron".   *enter voiceover*  "Also available on SewEcological.etsy.com"  */voiceover*

Soooooooo... Now that I've got my mojo back, I plan on making a few more aprons, and a TON of unfinished armwarmers I've got laying around.  If I can avoid cleaning out the kitchen cabinets, repainting the kitchen and my bedroom, and totally reorganizing my amazing DVD collection.

May the force be with me.

♥Rose

Make your own QR Codes!!

HOLY CARP!!!

I just made QR codes for smartphones--- it takes you to my website!  How freaking cool is THAT?

I'm going to make some of these up on my next business cards, and have some printed out for my booth at the craft fair.  Next?  Figure out how to make ones that lead to a sale and/or discount.

AWESOME.  You want to... scan it!!!!!  (you'll need to download the app from android first, and then make sure you have a smartphone with a camera, yo.)

Go on over to Rotifera!

Or SewEcological!

Wicked COOL.

I made the QR codes absolutely free here:  http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
Just copy and paste your link, choose your size (I chose L for these ones), and off you go!


xoxo

Rose

Oh, my giddy aunt!!!!

I just applied to be juried for the Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago September 8-9th. 

Excited?  Heck ya.

Nervous?  OH yeah.

Hoping I can earn enough selling my wares to beat the $400 booth fee?  YES.

I figured it out.  If I sell 120 $5 items, I'll about break even.  *crossing fingers*

$5 Hair Clips from Rotifera.etsy.com

Wish me luck!  I find out on June 14th if I made it into the show or not.

And my friends in Chicago?  I'll need a place to sleep.

Addiction Friday

I have a few.  Who doesn't?

Currently?????

I'm addicted to:

My Husband.  Over 10 years of marriage, and he is still my drug of choice.

This car.  I'm currently saving for it.  If I can find a Black 1966 Chevy Caprice, I seem to feel, for some unfathomable reason, that I'll be happier.  :)

Knitting.  It is my yoga and meditation all rolled into one.  Seriously.  If knitting burned any calories, I'd be a supermodel, folks.

The Etsy store I'm currently addicted to? ZIBtextile.etsy.com .  Whoa.  I could spend hours buying up all these leggings, if I wasn't saving for that car.  :)

And one weird one.  A new one.  Nancy Drew Video games.  Good grief, the time suck.  :)

So, there you have it!  A Friday full of addictions.  I'd say, for the most part, I don't need to check into rehab anytime soon.....but it's a close call.

Quitting my Day Job - Teaching

So, my day job is teaching.  My whole life has revolved around teaching for more than 4 years.  If you include going to college for teaching, student teaching, etc.....  more like 8 years. 

So it is sad.  Sad that I am leaving the profession after so little time.  Sad that I've become so disillusioned with the politics surrounding teaching.  Sad that the government and our society so little value the time and effort we put into molding students lives. 

I will miss them, those goofy kiddos.  I will miss the job.  I will miss making a difference, EVERY single day.  I'm good at this!  Teaching comes naturally to me.  Connecting with kids and making them see the importance of things in the classroom comes naturally to me.

BUT.  What does NOT come naturally is sitting idly by, watching my pay, insurance, and retirement cut by the state government every single day.  Michigan has cut my pay alone by over $600/month this year alone.  And to work for 30 years to receive a tiny $1200/month retirement, with no real guarantee of even receiving that??  THAT does NOT come naturally.

So...... I have resigned from the teaching profession after 4 years of blood, sweat, and real tears.

The plan?  Do something that makes me as happy as teaching.  Creating.  Selling things that I've imagined and then made with my own two hands.

My etsy stores, craft shows, really focusing on the development of my two young boys, my market garden.  That is what will be taking my time from now on.   

I hope I never regret the decision to work for myself, and focus on my children.  :)

Now...................

Who wants to help me clean out my classroom? 

Rotifera Featured on Etsy Stalkers!!!!!

Whoa.  Just discovered a super wickedly fun time suck of a blog.  EtsyStalkers  And by time suck, I mean GREAT blog with funny posts and great shop features.  Julie just featured my hair flair shop, Rotifera.  Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

Over a Year Later......

So......

I return to my blog.  It has been sitting neglected for over a year.  It seems that once I opened Rotifera , time began to run away with me.  I've been VERY successful!!!!!!

Successful enough to resign from teaching.

The two shops are rocking and rolling:
SewEcological --- over 400 sales, and 100% positive feedback.  Full of fun upcycled creations and handknits!

Upcycled Infinity Scarf

Handknit Alpaca Cowl

And Rotifera.... Rotifera REALLY took off last year, with almost 1200 sales, and 100% positive feedback.

Art Deco Rose Accessory

Lacy Button Snap Clips

And.........just for fun, I opened a Paper goods shop last September with my friend Cris... The boxes I started stamping really took off, and we've had 176 sales with 100% positive feedback so far!!!!

Handstamped Kraft Jewelry Boxes

So, all in all--- a BUSY year.  A successful year.  I resigned from teaching effective June 10th, and will be going to Etsy and the craft show circuit full time this year, beginning in July.  I have a Europe trip coming up in the middle of June, and then I'm FULL STEAM AHEAD into entrepreneurship. 

That means more blogging, more sales, and more fun!!!!!!  I'm so excited, I can hardly stand it.

See you sooooooooon!!!!!!
♥Rose

What I've been up to... Part II

Well, I'm back! 

In this next installment--I'll tell you all about my new etsy shop- rotifera! 

First of all- the name.  What kind of name is that?  It is a biological nod!

Rotifera- This is the phylum name for a type of microscopic animal that translates to "wheel-bearing". They are beautiful, whimsical, and unique. This represents how I think about hair accessories. We don't NEED them, but we love to invoke a little of our personality into what we wear.


I've made TONS of stuff:


Headbands-

Ponies:

Bobbies:

Snap Clips:

And BIG barrettes:

I'm love cool fabrics so much!!  And I just find that these little button goodies are a very cool way of displaying them!

*smooch* 

Go check out the shop!  Tell me, what do you think should be in there?  I'm curious-- my taste may not be your taste!

Okay, let's just start from the beginning.... What Have I been up to...

What I've been working on: Part I...

I have been so busy keeping up with orders this past two weeks, and that is the reason I've not posted!  But I'm going to MAKE time to show you what I've been working on....

I've been making blankets as part of the shop offering for my Sew Ecological shop on Etsy.  So far the feedback has been amazing, and two out of these three labors of love have sold right out the door....

1.  Neutrals- this one sold in under an hour.  Granted, I had a VERY good idea what *someone* on my Etsy team was wishing for, so I'm glad it did...

Feedback:  "This blanket is FANTASTIC! Rose has a great talent for matching up pieces of prior loved garments into a warm and cozy lap blanket! I LOVE this!"

2.  This one is still in the shop, in case you FALL in love with it!  It is in manly shades of gray, black, and cream, and I really adore it...

3.  And LAST, but certainly not least, this one is one of my favorites to date.  It too, sold right away.  It was also featured on Cuteable.  This one has been lovingly packaged and shipped to Canada, so I hope the owner leaves me some *swoon* feedback once she recieves it.  It was hard to let go of this one, because my AMAZING cousin (also a FABULOUS sewer) donated the red fair isle sweaters to make this one a reality.

Thank you for these sweaters, Dawn!!!!

So there you have it.  Day 1 in a long series of "What I've been up to."

That exhausted but amazing feeling!

I know, I know--  Two weeks in a row with little to post?


Here is the reason-  MY BRAND NEW ETSY STORE!!!!!  *pops champagne*

I've been so successful with my main shop- Sew Ecological, that I've spread out into a new area- hair accessories.  This was inspired by making freebies to go along with my Sew Eco orders, and I wanted to showcase them all on their own for a cohesive shop look....

Here are a few things I've gotten done to get the shop, Rotifera,  up and running, but there is so much more on the way!

Button Ponies

Great Big Bobbies

Great Big Bobbies

I pondered long and hard about the shop name- maybe it is too cerebral, but I fell in love with the name....

Rotifera- This is the phylum name for a type of microscopic animal that translates to "wheel-bearing". They are beautiful, whimsical, and unique. This represents how I think about hair accessories. We don't NEED them, but we love to invoke a little of our personality into what we wear.


I've got new items in my other shop too, but I'll leave it at this for today, and post again soon!  (No, really!)


*blushes* for not posting more this week...