Filling up the shop, day 3

Hello!

How was your Monday? Mine was great! I did a lot of promoting (yes!) and as a result, got a sale (double yes!). So, you know how my goal for the week is to list an item everyday on etsy? Well, yesterday, I gave my Facebook fans a sneak peek of some of the new items and one of my friends bought an item! So, I listed two items yesterday - that counts for two days, right? =)

I just listed a new item for today. This coin purse matches the mini-wallet that I posted yesterday. I just love this fabric! It's so cheerful and fun. These coin purses are great because they can fit more than just coins - lip gloss, money, cards, etc.

Coloful Flowers Coin Purse - Etsy

So, what's in store for the rest of the day? After I finish my "day" job, I'm going home to have dinner with my husband and then finish a medium tote from a custom order. I also have a Sew Cute! at home party to prepare for this weekend. Well, have a great day!

Filling up the shop

Happy Monday! I did quite a bit of sewing, promoting, and thinking this weekend....among helping throw a bridal shower for a dear friend! I realized I need to pay more attention to my etsy shop in the midst of completing Sew Cute! at home party orders - a task that is not so easy! I did have some wallets, coin purses and a bag sitting in my sewing room and made a goal to fill up my shop this week!

My cousin, Kaitlin, did this a month or so ago. She set a goal for herself to list one item a day for a week and see what happened in her shop. I started yesterday and listed a new item for Sew Cute! - I have branched out from basic, one pocket clutch/ wallets, to a wallet that has one main pocket, and then some credit card divisions. Here it is:

Find this in my etsy shop - click here

Wicasset by Moda Wallet

Today, I listed an item that is a bit more "springy". This floral mini-wallet is super bright and just wants to go inside your bag! I have a matching coin purse that will be unveiled soon!

In other areas of Sew Cute!, my huge order is slowly coming to an end! I have one and a half bags left to complete. I've learned quite a lot during this process as well as sewn every spare minute I have. Here are a few things I will put into practice:
1. Charge more for custom orders! They take time - more time to pick out the fabrics, go to the store, figure out which button the customer would like best, etc.
2. Put more in writing! I need to make sure I specify that custom orders cannot be returned. Customers need to be told to be very specific about their likes and dislikes if they are going to "trust me".
3. Order thank you cards and new business cards! I'm running low on business cards and I want to incorporate some matching thank you cards I can send to customers.

Finally, Here are some photos of a few of the orders I recently filled:

Cassie's Order: Black & White Mini-Tote, matching wallet and keychain

Melissa's Order: Custom Alchemy Order - Scoop Pocket Purse

Have a great day!

Friday Finds: Baby Style

Etsy Baby Picks!




When shopping for baby showers, why not buy handmade? These are just a few of the thousands of baby items on etsy! Thanks for viewing my very first mini-treasury! So exciting.

Twitter Basics

I'm entering the world of Twitter! While hanging out on the etsy forums this morning, I found this blog post. Twitter Basics It's really helpful if you want to learn more about starting a Twitter account.

Why I am going to start "tweeting":

-Many crafters have joined the Twitter phenomenon - and I hear it is a great way to network.
-Add it to the other social media networking sites for small businesses - Facebook, Blog, and Twitter.
-I hear it can drive traffic to your etsy shop (though, I know not to abuse it promoting your biz).
-Sounds like fun!

I'll keep you updated on this process!

Until then....any suggestions? =)

Friday Finds and More!

Happy Friday! It has been awhile since I have written! Busy, Busy in the Tappan household. I am now 17 weeks pregnant and every day is a new adventure. Yesterday, I woke up angry and this morning I woke up ready to cry and throw in the towel. I guess these hormones really take a lot out of a girl! My husband is afraid to get out of bed in the morning, never knowing if it will be his sweet wife or the monster twin awaiting him! I guess he can handle it.

Part of this emotional rollercoaster is my HUGE bag order from my most recent Sew Cute! at home party....no complaints here, but I am a bit overwhelmed. I have made 6 bags (various sizes) with matching wallets, keychains, etc. and still have 5 bags to go. Thankfully, the accessories are already completed. My etsy shop is waning and the store I sell my bags in needs more! YIKES! Doug reminded me I just need to breathe and take it one day at a time. I will try that and get back to you!

On a happy note, today is our 5 year anniversary! April 16th was the date of our first date....and we got married one year later. Doug and I have known each other since high school, so this was no speedy engagement. It's been a great five years, full of love and learning and I wouldn't trade any of it.

Since I am expecting, I have been searching Etsy for cute baby items. I even tried to post a treasury, but to no avail. My friends use "nursing bracelets" - beaded bracelets that have numbers on them to help you remember when you last nursed, and what side you nursed on. I found this particular bracelet very cheerful and fun from a seller called Chunky Monkey Toes.


Do you have any favorite baby products? Help a girl out! Post a comment with some links to great finds that worked for you. Also, any suggestions on which cloth diaper hybrids to use? =)

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend. =)

And the winner is...

The results are in! The winner of Sew Cute's first giveaway is....Kaitlin Gray of Rochester, NY!!!! Congrats, Cousin!!!

Kaitlin gets to pick her favorite fabrics for a Sew Cute! zippered coin purse! Thank you to all the participants. Don't worry; Sew Cute! will be having another giveaway in the future.

Still really want one? I'm selling them at an introductory price of $6.00 on my etsy.com site...check it out. If you don't see a fabric arrangement you like, send me a message, I have tons of cute fabrics!

Congratulations again, Kaitlin! Visit Kaitlin's etsy shop: kaitlineringray.esty.com

a little bit of Spring

Sorry, I haven't been around all week! I actually had to work, at work! Crazy, huh?
I have a few updates for you and a few treats as well!

Last Saturday's bag party was fantastic! I sold a ton of purses, wallets, mini-wallets and booked a party! I am extremely overjoyed that Sew Cute! is on it's way....feels hard to believe that a year ago I hadn't even thought up Sew Cute!. I need to remind my self of God's faithfulness and provision at all times of this business venture....even when I'm so tired from being pregnant and have HUGE bag order looming over me! So, the party took in over $500 worth of orders. Now the job is to order fabric, start making bags, and figure out how much is actual profit, how much goes to my investor (dear Mom) and how much to put back in the business. It is quite a learning process.

I am also toying with the idea of getting thank you cards made - I may do them myself with publisher or check out etsy to see if there are any crafters out there who can do it for me! I need bags as well for my bags! Or somesort of packaging. I've heard the Dollar Tree offers some great deals on smaller bags (for wallet, keychains, etc), but I need to explore larger options for the mini-tote and the regular totes. Hmmm....

Remember a few weeks ago when I posted the Spring table runner I was making? Well, I finally have the photos! It is so pretty and looks great on my kitchen table.

The finished product!

A close up view.

On an end note, the giveaway is almost over....so, go to the giveaway post and enter to win one of my new zippered coin purses!