Some changes :)

I went to a networking meeting the other day as an 'advisor' to people on setting up online shops through a local craft group I belong to. I gave some advice which I hope was well received! Rachel Johns was also there as an advisor and gave us some very good advice about Etsy, Facebook and Twitter.

Lion gift tags - just because!

Rachel has recently turned her Etsy shop back to US$ as she had noticed a dramatic drop in her sales when she had changed it to GB£. I changed my shop to GB£ when the announcement came out from Etsy that you could choose your own currency. I've also noticed a downshift in the number of sales I am getting through Etsy but put it down to the recession etc. Anyway I have changed my Etsy shop back to US$ to see how it goes. If it doesn't work out then I can always change it back again. It will be a bit more work for me as I will have to check the exchange rate fairly regularly but not too much and if the benefits are good then I won't mind at all! Rachel also pointed out that as Etsy is an American site, most buyers go to it geared up for spending in dollars. People in America expect it and if anyone from elsewhere in the world is going to Etsy then they will be willing to buy in dollars anyway.

Peter and Jane stickers

Matt also pointed out that most people in the UK have a rough idea of what a US$ is worth against the £ and I'm pretty sure that his logic applies to most other countries in the world. However, he pointed out that many people in America won't know what a dollar is worth against a pound, a euro or an Australian dollar. Another valid point!

Rachel also talked a bit about automatic updates to Facebook and Twitter. I am an avid Twitter user but I used not to use Facebook at all - maybe once a month. I do have a business page alongside my personal page but it wasn't being updated. So I set up automatic feed from my two shops so that when I listed something new, a post would automatically go to Facebook. It worked for a while and did the job of making sure that my Facebook page ticked over. And it did just that, ticked over - nothing more. Rachel said that she got a lot more response on Twitter when she added a link to her blog herself rather than as an automatic update and I must admit that I have found the same on Facebook. So the automatic updates have gone from my Facebook pages - any updates from now on will be typed with my own fair fingers :)

If you have an Etsy shop I would love to know if you sell in your own currency or in US$ and what your experiences have been. Also any Facebook or Twitter stories are welcome too :)

Wow - busy day!

The craft room tidying is going very nicely and got a good boost when my friend decided that the girls could go to hers for tea and that I wouldn't have to pick them up until 6.30pm! Woot!! So I had a huge block of time to play with and it didn't get wasted. I fixed the holes in two pairs of Anya's tights, cut some chickens out (I'm having a mammoth chicken sewing session one day this week!), made some business cards, sorted more scraps, sorted more fabric to go up to school, covered the addresses on jiffy envelopes so they can be used again, chopped up some cardboard, ripped pages out of damaged books, sorted some boxes and emptied 4 bags of stuff. That was all this morning too!

This afternoon was different though as one of the bags held lots and lots of skeins of embroidery thread that needed sorting (3 quid from a charity shop earlier in the year!) Fast forward 3 hours (yes really) and this is where I am. Actually I'm a bit further on than this as the picture was taken an hour ago but I still have all the browns and greys to sort!

All this sorting is well and good but I now have to find a place for this set of threads and the other one that used to live downstairs in the kitchen (don't tell me you don't have craft stuff in every room!)

This is where it is meant to live so I can sense some more sorting in my future! It's 6.15pm so I'd better go and get the girls from my wonderful friend. I'm helping her alter a dress so she won't mind me being a bit late I'm sure!

Birthday gifts from Alex

And yes I do know I am very late in posting these to the blog (my birthday was in January) But hey they only got their photographs taken on Sunday!

I got one of her very pretty aprons - but only a half apron as I am not a fan of  full aprons. I also got a mini pencil case (handbag size!), some pencils and a notebook. She knows me well! Close up photographs below.

The presents were all wrapped up in gold tissue paper which has now been claimed by the girls for their crafty drawers and they were delivered in this pretty wire box. Alex included it for me as she thought I would be able to use it in some crafty way. I have an idea but I'm not sure if it will work - I will let you know!

Pretty Spring colours - I might wear it later this week when I attempt to make lemon cheese. Yummy! It's also quite fitting that I am posting this on Alex's birthday - pop over and wish her many happy returns!

My Creative Space

Is a thinking space today as I am looking after a friends little girl today - hence the lateness too! What am I thinking about? These gorgeous items below that were given to me by a different friend who has been collecting them since she was 11! And she gave them to me!!

Gorgeous gorgeous buttons! Close ups below!

 

Aren't that little boy and girl just adorable??

I'm thinking hard about these buttons as I want to do something special with them but I'm not sure what. Maybe a button brooch for some of them? What would you do with them?

Some more fabulous post!

I really am a lucky ducky this month - I recieved yet another fabulous parcel yesterday. Alison at Tweed Delights had ordered some fabric but the print turned out to be bigger than she thought so she sent it to me :) And look how perfect it is!!

Campervans :) :)

Ethel here is my favourite!

Thanks Alison - such a lovely thought and it's perfect for me. I will just have to think of the exact right object to make with it!

Look what I've got!

My very own Rolley Monkey!!!! I won the giveaway at Claires Crafty Blog and she sent me a Rolley Monkey as well as all this gorgeous stuff - I'm a very lucky lady :)

A lovely card

Some felt hearts that will be used in crafty projects :)

More crafty goodies including some buttons - a girl can never have enough buttons :)

A very cute lion brooch that Tara is already eyeing up!

A wrist pincushion - I have been after one of these for ages as I normally put my pins into my skirt as I am sewing and I end up loosing them!

A cute magnet that the girls love (we collect magnets!)

A fabulous Monsieur Lime mini tote.

A fabulous sparkly sardine brooch which as you can see is already on my jacket! Thanks Claire - I am thrilled with all my goodies :) Claire's Etsy shop is here if you fancy buying something for yourself.

Matt wasn't left out though and got this very cool card for his birthday from my fabulous sister. It's all of us in Bumble (our camper van). Don't we all look happy :) Thanks Sarah - Matt loves it!

So I went shopping yesterday.......

......and bought a few things :D We were heading into Manchester anyway to have lunch with some friends who have come 'up north' to visit friends and family. We were some of those friends :) We had to call in at Paperchase as they were having a huge sale and I'd spotted some decorations in the window.

I couldn't resist these glasses! They are just perfect for me! And they were down to £2 so a bargain :)

These bauble also called to me - too cute!

And a new notebook for me - I couldn't resist the birds! We also went into Primark and we all got a few things. I only took photo's of a few items though - all of my things!

A new top! I like a bit of bling, it's my inner Bet Lynch coming through :)


And some new hair things - these are staying away from the girls!

Craft fair :)

The craft fair was good today but I am shattered now so here are a few pics and a few words!

My stall in all it's glory - lots to look at!

The right hand side of my stall.

Yep - you guessed correctly. Now the left hand side of my stall!

And finally the mini tree with my decorations on. Lots of people looked but no one bought one. It just means I will have some for the next fair in 2 weeks!

A big thanks to Ruth for taking me to the fair (she gets a trip in Bumble to the next fair!) and for being nice and sewing button eyes onto chickens for me!