New!

I'm doing the snacking thing today. Never eating a "real" meal, just grabbing a cookie as I go by. It's terrible!

My treadmill is staring at me too. That's always a bad thing. I'm trying to get in a little better shape, and loose a few extra pounds...I have a big trip coming up!

I've been working on Valentines day cards already. I know! It's seems so strange, but it really isn't all that far away. I won't post them up here yet, but soon. I did get a new package in the mail yesterday...more supplies! I bought myself a wonderful new stamp, and for the moment, it is my new favorite. Tell me what you think! It's fun to work with, and turns out so pretty! ;) Look for more cards featuring this beauty soon!

Thanks

After receiving all those lovely gifts, wouldn't it be wonderful to send back a beautiful thank you card? I have a couple of new ones uploaded to my shop. Take a look, it might be just what you need!

One last Site

I've decided on 2 places to sell my cards: Etsy (of course) and ArtFire. I've tried so many of them now, and ArtFire is by far the best of the "others" that I have tried. The listing is super fast and I love how the site is set up. There sure are a lot of Etsy seller there too!

I am still learning the site though. One thing I really have to check into is how to set up different shipping profiles to be able to send to other countries. Also, I have no idea what "karma" is on that site. I am also considering being a life time member. We will have to see about that one!

So, if you would like to see more, and different types of my cards, come take a look! http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=14555

And, here is one of the cards I have listed. Just 6 so far, but I am trying to get more in there!

Have a safe and warm Christmas!

Cold, Winter Snow and Wind.

The combination of wind and snow yesterday was amazing. We had to use the pickup to get to church, and even then, it was a little hairy! The drifts across the road were huge. We live in a rural area, with open spaces and nothing to stop the snow!

Bum Deal

I was really wishing for a shopping day today. And now that we had a major amount of snow, and the kids are all home from school, it isn't happening. I'm super bummed! I'm just not sure when I will be able to get my shopping done now!

Hope you are all having a better day than I am.

Celebrate!

I'm up to 500 hearts! I've been waiting for a long time...and it finally came yesterday. So exciting! I can remember getting those first few, and those were really great, these are the same! Thanks so much!

Just thought I would share my newest cards. I'm really happy with the way they turned out!

Batch Listing

The question was raised in my Etsy Greetings Group, what the views are like in our shops ever since Etsy implemented "batch listing." I wasn't sure about this, and was glad that Katherine Adams had a good explaination (below.) What do you think of this new way of listing? I can't imagine this does any good for the sellers!

"The new listing procedure on etsy is a batch system now. It used to be a constant cycle of listing...you list and in the order that your item hit the etsy system along with everyone else that is listing, your item went to the front page and moved along gradually getting pushed back through the pages. This way, everyone in a category got a chance on the front page in the order they listed their item. Now, the way it works is that when you list, your item goes in a "cyber pile" until they have a certain number of items in a category in that "pile" and then they all get listed at the same time. The only way you will get on the front page is if you are the last 21 in the "cyber pile."

For example, you list right after etsy posts a batch of listings so your item sits until they have x number of paper goods listings ready. When that number is reached, say it is 210, your item pops up for the first time on page 10 of the papergoods category. This means you never got seen by anyone unless they went through a minimum of the first 10 pages. I know from listing at busy as well as slow times that etsy has anywhere from 150 to 500 listings every 5-10 mins so your item then goes back even more pages at a time as everyone else lists.

For those that mentioned not being here last Christmas, business was much better and so was the economy. However, I was still plugging along this season with plenty of sales to keep me busy if I worked the system (ie...forums, sales, relisting and listing new items often). Now, I am lucky to sell one item every 2 weeks and many of those have been return customers who knew how to find me. I saw a definite drop off all of a sudden and just in the last few weeks. Etsy won't say exactly when the system was implemented.

There is also a new way they are counting views but I don't know the details of that system. Some have tried to attribute the drop off in exposure to the new view counting but really how often do we ever list an item that has been previously popular and have it sit for days with 1 or zero views? Never for me! I could always drum up some sales with a few of my unique items and even those tank with no interest now."

Tis the Season

Ooh it's a cold one out there today! -11 and the wind is kicking up. I guess I will have to put off my shopping day another time.
Yesterday we had snow, and blowing snow all day with falling temps. We started off our day with 14 degrees...that was the warmest! Winter has definately arrived.

Do you have all your shopping done for this year?! Look at the cute kids items I found this morning:

This really cute purse from arkitekonika-

Love this backpack from bratsackbaby-

Aren't these letters cute? From MiChiMa-

And this bowling set from Pieceof Peace-

Lots of great ideas! Have a wonderful day!

Favorite Friday

My favorite shop for this week is steeldreamingdesigns. Her fabric covered magnetic boards are so pretty! I saw her first on Craftcult.com, and fell in love. Such a fun and bright shop! Check it out today...they would make a wonderful Christmas gift!

New list

Been too crazy busy to write to you all...but I did take a time out and make a treaury! Take a look at my Seasonal list!

Pink!

Have someone in your family who loves pink? I do, and so I was searching for fun pink items...and Etsy is full of them! Take a look at these finds!

This is a really cute bookmark from Misseskwitties-

This soap looks like it smells really good...I admit, I always go for pink when looking at things like soap! It's from Simplyclassytoo.

And these are some really fun magnets by rafya-

The last one for today is this foaming body cream by Cozymoments...doesn't it look delicious?!

Christmas Cards

It's getting into December now...do you have your Christmas cards all ready to go? Or are you a last minute type of person, and don't have them bought yet? I have a quite a selection of cards in my shop yet! The most recent ones that I made are my most favorite Christmas cards that I have ever made...so elegant! (The paper I used has a lot to do with that!)

Here is the link to my section of Christmas cards too. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5358764&section_id=5670839 I also have some place cards that I would love to customize for your family! Take a look today!

Go with the grain

I am in love with wood earrings, just haven't bought any yet! I have a couple of outfits that I think would really benefit from purchasing. Now I just have to decide!

The first one is from Modrocks- there is a sale there too...buy 3 get the 4th free!

This pair from Chocolatecakejewels, is so pretty too! Also a tempting sale going on...buy 2 get one free.

And this simple, but gorgeous pair, is from Liberation, and they are on sale for only $6!

More sweaters

I have some new sweaters again! This time my mom went with another short-style sweater, and with one that is stripped! They are both really cute, and again, perfect for Christmas! Check them out!

I'm Back!

Here I am, back at home after a whirlwind trip to MI to see family! We had a very long trip up. We started off packing the van and trailer (story about the trailer in a minute) and suddenly there was a hissing sound. Flat tire. And it's 10 pm.

Thankfully we have a friend who works for a local Co-op, and we got a used tire put on. After a couple of hours of sleep, we took off at about 1:45 am.

The next disaster happened at 3:07 am. The second flat tire on the van! So my poor hubby was out there changing a tire with a flash light in his mouth, in the freezing cold. Now we have the spare tire on...just a donut, and there is NOTHING open at this time of night! So for 4 long hours we drive at 50 miles per hour on the interstate until we can find a place to get a different tire. Since it was night time, there wasn't too much traffic, but heading into Des Moines at 6:30- 7:00, that was a little hairy! There was a couple of times when there was traffic all around us and a semi would come up really fast behind us...yeah. A little scary!

Anyway, after we got another used tire, we were on our way. On to my sister's house to deliver a kitchen table. This is why we needed a trailer! My husband made a table for her out of barn wood. (I also have one in my house, and so, of course, my sister needed one too! ;) After spending some time with them- taking a look at their house that they are building, and eating an early supper, we were back on the road to MI.

We didn't get there until 10:00 MI time.

Our trip back home went much more smoothly. With an entire new set of tires, we weren't too worried about any flat tires anyway!