Banana Rama Ding Dong

I made the COOLEST treasury ever!!

For those of you who don't know. A treasury is something that sellers on etsy make. It's a group of items that other sellers are selling...if it is pretty enough it might make it to the front page.

In order to get a treasury the list of them has to drop below 333.....I'm not patient, so I never get one.

But I did! Yay! So here is my awesome treasury!!!

Click on it to be directed to it on etsy.

Shop Re-Vamp

According to some great etsyians my shop pics were not up to par. After my successful show this past weekend I decided to buckle down and work on the appearance of my shop.

This meant retaking all of the pictures of all of the items in my etsy, and taking pictures of all of my new stuff from the show that did not sell.

Well, it took me 2 days, and I'm still not done editing the new stuff pics. But my shop has a fresh new look to it. Everything flows, and some of the pics are kinda funny!

I'm hoping that this will bring some traffic my way, but only time will tell.

I suggest you all go look. HERE

And while you are there check out my "mother of all market bags" this is the bag that sold out at the show!

Face

So I just made a facebook. And it rules pretty hardcore. I don't know how to post a link to it on here....but my name on there is my real name. Erin Quintana. So go find me and be my friend. Cause I only got one friend right now, and I think more people should be my friends cause I'm awesome.

This is my avatar/main pic/whatever they call it on facebook since there are other people with my name. Find me and be my friend.

My First Craft Show Did Not Suck

Lancaster City Arts Market
So, this was my first ever craft show and I must say it was not sucky. The building wasn't heated, and a few windows were broken, so it was FREEZING.

Friday Night - SetUp
So friday night my hubby and I drove the pickup to Lancaster (about 45 minutes away) to set up shop. I suck at driving that stupid ginormous truck. Gah, I hate it.
Anyway. We got there, and set up my booth. The plan was to make feet outa toobafors (2x4's) for the doors that I hung my bags on....well, we didn't. I was kinda scared people would trip on them. So we just went for it and prayed they didn't fall and crush anyone.
Here's my booth






SATURDAY
So saturday I got to the spot at like 9:30, the doors opened to shoppers at 10. I would say the first hour was slow...then 11 hit and BAM shoppers everywhere! It was like a mad house.
I've never used little reciept books before, for those of you who haven't....remember to stick the carbon paper BETWEEN the two copies. LOL! It took me 3 receipts to figure that out. DUH!

So anyway, my best friend Kristine was there with me, just helping out. This is us (I'm the one in the hat)Alright, so. I whipped up 11 HUGE market bags. I had them out at the end of the booth on a coat rack with I big sign that said "Big Market Bags $10". I sold out! With over an hour to go.

Driving home I found the end of the world, in the form or 18 million black birds. They looked like pigeons, but were jet black. This picture only shows like 2% of them. Its was nuts. (and I took it while I was driving....safety first!)


I had to make more, cause I promised customers I would have more Sunday. So I stayed up till 1am making more bags. I didn't finish, but was so tired that I told myself I would get up early and finish 'em up.

SUNDAY
Okay, so I get up early. NOT. I had about 10 minutes to finish the bags...so I'm sewing like a sewing fool. And sew right through my finger! The needle actually broke off in my finger. My husband had to pull it out for me and bandage me up. I almost barfed. Sorry, no pic, it was painful and I didn't even think about finding the camera.

I arrived late...well, at like 9:57. Oh and there was NO coffee at my house. (bad bad morning). So I had to buy coffee before rearranging and prettying up my booth for the day. So, I got my cup o joe and cleaned up my booth, and plopped into my chair. And waited for the shoppers...and waited....and waited...and they never came. :( I'm not sure if it was because it was crazy cold outside, or because everyone that planned on coming came the day before.

My mom, dad, uncle, aunt, cousin & cousins boyfriend came to see me tho! Yay! Gotta love the family support!!!

So.....in closing. This show rocked for me. I think next year I will only do saturday tho.

Oh AND....I got to meet a few fellow etsyians with killer cool stuff!!!!

Check them out!

www.MaggieFrenchFolkArt.etsy.com

She has the coolest etsy chair EVER!!!!


And this was my neighbor at the show!

www.thepaintedlily.etsy.com

Really freakin' awesome kaleidoscope art!!!

etsy on vacation mode

So I set my etsy shop to vacation mode cause all my inventory is going with me to the show (see below) and I don't like that there is nothing there. I really don't like that my etsy mini to the left is just a white rectangle. Makes me sad. :(

Getting Ready For The Show

So, my first craft show is this weekend, both days. I'm setting up my booth tonight at 6. Last night I did a dry run, since I have never done a show before, it's a good thing i did cause it took me forever.

I took pics, to refer to tonight so I know where to put the stuff. Keep in mind my space at the show is 10x10...and my space in my living room is way less than that. So it won't be so tight.

I'm told it's concrete floors, and the building is not heated. I'm planning on wearing lots of layers. And I'm taking an area rug.

Merry Christmas!!!

I also have to include a few pics from us going to get our christmas tree last weekend. Just cause the kids are so darn cute. Lol! We walked to a local spot that sells the trees and brought it home in our wagon. :)

My first show

My first craft show ever is this weekend. I'm so not mentally prepared.

I guess it's hard to prepare tho when you have no idea what to expect.

?

I am going to take tons of pictures tho. And I swear, I'm gonna start putting some on here.

Worlds Worst

I think I am officially the worlds worst blogger. I always forget, or when I do remember I have too many other things to be doing.

But today I am feeling so down in the dumps that I needed to vent.

The economy is so poo right now and my little family is feeling the punch right in the face. I'm so sick of being poor and literally trying to survive on next to nothing.

Selling on etsy was to be a source of income for my family, to help with the bills. I was super stoked when I made 4 sales in 3 days......that was weeks ago. Nothing since.

I know, I'm new, I know, I need to promote. I have been following all the rules and doing everything I can to get out there.....I think everyone is in the same situation I am in and just can't afford 'extras'.

BUT, that isn't even my biggest peeve right now. Well, it kinda goes hand in hand. I want to beable to stay home with my kids. I'm sick of missing things. Drives me bonkers! Financially I don't think it will ever be possable and that drives me nuts.

UGH!

Happy Hump Day

Wow, I think I did pretty good this last weekend. I managed to crank out a few bags, and do some family stuff too.

I would like to have a sale in my shop, but I have no idea what percentage is a good percent off. I'm thinking 15%.

I really need to start taking pictures and posting them on here....that would be cool.

Yay

I am getting sales! Yippy! I sold 3 things in the past 4 days! How fantastic.

Now, I must work on my inventory before there is nothing left in my shop!

Out of Stuff

Hmmm. It's Thursday, so I'm home with the kids, and could be making things...but I'm out of supplies. I guess we will be making a trip to the store. I only have enough dough to buy a little bit of stuff, so I'm thinking I will get some more footballs to make bags. We shall see.

I did it!!!

Woot!

I managed to put a cool etsy mini thing right on my blog! Wow. I really do amaze myself every day.

:)

My first post

This is my first post. Hoorah!

I am getting a little bit frustrated with etsy...I have had one little sale and it was to my best friend. Thanks jaime. :)

So I have been going on the forums and trying to find ways to promote my shop. Here is what I have gathered...

1. Promote on etsy...forums, chats, giving hearts...etc.
2. Promote off of etsy...blogs, websites, facebook, livejournal...etc.
3. Make your banner and avatar somewhat match.
4. Make your avatar clickable...have a pick of something you sell on your avatar so people will want to see more.

Hmmmm. I have to fix my avatar...AGAIN. But everything else seems to be on track so far.

So here is my blog. That is supposed to help right? We shall see.

Now....to figure out how to link etsy stuff into my blog....off I go!