Thursday, October 27, 2011

Just a squirrel trying to get a nut.....

I must have the sillies today.  Don't know why, it a damp, rainy day but I was checking out the Top Treasury team on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/teams/10548/top-treasury and the featured seller today is http://www.etsy.com/shop/judygovintage?ref=seller_info.  She has a wonderful line of vintage and when I saw the squirrel I just couldn't resist.  Then I remembered another featured seller from a few days ago, http://www.etsy.com/shop/CapitalCityCrafts?ref=seller_info who had this beautiful acorn.  Put the two together and you have a line from one of my favorite comedies - Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins.  If you haven't watched the movie, treat yourself to fun night.  I promise you won't stop laughing.  So here is my treasury in honor of the squirrel and the nut!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NjM1Mjg2MHw5NzQ3MjkwNTA/just-a-squirrel-trying-to-get-a-nut?index=0

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Bye Bye October - I'll Miss You

What a great month it has been!  My mom has been visiting me from North Carolina and we've had such a great time.  Lots of shopping and lunches and of course with Mom in the house, lots of goodies.  Tonight it was pumpkin spice cookies with cream cheese frosting.  Yum, disappointed that I only had room for one, but I'll make up for it tomorrow!

The Birdsboro show finished up last Monday.  I would have loved to attended the artist reception the previous Friday night, but unfortunately Birdsboro, PA is about an hour and half away from my home.  Since I had to make the drive Wednesday to deliver my pieces and then pick up on Tuesday, I decided against making the drive again.  Sometimes those long, winding country roads are just to long and winding!  But what a wonderful selection of artistic mediums and artists!  Just amazing, so much talent under one roof!

My next show isn't until December 5.  I'll be at the 20th Annual Country Christmas at Avon Grove Intermediate School.  Last year over 100 crafters, food vendors and businesses participated.  I had contemplated trying to do a show in November but decided against it.  My inventory is low and I'm anxious to get back to my torch since I've been away from it for a few weeks. I'm going to focus on creating lots of beads and baubles and goodies for my Etsy shop and holiday gifts!

Since I'm still so new to the selling game, I'm always delighted and surprised when my work sells.  I hope that thrill never goes away.  That rush of excitement that "someone" has actually bought something.  I love picking out a special "thank you" surprise to include and enclosing a thank you card.  Then off to the post office to mail it out as quick as I can.  It brings back childhood memories of Christmas morning and all the excitement and anticipation that came with it.

Speaking of excitement and anticipation, last Saturday my Etsy shop www.goodhopcreation.etsy.com was the featured shop on the Top Treasury Team.  What a wonderful team to be a part of, so many supportive members.  Views, likes, favorites and circles all day long, not to mention FOUR sales.  My thanks to everyone that made that happen.  Here's the link http://www.etsy.com/teams/10548/top-treasury/discuss/9167663/page/1

Monday, October 17, 2011

So here I am - Now what?

So here I am - I finally decided to join ranks and create a blog.  I have to admit, I held out for a long time.  I don't know what the deciding factor was, most likely a combination of several things, which are all rattling around in my head and still refusing to form one cohesive thought!

I am learning that trying to market yourself online can be a daunting task to say the least.  The pressure is intense - Do I blog?  Do I Facebook?  Do I website?  Do I point my website to my blog?  Do I try and sell on my website?  Do I put my Facebook link on my Etsy shop?  It's exhausting just thinking about all of this, let alone the creating, monitoring, adding and continuing to find time to do what I love best - which is melt glass!  

So here I am - blogging, website'ng, Facebooking, Etsying and all the other things a fledging, online artist should do to market their work!  Wish me luck!  Jere