Ramblings of a middle aged crafter

The results are in

2009-02-19T23:54:00.004-05:00

I found out this week that the entry that my mom and I worked together on for the Creatin Contest on Miniatures.com didn't win. After seeing the absolutely phenominal entries that did, I am not at all surprised. I've posted some pics of our entry on my flickr account. Wehaven's decided if we'll be doing this year's contest or not.

Some thoughts on the Stimulus Package

2009-02-13T13:36:00.004-05:00

I wonder how many of the Senators and Congressmen that are adamant about voting "no" on this package - regardless of the version - would still feel that way if there were conditions on it that no-one from their jurisdictions would be allowed any of the moneys, in any form, from it? Afterall, isn't the reason they are voting no is because their constiuents are telling them to? I think they could give lessons to the rest of us, because obviously their states are doing things right - no jobs must be being lost, no-one wants a tax cut, no-ne needs increased food stamps allocations, all of their roads, bridges and power systems must be top-notch, their schools are obviously the best of the best (and on and on)....and most importantly they must have budget surpluses in their states and have no need for the money that is being designated for the states.

I think it will be very hypocritical for these same politicians to sit there with their hands out wanting their cut of the pie after having been so vocal about opposing it.

What should go, and what should stay??

2009-02-02T21:54:00.003-05:00

OK....I'm still not 100% sure that I'm going to keep at this whole "make stuff and try and sell it" gig, but I think I'm leaning a little to the "keep at it" camp.

If I do decide to keep at it, I have a lot of decisions to make - the first of which is "what should the focus of my shop be?". I think I've gotten over the *make anything you like, and just go ahead and list it* phase. That just wasn't working.....my shop ended up looking like a craft fair exploded within the walls of my store. I think I should decide on a line of products, that at the very least have some sort of common theme - even beyond the fact that they are crocheted (and I know, I know, not everything I have, or have ever had, has always been crocheted!)

So here's where I could use a few unbiased (or even biased ones are OK) opinions. Should I:

A. Focus on teddy bears and other little crocheted critters? A lot of these can be seen on my Flickr pages, or a few are in my "sold" items on Etsy

B. Stick with the winter wearable items - I'm thinking most folks think these are cr** so I'm not leaning in that direction

C. Focus on little crocheted wallets, keyrings and other cases

D. Something else from some of the things in my sold items - if so, what???

E. Scrap everything...and start all over again...with some unknown thing (any suggestions?)

I'm really stuck. I love to crochet.....so I don't think I could ever stop. BUT, and this is a big but.....I also really need to use this talent and love for creating to make some extra $$ - I need to find something that I love to make, can make proficiently, and also be salable. Any and all suggestions and or opinions would be appreciated.

CPSIA - What it really means

2009-01-28T09:36:00.004-05:00

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students: Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader: Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade: Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist: Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper: Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur: Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector: Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy: Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy: Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react - contact your Congreesmen and Senators and let them know how you feel. Ask them to consider taking another look at this legislation and its unintended consequences.

Time to face reality

2009-01-19T14:25:00.002-05:00

Maybe it's a mid-life crisis, or maybe I've just finally decided to give in to reality. It's time to give up this insane dream of mine of thinking that I'll ever be successful at selling what I create. I've been at this now for the better part of the past 20 years, and I really think that's a long enough test. A test which I am failing miserably at.

I've been fooling myself, escpecially the past five years or so, into thinking that I really do have what it takes to make a go of this. I was wrong, so very wrong.

No matter what "great" ideas I come up with, and no matter how much I promote myself...it just isn't working. Time to face facts, being ordinary just isn't going to cut it, and I just don't know how to be more than ordinary.

Yes, I've had a little success over the years....maybe a couple of hundred or so customers have decided to buy what I have offered......but a couple of hundred over the span of a couple of decades does not equal "success" by anyone's definition. Over the next couple of weeks I'll likely be beginning the process of closing up my shops on the various venues I sell on. I just can't afford them any longer, either financially or mentally. The stress of seeing my stuff just sit there unsold is more of a price than I can afford to pay at this point in my life. I think I'll need to expend the same energy on trying to get a second "real" job that actually gives me a paycheck at the end of the week for the efforts I put in.

New Year and another creative slump

2009-01-09T19:05:00.002-05:00

Well, 2009 is finally here. Did anyone feel like it couldn't get here soon enough? I couldn't wait for 2008 to be over.

A few weeks ago I had all kinds of ideas for items to create for my shops. I was going to introduce a new line of little teddy bears.....several lines actually. And I was all set to create a whole bunch of little octopus in all kinds of different colors. Then.........I learned about the new CPSIA rules!!! There went my plans, poof, out the window.

So, now I sit here with probably a few hundred ounces of yarn....all different weights, all kinds of different colors, and absolutely no idea what I should make with it. I did make a few hats and scarves....but I really don't think any more of them are needed on Etsy......there are tens of thousands of them there already....most of them much nicer than I can ever make.

I definitely want to crochet, but I have no idea what. I know I want to make items on the smaller side...that way they are more economical to mail. I also want to make something practical, because in this economy I really think those are the types of things that will be most salable....something durable and practical. And, I can't make anything that would be interpreted as being for a child under 12....so cutsie (is that a word?) stuff is likely out. I'm really stuck.

For two days now I've been staring at these two large plastic containers filled with yarn.....and absolutely no ideas are jumping out of them at me. I hope I get some inspiration soon, because next week my Etsy shop's going to be pretty bare when I take down all of the remaining Christmas stuff (I am so tired of looking at it).

Oh well, off to waste more time over in the forum on Etsy, while continuing to stare at this yarn.

More about the winner of my giveaway

2008-11-25T16:02:00.005-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I decided to run a giveway of merchandise from my Etsy shop here on my blog. Even though I only had a few folks sign up for it, I was more than pleased with the responses and want to tell you all about the lucky winner of the $25 merchandise credit.

Her name is Janet. She is the author of a great blog: Jan's Crafty Nest, and has the wonderful Little Pink Plum shop over on Etsy. It was such a pleasure communicating with her about my giveaway, and I am so thrilled that her two little daughters now each have one of my little teddy bears to call their own.

I asked her a few questions about her crafting, her business and herself. Here's a little of what she said:

"Tell me a little about yourself.
My name is Janet and I live in San Diego with my husband and three kids. Aside from crafting, I love to read, walk, watch the reality tv shows on Bravo (Project Runway, Top Design, etc.), and sew.

What's the best part about being creative and having a shop?
There's a lot of things I like about having an Etsy shop. Deciding what item you made will go in to the shop, what you're going to name it, and how you're going to package it. Crafting (at least for me) is a solitary thing, so it's also nice to go on the forums and have people to communicate with and the teams I've joined are great too.

How did you decide to make what you do?
I started making pinback buttons for my daughters and their friends just for fun. Later I decided to invest in some mirror parts for my button maker and I started selling the mirrors at the other 'E' site. I was selling there for almost two years and then I found out about Etsy"

Janet makes the cutest pocket mirrors and has a great variety of designs. You are sure to find a style for just about everyone on your holiday shopping list in her shop. This is one of my favorites:

And she has some wonderful deals too, on buying these mirrors in multiples. I think I'm going to be doing just that...these will make great stocking stuffers for my grown daughters, my mom, my daughter's room-mates and my son's girlfriend. Please take the time to visit her shop, you will be glad that you did!

And the winner is.......

2008-11-15T10:31:00.002-05:00

And the winner of the $25 giveaway is.........by random draw done by my grandson......

Janet P. from http://janscraftynest.blogspot.com/ http://littlepinkplum.etsy.com/

As a thank-you for the other five folks who entered, I'm giving each of you a $5 credit to my shop too.I'll be contacting each of you through Etsy convo, or whatever means I have (if I don't know your Etsy shop), in a few minutes.

Win a $25 Shopping Spree

2008-11-01T09:54:00.003-04:00

What would you say if I told you that on November 15, 2008 I would give you $25 to spend on my creations, that I'd mail them to you anywhere in the world for free, and I'd also feature you here on my blog; and all you had to do was to follow three simple little steps?

Introducing my first ever Blog Giveaway. It's as easy as 1 - 2 - 3

1 Visit one of my selling venues, (On Etsy: http://CogansCreations.etsy.com , or on iCraft: http://www.icraft.ca/coganscreations , or on Shop Handmade: http://coganscreations.shophandmade.com/ ) take a look around, and decide how you would spend that $25 if you were the winner. You'll notice that $25 goes a long way in any of my shops!

2 Come back here, and add a comment to this post, with links to at least two items that you might get if you are the winner. I say "might" because you can change your mind at anytime and aren't obligated to use the winnings on what you mention.

3 Now here's the catch...you knew there would be a catch, didn't you? (this is afterall, a promotional tactic!) You need to promote my shop, or an item of mine three times before November 15 when the winner will be picked. This can be anywhere that you would like....Etsy, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Stylehive, ThisNext, your blog, or even by word-of-mouth....anywhere at all. Just send me an e-mail to coganscreations [@] yahoo.com, or contact me through one the selling venues and let me know the details of the promoting. I'll match up the e-mails/contacts received with the comments left here...and those with both will be entered into the Giveaway....so please, make sure I have a way to know who's comment goes with what e-mail (if names are different)

Now...just sit back and wait until November 15. The winner will be randomly selected from all entries recieved. I'll contact you if you win and we'll work out the details of using your $25, and getting the information for my blog feature. (You don't have to be a seller of hand-made to be featured)

This giveaway is open to anyone, anywhere who appreciates my work, or who appreciates handcrafted things, or to anyone who just likes winning free stuff. No purchase necessary to win (although purchases from me are always greatly appreciated!)

Double Standards?

2008-10-30T10:25:00.003-04:00

There have been a few subjects that have come up in the Etsy forum lately that have gotten me thinking. These are not new subjects, they come up all the time, but in the past few days for some reason they have made me want to ask some of the respondents to the topics a few questions. Of course, being the forum chicken that I sometimes am, I've refrained from doing so there. So I'll just put them out here:

Is it possible that there are double standards with regards to shopping on Etsy, or for hand-crafted items in general, as opposed for shopping for just about everything else? I'm not talking about the whole "handmade" vs "mass produced", or the made in my country as opposed to some obscure, unknown, place. Rather, I'm referring specifically to a couple of subjects......prices, and shop variety.

On the subject of prices - I've seen some folks state that they will *never* buy from someone who's prices are too "low". Of course, there usually isn't a definition of what constitutes too low that follows these statements, so that imaginary threshold is likely very subjective. My question to those folks would be: Do you not shop for bargains in anything else that you purchase? Do you always pay full retail prices at the most exclusive boutiques you can find for your clothes? What about groceries? In almost every town there is usually more than one place to buy food. I would bet just about anything that every exact same item, or similar ones...different brands, are the exact same price in all locations where it was sold. Is that Skippy peanut butter a higher quality at Price Chopper than it is at Hannaford? Must be because it is 15% higher priced. Don't believe me...pick an item, any item, then go into each different store and notice the price. What about gas for your car? Do you always go to the station that has the highest price....because it must be better quality gas, right, because they are charging more for it than anyone else. Why is it that hand-crafted items are subjected to a different set of criteria?

Then, with regards to variety....this one bothers me even more than the pricing arguments.....which I guess I can kind of, sort of, maybe understand a tiny bit. But, not wanting to shop from a person who has variety in their store is just beyond my comprehension. These are the folks that I want to answer in the forum in big, bold, capital letters (yes, YELLING). I would love to know where it is that they shop for everything else that they ever purchase, and do they refuse to shop somewhere because the store has too many different things? My guess is that the drug stores in their town only sell drugs/medical related items......no candy, no make-up, no magazines, no toys, etc. And they probably don't shop at any of the big-box retail stores either....and probably not grocery stores either. Actually, I can't think of many stores at all, even on-line ones, that don't have some sort of cross-product variety in them. That's on purpose! It's one of the basic retail and marketing principles.....have stuff for sale that will make someone want to shop at your establishment - different things appeal to different people. Just because someone came into your auto parts store because they wanted that nifty tire changer thing that only you have, who's to say that they might not also decide that they really need that package of beef jerkey and the set of singing bumblebees that you have there too? Maybe it was really the bees that brought them in....and then they decided that your nifty tire changer thing is something that they can't live without either. Since you don't know, you can't say for sure why they purchased from you. But of course, this scenario wouldn't really apply to you, since you don't believe in variety you wouldn't have tire changers, beef jerkey and singing bumblebees in your store, nor would you ever visit/shop at an establishment that did.

Oh, and if you haven't noticed....I have what most would term as "too low" prices on the "variety" of items in my shop....guess that's why these subjects/responses irk me.

Customer Appreciation Days in my shop

2008-10-28T14:16:00.002-04:00

It's Customer Appreciation Days in my Etsy shop: http://CogansCreations.etsy.com

Here are the details....that are also listed in my shop announcement:

First....I would like to thank everyone, in a special way, who has marked my shop as one of their Favorites:

Be my 700th "heart" and receive a $10 merchandise credit, to be used anytime before the end of this year. (I'll send you a convo and we can work out the details)
If you have already "hearted" my shop, before today, 10/25, get 20% off of your purchase from my shop before the end of the year. (I'll refund this credit, via PayPal, after your purchase)

Second....I would like to show my appreciation to my customers:

If you have been a previous customer, through either trade or purchase, receive a $5.00 credit toward your next purchase from me between now and the end of the year (I'll refund this, via PayPal, after the purchase)
Make a purchase, of over $5, between today and 11/1, and receive 10% off of that purchase, and a $5.00 credit to be used on your next purchase before the end of the year. (I'll refund via PayPal after the purchase)
Refer someone to my shop, and they spend $5.00 or more here, and you'll receive a $5.00 credit towards your next purchase before the end of the year (have them let me know in the Note to Seller, or via a convo who sent them my way)

Also.....watch for an upcoming Giveaway from my shop starting November 1st. I'll post the details to this here on my blog on Friday night, 10/31

I can't believe it's been that long

2008-10-26T14:25:00.002-04:00

I know I hadn't updated here in quite a while, I just didn't realize it had been that long ago!

In some respects, nothing much has changed with regards to my business....some of the same items that were in my shop in February, are still there even today. Then again a lot has happened in the past few months. Here's just a brief synopsis:

My mom moved up here to NY from FL. My middle daughter graduated from law school, moved to VA and is still currently unemployed down there. My oldest daughter lost her job, but then recently found another one. My 8 year old, step-grandson is being home-schooled, and I watch him during the day while his dad and my daughter are at work. My son still lives at home. My oldest cat passed away at the age of 15 this past summer. My other cat had two litters of kittens since March....we kept the first litter (only two), and still have two of the most recent litter, of five, to adopt out. A member of my husband's family was arrested in August...causing an irreparable rift in the family. I took a break from crafting and selling, and from Etsy in general for a few months......I just wasn't sure I wanted to keep going. I'm currently looking for another full-time job because I absolutely hate the one I have. Unfortunately there isn't much out there, and I really wish I could work for myself....but I've kind of gotten used to having a house to live in and food to eat, and surviving on my crafting income would be an impossibility.

As I mentioned previously, I had taken a break for a few months from Etsy...especially from the forums and from creating new items. I'm back now, and hopefully things will start picking up soon because I really could use some extra income. As also mentioned, with two of my kids out of work at the same time I found myself helping them with their living expenses, at the cost of my own bills falling behind.....which further solidifies the need for me to keep staying at the job that I abhor more and more each day. Love the catch-22 that is my life.

OK...that's the past 8 months of my life in 500 words or less. I'll be back later today, with another post.....and some details on my Customer Appreciation Days efforts, and an upcoming blog reader giveaway....so stay tuned.

Etsy Old World Shoppes Street Team ad on YouTube

2008-02-18T10:22:00.007-05:00

Please check out this great ad on YouTube for the Etsy Old World Shoppes Street Team:

It features these great Etsy shops:

Phils Woodcrafts

Warped and Wonderful

Scentiments by Sandra

A big Thank-You to Carey for making this happen!!

No new teddy bears for awhile

2008-02-17T16:18:00.002-05:00

I won't be making any new teddy bears for awhile. I've run out of room to keep the finished ones in my studio. I have an eight foot, by 1 foot wide shelf that is nothing but teddy bears at the moment....not another one will fit. I've also used up my supply of fiberfill stuffing, and little wiggle eyes, and unless some of the little guys sell soon, there won't be anymore new additions. Since I already have 46 finished and in my shop, that haven't exactly been flying off the shelf.....I just can't justify spending any more money on supplies.

I know I can't just not make anything, so I think I'll maybe make a few of the little miniature Easter baskets that I did a couple of years ago, or maybe a doily or two. I'm really not sure just yet what will make an appearance, but whatever the final products, I'm hoping they won't just continue to add to my ever growing (never decreasing) inventory. I'm running out of room to actually work in here!

So, I got a new camera today

2008-02-13T19:23:00.003-05:00

I went to Office Max on Sunday, to get a new chair for my home office. My old one broke about a month ago and I've been using a most uncomfortable folding chair, and couldn't take the backaches any longer (since I spend about 16 hours a day sitting in front of my computer). I also had to get the tax software to use for my other business - income tax prep, and printer ink and paper. Although I hadn't intended on getting a camera (even though I badly needed one and wouldn't spend the money on it until I made it from the proceeds of my crafting), my husband convinced me to get one. I really think it's because he feels guilty since he just recently spent quite a bit of money on a new tractor which for the life of my I still can't understand why he "needed" it (must be a guy thing).

The store was "out" of the camera that I wanted and told me they would order it from the warehouse and I'd expect to see it in 5 - 7 business days. No big deal, since I wasn't going to have the time to use it right away anyway. So, today, the UPS truck pulls into the driveway (in the middle of the ice storm we were having), and delivers the camera. That was a short 5 - 7 days!

So I have a new Kodak EasyShare M753 camera, and now I have to figure out how to use it. Hopefully I'll have it figured out by the time I finish the 5 little Easter bears that are almost done and ready to make their appearance in my shop. If anyone has one of these, and wants to give me any pointers...I'm all ears.

Thank Goodness It's Friday

2008-02-08T22:58:00.000-05:00

I never thought this week would end, so glad the weekend's finally here. I plan on catching up on sleep, I'm exhausted. I'm also hoping to try and get my house in some sort of semblance of clean...housework has been sorely neglected lately. If I have any time after that I'm going to try and take some new pictures of my items (if the sun ever comes out anytime this weekend). I hope you all have a safe, happy and productive weekend too.

Feeling invisible, and out of time

2008-02-05T18:43:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I wonder if I actually type in invisible text. I'm also almost certain that even though what appears to me (through my monitor) that the digital pictures I have are actually "of something"....I'm beginning to think that somehow they must be appearing as white spaces or that infamous "red X" when viewed through another computer. Think I need to contact those geek squad folks to come take a look at my laptop.

I also wonder if anyone else suffers form not having enough time to keep up with promotional efforts, and also create. In the past couple of weeks I've set up pages on MySpace, Ravelry, Craftersbuzz, Flickr, and the feature on HGTV.com where you can post your crafts. This is in addition to my already having this blog, a page on Indiepublic and a couple of other places. And I know I need to find other places to get my name out to also. But....now that I have all of these initially set-up, I'm wondering how I will ever keep up with using all of these various sites to the potential that they were intended - for networking. I could easily get sucked into spending 6 - 8 hours a day just updating all of them. Add that to what is usually a 10 - 12 hour work day at my "real" job, and plus the occasional shower and meal, and as little housework as I can get away with, that doesn't leave much time in a day to actually create anything (which is the reason why I'm advertising to begin with). And what's even more frustrating, is that even with all of my increased efforts the past several weeks.....I'm still getting very minimal views in my shop on Etsy or on any of my pages that I've just spent the time to create. I really don't know what I'm doing...but whatever it is, it's definitely not effective!

On a positive note, I did get asked by my daughter to donate a few of my items for a fundraiser raffle that her law school is doing.....she'll be home in a couple of week's to pick out which ones she wants. So no sales, but more advertising....which can never hurt.

Oh, well......off to go fix a quick bite to eat, and see if I can figure out this invisible text and pics dilema.

Help me and I'll reward you

2008-02-02T09:52:00.000-05:00

OK, here's the deal: I really need some help in making my shop on Etsy http://CogansCreations.etsy.com more appealing, and need help in finding ways to reach folks who might want what I create. Sometimes I think there is so much that I need to improve that I just get totally overwhelmed at what to do first, and other times I think I've done a lot to improve and still nothing changes with regards to sales and traffic. So, I've decided to ask for help from anyone who would care to offer an opinion or suggestion.

Please give me your suggestions for specific things I can improve in my shop. Which pics need improving the most? Are my item descriptions OK? Maybe I should just totally change the types of items I make....tell me that too, if that's the case. Also, I really need some suggestions on where my target audience might be hiding, and how I can reach them to let them know that I even exist. Keep in mind that I work a full-time job (50+ hours a week), from an office at home. I live pretty much in the middle of nowhere, and don't really venture out much except to go grocery shopping on the weekends, and occasionally other errands....so a lot of my options for advertising need to be centered around the internet.

OK.....so now you're asking "what's the reward?", right? Well, everyone that gives me a suggestion - either through a comment here, a convo through Etsy, or an e-mail - will receive a coupon code from me that will entitle you to 15% discount on any item in my shop, good anytime. (I'll e-mail you the code). But wait, there's more: All of the people that give me suggestions/tips/critiques will be entered into a drawing that I'll do in two weeks (Feb 16, 2008 @ noon EST). The winner will receive, absolutely free.....the item of their choice from my shop. A pretty good deal, huh?

So, if you could spare a couple of minutes to give me your advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

Ho, hum

2008-01-29T23:36:00.000-05:00

OK, I think I'm over my latest round of self pity and I've decided to forge on in my attempt to make a go of this business. In an effort to try and get noticed more I've set up a page on MySpace http://www.myspace.com/coganscreations and have set up an account on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/coganscreations and have updated these and all of my other on-line locations here in my blog links. Now I just need to figure out how to use all of these sites to their full potential!

I've also started to update all of my listings on Etsy....adding more to the descriptions, and fixing or replacing a lot of the photos....this is taking me forever, especially since I haven't bought a new camera yet...so I need to take about 10 pics just to get one that looks half-way decent.

I figured I'd step up all of my advertising, and make my shop more appealing to folks once I can get them there, and then give it about 90 days and see if all of the extra effort pays off. I think that if I haven't started to make regular sales by the time my 2 year Etsyversary comes on Aug 2, it will probably really be time to call it quits.

Why am I bothering?

2008-01-20T09:54:00.000-05:00

I'm usually pretty self-confident, but today I woke up wondering why I'm bothering to try and sell my crafted creations. I personally think that they are original, well-made and fairly priced, but I'm seriously beginning to question my thinking. Maybe they really just *suck* (I hate that expression, but I can't think of a better one at the moment) and no-one has had the courage to tell me so.

This seems to be the way every time I've seriously tried to create things to sell. A number of years ago (back in the 80's) when Cabbage Patch kids were the rage, I spent many hours at my sewing machine creating outfits for these dolls with the hopes of selling them at craft fairs that I was participating in, and through the toy store that I worked at......most ended up being given away because no-one bought them. Previous to that, and several other periods in my life later on, I've come up with what I thought were unique and well made items (from a variety of genres), spent days, weeks, months preparing stock for craft shows....spent countless $ in entry fees, built elaborate displays...only to return from each one with almost all of my inventory.

The same when I discovered 1/12 scale dollhouse miniatures, which is also about the same time I discovered selling on eBay. Although I thought the miniatures I came up with were good.....others obviously didn't because even on the garage sales site of the world I couldn't even *give them away*.

So, being the glutton for punishment that I am, I never gave up. I have this misguided fantasy in my head that I have a talent for creating so I keep trying. But, I think reality is beginning to set in...I'm slow, so it's taken 25 years for me to figure it out....I really don't have what it takes. I'm obviously not in touch with what the rest of the world finds appealing, and I'm not sure that I want to continue putting myself through this, over and over again. A very big part of me wants to go down to my kitchen, get a big garbage bag, fill it with the hundreds of items that I have in my inventory and all of my supplies and fill up the cans outside and just end this madness once and for all.

Yeah right......who am I kidding? I'm not really smart enough to do that.

Happy New Year

2008-01-14T23:40:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2008.

Today's ramblings

2007-12-05T09:02:00.000-05:00

Today's my wedding anniversary...26 years. Some days I can't believe I've been married that long, and other days it seems like such a short time. I've been married for more than half my life...I can't even really remember what it's like to not be married. It's definitely been a roller-coaster of good times and bad this past quarter century. I guess, since we're still married that the good must be out-weighing the bad. Honestly though, there are definitely times that I ask myself why it is that I've stuck it out...because sometimes it seems we are two very different, opposite, people....and opposites don't always attract. Oh well, guess I'll see how the next 25 years go and then decide if it was worth it!

On the crafting front: I've had my eBay shop open for almost a month now....not a single sale yet. I've had a shop on mintd.com for almost two months now...not a single sale there either. I've just ended a 10 day sale in my Etsy shop where I had all of my crocheted items (all 85 of them) marked down 25%...and didn't sell a single one. Oh and I had a person change their mind on wanting a special order (which is OK)...and a second special order inquiry is alo likely to result in the person deciding they don't really want the items afterall. I guess all in all I'm getting a little discouraged.

I tell myself a couple of things to help boost my confidence...1) there are so many wonderfully beautiful items on Etsy that it is fortunate to have any sales there at all, and 2) the US economy right now is on the way down...most people just don't have the money to spend on things that are not necessities (I know I don't)...and the ones that do have money are not going to be interested in the stuff I have (it's not hip, edgy, trendy, etc). Although I know both of these points are likely 100% true....it's still disheartening to think that I'm wasting my time on making items that will never sell.

I also think my prices are still not right. I know that they are in line based on a minimum wage ($5.85 an hr) labor rate (which from everything that I'm hearing is much lower than industry standard)...but I think they might be too high for what someone would actually pay. $20 for a teddy bear that takes me 3 hrs to complete would seem reasonable...but not when someone can go to a discount retail store and buy the same size teddy bear for less than $5. The same can be said for the other crocheted items in my shop too.....you can find mass produced wallets, scarves, and magnets, etc for less than half of what I have my items priced at. I can't give them away at those prices...but I can't keep making things that just sit in my shop either. I'm really wondering if it is nothing more than a pipe-dream to ever think that I will make steady sales. Leaning very far towards the side of just giving up altogether. I have so many ideas for new lines of items...but I don't even want to invest the time to make them since there is an almost 100% chance that they won't sell...people just don't want what I have the skills to make.

The quest for the perfect holiday

2007-12-01T14:46:00.000-05:00

Why is it, that we - especially women - feel like we always want to create the perfect Christmas for our friends and family? Maybe I'm the only one who feels this way...every single year...but I'm sure I'm not.

I find myself feeling this way every year...even though a part of my brain knows that no such thing is even possible. I always want to make sure the tree is perfectly decorated, that there are dozens of different homemade baked goods, and that everyone gets everything that they want as gifts. That's the dreamland I live in. And then reality sets in...every year.

The tree won't be perfect this year either because I'll likely wait to even put it up and decorate it until about a week before Christmas and then I'll rush just to get it done. If I'm lucky I'll manage to make a few dozen cookies...likely just the old stand-bys since there's no way I'll have the time to make all the scrumptious goodies I see in the magazines (not since I work 50 hours a week at my job). And likely this year, no-one will get much of anything in the way of gifts since I have no money to shop. Oh, well....wonder if I'll ever get to the point when I don't stress about the holiday...when it just seems like any other day of the year.

On the crafting front: the ornaments that my mom made seem to be selling pretty well in my Etsy shop. And that's about all that is selling, lately at least. I think when I raised the prices I shot myself in the foot with regards to ever hoping that my crochet work would sell. That really makes me sad because even though I LOVE to crochet, I NEED to make money too. I'm really beginning to believe that there really isn't a market for my work. If the market is out there, I have absolutely no idea how to find it. I'll keep trying, but I already know there is not much hope that I'll ever be a "success"...not in monetary terms or recognition anyway.

OK.....off to make some more things that won't sell, and start the weekend chores of laundry, vacuuming, bill paying and bathroom cleaning.

After Thanksgiving

2007-11-24T18:13:00.000-05:00

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. I've actually just finished up my second Thanksgiving meal of this holiday weekend. Went to the in-laws on Thursday, and then I cooked the whole meal today at home for friends and family. Visiting for the holiday is nice, but having the leftovers here is even better!

I took Friday off of work...and even though I'll likely pay for it by being doubly busy on Monday, it was so nice to not have to deal with the stress for an extra day this weekend. I so needed that day off.

On the crafting front: due to all the cooking and cleaning needed for this holiday, I haven't been too productive on the crafting front. I intend on spending tomorrow to get finished with a couple of special orders I'm in the middle of....and maybe even finish up the two teddy bears that have been in pieces for the past two weeks (no promises though).

I wrapped up the first phase of my Etsy promotional experiment today. I promoted 98 items this past week...that's 98 that were not mine. I saved each one into my favorites, so I could keep track of them. As of a few minutes ago, 16 of them had been sold. I can't say that my promoting them contributed at all to them selling...but it was nice to see the prices flip to "sold". My PayPal account has decided that I also need to go back to promoting myself as well.....so I'll now be trying to evenly promote both my own shop/items and those of my fellow Etsians. Of course with everyone fussing over in the forum about the new Gift Guide feature.....I'm not sure my promotions will even get noticed. I also decided to run a sale for the next ten days....all of my crocheted items are 25% off. That took a lot longer than I thought to edit all of those items....probably close to three hours (guess I didn't realize how many of my items were crocheted!). Maybe this will generate a few sales for my holiday shopping money....we'll see.

OK....off to check-in on the forum, and get to creating. That is if I don't fall asleep from all of the turkey eaten at dinner.

Update on the experiment

2007-11-20T21:03:00.000-05:00

Well, it's just about 3 1/2 days into my current experiment. So far, I've promoted 78 different items in the Etsy Promo forum. I'm not sure if there is any direct correlation, but out of those, 9 have sold since I promoted them. I'm truly happy for the sellers of these items...even if my promotional effort didn't contribute to the sale. Every day, I'll continue to promote my fellow Etsians, and I will be just as thrilled to see the "sold" sign appear on my favorites listings as I would to see my own items sell.

Here's hoping that the upcoming holiday shopping season is an overwhelming success to all who are actively trying to make their Etsy shop's a success.

An Experiment

2007-11-17T10:58:00.000-05:00

This is the time of year that we remind ourselves to be grateful for what we have (Thanksgiving), to realize that it is better to give than to receive (Christmas), and to start new chapters in our lives (New Year's). It's also a good time to reinforce to ourselves that by helping others we ultimately help ourselves. You know...that whole "good Karma" thing.

I've been feeling a little down on myself for the past few weeks, and doubting my crafting abilities since my sales lately (both on and off Etsy) haven't been where, in my mind, they should be. Instead of continuing to wallow in self-pity I've decided to try something different.

I've been thinking alot lately about an idea I've been pondering for some time, and today I'm going to put that plan into action. It might seem pretty small, and likely won't even get noticed by anyone else, but that's OK...I'll know. The idea involves Etsy...specifically promoting in the Etsy forums.

Starting today, 11/17/07, at noon EST I will no longer directly promote my shop, or my items in the Etsy fora. I will still promote...but only OTHER people's shops and items. I'll still participate in the forum...but in any thread where item and shop promotion is the goal it will be a fellow Etsian's link you will see in my posts. And I think I'll make even more of an effort to visit the Promotions topics than I do today...just so I can promote even more shops. I'm pledging, here and now, to continue this at least through the Thanksgiving weekend...and maybe even through the end of the year. It might seem like a crazy idea to some, and it may mean I won't personally have as many sales as I might otherwise have had....but I don't care. If my efforts help someone else to make a sale, and make them erase their own self-doubts about their abilities to succeed, then my experiment would have been a success.

The only exception I will make to the above pledge will be to announce my weekly Saturday Night Special in the appropriate thread if I decide to participate that week.

Anyone else want to join me in this experiment?

Thank God It's Friday!!!

2007-11-16T19:33:00.000-05:00

Think the title says it all.

Random ramblings

2007-11-13T23:52:00.000-05:00

When I can't fall asleep, which is most nights, random thoughts and questions start to ramble around in my brain. Tonight's ramblings are pretty typical:

I really need a haircut. I've been putting it off for a couple of months now, but I guess I'll have to breakdown and go get it cut soon...have to go to my hubbies work Xmas party on Dec 8th...can't go looking like this, and I'm not sure he'd approve of the paper bag over the head look. And I have no idea what I'll wear to that party...nothing fits anymore.
I wonder if the two days I just spent setting up an eBay store will pan out to at least making enough sales to cover the monthly fees. Going to try it until at least the end of the year, then I may end up closing it.
Why can't I seem to get even a little excited about the fact that Christmas will be here soon. I know I don't have any money to buy presents with...but Christmas isn't about giving and getting stuff....wish I could convince myself of that.
I really should vacuum the rugs tomorrow
Think I'll turn the heat off tomorrow...it's supposed to be near 60 out.
Why is there never anything to watch on TV after midnight....over 200 channels, and nothing on worth watching.
Should I keep making things for my shops? At what point should I stop adding things, when the ones I have there aren't moving?
I probably shouldn't have spent the $50 on 500 business cards in September....I'm thinking they'll last forever since I really don't go anywhere to give them out.
I forgot pizza sauce at the market the other day. Guess I'll have to make my own....wonder if I still have tomato sauce in the cupboard?

As you can see....most of the thoughts come in no particular order, and are generally unrelated to each other. Maybe it's because I spend my days (at my job), creating and following detailed step-by-step project plans and following an organized schedule. When the 9 - 5 is over, my brain just wants to ramble around in an illogical, random fashion. Randomness can be a good thing...just wish I could also sleep. :)

Winter's arrived here

2007-11-10T09:21:00.000-05:00

Even though, calendar-wise, winter isn't supposed to be here for almost six weeks it decided to make an early appearance here in upstate NY last night. Woke up this morning to a nice dusting of snow on our 2 1/2 acres of yard. It's beginning to melt now that the sun has come out...but the fact that it was here at all is just a reminder that the long months of cold, grey days are coming. Have I mentioned that I hate winter? I'm really looking forward to the time that I'm able to become a "snowbird" and spend the months of Nov thru April somewhere with endless sunshine and 70 degree temperatures.

On the crafting front, after many hours of discussions with myself (see an earlier blog post on that process), I've decided that some changes to my business need to be made. The slave laborers of my business (me, myself & I) have finally convinced the irrational management (again, myself) that they should be paid at least minimum wage for their efforts. In return, they have promised to keep delivering high quality, well made, unique works of art. At first I didn't understand their argument - what's wrong with making $3 an hour...waitresses do it all the time! Afterall, they did get the satisfaction of seeing their completed work sit on my store shelves for many weeks...they got to admire them everyday. It was likely the many hard slaps to the back of the head that convinced me...or maybe it was their threat to strike, but in any case management (me) has given in and will make the adjustments today. Hopefully the act of pleasing the worker-bees won't alienate my potential buyers.

OK....I'm off for now. Off to go and pay bills (payday from job yesterday)....but off to find the Advil and Kleenex first since that juggling act usually invokes the same reactions as reading some of the Etsy forum threads (see yesterday's blog post).

Why do I continue to read forum boards?

2007-11-08T17:38:00.000-05:00

When I first opened my Etsy shop, at the beginning of August 2006, I immediately found the forums (the same day)...and since then usually spend several hours a day, every day, there. This was/is not the only forum I follow regularly, but it was the one that I used to find the most fun and the most helpful. "Used to" being the operative phrase in that sentence.

I still sometimes find out a lot of useful information there...sometimes. And sometimes it is even fun. But lately, more often than not I usually just find myself getting angry and upset by what I read. People really aren't as helpful as what it appears on the surface. Yeah, people are quick to help with basic site navigation issues, and cheer each other on for the most part when something good happens to them, and sympathize with them when times are tough. But there are also an awful lot of times when people can say things that are really hurtful, and they don't even seem to realize that they are doing it.

The topic that usually ends up having me in tears (literally) is the subject of pricing...like the one that is currently an ongoing discussion. This is not the first on the topic, nor will it likely be the last...they seem to appear at least a couple of times a month. And they usually are always insinuating that if a person's work doesn't reflect that they pay themselves at least $10 an hour in labor then their items are low quality, crap and the seller isn't proud of their work. That the seller themselves really shouldn't even bother to try and sell anything because these lower priced items are bringing everyone else's sales down. I don't think these people realize how awful, and hurtful those comments are to the person reading them that doesn't "pay themselves" that rate.

In almost all of the discussions on the topic of late, I try to make the point...without pointing to particular categories....that the buying market will NOT always support that kind of pricing methodology. Jewelry and "Fine" art maybe....but the types of things I make - seriously doubtful. In every one of the threads I've tried to make these points and my points are flat out ignored or countered with comments regarding how worthless the person is who "underprices" is.

Maybe I should try an experiment....maybe I should price all of my items using the formula of #hrs X $10 an hour...plus materials...plus fees...times 2 for retail. I'll put a notice in my shop announcement indicating how my prices are calculated, and then in each item description I'll indicate the materials cost, plus the number of hours each took to complete......that way the cost of $68 for a 5" crocheted teddy bear, and the $22, 3" refrigerator magnet, can be justified. How many of those teddy bears and magnets do you think I'd sell at those prices???? Will the people that put folks down for not pricing "what the seller is worth" buy them? I seriously doubt it!!

Sure...I absolutely want to make money...that's why I'm in business. And yes, I do take pride in my work, I make very good quality products, very much feel that I am worth at least $10 an hour (hell, I make $44 an hour at my RL job) and I am not a worthless piece of crap seller purposely trying to bring down the entire crafting industry because I won't put prices on my items that are totally unreasonable for the type of item that they are. Maybe I should go into the jewelry making business...bet I could create a lot of bracelets, necklaces and earrings in the same amount of time it takes to crochet a teddy bear or a scarf, or to hand-embroider a doll's face. And people are more than willing to pay high prices for jewelry, especially quality made jewelry...that's just a reality...society has placed a higher perceived value on a beautiful necklace than they do on a cute little bear.

So will I continue to read an participate in the forum? Unfortunately, the answer is probably yes...I'll just keep the Advil and Kleenex handy for the headaches and tears.

The search is on

2007-11-07T19:43:00.000-05:00

I've decided I really need to rake the next step with my crafting....and have it turn into a "real" business. And real businesses don't have sales just once every few weeks.....not if they want to survive. Although I love Etsy.com as a selling venue, I don't think my items actually "fit" there and I need to expand my horizons and find other venues to sell on in addtion to Etsy. I've added several to mintd.com, tried eCrater...but it was way too un-user-friendly for me so I deleted my shop. I also have items featured on Craftersbuzz and a couple on YouCraft.org. I'm even considering an eBay store....but that options seems like I'd just be throwing my money away (of course that's what Etsy is starting to feel like too).

So the search is on for other additional selling venues. I'm giving myself 'til the end of the year to find a place/way that I can start making consistent sales.....53 more days. If nothing significantly changes by then...then maybe it's time to face the reality that it isn't in the cards for this crafting stuff to pay off.

A good day to get rid of the old

2007-10-27T13:45:00.000-04:00

It's raining today, and it's pretty gloomy outside. The leaves are falling off the trees, and it's starting to get that dismal look of winter in Upstate NY...gray and brown everywhere.

I think today will be a good day to tackle that spring cleaning that I really meant to do six months ago.....better late than never! I've hesitated cleaning out my closests and drawers because I guess a part of me doesn't want to let go of the past. But I'm pretty sure I won't ever fit back into those size 10 jeans, or really don't have any need for 2003 telephone directories for areas that I don't even live in anymore. Maybe if I declutter my physical surroundings it will also help to declutter the depressing thoughts that have taken over my brain lately too. A clean start...fresh surroundings (even if the actual space is the same)...and maybe some fresh ideas too.

I've also started looking at my crafting with new eyes too.....although, my perception of that is still a little gray and grim at the moment. Maybe a few hours of purging other aspects of my life will help with that. OK...off to tackle the mess...maybe by the time I'm done the sun, outside and in my head, will make an appearance.

My discussions with myself

2007-10-24T10:25:00.000-04:00

I have debates, and discussions with myself a lot. Maybe it's because I don't have anyone else to talk to about the stuff that rambles around in my brain, no-one could possibly understand, and honestly probably wouldn't even care to try to. I feel like one of those cartoons that shows a person with two little figures - one on each shoulder - debating with each other the pros and cons of a situation. Good vs Evil, Pessimism vs Optimism, Praticality vs Dreaming. (No, I don't actually "hear" real voices...so no need to call the funny farm just yet, unless of course I start having these conversations out loud - then please do.) Usually Good, Optimism, and Dreaming win these debates, but more often than not lately Pessimism and Practicality have win triumphing in quite a few rounds (Evil never wins, thank God...in fact I don't think Good and Evil ever even talk to each other).

I've worked very hard to try and be a very positive and optimistic person, so much so that often people get annoyed that I'm always looking for the silver lining in every dark cloud. Lately though it seems like the silver in the storm clouds of my life is fading away. I've been slowly coming to the realization that there really isn't a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and that sometimes the bright light at the end of the tunnel really is a train. How's that for good use of cliches? I use cliches a lot. I'm always telling my grown kids, when things haven't worked out as they would have liked - "When one door closes, another opens, or there's always a window", or "The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over and expeciting different results", or "Things don't always work out they way you'd like them too, but rather the way they are supposed to". Lately the little pessimist on my shoulder is screaming very loudly that all that is a line of crap. I need to figure out how to muzzle him.

The little guy screams alot during my days at my 9-5 (really more like 8 - 7) job. With every day that passes I feel more and more incompetant on this huge project that I am leading, and my tongue is very sore from continuously biting it to keep from telling the various organizations I'm working with (and my management) exactly what I think of their idiocy. I try and take it day by day, or even minute by minute....and to try and remember to take deep breaths and remember that it's "just a job", and one that I desperately can't afford right now to lose....but in reality I would love nothing more than to run away somewhere where there are no e-mails or phones, or project plans or deadlines.

And then there's my crafting business. I'm really thinking that I've been fooling myself into thinking that what I make is any good, or that it is anything that anyone would actually care to pay money for. I have no idea what I'm doing...I've made, and have begun to accept, this realization. Although my relatives may have oohed and aahhed over getting handmade creations by me as gifts (and they have all gotten a lot over the years), there really isn't a market for my stuff with the general public....at least not through the methods that I've thus far tried. So, I debate with myself as to whether to continue my dream of trying, or submit to the practicality of giving up. "Quitters never win".....I know, I know. Someone give the little dreamer guy a megaphone...he needs to be louder than the pesky Practicality guy.

I'd really love to get off this merry-go-round

2007-10-22T19:40:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who feels like their life is one big Catch-22, and since I've never actually seen that movie, I'm not quite sure how the story works out.

I absolutely hate the fulltime job I have - maybe not all aspects of it, but definitely the majority. The challenge is that I'm paid very well for it - higher than any other comparable jobs in my area, and without a college degree my options are somewhat limited. Right now, my household expenses and financial obligations do not afford me the option of taking a job for less pay - unless I can reduce my debt. I work between 45 - 50 hours a week, in a salaried position with no OT. Because I often have meetings into the evening hours, and also am required to travel occasionally, finding a second part-time job is also not an option. My husband is in a similar situation, so a second job for him is also not ideal (not that he would ever even consider it). So the catch-22 part? I can't get out of my job without additional income, and I can't bring in additional income in the traditional way because of my job. This reality, of course, makes me resent and hate my job even more.

This is where my crafting comes in. I've been sewing, crocheting and crafting for just about as long as I can remember.....and I think I'm pretty good at it. I've also had moderate success in previously selling my creations and custom made works. So....I had this crazy notion that heh, maybe I could bring in some steady extra monthly income doing what I love, in the 8 - 10 hours a day that I'm not working or sleeping. Unfortunately, since I've very much less than stellar success thus far.......I think I'm stuck on this endless merry-go-round for awhile longer. Of course, there's always the hope that I'll win the lottery. If anyone know's how I can pick the winning numbers, let me know......I promise I'll share the jackpot.

OK.....I have a blog now.

2007-10-21T21:12:00.000-04:00

So, I finally decided that I should keep up with the times and start a blog. I have no idea what to write, or if I'll be able to keep up with it on a regular basis, but I'll try. I can't imagine that anyone would be interested in reading this....believe me, my life is not exactly edge-of-your-seat exciting.....but even if I'm only writing for myself it may help me to sort out my thoughts and feelings by putting them down on paper (cyber paper that is).

My goal is to try and add entries at least once a day. Sometimes I'll ramble about my full-time job (which I hate), sometimes about the tribulations of dealing with my grown (twenty-somthing) children - or the latest annoyances on my 26 year marriage. And, maybe, I might even ramble on about my attempts at trying to create a business using my crafting abilities. My hope is that at least some of these ramblings actually make sense. I'll apologize now if they don't. :)