Catching Up

It has been too long since my last blog post. Mea culpa mea culpa. Last weekend was a whirlwind of delight. The hubby and I stayed out late last Thursday night-5am late. And slept most of the next day which was a friday. Checked my shop at about 4pm. And it was abuzz. Literally, well-maybe there were no bees there but.... it had been dead for a week and now it was aflame. 9 conversations to answer, 7 sales. Of course my first reaction is what the sweet potatoes! It seems that one of my pieces had been included in a storque blog titled "Etsy Finds; Free Delivery" something like that. Well, I had like 66 views the day before and 1,394 that friday. Of course I am telling you the truth. Mount Vesuvius. Over 120 people added me as a favorite shop, and it resulted in about 20 sales directly. My shop still is running 120-130 views a day. I think I had hitched my overall shop threshold a little higher. Yippee, yahoo. Bought alot of supplies this month. The czech beads are so gorgeous! Drooling gorgeous. And I am aiming for better quality materials-pure copper and brass chains, sterling silver and gold filled, handpatinaed, pearls. It makes working with the materials joyful and confident. Thank you Beloved Divine One.

Meditation or Chocolate and Coffee for Breakfast

One is reality-the other is not. I am in a desert of no sales right now in the shop. I have humans coming to see-around 100 yesterday, but not really any sales. I try to wax philosophical about it. This will happen I say. To everybody. But then I look at another shop.....let us say 'Sparkle Peach' and see they have 1400 sales in the same amount of time, and I think-well, obviously not everybody. Can those sales be real? Let's see-6 months x 30 days=180 days. 1400 divided by 180=8ish sales a day. If those sales averaged $20 each-that is 160 per day or 4,800 per month minus everything they do to make a profit. Well. I didnt get the job in Topeka. I feel that I am being stripped bare. I hope it is for some great purpose-like to be made pure. Or to prepare me for some great new phase. I get scared when I think the rest was an illusion and I am nothing really. To help counter this pain (this pain) I bought 300 dollars worth of supplies on etsy and had coffee and chocolate for breakfast. Om.

Satisfaction

I am satisfied with my shop right now. The happiest I have been with it since I started. When I go through the items, I like what I see. Which means of course-that I need to step up and push the boundaries a little. I don't have big dreams with my etsy shop. I never planned on developing my own jewelry line and going mainstream. I may however-place some pieces in our local art building. I would love to increase my profits..I wont mention any dollar goals here, but enough that I would not have to work at another job. When I order supplies-I order them with purpose and intent. I used to order them like I bought fabric, just to add to my pallette, my stash. In case I needed some of 'that'. Now I order because I can see what I will do with it.

It does look like I will be working at a 'real' job soon. I think I have a job working at the Topeka Marian Clinic as a part-time nurse for 4 months. It is just about perfect. It is across the street from where my husband works. We will be able to drive together and the hours are exactly the same. It is 3) 8 hour shifts. And it is over at the end of September. It gives me 4 months to pay off bills and build up my store so that when it ends 'Gamut' will be stronger. I put up a few new things I especially like.

Twists and Turns

Life twists and turns. I know that as well as the next person, maybe better than most. I for one, am glad, I don't see what is coming. My sister Cindy left me a message on my phone a week ago with a lead to a job. A JOB. Which is different than my shop in most peoples minds. People rarely ask how my business is going. Where as if I had a new JOB they would. Developing a business of my own on an international website is so different that most people have a hard time wrapping their minds around it. Personally I love it. No change there-it is my vision for my future as a professional. Very excited about my second shop which will feature fibers and fabrics. Anyhow-a nursing job. And a good fit. A part-time seasonal RN position at a clinic which treats people that fall within 200% of poverty line. Went today and visited with the director. I am interested, would give me 4 months of added income to reduce overall debt and monthly bills. And the job sounds rewarding.

Time

I like time. Do most people say that? Of course, the word time means alot of different things. I like the perceived measure of time. Structured minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, seasons, years. I like that the fact that our 'time' is structured on material fundamentals-the sun and the moon. It's my physical reality. I like the concept of time because in my world of dualities-that means there is a place of 'no time' and I am excited about that too. I like time because it has a beginning and an end. My Mother always told me 'this too shall pass' and made sure I understood that went for the good as well as the bad. A realist is what my Mom always says she is. Anyway, there are many times that 'the end' is soothing to me. The Klingons ask 'do you want to live forever?' and I holler NO. I definitely believe in cycling and because I am a faithfilled optimist-I have good expectations for cycling up. I am sitting here under my fig tree filled with peaceful gratitude for this time I have and anticipation for what is coming. I like time because life is easier in alot of ways now that I am older. My baby just turned 21 and that seems like a milestone for me also. 4 out of 6 reached adulthood safely. Well, maybe those aren't very good stats-but, there it is. Just for perspective...I also like Ferb of Phineas and Ferb, peanut butter pie and soft old quilts.

You Never Know

In regards to my shop.....everyone say 'gamut'-I never know what people are going to choose to buy. Simple unknowable. I make everything-of course using the work 'make' loosely. It is not raising the sheep, shearing, carding, spinning, dyeing with my own organic dyes and weaving the fabric, then designing and sewing the garment. More like getting a box of brownie mix and adding the egg, oil and water. On occasion it is buying all the ingredients of the brownies. Choosing the best cocoa I can afford and the best for the environment, using only local butter from a mom and pop little organic dairy down the road. Sifting and stirring with love in every bite. Searching and experimenting with different ingredients, a different nut or cream cheese to make the best brownies you ever had. It never is buying a brownie somewhere else and passing it off as my brownie. Never. But I digress.

No-people will always surprise you. Once in awhile I will discover I have made 'a cute thing'. That is a piece of jewelry that is in sync with what alot of girls/women would wear and buy. My ivory or coral flower jewelry on chinese coin charms are 'cute'. So I sold a couple and ordered 10-20 of each component prepared to sell several of their cutetishness selves. Another category is a little different that 'cute'. I can't think of a word to describe it. An example would be my hamsa/fatima/miriam/handof protection necklace...with a flower cabechon on it. It's also 'cute' but also 'spirtual'. Hmmm. I ordered hands and flowers. Prepared. I make one-of-a-kind things-my ooak tangle bracelets. People respect them. I select the beads, the color motif, the artistic wire. Then I sculpt the wire and beads into bracelet creation. I have sold 2. They get hearts. My long, long necklaces/bead ropes are popular-they are from my soul.

I see things sell that never had a heart to their name. I have things with 10-12 hearts consistently and they molder. Now-I heart things all the time that I like as a shop owner, as a seller that I can incorporate, that give me an idea. It accounts for some of this mystery.

I think about the buyer who buys pieces that I are more than the brownie box mix brownies. They please me. I get excited over them. I think-would I like them? Are they interesting? I do know that I will be happiest the closer I get to the source in my creative acts. Represent me. Pondr ponder.

Ouch.

It has been such a good month-this May. Lots of sales, nice words. My head was swelling. Until this morning that is. I survived the unthinkable...a negative rating. No-2 negative ratings. My shop has forever (?) lost it's 100% rating. Pain and suffering. Harsh also. The client said things like 'cheap chain, clasp doesn't work, wont go over my head-I cant wear it.' It was her first purchase on Etsy. She had a rating of 2-from me of course, both positive. I sent a convo immediately. No begging, no tears. Basically I said 'send it back for repairs and a refund of your money.'

What really hurt of course is that anyone would really dislike what I had made. It opened up an important line of reponsibility. Supplies. Do I have any idea of their durability, their worth. Really-no. Like any kind of plating. Will it last a day, a week, a year? I hate that. I love working with my 100% cotton fabrics I buy at my local fabric shop. Safe. Knowable. High quality. Unlike alot of supplies like chain that I order.

I will accept returns now if alteration of repair doesnt satisfy.. I want to do that. Thinking about expanding my shop with hats, wall art, pillows and altered clothing.