CountDown to Germany

Only 10 days until I get to go home to Germany once again. I am so happy. After not being able to visit for 7 years I am able to go a second time within a calendar year. We are sending our boy to live with his aunt in Germany for two months. Why? To learn the language and find his German roots. Since He is only a young teenager I get to take him to my sister's house. What a lucky duck I am. Two weeks in Germany. It's not very long when you have a huge family and so many friends to visit.

Weimar

But before I can leave I have this long list of things to do. I have decided not to close my Etsyshop while I am gone. When I closed shop last year my business took a big hit. Views went down to zero.  I think I lost a lot of customers because of it. So now I want to try something new: Put husband in charge of my shipping. Please keep your fingers crossed that all goes well and that if someone buys a doll it gets to where it needs to go. We don't want the mermaid doll to end up in the hands of the aspiring ballerina. Hmmm.

To make it very easy, I wrapped up each doll and put it in a box with thank-you-note and all. Each box is marked with what doll is in it. I also gathered up all the doll clothes listed in my shop and put them in a single container. Please forgive me if there should be a delay or mix-up of some sort.

There shouldn't be a problem though, right? If only I could get him to take the course "101 Etsy for Husbands".
What do you think? Will it work?

Of course, best would be if I could sell all the dolls and doll clothes before I leave. So If you want something please go ahead and order yours, now! ;)

I did it: 1000 Etsy Sales and What it Means...

I did it! I reached my goal and made it to 1000 items sold in my Etsy shop yesterday! And it's not even Thanksgiving yet. But it's time to the say Thank You! Thank you so much, to Amanda from JustHatched, who purchased that 1000th item and took me to the finish line! Thank you also to Mary, Sheila, Jenny, Nancy, and all my other great customers whose names I can't recall at this very moment. I am so excited. Kind of like an actor that just won the academy awards.

But in the excitement lets not forget that it took me over 3 years - 3 years of hard work, countless hours of cutting, sewing, crocheting, embroidering, taking pictures, writing, listing, and calloused fingers to rack up that many sales.

I guess I really need to thank Etsy too, since having Etsy as a sales venue really helped me get my work out there! So, I thank you Etsy! Though I often gripe about you and your wonky ways of doing business, I love you dearly, and I wouldn't have sold a thing without you.

Am I rich and famous now? Let's not kid ourselves. I am barely making enough to help with some of the bills of our little household. Sometimes I wake up at night and fret thinking I should get a real job. Reality check: I don't make enough with my dolls to support the family. Will I ever? Is it even possible to make a living working in a cottage industry in this world?

Well, today I am going to celebrate. I got a good reason. Plus I got the sweetest letter from a customer who says her little boy is inseperable from his new baby. I may not be rich with money, but there are other more important riches in life! Don't you forget that a minute, you starving artists out there! Think of all the smiles we put on kids' faces with our toys and beautiful creations! Money is a necessary evil in this world. It pays the bills but it does not feed the soul...

Recycled Packaging

A few days ago I received my package from http://www.katsinthebelfry.etsy.com/. Kat is one of my NaturalKids team mates. Sadly, she lost her mother recently, so the whole team chipped in and bought items at her lovely shop to help her family pay for the trip to her mom's funeral. I am so proud to be on this awesome and very supportive team!

I LOVED the upcycled packaging/envelope my purchase, a cool pouch, came in. Who knew that an old papersack could have so much charme? I really like the images of old cars, explorers, and inventors. Now I just need to find a Trader Joe's store or some other store that has cool papersacks...

Maybe the papersack I received my fabric in from the Fancy Tiger will work. I am looking forward to making my own recycled envelope soon..