I can sew just about anything

One of the things I struggle with as an artist/seamstress is that I can sew just about anything. Well I have some machine limitations & space limitations but you get the idea.

I’ll see pretty things online & I am tempted to make them & sell them. While I realize it is hard to pigeon hole yourself into a maker of just one item…the fact is those shops tend to be the most successful.

Feedback that I’ve received is that buyers have a very difficult time deciding & when they have too many options they tend to not buy.

A friend contacted me about making her a bag. She has seen my shop grow from the beginning. She has always admired my work & ability to sew but until recently she felt overwhelmed with options. She saw a bag I posted to Facebook & said…”that is it, this is the one I must have”.

There are not enough hours in the day for me to run this handmade solopreneur handbag business. Adding additional items to my shop only distracts me from my goal. The good news is that I have no problem buying from other gifted sellers even if it is something I can make. I am a single brand right now and I must stay focused.

BAGS, BAGS and more BAGS…

small handbag

Kids underfoot and running a successful Etsy shop

The most asked question of me is how? How do you have 2 kids, 3 dogs & work from home? I have to say it is not easy. This post will hopefully fill in some of the behind the scenes of my bag company. And I will be honest, it is not always pretty. I am faulty.

Success is a relative term.

How would you define your own success? For me it is balance. I left the high paying job because I wanted to be here for my girls. I wanted to see the many moments, be their taxi driver, and wipe those tears. So for me, having a million dollar business wouldn’t fit in my busy mom schedule right now. I’d be right back where I left. No I wasn’t making millions but someone sure was!!

Pace setter.

Many times when I ran track & field, I was actually the pace setter. I am like a metronome. Well it is time you apply that same philosophy to your business. If you make thousands of sales this year. What then becomes of the other elements of your life? Are you willing to outsource? What about your family? It is all a very delicate balance, just like going out too fast in a race. Often, you get very tired & sometimes you are unable to finish the race.

Here are all the things you are doing wrong.

Actually I am kidding. Too many posts from Etsy, businesses offering their e-books on how they became successful, and from other Etsy sellers alike are all going to drive you mad. You are going to be so upset, stressed out & constantly changing every single thing that you do at least 4 times a year and maybe 4 times a month. STOP IT RIGHT NOW. Stop chasing them & find out who you are and what makes you happy. If you show your passion & your happiness it will shine through your product & you will find your own level of success.

The simple things in life.

What sells online? Pretty pictures. That is all you’ve got!! The fact is, you will be found & not overlooked if your pictures are pretty. Recently someone said, “Jen, I love your blue pictures but they need to be all white to be in an Etsy T”. They are not completely wrong but quite frankly, I don’t like my all white pictures. It does not make me happy. It doesn’t give life to my bags. It is not me.

You will find no recipe here!!

I am by no means perfect. I do not have a successful recipe for success. So you should stop reading the rest of this post right now. If you’ve decide to read on then you will find some of the things I do to help me stay sane. Maybe some new tips that you can try but what I am really hoping you will do, is share your ideas with the rest of us. If we all pull together & share the real stories of the Etsy Mom (or Dad). Then maybe more of you will stick with it & not give up.

It is not a sprint, it is a Marathon.

My kids are now in preschool & elementary school. They were not always this self sufficient. I stopped working when the little one below was 6 months old. It was not long after that when I made my first bag. I had quick success in the beginning. It has now evened out at a pace I feel quite comfortable doing.

Here is a pic of little miss on my lap “helping” me sew. She was about 2.5 years old in this pic.

Here is a picture of big sis under my ironing board. She was practicing her hand sewing at age 6. I was ironing one of my biggest orders, for Vineyard Kinda Life. It was a huge store order. Again, early success.

Today in real life.

We moms are resilient creatures. Somehow we manage to find away. If you stopped by my studio yesterday when I was forced to multi-task because my girls were home from school for a snow day, here is what would have seen.

• My studio is transformed into a my little pony kingdom.
• Or for my older daughter, my office becomes a hideout under my ironing board or in my oversized chair to find a quiet spot to read a book.
• The TV with NickJr going in and out. Not constant.
• Running in circles in our basement/playroom.
• Jumping on the trampoline.
• 5 yo opening up her own store and I have to go shopping.

Seeing these activities, I have not abandoned my children. In fact, I am right here with them. Being present. They are learning about sewing, though they don’t even know it. I hear the 5 yo’s beautifully creative stories and my heart melts. My 9 yo has a quiet place to read stories & act them out in her mind. I can hear her sweetly playing her violin. Sometimes she will sit quietly and read to her little sister.

It is not a full on productive day.

I accept early on in the day, that I will not be as productive as when they are at school or if I am lucky to have a sitter that day. I don’t have full-time help but on occasion, I do have a high schooler/college student who will come by to help out with my girls. So maybe I only get a little bit done until they go to bed but a little bit may just be the prep work I need for a very quick productive evening. So I find the tasks that I can get done with them in my space & the rest I leave until later.

Other Ideas that I’ve used over the years.

1. Child not feeling well? Set up a DVD player & an oversized comforter, lots of pillows & let them relax close by your side.
2. Let them bring their small toys into your studio. Let them play. Give them fabric scraps to use as blankets & scarfs.
3. Give them a craft, coloring project or even a small task to help you. For example, they might be able to cut paper for thank you notes, stuff bags of fabric, or sticker items that are complete. They will feel like they are a part of the business and not resent what you do. Also, they will grow bored and move on to something more interesting.
4. Move your studio to another location. In the summer, I would move my studio to a better view of our backyard and sometimes I hand sew outside.
5. Give them a clear idea as to when they will have your attention. Don’t just say in a minute. I give them attention by doing something with them first and then I can get some shop time in without constant interruptions.
6. I also make sure mom & kids are well fed. I take frequent breaks to check in on them. This lets them know that I am here & I haven’t run for the hills.

I’ve said this before, success is a relative term.

Each of us is growing a small business at our own pace and it will be different for all of us. What works for one, may not work for another. It also depends on what your widget is, the price of your widget and how long it takes to make it. So don’t get irritated by frequent posts on ten ways you could do it better. If only it were that easy. Yes we can all strive to take better pictures and enhance our descriptions one listing at a time. Some days I feel I am doing all that I can in order to keep up. Some days or some weeks it just seems like I am failing on all fronts. Being a stay at home mom & running a successful shop has been nothing short of a balancing act. You can read more about this experience in a “Busy moms journey to find work-life balance“.

I hope this post helps you get through another day and hey…if you get a chance to do something bigger or go back into the corporate world. You have my support. This post is not meant to judge anyone. We all must do what works for each of us & our families. Sometimes we are forced to change because we have to. Just know your friends are here to lend a supportive ear.

xo, Jen

A busy moms journey to find work-life balance

This blog article was prompted from a question that was posted on the board of the BusyMomsTeam on Etsy.com. I shared my experience & thought it would make a great post. So here are the thoughts that I’ve shared with other moms on Etsy.

In order to find balance we must be flexible. I think a few moms above said that and I believe it to be true. Below is my world which may not be your world and that is ok. Sometimes knowing someone else shares the same experience is helpful to others. I hope this helps you find your own balance.

I worked in the corporate world when my girls were young. I stopped working after the second turned 6 months. It was the best decision for my family.

Not long after, I started making items & opened my Etsy shop officially in 2009. My daughters are now 5 and 9. I find the balance is not just with my kids but also with our home & my husband. It is not possible to do it all without some consequences.

When I started my Etsy shop, things quickly took off & I would work until 1 or 2 in the morning. I was lucky that one was in kindergarten & the other napped frequently which allowed me to get things done. My shop continued to progress and I tried to get help at home but that didn’t last long either. It wasn’t a situation I was comfortable with, I had mommy guilt. I had to make changes. My husband and I sat down to talk about my goals & what really makes me happy. We made a resolution to find that balance together so that there was a mutual understanding and a set of expectations.

I shifted the balance more towards my family this past year & less toward my shop. Though my sales are a bit less than years past, my family is much happier. I am pretty much on top of our household chores & any sales that I make, feel really good. The economy & changes to Etsy have also played a factor in fewer sales. I am working through all of this and making some changes as I go to my shop. I make valuable use of any downtime.

My recipe:

1. I use a written daily planner. I write out my to do list, my Etsy shop list, groceries, daily & weekly chores. I have a sample of my planner in my shop but I know you are all crafty & can customize a planner at home that works for you.

2. I wake up at 6:30. Have a cup of coffee & check my email & social media accounts. Most chores get done on the weekend but I will tidy the house in the morning while we get ready for school. I pack lunches & off we go.

3. After Preschool drop off, I work from 10-2ish.

4. At 3 pm I stop work & focus on my children, taking them to activities, doing homework & making dinner early so we aren’t rushed or doing takeout when we are done with activities.

5. After the kiddos are tucked in at 8pm, I work for a couple of hours. Then I retire to the couch for a glass of wine with my supportive husband.

6. A good night’s rest. This allows me to be focused & productive. I only have one cup of coffee a day. I feel patient, attentive & not dragging myself through my day.

xo, Jen

2012 Year in Review

It is quite therapeutic to reflect on the past year. It is not so much about looking back as it is preparing yourself for the next step. Learning not just from mistakes but also by your choices. This past year had several thrilling moments & just as many set backs.

My health through the past year was probably my biggest obstacle and much of which still remains unknown. I shared some of these items through social media and yet other parts I’ve kept totally private. Family, Friends & even the world around me have had just as many. The only part that helped me get through this year was a huge effort on my part in trying to keep it all balanced.

I know in past years I’ve created so much more but this year I spent more quality time with my family in the way of vacations, being present when the kids get home not just trying to squeeze in one more work project & even spending an evening or two relaxing on the couch with my husband.

Here are my Top Five Best Moments, Mistakes and Favorite Pictures:

Top Five Best Moments

5.  Teaching: 4 Etsy Classes (101 & Beyond Basics) and two children hand sewing classes

4.  Featured on Venture-Mom.com & a Guest panel speaker “When a mom starts a business”

3.  Becoming a Certified Etsy Educator

2.  Martha Stewart All Etsy Show

1.  Woman’s Day Magazines 75th Anniversary

Top Five Mistakes

5.  Making items was not first on my list. Bogged down in other business chores.

4.  Not keeping up with my Newsletter.

3.  Making items that will not yield a profit.

2.  Etsy changing their search engine optimization & it taking me months to figure out the changes.

1.  Losing my syndication on Etsy, thereby losing 2 months of Etsy Sales. The entire January & February did not exist.

Top Pictures of 2012

The Not So Itty Bitty Mom Bag

Hand Painted Mustache Bags

Renegade Craft Fair – Brooklyn New York

Oliver & Adelaide Gifting to Yahoo CEO

Woman’s Day Magazine 75th Anniversary

Best Seller – Monogrammed makeup bags

Teaching Hand Sewing – Cross Stitch – other embroidery projects added to my website.

Finding this Vintage Singer Sewing Machine

Redecorating a room in our house to make a new larger Studio.

Custom Project for a Darien Designer – 8 Linen Drapes / Curtains

Martha thanking us for coming to the show. We weren’t allowed to photograph during the taping, no video & no cell phones.

Creating custom upholstery for my breakfast nook.

Hand Sewing Class – Darien Girl Scouts

This captures the essence of our trip. The water was so amazing. I could sit for hours and just watch the waves. It wasn’t hot either…quite breezy on the gulf. My girls loved the warm water.

Make your dream come true!

I keep thinking that it is going to get easier. And with each new day, a new struggle or hurdle to pass. I think I am caught up or finally getting ahead and then another unanticipated event takes place. Fortunately most of these hurdles can be jumped. Any problems that I might have are really good problems to have.

So if I thought last month was so busy that I didn’t have time to write well this month shattered that record of not blogging my journey. I really thought the beginning of school would never arrive. The little one is still in preschool & did not begin full days until the end of September. I had a show but I completely bombed it. You can read my post Pick up Lines for Artists & Crafters. So I didn’t have much damage control in the way of inventory to get ready for my next show in early October.

Once the little one was back in school, that was when I got really productive. I geared up and was in full swing for my biggest show yet. Women’s Day Magazine 75th Anniversary Event at Grand Central Terminal in NYC. I had rehearsed exactly what my table would look like & how I would approach customers. I was so prepared. I had the best support too. My mom took care of the girls and I had my man by my side. He confesses that working that show was downright exhausting. Each new customer presented an opportunity for me to tell my story yet again. Each new face was a chance for me to make a connection.

Then I had a few personal items come up that paralyzed our community and our family. I won’t go into the details of each event but these are the unanticipated items that make trudging through really hard. The following two weekends I had two big parties to plan. My daughters shared a birthday party, lets call it a due date party since they both had the same due date. And then a surprise 40th for my husband. And it was indeed a surprise. On the tale end of these events, our community was rattled again with Hurricane Sandy & a Noreaster. They brought high winds, loss of power & snow. That said, many communities are still struggling right now and still need our support.

Now I am here again. I need to play massive catch up this week as I have another huge event in Brooklyn. It is the first annual Renegade Holiday Craft Fair. I don’t have nearly the inventory I wanted to have by this point in time. I will have to work long & hard over the next week.

I share all of this as sometimes from the outside it may seem like I am all together & like everything is going so perfect but when you peel back a layer or two, you’ll see that we all have our struggles & making it through each one…well lets just say it isn’t easy.

When things get too crazy for me. The one person I seem to put on the back burner is me. This is probably the last thing we should do but it happens to me every time. I’ve been running again this week with the encouragement of some friends. I’ve been watching old running movies to help inspire me. And it is. I too have big dreams and I hope they do come true. It is not just about making sure my childrens dreams come true, they have to do that for themselves. I have to remember my own dreams & focus in and try real hard and when I get poop thrown my way…remember to duck.

Stay strong. Stay focused. And make your dream happen.

My best, Jen

xoxo

Pickup Lines for Artists & Crafters

Pickup Lines for Artists & Crafters is not something like….”do you come here often?”

I am very shy but I wasn’t always this way. I had a bad experience with a 3rd grade teacher. I was a social butterfly…then came the tarnished perfect record…a big fat red D in conduct. We scored letter grades A – F. A being the best and F being the worst. Next to that D, she wrote “chatty cathy” which was an annoying doll that never shut up. I guess I had a lot to say. When you have 3 brothers…sometimes you don’t get a word in. So I made up for it at school. After that day, I never spoke again. Well not really but it hurt terribly. The teacher never even took me aside prior to the grade to talk to me. She just judged me. Now I feel like I am always being judged.

I worry about what I look like. I worry what people think of my handmade work. I worry if I am a good mom. A good wife. A good pet owner. A good daughter. A good sister. A good friend. The list goes on. I worry a lot.

So this brings me to the topic of feeling uncomfortable in social situations. I failed to learn good social skills. I am a great speaker but conversationalist…I am not. I think many feel this way. So lets combine that with my fear of being judged and well…you have the making for a very stressful situation.

So I am telling you that the manners you’ve been taught need to be thrown out the window at craft shows. You are a sales person not a Walmart greeter (no offense to the greeter, it is just the two jobs are very different).

If you say Hi, how are you today? Most often it is a conversation stopper not starter. Where do you go from here? (Right now I am thinking oh my…do I have something between my teeth?)

Next up…if someone compliments you on your work…the worst thing to say is Thank You. I guess the same goes for if you are in a social situation and someone says nice scarf. It is an opportunity to tell a story that has nothing to do with you…just the scarf. So this is your opportunity to talk about your design in a friendly non-pushy manner. They already know that you appreciate the comment & now you have the opportunity to share with them what only you the artist knows about the design.

You can still be polite but often times we lose eye contact after the hello or thank you.

So I came up with a list of conversation starters that I am going to try in order to break out of my shell at craft shows. You could use similar ones in a social situation. So you can avoid the dredded “What do you do?”.

1. What brings you to the show today? How did you hear about it?

2. Are you a Crafter, Tinker, or Artist?

3. Do you go to a lot of craft shows?

4. Which show was your favorite?

5. What kind of items are you looking for? Do you have any special birthdays or events coming up?

6. Are you shopping for you or for someone else?

7. Even if they say “I am just looking”…say that is great!! And be sure to ask them what they think!

8. Ask them about the show & have they found any interesting booths. You’ll learn their likes & dislikes. You’ll find out if the show is a right fit for you.

9. If you are a crafter who sells handbags…ask them if they have a favorite handbag  designer & why. What styles do they prefer leather, cotton, big or small??

10. How many different types of handbags do they own? If they go to a wedding or special event, what type of bag do they bring?

Of course there are many more questions but these should get you started. If you have a great conversation starter…share it here.

Since many Artists are introverted it is important to practice often. It will help you when other opportunities come your way, like selling wholesale to a store…you’ll have a strong foundation for your customer likes & dislikes and know how to communicate your product so that they think they must have your item!

xo, Jen

Etsy Circles & Favorites

Dear Etsy Shop Owners,

When was the last time you went through your favorite items, shops & circle of friends?

This week I had the fateful mishap of receiving an error message after trying to add someone to my circle. It said, I had too many and needed to remove some in order to add more. I  made the mistake of adding everyone to my Etsy circle. I learned you can be added to an infinite number of Circles but you may only add 1080 to your own circle. I had just been being curteous and when someone added me…I added them back not worrying about a limit. Also if I saw a really great shop on the front page or came across them on Twitter…I added them too. I also added friends that were not active on Etsy at all. I used the application to add more friends to your circle.

So I went in and did the painful task of removing shops. It was hard to do it emotionally but so important to do. No hard feelings, it is just business. We should be adding people for their inspiration and to push us harder to be better. Take a look at some of your earlier favorites and work backward to present. You’ll see a change in shops that you liked then and shops that you like now. You’ll also see many shop owners have abandoned their shops (though some may be on vacation). The fact that you are still here is an amazing thing to be proud of. These favorites also help feed the section that only you can see which is new items from your favorite shops. All your favorites & circles can help you make a prizewinning T. I usually start with an idea & then build from my favorites & team members then lastly I may venture out to find some new items. This is the most time efficient way of making an Etsy T & establishing a great network.

So go ahead & clean out the cobwebs & get inspired!!

xo, Jen

Pinning an Etsy shop to Pinterest

So recently I was discussing with someone about the taboo question…do you post your own Etsy work to Pinterst. The consensus is yes but don’t overdo it. I have my boards clearly labeled. I also have a board for other Etsy shops that I love. I also have pinned many other Etsy shops to my other boards but they are not dedicated. Should you pin your own item in those types of boards. Some do if it works, I haven’t but I also don’t have a handbag board. If you do post to your own items within your own “style” board, it has been said that you shouldn’t include a lot of your own work, as people will know & probably not follow that board.

So I have a clear Pinterest board: My Etsy Shop @ittybittybag

If you are pinning Etsy items to Pinterest, many have wondered how to remove the dollar ribbon so that it looks like something from a magazine & not from an Etsy shop.

Example: here is my item with the dollar amount across the corner.

And here it is again without the dollar ribbon.

What do you think? Do you like it better with or without?

Personally, whether you are pinning your own item or pinning another item, I think it looks more professional to not have the price of the item over the corner of the photo. People come to Pinterest to pin items that inspire them. If you win them over, they may even want to buy from you which is why these next steps are important, as they are going to try to find out where they can buy the item.

Also, when someone is trying to make a pretty board watermarks or ribbons may deter someone from using your item in their pinterest board or in an Etsy T.

So maybe you don’t know how to delete this dollar ribbon? Here are a few easy steps to help you remove it.

Step one: You found an item on Etsy you want to pin.

Step two: You found the “Pin” button

Step three: Click on the “Pin” button

Step four: You are asked what board you want to pin it to and what the description is.

Step five: In the description section remove the price. You will magically see the numbers disappearing.

Step six: Give the reader some information on how to find this item or who it might be good for, especially if it is repinned or liked.

Thats it!! Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy.

**Note if you have this dollar ribbon on an item already, just go into the edit button on the pin & you can delete it there with no problem. You don’t have to repin.

Hope you find this tip helpful…and oh hey…follow me on Pinterest.

http://pinterest.com/ittybittybag/

xoxo, Jen

My Design Studio – Itty Bitty Bag Company

My Design Studio, Stay at home Etsy business, Itty Bitty Bag Company

Today I wanted to open my home studio doors for you and share my secret obsession with interior design. It is full of storage ideas and I disclose where I found all these amazing items.

I can take no credit for the glass french doors that are the gateway to my creative space. These have been here since 1926 when the house was built.

Here is my sanctuary. It is my office & creative studio. I spend many hours of the day here and it is a favorite spot for my girls, puppies & husband. It is a very large space for my small business but is centrally located in our house making it easy for this work at home mom.

I tried to make it as cozy & inviting as possible. I want to spend time with my family but between the chores, errands, and kids activities, I have to try to squeeze in minutes here and there throughout my day in order to make this work.

My office before was cramped & was hard to have clients over, it was approximately 7′x7′, it was at the top of the stairs, down the hall from my girls bedrooms, and made working late into the evening quite a challenge. Not to mention awkward to have a clients go upstairs. Now throughout the day I can be in my office & the girls no matter what they are doing, are always close to me.

Here are the four corners of my office.

I selected the color for my office because outside I am surrounded by green. Here is the view from my chair and why it is so peaceful.

Here are a few closeups of the most significant items in my office & the pieces of furniture that really make this a dream studio.

Here are the details:

The Walls – are Behr paint in Fashion Gray Eggshell. You should always grab several paint swatches as the room lighting really changes a color. Also, you want to view the paint chip in both natural light, darkness & with artificial lighting (lamps, ceiling).

The Desk – what a beauty she is. After many weeks of stewing…I found this seven foot table at United House Wrecking Antiques in Stamford, CT. They were so helpful & delivered this very old & very heavy table. It has natural dings so I don’t worry about my scissors or pins scratching it up…and it can be refinished.

The Oversized Chair – is from Pier1 Imports. I love the seersucker stripe fabric & it is quite cozy to sit in. I must confess it is the most expensive dog bed I’ve ever purchased.

The Suede Desk Chair – complete with rivots, scored at Home Goods.

The Curtains – are a gray/blue linen/silk combination and purchased at Target. They let in just enough light but give me privacy in my sea of windows…ah my windows. This room the windows were painted shut until last summer when we replaced them all. They are made of wood & were custom made to fit the old window sashes.

The Cube Storage – The shelves are Ikea & the boxes are Target.

Light Fixture – my husband pride & joy find…every night, sweetie turn on your light please, you’re killing me. This was from Pier 1.

Oversized Storage Woven Baskets and Carpet - are both from Home Goods.

Now that you know where to begin your shopping spree…let’s continue. If you see something I haven’t mentioned, let me know and I’ll try to relay the information to you.

Here are some other angles of my storage in action: close at hand the items I use most, my shipping scale, iron – scissors, more mailing supplies, etsy class supplies, close up of my most used, and my heavy fob materials now easily accessible & better organized for reordering inventory.

And the original antique shelving that is home to my inventory & fabric. This is to the left of my chair, beautiful & ready to inpire creativity.

My inventory on display in case a client wants to pop by and is nice to quickly see what I have available for shows & reminds me of how much  more I need to do to be ready for the holiday season.

Well I hope you enjoyed the tour of my studio and hopefully I will get to share some of my other rooms in my home with information on those design projects as well.

xo, Jen

Etsy Treasuries Posted to Facebook

How do you post an Etsy treasury to Facebook?

It can be done in a few simple steps using your PC.

You have been included in a beautiful treasury and maybe it is one that you’d really like to promote. Perhaps it was on the Front page of Etsy or maybe you are trying to increase views as it is front page worthy.

If you post the link to Facebook only a preview of the treasury shows up. You can select which photo to display but maybe it looks better & has more shop appeal viewing the item in the whole treasury.

If you use Blogger you can insert a widget that can be created through Craftcult but this is more difficult with wordpress and you can’t do it through Facebook.

Here is a pciture of one of my favorite Etsy treasuries created by Jana.

Follow these easy steps to create your own picture to post to Facebook.

1. Bring up the Treasury on your internet browser.

2. Go to view tab on the menu bar – click view full screen

3. Now hold down the control button &  the print screen button at the same time. (You’ve now just created a picture of your screen).

4. Open up Powerpoint

5. Paste what you’ve copied into a text or picture box.

6. Play with the box until the dimensions look right.

7. Save as a jpg document.

8. Open up the jpg document & crop/edit out the parts you don’t want people to see.

9. Save your file & share with your fans!

It is seriously that easy.

If you’ve found this helpful, then all I ask is that you share this article with others. The craft world is full of people who want to share & help but it is important to give back to those do offer help. Then the cycle continues.

Ways to share…

on your Facebook page give me credit for showing you how

http://facebook.com/ittybittybag

or tweet it

http://twitter.com/ittybittybag

My best, Jen