Settling In

Now that I'm back home & settling in to married life, I'm trying to find my way back on to Etsy and preparing to start working again. Yesterday I took a much needed day off by myself. I drove north and checked out a little town I've been meaning to visit.


Healdsburg was as lovely as I had imagined it would be. The fabric store was a major let down, but the town square made for a great stroll. Nick and I will definitely have to head up there for breakfast at some point.

I have actually been working since we got home, I started restocking my monkey shop while I was still on my little honeymoon. I think I'll be able to reopen Monkey Travel Club tomorrow. There may even be a new item or two coming soon.

And don't worry. I haven't completely left my sewing machine in the dust after making everything for my wedding. Nope. I managed to whip up a few new place mats for myself over the last few days. I'm working on a tutorial to add to my shop for them. I really want to get some patterns in my shop too. It's going to take some time, but hopefully at some point iSew will experience quite a few changes.
Now it's back to the drawing board for me...

Monkey Season

I did it! I opened a second Etsy shop today, just for monkeys. I'm pretty excited about this. Ever since the first official Gadget Monkey made his trip to Yosemite I've been planning a website. I decided to go with an Etsy shop and Flickr group for now. If I can find the time I'll add a blog and maybe a website too. So, if you're a fan of the monkeys, please stop by & see them in they're new homes. :)

Planning for a new year

Well, 2007 is on its way out the door as we speak. I've been thinking a lot lately about some things I want to work on for '08, mainly related to my business of course. Here's a part of the list I've made: Believe it or not, I've already completed most of the first item on the list. I'll be picking away at this list for some time I'm sure. I hope you all have a wonderful new year and I wish you luck for 2008!
Tomorrow I'll be announcing something I've had on my to do list since February! ha! Happy New Year!

What's a Blog?

"You need a blog". That's what I keep reading in all my books about having an online business. Well, here it is. I don't really have any issues with blogs, I just don't think I have a lot to say. And I hate writing, I'm terrible at it. I guess it's a good way to promote my business, which I need to do badly. I don't know how it works (and probably sound like a real dork right now) but away I go.

The deal is, I have an online business selling my hand sewn stuff. I make

handbags, diaper bags, etc., etc. - iSew...get it? Anyway, I launched my site in November and now I'm just doing all the things you do to get it noticed. I get a fair amount of traffic, but not that much. No one knows I'm there.

My next step into marketing my site is to try getting into some craft shows. Aside from the natural downside of grannies in puff paint sweatshirts, it can be pretty expensive to get into the good ones. However, you have a captive audience that is there to buy. I've been to these things and there are packs of ladies walking out with crafty stuff hanging from their bodies. They bring their husbands just to carry the bags. There seems to be a definite opportunity there. I also think people are more likely to buy a higher priced item from some stranger if they can actually see it in person. I don't blame them.

I guess I plan to use my blog as a way to put my ideas down in writing somewhere. Sort of like when you talk to yourself, it just seems to stick better. I hope it works. Ha Ha

More later,

Kippi

www.iSew.biz