200th Post ~ Things are changing around here

Okay, so I closed up my Etsy shop a few weeks ago because I felt like my shops were taking up all my "time" and I wasn't getting anything done. It was a rash, but good decision to be honest.

I was able to get my house, well the public living areas at least, cleaned up and shaped up... Didn't stay that was totally for long, but with six people (four of who are under the age of 15) how can they really? I was also able to get started on some sewing for my family. I made seven different outfits for two of my kids and even made my sister a messenger bag that I had wanted to make her for Christmas! (No photo of it though :) )

I was also able to figure out that I need to separate my shop, it has too much variety in it. I am still going to do everything that I have been, but I am going to divide everything up into four (yes crazy) shops.

Stitch'N Love Boutique is going to be for my chef hats and aprons, key fobs and totes, all of the other eclectic stuff that I do. Right now, everything is still in this shop. I am going to take the summer to get everything in their proper places, not to mention I need to order some fabric labels for the new lines!

My bowtique is named Simply Love Boutique. It will carry all my hair bows and headbands.

My girls clothing line store is Pixie Ana. Here you will be able to find all the little, and not so little, girls clothes, hats and slippers. Every girl needs a fairy dust to feel like a princess you know!

My boys clothing line is Little Man Zack. You will find all the cute little Jon-Jons, t-shirt short sets, pant sets and hats and slippers too. Maybe even a super hero cape or two?

Of course, the shops are all combined in my Zibbet shop, you can find everything divided up in the sections :)

And, wouldn't you know it, this is my 200th blog post! When I started out way back when in 2008, I never thought that I would hit the 200th mark. It took me a while to get the hang of blogging, and I have taken many sabbaticals. But, I have hit the mark and I have decided that I want to do a little giveaway for all my loyal readers. So if you have read this entry, leave me a note and let me know. I am going to give my readers til about Wednesday, I guess, to leave a message and I will select a winner and post on Thursday. I am not all to certain that a lot of people read my blog much anymore. I have been really lax in posting and haven't had a whole lot of good stuff to say anyway.....

Oh, and I guess I should say what you will win, huh? Well, I have this Carolina NFL team messenger bag that I made for someone but they backed out of buying it. It's a nice sturdy bag: made with black duck cloth, and would be a great get dirty, don't care if it goes through the mud bag!

Newly Listed in the Liquidation Sale!

Each of these has a sibling just like it in a different size. And guess what? I am letting these ladies go this week for $10 each!

Click on the photos so find the listings for each of these. I am trying to clear out some room to make new outfits. These were all made before I got my personal labels and I want my shop to be filled with clothing and such that have my labels on them! lol

I think it's a GREAT reason to have a sale, don't you? There are some exciting things coming up for the Stitch'N Love Boutique, so be on the look out for the news!

Liquidation Sale

I am trying to move as much stuff out of my Etsy shop as possible. Most of this stuff is priced way below what I would normally sell it for in hopes that someone will take pity on me and buy.

I am not sure what all I will carry when I start taking custom orders again, or if I will even do customs anymore. All I know is that something has got to give.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade stitchnlove.etsy.com

If you have a blog and pass this great sale on to your readers, it is greatly appreciated. And if you let me know, I will send you a little thank you gift!

If you have ever owned a Stitch'N Love Boutique item, please leave me some love on this post and let me know. Sometimes getting a blog comment, or an "I love your work" can really pick up the mood. May has never been a "good" month for me. When I taught, it was the month that everything came due and tension at work was always high.

Hope you see something that you like, or you pass this great sale on to others so that they can benefit.

Love to all my readers!

New Tepee Available!

OKay, so at least typing will keep my fingers warmed up, right? I thought that I might as well post about something that I have been meaning to post since before Christmas....

I LOVE it when customers see something in my shop and ask if I can change it up a little bit. I mean, that's how the canvas book sacks for teachers came to be.

Well, now, that is how my newest addition has come about too. I had a sweet customer convo me about making a tepee for her nieces. Only she wanted to know if I could add a window in it. We went back and forth in conversation on Etsy trying to make sure that the theme was correct and I agreed to try to make a window.

Here is what I came up with! I have to say that I was happy with it when I sent it off. Unfortunately, the customer wasn't 100% satisfied with my product. The window was great, but the sides were still falling down after a while. She had one for her kids that was older and worked great. I know where the problem lies, in the pipes that I have to use.

They are thin so that the tepee can have the most room for the least cost. And that means that they are a bit flimsy, so to say. I know that my kids don't mind them, but some kids do. Or parents maybe. Anyway, I think the biggest problem lies in how far down I folded the top to make the pole casings. The next one I made, wasn't so low. But, I have yet to hear from that client, so I don't know.

Maybe I need to just bite the bullet and make another, huh? At any rate, she wasn't totally unhappy, just had the expectations of the one she owns. I can understand that!

But this whole encounter got me to thinking.... When you buy something in a big, or even a not so big, box store, and the item doesn't meet your total approval, do you write a letter or email to the creator and expect compensation? Now, this client did nothing of the sort, but I have heard of clients that have. I have heard of people that have bought a handmade outfit and because a seam comes undone (or a hair bow) because it was over used or even abused, they expect their money back. Even months AFTER the sale.

My Ever Changing Sewing Ideas

You know what, time flies when you are having fun, or even when your not having fun!

It's hard to believe that it's already December 2009. It was back in March 2008, that DH and I decided to embark on a business. And boy has it evolved! We started out with my grandma offering to buy a long arm quilting table so that I could learn how to long arm quilt (for her) to make a little extra money. While waiting on that to get here and because our minds just went haywire over everything, we bought an embroidery machine. Figured that I could do some embroidery on the side too when the quilting wasn't paying out.

Good enough, right?

Well, quilting takes a lot of time. Time to cut the pieces out, time to sew them all together. Then there is the actual QUILTING: sandwiching the three pieces together! That takes the longest. Well, it took a few months for the table to get here and by that time, my thoughts were not on sitting on a chair, or standing, and trying to figure out how to quilt those pieces together.

Plus, I can be a bit of a perfectionist. lol Hard to believe, I know.

Well, the quilting thing didn't work out. We had to put the table in my grandma's "room" that my Dad built for her next to his shed and taking two toddlers in there was out of the question! I spent more time keeping them out of trouble then I did working.

So, I had to find something that I could stay in the house and do....

Started out making purses.... Sold two on eBay! Then I found Etsy. By then, I was also making all in one nap mats. Then I got hooked on ribbons and started on hairbows. Got hooked.

By October, I was looking into children's clothing. All the while, I am going back and forth, doing everything that I have learned how to do: baby items, hairbows and headbands, children's clothing, nap mats, purses......

Last spring, I decided to look into pet items: vests and sleep mats.

More purses and even diaper bags. Crayon Wallets, children's tepees, the list goes on and on!

I see myself as a sewing Jane of all trades......

Now, I am thinking that maybe I need to add something else to my list......

Doll clothes! I have patterns for dolls that go with some outfits that I make already and I found some patterns for some newborn dolls. Thinking that I can make doll outfits to match girl outfits. And even just make doll outfits! I think that they will be a good addition to my craft shows and may even sell online pretty well too. I am not really sure, but I am ready to find out.

So, be on the lookout for sneak peaks and my upcoming shop on Etsy: Stitch'N Love Doll Boutique! I got reserved, but not a seller yet! lol

Coffee Sleeve Anyone?

I don't know about anyone else, but I can't stand those cardboard coffee sleeves that some of the coffee shops offer. For one, they don't really protect your hands from the heat of the coffee well and then they just add to trash pileup. I found this coffee fabric when I was on our family trip in June to Colorado and just knew that I had to make some coffee sleeves!

As you can see, it took me a little while to finally get around to making some, but here you have them. Beautiful brown fabric with coffee beans and various names of coffee types and coffee snacks.

This makes a great gift for the coffee drinker in your life!

Now that I got these done, I have some other material to use to make more: democrat and republican material to show your political pride! I hope to have these listed by mid month.

Current Coffee Sleeves are on sale now in my Artfire and Etsy shops, go take a look.

$25 Giveaway

That's right, I have gone CRAZY! I am offering a $25 certificate to ANY of my shops (Artfire or Etsy).

To enter, all you have to do is make comments to the post! Pretty simple huh? Go take a look in the shops and come back and tell me what you like, or maybe even what you would like to see in my shops. Heck, even if you tell me that everything stinks, you are entered, lol.

If you send anyone over the blog, make sure that they put your name in the comment too! You never know when I might get even CRAZIER and give away a certificate for just sending people my way!! MUUAHHHHHHHH, as my daughter would say, lol.

Giveaway will be from July 1st - July 13th. I will pick the winner on my son's 13th birthday: July 14th!!!!!!!!!

Good Luck!!!

Christmas in July ~ TEAMSC on Etsy Style!

That's right! Start your Christmas shopping a little early this year and catch some GREAT sales!

Look for "XiJ" on Etsy to find all the great South Carolina artisan that are having some Dang-Great sales this month.

Yours truly is having a 20% off EVERYTHING (even customs!) to go along with my already $2 US and $5 international flat rate shipping on most items!

You just have to put "XiJ" in the buyers comments when you check out and I will happily refund the 20% off your purchase.

On a different note, I am in the middle of a mind explosion. The time away from the sweatshop seems to have been good for me! I have many new ideas to create! I can't wait to get started but it seems that I am having a problem with physical motivation, ie, my body is going in SLOW motion, lol. I hope to have some pictures up soon for everyone to see what I want to work on!

Hugs to everyone!!!

Here are the shops participating!

http://allaboutthebuttons.etsy.com http://carolinakloset.etsy.com http://CarolinaGirlBowtique.etsy.com http://CurlyfrySC.etsy.com http://customcandycreations.etsy.com http://ladypippie.etsy.com http://lolsoaps.etsy.com http://lowe40.etsy.com http://MinnieMaes.etsy.com http://morganalexadesigns.etsy.com http://nascarnana.etsy.com http://roagom.etsy.com http://stitchnlove.etsy.com http://thevillagestar.etsy.com

Meandering with Stitch'N Love

It's been a week so far here. Sunday was spent with part of the day at my mom's celebrating Mother's Day with her, my grandma, my sister-in-law and her mom. I was in a funk all day mainly due to the fact that I just don't handle holidays of sort well anymore. Too many demons to fight I guess. Then Monday rolled around and hubby had to go away for work for a few days. He's back home now though!

I have many ideas in my head to create, but whenever I would go to try and get them out (ie 

create) I would hit some road block. The little kids wanting mommy all the time, or not wanting to go to sleep, meltdown cities and nations, or impromtu babysitting gigs. I did finally get a few things done though, but only two are 

photographed and on my computer, lol. They can both be 

found in my Artfire shop and soon in my Etsy shop too.

The Tepee includes the four poles. I have some yellow fabric also that will be done after I get the horse-themed sleeping bags done. Chipmunk LOVED platying with this inside and outside.

The kimono booties are being modeled by my 3 month old niece. I need to grab her again for my other booties that I made too! I just love those fat thighs! lol

Birthday Sale Going on NOW!

Tomorrow is the "big" day and what do you think I will be doing????? Working on getting my inventory up for my very first festival craft show this Saturday, that's what!!!!!!

But, in honor of my birthday, I am having a "1/2 of 70 Percent Off Birthday Sale"!!!!!! That's right, 35% off both of my shops, Etsy and Artfire! Artfire already has the discount taken off, with Etsy, you gotta wait for me to send you a revised invoice through PayPal.....

So from now until Saturday night at 11:59pm, enjoy 35% off my Artfire and Etsy shops!

Enjoy!

It's a Birthday Sale this week!

Yep, you read that right, it's my birthday this week and I want to celebrate by offering 1/2 of 70 off all purchases(you know, 35% off) (does not include shipping)

Sale is in my artfire and etsy stores. If you shop the Etsy store, you will have to wait for a revised invoice through PayPal.

Sunday, April 12th thorugh Saturday, April 18th ONLY!!!!!!

http://www.stitchnlove.artfire.com/
http://www.stitchnlove.etsy.com/

Raise A Roof Sale going on NOW!

I don't know what the weather is like where you are, but it has been raining here in Southern South Carolina a lot lately in the past week.

This morning at 4 am, the roof in my bedroom started to leak again and now the roof is leaking into some of the windows!

We were hoping that we could wait and fix it ourselves in a few weeks after my first craft booth at a one day festival on the 18th, but it can't wait any longer! We are going to have to pay for someone to come and do i when the rain stops.

All INSTOCK items in my Etsy store are 20% off and 30% off in my Artfire store!

Custom items in both are 15% off. Customs might take a month to get done.

Just put RAISE A ROOF in the comments to seller when you check out and I will send you a revised PayPal invoice!

Donations are also accepted, lol. (a joke)

I think I am spread too thin.....

... I had a great thing going with Etsy for a while there. I mean, I opened up in June 2008 and I have 50 sales. Not too bad for me. It's been hard to get myself out there, but it's been good to me. I sterted to think that maybe if I opened other stores, that more sales would come in, you know, put yourself out there and they will come?

Well, I think that I tempted fate too much and it backfired, lol. I have not had a single sale on Etsy in over a month!

Then, after starting to use good ol' Google Analytics, I have discovered that Etsy is where I get all my traffic from anyway. For me, Etsy and my website are what I need to focus on. And I am going to!

I am closing the Artfire and 1000 Market stores. I don't need to worry about those. I am not getting any traffic really on either. I am going to focus on Etsy, website and Hyena Cart Congo. I mean, I got asked to be a part of The Spotted Box because of Etsy. My mind is running wild with stuff to add to the congo. Those are the places that I need to focus on and I am going to start now!

Wish me luck! I am also going to start featuring shops on Esty through all my "connections" that I have made......... Fun, fun, fun!

Oh and check out my website! I re-vamped it. It's not totally done but I think it looks a bit better! And I have prices now for everything at least, well, almost everything!

Custom Boutique Designs and Creations Treasury!

Seems that lately I am luckier GETTING the treasury than being in them, lol

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=47634

I wish that I could have put myself in this one, but it's against the rules. I just hope that some of my team members get some traffic from this!

Ever need Finger Savers When You Eat Ice Pops?

Well, I know that my kids do!

Ana and Zack have been eating like 6 a day or more here lately and it's not even summer yet! We had been using paper towels to protect their little fingers from the frigid cold, but that was getting a little costly, not to mention the amount of paper trash that was collecting!

I had some scrap fleece in the house and remembered something that an internet friend had posted: a holder for ice pops! Well, I decided to make some for the kids! Voila! Finger Savers was born!

Go check them out in the Etsy store! I think that they are not only great for at home, but I wish that I had them when I was teaching kindergarten! I offer a slight discount with a purchase of 20 or more!

They are kid-tested and this mother approves!

Please check out the SC Street Team Blog and VOTE!

I did not know that they had a monthly challenge until tonight. I hope to get in on it next month, but please go check out the blog and vote anyway!



http://scstreetteam.blogspot.com/2009/02/january-creative-challenge-love-vote.html



The Brown household is rampant with illness at the moment, so it's sick SuperMommy to the aid of all the ill people, young and older. Funny though, the two teenagers are NOT sick but will not help much. Oh well. To be young and healthy again!



Hopefully I will be back up to a good speed soon and will post the MANY things that I have going on!



Here is a pic of my niece that was born Friday! Lilly Irene Wallace was born January 30, 2009 at 7:58 pm. Weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and measured 19 inches. She was born on her Great-Grandma Ellen's 82nd birthday! Clay and Holly are adjusting to new parenthood well!


I love her FAT cheeks! I can't wait to make her a hat and some bows!

Update on this week

Man (woman), this week has flown by! Which is funny to me considering the fact that the DH and I were sitting around Sunday feeling like time was c_r_a_w_l_i_n_g. Monday was take the kids to school day - Tuesday they were out of school and I went and did my civic duty and voted - Wednesday the kids were back in school. So here it is, Friday night..... The older kids and Ana, heck, even DH is tucked in bed. The baby? He's on the loveseat sound asleep 'cause I know if I put him in his bed, he'll be up in a few.... He has a terrible cold......

Which is the reason that I have not been able to get much done this week! But I am proud of what I have gotten done.

I got a pillowcase dress done! Cute bar bows to go with it too! There is another one just like it sitting next to the sewing machine for me to finish. I love the lace hem that I put on the bottom of this one. I call it "Dog Gone Cute" Pillowcase dress.

Speaking of bows, I tried out something different! I made the cutest flower bows out of...... get this....... YARN! Even added a little "bling" to it. That got me to thinking about the fact that I have not been using the cards that I had made up for the bows, sooooooo................................................

I used them! I want to find a ribbon punch, but I don't think that these first ones are too bad........

Told ya Zack wouldn't last long on the couch! He's in my lap now, lol.

Anyway, I also worked on some simple covered clippies. Made a few sales that I have to work on this weekend! I am excited and PRAY that I get more sales over the weekend!