Plans for the NewYear

As the Christmas rush comes to an end and New Year's Eve rapidly approaches I find myself pondering the coming New Year.  It's time to think about things that worked well this year and things that need improvement.  Two things that immediately pop in my head in the improvement category are TIME MANAGEMENT and ORGANIZATION!  These are both skills (according to my husband) that I dearly need to work on.  Time management is partially a problem because of things like an old computer, that I use to print my labels, moves at the speed of a sickly slug.  I will solve this problem with a new desktop publishing program for my new computer.  Organization is only a problem when I get busy, but as my husband would say you are always busy.  So, I guess this area needs a little work.

Summarizing 2009  I did 25 craft shows, 5 of which I would say were great, 9 of which were good, 6 were OK, and 5 which were terrible.  Through the summer I did 2 to 3 farmer's markets a week depending if I had a show on the weekend.   My best market was in Eagles Mere where I consistently did good week to week.  I sold my work on 4 online venues, Etsy bringing the best results, my own website offered consistent sales, and Artfire and 1000 Markets which both lagged way behind. 

This coming year I plan to do less shows mainly because we will be moving sometime in the summer.  This means a lot of organization and planning because we live in a very old house that has been in our family for over 30 years.  Various family members have lived in and owned the house over this time period and they have all left stuff here, so guess who has a massive sorting job on their hands? 

My number one goal for this year is to increase my online sales.  I am even planning on opening a second Etsy shop with a line of specialty soaps that I am not going to reveal just yet.  My other hope is to spend some time on my photography.  I do miss photographing and being in the darkroom.  Maybe I will have an Etsy shop for my photographs.  So much to plan and think about.  I wish everyone a wonderful New Year and good luck with all of your projects and plans!
 

 

Merry Christmas

Favorite Gift

Etsyblogger's blog carnival question is "What was your favorite gift?"  Well, I would have to say my favorite gift was not a Christmas present but a birthday gift from my husband 5 years ago.  He secretly got me a puppy.  A couple of weeks before my birthday we lost our dog of 15 years.  Although Auggie had a long and happy life it is always traumatic loosing your family pet.  I must admit I was in a vulnerable state.  My son and I went in our local pet shop and the pet store lady starts putting puppies in my arms, one of them being the most adorable little red husky with one blue eye and one brown.   That's all it took, I was in love!

I went home and told my husband all about this wonderful little puppy.  Of course he said NO!  Too expensive, too soon after loosing Auggie, huskies are known to be difficult dogs, pet store are not the place to get a dog.   I started reading about huskies and yes they can be challenging dogs.  They are smart and can be very willful.  And I agree that pet stores are not the best place to get a dog.  I know adopting a homeless dog is a great thing to do but pet store dogs need a good home too. But he still kept saying no, my spirits were crushed!

This all took place a couple of days before my birthday.  On my birthday my son and I went back to the pet store to see if the puppy was still there.  He was but the pet store lady said he was SOLD.  Oh what a sad day.  I have had some rotten birthdays in the past but this seemed like the absolute worst.   I moped around the rest of the day. 

Late that afternoon my son calls me to come out to my husband's workshop and to my great surprise there is my puppy.  My husband had secretly went and bought the puppy early that morning.  My son and the pet store lady were in on the secret.  My birthday went from being one of the worst to being one of the best.  I was so happy!  Oh yes my husband was right about huskies being challenging.  Sitka is beautiful and very smart, a little bit willful (ok a lot bit willful) and he definitely has a mind of his own, but we love him very much. 

 

Featured Etsyblogger CalKat

This month's featured Etsyblogger is CalKat, the combined efforts of Kathy and Carrie.  They have not just one etsy shop but 4 shops all featuring different aspect of their creativity.   http://calkat.etsy.com This shop is mostly jewelry. http://Ametista.etsy.com This shop has an interesting array of bottles and boxes.  http://theclayshoppe.etsy.com The ClayShoppe is stocked with lots and lots of molds and other things used with polymer clay.  http://YogaFairies.etsy.com  And last but not least is YogaFaries which has all these great little yoga fairy figures in different yoga poses.  So takes some time and check out all their shops and don't forget to look at their blog too!   http://calkatthejewelryjunkie.blogspot.com

New, New, New!!!

I have added lots of new products to my etsy shop just in time for last minute Christmas shopping,  I have new Sugar Scrubs, Solid Perfumes, and Christmas shaped goat milk soaps. I also have added a Gift Basket that you can customize by choosing which soap and lotion you want.  So don't wait until it's too late, take a look at all these great new products.  http://sweetsallyssoaps.etsy.com

Essential Oils 101 Part Three

Today's featured essential is lemongrass.  Lemongrass essential oil has a wonderful citrus aroma, but it is not in the citrus family.  It is instead a tall perennial grass that is native to India.  The plant is used extensively in Asian cooking.  Like some other essential oils lemongrass essential oil has a whole host of beneficial properties, including  being an antiseptic, analgesic, antifungal, antimicrobial and even has antidepressant effects.  The oil is used in the treatment of athlete’s foot, acne, skin rashes, excessive sweating, stress, and muscle pain.

Lemongrass essential oil is also used in natural insect repellents.   It has an astringent quality so it can be helpful to people with oily skin.  But my favorite quality of lemongrass is it's ability to promote the feeling of emotional well being. It has a relaxing effect and can even help with anxiety and depression.  A relaxing massage with lemongrass essential oil is indeed a treat. 

I currently have 4 soaps that have lemongrass essential oil in, Lemongrass and Sage, By the Sea Salt Bar, Lemon Poppyseed, and Oatmeal and Honey.  I will offering all of these soaps at 15% off in all of my shops. 
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SweetSallysSoaps  http://www.artfire.com/users/SweetSallysSoaps  
http://www.1000markets.com/users/sweetsallyssoaps