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I'm giving away these earrings! Enter to win at Got a Lot to Give!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Techno Tuesday: Spreadsheets
Spreadsheets. I'm sure the very word makes some of you cringe. It doesn't exactly make me want to dance with glee. Because spreadsheets make me think of Excel, and honestly... I kind of hate Excel. I had to learn the basics several years ago when I took a required Intro to Computers class, and while I learned enough to use it, I never did come to completely understand it, and I would still have to stop and fiddle around occasionally to figure things out.
But when I began making preparations to open my Etsy shop and started looking for ways to keep things organized, I came across a number of spreadsheets. And rather than cower in fear of the evil Excel, I decided to face it head-on. I was confident. After all, these were downloadable, already-set-up spreadsheets that I just had to plunk my own info into. Couldn't be too difficult, right?
For the most part, it really wasn't. It was painless enough that I'm still using them. And only occasionally do I want to kick Excel in its nonexistent behind. So what do I use?
One of the first spreadsheets I snagged, and one that I find darn-near indispensable is Chris Parry's pricing spreadsheet. It seems silly now, but one of the things that previously held me back from trying to sell my crafts was the fact that I just didn't know what to charge for things. So I did some research on the subject when I set up my Etsy shop and came across this spreadsheet. It took a bit of time to set up initially because it's quite thorough, taking into account everything from the cost of materials to the cost of rent and utilities for your studio space. Once I had everything set up, though, it was a simple matter of plugging in the cost of materials and the time spent on the item to get a suggested price, both retail and wholesale. And what was once an ordeal is now a piece of cake. Thanks, Chris!
Once I've got my pricing worked out and have my item listed, all the info goes into my Etsy Seller Worksheet, which I found perusing the Storque. If you don't already, read the the Storque! It's chock full of useful information and tools like this. The Seller Worksheet, which is organized by month, lets you keep track of what's listed in your store, what you've sold, when you've sold it, and who you've sold it to, when you were paid, when the item was shipped, what you paid in fees, and finally, your profit. *whew* As you can see, this one lets you keep a lot of information in one convenient place. And it's also super easy to use.
Finally, when I've made a sale and use the money to buy more supplies, I try to remember to add them to my inventory spreadsheet. My inventory is very much a work in progress. I began using a very simple spreadsheet of my own concoction, which has worked just fine, thus far. The biggest problem I have is finding the motivation actually add things. As much as I like to stay organized, sometimes it seems like a waste of time to be cataloging my supplies rather than making things with them. But I digress. I recently grabbed the Pro Inventory Tracking sheet from the Accounting SPOT to play with. It's definitely more advanced than mine--and the other sheets I use--and I've only just begun playing with it, but thus far, I like it. It's certainly worth snagging while it's free.
Do you use spreadsheets to keep your business organized? Leave a comment and tell me what you use!
But when I began making preparations to open my Etsy shop and started looking for ways to keep things organized, I came across a number of spreadsheets. And rather than cower in fear of the evil Excel, I decided to face it head-on. I was confident. After all, these were downloadable, already-set-up spreadsheets that I just had to plunk my own info into. Couldn't be too difficult, right?
For the most part, it really wasn't. It was painless enough that I'm still using them. And only occasionally do I want to kick Excel in its nonexistent behind. So what do I use?
One of the first spreadsheets I snagged, and one that I find darn-near indispensable is Chris Parry's pricing spreadsheet. It seems silly now, but one of the things that previously held me back from trying to sell my crafts was the fact that I just didn't know what to charge for things. So I did some research on the subject when I set up my Etsy shop and came across this spreadsheet. It took a bit of time to set up initially because it's quite thorough, taking into account everything from the cost of materials to the cost of rent and utilities for your studio space. Once I had everything set up, though, it was a simple matter of plugging in the cost of materials and the time spent on the item to get a suggested price, both retail and wholesale. And what was once an ordeal is now a piece of cake. Thanks, Chris!
Once I've got my pricing worked out and have my item listed, all the info goes into my Etsy Seller Worksheet, which I found perusing the Storque. If you don't already, read the the Storque! It's chock full of useful information and tools like this. The Seller Worksheet, which is organized by month, lets you keep track of what's listed in your store, what you've sold, when you've sold it, and who you've sold it to, when you were paid, when the item was shipped, what you paid in fees, and finally, your profit. *whew* As you can see, this one lets you keep a lot of information in one convenient place. And it's also super easy to use.
Finally, when I've made a sale and use the money to buy more supplies, I try to remember to add them to my inventory spreadsheet. My inventory is very much a work in progress. I began using a very simple spreadsheet of my own concoction, which has worked just fine, thus far. The biggest problem I have is finding the motivation actually add things. As much as I like to stay organized, sometimes it seems like a waste of time to be cataloging my supplies rather than making things with them. But I digress. I recently grabbed the Pro Inventory Tracking sheet from the Accounting SPOT to play with. It's definitely more advanced than mine--and the other sheets I use--and I've only just begun playing with it, but thus far, I like it. It's certainly worth snagging while it's free.
Do you use spreadsheets to keep your business organized? Leave a comment and tell me what you use!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Blog Carnival: Spring Has Sprung
The latest EtsyBloggers blog carnival, hosted by Made by Melissa, asks the question,
The Wild Irish Headband
and this Basic Branding Package
And I've got some new designs coming just for spring. I have a giveaway starting tomorrow, hosted by Got A Lot to Give for these earrings:
Spring time is almost here, do you have any special items in your shop to celebrate the season?Well, one of the first things I think about when I think spring is flowers, and I just happen to have several floral items in my shop, such as...
The Wild Irish Headband
and this Basic Branding Package
And I've got some new designs coming just for spring. I have a giveaway starting tomorrow, hosted by Got A Lot to Give for these earrings:
I'll also be adding this design to my shop in an array of bright, spring colors, probably with a matching necklace and/or bracelet. I've got some more crocheted accessories in the works, as well. And graphics, of course.
Spring is a time of growth, and having planted the seeds, I intend to keep nurturing my little shop-plant and watch it grow!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Follower Feature Friday: simply_hibiscus
Happy Friday, Folks! It's time for another follower feature! This week's follower is simply_hibiscus, who makes some of the cutest plushies this side of... well... anywhere. A visit to her shop is like walking into a very eclectic and somewhat odd zoo. You'll find all sorts of critters from owls and octopuses to dinosaurs and yetis, with a healthy dose of adorable monsters thrown in to the mix. Here are some of my favorites...
Melvin
Melvin has got to be the world's cutest yeti. That hair... Those eyes... He may be the strong, silent type, but inside he's just begging to be cuddled. And who wouldn't love to cuddle a yeti?
Lucy the Owl
I love me some owls, and there seem to be plenty of them floating around the Etsyverse. But Lucy here stands out from the crowd. Lucy is an owl with attitude. Or maybe... hootitude? Whatever it is, she's got it. And then some. As the entry reads, "Checkered, round, gray, and small, she's the owl that has it all." I couldn't have said it better myself!
Wub
I don't know about you, but I didn't know monsters could be this cute. In fact, this little guy - with his big, round eyes and somewhat uncertain expression - is so adorable I kind of feel bad for calling him a monster. Perhaps "unidentified creature" would be better. I'd hate to hurt his feelings. He seems like kind of a sensitive little guy...
Now, if you don't see anything in the shop that really tugs at your heartstrings, don't fret. Simplyhibiscus takes custom orders! And if you wanna give a little Wub to a someone special, you can have your order gift wrapped for just two bucks!
So what are you waiting for? Go pay simplyhibiscus a visit. And let me know if you see any octopuses.
Melvin
Lucy the Owl
I love me some owls, and there seem to be plenty of them floating around the Etsyverse. But Lucy here stands out from the crowd. Lucy is an owl with attitude. Or maybe... hootitude? Whatever it is, she's got it. And then some. As the entry reads, "Checkered, round, gray, and small, she's the owl that has it all." I couldn't have said it better myself!
Wub
I don't know about you, but I didn't know monsters could be this cute. In fact, this little guy - with his big, round eyes and somewhat uncertain expression - is so adorable I kind of feel bad for calling him a monster. Perhaps "unidentified creature" would be better. I'd hate to hurt his feelings. He seems like kind of a sensitive little guy...
Now, if you don't see anything in the shop that really tugs at your heartstrings, don't fret. Simplyhibiscus takes custom orders! And if you wanna give a little Wub to a someone special, you can have your order gift wrapped for just two bucks!
So what are you waiting for? Go pay simplyhibiscus a visit. And let me know if you see any octopuses.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Thursday Threads: Spring Green
What's this? A regular feature? At last?
Yep. I'm finally gettin' back into the swing of things. Sorry for the sparse activity, folks. I'm afraid our little household hasn't been the healthiest of late. But Kitty's all better now, and I finally have the energy and brainpower to do something other than sit around like a bump on a log (or a bum on the couch, as the case may be). So let's get back to our regularly scheduled blog, shall we?
Spring is finally on it's way, and I can't wait for it to get here! I love spring. I love it's lack of snow. I love the temperatures that climb to well above freezing. But most of all, I love all of the buds and blossoms and blooms, the life that finally returns, and the beautiful colors it brings. Like green.
This week's Thursday Threads features cute garments in light and lively shades of spring green. Like this adorable gingham dress by Ananya:
Adorable, no? I'm not usually all that fond of floral prints, but this ones pretty with it's springy greens and golden yellows and those lovely little, white... daisies? I'm going to call them daisies. And I'm going to call this skirt awesome, because guess what. This is only the first side! This skirts reversible, so if you're not in a flowery kinda mood, you can flip this puppy around and BAM! You've got the same cute, kneelength wrap skirt in a lovely shade of sky blue. How cool is that? I love reversible stuff.
Ya know what else I love? Hoodies. I think a cute hoodie is a necessity for spring weather. And this bunny hoodie by ShoriAmeshiko is seriously cute:
It has ears. And a cute ickle bunny face. And wings! And it's made with fleece, so it's most likely just as comfy and cozy as it looks. And it looks pretty darn cozy. And so do ShoriAmeshiko's other adorable critter-eared hoodies (featuring bears, and moogles, and mudkips - oh, my!) and hats. The whole shop is just full of cute, so be sure to check it out!
And if you've got any spring greens you'd like to share, leave a comment!
Yep. I'm finally gettin' back into the swing of things. Sorry for the sparse activity, folks. I'm afraid our little household hasn't been the healthiest of late. But Kitty's all better now, and I finally have the energy and brainpower to do something other than sit around like a bump on a log (or a bum on the couch, as the case may be). So let's get back to our regularly scheduled blog, shall we?
Spring is finally on it's way, and I can't wait for it to get here! I love spring. I love it's lack of snow. I love the temperatures that climb to well above freezing. But most of all, I love all of the buds and blossoms and blooms, the life that finally returns, and the beautiful colors it brings. Like green.
This week's Thursday Threads features cute garments in light and lively shades of spring green. Like this adorable gingham dress by Ananya:
This dress just screams spring to me. The color, those playful ruffles, the print... Spring and gingham just go together like... peanut butter and jelly - which would make a great sandwich to pack for a picnic, to which you could wear this dress. Of course, it would be equally suited to a walk in the park, a trip to the nearest ice cream shop, or... just about anything really. It's casual enough for everyday but has plenty of dressing-up potential for those somewhat more formal occasions. Ah, versatility. I love it!
Which is part of the reason I love this reversible wrap skirt by GenerationGap:
Ya know what else I love? Hoodies. I think a cute hoodie is a necessity for spring weather. And this bunny hoodie by ShoriAmeshiko is seriously cute:
And if you've got any spring greens you'd like to share, leave a comment!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Monday Motivator - A New Crafty Addiction
If you saw my latest Wordless Wednesday, then you know that I've taken a stab at bookbinding. It was one of those things that I'd wanted to try for ages and just hadn't gotten around to it. And now that I have... I'm totally hooked.
I've already started working on one for Kitty, who was totally impressed with the first one. And I have so many ideas for others. SO many. Different papers, different embellishments, different themes and uses...
And the best part? I hardly have to buy any materials to make these! The covers are just your average cardboard (the first one was made from a Hamburger Helper box), and I've already got a decent stack saved up. Look guys, I'm hoarding craft supplies AND reducing waste! :D
I'm currently using plain old printer paper for the pages, but I'd really like to use recycled paper. Maybe even handmade paper. I've already started collecting scraps for potential future paper-making experiments.
I'm going to do a few more first--practice makes perfect, you know--but I think I'm definitely going to try to sell some of these puppies. I'm just debating between adding them to my Etsy inventory and starting a separate shop just for them, maybe on Zibbet. I've heard great things and it wouldn't cost me a penny, so even if they didn't sell I wouldn't be out anything...
Ah, but I'm thinking out loud now, and I've got rice balls to make! Later, Taters!
I've already started working on one for Kitty, who was totally impressed with the first one. And I have so many ideas for others. SO many. Different papers, different embellishments, different themes and uses...
And the best part? I hardly have to buy any materials to make these! The covers are just your average cardboard (the first one was made from a Hamburger Helper box), and I've already got a decent stack saved up. Look guys, I'm hoarding craft supplies AND reducing waste! :D
I'm currently using plain old printer paper for the pages, but I'd really like to use recycled paper. Maybe even handmade paper. I've already started collecting scraps for potential future paper-making experiments.
I'm going to do a few more first--practice makes perfect, you know--but I think I'm definitely going to try to sell some of these puppies. I'm just debating between adding them to my Etsy inventory and starting a separate shop just for them, maybe on Zibbet. I've heard great things and it wouldn't cost me a penny, so even if they didn't sell I wouldn't be out anything...
Ah, but I'm thinking out loud now, and I've got rice balls to make! Later, Taters!
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