February 2, 2012

Fooled around with my website again late last night. I have so much to do on it it is not funny. I can't contact shops yet, and I need to design a little brochure. I want something nice. I will give samples of mini bouquet pins as giveaways with the brochures. I guess they should be part of the cover, I think I should have a photo of a mini bouquet brooch and have the real matching brooch pinned on top. I like it! I hate the idea of using too much ink. Maybe I should have post cards printed as page one and cut the inner pages. I have to price things. I do like the pin on the picture idea though.

Today I didn't think much about my flowers. I had such a down day yesterday I gave it a rest. I did taxes and that was a interesting. I thought we were down so much in sales since my daughter and I were kicked off Etsy. Turns out she made almost the same. I made almost as much this January as I did on Etsy last January. I looked at my 2010 sales and it was almost $1000 more, what a shock, but the bottom line was much closer, I forgot that it was when I was selling supplies and my cost of materials was way higher than crafting supplies.

I've heard so many Etsy friends say that their sales have gone way down, but I did OK and Poppy's sales were really good. She did have a decline, but not that much. It will be nice to see the economy pick up some day. I think we're all heading in the right direction though.

I also heard from a former associate, about the possibility of picking up some work in China. Maybe I won't have to make the decision I've been thinking about. Maybe the choice will find me. The work would be part time, which would leave me plenty of time to work on my wholesaling of the jewelry. It will also give me a bit more income (maybe enough to fix the car) and to help with material costs to boost my own business. I hope something works out, because I would love to go back. I was beginning to think I would never get the opportunity again.

I also lost a little more weight this week. Was hoping to loose 10 pounds in January. I lost only 4, but I'm heading in the right direction.

February 1, 2012

I saw a skein of yarn online and I thought of how many interesting things we used to touch and do with our hand when I was young. Seems like all we do is touch keys or buttons these days. \

When I was young, yarn came in a huge skein. You untwisted it and two of you would make a ball of yarn of it. One would hold the skein, while the other wound the ball. It was a wonderful sensation, so relaxing. Letters were typed on a typewriter. When you got to the end of the paper, a little bell would ding and you hit the carriage return to roll the paper up and start the next line. Telephones had rotary dials that had this kind of tug and your fingers when you spun the dial and a clicking return.

I used to use an old egg beater to make eggs when I was young. You held the handle with one hand and turned a crank with the others. My grandfather mowed our lawn with a spindle mower. No need for gas or wires. And when you needed to change the channel on the TV, you got up off you butt, walked over to the TV and changed it. OK so maybe there WERE only three channels to choose from back then.

I love to work with my hands. I love to craft, to build and to garden. Maybe the reason so many people are making and selling crafts these days is to do something with their hands.

I'm feeling the weight of nothing going right today. Recent purchases are screwed up. Sales are dropping rapidly. I remember last year feeling the pinch. I don't even have tax return to look forward to because I owe about $3000 in back taxes, long story. We could really use the car repaired too, but I'll be lucky to make enough to survive on.

The thing that amazes me is that each of the past 5 years, we earn less and less, and yet we seem to do OK. It really can't get too much worse. I'm trying to make a go of my craft, but I think I may have to “get a real job”. Just a little down in the dumps today. Feeling there are just not enough people out there who like my product, to support myself, no matter what I offer.

January 7, 2012

I have a confession, I'm terrified of working full time. I had such a bad experience last time and damn, I have a really good memory. When I remember the horrors, like being yelled at for problems that never were my responsibility, or even part of my job, I just cringe. I try to fill in the terrors with memories of good bosses, and enjoyable working conditions. That's the only way I'll get my butt out there again.

Today I was in a very foul mood. I think I'm catching what the rest of the family has, or maybe it's because I fell asleep and missed the end of Merlin. Maybe it's because the powers that be at the site I'm selling at, all of a sudden are doing things to harm the site and turn off their customers (us). I'm so mad at the arrogance of a certain person there, and I was trying to be all peaceful and loving. HA! It might also be because I'm damn sore from exercising. But as soon as Poppy leaves with her friend I'm exercising.

I didn't exercise till later cause I had a drunk day. I was moody and I needed it and I ate a beef hamburger for lunch an hour late because I had to watch the baby and had to take off the cat litter and cat and bird food and boxes and fabric bucket off the water softener that takes the place of one of the only closets we have, because the owner of the property has the softener in our house instead of their house that is 4 times the size of ours. But I guess he doesn't realize that water flows both ways. Our house also holds the water pump and we have to pay electric for softener and pump for both houses. Not disclosed on the lease, but I'm going to use that info sometime in the future if he ever threatens to raise the rent again. RELATIVES!

Sobered up, and glad I got a drunk on. Finally got half a brain and figured out a problem is with selling my jewelry. I think I'll have the remedy in no time. Just a few more pieces and a few pictures and maybe an altered picture or two. Glad I got my brain back. I'll be adding lots of new listing and clearing out a lot of older things.

I exercised a lot too. Just a few days and I'm starting to feel really strong. At my age I should never let a few months go like I did. I'll end up not being able to walk upright, like the old folks who are the same age as me next door.

All in all, today was a good day. Now I either have to get over the workplace terrors that don't even compare to the “interview” terrors. Or I could decide to keep selling on the Internet and remain a hermit.