Okay, so I figure maybe with my sewing buddies out there and friends and family that follow, someone can help me think of something.
Let me start back, so I've mentioned on here previously that I was starting at a Mother's Day Out; well last week was my first week and I'm almost through my second week. Well, first let me just say I love it! Madi gets to play with other kids her age and different toys than the ones she is used to at home! I get to play with other kids slightly younger than Madi and make money doing it. :) Of course this week I'm fighting a cold so it's making it hard to fully enjoy! So, to my point, starting at the MDO has possibly opened the door to one of my dreams; as I came in and signed in last Thursday the director commented on my purse (the zebra one in the previous post) and I told her I made it, she was amazed and the bag I carry for Madi is a corduroy tote I made using this tutorial. So, as we got to talking about it, they mentioned they have a carnival at the end of April and I should totally make something to be auctioned off. Of course one of my first thoughts, was, 'why didn't I think of this sooner?!' I work with kids who constantly use diaper bags, bibs, burp cloths, etc which are some of the things I've been thinking of making if I were to ever open an Etsy store. So, today she mentions next week we are having a meeting about the carnival. So, I was talking to her about what exactly I need to plan for. I will pretty much make one item to auction off at a silent auction and give them a value on that item and they'll start the bid slightly lower and we'll go from there. I have not actually verified if I will directly make the money off of that, but honestly if I make something really great and have a website for them to go to and thus bring in business, I don't care. :) I don't mind giving gifts to bring a customer base and start a business!
So, here is my main reason for this particular post, I am ultimately planning to open an Etsy shop by the end of this month. I haven't decided what I will auction off and I'm not entirely sure what I will start off with in the shop, most importanly I have no idea what I might want to call the shop! That's where you come in! I need your thoughts and ideas of what to call my shop and maybe some things you think might go well in it! My initial idea is to auction off a diaper bag in nuetral colors of course, but I was also thinking of adding a few coordinating burp cloths and bibs maybe even a ribbon blanket or tag blanket whatever they're called. I also am currently in the works of making a catalog bag for my family members that sell Scentsy and of course have made one for my Mark. stuff as well! So, I'm thinking of maybe once I have my complete pattern for those bags in order selling those as well. I also can't decide if I want to make a full diaper bag or a tote bag of some sort to accomodate all the age groups? I also thought it was interesting that when my director saw my zebra purse she said it would make a cute dance bag for the older girls. I do like that idea but not sure I want to make that for the auction because I want something that will gear towards anyone!
So, please let me know your thoughts, ideas and suggestions! I greatly appreciate them! Everyone who gets this in my email are some of my core group, so I hope you will let me know what you think! Also, if you do get this in your email make sure to check the actual blog to see other comments to see if it inspires you, etc. Thank you all for reading this and in advance for your comments and ideas!
Ashley :)
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Sewing!!
Well, last night was our March Friday Night Sew In and I really didn't know if I was going to get to do very much because we had to take care of my parents dogs for a bit, do laundry and get Madison to sleep! But finally around 11pm or so I set out to get some of my sewing done. I didn't think too much on what I was going to do, like I usually do and just decided to finish my best friend Terri's diaper bag since her baby shower is next weekend! I also worked on the burp cloths and bibs! I am so excited they are done! Unfortunately for you guys, you don't get to see full pictures because Terri gets to be one of the first people to see it besides me! :) I did take pictures to see that something is sewn together but you can't see the 'big' picture! :)
Aside from the sew in I recently bought a pattern that I'd been wanting to get for a while, picked a bag from the 4 patterns and got the fabric and put it all together! The fabric isn't something I would typically get, it's more my sister's style but I liked it and went for it and love it! I'll have to make something for my sister with this fabric! :)
Well, when I went to get the fabric for that bag, I had my nieces with me and let them pick out some things while we were there and my older niece who has been interested in sewing picked a cross stitch kit! Needless to say I did a lot of it for her but she did most of it, she is actually still working on it, though! Well, this was all before spring break and seeing that I watch them after school everyday, I also watched them a couple of days during spring break and they both wanted to work on some type of stitching/cross stitch things, so 'Grammy' went to the store and picked up some kits and cloth for cross stitch and some books of patterns. In the process of showing my older niece how to cross stitch I really wanted to dive back into it! So with one of the new kits my mother had bought for them, I found some of my embroider thread, cut off some of the cloth and followed the pattern from one of the kits! I didn't stitch it quite like the kit calls for, but I love how it turned out and I know, now my niece is excited to do her version of it! :)
Well, to top it off, last weekend I went to a Scentsy party for my cousin and she mentioned she wants me to make her a catalog tote for her and today I was looking at pictures of some on Etsy! I had been thinking on it all week trying to figure out exactly how I'm going to do it. After looking at pictures and things I'm really exctied to do it! It also helps that I am now a Mark. rep, so I will make one for me as well! I definitely don't see a lot of people marketing these, so I think I have something here! I'm very excited about it! I will keep you posted on how that goes!
I had actually also planned on working on some reusable snack bags and maybe some reusable shopping bags, but that didn't play out with time, etc! I am eager to get these going, though because everytime we end up with plastic bags I just cringe! I've been saving them b/c I DO NOT want to throw them away! I have found things online of how you can turn them into reusable shopping bags, so I may do that to make use of them! I may also have to invest in a giant tub to recycle everything I can! I don't like throwing plastic away anymore! We've got to make this a better place for our kids and their kids and grandkids! We can only make it better; every little bit helps! I also love the incentive CVS now has that you get money back for using reusable shopping bags! I think everyone should start doing that to help us to remember to use them and also get more people to use them! Also, you should definitely check out the Green Bag Lady's website sometime I keep the bag I won from her in my purse so that I can use it when I'm out! Sorry, I didn't mean to get on my soap box there, but it's been bugging me lately and I think it should bug more people so we can clean this earth!
Take care and stay warm today in Oklahoma! First day of spring and it's snowing! Go figure! :)
So, that is all I have for now, take care!
Ashley
Well, when I went to get the fabric for that bag, I had my nieces with me and let them pick out some things while we were there and my older niece who has been interested in sewing picked a cross stitch kit! Needless to say I did a lot of it for her but she did most of it, she is actually still working on it, though! Well, this was all before spring break and seeing that I watch them after school everyday, I also watched them a couple of days during spring break and they both wanted to work on some type of stitching/cross stitch things, so 'Grammy' went to the store and picked up some kits and cloth for cross stitch and some books of patterns. In the process of showing my older niece how to cross stitch I really wanted to dive back into it! So with one of the new kits my mother had bought for them, I found some of my embroider thread, cut off some of the cloth and followed the pattern from one of the kits! I didn't stitch it quite like the kit calls for, but I love how it turned out and I know, now my niece is excited to do her version of it! :)
I had actually also planned on working on some reusable snack bags and maybe some reusable shopping bags, but that didn't play out with time, etc! I am eager to get these going, though because everytime we end up with plastic bags I just cringe! I've been saving them b/c I DO NOT want to throw them away! I have found things online of how you can turn them into reusable shopping bags, so I may do that to make use of them! I may also have to invest in a giant tub to recycle everything I can! I don't like throwing plastic away anymore! We've got to make this a better place for our kids and their kids and grandkids! We can only make it better; every little bit helps! I also love the incentive CVS now has that you get money back for using reusable shopping bags! I think everyone should start doing that to help us to remember to use them and also get more people to use them! Also, you should definitely check out the Green Bag Lady's website sometime I keep the bag I won from her in my purse so that I can use it when I'm out! Sorry, I didn't mean to get on my soap box there, but it's been bugging me lately and I think it should bug more people so we can clean this earth!
Take care and stay warm today in Oklahoma! First day of spring and it's snowing! Go figure! :)
So, that is all I have for now, take care!
Ashley
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Friday Night Sew In and more.....
The Friday Night Sew In is on again for Friday the 19th; I have yet to decide what specifically I will be working on, but you will all know and see soon! :) I have worked on a couple of things here lately, and started on Terri's diaper bag, so I have plenty to keep me busy that night, just need to figure out exactly what! :)
Also, for those who haven't seen or heard, I am now a Mark. rep and am very thrilled to be! It is make up, skin care and fashion accessories. I am hoping this will be what enables me to stay home with Madison and subsequent children for as long as possible! That of course is my ultimate goal, and my short term goal is to build a customer base and maybe line up some parties to prove to those who have seen me fail before (and sorta myself) that I can do it! :) So, please check out my website, let me know what you think; if you don't see anything you might want, pass it on to someone you know probably will! Also if you purchase online do note that you recieve free shipping with your first order of $25! I'm working on the incentives for ordering through me, booking a party, etc. The awesome part about Mark. also is that they also do fundraisers! So, let me know if that is something you may need!
Another fun thing that is new for us, is after spring break (this week) Madison and I will be at a Mother's Day Out! I will be helping teaching and therefore she will be in a class with other kids her age which I will not be teaching! :) The bonus of that, though, is I went to high school with one of her teachers, so that helps knowing her before hand; not that I would be worried at this place, it seems like a really great place to work at and for the kids! A good thing about working there is that I will be able to still pick up the girls after school, but I will not be able to watch them this summer. So, good and bad but it'll all work out in the end! :)
A lot of good things going on right now, so I'm very excited to see where it all takes us! So, stay tuned and we can all find out together! :)
Until then! :)
Also, for those who haven't seen or heard, I am now a Mark. rep and am very thrilled to be! It is make up, skin care and fashion accessories. I am hoping this will be what enables me to stay home with Madison and subsequent children for as long as possible! That of course is my ultimate goal, and my short term goal is to build a customer base and maybe line up some parties to prove to those who have seen me fail before (and sorta myself) that I can do it! :) So, please check out my website, let me know what you think; if you don't see anything you might want, pass it on to someone you know probably will! Also if you purchase online do note that you recieve free shipping with your first order of $25! I'm working on the incentives for ordering through me, booking a party, etc. The awesome part about Mark. also is that they also do fundraisers! So, let me know if that is something you may need!
Another fun thing that is new for us, is after spring break (this week) Madison and I will be at a Mother's Day Out! I will be helping teaching and therefore she will be in a class with other kids her age which I will not be teaching! :) The bonus of that, though, is I went to high school with one of her teachers, so that helps knowing her before hand; not that I would be worried at this place, it seems like a really great place to work at and for the kids! A good thing about working there is that I will be able to still pick up the girls after school, but I will not be able to watch them this summer. So, good and bad but it'll all work out in the end! :)
A lot of good things going on right now, so I'm very excited to see where it all takes us! So, stay tuned and we can all find out together! :)
Until then! :)
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