Looking for the Groove

Not only did I fall off the posting wagon here, I sort of fell off the creating wagon. I haven't made much for my shop in a long while. I haven't decided if I am just done with this phase of my life or just taking a break.

I went through the cards I had made that didn't sell in my shop, kept some of them to use myself when I need a card instead of scrambling to make a new one each time I need one, and made clearance packs of most of the rest. I haven't sold anything in quite a while so that is a little discouraging too.

I'm going through my expired listings and deleting the cards that I no longer have or that I'm no longer selling. It feels good to be able to do "housekeeping" like that! Yay for the option to delete old listings!

Whoops!

So! Apparently I completely forgot that I had a blog here for a few weeks. And that promise I made to post the after photos of the tutu? Well, here they are...a little later than I intended!

Halloween Costume

I sort of decided at the last minute to make my oldest daughter a new tutu for her Halloween costume. She's going to be a clown. So today she picked the colors for her tutu and I cut some of the strips of tulle for it and measured the elastic for her waist. I hope I finish it in time!

I'm going to try starching the tulle after I've made the tutu this time to see how that works. The tutu I made for her last year is looking pretty sad, but we didn't really take care of it well. Maybe I should try starching that one too. Hmmm.

Here are the colors she chose. She asked if I had orange too, but I didn't. So. I also cut some strips of white that I'll add to it too. (the lighter color here is a light blue)

I'll post photos of the after if I actually finish it in time.

If you're looking for a tutu for your little one (or big one) let me know. I haven't had a lot of success with selling these so I mostly stopped making them. But if anyone wants one I'll make a special listing in my shop for you! :) http://sentimentaljourney.etsy.com

My Best Seller!

Before I opened Sentimental Journey I made cards to give to family and friends. I still make cards for family and friends (although not as many as I once did...I had to cut down on the number of cards I was sending to friends that I didn't see anymore and/or who didn't reciprocate or acknowledge my efforts) but now I make more cards for Sentimental Journey...and my cards have matured over the years. I really think I make better designs each time I sit down to make a new card.

That said, one of my favorite ideas for a card happened when I learned a friend of mine was pregnant. I think this idea hit me in the shower, which is where a lot of my ideas for cards and writing happen. Apparently the shower is my "office" or at least my brainstorming place.

This card (although I have made several different versions of it) is by far my best seller at Sentimental Journey. I haven't changed it much, if at all, from its original version that I made for my friend 4 or 5 years ago. I've done versions of it with bare feet on grass, or on what looks like carpet, but the overall spirit of the card remains the same.

Every pregnant woman wants her friends to celebrate her news with her. This card accomplishes just that, with a touch of humor.

Do you celebrate your friends' happy news? I know I wanted friends to celebrate with me each time I was pregnant but I never received a card for any of my pregnancies. A card can say so much, with little effort, and make a friend or relative feel extraordinarily special.

My Etsy Faves #2

The Etsy seller I'm featuring today I have actually had the pleasure of meeting in real life due to a happy coincidence of our vacations in Northern Minnesota being mere miles away.

I've often admired Kelley's work. She makes gorgeous beads and I always wish I was a jewelry-maker so that I could use her beads.

BUT- she also makes jewelry herself with some of her beads and when I met her last summer I asked her to make me a necklace that I plan to wear to a charity gala that I'll attend in November.

When it arrived it was even more breathtaking in person. It really is beautiful.

If you are a jewelry artist or just a woman who loves beautiful things, check out Kelley's Beads for sure!

Inspired

I saw these adorable stamps and knew I had to get them. They are just so cute and I'm having fun making cards with them!

Animal stamps by Stampabilities.

My Etsy Faves #1

I thought I'd use this space to not only post about my own work, but to post about some of the things I have found on Etsy that I love.

First I'm featuring this personalized disk necklace by Little Shop of Baubles.

I thought it would make such a nice gift for a mother to have her kids' names on a necklace like this. In fact, I bought one for my sister-in-law for Christmas last year!