treats for you

I'm not tricking.  I am offering y'all a treat.

Offer expires at 12 noon (Texas time) on Friday, November 1st 2013.

memories

Remember the veterans and members of the military this weekend. 

* Coupon code is valid through Tuesday on all ready-made items.
 

is anyone up for a sale?

shop handmade

Do some shopping and save some money. Support handmade.

what i like about Texas

I created a Texas themed treasury on Etsy on Sunday in anticipation of today.  And there is not a Texan alive {to my knowledge} who does not adore at least one flavor of Blue Bell's creamy creations.
James Avery silver jewelry is collected by many girls, with collections beginning in infancy.  My sixteen-year-old daughter has a near full charm bracelet, which contains charms that Oma began purchasing for her soon after Chloe's birth.
Skipping around topics...
As a child/teenager, I remember enjoying summer trips to AstroWorld and Schlitterbahn.  Unfortunately AstroWorld is no more but Schlitterbahn is still alive and kicking with multiple parks open versus the sole location {of my youth} in New Braunfels.
I'm looking forward to a good ol' Texas fall and winter {warm/wet/breezy} with football and deer hunting, county fairs and Warrenton Antique weekend, and more days spent with family and friends.

a work in progress

lil girl shop | handmade crafty goodness: Smaller Box :: Blog :: Is Etsy Hindering Your Cust...: Smaller Box :: Blog :: Is Etsy Hindering Your Customer Relationships? I own the domain {lilgirlshop.com} and I have the gmail account. I'v...

I am still working on this.  I have expanded to an indiemade website.  I am working towards that site being my primary shop but I haven't moved everything over yet.  I'm not sure if I will move *everything* over.  This is a dilemma that may stay with me for a while.

Two places

The majority of my listed items are located in my etsy shop though I have moved my pin cushions over to my new site. The majority will be moved this summer -- with MADE TO ORDER items being the only items staying, being re-listed or added.

thinking

Hmm...

*jumping in*

I like that this space has a little bit of everything.  I want to keep it that way.  But I'm thinking that this space will be more "behind the scenes" of lil girl shop and that the main business, etc. blog will be on my new site [indiemade].  I can't post on the fly at my new site.  And that's ok.  It isn't a deal breaker.

I have merged my personal and business Instagram accounts once again.  I am not going to delete the business account that I created, rather I changed the name on my original account to my business name and made it public.  Lindsey of Out of Alabaster made a fantastic point that "a big part of handmade business is buying into the seller".  And the point that she made was the same reason that I had begun second guessing the split I made back in April.  I had begun to become uncomfortable posting on either IG account.  Thinking about which account I was signed into and if what I wanted to post was appropriate for that particular account.  I want to be me all of the time.

I updated my profile picture on my business fb page today.  It is the same as my personal fb profile picture except my biz picture has my little sewing machine logo in the lower right hand corner.

I also updated my etsy shop's banner this afternoon.  I included my new profile picture as well as the sewing machine logo in color as well as in black and white plus several product images.

Four new bags

I was a busy girl this afternoon. Sewing three bags, photographing and listing a total of four bags with more on the horizon.

• Camo & red white blue everyday bag

• Bright floral everyday bag

• Denim red white everyday bag

• Brown tractor everyday bag

Martha Stewart event

I am a member of a fabulous team on etsy, whose co-captain is Karen Lee. She is amazing. The link is to her blog post on this event.

Read: http://blog.ecoetsy.com/2012/03/team-eco-etsy-at-dreamers-into-doers-by-martha-stewart/html

Photos are of the items that I donated to the cause.

Everyday bags

I have three versions of the everyday bag that I keep in my own rotation. I enjoy making this bag because it is just so darn handy to have around. My first bag - a red tropical print - doesn't have a pocket but that is ok with me because the bag is basically one big pocket. My navy and pink bag is slightly different in that I added a base and didn't pad this one with quilt batting. I also added an interior pocket. My fringe version only has a single handle and is the bag that I am currently carrying. My bags are not photographed here. I will eventually get around to taking pictures of those but the photos below are of the recently listed everyday bags.

You should buy one or three. ;)

I listed four new everyday bags in the shop this morning.

Cha cha changes

I added several new everyday bags to the etsy store this week and have several more that will be ready to add before the end of the week.

Etsy has some news of their own to share. (see video below)

Introduction to Direct Checkout from Etsy Inc. on Vimeo.

I currently offer in-person customers the ability to pay by cash, credit card (American Express, Discover, Visa, and MasterCard), debit card with credit card logo, PayPal card, and local checks (if I know ya).

Generating good karma

Last month a photo made the rounds amongst my Instagram circle, challenging those who chose to take part to make five items for five different people and ship them free of charge before the end of 2012.

A couple of weeks ago, I sent my first item out. I am posting a picture since it has been received.

Depending on how early in the year I complete this challenge, I might duplicate the offer.

I have added similar bags to my etsy store and I have also added shipping to Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom (previously I shipped only within the United States).

friday fun day

Today only... use coupon code FRIDAY for free domestic shipping!!!

I added new items to the shop yesterday.  And have several more everyday bags cut and ready to be sewn together.  All proceeds (after shipping, etc.) are being set aside to purchase a most magnificent patchwork sofa.

And in making my dream come true...

---

I am offering you a chance to make your own dream set from my shop.

• Simply choose an amount that you want to pay (plus shipping to be determined by weight of desired items).
• Go to my etsy store - http://lilgirlshop.etsy.com - and choose items that make your heart go pitter patter.
• Convo me via etsy's nifty messaging system.
• Await my response.
• I more than likely will accept your offer and get your desired items in the mail to you as soon as I have verified payment via PayPal.  
• Shipping might occur on next USPS business day if payment received/verified after 2pm Central Texas USA time.
• If for some odd reason I cannot fully accept your offer, I will counteroffer.
• Offer expires when the above pictured sofa resides in my home.  I will post a picture when that happens.  Hopefully within six months.

in love with a piece of furniture

I was browsing facebook minding my own business when this image popped up on my feed. OMG!!!

I couldn't believe it. My dream sofa. Someone had it. It actually existed! I had to have it. I have to have it. Just no option other than it being my very own.

Seriously. Look at it. It is amazing.

I phoned the shop. Thank goodness it is semi local. And spoke with a very nice young lady who took my name and number. She said that she would call the owner who was actually at market and give her my details. I was positively giddy when i received the call back from Holly.

As instructed by my husband, I found out the price. Sounded similar to what I was expecting though significantly higher than he was guessing. But not a problem. I will just have a sale in my etsy store to raise the funds to fulfill my dream of owning this masterpiece.

Pinning

After thinking it over, I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't really matter if Etsy has the "pin it" button or not. Pictures will be pinned because people will find a way. There will always be people in this world who will make "knock offs" and there will always be someone who has a better idea or a different way of doing the same or similar thing.

There is a market for just about everything under the sun. People will make their own stuff or buy from whom they want to buy. No matter anything else. Just as there are some who will only shop at Target versus Walmart, local/handmade versus the big box stores and vice versa.

I watermark all images I post to etsy and I will watermark all images I post to blogs from this day forward. Having my name on my images is enough for me at the moment though what is mine is mine until I say it isn't.

Happy Monday y'all.

A listing fool

I have spent my evening watching The History Channel "Third Reich: The Fall" and going through the process of listing six new items in the store.

All six items share a Valentine theme in their color scheme (red, white, pink).

Two red and white "not your everyday" diaper bag wristlets are among the new additions.

Four primarily pink snack mat / mug rugs complete the half dozen.

Check out http://lilgirlshop.etsy.com to see all available items.

Third listing of 2012

A second 2012 makeup bag has been listed in the store. I used the same multi pink mum cotton print fabric and a strip of unbleached cotton on the exterior and hot pink cotton interior. The print shows up on the inside in the form of a single pocket, sized for credit cards and/or an identification card, etcetera. This particular bag has a bright pink satin ribbon layered over a pale pink grosgrain ribbon on the front. The satin ribbon is also found on the interior pocket for a bit of pretty embellishment. A hot pink zipper blends with this beautiful bag.

Available now - http://www.etsy.com/listing/89684717/2012-pink-makeup-bag-valentine-clutch

New addition to my shop

I've been using a pot holder that my mama made to hold my drink and snacks when I sew but finally right before Christmas decided to make one of my own using fabric scraps. It began as a procrastination project. I was probably supposed to be cleaning or some other domestic chore when I decided to do this but...

Anyway...

I got out my handy dandy see through ruler and made a rectangle on a plastic placemat, which would become my pattern. I wanted the size to big enough to hold my largest cup and with enough space to hold my typical snack.

It was so much fun to make that I quickly began another.

These are mini quilts. Mini works of art that are both beautiful and functional - my two main requirements.

My second ever mug rug snack mat is now listed on Etsy.

Available now - http://www.etsy.com/listing/89606047/2012-mug-rug-pink-snack-mat-patchwork