Everything Else Chat - for when you can't find an existing thread

[Former_Member]

I thought this might be useful.

I had an early birthday gift today - a trip to Market Deeping's Antique and Craft centre with 'DIY birthday present' rectangular paper with numbers on :)

It was like a Treasure-Maze! I found a good few things there that I'm often in need of. As much as I aim to make my items mainly from used and unwanted jewellery and remnants, there are times when a new finding or a few beads come in handy. This place http://www.riversidebeads.co.uk/ has a huge range of goodies. I was like a kid in a sweet shop!

Sometimes I'm in awe of the opportunities at my doorstep (or, well, just a few miles down the road). I'm close to Lincoln, venue for a huge Steampunk festival, The Asylum. I hope to share a stall with Arcane Armoury there in September. Also, the plethora of charity shops that provide many of my prize finds. Now I discover this great craft shop! I'm just feeling so grateful about the opportunities.

The other thing is that a local shop has agreed to stock some phone socks that I plan to make. I've got my work cut out for me now!

So what's happening for you right now that feels GOOD? Any other positve stuff to share?

[Former_Member]

Brilliant idea for a thread Sally-Ann, thanks!

Well for me UF has suddenly picked up in activity, I genuinely think it's due to the changes you advised me to make. I feel a re-newed enthusiasm for it and am beginning to get excited with ideas again. One thing that annoys me constantly though is time! I never have enough time to produce all the ideas in my head. I have to wait a patient 11 weeks until the summer holiday when I'll have 6 weeks to make make make. Both shops will boom then.

For now though I've got to sit like a dragon on my pile of ideas.

Congratulations on the phone socks, I'm sure this is the start of much more business to come!

xx

[Former_Member]

Thanks! I haven't had a chance to start making them yet. I made a pair of earrings for a neighbour's wedding gift and a neckalce for a birthday gift yesterday. Made on the day they were for; talk about last minute! I did manage to add another pair of tube earrings and a keyring last night. It was the shiny haul of early DIY birthday gift (findings and beads) that I got on Saturday that inspired me there.

Do you have kids? Is that why you have to curl up, Smaug-like, on that glittering pile of inspired ideas? Just curious, don't have to answer if you prefer.

Some days I feel more in the mood to do the internet stuff, others I just feel like making. I go with my moods, other things allowing.

Do a little bit every day and it soon adds up!

All the best :)

[Former_Member]

No I don't have kids :) but I work in a school which is over an hour away so I'm travelling a lot to work and when I get in I do as much as I can, but it's not the same as waking up and having nothing to do but art dolls or fascinators. We've got half term coming up pretty soon which will be nice, but I'm really waiting for the 6 weeks. I've got some hefty doll projects which will require hours and hours of work! xx

[Former_Member]

Been there! I used to commute into London which sometimes took 1-2 hours to work in a Montessori school. I miss those long holidays! Now, I yearn for my 9-11.30 mornings 5 days a week whilst little one is in pre-school.

It's a challenge fitting housework in as well, though, when all I'd rather do is this and Reiki! I do consider my mornings as 'being at work' though I can be a bit flexible if other things really need attention.

However, what I'm really grateful for is to be in the lucky position of being able to work for myself with the luxury of hubby doing the day job and being the main breadwinner...for now. I plan to earn £28,000 a year. Well, it's a goal, keeps me motivated!

I like having time to get stuck into projects, too. Better go, I'm doing a grup at the pre-school about Japanese Children's day. I do volunteer for these things...

[Former_Member]

I just read an article by a dance reporter who came to an event that I performed at recently. He wrote such nice things about me as a dancer and my performance. It really cheered me up. I've been swamped!

I find it to be such a delicate balance between working in the lab for 8 hours, then coming home to be a mommy and housewife until I pass out. I actually do some of my sewing in my office during my lunch break because I can tell that I can't get it done when I get home.

My ultimate goal is to actually work in the lab part time and devout more time to my crafting and designing business. I want it to be very profitable but I want it to remain a joy for me.

[Former_Member]

Getting the balance is tricky, isn't it? It's so important to squeeze in a bit of 'me time' in the midst of all this. I don't get up properly until I've had my morning tea in bed and half an hour of peace. I'm much more peaceful and able to cope if I give myself that.

[Former_Member]

I am TERRIBLE at me time. I need to learn to stop and relax, do things like have a bath or read a book or something, but I'm constantly on to go, if not physically then mentally. Even when infront of the tv I've got my laptop on doing stuff, or I'm mentally building the next doll or trialling different fascinator flower combinations, or plotting the next move with promotion, or calculating my prices.

I always say I want to put my hair in squidgey rollers so it's curly for the next day but I push myself until I'm exhausted and never have the energy!

I've just got a rediculous amount of passion, ambition and determination which drives me a little man with the frustration of lack of time and energy. All I want is to have ANY extra income as my wages really are on the bread line, it's getting to the point where online ventures really need to take off or I need to look for a better paid job. So I'm hanging on until the summer holidays to have time to really make a go of all this.

xx

[Former_Member]

I'm blogging a lot about Gratitude at the moment and how it affects your income. I love 'The Secret' by Rhonda Byrne and I'm reading her latest, 'The Magic'. Since reading it and doing the exercises, I've already had £15 given to me as a gift from family members, two Reiki clients and a special deal on an advert. I'm beginning to see how saying 'Thankyou' before and after each customer and client is drawing more to me.

This and my Reiki practice are my income, with tax benefit, child support and a hardworking but poorly paid hubby covering the basics.

I intend both businesses to really take off and know that this will take time and effort...but I'm also open to good things randomly happening. It's my Birthday on Friday and I love to celebrate it! More good vibes! They're needed right now as I've a very poorly cat.

Georgina, I know what you mean about not being able to switch off. I'm a Taurus and really do tackle things head on and single-mindedly sometimes.

Changing topic, do you think it might be an idea to invite some new members or re-kindle existing members' interest in contributing? I'm just seeing certain people posting a lot - which is good! - but perhaps this group needs a bit more input? Just a suggestion. What do you all think?

[Former_Member]

I like your forward thinking, would you like to be promoted to Leader so that you can put any ideas into effect?

Ps. it's my birthday on monday! he he!

xx

[Former_Member]

I think promoting Sally is an excellent idea. It would be nice to get more contributions from other members of the team.

What are your birthday plans Georgina?

[Former_Member]

Wow, thankyou Kelebek and Georgina! I would love to be a Leader with you. Let me know what it involves and I'll give what I can.

Georgina, in case either of us is busy, **Happy Birthday for Monday!!** May you have a wonderful day with wishes coming true all over the shop. Hehe!

[Former_Member]

Happy Birthday to Sally Ann and Georgina! Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers on here.

[Former_Member]

So, I'm just waiting to find out if I'm getting this Leader promotion and what's the what. Let me know. I'm up for sending a message to everyone out here to liven this team up a bit more! Let me at 'em!!

Patti - Thanks! Had a really good meal out.

Georgina - Good birthday?

[Former_Member]

Happy birthday to Georgina and Sally-Ann! I hope you had great days. Sorry i wasn't online yesterday to send you birthday wishes.

[Former_Member]

Ooh! Yay! (Jumps up and down in her squeaky office chair)

Thankyou so much for promoting me to Leader! I am very honoured. Now I'm waiting for the Crash Course..so, Georgina and Kelebek, what do I need to know? And what would you like me to do?

Abundant Success and Prosperity to all here :)

Sally-Ann

[Former_Member]

Congratulations! You are going to be a great leader. I will convo you.

[Former_Member]

TA DA!! (Yep, I've been a bit silent due to my birthday but I'm back!) Sally-Ann is now a leader and we're already deep in discussion in a smokey underground bunker over how we can improve this team. There's plenty of ideas circling the table, I think you'll all be really pleased.

For my birthday I went out for some drinks Friday after work, then Saturday was spent clothes shopping and Sunday was needed for chill out. But oh no, it's not stopped there, I'm back out for birthday drinks today!! I'll upload a photo on the facebook page :D

Sally-Ann, no crash course needed, you're already doing amazingly, just more of the same.

I'm starting to get annoyed we can't upload photos and pictures on these boards, so prepare to see a large increase in my facebook page activity, I love pictures. If ever you need inspiration I want our facebook page (and new PINTREST PAGE - thank you Kelebek!) to be a plethera of beautiful, dark, danger fun.

Have a wonderful weekend guys! xx

[Former_Member]

I've just realised that something I was doing with the best intentions is frowned upon. I was sending a convo with a 5% off voucher and sincere thanks for the attention to people who favourited my items.

Having read the Do's and Don'ts again, I found this:

http://www.etsy.com/help/article/483#conversations

My sincere apologies. I have stopped doing this but will leave the coupon valid until June 15th. Live and learn.

[Former_Member]

I just posted a brag picture on our facebook page. It has nothing to do with etsy but I did make everything in it.

[Former_Member]

Love it! This is exactly what I want to see on IHLIB, people sharing and chatting about anything they like, it doesn't have to be etsy (or even shop related) this is just a place for like minded people to get to know eachother.

I've replied on the page, love the dress, and any sewing tips you could give me would be MUCH appreciated!! xxx

[Former_Member]

Thank you Georgina. Most important tip I can give is to NOT let your 13 year old daughter design her own dress. lol. It took forever to figure out how to make it the way she wanted it. I finally finished it 4 hours before the dance.

[Former_Member]

Wow! I am infamous for doing things at the last minute ie. still actually TYPING my dissertation in the printing shop on the day it needs to be handed in. So I hear you!

I am sitting very quiet at the moment, watching other shops grow and take off. I am doing lots of background work, research, designing, character creation, etc as having a full time job a long way from home means I just don't have the time or energy in the evenings to be doing my dolls justice. So I'm having to sit and I'm having to wait. I've got 2 weeks until half term and 11 weeks until the summer holidays.

Once I reach the summer holidays you're going to see an explosion like never before on Nevermore, I'm going to create a whole new style of doll, shop, art prints, the works. I'll have much more solid characters, themes and a better sculpted style. All of this is sitting in my head marching round and round until it can be created.

But until I have time I've got to be patient, I've tried burning the candle at both ends and working until bed time once I get in from work and it's not a wise option at the moment, it's really running me down, which is annoying because I'm a very impatient person!

xx

[Former_Member]

I commend your patience, Georgina! I know it's not easy to balance the million and one things you can think of doing *and* still take care of yourself. That's the Reiki practitioner part of me coming to the fore now: your number one priority has to be looking after yourself.

If you can eat quite well, get some exercise, don't eat anything heavy or protein rich after 8pm (your liver slows down around then) sleep enough (and preferably before midnight to be kind to your body's clock) and think kind and positive thoughts to yourself as much as possible, then you'll find that you are able to live well.

It's a measure, a standard I aim to live up to. I don't always manage all of it but neither do I berate myself for not doing so. I do my best. I love to share what I'm learning, as I'm learning it. When I was teaching 2-6 year olds in a Montessori school, I would marvel at the way that the older ones would relish sharing their accomplishments with the younger ones by showing them how to do things like sweeping, doing up buttons and zips, where to put things when they'd finished, how to be helpful. Well, humbled by this I'm following in those tiny footsteps. I now have the confidence to say 'No, I don't know everything but here's one or two things I've learned, hope it helps,' and so others can hopefully get a little further along their own paths.

I love learning. I think I'm an eternal student! Etsy is giving me a place to practice a variety of skills and to have an outlet for my creativity. Unlike you, Georgina, when 1/2 term is finally here I'll be busy in Mum-mode most of the time so I'm aiming to get as much done now as I can.

Take care of yourselves!

Sally-Ann ♡
P.S. I was looking for a symbol to express gratitude and I found this heart. To me, it's an open heart, giving to all. I love it :)

[Former_Member]

Thanks Sally-Ann I am getting better and better at looking after myself, I used to skip food and things when busy but I'm trying not to burn myself out juggling work and etsy and life.

I get the same when I see children helping eachother or being kind at the school I work at, children are fantastic, I couldn't imagine not working with them now, every day brings something to smile about.

As an adult it's so fun to think you can learn about whatever you like rather than what's on your curriculumn or prospectus. Currently I'm LOVING learning new skills round doll making. And believe me when I say I'm beavering away behind the scenes...

I cannot wait until the summer holidays when I'll re-launch my shop with BETTER dolls, better, designs, better characters, better everything. I'll be building the official website, improving the logo, everything.

Good news is I've found out it's actually just 7 weeks until the summer holidays and not 11.

But yes, the patient game is killing me!