How in the world...

I love this new Google Analytics tool we use for our Etsy shops now. Not only does it give me lots of interesting, though mostly useless, information...I get to see what people typed into a search engine to find me. Some of them are pretty out there! Check out some of my favorites for TheYarnChick shop, keeping in mind I sell crocheted hats and accessories:

-victorian nude daguerreotypes
-chunky pearl bracelet
-dichroic pendant
-cupcake tights
-japanese fabric
-juice can lid art
-manoaroad
-seraphenite metaphysical
-teelasterf
-yui kokeshi

I don't know what half of these even mean....but I guess I'm happy they are finding me SOMEHOW!

I hope you can understand...

...that sometimes the clothes do not make the man...

But my little man sure does look cute in them! Especially this necktie appliqued shirt I got him for Christmas from SuperSweetCreations. He loved it at first sight (just look at the cheese) because he loves to dress up. He also loves t-shirts, so how could I go wrong? What I did not expect is the extremity of the cuteness...and the quality. This is one of those purchases where you just go, "I'm SO glad I bought this!" every time you look at it. I'm going to be so sad when he grows out of it. But I can always go back to her shop and see if she has a bigger size. And I plan on doing just that.

Two blog features in one week!

I turn 32 this coming Saturday. Bummer. But the week seems to have started off with some luck! I have been featured in two blogs on 1000 Markets just this week. And they are both done so well, I'm really honored to be part of them. Please check them out, and while you're at it, shop around the markets. The artists in both of them are really amazing.

Child's Play Market Blog Feature

Homefront Market Spotlight Seller

Happy Birthday to me!

New Year, Renewed Focus

It's been forever since I posted, life has been hectic! My family has moved to Washington State and we've been busy getting settled in. We love it here so far and are excited to spend at least three years exploring the area. If we like it as much after that we are going to try and stay until retirement in 7 years. We will see!

The kids are liking it too. The little man only has to go to school for 2 1/2 hours a day, so he's happy. Mommy of course is not so happy about that. Not only does it seem pointless, but it doesn't offer much of a break! If he was in full day I could take the monkey to daycare once a week and get a whole day to myself. As it is, not possible. But other than that, we love the new digs.

The move caused me to have to ignore my little business for a while. But I'm back at it now and driving at it harder than ever. I opened a second shop called TheYarnChick on Etsy for my crochet items to move to. I've designed some new styles, including an adult style that I'm really excited about. They've gone over well, I'm all sold out at the moment. But here's a picture of it. I am determined to get into some craft fairs this year so I am focusing on building up inventory. I list everything in my shops because hey, if it sells it sells, I'm not going to be picky about where. But I would like to have a good 100 hats of various sizes plus other items at the very least ready for a show in the fall. My focus is staying on, TheYarnChick for now, although I will still be adding items to my jewelry, art, and gifts shop as time allows. I'll need a change of pace once in a while and I don't want that shop to die from lack of inventory.




I have also stretched myself out a little bit. I've opened a shop on a new site for handmade items called 1000 Markets. It's a lovely website, that is well put together and makes my shop look really professional and clean. I have assisted in starting up a Homefront Market there and am as involved in that as I can be. The Homefront Market, like the Homefront Team I'm a member of on Etsy, consists of shops where their owners are all military or military family members. At this point we are all military spouses. It's a wonderful group to be a part of, with very talented ladies that support one another to no end. I'm very proud to be a part of them. I would love if you came by and browsed these ladies' shops, they really are incredible women.



So as this new year has dawned so quickly, I am refocusing on my shops and determined to make them even more successful than last year. Keeping in mind my family still always comes first, wish me luck! Happy New Year everyone!

Homefront Team Winter Challenge

VOTE VOTE VOTE!


Hey Everybody, my team on Etsy is doing a winter challenge and voting has started! Please visit and pick your favorite!

http://www.etsyhomefront.com/2008/10/20/homefront-team-winter-challenge/

To vote you just leave a comment with your favorite entrant. They are all so great, it was hard for me to choose! Mine is the second one down, the girly newsboy cap.

Thanks and vote vote vote! Good practice for next month hehehe.





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Girly Newsboys

Just a quick post to show you my newest product. It is a slouchy version of the brimmed beanie to create a newsboy cap for girls. I love how they look and they've been a hit so far.

I've stopped taking custom orders in my shop for now. I have a few to complete before the move and then we'll be on the road and homeless for at least a month. I'll have my already created inventory with me, and I'll be doing some crocheting here and there to have new inventory when we finally get where we're going. But the custom orders will have to wait until we are settled into a routine again. Thanks for understanding!

Less than a week before the movers come! I can't believe how fast it has crept up on me.

Hectic, but doing well

It's been way too long since I posted an update. I apologize, but life has been hectic and full of things to do besides blog. Let's see, where to start....

I'll start with life. We've got the house up for sale. We haven't had any bites yet, which is making me a bit nervous. But we have decided I will be leaving South Carolina at the same time that Mark leaves for Airborne school either way. I guess the kids and I will just be gypsies for a few weeks. Then we'll meet up with Mark in Iowa and make the trip across country together to our new duty station. Keeping the house uber clean all the time just in case someone finally calls to look at it is kinda stressful. But it's also really nice living in a constantly clean house. My daughter is no help, she is Miss Destructo, but my son has been really good about not messing things up. For a five year old, I find that pretty impressive. The good part of all of this is that I'm super excited to move. Our new duty station is going to be right up our alley I have a feeling, and we can't wait to get started on our new life there.

I've been slacking on new items for a couple of weeks. My mom is visiting, so that takes priority. But I do have quite a few new things since my last blog update, so I'll post a couple of those.

First is some new seaglass earrings. There is also a few new pendants posted, one comes with a beautiful sterling silver snake chain. I'm trying out including the chain, but seems like most people are happy to buy the pendant and use their own chain. Any opinions on that? Mom brought me a bunch of new pieces of seaglass from her island too so I have even more to play with, love it!

Next I listed some more crocheted hats. The hat to the left is my Flap Happy Monkey Hat. It looks so cute as you can see on my little monkey. I have also listed a Pom Crazy Earflap hat that is super cute too. I love that all of the styles are completely customizable, whatever colors a customer wants I can probably provide. These things are so addictive, to make and to own. My own kids have quite a collection of them now.

And a sort of new item. I had magnets before, but none quite like this. :) They are miniature chalkboards. What a great present for a teacher, right? Or label your kids' artwork with them. It's totally up to you, and you can change them whenever you like. Just rub them clean with a damp cloth and use them over and over.

I'll stop rambling for now. And hopefully the next update won't take so long! Thanks for visiting me. :)

Got this in an email, thought it was worth passing on.

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend.

He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend,
'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.'

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend. He asked her,'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.'

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life Is a Gift

Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.

Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who desires children but are unable to have them.

Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean
or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without sin.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and think: you're alive and still around.