Metricly

I found a great website for all you online shop owners. It is called Metricly and it is an aggregated dashboard and analytics platform. It helps businesses of all sizes track their metrics in one place.
They connect your data from a variety of platforms including Google Analytics, Salesforce, Twitter, Facebook, Mailchimp, Zendesk and more. They can even get live analytics from your own MySQL databases or custom internal data. Setup is fast and easy. Once you connect your shop(s), their powerful analytical tools make it easy to dive into your data and find insights that will help your business be even more successful.
I connected my 3 shops from etsy and the graphs were wonderful! You could choose what type of data you want to see and the trends based on the dates you choose. If you've been wondering who buys from you or how many sales you get per month, this does it for you. The best thing? It's FREE!!!

Who knew crafting could be stressful?

You know, until you experience it, I bet many people think certain 'jobs' are easy. Lets say, stay at home moms. I am not a mom, but just watching a child for a couple of hours wears me out, I can't image what a SAHM feels like. Not only does she have to watch her kid(s) she is also doing laundry, cleaning, cooking, entertaining her kids etc.

This brings me to a stay at home crafter/artist. This summer I decided to stay at home and work on my crafts while doing different festivals and shows rather than working a crappy summer job somewhere at the mall. Yes, I can make my own hours and stay in my pjs all day, but honestly, it's hard work! I can't just clock in and clock out like I did working retail or waitressing. This is an all around the clock job! I'm constantly looking for festivals, applying, remembering to send in logos, payments, updating my shops, and of course, creating things! When you have a dog that acts like a toddler and constantly throws the ball in your hands when you are making things, well, it's tough to ignore it.

I have to make sure that I have enough pieces made for a show depending on how many days/hours I will be there and the popularity of the show. This week I'll be leaving for the West Virginia State Fair. I've never done one of these nor have a done a show that is 8 days long! And apparently from what I hear, this show is crazy busy and people come there to shop! For a simple 2-3 day show 250 pieces of jewelry/hair accessories is a good number. I need quadruple that for the state fair. And while preparing for the state fair I have other festivals or jewelry parties that I'm doing so my inventory goes down constantly. Sometimes I even hope I won't sell anything so that I have enough inventory for the state fair.

Not only is the state fair stressing me out, but the day after I get back, I start student teaching. I still don't know what school I'll be at or my schedule. The education department is not very good at giving things to students ahead of time. Then throughout the fall I have at least 5 shows planned so that means teaching, taking care of home and my dog PLUS making things for these fairs! Man, I will be exhausted after this semester, but hopefully it will be worth it all.

These are the shows I have set in stone, though there are 2-3 more that are tentative:

★ WV State Fair, Lewisburg (Aug 13-21)
★ Mound Arts fair in S. Charleston (Sep 11)
★ Oktoberfest in Montgomery, WV (Sep 18)
★ Pumpkin Festival, Milton WV (Oct 7-10)
★ Craftin' Outlaws in Columbus, OH (Oct 16)

News

So I know I promised to blog more, but so many things come up in life! How do these 'professional' bloggers find time to write, cook, clean, craft, take care of their families, work etc? I don't have enough hours in the day!

Anyway, I wanted to share some news! I finally have a newsletter/mailing list with Pepper Pod Designs that we will be sending out quarterly. It will include new items that we've made, where we will be, sales, discount coupons and more. If you'd like to sign up, you can do so here.

I also wanted to post where we will be in the near future. More shows might come up as well as jewelry parties. If you are interested in a jewelry party yourself, please contact me!

★ Barboursville Civil War Days, WV (July 17-18)
★ WV State Fair, Lewisburg (Aug 13-21)
★ Mound Arts fair in S. Charleston, WV (Sep 11)
★ Pumpkin Festival, Milton WV (Oct 7-10)

Also, if you know of any festivals in your area that you'd like us to look into, please let us know!

Creativity Bootcamp

Well I have decided to join in on the creativity bootcamp. I hope that it will help keep me inspired this summer! Anyone else joining in?

Going to the Chapel!

I hope not to be away from my shops, listing new items and making things for too long, but I'm getting married tomorrow! Yup, tomorrow, May 27th at 2:00pm. It's going to be a quick courthouse wedding, pictures at Ritter Park and then Dinner with the family and just the best friends from each side. Very low key, just the way I like it!

I hope to be back with new items and more shop updates after this! Hosting people in our house, cleaning and preparing for the big day really gets in the way of crafting!

Finally! New PDF Patterns!

So, while in school, all I kept thinking about was re-vamping the two PDF patterns I have listed in my shop plus making more! I know many of you out there are DIYers and would love to make your own items. I decided that I would make the patterns of my bags available to others and also allow you to sell them (as long as you respect my requests!) I have made a new pattern called the Grab and Go Bag. It's small enough to be used as a child's bag (who think she's an adult) or for an adult who just wants something small to carry around.

I am also in the process of making another pattern for the All Day Tote. I do not have any listed in my shop right now but have about 5 in the making! Hopefully in the next couple of days I can also re-vamp the other two patterns that are already listed (the market bag and coasters.)

Any patterns that you are looking for in particular? Let me know!

New Ventures!

Now that school is coming to a close, I am finally able to get back to the things I've been yearning for since the first day of class back in August. This Friday through Sunday I'll be at the Dogwood Festival. My friend Beth and I are doing a lot of home shows after the festival as well as a couple shows at the mall.

I opened up a supply shop on Artfire and a graphic design shop on Zibbet. Testing out new waters as well as new venues. I still have my regular bag and accessory shop on etsy as well as my vintage inspired hair accessory and jewelry shop on etsy. I also switched my kids shop on etsy to a de-stash shop as I just have had not had time to make children's clothing like I planned.

I also have plans to make a bunch of new tutorials this summer as well as changing some of the looks of my wristlets and some other items. In my graphics shop I want to make some printables, collage sheets and other things for those DIYers out there that want to make things themselves! If you have any suggestions for anything, I'd love to hear them!