Ooh La La Love - A Mixtape

Valentine's Day isn't a holiday that I feel usually merits much attention, so it's a bit odd for me, that I find myself completely fixated on reds, pinks, hearts, and love songs. This infatuation is quite contrary to my standard perspective that V-Day is a contrived holiday designed to make women of both single and coupled status alike feel like crap. But this year, I am definitely feeling Valentine's Day - not the holiday so much as the spirit of the holiday, as only children can understand it. They know that it's not about expensive jewelry, fancy restaurants, and the like. The kids seem to have this one cornered: handmade cards and gifts for loved ones, parties with friends, and lots of heart-shaped sweets!

In that spirit, I want to share the love with everyone this year - so I've put together some valentines for all of you! In a few days, I'll be posting a tutorial for a Valentine's Day mobile, in a couple of weeks I'll share a recipe for some sweetness, and today - I want to give you a lovey-dovey mixtape. The playlist is below, and unfortunately for all of us, I'm not savvy enough with Web 2.0 to know how to make a mixtape online. So, if you'd like a copy - just leave a comment here & follow the blog - I'll email you for your address and mail your mixtape to you wherever you live!

Ooh La La Love - A Mixtape

1. Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen
2. I Hear A Symphony - The Supremes
3. The Saturday Boy - Billy Bragg
4. Make A Plan To Love Me - Bright Eyes
5. (You Knocked Me) Off My Feet - Sondre Lerche & the Faces Down Quartet
6. Simply Beautiful - Al Green
7. Samba De Bencao - Bebel Gilberto
8. Razzle Dazzle Rose - Camera Obscura
9. All My Stars Aligned - St. Vincent
10. Something - The Beatles
11. My Cherie Amour - Stevie Wonder
12. That's How Strong My Love Is - Otis Redding
13. You're My Best Friend - Queen
14. You're All I Need to Get By - Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrell

Give Them What They Want

I love this little blog. It's a wonderful outlet for me creatively, socially, and intellectually. Sometimes, I'm a bit uncertain though, about how much some of you enjoy it? It can be hard to be objective about something one creates, and I'd love a bit of feedback from you, my beloved readers, so that I can make this blog a daily destination for all of you. It is a goal of mine this year to write at least 5 days a week -- but sometimes, I just run out of ideas.

Please leave a comment for me, about what type of posts, information, and tutorials you would be interested in ~ and as always, just a reminder: If you decide to purchase something from my Etsy shop, as a beloved reader - you are entitled to 15% off your order! Just mention: "beloved reader" in the comments to seller section of shopping cart.

Love,

Tara

Make Believe

Have I told you yet about the Brown Paper Package Exchange? Chances are, I haven't mentioned it. I've been so busy trying to boost my Etsy shop, that my creativity was null when it came to the gift for my recipient. Not good. I wanted to give her an Herbal Eye Pillow, but create a design just for her - this is what I started out with:

It was so 'blah' - and not very attractive.

Last night, I was looking at my latest little something I made for myself:

I find this little banner really inspiring, and I have to admit I'm proud of how great it looks. I wish the photos didn't include the kitschy furnishings and decor of my furnished rental - but for now, I'm too excited not to share. It reminds me daily to create, believe in myself, and believe in the possibilities.

As I was saying - as I gazed upon my "Make Believe Banner", it hit me! I had the perfect fix for the blase eye pillow I had made:

Think she'll like it?

New Herbal Blends

I've got some exciting news for fans of my Herbal Eye Pillows: I now offer three more complex and sophisticated herbal blends! As with all of my other Herbal Blends - these are also composed of Certified Organic herbs and flowers:

• Halcyon Days: Need some tranquility? Joyful and calming blend of Egyptian Chamomile, Cornflower, Honeysuckle, Lavender, Lemon Thyme, and Spearmint.
• Cottage Garden: If you're trapped in an urban jungle, escape with this refreshing blend of: Red Rose Petals, Lavender, Cornflower, Lemon Thyme, Honeysuckle, Ginger, Jasmine, and Spearmint.
• Silk Road: This exotic blend will revitalize your body and mind. Red Rose Petals, Honeysuckle, Ginger, and Cinnamon.

I've also decided to give my customers more freedom in choosing their favorite blends. I've always enjoyed custom orders - but I thought better to save you, my client, the hassle of contacting me for one. So as of tomorrow - my Herbal Eye Pillows will be listed solely as the design - the Herbal Blend will be your choice, and can easily be specified in the "Message to Seller" upon purchase.

Also, I'll be releasing new handmade products this weekend, and more in the month of January. Can't wait to see you in the shop!

Vintage Holiday Sale

If you like these....

Or this....

They are both on sale in my shop! In fact, all items in the Vintage Holiday section of my shop currently reflect 15% off the original price. Sale prices good through 11/18! Happy shopping!

It Feels Good, Yeah!

Last week it got pretty busy around here in my wee world of Etsy. It also started snowing here in Bend, OR. Snow, that's right, on October 4th. I'm a California gal, so I found this to be incredibly exciting. But I must say, I'm going to have to rework the studio and move it from our attached garage to our dining room until winter's end. It was a freezing time in the studio, producing some custom orders, and packaging some great vintage finds for my dearest clients. My hands were so stiff, at one point whilst cutting the cloth - I thought there was something wrong with my Mundials. Turns out if you are actually freezing, it's likely your fingers aren't working too well.

Keeping warm by dancing and singing to the beloved Beatles while sewing (yes, it is possible!), I was able to complete and ship all orders. That's my job, right? you may be asking - why on earth is she blogging about this? Because I am starting to receive feedback from my appreciative clients who have received these items produced in the chill - and they are ecstatic! I just had to say it feels so good to make other people feel so good with the items I produce or vintage steals I find for them.

Just a positive note of thanks to all of my clients! You really keep me going - even in the chill of a freezing garage studio!

I'm Baaaack!

Hello again everyone, I'm back from my short jaunt off the blogosphere. It's been busy busy busy at home and work - fortunately, the good kind of busy. I've adjusted my daily schedule to support my hubby's endeavor to get some money-making skills (you know, like nunchuck skills, bow-hunting skills, computer hacking skills). Also, I've got my family visiting from out-of-state - sooo good to see them. This means I've got to get much more Etsy work done in far less time. Fortunately, I am blessed with understanding clients.

Speaking of my fabuloso clients, I have decided that for anyone who purchases a gift for the upcoming holidays, birthdays, etcetera - I will be making custom gift wrap which doubles as art. I've always really enjoyed wrapping presents, since I was a youngster reading Martha Stewart Living, I've tried to make my own wrapping. It's so much fun to do - and I believe my clients will really appreciate it. The photo is a gift wrap I just recently made for a client who purchased the last "Rex the Snuggle Pup" for her young son.

As my mind is numb from sewing, wrapping, emailing, tweeting, all the while entertaining family - I can't recall if I've brought your attention to Jordan Moore's Handmade Success blog. I definitely want to point out her blog right now, as she's having the best Etsy giveaway imaginable to Sellers. Jordan is giving away five free half hour consultations to assist the lucky winners with whatever areas of business/marketing strategies they most need help in. To enter the giveaway, just visit her blog - and post a comment about what your biggest business frustration is.

Featured on the Front Page!!!

So I must be doing something right, because after those subtle changes with tags, and changing out photos, and cleaning up shop, I got FEATURED by Etsy Admin!! Just imagine my surprise this morning when I awoke to discover my shop had over 800 page views! That's probably more in one day then two weeks combined. Naturally, I'm elated this morning. This sweet, unassuming little vintage handblown glass songbird - is the fella that brought me there.

Thanks, Etsy Admin!

Finally Did Something!

I'm so glad I wrote honestly to you all this morning. It made me accountable not only to myself, but to you. So, rather than completely indulge my procrastinating tendencies, I got off my duff to do something! Well, actually, I've been on my duff for a while here - updating tags and titles.

I recently had the pleasure of being invited to join AOE Team (that's Altruism on Etsy). Altruism on Etsy is a network of Etsy Sellers, who donate a portion of their sales to charitable causes and non-profits. It's a great way buyers can find where not only are they buying handmade - they're supporting a good cause doing it. So, I've had to update my tags with "aoe team" to make it easier for those buyers to find me.

In doing so, I couldn't believe some of the LAME tags I had been using from the first listing date! Obviously, as I can easily see at Craftweasel - a ton of these tags were getting NO play. So I updated my tags with adjectives suggestive of similar interests and attitudes for each piece. This was not always easy. I still would love any help from anyone who just loves giving a good Etsy shop critique!

Updating the tags led me to change a couple of the more awkward titled listings (I got lazy, and didn't do them all). And, I decided it was time to remove the buckwheat hull pillows. I think those pillows, while I 100% LOVE and vouch for them (sleep on mine every night!), were part of what was making me schizo. If you want one of those, email or convo me - comment here too.

My point here is (and I'm sorry, as I intended to be brief and concise with this post) this: perhaps if the sales aren't coming, and the analytics point to declining interest - check yourself. You know more today then when you first listed your items. Do you need to fix some weak tags, drop any listings? Get it done - I like my shop better already!