Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Posting & Packaging

Hello all! :)

I have just passed a pleasant morning, happily writing away thank you notes and packaging my orders. Ohh it's all so exciting!

A couple of weeks ago I bought some twine from swannandsmerlin and I've ben using it in the packaging of my items.













Not only that, but have also included it in some cards, for example














Now, buying the twine, really got me thinking about my own packaging. Not only because of the twine itself, but because of the very lovely packaging I received the twine in. Unfortunately I did not take any photos to share with you, but it was the sort of package that makes you feel happy and special.

On me, that package had a very different effect. It sent me into panic mode! Oh no!! I had not even thought about the packaging stage yet. Wrapping? Address stickers? Shall I go for recycled envelopes? Business cards!! Groan!

I realised I had not only bought some twine, but also a lesson in making people happy just by packaging the items in a special way. And when I say "just", I am using the term in a very loose way. Cause there was nothing "just" about the packaging! It was pretty and well thought out and later, when I had calmed down a bit, I got the warm fuzzy feeling of a good buy. So here's a huge thanks to Odette! Keep up the great work!

Now off to start packing for tomorrow :)

Good evening to all!
Hugs,
Patz ◦

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Playing around

It's Tuesday! I have 2 days left before I leave for a long weekend in London to meet my friends, and before doing that, I have to finish all my pending projects! Orders to fullfil and dispatch, new cards to design and 2 special cards for the friends I'm meeting, both of whom have their birthday at this time of the year.

Apart from throwing away my husband's best (and new) jeans, by mistake (he didn't kill me yet, but he might be planning something cruel...) this week has been going very well. I sold a few Christmas cards and I've been crochetting some snowflakes to put on some of the cards. They look lovely on the card and can also be hung up as an ornament. And what's more...I enjoy making them soo much!

Patterns for these are on Crochet Pattern Central.

I've also been playing around with wire... and came up with this sort of Christmas tree like thing, but unfortunately I did not like it enough for it to make it into any of my cards, for now...

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Off we go!

Good morning all!

It's Saturday and I woke up nice and early, with a spring in my step. And it's not just because it's the weekend. Oh no! Surprisingly it's been like that every day for the last 2 weeks... ever since I decided my job is to create and sell cards!

It all started when, after working for more than 10 years in IT, I decided it was enough for now. I needed something different. So I quit my job, but then what?

For around a month I had been working on the handmade Christmas cards I'd be sending to my family and friends... being really happy with my handiwork, I put some images online and started to get enquiries from friends. Can I order some? How much do they cost? So I setup my shop on Etsy to get me started.

And the last 2 weeks have been a flurry of finishing off some cards, creating custom orders or catering to requested changes, putting up items for sale on Etsy and setting up and updating my facebook fan page. So exciting!

Now, I don't know what will happen. I seriously doubt that I'll manage to make enough money to live by with this new "job"... but I'm taking it one stamp at a time, one card at a time, and oh boy, am I enjoying it!!