Chocolate Covered Strawberries

My small tip for more etsy success!

Now, to start, I don't consider myself a big seller or a success just yet. I've got a ways to go, so take my advice with a grain of salt. However, I was really getting frustrated with my sales, especially since I didn't get really any holiday sales. Then suddenly, in the last week or so, I've had 8 sales. That's an average of one a day, when I was normally selling 1 every 2 weeks or so. Of course there are many factors to consider, like the fact that it's the holidays and people are spending. Maybe my sales will drop off suddenly after the holidays, who knows?

But I wanted to share what I think has helped. I started trying lots of new things. When one thing doesn't sell, I try something else. My detailed, intricate greeting cards aren't flying off the shelves, so I wanted to concentrate on something else. At one point I tried magnets, didn't work so well. I tried offering sets of cards, still nothing. My latest attempt is to make handmade embellishments for crafting. These are the types of things you'd buy in the store, but since I make them myself, you can't find them anywhere else.

This is not to say that making supplies is the solution for you, but make sure you are always brainstorming new ideas, always trying new things, even if they don't all work, and you will eventually find your groove! When your shop feels stagnant, and you've tried everything else, tweak your product!

I hope this helps, and I hope my sales continue. But if they don't, I'll just keep trying new things. Just because something sells well outside of etsy, doesn't mean it will on etsy. Experiment with what does sell well on etsy, even if it is different from what you normally do. But make sure you're still doing what you love!

Threadkillin' and Features!

I posted in a thread today about thread killing. It’s where you are the last poster in the thread because you either had something so insightful that no one else could possibly come up with a better response, or your post had no response necessary. As in, they’re trying to tell you something with their silence (wink wink). That’s right, you’ve brought the conversation to a screeching halt. Although I am often the threadkiller, what is the funniest is when you kill your own thread. You know, you post a really awesome new topic and no one responds? Then you try to bump it with a good ol’ "anyone?" And yet you still somehow have started AND killed your thread simultaneously.

Now as promised I would like to feature some awesome shops. Thanks to all who submitted their stuff, I'll keep it all in consideration for the next one.

This is just too amazing for words. From OpulentOddities


What could be funkier and quirkier than this? From sammyssweets


I love this cute little guy! By LittlePods


This is so beautiful! By beadinbabe

Whew! Finally a new post. After my highly successful craft fair this past weekend, where I made a whopping $1 in sales, I'm just so happy! Ok, does sarcasm come across in text? I hope so. Anyways, I made this treasury today and really hoping for some front page love! I worked really hard on this one. Also, I can't seem to get a full screen shot on my mac, so I'm sorry it's cut off.

Cookies and Treasuries...yummy.

Never try to bake cookies and snag a treasury at the same time. It’s very difficult, but I managed it with only charing one batch! Check out my treasury. Or scroll down to see it.

Another thing to remember when making cookies is to eat lunch beforehand. Especially when making my super-awesome oatmeal scotchies (oatmeal cookies with butterscotch chips). I found myself eating 3 right out of the oven, leaving my hopes and dreams of sending most of them to my husband’s co-workers hanging in the balance. Ok, so I should try to eat something substantial and significant. But all I can think of while searching through my (boring) refrigerator is of you, oatmeal scotchies. The taste of sugar and butter lingering on my lips. How can I be satisfied with tuna at a time like this?

Ok, once I get a hold of myself, I decide it’s best to eat a banana. And after eating ¾ of it, I’m now convinced that I’m allowed 2 more cookies.

Stay tuned for my next blog entry on how to get your items into more treasuries. Thanks to eavesdrop for taking the screen shot.

So I Wanna Be a Blogger?

Alright. Set up blog: check. Customize to my specific (within their offerings) taste: check. Fumble over how to upload pictures in my blog posts: check. Get people to give a hoot about what I, a short, 5-foot-2 (wearing shoes), kinda shy, kinda silly, sarcastic, sorta crazy, musician give them to read……check-ish.

Well the holidays are upon us and it seems it’s that time of year when everyone gets a little crazy-eyed. You know the look- hair pulled back, some sort of scarf (or maybe that’s just yarn from late night knitting that got stuck to her coat?), coffee in one hand, to-do list in the other.
And my favorite- waking up in the morning, looking in the mirror and realizing that one eye is still sealed shut, protesting this societal ritual of rising before dawn, throwing on clothes, grabbing some sort of pastry from the “Stop and Shop,” “Grab and Go,” “Pee and Flee,” or “Flush and Rush,” and speeding off to respective office/school/general place of work. And then when you do make it to work, that eye pops open at the prospect of logging in to etsy, hotmail, yahoo, blogger, twitter, facebook, myspace, flickr and seeing if you have any love. Well have you?

Here’s some love! My picks for this week (although I’m not sure if this will be a weekly, semi-weekly, daily or otherwise thing). It’s the very first, adventure-filled episode of Candice’s Clicks. Have a peek will ya? Both eyes are open now.

I thought these were yummy cinnamon sticks when I first saw the picture, so when I found out they not, well, I figured what could be better than cinnamon? Monkey Farts! Don’t worry, it’s just a silly name, they actually smell like Pineapple, Orange, Banana (of course), Green Apple, Coconut Rum, and Creamy Vanilla. by starshinecompany


Where’s the best place to put that hot pan? On a Christmas light silly! These are adorable. byflutterbuggcreations


I just like this. I have no funny quip. Move along. by laurabailliedesigns


I was never into barbies as a kid (hey, undressing my new kids on the block dolls was way more fun), but these are just so cute and unique. by randomquirks


This is just clever. by huggermugger


Thanks so much to everyone who submitted items for my feature. I couldn’t feature you all, but will be keeping you ALL in mind for the next episode. Keep the comments coming and I promise to keep checking back with you.

I'm finally writing my first post! I started selling my greeting cards through my mother about 2 years ago and they've been a hit! So I decided to start selling on Etsy. It's so much fun and the community is great. For today, I want to let you know that I'm having a cyber monday sale. If you go to my shop http://drumchick99.etsy.com and read my shop announcements, you can get the details.

I've got a new pouch, and several felt items:

You can also catch me on flickr  and twitter

Also, I'm a professional musician, so if you have a minute, check out my myspace!