Hot Summer Days

I decided to make an Etsy Treasury. And it was actually pretty easy and fun to make. The only daunting part was deciding on a Theme or color scheme and I went with Summer reds. How did these items get picked over others? 

This picture from The Bold Banana was the perfect Bicycle and such an amazing red I couldn't stop looking at it, every time I passed the listing I would go back to it.

And who doesn't need a Fabulous party dress. Miss 4th of July Here I come. This Shop Timeless Vixen Vintage has amazing 1950's era cocktail dresses great for any occasion.

I Love Pomegranates and this one is beautiful. Life size Pomegranate Vase made by

New Moon Studio

Some were chosen for the picture quality alone and others for the feeling the picture gave.

And All The Loveliness...

RachelleD Roxy Romantic

Red Tuscan Poppy by The Honey Comb

Keeping those memories forever in the perfectly Red journal

Kath Prints a Linoleum Printed Blank Journal

And I had to add a little something Red, White & Blue

 

 Itty Bitty Bags presents Extra small retro silk dot

There are so many more I can't list them all here. Please visit the Etsy Treasury to see them all in their Red Hot Summer Glory

Hot Summer RED

Getting started on Etsy

When I first found Etsy I was apprehensive about starting my own shop. I had never really gone off and done something this Big. Putting what I create out there for the world to judge and see, was a huge step for me.

Once I got over the scary side of it all, with the help of an encouraging husband, family and friends I jumped right in.

The first thing I did was talk about it on Facebook, too friends and family there. I guess I was just putting out feelers. And of course with family and friends they were ecstatic about this new adventure. Then I looked at the calender, put my finger on a date and shouted it from the roof tops that My store would open. This for me made it real. Made it something I was committing to, that if I didn't do it I would be telling all those people they were wrong for thinking I was great. So date on the wall, in annoucements on facebook and then I created my Etsy account.

I didn't think to far into my name for the etsy shop. I hadn't quite settled on what Exactly the shop would be focused on, Would it stay Crocheted or move into a different direction. So to be safe I just used my Name. Not realizing that Dirty Joe Soaps would come about or the Household lovelies side of the shop either. But I am glad I didn't Name it Scarves and things.

But you all know most of this by now. I am writing this post and hope to make it a regular feature due to a few friends taking a leap of their own and starting Etsy shops. They ask for advice on little things and we have been sharing tips that we come across with one another. So I thought I would use a day a week on here to share the info with everyone else.

Step One...  Other then thinking about an amazing name, would be spread the word.
If you haven't started your Etsy shop yet but are close to doing so... Start Talking. Talking to friends, family, anyone who will listen. Tell them about it, your art and your future shop. This at least gets your foot in the water and gives you more enforcement to keep talking and one day start doing.

Busy hands Busy days

The past two weeks have been a bit busy. I have been trying to perfect my laundry detergent and finding ways to package and label it all. The Soldier has been such a great help with that. He thought of the name and a few other really amazing things that could be done and added to it. So Dirty Joe Soaps was born and I am so proud of how it has turned out.

I placed that image on Clear stickers and they became the perfect label for the jars of Laundry detergent. Small trial size jars and bigger jars that can hold 14 loads of soap. But I am still hung up on the best packaging for mailing the soap out.

The Jars might be too heavy to make shipping a good deal with the price of the soap (which is fairly low compared to store bought soaps). So I am leaning towards Muslin bags with my logo stenciled on them, with the Detergent securely in a plastic bag inside it. Then the Muslin bag could be reused, recycled or even sent back to me for a refill. Still deciding and searching for a local source (made in USA) for the fabric.

~Happy dance happened when I was featured in TWO different Etsy Treasuries. The first was Pamper Yoruself. It featured Spa type products and my Facial Scrubbies got a spot. The other is beautiful to look at and features Lime & Coconut themed items.

The other fun thing that happened this weekend. I had my first "Open House" or "Trunk show" some may call it. A friend was having a wine tasting party and asked if I would like to be a featured seller. I was flattered and thrilled, oh and a little scared. I didn't know any of her friends and this was a first for me. Putting myself out in front of the crowd to talk and show what I make. Its very personal to show and sell something you make by hand. Felt like I was pushing baby birds out the nest for the first time.

The Host was expecting 7 confirmed guests, a few maybes and some Non-responses. Well She was a little disappointed when 6:30pm rolled around and only 2 guests arrived. I felt so bad for her. She spent a lot of time preparing food for the night and arranging for the kids and Husbands to be out someplace for dinner.

Although only two people came, it turned out to be great. I was able to talk about what I do and create in a very casual and personal setting. Answer questions and show how you can wear scarves in different ways for different functions. Plus the wine was great. Oh, and I did sell an Item. Dirty Joe Soaps a large Jar of 42 washes.

I thought I set up her table well. Made sure you could see each type of product I make from any place you may have been standing, And I brought all the Scents of Laundry Detergent that I was working on.

The Host felt bad that her guests didn't show and kept apologizing. I kept telling her it was fine, that it got me to make and finalize a lot of things that I would have procrastinated on or still be trying to make a decision about. And because I made things specific to sell at the party, that meant I now had a lot of inventory to put up on the Etsy site. I really couldn't have asked for more.

So thankful for amazing friends, a husband who thinks some of what I do is silly and the other things I do are magnificent. Encouragement is all you need sometimes.

PS. There are a lot of pictures on the FaceBook Page. Check out the albums and see what will be posted in the Shop of Lovelies Next.

The Newest

 

I have to say this week has been amazing and it is only half over. I can't believe what wonderful friends, family and fans I have. Truly grateful. 

This weekend was a moment of new creations and new memories.  The best one was completing an item and posting it on Etsy Sunday afternoon and having it Sold Wednesday Morning. Things are grand. The set was a Spa set that I pondered over for quite some time. The question was pattern. Whether to have a stripe, two stripes, no stripes or all stripes. Nothing was coming, so I stopped thinking and started crocheting.

  

Washcloths were something I knew I wanted in the Set. But what else, Facial cloths or a bath puff, what about a hand towel? Still working on the washcloth when I settled on Facial Scrubbies and a hand towel. The Hand towel came out great with a stripe on either end, I was so happy with the texture.

 

Then the facial scrubbies. What a fun thing to create. Sweet circles of Cottony goodness. I wanted them to be small enough to handle but large enough to get the job done. That apparently felt right at about 2.5 inches wide. And to my delight the texture was outstanding. One side was smooth and great for wiping away eye make-up, the other textured side perfect exfoliating. 

The best part was noticing that Cotton balls were never going to be purchased in my home again. The entire set is machine washable and Dry. And the facial scrubbies got better and better with every use and wash.

Making things happen

I Made It!!!

This week I have been perfecting Laundry detergent making.

The great search for all the items was in the end, easy. Once I realized that I could use any All Natural Vegetable based Soap the hunt was over. The detergent was the topping of the cake for me. The past few weeks I have been trying to save money and be more thrifty, frugal and inventive with my everyday cleaning. Here is the recipe and grand adventure that lead to Homemade ALL natural Laundry Soap.

First Making Washcloths. I crochet Scarves and sell on etsy. Recently I started to create Washcloth sets. Hoping to save myself money and get rid of the sponge in the Kitchen sink but also to add to my Shop of Lovelies...

Lime Green and White washcloths

Black and White Washcloth Set

Then the Laundry soap happened. Why make these lovely things to only have them ruined with residue build up and chemical soaps.

1 cup Borax

 1 cup Washing Soda

 1 Bar of soap, grated with a cheese grater or food procesor

Then in a container mix all ingredients together. You will only need 1 scoop of detergent 1 TBSP Only.

I have a front loading machine and it (powdered) work great and cleans so amazingly. Everything comes out so fresh and Clean. Even My Husbands Army Uniforms which are usually covered in Dirt and gun powder. This soap is gentle enough for babies yet tough enough for soldiers.

Can't wait to think of a clever name and add it to my shop of lovelies 

This Weeks post are a part of I Made It! and The fabulous Nest Blog Hop. Swing by these amazing blogs for ideas and inspiration



And

Annivesary!!! No Shipping

Three Months ago I stepped Way out of my comfort zone and Started a Business.

Life took its turns, Ups and Downs, Sad and Happy. But with great friends and a Great Husband I was able to get through it and come around to this amazing thing that I am creating. But with that comes great Gratitude for all those that help me. That encourage me and Share in my dream. As a thank you for being a part of my ever expanding horizon I wanted to do something to Celebrate. So For the next FOUR weeks there is no shipping fee within the United States. 

Thank you Again for being so great.

 www.theshopoflovelies.com

And now the Shop has an Official Dot Com address and so much more to come.

What's in a Name?

The Shop has Officially gotten a Domain Name. The Shop of Lovelies . com . I am so excited. But in getting that name I had to change a few things to include a lot of photos and fliers that I had already printed up for a show I am doing in June. My excitement sometimes get the best of me. But here is what the Etsy Banner looks like...

Then in the midst of all the excitement about the shop and my first public showing, my dad is visiting. So I am hoping to show him around my new home and state while entertaining him a bit and balancing this whole new world of Entreprenuer Etsy Handmade and Blogging business thing. But I love it and my father is so excited for me and my newest adventure.

All of this excitement has seemed to spark an even bigger fire of creating. The latest is Laundry soap, among the washcloths that are moving along and the scarves that are getting attention. Oh and a great person The Mother, as she calls herself, from Little Boy Green has asked if I would like to place an Etsy Badge on her blog. She was intregued with my Reusable, machine washable washcloths and felt it went right along with her theme of creating a better world for her son and all of us together. She has great stories, lots of humor and life challenge of helping LBG (little boy green, her son) with his sensitive skin. She was also the push I needed and Supplier of the recipe I am using for my laundry soap obsession, To really get my house moving further in the Handmade Homemade, more efficient and money saving place. Can't wait to test out my New Laundry Soap it smells So Amazing.

And lastly, Washcloths are popping up in truly amazing colors. Here are a few new pictures of them in all their Glory.