And, surprisingly, my sales went up. I started breaking records. Maybe because I was churning out new stuff like crazy? Maybe because I had more time to focus on updating listings? Maybe because the college girl came home, and we had to get good internet at home? Probably all of the above.
My Etsy shop seems to be getting noticed more, and instead of my usual 4 sales per month, I'm getting 8-12 sales per month, mostly ready-to-ship items. In the meantime, I came back to work at 25 hours per week, so crafting time is limited again. When items sell in my shop, I try to replace them ASAP... but I seem to be flitting from project to project. I want to make ALL the fun new stuff...
My Etsy sales are going through the roof this month. June is usually a slow month for me overall... the most Etsy sales I've ever had in June before was 2.... June 18th, and I just got my 10th sale of the month. I've beat my best June sales (which included a craft show) record, and I'm closing in on my best month ever with Etsy sales... (6/26 Update: currently tied with most sales in one month on Etsy, and 95 cents away from having my best month ever on Etsy!) A good portion is due to my favorite new pattern:
One of my favorite designers, Yarn Society, just released an adorable pattern for a small Highland Cow. She had put a preview in a Ravelry group, and I told her that when that pattern came out, I was going to drop everything and make one. Well, I made one, and it sold within 12 hours. So I made another, and that sold within a few days, with a request for two more. So far, I've made them in a light brown and orange. I want to try dark brown... and black... and white with spots...
But I want to get back to turtles... I found this free pattern for an African Flower Turtle when browsing through Ravelry patterns. The pattern works up quickly, and I had such fun making them... I actually haven't sold any yet, but I got an order for a larger size... Now that craft stores are open again, I got the yarn... just need to find the time. It's on my list!
I had a Master's Blanket lovey in my work basket for ages. It was a knit blanket, a mindless project that I could work on while watching TV (knit a row, purl a row). Well, I finished it, and had yarn left over, so made a smaller second one, which sold the day I listed it... so I made another...
With summer approaching, I decided to expand my horizons and try making Freeze Pop holders. That held my attention for about one day... got them listed in my shop and moved on to my next distraction.
Right now, I have a custom order for 3 Highland Cows that I'm working on... then I want to make a gift for a little girl having her tonsils out next week... and then I have a dragon to make for another custom order... and I need to work on that big turtle... So my crochet time is booked for the rest of the week/weekend... but what does it look like when I'm trying to decide on a new project?
Hmmm... I just got that pattern for a baby dragon. It's cute and it works up quickly, and it only uses a little scrap yarn, so I should make that... oh, but wait... I got this tan and black yarn out to make that baby goat... where is the pattern for that? I look into the folder of patterns from that designer... Oh, look... a bearded gecko. I should make that. Or that fancy dragon! Oh, I'm intimidated. I should pick something smaller, like that Baby Shark! Or Baby Groot! I probably should make up another striped snake. Inventory is getting low on those. I need to get a little more scrap yarn from the craft room. Oh, yeah. There's that foam I bought to make a cat couch. They seem to be going viral. I look through a pile of patterns in the craft room... and find about a dozen more "I have to make this soon!" patterns...
There are design ideas in my day planner... bags of yarn sorted out for projects, lists in my Google docs, lists in my planner, lists on slips of paper by my chair. There's no shortage of projects... just time.
And so I keep plugging away at projects. I don't update the blog much... but I do tend to post progress pictures on my Facebook Page or Instagram (PenguinPlaceCrafts).
So thanks for stopping by, thank you for visiting my Etsy shop, and THANK YOU if you have made a purchase!
