We have winners!

So here is where I go all virtual ghetto on you. I pulled the numbers out of the random generator, and since I can't figure out a simple way to post a screenshot, I just did this:

Fancy, no?


I was all giddy and la-la-la when I virtually pulled the first number. 5. FIVE! Easy to count. Oh, so easy.

Then. Number 187. Seriously? You suck, random number generator. But 20 minutes later I had counted to 187 twice to be sure I had the right person.

So, the winner of the gift certificate is Melissa Ann, who has twin 3 year old girls with absolutely lovely names: Aeralind and Bronwyn. Even though they don't like dolls, maybe they like dresses?

And the winner of the scrap box is Who-lee-uh. I don't know anything about her, but I'm sure she is a person who will give a happy home to a box of wayward scraps.

Now, for the rest of you sad peeps, I have a coupon code. NotAWinner2012 will get you 20% off the stuff in the shop. I got a lot (a lot) of good advice this Giveaway Day. So I'll be putting some scrap boxes or envelopes in there as I fill them. In fact, I can just have a box sitting next to me all the time. Awesome idea, that. I think I should get a prize for thinking of it! I'll keep that code up till the end of January, unless I forget to take it down.

Hope you win something somewhere else!

Giveaway Day!

Sew, Mama, Sew

Hello, all you crafty people from Sew, Mama, Sew. It is a bright and sunny morning, I have a hot cup of coffee beside me, and it is Giveaway Day. What could be better?

I have a box of scraps for you to win. I just recently opened my own Etsy store, and suddenly I am overrun with scraps. It is crazy how many scraps I have. Besides. I always like winning a big box of scraps. Who doesn't?

Now, I took this picture and then realized that this box is much too small. In reality you will get a flat-rate box jammed with as much as I can get in it. I can't promise it won't be wrinkled, though.

So, to win this lovely box of scraps:
Since I just opened my Etsy store, Made By Little Crickets. It is proving to be more challenging than I had imagined, and I would love to have some advice. If you have your own shop: how do you decide on prices? how do you organize? how do you promote yourself? If you don't have your own store: what makes a store one of your favorites? what makes you really just 'have to have' something you see on Etsy? What is the best incentive for buying - low postage, price, customization?

My shop sells kids clothes and doll accessories. Please go over and take a look. You don't have to. It's not a requirement for the giveaway, and I know if you don't have kids, or know some kids, you couldn't care less about my shop. But if you do have kids, or know kids, or see kids on the street occasionally, please go on over and take a peek. All constructive commentary is welcomed.

To win, you must comment on my shop, Etsy shops, or any other thing loosely related to shopping for handmade goods online or kids or something. Any comment not containing something of that nature will be deleted. I am super serious this time. Your comment won't even make it online.

I will randomly choose a winner with the generator and send your package out by the designated time. Likely Saturday morning. I will ship overseas, but your package might be a wee bit smaller if I do. I will randomly generate a name and post the winner Saturday morning after my girls jiu jitsu class - about 11am EST. I will then proceed posthaste to the post office. Or maybe I'll do that in reverse. I'll figure out the details eventually.

Good luck and Happy Giveaway Day!

Oh, and I have another giveaway - a gift certificate to my shop. Go check it out if you like what you see over there!

Happy Giveaway Day!

Sew, Mama, Sew

Hello There!

Don't you love Giveaway Day? It's almost better than Christmas, so I'll cut to the chase.

~ I don't blog much, but I always have hope of getting better.
~ I opened an Etsy store, Made By Little Crickets, six weeks ago. I make clothes for kids and doll accessories. Here is what I have learned: running an Etsy store is a lot harder than I imagined.
~Here is what I'm asking you to do. Give me advice. If you have a shop of your own, tell me what works for you. If you don't, tell me what you like about other shops. What makes a shop a favorite of yours, or what makes you want to make a purchase at a shop? You will only be entered into the giveaway if you make some sort of comment about my store or Etsy stores in general or any other vaguely shop related comment. All others comments will be deleted. I am really serious about this, this time.

Here is my store Facebook page. I usually post when I put something new in the shop, or when I have a new design. So you won't be getting junk from me every day. I just want it to be a good way for people to see the new stuff I've added in my shop without having to go over there.
I am enthusiastically inventing, and I have new stuff going in the shop regularly. Someone asked if I could make a wipes case, so I did. Someone asked for a changing pad, so I made one. If you want something you don't see? That's my favorite part. I love designing little things.

I will randomly choose a winner with the generator and send your package out by the designated time. Likely Saturday morning. I will ship overseas, but your package might be a wee bit smaller if I do. I will randomly generate a name and post the winner Saturday morning after my girls jiu jitsu class - about 11am EST. I will then proceed posthaste to the post office. Or maybe I'll do that in reverse. I'll figure out the details eventually.

Good luck and Happy Giveaway Day!

Oh, and I have another giveaway - a big box of scraps. Lots of largish pieces leftover from my shop. It produces copious amounts of scraps!

The dark recesses of my mind

I definitely had to go to the dark recesses of my mind to remember how to use Blogger. And since I recently shared my coffee with my laptop, it was doubly difficult to remember because I am on a new-to-me-but-older-than-dirt laptop. She is actually quite lovely to look at, but a little on the chubby side, and likes to be always holding on to the ethernet cable. Ah, well, then. Next time I will be a little less gracious with my coffee and a little more graceful.

Now it is time for me to come clean and admit that which I would not admit.

Remember last year at this time? Well, at least remember that Sew, Mama, Sew held its righteous Giveaway Day? And I was all "I won fouuur giveaways and I'm going to give away fouuuur prizes, too." Well.

All I can say is that Deb and Yana will receive their packages soon. I finally sent them last week. I swear. And I hope you weren't thinking mean, evil thoughts about me all year. Really, my heart is in the right place, it is my head that gets diverted.

So, now. I had to admit that before I could go on blogging. And since Giveaway Day is here again, I had to get my shinola together, right? An here, I give you a recap of the last year in 25 words or less:

anatomy I. anatomy II. algebra. college algebra. puppy fostering. flock of 6 chickens. two children. kindergarten. third grade. etsy shop. flu. pneumonia. halloween. thanksgiving. now.

Truthfully, I didn't mean to open an Etsy shop. I had made these lovely dresses and put out on Facebook how I would sell them if anyone wanted one (Kyoko by ModKid - love that one) and everyone said "Oh, they are so beautiful and blah blah blah and you must open an Etsy shop" So I did, and was immediately out of commission for three weeks with the flu, which turned into pneumonia. And I have only sold one dress, and that was the first day I put it out on Facebook.

BUT!

Someone else asked for doll diapers on Facebook, and I said "Oh, I can make you some." And I did and she paid me and told me I should put them in my shop, too. I was reluctant, but I did. And yes, doll diapers sell! Who would have known? I never ever would have picked that to specialize in, but it is fun, and I have come out with some new doll things, too.

I know. A blog post without a picture. Here you go, then. My little model, Baby Stella, in a luxurious pink number.

But this is what kills me:

They come with pee and poop and wipes! Because really - isn't that more fun?

So that is what has been keeping my shop afloat. I mean, I only opened it 6 weeks ago, and was promptly ill for 3 of them, so I am certainly not complaining. In fact, I am pleased as punch.

And that brings us to tomorrow - Giveaway Day. You have only one guess as to what I am giving away. Here's a hint.

See you tomorrow!