Grand Opening

Well, September 1st is finally here...

My new Etsy shop opened today!!

Introducing my newest project, Long Live Handmade.

I linked to it on Facebook, and all of my wonderful friends have been showing their support. Many of them even shared the link with their friends, and so far today my Etsy site has had over 100 views. Wowza! 

Here are some of the items I have listed... 

This is the Foldover Bag. It converts from a tote to a messenger to a shoulder bag. Making up the pattern was a labor of love, but this is the bag that my friends and family have shown the most interest in. I already have requests for custom orders! I made a product video for this bag, and even though I think it's embarrassing, I put it on Facebook and the Long Live Handmade blog.

I guess I can share it here too.

 This is the Large Pocket Tote. It is a very simple tote with a big ole pocket on the outside. Ideally this would be a school bag or a tote to take to the library or bookstore. I'm obsessed with corduroy right now.

This is the Foldover Clutch... It's similar to the Foldover Bag but small enough to take on a night out. There is a detachable wristlet too!

The list is short for right now, but I'm working on new designs and translating them from paper to a real thing is sometimes daunting. But soon I will have some time to really get crackin' on this stuff.

For the grand opening sale, I'm offering 20% off. Just enter this code at checkout:

GRANDOPEN2011

The Upside

I know, I'm blog lagging again. 

It tends to happen in the Summer. When you return from a trip and your mind stays on vacation. Yeah, that's me right now, and for the last week or so.

I'm writing today about a positive side to some bad news. And about new beginnings. And to wish my sweetie a happy 23rd birthday (love you, Bub... hope you're having a fantastic day!).

So, you may know this, you may not, but I've been working as a nanny for the same family for three years. Their youngest was three months old when I started, and now it seems like he's all grown up. The mother told me a couple weeks ago that he will be starting preschool sometime this year. It could be as early as September, or it could be pushed to January. Either way, I'm looking at a significant pay cut, or a complete career change. 

I was pretty sure I didn't want to go through this with another family, and I know that jobs in my field (creative writing) aren't always guaranteed steady income. So I had some thinking to do.

After sulking a bit, talking to my mom, my boyfriend, and some other wise folks, I found a positive solution that should keep me satisfied and allow me to keep making enough money to live on (or possibly more).

I'm going to stay where I am. I'll work afternoons when the little guy goes off to preschool, and I'll live knowing that my hours will be cut in half, and I'll watch these kids for as long as they need me to stay. 

With my new surplus of spare time, I'm going to work my little ass off building up my new Etsy shop. WHAT?!

That's right. 

I'm starting over from scratch.

Remember that new-ish and big-ish thing I was working on? It's a complete overhaul of my Etsy shop that will be totally focused on hadbags, purses, clutches, etc.

I'm going to sew, market, promote, sell, and build this thing so that it's a fully functioning business that will one day be my only job, and my only means of income. How scary is that?

I know it will be hard. Trust me, the loudest voice in my head telling me I can't is my own voice. And I can tell her to shut up any time I want.

Making bags is what I love to do, so I'm gonna go ahead and do it. Ok?

I'll have some more details on the new shop coming soon. And if its alright with you guys, I'd like to also post a little here and there about the process of building a [hopefully]successful online shop, and what I am dealing with along the way.

Cheers to new beginnings :)

Blagging? And a Shop Update

I know, I've been blog lagging. We'll call it blagging.

I'm blagging because I've been extra busy. At the beginning of Summer I immersed myself in these awesome books...

Source: amazon.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: amazon.com via Amy on Pinterest

I'd like for my Etsy business to be my full-time job. So I'm working on something new-ish and big-ish. You'll find out soon...

In the meantime I thought I'd give my shop a little bump, and offer free domestic shipping for the rest of the month. Enter the code FREESHIPJULY11 to get it!

Here are some of my best sellers:

Carry-It Wallets!

Coffee Cozies!

So stop by in July and pick out your favorite thing!

I hope everyone is enjoying their Summer... it is flying by.

Updates from the Cute Stuff Sale

If you missed the Cute Stuff Sale on NGN, we had a lot of fun! But you are not completely out of luck... all of the shops that participated in the sale are offering a 15% coupon this whole week (Enter code LOVENGN at checkout)! Of course, you can get my coffee cozies, wallets, and tote bags from Fancy Funky Fresh, but I wanted to share some of my favorite shops too.
At the sale I made purchases from Linkel Designs, and Lilac Ave. These two shops are AWESOME!

Source: etsy.com via Amy on Pinterest

Linkel Designs has such lovely jewelry, made by a mom-and-daughter team. I wanted every single piece they listed. I ended up snagging a really beautiful ring, and there are lots of other wonderful things in the shop. So go check out their Etsy shop and blog!

Source: etsy.com via Amy on Pinterest

Lilac Ave. makes the best skin care products. At the last sale I bought a lip balm, and it is my absolute favorite! My mom and sisters are really jealous. This time I got a lotion bar, which I can't wait for! Her shop has so many great items to choose from and they are all eco-friendly. You've got to see her Etsy shop, and follow Lilac Ave. on  facebook

Giveaway on Craft Couture

Hi friends!

I'm very excited to let everyone know that Craft Couture is hosting a giveaway for my shop!

You can enter by visiting Craft Couture Here

You could be the lucky winner of a $15 shop credit.

The giveaway closes next Thursday 4/28, so make sure to get your entries in!

Thank you, Craft Couture for hosting :)