Have You Ever Started Over?

I've been an Etsy seller, now, for almost 2 years. I've had limited success selling handmade items. In the beginning I also sold knitting and crochet supplies in my shop. Last year, at just this time, I opened "finishthis.etsy" for sole purpose of selling supplies and vintage items.

The art that I am producing now is different and I had thought that I would change my banner to relfect these changes. But the more I think about it, the more I am inclined to close the old shop and open up under a new name that better relates to my current items.

I currently have only 39 itmes listed so it would be a minimal cost to move them all over.

So, the questions are:

1. Have you ever closed a shop and opened a new one?

2. How long had your first shop been up and running when you made the change?

3. Did it hurt sales when you first did it? If so, do you feel that you have recovered?

4. What did you do about your previous buyers? How did you inform them?

5. What did you do about all your hearts? Did you inform them that you were moving? Is it even permisable to do so?

6. Over all, do you think it was worth the hassle?

Please write your responses in the comment section and then, if you don't mind, go back to the etsy forum post and let me know you've left a comment.

And thanx for participating. I truly value the opinions and suggestions that come out of these blog posts.

Very Nearly a Nightmare

My hand painted flower cane

I'm working on my computer,editing photos in preparation for listing new items in my Etsy shop. All of a sudden, one of the photos in the folder I'm using disappears! Poof!

"What the heck was that?" I say to myself. Instead of the photo there's an

empty box made up of dotted lines. I double click the dotted line box and nothing happens.

So I stare at the screen, trying to puzzle out what just happened, when all of a sudden three more photos disappear! Poof, poof, poof!

Now my heart is racing and I'm fantically trying to get the photos back and, poof! poof! two more are gone.

It is at this moment that I realize, " I am NOT

dreaming!" So I close the window, figuring that this will stop pics from going.... where?

Every time I open a folder, more and more pics are gone. And now I'm beginning to panic. I shut the program down.

Out comes the address book, open it up to A and dial the number for Apple Computer customer help.

Marvin, (I'm not kidding) helps me salvidge the remaining photos and strongly suggests that I purchase an "exterior hard drive". Obviously, he states, a flash drive will be totally inadiquate to the task

of backing up my photos.

BTW: He had no idea why my photos disappeared

and he doubts I'll ever get them back. 80(

So, here's the questions;

1. Do you back up your files and photos? Or do you always think that you'll get to it, just not right now?

2. If you do back up your files, what do you use, a flash drive? a CD, an exterior hard drive?

3. Why do you use the back up system you've chosen, rather than some other way?

My solution?

I found an empty flash drive, went into my iphoto library and copied every pic. And let me tell you, I have thousands of them! And they all fit. And if I need more space,

I'll get more flash drives!

My Morning, noon and night cane

Do You Have a BFA?

I have a friend, actually, she's my shrink, who has told me that I need to get a bachelor's degree if I expect to make anything happen for myself in the art world.

I have always thought of college as a place to gain the skills to practise the career you have chosen as your life work. And, of course, it is! I have an associates degree in art from my local community college and feel that I gained skills that I have used to help improve my artistic technique.

But she also asserts that going to college is about making connections and using a learning institution as a platform to further my attempts to "break out" in the art world. This is a new idea to me. I have always understood that having a diploma from certain schools add to a person's cache, to make them more appealing to those who may be interested in hiring them.

I would like to know what others think about this. Will you look the questions below and give answers in the comments.

1. Do you feel that having a BA or a BFA makes a difference in your professional life?

2. Do you feel that having your BFA gave you an advantage?

3. Did you use your attendance at your chosen school to make an artistic statement while attending? Were you able to make business connections on campus or through professors and/or staff?

4. Did you consider that to be a reason for attending the college that you chose?

5.What about exposure? Did you exhibit work at your school with the intention of parlaying that into a career? Did it work?

6. Do you feel that your school provided a "platform" for you as a student?

I truly appreciate any insight anyone can give me.

Thanx!

My World is Spinning!

(photo courtesy Google Images)

This is a Samoyed dog. They are very fluffy and they shed alot!

Here is a bag of Samoyed dog fur. It's been compressed

so that it's easier to put in a box and mail to me.

This is a drum carder. It's used to fluff up the dog

fur and cause the fibers to run

in the same direction.

When the fur has been run through the drum carder it looks like this

This is called a bat. It's what's lifted off the drum carder. Now the fur is fluffy and straightened out so that it will be easier to spin.

Here's what a pile of fluffy Samoyed dog fur

bats looks like.

Looks yummy, huh?

Now I take the fluffy fur and spin it into yarn on my trusty

Ashford Traditional Spinning Wheel.

Here's a little bit of Samoyed yarn, still on the bobbin.

And here, at last, are some skeins of Samoyed yarn!

Soft and lofty.

That gallon sized ziplock bag will produce enough yarn for a small crocheted blanket that will be soft and warm.

www.JudyAGoddard.Etsy.com

www.finishthis.etsy.com

http://www.facebook.com/judyagoddard?ref=profile

Chi "Canary"

My Godparents are taking a vacation! They'll be traveling, by cruise ship, to Central America and through the Panama Canal!

So, in preparation for the trip, my Godmother asked me to paint a walking cane for her, covered in Scripture and images that point to Christ.

She Loves IT! Can't stop looking at it!

Now, one day after the Scripture cane was given to her, several people have inquired as to how much one would cost and could they buy one, please!

I am humbled.

And excited!

Here is a chance to use my art as a vehicle for witness!

If you or someone you know might be interested in having me paint a cane for them, please leave a comment, or email me at

JudyAGoddard@aol.com.

What a girl wants

This past Wednesday was my husbands and my 31st anniversary.

And what, you might ask, does a husband get for his bride of thirty one years? You might think there is nothing that could be given that has not already been given.

But, he got me again!! He really enjoys surprising me.

What do you get the girl that has everything??

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An orchard!

My new Gala apple tree!

My new pear tree!

My new fig tree!

And a new rose bush!

Just because!

|||| This Labor Day Weekend many folks on Etsy are having sales.

You can purchase goodies at 15% off in each of my shops now

through Monday, September 7, 2009||||

It's the end of summer! Has anyone noticed

the beeeautiful full moon?

www.JudyAGoddard.Etsy.com

www.finishthis.etsy.com

www.JudyGoddard.Homestead.com

KIPing Across 6 Flags!

For those not in the know, to KIP is to Knit In Public!

About a month ago a good friend came to visit us and treated my hubby, my daughter and me to day at Great Adventure. We live just about 45 minutes away but I hardly ever go. My DH and DD go every year to the Boy Scouts annual Camperee there.

So, anyway, I thought I'd share my day with you! This is what greets you in parking lot! This coaster is called, "Batman"

( See the itty bitty people all hanging upside down?

<<)

And here I am, happily KIPping away, waiting for my crazy family to make it safely back to the ground again. It wasn't too many years ago I was a major roller coaster fan myself. Now it's nice to say, " If I never ride another roller coaster it's OK with me!

Ah! The dolphin show. (Where they do not teach the dolphins to do tricks. but to enhance their natural behaviors.)

(Double your pleasure,

double your fun!)

Notice the amazing

horizontal flying dolphin!

<

All that cool blue water. And I sat there in the hot,hot sun with nairy

a drop to drink.

While my brood went off in search of the next breath snatching excitement, I took the Sky Way to meet them at the other end of the park.

Hallloooooo out there!

Howdy, neighbors!

I caught a couple of minutes before the tiger show started to add an inch or two to the sweater I've been working on.

The tigers in this show are not trained to do tricks. They are trained in ways that enhance their natural behaviors.

Up there is a Siberian Tiger^.

To the left is a "Butterscotch Tiger" even more rare than most.

Great Adventure has a great breeding program. They've been very successful helping to make little baby tigers.

Contrary to popular belief, not all cats hate the water! Tigers just love it!

Boy! What an exhausting day! KIPping all that way from one side of 6 Flags Great Adventure to the other!

Time for a nap! 80)

www.JudyAGoddard.Etsy.com

www.finishthis.etsy.com

www.JudyGoddard.Homestead.com