Curse the Cold, I say! Curse it!

Last night I tried, yet again to enter and use an Etsy Virtual Lab. It was a Critiquing Lab and, finally, I actually made it work! The folks there were very kind and answered my questions. I was able to get some very good advise on how to improve the quality of my photos.

Later today, if I can find the time, I will be walking my felted baskets out the door and taking new pictures in the natural sunlight. Curse the cold, I say! Curse it! I WILL be successful at this!!

I have listed two new baskets. More Christmas Hearts, in different colors and sizes.

http://www.judyagoddard.etsy.com/

http://www.measureformeasuregrowthcharts.com/

"All the Leaves are Brown, and the Sky is Grey....."

This morning the sky is a shade of silver that tells me that rain is on the way. When I hooked the dog on to her lead the yard was blanketed with rustling brown oak leaves. The trees all around have lost their color and are settling into their sleeping season.

It's hard to believe that the season has progressed so far so fast. And now, Thanksgiving is just two weeks away! I made a collection of Autumn themed baskets and listed them on Etsy, but no one has purchased them, so now I'm discounting them by 30% of their original prices. Any of them would make wonderful addition to your Thanksgiving decorations. And, on top of that, they serve a purpose. They are more than "just a pretty face"!

Help to launch my basket sales! I've been so busy knitting and felting that I've got quite stock pile, and tons of new ideas to implement!

Christmas Baskets are ready to list!
http://www.judyagoddard.etsy.com/

http://www.measureformeasuregrowthcharts.com/

What's done is done

This the first time my President has been younger than me. This feeling is kind of like the first time I watched the Miss America and realized that, even if I were single, I would be too old to participate. I told my daughter that it really doesn't matter who is elected. Nothing much will change no matter who you vote for. And, for the nost part, I believe that. And for the least part I hope and pray so.

He seems like a genuinely sincere person. I can only expect that he feels he can, indeed, affect change. I don't think the country's policies will promote Spiritual Growth. And I, as a conserative person, may lose some of my freedom.


Do I feel safe? Not right at the moment. But at least my health benefits won't be taxed.


But.......


Maybe the economy will pick up and folks will decide that they just can't live with out one of those fabulous Handknit Felted Baskets! Or that the best way to celebrate the birth of a new baby is to Buy him/her an Incredibly Cute Canvas Growth Chart!



And don't forget to visit www.wifemomwoman.wordpress.com to sign up to win my Little Christmas Basket!

I'm Doing a Give Away!

Hi everyone!

This is my first experience doing a give away and Cheri, from http://www.wifemomwoman.wordpress.com/ is walking me through it. She's been great and did a little interview with me. You can see the Little Christmas Basket, that maybe you can win, on Cheri's blog. So, check it out and enter to win!

I've been working on new Handknit Felted Baskets and they are now ready to be photographed and listed on my Etsy site. Most of them are now going into my Christmas Theme baskets.

And my 2 Jack-o-lantern Little Felted Baskets are on sale at 50% off! So you can buy them now and put them safely away for next Halloween!

So, here's your chance to buy a Little Felted Basket at an unbelievable price!

It being election day, my hubby and I went out after lunch time and did our duty. I hope you did too.

now I'lll be gearing up for Thanksgiving.

I hope the rest of yourAutumn is peaceful.

http://www.judyagoddard.etsy.com/

http://www.measureformeasuregrowthcharts.com/

www.flickr.com/judyagoddard/

The Forest for the Trees

If each new task is a tree in the forest, and each time a tree proves fruitless a new one is planted, how can I tell the forest for the trees?

I've set up my shop.

I've taken good, clear and sharp photos.

I've engaged in the chat rooms

I've posted in the forums

1. to ask for critiques

2. to ask business topic questions

3. to promote my shop

I've 3 joined teams

I've set up a blog and post almost every day.

I've set up a flickr.com account.

I'm working on a face book site.

I've let my family and friends know I'm open for business.

How do I keep from despairing?

Making art for arts sake is very good and sounds like a noble endeavor. But what you end up with is piles of art and no place to store it.

And I admit, that as an artist, I seek validation! I want to know that my ideas are valid and that others think they're worth purchasing and giving as gifts. So not making sales is not only hard on the pocket book, it hurts my soul.

Every time I kvetch people tell me to hang in. My products are good, great, cute, wonderful. The prices are fair. The pictures are clear and good.

But as the Christmas season comes on, and I spend more time looking at other Etsy shops and see how many sales they've had since the time that I signed up, it just makes me ache.

This is the gift God gave me. And for my entire life I've tried to find the niche that will enable me to justify the time and money I spend on my art.

Can you relate?

http://www.judyagoddard.etsy.com/

http://www.measureformeasuregrowthcharts.com/

www.Flickr.com/judyagoddard/

Another Bright Idea?

Well, I've not sold either of the jack-o-lantern baskets I made up. So today they go on sale. And, considering that I've only sold one Handknit Felted Basket, I thought maybe a few Handknit Felted Hats might pique someones interest. So I am busily knitting away.

Now that I've posted the hats it occures to me that they need to be doo dahed up. I guess I'll be off to purchase some gross grain ribbon. And i'm thinking maybe a live model will be better than good ol' Madeline here.

So, if you're looking for a really cute decorative basket for next Halloween, stop by

http://www.judyagoddard.etsy.com/ and snap them up for $7.50 each

And while you're there, check out my other baskets. There's a couple Winter themed ones as well as one Christmas one. I have a whole slew of LIttleFelted Baskets that make great tree ornaments and or little gifty baskets. I have to get the other Christmas baskets I have posted. The holidays are upon us!

http://www.judyagoddard.etsy.com/

www.Flickr.com/JudyAGoddard/

http://www.judyagoddardartist.blogspot.com/

My Old Man

Tom , Hannah and Judy, college moving in day 2008

My old man! We've been together for 34 years! He was the first, and only, boy I ever dated. Our first date? I was 15. We went to see "Young Frankenstein". It was a Saturday matinee. I told myself, " If he tries to put his arm around me I'll slug him!" He says he thought, "I won't try to put my arm around her his this time." That was in February. By May, we swearing eternal devotion!

But there was a problem, right from the start. I was a new Christian. I had received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in August of that year. And he was not a Christian. We became a devoted couple very quickly. I had to tell him, "I love you! And I want to spend the rest of my life with you, but, I won't marry you if you're not a Christian. And within a couple of months he had, indeed, accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

I know, I know! But you know what? We were married four years later and he has been the help mate and head of our family from the very beginning. He loves God! and he knows that Jesus died for him and rose again to fulfill the promise!

He has supported me in every hair brained scheme I have ever come up with. And, you, know, it's not easy living with an artist! And wouldn't you know! Both of his children are artists too!

http://www.judyagoddard.etsy.com/

http://www.measureformeasuregrowthcharts.com/

www.flickr.com/judyagoddard/