It’s here!! My Etsy shop is live!

April 9, 2021 by 2 Comments
http://www.belindascrafts.etsy.com/

The wait is over! I pushed the site live a week ago and it felt really great. Now I can focus on streamlining the administrative tasks and more importantly I can get back to creating new products. I currently have a mix of cards in the shop. But I have so many ideas for new products. Because each card is handmade, I will release new products at a slower pace but the initial push to launch the shop is over so I can focus on realistic timelines. I will be moving out to work on my garden soon so that will likely impact my work schedule. But I will find a nice balance between them.

Since launching the shop I haven’t done any marketing, so I will be sure to include information about new product releases here on the blog. I will probably resume my Instagram account for marketing and business purposes in the near future as I increase my inventory. In the past, I was a bit shy about promoting my shop but this time, I’ve begun to tell family and friends about the shop, and hopefully, I can convince (guilt) them into making a purchase to support my small business.

I would also like to resume my weekly blog posts. So come on back to keep up.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Filed Under: Belinda, Belinda's Crafts Tagged With:

Shop Update

March 4, 2021 by Leave a Comment
editing photos

Hello! I am sorry I haven’t put up any new posts in about two weeks. I have been rather busy trying to get everything ready to re-launch my Etsy shop. February was the last target date but my under estimation of the amount of time it takes to do the product photography and editing has pushed that time out.

I am currently working through the product photography edits for the last two bins in my inventory. So for the first time, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Once I re-open the store, I will definitely have to try out different processes to try to streamline this part of the process.

As a one-person shop owner and creator, I am definitely learning that my affection lies with creating my products and playing around with new techniques. The administrative aspect is necessary but not my favorite thing to do.

We are also using a new database to keep track of my inventory, as well as, works-in-progress so that has added another administrative project to my plate. Once the store is open, it will really help me so I know these additional steps will be worth the results.

I just wanted to check in to say hello and that I haven’t forgotten to blog just focusing my energies on editing photos for the shop. I will be sure to announce the re-opening soon. Thanks for sticking with me through this process.

Have a wonderful day!

Filed Under: Belinda, Belinda's Crafts Tagged With: ,

Appreciating my workspace

February 11, 2021 by 3 Comments

I have had my craft desk for many years now. I bought it at IKEA and my husband raised it’s height so I can work standing up or sitting. It’s large and has great shelves on each side. I tend to fill the desktop with more than I should but that is for a later discussion.

My laptop is just the right size and doesn’t fight for valuable crafting space. I even placed my electronic Big Shot die cutting machine on one end of my table.

My recent edition is this fun and absolutely gorgeous RGB keyboard I bought from my son. Yup, I said my son. He won it in an online competition and was going to sell it on eBay. So guess who snatched it up? Yup, yours truly. It coordinates with everything else and makes me happy. So on the occassion I feel like sitting way back in my chair to type, I just slide this beauty on my lap and type a way. It’s the little things. It really is.

I have been uping my game when it comes to gratitude and I make it a point every day to pause when I enter my craft room, refrain from self-criticizing my need to clean and just appreciate the beautiful space I am blessed to with to create in every day. It’s easy to get caught up in the race, and forget the many blessings before us. I am trying to change that and you know, I have started to notice a difference in my attitude for the rest of the day when I do this.

I better get back to work. I just thought I would share my new practice and show off my pretty little keyboard!! 😉😉

Filed Under: Belinda, Belinda's Crafts Tagged With:

Happy Black History Month!

February 3, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Michael’s Black History haul

It’s Black History Month (BHM) and as always I scan retailers for products featuring black people. I stopped by my local Michael’s and Target to see what I could find.

Unfortunately, I missed some of the items at Michael’s because they ran out of stock. (insert eye roll) I could go on for a bit about the fact that they only sell these products for roughly 4 weeks out of the whole year and that they should provide ample so that they don’t “run out” so quickly, but I won’t.

This year, I picked up two t-shirts, stickers I can use in my planners, and a couple of small fabric rolls. I was pleasantly surprised with the canvas and paint sets. I snagged two. I will paint them and display them in my craft room.

Crayola even got in on the action and ran a batch of markers, crayons and colored pencils that more reflect skin tones. I picked up the pencils but might head back for the markers too.

Unfortunately, my local Target didn’t have anything. Either I missed them or they didn’t stock up on the t-shirts. So that was a miss.

I plan on also absorbing as many specials this month on TV. PBS usually runs quality educational shows and specials in celebration of Black History Month.

And naturally, I have selected several books to read for BHM so I will have my nose buried in some books for the entire month.

Happy Black History Month!

Filed Under: Belinda, Black History Tagged With:
« Previous Page
Next Page »
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox

Join other followers: