Twelve months ago I opened my store on Etsy, Cotton And Card. Even with the massive amount of stores on Etsy, I managed to make sales, and my store has steadily grown.
Over the past couple of months though, a few issues have caused me to feel a little dissatisfied with Etsy. Over the year I have sold a bit of everything, but not enough of any one thing to help me to direct my focus...some items in my store take months to sell, often resulting in a lack of motivation to make the item again...photographing many different items of all shapes and sizes has been a headache...and I haven't been able to create a consistent look and feel that I am happy with.
As much as I enjoy sewing and crochet, it was my love affair with paper and card that started me on this path many years ago, and is often what gets me the most motivated to 'make'. For quite a while I had been considering adding some handmade paper-craft supplies to the mix at Cotton And Card, but I hadn't done so as I felt that it would only make the shop window look even more random and inconsistent.
And then, a couple of weeks ago I discovered Craftumi, a site especially for selling (handmade) craft supplies, and I knew instantly that it was what I was looking for.
Two days later, Paper :: Cotton :: Love was born!
Paper :: Cotton :: Love sells handmade embellishments, die cut card, card and gift tag blanks, Kraft card and other unique and sometimes quirky 'bits and bobs' for craft projects.
There is something really satisfying about selling my handmade craft supplies, to other crafty folk, who will make something nice, maybe even something they can sell in their own shop!
While I might not be getting a lot of sleep right now, the constant flow of ideas swimming around in my head at 2am is making sure of that, I am focused. And focus is what I was looking for. I know exactly what I want to make. I am enjoying the complete process from start to finish, and I am completing projects quickly and easily despite the constant (usual) interruptions from Master R and Miss A!
It's only early days, but it feels good, and it feels right for me. Maybe I have found my niche. Only time will tell. I have definitely found a focus, and that is making me happy for now.
I hope you are focused and happy too xx
2 comments:
this is wonderful you have found a direction. i have often felt like this myself so i know what you are saying. i also understand with having children around and trying to stay focussed and motivated with constant interruptions is not always easy. it certainly is a juggling act. i hope this goes well for you. it certainly sounds like you know where you are headed. i am very happy for you and lovely to read a post from you too. i have been popping into your blog over the past couple of days to see what you had been up to. take care and enjoy the weekend. xo
So nice to see your focus and direction! I have been having a very hard time with that myself lately. The product I sell just isn't interesting me anymore. I think a part of me enjoys making new items. I hope to find the focus you did and share that on my etsy store! - Lauren
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