Team Update

Handmade Louisiana...it's my baby. It was founded in April 2009 by myself and two other artisans who were from a former Etsy La based team that fizzled out. Although a majority of our team members sell on Etsy.com, we were adament that members need not sell on Etsy to be a part of the team. Although I do continue to run one shop on Etsy, I quickly learned there are more venues than Etsy to be a part of and one should never put all their eggs in one basket! We wanted our team to be open to anyone who created handmade who was in or from Louisiana, even if they didn't sell their creations.

So, here we are! Still chugging along on our blog and with an Etsy Team . We've all been quite busy lately, so we've not had as much time to devote to the team as we'd like, but that's a good thing! That means our shops are doing well, and our lives are full!

The Craft a Long Challenge will be back in November. Watch for it on the blog at www.handmadelouisiana.com

Artists of the Month should be continuing as well as our Team Picks! :) Thanks for all the support over the years!

~~Amy

One Door Closes, Another Opens

Because this is my year of Operation Simplify, I have made the decision to put Fleur De Ink on an extended vacation. I'm hoping the powers that be at Etsy don't REALIZE it's an extended vacation (and I suspect they won't) because I want to keep the shop, in hopes that one day it can be reopened. But as of now, my other shops are keeping me busy enough and flower pens just aren't high on the priority list!

Why? Eli. That's why. My baby boy was bringing me a sock monkey jack in the box this morning and saying "Socky". (which means he wants me to push it down so he can make it pop up). But I was trying to send an email to a customer about flower pens.

Really? Flower pens are NEVER EVER more important than Socky with Eli. In fact just about NOTHING is more important than that.

Eli is my opening door. The chance to save him is there.

Eli has autism. Plain and simple. Yes, he's very high functioning and has great potential to be mainstreamed just fine one day. Yes, he's not even 2 yet (Jan 23!!) but it is there. Yes, he's done awesome being Gluten Free and I think one day we'll barely notice anything was wrong. But what if I don't capitalize on the improvements he's making now? What if I push "Socky" aside to do my work? That's not a risk I'm willing to take because my REAL work is being a mommy to two beautiful boys. And although Harrison is in school, he has his own unique needs and sensory issues that will likely escalate as he gets older.

So, I decided (several weeks ago) some things have to give. One being Fleur De Ink. I'll still gladly make them for friends, gifts, and myself, but there is no need to run a full shop around them. I continue to run Mama's Little Monkeys, Amelia Amos and Destash City because I do love doing it, and there is immense pleasure in having something that is ALL mine and NOT mommy related. And thus far, those shops are easily managed with the time I have.

Now I will not be updating, adding to, or what not to them as frequently as in the past. 3 Etsy shops, 2 Artfire shops and 2 Hyena Carts are a lot! Thankfully, they're all mostly full of ready to ship items, or easy to make items. Steamlining is my goal here this year!

And let's be honest, if I didn't get a free account with Artfire and have already paid for Destash City for 2010 I'd probably bail on Artfire. As much as I love the people, the sales just aren't there. But I plug away because I enjoy writing for Handmade News and I'll make the most of my time there best I can.

My teams are also important to me, but thankfully I have very understanding members and friends who are awesome at making the teams the best they can be! Most are also mommies and understand how life is! So remember to search "Cafemom Team" and "HandmadeLouisiana" on Etsy.com! :)

I create and sell handmade because I enjoy it but there is also a business side. If this does not make a profit for our family--in this much needed time, I'll pull the plug in a heartbeat and do what I have to do. So far, it's going good and I'm finding a nice steady rhythm of sales/fun/management. But if the cause was there, I'd turn it all in for my family in a heart beat....and just sew for me! :)

Besides, if things do get really bad, at least I'll have fabric to keep us warm and soap to keep us clean!!

So if you want any of my flowery prettiness, hop on over to Fleur De Ink because after Jan 8th, it's going on vacation for awhile!!

But you can always find me at my other shops--for now!

~~mama

Shameless begging post..

Let the begging begin....

First off.....if you are in the Slidell/North Shore Area I would LOVE to see your perty little face at the Slidell Arts and Crafts Show at the Harbor Center in Slidell today!! :) Exit 261 off the I-10 (last exit before you get on the bridge!) I'll be there with ALL my inventory...so come on down! :)

Second.....not only did I finally SNAG a treasury last night but I am in one--twice! :)

So if you are so inclined....please share the love and do some clicking.. :)

Im in this one twice, as Mama's Little Monkeys and Fleur De Ink
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=47365

And one I was SOMEHOW able to snag last night by stalking the treasuries!!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=47426

so click away and give it some love! :)

My Faves: Cafemom Etsy Moms Team

Hope you enjoy this edition of MY FAVES!! This time up, Cafemom Etsy Moms!! Don't know about CEM? Well get to know them a little here, and if you or someone you know is a mom/grandma who sells on Etsy, be sure to join Cafemom Etsy moms!! We're having a member drive to reach 300 members by 3/29/09!!

This is only the tiniest tip of the cafemom team iceberg!! More editions coming soon!
Be sure to check out the awesome Cafemom Team Videon on my blog HERE! More versions coming soon!

CEM Member Drive! Join the BEST of the BEST on Etsy!

Cafemom Etsy Moms Street Team is having a member drive!

We have a goal of reaching 500 members by 3/29/09.

On March 29th Our Group Leader is Co-hosting on Blockhead Radio, a station for independant artisans and musicans!

We would like as much group participation for the radio show b/c we can promote our group to the world!

So come on over to the Cafemom Etsy Moms Street Team and join up if you sell on etsy!

And btw, the group member who refers the most new members will recieve a handmade tee shirt, and earring pendant combo from the group owner Rockerchic.

There will also be a funny video for the group made to laugh at, as a thank you for helping reach our goal! What it is of yet? We do not know! But we are sure we need to share this with the world!