We did it!! The booth is now open for business!! YAY!! Now, to fill it up – that is the challenge…I have been working on so many things and unfortunately have not taken all the before and after shots I should have. From now on, I’ll try to take them when I purchase them and then again after their transformations. The rush to get things done and in the booth was on and there just weren’t enough hours in the day!! 
I will have before and during and after booth pictures to show you soon. Happy Wednesday!!
October 1, 2008 | Categories: The Beginning | 4 Comments »
My opening day of my new shop was a success! So far, I’ve already sold 6 items to 4 different customers and I couldn’t be happier!! More things are in the works and I’ll tell more about that soon.
With all the shop things going on yesterday, I didn’t get a chance to show you the newest of the free gifts that I received in yesterday’s mail from whimsypics…some adorable “Bird on a Branch” yellow gift tags. I tell you…this picture does not do them justice!
In person, they have such a sweet presence! When you get a chance, check out whimsypics shop by clicking here and see all of her altered art, paper bag albums, and other goodies! Everything is so very nice and so is she!
There are only four of these tags, so they will only go to the first four customers. The fifth customer will get something else instead… 
Don’t worry 5th customer, you won’t do without!
I’ll be back later today ~ see you then!
Just an update….it’s 12:37 a.m. on 4/7/08 and it looks as though it will be later today (Monday) before I get more things done and up for grabs. One thing I painted still has to cure a little while longer before it’s ready to be handled and photographed. Lots of packing for packages going out and I’ve gotten behind. I’ll catch up tomorrow…I hope!
April 6, 2008 | Categories: The Beginning | Tags: The Beginning | 2 Comments »
I mentioned a few days ago that I decided to order a few items from fellow etsy sellers to give as free gifts to my first 5 customers on opening day this Saturday (that is sooooo close!). I received the first package today of the sweetest tiny gift boxes from creationsbylaura. You can see her sweet shop by clicking
here and finding her scrapbooking goodies. These teeny adorable boxes would be perfect with a little gift or candy and left on a co-worker’s desk…or hubby’s/wife’s pillow…or…well pretty much anyone! Thank you sooooo much Laura!!
Here’s a pic of Laura’s little precious boxes and she sent several different colors:
The clock is ticking fast as I’m getting everything ready to be opened by Saturday morning. I hope not to disappoint anyone!
Be sure to check back to see more sneak peeks of what will be available on Saturday!! 
April 3, 2008 | Categories: Fellow Etsy Sellers' Wares, The Beginning | 1 Comment »
This morning, I was working on some of my new goodies that I’ll be listing in my new shop next Saturday. I started thinking of the first 5 customers and how I wanted to do something special for each of them for the jumpstart to my business. Then, I came up with an idea to purchase things – samples – from fellow etsy sellers. This would allow those special sellers to get their name and business out there to others, too. So, I posted an alchemy with this information. I have been amazed at the response. Now, I just have to sort through everything and figure out what will be a great fit with items I will be selling. There’s so many – 24 at the time of this posting – and I’ll have to turn so many of those away though I want to purchase from all of them!!
When things start arriving, I’ll give you a sneak peak at the free gifts for those first 5 customers as well as talk about the seller of those items. This is so much fun that I’m neglecting getting busy on my things, but it’s worth it.
There are so many special, sweet, cute things on etsy that I could spend all my waking hours just shopping happily!! This has definitely lifted my spirits and I’m adoring etsy all the more.
Please be sure to bookmark this blog to see all the upcoming goodies, as well as get in on other promotions I’ll be doing. I plan on being very active here and I’d love any input you may have. If you are like me and mostly a lurker…you may wish to make comments here. There’s an exciting promotion I’m thinking of for that……
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Edit: The total number of bids on the Alchemy was 45 before I closed the bidding! WOW! There were so many lovely things – I wish I could have bought them all to give as free gifts with purchase for my first few customers. Again, WOW!
March 29, 2008 | Categories: The Beginning | Leave A Comment »
The excitement is filling the air around here as I’m getting everything ready to launch the shop. I finally have a date set for the shop launch – April 5th!! YAY! I’ve been such a busy bee getting things made and tested. Nothing will be sold in my shop unless it has been tried and tested by myself and my hubby first. So, if we don’t think it’s up to par, you won’t find it in the shop.
So, this week, this is what I’ve done:
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Started this blog
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Opened my etsy shop
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Reserved the same name on ebay to avoid any confusion
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Went to the bank and opened a business checking account
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Purchased a few items to gather some feedback on my new etsy account
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Opened a PayPal account
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Reserved a website
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Completed the banner for this blog & etsy (with my hubby’s help – he’s brilliant!)
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Have decided what to do for the avatar, but I have to make part of it first
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Made a test potholder with heat resistant fabric inside
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Written down pages and pages of things I’ll have in the shop, along with so many ideas of things to come
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Finalized my packaging ideas for mailing my goods
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Ordered my custom labels which will be sewn into my wares
WHEW! It’s been a busy week and there’s still so much more to do. I’m so very excited about this and I have high hopes for my new little corner of the world. My hope is that you will be excited about the end result, too!
March 22, 2008 | Categories: The Beginning | 1 Comment »
For a while, I’ve been trying to come up with a great name for my home-based business. I made so many lists mainly of things I loved and I continued creating this list until I had the perfect name…
The Cozy Loft.
Doesn’t that just sound heavenly? I feel all warm and fuzzy every time I think about it.
In the weeks and months to come, I will be building this shop through Etsy – my favorite place on the web.
Although anyone could purchase my things, they are targeted to couples and single guys & gals. Or really those of us who live in cottages, apartments (a la Paris-style), lofts, smaller homes – all those cozy places.
For items I’ll be making:
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I am going to be using only the B-E-S-T quality materials. I am a firm believer in quality and I only want the best.
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Items will be unique and individualized with character and charm.
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My things will be affordable. Nice enough to give as a gift to the most persnickety of friends, but cost-effective too.
I realize that it’s difficult to find quality in a world built on quantity – or at least most of it seems that way. My plan is to give back the quality and remind others that handmade items really are not only better, but they are extremely special…as they all come from the heart.
March 19, 2008 | Categories: The Beginning | Leave A Comment »
