Monday, December 31, 2012

What have YOU Accomplished?

Teal and Creme Rosette Bib
The new year is just around the corner, so it's time to reflect on what's been accomplished over the past 12 months.  I'm not talking about a list of boring stats or sales figures to chart my business's growth because, frankly, that stuff isn't the most important to me (of course it has its importance, it's just not the most important).  What matters to me is that I've been moving forward.  I've learned quite a bit over this year about running my business and I will learn more over the next year and so on. 

Better keywords have led to more items being sold the day they're listed!

I've learned how to better utilize keyword phrases and that lead to more sales and better rankings in search engines and better analytic stats (those stats I do care about) for my shop.  I made my packaging more cohesive and personal thus improving my brand and getting more repeat customers.  I added new elements to my jewelry (sari silk) to expand my skills and my customer audience.  I shoved my shyness aside and was more engaging at craft shows thus improving my local ties and getting more sales.

New hand stamped muslin pouches helps with branding
New packaging for wire designs, so much better than a boring old organza bag

Learning things that help you move forward are much more important than racing to hit high sales numbers.  Once you learn from past mistakes and also discover things that work for you then you'll get more sales anyway so why waste energy staring at numbers or wondering why so and so is making more sales than you?  Set goals that are obtainable and realistic to give yourself something to work towards , challenge yourself to leave your comfort zone and don't forget to reward yourself along the way.  There is no cut and dry success formula that works for everyone so you simply have to figure out your own through experience.  This applies, of course, to more than just business as well.

So what have you accomplished or learned over the past year?

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Treasury Thursday

Here's a few lovely treasuries I've been featured in from the past week!  Enjoy!

'White Horse' by KLHoey

Balsa Boutonniere - HavenSpring
Balsa Boutonniere
$12.00
FREE Shipping VINTAGE CARDMAKING Book - tumblebumbleandbee
FREE Shipping VINTA...
$8.95
Bird Necklace Locket Brass Vintage Look Romantic - gristmilldesigns
Bird Necklace Locke...
$17.95
Set of 3 Ecru 100% Cotton Crocheted Dish Cloths Packaged for Gift Giving - MondaysChildPrims
Set of 3 Ecru 100% ...
$9.50
Shabby Chic Single Silk Rosette Necklace in Olive Green and Antique Copper Chain - Romantic Rosette - heversonart
Shabby Chic Single ...
$23.00
Dawnelle Gloves Elegant, Dainty - SoSlyViVintage
Dawnelle Gloves Ele...
$8.50
Silver Grey Pleated Satin Clutch with a Black Satin Fabric Flower and Black and Clear Rhinestone Accent Bridesmaid Mother of the Bride - theraggedyrose
Silver Grey Pleated...
$58.00
Abstract Multicolored Paisley Vintage 70's Secretary Dress with Pussy Bow - R & K Originals - size small, medium, large - TrendyShoppers
Abstract Multicolor...
$45.00
Paste and Cement Applicator Brush Vintage Kalsomine 620 Jumbo White Wash - CraZyDreamZ
Paste and Cement Ap...
$15.95
Horse art, original oil painting, WHITE HORSE with blue woolen mane and tale, artwork by Elisaveta Sivas, large, oil on canvas, 120 x 160 cm - elisavetasivas
Horse art, original...
$675.00
50 LARGE Vintage Hang Gift Tag. Vintage Wedding Invitation. Save The Date. Place Card. Shabby Chic. Stained. Blank. Rustic. DARK. - HeartAndHandmade2
50 LARGE Vintage Ha...
$17.50
Rustic Owl Gift Tags Set of 7 Brown And Tan Grungy Bookshelf Trees Nest - SiriusFun
Rustic Owl Gift Tag...
$6.75
Black Tokyo - ViolinPetal
Black Tokyo
$33.00
Small Silver Steampunk Frame Pendant containing Watch Gears on Black Neoprene Necklace - AnomalieAccessories
Small Silver Steamp...
$21.00
Vintage lace mini photo cards set of 6 mini - SandrasCardShop
Vintage lace mini p...
$5.00

'proud as a peacock' by bhsoycandles

Funky Peacock Pearl Necklace Black Pearls Sterling Silver Handmade: "Dark Matter" - TransfigurationsJlry
Funky Peacock Pearl...
$120.00
Upcycled Feather Earrings - eco friendly bike inner tubes - peacock feathers - Gloomstopper
Upcycled Feather Ea...
$20.00
Handmade Silk Scarf in Peacock Bronze by LOUIS JANE - LouisJane
Handmade Silk Scarf...
$175.00
women's peacock green silk Chiffon 8 meters of skirt circumference  long dress maxi skirt qz02 - colorstore2011
women's peacock...
$35.99
Mini Steampunk Hat Brown with Decorative Clock & Peacock Feather - HGsteamship
Mini Steampunk Hat ...
$20.00
Peacock Clutch Made to Order for Bridemaids - LuluCaswell
Peacock Clutch Made...
$40.00
PURPLE PEACOCK Biwa Pearl Long Statement Sterling Silver Earrings - Discs - Minimalist - Modern - Natural - Blue Green - Gugma - GUGMA
PURPLE PEACOCK Biwa...
$90.00
Peacock Shoe Clips. Green peacock leaves Shoe Clips. Feathers, Wired petals, Bride, Bridal, Wedding. -LISSA MARIE CLOLLECTION- - MyDreamWedding
Peacock Shoe Clips....
$59.99
Ms. Peacock, Dingo size 5 1/2 Womens Upcycled Cowboy Boots, Boho, Chic, Casual Everyday Wear Cowboy Boots - CherylPadakenDesigns
Ms. Peacock, Dingo ...
$125.00
Triple Rosette Necklace with Sari Silk Ribbon and Antique Copper Chain Iris Grey and Peacock Blue - heversonart
Triple Rosette Neck...
$30.00
letter V upcycled vintage marquee sign retro wall hanging home decor teal blue peacock initial industrial modern business store - RecycleBuyVintage
letter V upcycled v...
$17.00
Peacock feather, pearls, 'Adorned', nature, fine art photography, wood, antique, vintage, gold,feathers, wall art - TarasArtHouse
Peacock feather, pe...
$32.00
Gorgeous Silvery Grey Sparkle Handmade Flower Headband, Glitter elastic with Smokey Grey Peacock Feathers, Crystals and silks bow - HeavenlyAvonlee
Gorgeous Silvery Gr...
$26.99
Peacock Wedding Ring Pillows, Black and Teal Ring Bearer Pillow, Peacock Feather Wedding Pillows, - All4Brides
Peacock Wedding Rin...
$45.00
Set of 6, Perfectly Peacock, Silk Clutches in your colors - eclu
Set of 6, Perfectly...
$334.80
Nuno felt silk and wool handmade wet felted greens, fuscias and peacock blue and purple womens scarf - FeltTheFluff
Nuno felt silk and ...
$30.00

'mini wish list' by meredithdillman

Acorn Necklace in Antique Brass with Wood Bead and Oak Branch Charm - Autumn Acorn - heversonart
Acorn Necklace in A...
$14.00
Spring Garden - Blue ,Ivory White, and Antique-Bronze Plum Flower Hair-Pins Set of 3 - FromHKwithLove
Spring Garden - Blu...
$12.80
The Tale Of Squirrel Nutkin - TheFireflyTree
The Tale Of Squirre...
$13.00
Dragon and fairy 8.5x11  PRINT by Amy Brown Dragon Charmer - AmyBrownArt
Dragon and fairy 8....
$14.00
Three Seasons Leaf Japanese Kanzashi Hair Set - sakuradancer
Three Seasons Leaf ...
$14.99
Queen Mab's Wedding Faery Hair Clip - Thyme2dream
Queen Mab's Wed...
$20.00
deep, rich burgundy - a cute little flower bobby pin - pair
deep, rich burgundy...
$10.00
Ornate Style Victorian Key Necklace - trinketsforkeeps
Ornate Style Victor...
$8.00
Set of Four Hand Made Ceramic  ChopStick Rests,  Ginkgo, Antique Blue - PotterybySumiko
Set of Four Hand Ma...
$10.00
Rare Vintage Leaves Bobby Pins - niandra
Rare Vintage Leaves...
$17.00
DRAGONFLY PENDANT Vintage Brass Stamping - Large for Necklace - myshangrila
DRAGONFLY PENDANT V...
$10.50
ART NOUVEAU Pendant  Vintage Brass Stamping - Large for Necklace - myshangrila
ART NOUVEAU Pendant...
$9.50
Almond Blossom -Perfume Oil. Mellow Organic Vanillas, Orchid - orangethyme
Almond Blossom -Per...
$9.00
Victorian Kitten Portrait, Art Cabochon Bookmark Silver Plated - helloheath
Victorian Kitten Po...
$12.00
Miniature Mushrooms fairy garden - red - TheLittleHedgerow
Miniature Mushrooms...
$4.99
Spicy Floral Solid Natural Perfume Mini Sample of Aurora - An eco-luxe elixir with twinkling magic. - IlluminatedPerfume
Spicy Floral Solid ...
$8.00

'~~Simply Red~~' by smkdesigns

Original Art Mini Canvas Christmas Ornament, Whimsical Painting, Little Blue Bird - andralynn
Original Art Mini C...
$7.00
Red Chandelier Filigree Earrings - Ruby Red Crystal Dangling  From Brass Filigree Dangle Earrings - ChathamsCrossing
Red Chandelier Fili...
$7.00
Premade 5- Piece Etsy Shop Set No. 58 Vintage Victorian Red Tapestry No.58 - pixelbar
Premade 5- Piece Et...
$10.00
Nature Photography Peru Travel Butterfly, 8X8 - KLHoey
Nature Photography ...
$22.00
Red Satin  Bridal Wedding  Flower Fascinator Hair Clip Brooch with Beautiful  Rhinestone Accent - theraggedyrose
Red Satin Bridal W...
$28.95
Apron Red Batik Floral Reversible - Small Adult or Older Child Size - ksewingbasket
Apron Red Batik Flo...
$12.00
CO-409- Retro Stack Of Cups With Red Flowers Live Laugh Love Set of 6 Tags - SiriusFun
CO-409- Retro Stack...
$5.50
Primitive Homespun Santa's Hat Ornaments/Tucks/Bowl Fillers - MondaysChildPrims
Primitive Homespun ...
$12.00
Red Cafe Scrabble Tile Necklace Hand Painted Yellow Coffee Mug - heversonart
Red Cafe Scrabble T...
$20.00
Red and White Embroidered Snowflake Card - SandrasCardShop
Red and White Embro...
$6.50
Chainmaille Necklace with Swarovski Crystals and Glass Pearls - SFBeads
Chainmaille Necklac...
$44.99
Apple Gift Tag Set of Six - starflycreations
Apple Gift Tag Set ...
$10.00
Queen Necklace - Medieval and Renaissance Inspired - Free Shipping - Item 133 - MySirenaDesigns
Queen Necklace - Me...
$150.00
SWEET Holiday PLAID Fabric - ONE Yard - tumblebumbleandbee
SWEET Holiday PLAID...
$3.95
25 Red Striped Vintage Style Paper Straws Mermaid Stripes photo prop - PartyHQ
25 Red Striped Vint...
$10.00
Red, Black and White Business Card Holder - MoreThanColors
Red, Black and Whit...
$39.95