PIVOTING

 Time to Pivot

So I am deciding where to host a website, or if I want to stay with Etsy, Ebay, of Bonanza.  While I am deciding, I will be using the blog as my website.  I plan to list items I have for sale with a link to the platform on which they are available.  I will also be doing fewer in person shows this year as opposed to what I was doing in the past.  My goal is to move most of my sales online, do a few in person events just to keep a finger on the pulse of what is selling or not selling, so I can remain relevant with my merchandise.  I promise to do much better with my blogging as opposed to what I was doing in the past.  This is my year to pivot and actually be able to act upon what needs to be done.  Hope you want to come along with  me on this ride.

Faux Fern

update time

Well I did two shows the past two weekends, one I will definitely do again, the other maybe if I don't have anything else going on that weekend.  I am also doing a farmers market that is strictly for handcrafted, and homemade items at a local Tractor Supply Store in Dinuba on the 5th of May.  We shall see how it goes.  Its free to set up, and its only 15 minutes from my house. 

I went to a Rusty Roots show Sunday.   I found some great display items for my craft room, and for showing off finished products.  I am really thinking I would like to try and get into the next one they have in the area.  I do believe my products would sell well.

I have booked my room, and signed up for three classes at the Crochet Guild Conference going on in Oregon this July.  It will be my first conference, and luckily it is within driving distance (a 14  hour drive but I am breaking it down into two days.)  That makes it nice because I can visit my best friend and her family in Seaside for a few days after the conference before heading home.  I will probably stretch the trip home out into three days.  I really can't wait.   I'm told next summers conference will be on the East Coast.  If I can swing it I hope to go to it as well.  We shall see.

I am working on some different crafts for the next two shows I have coming up.  I am going to try and post some pictures of them later this week.  Lets just say, flip flops, and buckets. 

On the personal front, I lost another pound, leaving only 85.8 pounds to go to meet my goal.  I knocked another 11.03 miles off the mileage total I am trying to make, leaving 160.80 to go.  And I made 63114 steps, leaving 1893309 steps to go.

lastest update

sorry its late, the last week just got away from me completely.  did a vintage/craft show this weekend.  did pretty good.  got some orders for a few things, sold some stuff i didn't expect to sell.  i have a better idea what someone will be looking for next time, so thats always a plus.

on the personal front, another plateau as far as weight loss goes.  its just a matter of waiting it out, and maybe adding extra exercise time, or make a change in what i'm eating.  as long as i'm not gaining weight i'm happy.  on the walking front, I completed 26.99 miles leaving another 171.88 to meet my goal, and i walked 141813 steps leaving 1956423 to walk in order to meet my goal.

i got my room paid for for the  crochet guild of america conference in july.  tomorrow i will be able to sign up for the classes i want to take.  will be nice to get away from the valley and head to oregon in july for a couple of weeks.

thats it for now.  got a lot of work i need to get done before the vintage/antique show this weekend.

Weekly Updates

Okay, better late than never right.  It's been one of those weeks where time just gets away from you.  I have been busy getting ready for a new to me vintage/craft show as well as a new to me vintage show.  And I've been playing with my new Kindle Oasis.  A bit of a learning curve considering my old Kindle was a Kindle Keyboard.  Liking it so far though.

Quick updates on the personal front, lost another 4 tenths of a pound (knew I should not have had that snickers mini bar, but sometimes you just got to have that chocolate), walked 11.08 miles, and added 75083 steps to the total walked.

I have started another rag rug, and am getting ready to do some bottle lights and trying to figure away to use up some empty creamer containers (the to go kind you get at fast food places) a friend gave me several hundred she had been collecting.  I hate to throw them in the trash.  I am thinking there should be away I can attach them together to maybe make a wreath or some kind of ornaments or something. 

Also in the process of turning a lot of small cupless saucers and dollar tree bowls and votive holders into pincushions.  I sell them for good money and get to use up lots of scrap yarn and left over polyfill. 

Well time to get back to work.  Will try to check in earlier next week.

Monday Updates

Okay, so the yard sale was Saturday.  Didn't do as well as I had hoped, but still did okay.  I was told about a parking lot sale coming up in March that is heavy on the craft/repurposed/vintage items, but where you can sell anything you want.  Spaces are only $15 so I think I will try it out. 

Did well on my personal goals front.  Lost another 1.4 pounds.  Just love it when the scale keeps going down.  The really nice thing, because I am losing slowly there is not a huge amount of excess skin.  I know there will be some, but I also know that the slower I lose the weight and the more muscle mass I put on, the less loose skin there will be.

I plan on getting some cup sleeves and padded hangers listed online later this week.  I will of course update the blog when that happens.

New totals for my personal goals are as follows

91.2 pounds left to lose
263.4 miles left to walk
2548603 steps left to take.

I am still trying to find some more recipes that only make one or two servings.  I am so used to helping my Mother fix huge meals for several people its hard to adjust the cooking.  And I do better with eating better when I make my own food as opposed to eating out.

Well that's all the updates until next week.

Monday Updates

Got a little bit accomplished this week.  Managed to get several things ready for the upcoming yard sale my Sister-in-law is having.  Also have got some things ready to photograph and post. Working on packaging for some of my products right now.  Almost have them ready to go.  Need to find a cheap but decent place to get some rubber stamps done. Have to finalize the logo I want to use first.

Made some progress on my first of the year goals as well.  And I actually shopped in the juniors section of a department store this week.  I have never done that before in my entire life.  By the time I was old enough to do so in High School/ Junior High I was already wearing womens/missy sized clothing.  I have to keep reminding myself that I don't have to go to the plus size department to shop anymore.  YEAH.

Weekly totals

95.6 pound to go 2.8 pounds lost
278.64 miles to walk 5.82 miles walked last week
2,675,317 steps to go, 61,900 steps taken last week.

I just hope I can keep this pace up.  Sometimes I have to force myself to get out of bed and take a walk in the mornings, but I find it seems to clear out the cobwebs and I can concentrate better the rest of the day.