This morning is a GOOD morning! The sun is bright and hot, the sky is clear, the job front is positive!

Yesterday I handed out some more resumes...well, it ended up only being one because I walked in and they wanted to interview me right away...and then they offered my the job! The position is a Events Coordinator Assistant for an Entrepreneur center. From the description of it, it's just my cup o' tea, creative, professional, enough contact with clients etc...it sounds fun but still "a job".

I phoned the company that I had an interview with before, told them that I had been offered a job but wanted to consider their position before I made a final decision...they'll be calling me back this afternoon.

Another thing that has me excited is Tara's comment on my post below. Her tips and encouragement were super awesome and she also made me aware of a consignment site, How To Consign. I checked the site out and for those creators out there who are looking for a way to get their products into the hands of sellers, not only in their own towns, this site is worth checking out!

By the way, I went to the green house on the weekend, like I said I was going to...but apparently the Foxgloves won't be ready for another month or so. Shows how much I know about flowers. But I did end up getting some great...flowers...I tried to be pro and remember the names, but I couldn't. Their pink and purple...does that help? :D

Consignment Attempts

Well, this weekend, like I said in my post on Saturday, I brought some of the Katelynjane bags to a local store. As soon as I had finished ironing them, attaching tags, and worked up the gutz to actually go, I drove down, took a deep breath and asked for the owner.

To make a long story short, she said that she normally doesn't take crafts that she tries to stick with vintage products and wholesale items from larger companies. Another point she made was that she has tried to sell bags before but they haven't moved fast at all. She said to let her think about it and to call her early this week...so we'll see what she says then, but I'm not too hopeful.

That's what I get for living in a small town (: There's one more store that I could try, but I'm not sure if I'd want to sell my bags there, so we'll see.

Drag drag drag. I was really hoping the first store was going to take some of my bags!

Oh well, next goal!

Thanks for all your best wishes for this attempt though! It was really encouraging!!

I'll write more later...after I have my coffee (: Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Saturday Sun and Feature!

Goodmorning all!! It's a BEAUTIFUL morning where I'm at, I hope it's as sunny and springish whereever you are!

It's so hard for me not to find amazing stores on Etsy. Everytime I browse through the site, I find a couple more that I add to my list of faves. KMCdesigns is no exception. It's filled with these funky wallets and bags....all made from Duct Tape!!(Wouldn't Red Green be proud?). Their prices are super cometative and totally worth it for their unique products. Their style is totally in!





I'm headed out today to bring some of my bags to a local store. I'm hoping to meet with the owner and be able to sell my bags at her store. I'll let you know what happens. It's all part of my promotional plan! I'm not so concerned about the amount I earn from my bags being in this store, it's more about getting exposure.

Then I'm off to the greenhouse to see if they are selling Foxgloves yet...I'm hoping to plant my garden on May Long Weekend and I need to add to my Foxglove bed.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend so far! It'll only get better!

Etsy Fave

I haven't featured an Etsy store in a while and I found this great store yesterday. Somavenus has these funky journals or sketch books, covered with colorful collages and abstract art. I love it!!

One of my favorite things about this store is that they use their original photography to decorate the covers of the journals, not all of them, but some. And great prices! $30 bucks for a freaking cool journal. I think it's a great idea for a present for a teen, they're always so hard to buy for I find.

Etsy Attempts

It's been three days since my last entry...what have I become?!

Have you ever tried to get an Etsy Treasury? I have. I've never actually been successful, but I've tried! I just lately found out that it's easier to get a Treasury West treasury, so I'm attempting to grab one of those today.

I've been working on more gift tags this weekend. I'm going to try renewing four items a day in my Etsy store, I hope it will bring more sales and views into my store.

This past week and weekend I've been focusing on getting more hearts and views into my store. One of the ways I have been pursuing this is by participating in the Etsy Forums more often. I used to comment all the time in there, but have been slacking in that department lately. I'm pretty sure that this is what brought several more hearts into my collection within the last couple days.

Last night I had a dream that I had sold a bag. I checked my Etsy store this morning and it hadn't sold...drag! I was hoping it wasn't just a dream...

Ever Changed Your Blog Layout?

I've been thinking lately that I need to change my blog format. I tried this once and when I had a new code in the proper place, it told me that I would lose all my links if I didn't save them. Is this a hard process? Do I need to write down all my links and then re-enter them?

The reason I'm doing this is because I'm trying to find a blog banner that will STUN my audience :D Have you seen All Sort's banner?? SO AMAZING! I'd love to have something like that, something that wow's you as soon as you click onto the page.

I have a place for a banner on this set-up, but it's only at the top of my entries...and it just isn't bold enough or big enough for me. I don't want something huge, but I'd love something more noticeable.

I'm all about the flahsy-flashy.

Once I figure out how this goes, I'll write an entry on what I found out (:

Tryin' out the Gocco

This first one is my number 1 attempt at printing on the Gocco. It's not bad, but there's dots of carbon around the actual image from the photocopy I used. Oh well, you live and learn.

I learned from the Gocco-How-To link I posted a couple days ago, that you can save your screens and ink by putting them in plastic and in then in the fridge (just like you can with paint rollers!). So I did that with both of these screens and I'll be using them again tonight.



These are my second attempts at Gocco printing. I had printed an image of these leaves but they came out super small so I printed several more, cut them out and placed them individually on a piece of white paper. I then imprinted them into the screen. I'm not sure if others do it this way, but it worked. The only thing I would suggest is that you somehow stick the separate images onto the plain paper. Some of the leaves burned to the screen and I was afraid of taking them off. I did, and it was fine, but I'm sure there was a chance of me making a hole in it. Don't want that!

I made three 4 x 6" cards, three 4 x 5" cards as well as a 30 page note book. All on one screen with one round of ink on it. And there's still more to use! I'm not sure how much further the ink will go, but it seems like there's a lot left on there!

I don't know if I'll keep these for myself yet, or sell them on Etsy...we'll have to see!

Once I build up my "stock" on these types of items, I'll be listing them on Etsy.

I love getting mail!

I came home at lunch on Friday to find two packages waiting for me! One full of this great fabric I found on Ebay and the other MY GOCCO!!!!!! All the way from Japan, little Japanese candies, paper bags and clothes-pins included! I have yet to use my Gocco since I didn't have the PERFECT picture to start with, but I'll be experimenting tonight, so hopefully it goes well and I can post pictures soon.

Also, the Ebay seller that I bought the fabric from has an Etsy shop! Check it out!

I'll be making a Kiki bag out of the fabric and I can't wait to get started...now if only I had some free time....

If you've been visiting this blog, this creative vent, you'll have noticed that it's been evolving. It's grown from an ever changing ad for my favorite Etsy stores, to one of quick blips on life and tiny things I found interesting, to this, a (hopefully) deeper place filled with longer posts with deeper meaning (with some humor mixed in).

My Note Book will always be changing, hopefully for the better, but I like the place it's becoming now. I like writing longer posts, challenging my writing skills and sharing a bit more about me. I'll still be posting the odd link to my favorite Etsy store or YouTube clip, but I'm going to try to make this space something meaningful.

By the way, check out my Scared Silly story down below! It's an entry in the writing contest by Shelly at This Eclectic Life. Post your own entry to this contest and let Shelly know!

Also, remember to check out the DYI Wedding Series in the Storque on Etsy. This is just one of the articles they've posted, but it's great! Oh, and then come to my Etsy store, purchase of one of my Wedding Planning Packages and I'll help you make your wedding a unique and affordable event. What, I have a slick sales-man smile on my face? Nooooo...

I think that Blogger must be having some issues...all of a sudden my pictures on my entry about my favorite store wouldn't show up! Hopefully it will resolve soon and I can re-post that entry (:

Does anyone know where I can get funky blogger banners? I think I'll need something with code, not just an image. Do you know of someone who does work like this? Please let me know! I really want something to add some spark to my page!

I've decided I need to take a class, something creative; painting or sketching or design...something to work my creative side a bit more and to build up my strengths. It's hard to find classes like this in a small town, but hopefully the art gallery will have some good ones available.

As usual I've been brainstorming on thinks to create...things that I could sell and make a living with. Not all my ideas are going to help me make a living, but they will hopefully bring in more pocket change invest in my bigger ideas.

Big Things To Buy:

- Gocco Printer
- Heat Transfer thingy
- Items for silk-screening

Small Things To Buy:

- Wedding Decorating Books
- Floral Edging Punch
- Bone Folder
- Carpet pieces for bulletin board (sounds weird, but check out this link!)

I have so many ideas, so many things to do and try, it's hard to know where to start!

I'm trying to get a project done so I can show you what I've been working on lately, but it's taking longer than I expected...only because my life is so busy lately. Here's a sneak peek:



In the meantime! Look what I got today!! Just because he loves me (: Awwww!



Oh, have you checked out my ad? Oh, and check out this one too!!

A Chance to Win

So like I said yesterday, there's a promotion posted about my store on Lis Garrett's site. Don't forget to check it out!! ALSOOOOO, there's a chance to win one of my toy bags on her site (: Remember to leave a comment on the Lis's site if you want to be entered to win!

Advertising!

So I decided to take the plunge and splurge on an ad. And a promotion. Hopefully it works out! Lis has been great about it all, helpful and constantly (not in a bad way!) in contact with me, suggesting things and letting me know how things are going with the ad. Here's the link to her site. Notice one of my little Zippies to the right? Thats my ad! Tomorrow she'll post a piece about my store and it's items. I really hope it helps bring in more sales! I need Etsy to pick up for me...I love it, but more sales would be awesome. Remember to check into her site tomorrow and let me know what you think!

If you're interested in buying ad space from her or a promotion, just email her! She's more than willing to help you out and answer all your questions!

Treasures

I have a great-aunt that is obsessed with sending our family large boxes of household items, whether they are in good condition or not. At first they were boxes of old things she thought we would like; table cloths, ugly lamps, old books...just stuff that she wanted to get rid of. Now the boxes have graduated into collections of junk.

It's kinda sad actually. She can't really afford to send us these things and we keep telling her that (not only are we worried about her financial situation, but most of the things she sends aren't things we want) but she doesn't listen. She's even got to the point where she's going out and buying us bundles and bundles of face cloths and tea towels. Like I said, mom has told her several times that even though we love receiving the boxes, it just isn't necessary, she just doesn't listen.

While I was at my parents house yesterday I looked through a couple boxes and was able to snag a few treasures! The beginning of these boxes were actually quite cool, filled with some great stuff.





I seriously love the red and cream fabric and can't wait to make it into a pillow or even a bag! Some of the items I brought home need a bit of cleaning up. They have the odd rust colored stain on them, but I'm sure I can get them out or work around them. I can't wait to get started!

I need labels. I don't have any for my bags or toys (Yay! I'm a toy-maker-person!) yet, but I neeeeeed to get some. Here's some funky ones I came across in Etsy (where else?). The Dancing Needle has some great labels...custom made so you can get exactly what you're looking for!

The Creation of Beaumont

I made several new toys this weekend! Beaumont is my favorite so far. I don't know what it is about him that I like so much, but he's super cute (: He's up for sale in my Etsy store now! I'm working on another guy like him and he should be up by tomorrow (:

Beaumont has a zipper for a mouth and it opens into a pocket that is the size of his body (9" tall x 7.5" wide). His ears can be used as handles. His eyes are two buttons and he has a striped tail.

Marketing and keeping you business a BUSINESS can be hard!! It's hard to keep things organized and visually clear. JJM Finance is a super cheap way to keep your store organize and your direction working to a max!

I find it so hard sometimes, esspecially since I'm first starting out, to keep on top of things. I look at Hearts, look at my profits and think "that's nice" but don't keep track of what I did to get those sales or what I CAN do to get them. JJM's packages would be great to help propel my business towards being an actual BUSINESS instead of just being a hobby.

Stay organized and work towards your dream of working for yourself!!

-katelynjane

I was thinking that I'd written...ahem...posted...tons of posts that didn't tell much about me (unless you're sneaky and have read between the lines). Today I'm just going to write, just a little about moi and hopefully you don't start snoring.

Ever since I was little, like really little, I had this urge to sell. An urge to be an entrepreneur. I used to live on the BC coast where blackberries grew everywhere. I would pick them, little cupfulls, and sell them. I'd try to anyways. I think people didn't buy so many because they saw the bushes across the street from where I was selling and decided just to pick their own.

Then there was my musical entrance to the world.

A neighbor had an old saxophone and drums he would lend to us. My friend Brice and I took them to the side of the busy highway and played until people stopped and paid us. This guy and his wife stopped once and gave us a $20. I'm sure it wasn't so much that we were good...I think he lived close by and wanted us to shut up.

This love for being my own boss, earning my own money, continued and still continues...it never really just "started" it was always there.

Hopefully my Etsy store will fulfill my dreams of becoming my own boss full time. One day, I'm sure it will happen.

I love funk. I love unique items that are funky and ingenious. As hopefully you can tell by the items I post (: And most of all, I love having things that other people don't. Isn't it a pain to go into someones house and see that they have the same stuff as you? It's really not that bad, but it would be so nice if everyone didn't shop at WalMart or other big department stores! Etsy (wink wink) is the first step in this direction. The first EASY step. Do you realize how EASY it is to buy on Etsy? Click click click and tada! You have uniqueness. Ok, well, not right away, but you'll have at a week later (: And it's so worth it!

Here are a couple more of my fave stores. The first one is Inkjet Designs, an awesome little company based out of England (yay for Brits!).





The second it a gorgeous etsy stop; Allisons Photography. Seriously, who wouldn't want pink snakeskin magnets or zebra coasters??

You're going to hear (see me type :) so many times that "this is my favorite store". It's a sin, I know, to have so many "favorite stores", but really every one of them is a "fave" for it's own reason.

This shop, Bobby Urban, is one of those fave shops. Seriously funky clothes displayed by edgy pictures bursting with personality and attitude, this shop is the funk itself. One look and you'll be hooked!


katelynjane: How long have you been in business and how did you get started?

Bobby Urban: BAM! My Etsy contribution/store/reason to spend hours on the internet, began this past June, the true beginning though, was in high school, with the loving gift of a sewing machine from my Mother. Or maybe it was in kindergarten making clothes for dolls. It could have possibly been in the womb but I don't think there's anyway to verify that.

katelynjane: Are all your clothes rebuilt? What makes you want to start with that particular item?

Bobby Urban: I am making sweaters now with fabric from old sweaters and have made shirts from the fabric of old shirts but I shy away from rebuilding it hampers the creative spirit and condescends my imagination.

katelynjane: What is your favorite style?

Bobby Urban: This is a near impossible question. It borders on the aesthetic and the metaphysical. But I'm going to fucking try, there's no room for quitters.
I like anything that appears to me to be a representation of a person's bravest, purest, most ideal but also easiest self. That which does not overwhelm but emphasizes the unrivaled best in a person. An accent to one's self. Quintessential. Clothes are not meant to stand alone, they are nothing without the wearer.
This, I understand, is also an impossible answer. But as you know there is no room for quitters.

katelynjane: What would you like to be defined as in regards to your clothing line?

Bobby Urban: Irreverent

Not in the way that says nothing is significant, because I find many things, sickingly, heart wrenchingly and fantastically important, but in a way that redefines importance and relevancy. That says you are the master of your destiny, and you decide what is most essential in life and no one else gets to.

katelynjane: What are your goals for your Etsy store?

Bobby Urban: To sell the things I can't help but to make.
To connect with other people who feel the same.

To make Bobby Urban a star. That's sort of a secret goal but I'm sort of bad with secrets. Well that's not true, I'm really good with secrets just embarrassed to say that's a goal.

katelynjane: Where do you see your clothes / items in two years?

Bobby Urban: Evolved. Better designs, better made, better ideas, better pictures... there is no ideal point, there is no satisfactory end.

katelynjane: What is your favorite thing about making items?

Bobby Urban:

Two favorites:
The never knowing how exactly something will turn out. The fact that you can drink and sew at the same time.

katelynjane: What is your favorite store on Etsy?

Bobby Urban: Come on, that really is an impossible question. I'm not saying I'm quitting, it's more like a prolonged break with a possibility of non-returning. Don't judge me.





Thanks so much for allowing me to interview you Bobby!