173 of 200, another year and its challanges.

Well It is Christmas Day and I all I feel is blessed!  I hear the faint sound of my boyfriend snoring in the bedroom, my cats are roaming freely about, I have a warm cup of tea and I still have a full day of family to look forward too

I am still on a 200 item challenge, I need to make 200 items with all the supplies I have on hand before buying more supplies.  I am at 173, I think I made more but forgot to mark them down on my score sheet but we will stick with 173. 

I am going to try a new direction in my shop:  more geared toward younger children; hoop art, garlands, buntings and more.  I have not sewn in a very long time but we shall see how I do on the Buntings  lol  here is some of the fabrics I will use:

and here are some hearts I am working on for a garland

I need some ideas for other children's themed items to add to my shop.  What should I make?  Help me make HERTrinkets a vibrant and fun shop for kids  Let me know in the comments section below, I really appreciate all your feedback  thanks in advance

 

So far the end of 2014 has been a tough one to accept.  I find myself out of work, I was on a contract that was to turn into a full time position but at the last minute the position was pulled.  It is not a good time of year to be unemployed, not many interviews will be set up at this time.  I have had plenty of jobs to apply to that are jobs I actually want, the only thing is I will most likely have to commute to them :(  I am not looking forward to this at all.  I thought my days of commuting had come to an end.  Another exciting possibility is I am on Employment Insurance and they have different programs, one being for Entrepreneurs, I recently launched my business; www.serenityorganizingsolutions.ca , of de-cluttering, organizing and restaging.  I could join a year long program where I would learn all there is to learn about being a business owner with a minimal monthly income from Employment Insurance.  I plan on getting more information and see what happens with the interview process of the jobs I applied for.  Its scary and exciting to have options.

 

Are you an Entrepreneur?  What are the pros and cons?  Please share your experiences with me.

 

Merry Christmas, may it be one of love, joy, friends and family.

 

with love God Bless

Stephanie B

 

New Chapter, Faith and 153 of 200!!

I have reached 153 items created with my supplies on hand.  thanks to all the wonderful folks who purchase from me and challenge me with custom orders!!  I have a had a few custom orders and my usual crowd pleaser my gifts tags.  Here are some items I have made recently:
                                                           
                                                 Smash Books/Journal/Diary/Scrapbooks

                                                              Button Christmas Tree

                                                                   Felt Brooches

I have come to the end of a contract for my full-time job at this time the position will no longer exist, meaning I will be out of work as of the 11th of December.  First reaction HELP.  I am going to lose everything! Life is not fair.  How could this happen?  I took a little time and talked to a few close friends and prayed.  I now see it completely differently;  I wonder what doors are going to open for me?  I cannot wait to see what this next chapter regarding work has in store for me.  I now have time to really launch and promote my new business - - www.SerenityOrganizingSolutions.ca - - lol hey its my blog I will promote cause I can :P  and I know God, The Universe, The Creator what ever name you would like to use always and I mean always has a better plan than I ever can come up with.  Sky is the limit for this gal.

Any experience or words of advice for this soon to be not working full-time gal?  All is very appreciated.  Thanks in advance and thanks for reading my blog its so cool knowing people actually read this ALL over the world - - Hi to the UK, Russia, USA and all my other readers.  xo

129 out of 200, just when I thought I was ahead, craft shows are done!!

Well I have made 129 items from my already stockpiled supplies out of my 200 items challenge.  I hope to make more soon as I am finished all my craft shows.  What did I learn: I will never do a 2 day show event again way too much work with very little pay off.  I will stick to local shows in my area (less time and gas spent to get to them) and I am still pretty awkward around strangers  lol  I met some amazing people though along the way and am better for it.

So in my last bog I was so excited as I had saved a few extra bucks and was looking where to spend it well turns out I will need said monies as my day job is going from a paid on the 1st and 15th to being paid every 2 weeks.  UGH I have all my bills and stuff scheduled on certain days to come out eeek I hope it still all works out fine.  I will be getting less money per pay, since it will be 26 pays instead of 24 pays, so I have to revamp my whole budget gheesh not so fun.  Of course all my bills are going up tis the season many of my services get renewed.  So I guess I was not meant to get ahead as I thought I was at this time.  Still saving as we speak for Europe in AUGUST 2015 woo hoo.

Here are some items I made:

So now that I am done with the craft shows I can concentrate on getting my side business up and going, www.serenityorganizingsolutions.ca   Any suggestions on the best way to advertise my new business?  please all feedback is welcome and encouraged and so appreciated.

96 out of 200, where should I spend my money? and 2 more craft shows!!

I have made 96 items from my supplies without buying any new supplies (except if I ran out of needed supplies and or a custom order) and will keep going until I make 200 items.  I have a lot of jewelry supplies, card stock and embellishments, felt and much more  lol.

 

Here are a few of my latest creations not all are in my shop as I am hoping they will sell at the craft shows and or they were custom orders.

                                    Will be making these into ornaments with Cardinals on them.

                                I still need to add beaded trinkets to these necklaces and bracelets

                                                                 Christmas gift tags

                                          3" hoop art ornaments, so cute and fun to make!!!

             I will be making a second it has a green thread base, these are a custom order

                        A fun felt hoop art with a young gals name for her room, a custom order

I have 2 more crafts shows booked for November, I am hoping they are busier than the ones I have done so far.  I have been told November and December are the busiest months for crafts sales, we shall see. 

Here are the shows:

https://www.facebook.com/events/743711945693925/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

 

Artisans’ Christmas Show, Saturday November 15 and Sunday November 16, 2014 at the Simcoe County Museum, 1151 Highway 26, Minesing, Ontario L0L 1Y2

 

So I have a wonderful dilemma ~~ I have saved up a few dollars and have 3 options as to where to spend it:  new flooring in the last 2 carpeted rooms in my house, a new dishwasher (mine broke quite awhile ago) or save it to go toward my trip to Europe?

What do you think I should do?  If you were me what would you do?

Thanks in advance for your responses, I need input to help make this decision.

One show down 2 to go, new challange and Europe!!

So this past weekend I was a vendor at the MadebyHand show at the International Centre.  It was a great venue, well organized but not too many shoppers.  People came but a lot of them were what I call "lookers"  they just stroll by looking and are not going to shop, just passing the time, very frustrating  lol  Here is my Table:

What was awesome at the show I got to meet a fellow Etsian, Anie from  www.etsy.com/shop/anieinspired  
She is even more adorable in person and sweet.  Here she made a recording of her table:  https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=398774286945639&set=vb.224032791086457&type=2&theater
I almost made my table cost back but was short a few dollars :(   I hope the next 2 shows are more fruitful.  I think they will be as people did not seem to have Christmas gifts in mind at all. I have several ornaments to make for these shows they look like this:

I also plan to have several gift tags available too:

 

I am on a new 100 item challenge I am at 18 right now and have several orders to fill so that number will go up woo hoo.  I will be filling orders and making items for the next 2 craft shows I am in I will be at 100 items in no time.

So we have decided our next big trip; Europe we want to hit London, Paris, south of France and Germany. We will go next August.  I am so excited.  I have good friends in London we shall visit and the rest will be exploring on our own, unless they come with us, if you are reading this Sandra HINT HINT  lol.