The Orange Windmill Update

This is an update regarding The Orange Windmill (too) - my paper goodies shop.

Coming 2013, I will be letting my listings expire, and that will be it. Once my paper goodies are all expired/sold, I might start listing my paper crafting tools and supplies as destash for sale - I might also just sell them all in a local craft sale as supplies - I'm not sure yet.

This is purely a business decision: I have not had time enough to invest in both of my shops, and this paper goodies shop does not give me as large a profit margin. When I get such large custom orders, it takes so much time away from everything else I have to do. And since I have so little time to invest in my business at all these days, I'm going to focus all my efforts into my handbound journals side of The Orange Windmill.

Go here to look around and see if there is anything that you like because once it's gone, it's gone!

What I Made Wednesday

Well, since the launch of my new product line, I have been working on some things.

I've been binding as often as I can find the time, which has actually not been that much these last few days. My husband has been trying to document the inventory of his Magic cards, and he has SO MANY, so having both of us working on it makes it go so much quicker! We've got about 1,000 cards sorted by edition, and alphabetized in that edition, and we've only put a drop in that huge barrel. Yes, he has that many cards.

I received an old leather coat, and I am going to photograph the stages as a take it from a coat to journals, then blog about it. I got more leather out of that coat than I thought I would. I'm not sure if all the pieces are usable, but we'll see.

I also received a request for 20 fun birthday cards. So I'm working on some design ideas for that.

If you've created something recently (or ever!), you can link it here, so everyone can see!

What I Made Wednesday

I didn't make a whole lot this past week. With Christmas on the weekend, many family get-togethers, spending quality time with Jeffery and the kids, who can blame me?

I have made a few journals, though. Some leather, and some from vintage books. I purchased a boat-load of paper, too. It's a different paper, not the usual card stock. It's the same natural colour, but it's thinner, so I can get more pages into a journal without the huge bulk that card stock gives.

I did do some organizing as well. It's a good time of the year to do that, don't you think? I de-cluttered (somewhat) my craft closet, which allows me to work there again! lol

It's a good thing that I took the time to organize my inventory too. I received an order for a journal on December 14. I brought the order to the post office that evening with expedited shipping to ensure the customer got the journal on time for Christmas. On December 19, when I organized my inventory, I discovered the journal that this customer had purchased was still in the tote! GAH!!! You can imagine the near-heart attack I got from that mistake!

I messaged the customer right away and told her my mistake, and I mailed out the correct journal within the hour, using the next shipping level up from Expedited (XpressPost, I think). The customer wrote me back and said that she will return the incorrect journal back to me. She got the correct journal the day after she got the first one. She wrote me back right away and said she was going to return the incorrect journal.

The moral of this story is DOUBLE CHECK what you are sending to your customer! I had never made this mistake before, and I was so sure I sent her the correct journal. It must have been one of those sleep-deprived days.

It could have been worse; I could have sent her someone else's journal! Now that would have been a disaster. Thankfully, I sent her a journal that I had just made, I hadn't even listed it yet. My customer was so understanding, not in the least upset about it (not by her words in her messages, anyway). I'm just glad that I caught the mistake, and that the issue was resolved relatively quickly.

I also went through all my Christmas cards (For Any Occasion), and I organized them into three piles:
1. to sell again next year
2. to sell next year as sets
3. to sell as a hugely discounted set

This way, I won't have Christmas cards coming out of my wazoo next year, and I have room for more new and awesome designs for next year!

That's all for now, folks!

What I Made Wednesday

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I haven't had a whole lot of time this past week to make anything. I've been busy with packing up orders, tracking packages, and keeping communication open between my and my customers. Who knew it would take up so much time?

I'm continuing to work on making hardcover journals for The Orange Windmill. I have a few paper-covered books, but I have around 13 vintage book covers ready to be made into journals as well. I'm really excited about this new line launch (subscribe to my newsletter for more information! - on the top right of this blog)!

I have also been busy thinking up new designs for my Valentine's Day line for For Any Occasion. I just have to find the time to make them, photograph them, edit the photos, and list them. That takes a lot of time too. But I love it, so I'm not complaining!

What I Made: Mug Cozies!!!

I've been wanting to make something like this for a long time; I just hadn't gotten around to it until now.

A mug cozy! To keep your fingers from burning when you pick up your cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. It turned out so well, I'm going to make more! And, to make it even better, I have labelled them "mine" and "yours" so you will know which is your cup! genius!

I also made a new hat for Isabel, since the last one she had was now too small. Unfortunately, I made this one too big. Oh well, she will grow into it.

I've also been getting my "banner" on. I designed these ones. Again, not everyone who I designed a banner for decided to use it, but I'm showing the ones I made anyways.

And, as per usual, I have also been making new journals, like this lime green one:

Large Lime Green Leather Journal

I also have orange leather and some embossed aqua leather coming in, for a custom order. (exciting!)

I have been fiddling around with coptic stitch binding, which will allow me to make hardcover journals. I've made a few, but pictures for those will be shown next week.

I haven't made anything new for For Any Occasion; I've been making owl paperclips out of my wazoo. But I am thinking up some new designs for Valentines Day, weddings, birthday, and baby products, though.

A Really Busy Week

Well, today is the start of the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale at The Orange Windmill. You can get 20% off anything in my shop with the coupon code: BFCM20. Come on over!

I've been making journals like crazy for the past few weeks (I know I haven't posted anything on Fridays for a while). It was my goal to list 2 new journals everyday until today, and I almost made it.

The last few days my hands have been full, creating owl paper clips, which have just flown off the shelves this past week. For Any Occasion was also featured on the front page of Etsy, which got me a tone of sales! It was a good night. It kept me busy, but I loved it!

*** HARSH OPINIONS AHEAD ***

Last weekend's craft sale can be described with one word: DEAD. It was a two day sale, and not even 50 people came through the doors. On Sunday, Jeff actually counted the customers who came in: 13. That's ridiculous! In the initial email, the coordinator said that last year they had 250+ people come in, and they were able to raise money enough to help two families with Christmas trimmings and gifts. But someone came in who knew someone who sold at this event last year, and she said that only 2 customers came in! So that was a lie.

The longer we thought about it, the more convinced I became that the families that were helped last year were the families of the coordinator. I asked her what organization they went through to find the families in need. She said that they had originally tried through a local organization in Brantford, but they supposedly require a minimum amount donated (which sounds like BS to me), so they asked the minister of their church, and the money would supposedly be going to those families.

The coordinator also had three family members work tables too. There was also food for sale, but I never saw any of that family pay for the food they ate. If this was a fundraiser, wouldn't everyone have to pay? I wouldn't be surprised if those three people didn't have to pay for their table either!

It wouldn't really matter to me if this sale was just a way to make some money, but they marked it as a fundraiser.

*** FIN. ***

I couldn't say that the event was a waste of time, since I made some new friends and many new contacts. I hope to work with some of them again!

Anyway, Isabel is sick today, so I don't really have time to say anything more.

Cheerio!

Etsy Front Page!!!

On Friday night, from 11:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., For Any Occasion's snowflake embellishments were featured on the front page of Etsy!!! GA-WHOOP! I got a ton of sales from it! And lots of new fans too. It's really a good thing I was awake and on Etsy for it, or I would have missed some of those awesome repeat sales (the same item selling three times in a row!)

The timing wasn't awesome, as I was just checking my emails before I went to bed; but I'm certainly not going to complain!

Here is the treasury that I was featured in on the front page:

'A vintage christmas' by LoveBex

Christmas Mason Jar Vases / ... meganEsass $36.00	Snowflake Embellishments, Re... ForAnyOccasion... $3.50	Vintage 1974 Matchbox Cessna... TimeForMemorie... $15.00	Vintage Holiday Bulb Necklac... phyllisandhaze... $8.00
Christmas Ornament - Hand St... LiLaO $6.00	Mod Enamel Pan AmeliaBedeliaV... $18.00	Vintage Rudolph Reindeer - M... LoveButlerVint... $46.00	Vintage Annalee Poseable Chr... HoofAndAntler $12.00
5 Crimson Red Holiday Bows H... cornflowerblue... $12.00	Holidays Owl on Branch Moles... subtleacts $9.00	Vintage Christmas Ornament W... efinegifts $7.95	Vintage Miniature Deer Woodl... NifticVintage $7.95
Deck the Halls Pennant Banne... ThePolkadotMag... $39.00	Small Cream Sugar Set Denmar... pillowsophi $30.00	Elfmade Wood Christmas Train cnstark $14.50	Vintage Roly Poly Santa Toy ... BeeJayKay $16.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

The vintage Bulb necklace is not showing up because the listing is no longer on Etsy - either expired or deactivated (just so you know).

The Last Three Weeks

I've been so busy with the two craft sales I'm selling at this month. I've been scrambling to make enough product to sell. I hope I have enough, since I'm out of time!

To see the journals I've made so far in November for The Orange Windmill, go here. (There are a lot, and I didn't want to add all the pictures.)

Here are a few of the items I've been making for For Any Occasion:

You can go here to see all of the new Christmas items I have made.

Etsy's Front Page!!!

This is my first Etsy front page feature with For Any Occasion! SA-WEET!!!

'Shades of Olive Green' by BytheGulfCreations

Christmas Card, Noel, Olive ... ForAnyOccasion... $4.00	Set Of Four Leather Bracel... Justlena $16.80	Olive green Leather key fob katrinshine $21.00	cashmere fingerless gloves i... miabaggali $37.00
Olive green leather handbag ... artoncrafts $160.00	Handmade Eco-Vegan Flats in ... TheGeneration $55.00	Christmas jewellery/gift box... creationfaerie... $19.99	Sessa Carlo Backpack Haversa... Mclovebuddy $140.00
SALE Olive Green Silk String... SunnyBeachJewe... $15.99	Lampwork glass beads in Oliv... MayaHoney $29.50	Olive Green IPad and Iphone ... PerpendicularC... $35.00	Two Turquoise, Olive Green, ... LynnesThisandT... $25.00
Hand knit hat - Victorian H... Ebruk $25.00	Evil Eye Resin Necklace - Ol... zombuki $19.00	Fingerless Gloves in Khaki/ ... LaimaShop $34.00	Olive Green and Pink Feather... NikkiElin $16.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.