no promoting today

Having an etsy shop isn't just about the crafting. I think I probably spend more time actually promoting my shop and getting people to just look at what I have. This involves my flickr page, this blog itself, adverts on project wonderful, promoting on the forums, and my myspace page. That's a lot of work. And you need to keep up that promotion work to get those buyers coming through. But you know what? I don't feel like it today. I didn't do it yesterday (lovely dinner), and I won't do it tomorrow because I'm away for work and will be crafting from my hotel room. But you know what? That's okay. This journey is about fun. It's about becoming a better crafter. It's about creating fantastic products. And if, for a few days, I just don't feel like spending hours online promoting my store, that's fine. Because I never want to get to a stage where Moose and Bear is anything less than a pleasure to work on.

Oh, and I did get a sale yesterday. So I am doing fine for cash right now as well. :)

calm after the storm

Yes, after being so worked up that I was never going to be able to keep up with Moose and Bear's popularity, I have realised that in all honesty it was a bit of a freak run, and normality has resumed. And I am quite happy actually. I am sitting in my nice Ikea lounge seat, legs crossed, some amigurumi on my lap and some new "dudes" to stitch together. No stress, just relaxation and enjoying my crafting for what it is - the chance to create something and enjoy the process. I have plans this week for working on a new plushie design (think multicolour!), so hopefully I'll have that done by the weekend. I've ordered heaps of new yarn, so I can continue making octopi in every colour, although I really want to make some owls as well. My little black crafting book has todos on every page right now, but it's inspiring, not imposing. Just the way it is supposed to be.

gorgeous blog, gorgeous brooches

Joyful Abode has this pattern up for the most gorgeous Valentine Brooches.

I think I wil try and whip some up and pin them to my bag before Valentines. I have to say, just about everything on her blog makes me scream with jealousy - the beautiful design, the great photography, the yummy food. Not fair! Jealousy is a form of flattery, isn't it? :)

almost stressful

IMG_3803, originally uploaded by mooseandbear.

Crafts are supposed to be relaxing right? Right now, I don't feel relaxed. I set myself a goal this year of 3 sales a week. This week, I got 5, which is fantastic, but has actually made me feel really stressed! I have been feeling very much that I have nothing in my shop and I have been mad crafting to replenish stock. I know, who thought I would ever be complaining of too much success?? And even by posting this, I know that I will have no sales now for weeks!

Perhaps a reason why I feel stressed is because I decided that I really wanted to make another octopus - they are extremely cute after all. Unfortunately that whole 8-legged thing is a bit of a pain in the ass!! I always underestimate how long he takes to actually make. But once he's finished, I completely forget because he looks so wise and blue. Definitely one of my favourites.

Another excitement this week was my felt purchase from Paper and String. This is a great example of how flickr really can work for promotions - I love paper and string's page on flickr, went to her blog, and then proceeded to buy some lovely felt from her store. It's a shame that the boyfriend has taken all the best colours I bought and is currently turning them into a monkey plushie. He is actually doing very well at his whole "I want to build monsters" thing.

I sold "dude" this week. That's the last one of the "original moose and bear" crew - the plushies that I really felt represented moose and bear's aesthetic; I actually felt a pang of sadness that I will have to pack him up. I know, be strong and remember, this is supposed to vaguely be a business.

It's Sunday - I'd love a tea and some cake. Yum.

it's all go-go-go at moose and bear!

It really has been a busy couple of days at moose and bear and really really exciting. Last week someone convo-ed me about doing some consignment work, which was hugely flattering. I've done a bit of research (thank you to everyone on the etsy forums who puts up with my inane questions), and the general consensus is that it can sometimes work, and sometimes not. So I'm guessing I should do it this once, and see how well I like doing it. I've got to make up 10 plushies - a mixture of swearing and non-swearing - and send them by mid-Feb. That shouldn't be too onerous.



I also received my moo cards this week. As you can see, I got quite a range. I like them all apart from the bottom three. I imagine that the first time you get moo cards is a bit of trial and error, but I'm pretty pleased with these. Now I just have to suck up the courage to start talking to people about my shop!!

Actually, the cards are out of date. I made a big sale yesterday - 3 items to one seller! And, pity the poor seller, I had only just put my prices up a couple of hours ago. I had received feedback that my prices were too low and were probably putting off sellers, so I put them up, and lo and behold, three things gone! I was actually in a state of shock, because I logged in and my shop looked empty! It was fantastic. So goodbye to Steve the Robot, George the Octopus, and the cute little matryoska dolls. I am most upset about Steve, because I kept meaning to writing down the pattern I thought up whilst making him, but now he's in the mail. I guess that pretty much makes him OOAK. Cool.


I've been making a lot of felt recently, so the last couple of nights I've been getting back into my amigurumi. I was planning on making a two legged blobby monster. Only, when I finished him, he looked more like a penis. So now I don't know what to do. I think he's fantastically cute, but would people really want a blue penis esque plushie in their lives? Oooooh. Design-wise, I think it's back to the drawing board unfortunately.

my boyfriend sews

IMG_3717, originally uploaded by mooseandbear.

Oh yes he does. Last night he sat and concentrated very hard whilst sewing his very first plushie. No pictures of it yet, but I'll post them as soon as I get them. He made a very cool 3-D owl. It was very cute to watch, but for some reason he does army sewing which means doubling up the thread. Fine with normal black cotton thread, unnecessary with gorgeous yellow embroidery thread that I just bought yesterday!!! Today he sent me an email of how he wanted to make another monster today. So sweet. Although now he's going to want to become a Moose and Bear partner, rather than employee. He does most of my photography and copy writing at the moment - hey, he's got a degree in marketing, he should!

I listed this adorable little green guy today, right after I left work early to post my latest sale. It's always a nice feeling posting something off to pastures new. I always worry though that buyers will be upset when they get my stuff. I remember one buyer, just before Christmas, bought three different things from my store. I didn't hear anything for ages, and then I got the best feedback ever - things were "ridiculously cute" and "perfect gift" - I was walking on clouds all day after that! I love the buyer-seller relationship that happens on Etsy - I also logged in, not to find a sale, but a message from someone saying that they thought my stuff was adorable. Almost as good as a sale! I'm also getting more and more into the forums, building up relationships, knowledge, passing it onto other people. It feels good to do that.

naughty naughty!!!

IMG_3721, originally uploaded by mooseandbear.

Yes, this guy is a little cheeky!!! He went on sale today, but I actually made him a couple of weeks ago whilst stranded in a west yorkshire hotel room. I think he has a very cute cheeky face to go with his naughty mind. I think I'm going to make some more like him but maybe with some more positive messages. On another note, I am getting rather bored with my limited felt repository - John Lewis, which is my cheapest local shot, only has pretty rubbish colours, so I'm thinking I have to go online pretty soon to stock up. Pink, green, a not great blue, yellow, and black does not creativity encourage.

On another note, this little guy sold today!!! I am still at the stage when a sale is reason to celebrate - a little sad I know. It makes all the myspacing, flickring, and etsy forum posting worthwhile. Woo-hoo!!

And finally (just like the news then), tonight should be interesting, as Ori has deciding that he is not just chief photographer, but he wants to design and make his own monster tonight. I think he wants a promotion.