What is something that you would love to get paid for that you think no one would every pay you for?

My most favorite mobile & most popular! Bright Punch Mobile

Mini flower origami ornament

There was a question on last week's Ten on Tuesday that really hit home and made me really think about what is going on in my life right now. The question was 5. What is something that you would love to get paid for that you think no one would every pay you for?

Custom Mobile I did this month 

  In The Red Frame

It didn't take me but a heartbeat to answer the question.  Running my Etsy store and making art and crafts that people buy for their homes.  I still can not believe I have sold one thing let alone close to 100 things between Etsy and here locally.  That may not sound like a lot and in terms of a full time seller it's not.  But if you had asked me a few years ago did I think I would selling my mobiles and frames and be getting more and more business?  I don't think I would have thought it would be going this well.  Granted I still have a lot to learn.  I've got to figure out this whole marketing thing and a little bookkeeping while I'm at it.  But I LOVE making my mobiles, frames, origami and clocks, talking to customers and making custom mobiles to match new baby nurseries.   It's challenging and fun and creative.  It gives me something that no other job I've been paid to do has given me.  It doesn't feel like work ... EVER.  I will admit that bookkeeping is daunting but because it's for me and my shop it doesn't feel like so much of a chore.

The Blues Frame

 Another Custom Mobile

It's honestly really hard to put into words how I feel when I a make a sale or I get amazing feedback from my customers.  At times it has made me tear up because I am so happy. Sappy ... yes I know but it's just nice to do something I love and get money for it.  Maybe one day I will have enough business to do it full time.  That would be the end all be all I think ....

Another custom mobile

Puzzle Piece Clock

I don't know you full time business owners may think differently!?!?
                                                  

Custom Mobile 

Blue Squares Frame

Purple Haze Frame  

Custom Mobile

 Custom mobile

Joining the Ranks of the Employed (again)

Don't pass out or anything but I am actually doing a post and it's not a Ten on Tuesday either!!  I know I totally missed last weeks but I've had a lot going on and frankly blogging is taking a back seat.  But here I am getting ready to fill you in.

I am now employed!! To catch any of you up who don't know I have been a stay at home mom for over seven years now.  Back in August I headed back to work (part time) at a major portrait studio.  I liked it and wanted to eventually go on full time.  But that was just not in the cards for me.  I was laid off/let go in February.  So I hit the pavement trying to find something else.  Now I went to school for special education and taught in the public schools before my son was born.  I liked teaching but special education requires so much extra meeting time after school and paper work that I just didn't want to go back to that (I love staying home raising my kids but financially I have to work now) and my state teaching licence expired and in this economy I would have to get it renewed to even think about getting hired in the public school system again (money and time I don't have).  I have an Etsy business that I LOVE but working up a client base and marketing takes time.   One day my dream is become a full time Etsy seller but for now I just don't make enough.  About a month ago my husband called me up from work to tell me about a position opening at his college (he works for a local community college).  The position was for a part time compensatory education instructor.  Really just a fancy term for a basic skills teacher for adults with mental retardation and traumatic brain injury.  I thought it sounded perfect since it was in my field  but not in the public schools and part time.  So long story short I interviewed two weeks ago and was offered the position last Monday.  I have since been in to train and fill out paperwork and observe another class (to get my bearings).  The class is during school hours and only 3 days a week!  I am so excited about it.  I am nervous too since it's been a long time since I taught but I am excited to get back to it. 

So the last two weeks have been mostly focused on my new job but I have also been working full stem on my Etsy shop and trying to come up with new products but also just trying to get my work out to more people.  So here is a picture of my latest Flower Mobile.  It's a new color scheme (Black and White) but I also played around with different flower sizes and  paper material.  This one was made with some beautiful handmade paper, scrapbook paper and even some really fun clear plastic scrapbook paper.

 My Newest Flower Mobile

I also participated in a big yard sale (which also had other home based businesses attending) the weekend before last.  I didn't sell much but I got a lot of feedback on my work.  It also got my name out there which is huge.  I had my husband take a picture of the booth just because I thought it would be fun.

My Craft Booth Set up

Last week was also teacher appreciation week at my son's school (they sure didn't have that when I was teaching).  Anyway each day had a different theme.  We (the parents) provided lunch every day for the teachers and then I sent in something each day for the theme.  For example Wednesday was restocking day so I sent in glue sticks (which was on the list of things his teacher needed).  Thursday was send your teacher a flower day.  I love getting fresh flowers but I figured she and the assistant would be getting quite a few already so I decided to make some origami flowers for them and make them into bouquets.  It came out better than I expected!  So I just had to share.

The Teacher's Origami Flower Bouquet

The Assistant's Origami Flower Bouquet

The Origami Flower Bouquet with handmade tag from the side

Custom Etsy Job

If you are new to my blog I sell frames, mirrors, clocks, origami flower ornaments, and origami flower mobiles on Etsy.  If you read my blog regularly well then I am sorry and you already know all this (sorry)!  But did you know that you can request custom items from sellers on Etsy???  Well you can! There are a few ways to do this.  One is to ask a seller outright to do a custom piece if you see something in their shop and want one like it but with what ever change you need.  The other way is post an alchemy request.  You basically just write up a post detailing what you want and what price you are willing to pay.  Then sellers on Etsy bid on the job and you pick a winner.  Now I have never use the alchemy option but I just had my first custom request last week!  A mom messaged me and asked if I could make one of my origami flower mobiles in a custom color scheme to match her daughter's nursery.  She wanted citrus colors with a pop of bright pink.  I looked through my paper stock and found some nice green, yellow, and orange shades.  I emailed her the shades and got approval then went to the store and got some bright pink to add in.  It came out really well!!  It's a fun, bright mobile!  Here a some pictures of it.  I loved doing the custom request.  It was a challenge and something different.  So here's to hoping I get some more custom requests for my flower mobiles, frames, or origami flower ornaments!!

 Bottom view

 Looking at the mobile straight on

Close up bottom view