Time to say good bye

Yesterday was my very last day at my job as a lunchroom at Edge Elementary.

 Leaving is always bitter sweet, but I was showered with hugs, presents and small gifts. 

I feel so blessed by my Edge family and I shred some tears saying good bye to co-workers, friends and little ones. 

Although leaving is always sad, good news are on the horizon. 

I'm going to be starting a new chapter of my life in 2014. 

But, this is a story for another blog post....

Change

Every time a new year starts, I like to go around the house and make little changes, moving furniture around and make some home improvements. 

The same goes for my business. 

I used to be able to send a newsletter with news and updates to my customers every month, but the truth of the matter is that lately I've been so busy and I wasn't able to keep up with monthly updates. So, what I decided to do, with the suggestion of my friend Kayla at The Eclectic Element, is to send out updates about my blog. 

I intend to keep it as a monthly update to keep my promise to the customers that signed up, but it will be different as instead of creating a new content exclusively about my business, my blog post have a little bit of news, personal updates and actuality facts and everything that strikes my fancy. 

I do expect to see people unsubscribing eventually and I wanted to assure you that I will understand, you can unsubscribe at anytime and I will not take it personally or have my feelings hurt. If you don't know how to unsubscribe but want to do so, just contact me and I will do manually. 

Just baer with me in this phase of change, as I set up the campaign but I have no clue how good this will work. 

 Thanks!

PS: I've done my first boo-boo as the first email sent out was completely blank! I apologize I had some kinks to work out and thanks Kayla for your patience!
 

Newsletter #28

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Amazing savings for my loyal customers!

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Crocheted Little Things

• The Discount: Free shipping to US&Canada from today through Cyber Monday
• How To Get This Sale: Use the coupon code "THANKSGIVING" during check out
• End Date: 11/26 

Click Here to go to the Shopping at this store!

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As per today, if you buy anything from Crocheted Little Things as a registered buyer on Arfire, you get 5% off retail price!
But it's not enough!!!

Use the comment and share button of the right side of every item page to get another 5% off!
Are you a returned customer that really want to tell me how much are you enjoying your purchase? Or you simply want to share something you like from my shop with your friend and family? This is the feature for you that can help you save on your purchase!

It's not over yet!!!
For every purchase made in my Spa section, you will receive a soap sample from Sea Breeze.

And if you're in a giving mood this year, consider purchasing from the "Help Autism ECAC" section: the profit will go directly to the local Autism Center, a place near and dear to me and my family :)

I guess you better go shopping now before the deals end!

Until next time.....

News from the handmade community.

Can you hear it? Can you smell it? The holiday shopping reason is fast approaching and you should start prepping for it.
That's what I'm doing, while looking around and valuating my opportunities.
I found some news and updates from selling venues that I'm going to share with you, so you can get ready too.

1. Artfire

I must say, I'm partial: I love this site. Make really easy to put listings up with the 1 page listing process, the importer tool from etsy listing and a bliss to sell with features like the global editor, sale mode, sale labels and coupon options. Just to name a few. The recently rolled out new improvements, like the new front page featuring collection made my members and the a better karma/kudos (feedback) system.
They are running a super mega promotion now. If you go on Artfire right now and open a basic account of already have a pro account, if you opt for the Artfire deal, you'll be able to have a pro account for $5.95/month. Not matter if you joined yesterday or 2 hours ago, if you have a free account and opt with the deal you can have a pro account for $5.95/month. If you currently have a pro account, no matter what rate you got locked in, you can opt for the deal and pay $5.95/month from now on. The new rate will start October, 1st: make sure you opt for the deal before than so you can be in. I urge you to not miss this opportunity, for the tools and features that artfire has, the new rate is a steal! I'm currently pay $7/month and my sales aren't excellent, but I'm still able to make a profit.

2. ShopHandmade

Was a venue that really attired me 2 years or more ago. I really liked there, but in almost 3 years I mad one single sale. Not too bad but still....
They have rolled out a series of changes, now every store has a blog and users have the ability to join and create "Markets" kinda like 1000markets. I still find the listing process a pain in the....neck and the inability to connect with other sellers on there makes me feel kinda of lonely.
Anyway, I revamped and renamed my account and I will add more stuff in the next days, can't hurt. Here you go, giving it another shot, Cupcake Land:

3. 1000markets

On Monday, September 20, 2010, 1000 Markets was acquired by Bonanza (formerly Bonanzle). right now my shop is closed, 1000markets shut it down for inactivity (haven't listed anything there for a while), so I think I will have to wait for approval that it will be reopened and then I will have to make the transition to Bonanza. I do not have any experience with Bonanzle, so I can't tell you if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but I do know of sellers making sales there, so it can be all bad, right?

4. Etsy

What can I say? Where should I start? Well, let's see. Something happened around March and my shop there (still opened) simply died, disappeared from google and from customers eyes. I had big hopes, I put into it lots of work, I even made it to the front page one morning. Recently I was informed that I was one of the "victim" of the privacy issue with the treasury: my real name (instead of my username of etsy) was public on a treasury that I made months ago. Yesterday, I had a customer buy something or I must saying, trying to buy something but she couldn't: I ended up sending her a paypal invoice. They changed the feedback system and the rules about canceling transitions: now when a seller cancel a sale (for any reason) an automatic email is generated both to the seller and the buyer, stating that there are just 48 hours to leave feedback. Plenty room for non-payers to screw any shop over. It's a mess in my opinion. I had a dreadful spring and a dry summer: honestly, I don't except much from it for the holidays.

5. Zibbet

This is a venue that I haven't explored yet, but I want to in the near future. Not sure if I'll be ready for the holidays tho.

I guess that concludes my stroller around handmade venue. If you have experience with any other venue or want to share your experience with this venue, I will love to hear from you :)

Awesome news!

As most of you know, I moved here is Florida around 3 and half years ago with my husband and my kids, leaving in Italy a piece of my heart and my my parents and siblings.

I got a green card 2 years ago and open this business in order to save up enough money to be able to fly in Italy every once in a while.
Well, my business had never be successful enough to pay for an airplane ticket, but you also know that I do appreciate every customer of mine and the money is being used to special doctor visits for my Gabriel.
My parents understood all this years, Gabriel is improving and I'm happy.

So I thank you for that, with all my heart.

Now, before the tears start coming out and I will start sobbing like a baby, I want to thank you again because with last month profit I was able to buy a kick ass GPS for my car and still have plenty for all that Gabriel will need for this month.

Why did I buy a GPS you might ask. I need it for my very first road trip and this time is all mine, no hubby (he wasn't able to take off from work) and no kids since I will need space in the car.

Why? Where am I going? I'm going to the airport in Atlanta to pick my mom and sister flying in from Italy tomorrow.

We're super happy and excited. Gabriel can't wait to see his nonna and my baby girl will kinda meet them for the first time since last time she saw my family she was 9 months old, too early to remember.

So, maybe my business will never be able to pay for me to go in Italy, but I was able to organize a comfortable enough trip in less then 3 days (yeah, they told me very last minute because wanted to make sure was really happening).

Now I'm sobbing and my heart is swelling with happiness and once again I sit here writing to all of you a
BIG THANK YOU!

For all my customers, for all my friends, for all the people who encouraged me, gave advices and promote the heck out of me and just for reading this.....
THANKS!

Trying to give back a little, I invite you to enter a giveaway for $60 gift certificate for CSN.

And I also want to apologize in advance if I'll be a little be missing-in-action for the next month, but I want to spend as much time as possible with my folks.

I promise I will tell you all about is as soon as I can!

Crocheted Little Things Newsletter #7

Happy Saint Patrick day and Easter!

Hi there to all, this is Lu. Here it is newsletter #7. Saint Patrick's day is quickly approaching upon us, spring is in the air and before our next newsletter Easter will be over too.March Madness promotion going on: Use the code MARCHMADNESS during check out to be entered in a drawing for a $25 Gift Certificate from my shop!

I'm starting with greeting you with an awesome giveaway! The first sponsored by Pieces Of Me Pendants on Sweet Irie blog.

Enter here

Scrabble Pendant (your choice of pendant and chain) by Pieces Of Me Pendants

Also, my daughter Michelle was nominated in the Kid Of the Month contest on Everyday Moms: Would you vote for her?



What happened?

New items are available at Crocheted Little Things while other products are phasing out. As I posted on my blog: Out with the old and in with the new. My 50% off sale is still going on for the items that are being replaced by an entire new section: Party items! I will try to get a sneak pick in here for you! In this new section you'll be able to find the perfect addiction to a birthday party like my cupcakes with a candle and party favors. And soon I will be posting sweet party hats and little gifts for school exchanges.







What's coming up?

Well, new items are in productions for sure, so check back often to stay in the loop of news. I also just finished my first wholesale order so, for people living in Ohio, Crocheted Little Things products will be available at Wholly Craft!

Out with the old, in the new - Part 1

Easter and Spring is fast approaching and I know a lot of people are, like me, busy with spring cleaning and news. Here's mine. If you're doing one too, please let me know and I will be delighted to feature you!

Out with the old:
My old etsy shop is closing and I'm having a 50% sale: these items will not be made any more, so this is your last chance to get them at unbeatable price!

In with the new:
New items are available and will continue to be added in my Crocheted Little Things shop

Crocheted birthday cupcake with candle - RASPBERRY, $10

Crocheted cupcake pin cushion with pink flower, $10

Crocheted cupcake trinket box - Easter, $8

Crocheted Easter eggs fillable in pastel colors SET of 6, $9

Plus a big news:
March Madness promotion. Buy anything for any of my shops during the month of March using the code "MARCHMADNESS" in the note to the seller and you will be automatically entered in a drawing for a $25 Gift Certificate for my Artfire Studio!

Preparing......

...the luggage to spent a couple of days in the big city.
We're going to visit a big specialist for my son in the hope to hear some good news.
But I can't hide that I'm also afraid to the eventuality that we can hear some bad ones.
Either way, we'll need to be strong, so I'm trying to focus on that.
I want to thank one more time friends and costumers that supported me in the past months. Without your support this visit wouldn't be possible. It means to us more that you can imagine.

News

Ok readers!!! I have news for ya!

First of all I want to share with all of you that sweetirie is having an YART SALE too and you find here amazing wristlets at $5.50!!!! Imagine that!!

Then I want to show you a screen shot of what happened the last 2 days! I have the honor of being features in Etsy YART SALE FREE SHIPPING gift guide with my baby maryjanes that got sold! So, I'm not in the gift guide anymore, but was a nice milestone for me.

Last, but not least, I want to thank Nena, the owner of smelly cupcake in her treasury in honor of 3FUN birthday