Which Direction Should I Go?

I should be receiving my fabrics any day now.  Can't wait to get started and make some things for my daughters to use as demos for the web.  I am debating on the Etsy thing since it seems to be very difficult to find things on there.  It seems to be a hit or miss thing to me.  I already have the Christening gown website that I pay a monthly fee for so I'm thinking about putting the children's clothes and handbags on that site as well as started to dropship some Christening Gowns to kind of tie it all together.  Maybe I can even add some of the nice smocked dresses to my site that can be used for Christenings or Baptisms as well with a little extra length if desired and some lace!

I've also changed the name for the line since I already have a legal business that isn't really geared towards children's clothes or accessories, it's just a generic business name so I could use it for anything.  The children's clothes are going to be under "Krista Grace Kidz Klothes" and the purses I have been asked recently to make (after seeing some that I had made a while back for family members) along with tote bags and diapers bags will be under Lilly Jean Accessories.  Now I just have to get the supplies and get sewing!

The last thing I have to do is determine if I need to move my blog.  I've been told these blogspot blogs are not really set up for business but wordpress is and you can change the domain name if you want.  I already have a domain name I purchased from godaddy I could use for the Christening gowns if I want to separate that one or I could buy a new one for a few bucks for the children's clothes and handbags.  I have to think on this one but need to get sewing so I can get something out there first I think!  We'll see how it goes...

Here we go!

Well, I've made the big leap and ordered fabric to start sewing so I can get my shop set up on Etsy and have something to start selling!  I decided it was best to have a couple of prints and solids that all coordinate so there are a few variations to choose from and I can customize them without just sewing something with fabric I have in one size and not offering anyone a chance to have that outfit in another size because I don't have the fabric!  I'm very excited as well as a little scared but I can't wait to get started.  Now I just have to see if I can figure out how to use the serger that my mom brought me to check out so I can really make these look professional - and I also need to finalize the name for this project!  Not sure I want to stick with NLK Kids Klothes & More.  Thinking of like K&K Kidz Kloset, etc. or something fun like that!  We'll see, I guess I'd better figure it out soon...

On another note, I am getting my act together on the Christening Gown site as well hoping to get that making some money to help finance this little venture - and helping with household bills!  Thinking about setting up a separate blog for that on wordpress that is geared towards business.  One more thing to keep up with but gotta do what I gotta do!

Starting to Make Progress!

Well, It seems I'm slowly getting into the swing of things with the new business trying to create patterns so as not to encroach on any copyrights and I have almost decided on fabric to start out with.  Then it's off to the races with the sewing so I have some ready mades to set up on Etsy.  I may use some of the fabric I have sitting around the house that I am obviously not going to get to use for my girls unless all I had to do was sew, but that's not likely!  I guess those can be one of a kind starter items utilizing the styles I will begin with and then once I decide on and order a couple of compatible fabrics I can start giving people options for fabric combinations and sizes with those fabrics.  Wish I had a little more financial freedom to just go all out with some fabrics but then I'd need more time to sew so I guess it all works out!

On another note, I wonder how all these "Online Marketing" companies have gotten my info. and keep calling me trying to convince me how I need to utilize them to help me - and it's only a "minimal" start up fee with a "small" monthly fee!  Well, I do know how but sometimes it's rather annoying trying to figure out if any of it is really going to help or is necessary although, the guy I talked to today for about an hour just gave me a lot of information on what I could do to help boost sales, not necessarily on Etsy but on my affiliate website, and totally said I could do it all myself and should try it for a bit on my own if I wanted to see how much time it would take me etc. and once it started really working then I might want someone to help me keep up with it!  Very interesting sales tactic knowing that if it really did work and I was so "successful" that I needed someone to help  I would call on the people who helped me get there!  Checked with BBB and they are highly rated too.  Maybe I actually found some good folks out there just doing a good job and wanting others to succeed as well!  I guess I shouldn't be so skeptical - there are good folks out there and it's all in our attitude, how we look at things and what emotions we CHOOSE to have!  A little Tony Robbins "Personal Power" may just have me on the right track to success!  We shall see - thanks for letting me vent all!  Have a great weekend and I'll try to keep everyone posted on the impending Etsy store!

Getting Started!

Well, I have officially decided to try this Etsy thing and sell handmade children's clothes - in my spare time!  Unfortunately, blogging, tweeting, marketing, etc. takes a lot of time and with two little ones heading into summer it should be interesting to fit it all in.  If I can get the family on board that will help.  Maybe the relatives can watch them a bit here and there so that I can get more than 5 minutes of work done at a time!  Then I will have a few different styles of dresses ready to go when I "go live" on Etsy (I'm shooting for May 1) while adding a few things for babies and little boys like jumpers, bubbles & shorts & shirts outfits as I get things going.  I may add some bags, just simple totes and handbags, as well, if time permits once I get the children's clothes started.

I have worked hard in my spare time this past holiday weekend to get the business end of things heading in the right direction and building relationships with companies to purchase supplies.  I am so excited I can hardly wait but I cannot ignore all of my other responsibilities so will have to squeeze all this in and work some late nights and long weekends!  Will try to keep posting regularly and keep everyone updated on the "grand opening"!

Thanks to all for their support & encouragement!  Talk to you soon!

Christening Gowns

During my search for Christening and Baptism Gown sites for my website I have found many good ones that do no affiliate marketing - which is what my site is trying to live off of - and most I have found through dumb luck while actually looking for something else in the sewing world. Evidently, people don't use keywords much in there sites to increase their search engine optimization (ie: getting their site as close to a first page hit as possible), which makes me feel a little better that I can never find what I'm looking for when I put the keywords into the search engine! Maybe it's not JUST me! The same goes with Heirloom sewing sites which are mainly online versions of physical stores that sell the hard to find heirloom sewing supplies such as lace, buttons, fabrics and patterns. I am trying to figure out a way to work them into the Christening Gown site and still support it financially without a ton of annoying ads. Maybe a links page or two with each link page geared towards a specific subject for ease of use. In my spare time...just thinking out loud here! What a great find, this "blogging" thing. It's like an online diary and I'm finding it rather soothing and helpful in keeping my thoughts in line (and not losing them in my brain as they are written down here) as I've never been one to sit and write. I'm beginning to understand the therapeutic benefits of it!

First Birthday

It's the babies first birthday today. I can't believe it's been a year. Plan to finish her smocked bishop easter dress in the next day or so (this dress was not the original plan but the pattern for the one I wanted did not come in so that one will have to get done later) along with a "play outfit" that will be a smocked bishop shirt with diaper cover panties underneath. Then on to an outfit or two for my big girl so she doesn't feel left out! Which one to do first is the question - the trunk out here in my "office/living room/dining room/sewing room" area is full of fabric for childrens clothes labeled as to what pattern I bought the fabric for, the size, the child, etc. but I keep finding new ones that I want to do as well! Decisions, decisions...

So much to do, so little time!

Recently I have embarked on a journey that terrifies me and excites me at the same time. I have launched a business creating a website aimed at finding Christening Gowns and other related accessories using affiliate marketing as my main means of income from it to pay myself back for everything I've dished out to start this thing. While there are endless opportunities with the way I've set up this business to branch out and do may other things, selling my own handmade childrens clothes, bags, etc. could be one, the whole "being in debt" until money starts "rolling" in is a tad bit stressful for me, considering this week I struggled to come up with grocery money! But I am assured every time I take my 4 year old to the gym or see some of the "brand name" outfits on the preschoolers at my daughters preschool that there are still those parents out there that have the means and the will to pay for nice clothes for the children, not just the Walmart specials. Specifically for special occasions and of course the cuter they are, with monograms, appliques and embroidery, the harder they are to resist. And yes, my children do wear the Walmart specials to play in - there is NOTHING wrong with that! Especially considering I do not want them tearing up what I've put the very little bit of time I find to sew them out on the playground or in the backyard.

Now, if I can figure out this blog thing, keep finding things to "Tweet" about that are interesting enough for people to want to follow, and at some point start sewing some cute dresses, outfits and bags to sell on Etsy (ok, so the 12 month old might need to be in Preschool for this to happen), maybe I can help make a little money to pay the bills without relying on the non-existent engineering career that I went to school for! Sure which I had found my love for sewing sooner and gotten a degree in that but as they say hind sight is 20/20.

If anyone happens to cross the path of this blog and I manage to get some of my projects posted on flicker and figure out how to link it here please give me your honest opinion on what, if anything, would be "sellable"! I have done a lot of smocking as this is something I have recently discovered and do love but it is very time consuming when it comes to sales and I have the capability to machine embroider, monogram and machine applique virtually anything - except, at the moment, the time to do it so it seems! As the summer moves on I am hoping to add more projects as I complete them for my daughters, their teachers and our friends and would love any input anyone can give for what you'd like to see or would be interested in purchasing so I can get an idea of what, if anything, people would be interested in!