A Little Bit of Etsy In My Life

What a fun and educational 11 days it's been as I've been fumbling my way through all of this etsy stuff.  I am truly amazed by the team who constructed the etsy idea and site.  Brilliant and creative minds!  How very grateful I am to have an online venue to sell handmade goods and to be a part of a creative community.

A few orders that shipped out this week. 

I am equally thankful to instagram for helping me boost my sales too - I've learned that posting pictures of my designs on my insta page has helped send folks to my etsy site.  I've been using them hand-in-hand this week, and it's interesting to see how one effects the other.  When I post a picture of an item on Instagram, I'm more likely to make a sale from someone who saw that picture than I am to make a sale from someone who randomly found my etsy page on their own.

I am especially excited about this little belt that was made for the tiniest customer yet - a little guy  weighing only 12 lbs.!

Ten little boys and one little girl across SC, GA, AL, and FL have received a High Cotton Handmade belt since the shop opened. The shop and listings have been viewed 464 times and 23 people have "favorited" a shop or a listing. The Nautical Collection of the monogrammed belts sold out in the first week and was re-listed.

You have no idea how incredibly humbling this experience has been.

I remember two weekends ago, sitting at the laptop, trying to work out some of the verbiage I wanted to list on the HCH etsy page, and finally, just after midnight, holding my breath and hoping for the best, I pushed the "publish" button making the shop live.  Then I went to bed.  The next morning, I pulled up the computer to find that I had 3 orders.  No one was more surprised than I was.

And so I just sat at the computer and cried.

People are so kind and so very supportive, and I just absolutely can't believe that there are people out there who like the merchandise enough to purchase it - and then to have their children wear it.  It's so overwhelming in a wonderful, fulfilling sort of way.  A big huge THANK YOU to all of you who have checked out my etsy site, mentioned it to a friend, purchased an item, or reposted an image on your insta page or facebook page.  I am especially thankful to Bo who has an answer for every single one of my business questions, celebrates with me every time I make a sale, and doesn't complain when I show him yet another thing I've sewn. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Been playing around with the packaging and have settled on this combo for now.  The  High Cotton logo is a stamp that I use on everything - packaging, thank you notes, and the labels that are sewn into products - I just use different types of ink depending on whether I'm printing on paper or fabric.

I was searching for something to use for labels on my bags and found so many great options with the Martha Stewart Line at Staples. The boys and I spent way too much time looking at office supplies. 

This Navy Anchor belt from the Nautical Collection is by far the best seller.  I've done it  two ways: using navy top stitching (pictured here) and also with white top stitching (in one of the pictures above) and can't decide which I prefer.  Any thoughts?

Just ordered some seersucker fabric in fun summer colors and some new girly buckles - look forward to adding a Seersucker Collection to the belts with coordinating fabric bows for girls. 

Opening Shop: Etsy

I little over a year ago, I opened my etsy store High Cotton Handmade, and then I found out I was pregnant with Wade and thought it wasn't a good time to start up a new business.  I've been doing lots of sewing lately and have been dreaming of getting my shop up and running again.

I don't think I would have taken the leap so soon, but I put a few pictures on Instagram of some boys' belts I've been giving as birthday gifts, and one of my followers wanted to buy one for her nephew's 2nd birthday. And just like that, a custom listing was put on etsy, purchased from someone in TX and mailed to a little boy in FL.  And that was my first official High Cotton Handmade sale.  I will be forever grateful for my first client.

First sale on my etsy shop to an Instagram friend who used to work for Kate Spade

packaged and ready to ship

In order to get the order listed and mailed in time for the recipient's birthday, I scrambled to figure things out like shipping cost, packaging, and branding.  I'm still figuring out a few things like my shipping and return policy and I need to create a banner for my home page, but I hope to officially open the shop by Monday.

My plan is to only list a few monogrammed boys' belts (and a few bad boys' belts left over from the craft fair last year) at the start and then I hope to branch out from there: more giraffes, girly belts with tortoise shell buckles, pillows, and fabric bows.

My main items at start include monogrammed toddler/children's belts ranging is xs - large (12 mos - 10 years).  The seller can choose fabric (three collections: Nautical, Gingham/Check, and soon Seersucker).  Belts are $17 with $3 shipping.

Nautical Collection 

Sailboats & Seersucker option, block monogram

Whales, Swirl monogram

Checks & Gingham Collection

I can't wait to add some seersucker options to the mix too!

All of the above options are custom made and take 1 - 2 weeks for production.  However I have a few boys' belts that I plan to list this afternoon or tomorrow that are ready to ship. 

These belts feature a classic military-style buckle in nickle finish. 

Cheers! 

Cupcakes & Goldfish

I think I mentioned earlier that McCord and I have planned to do one really fun thing each day until the baby arrives so that we can really make every day count.  It has been so meaningful having these special memories with McCord through our last days of being one-on-one.

Today's outing: the cupcake bakery!

If you are local - check out the new Sweet Art Cakes on Ebeneezer.   Not only is it charming and cheerful, but oh! so! delicious!

It took him no time at all to choose the Koolaid cupcake (with sprinkles)!

Yesterday we had a picnic at the nearby public garden and fed the monstrous goldfish.

Bo and I just love this picture of Mc.
While I was shooting this, I was talking to him about becoming a big brother.  We talked about all the things he can show the baby since he's so big.  He demonstrated his baseball swing, and attempted to hit something very small near his feet with his imaginary golf club.  Then he got real still and folded his hands together like he was praying.  He watched the fountain like this for a minute or so and then looked at me and nodded as if he was really considering his role as a big brother.   It's one of those motherly moments you want to remember forever.  

We tried to get a picture of ourselves smooching, and it took several out takes to get this one.  Loving some special time with McCord!

And remember the baby robins that hatched in a nest on our front porch?  They're all grown up now and two of them have made our front yard their home.  We often spot them hanging out on the fence together.  They're almost as big as the full-grown robins, but they have some spots on them where their mature feathers haven't come in yet.  We've had the best time observing them!

Someone stop me!  I made Mc another pair of pants - this is the 3rd pair in about 2 weeks!  But what 22 month-old doesn't need blue seersucker football embroidered pants?!!!

A Quick Update

We are about 2 weeks out from the due date of Baby #2, and McCord and I've decided to make every day count.  While Bo's at work, we have made a pact to do something fun every single day to really enjoy our one-on-one time before Mc becomes a big brother.  Here are some of the things we did last week:

• go to the bakery and eat cookies
• play and explore at the children's museum
• meet friends at the nearby pond to feed the ducks and baby geese (so cute!)
• finger paint
• ordering pancakes for breakfast at a special restaurant
• meeting Daddy for lunch
• hanging out at the playground

This week we plan to take a picnic lunch to the local gardens, feed the gold fish, and check out the new cupcake shop. Fun, fun!

Here a few pictures of some other things that have been keeping us busy. 

Making a flower arrangement for the bank party.  Thank goodness for lots of inspiring images on pinterest!  It saved the day!

McCord spent Friday night at Poppie and Gee Gee's house (or as McCord calls them Pa and Ju Ju).  They did such a great job of making McCord feel extra-special by taking him to a place where he could feed the ducks and goats.  He even got to visit the fire department and sit in the fire truck!  Of course there was lots of time for playing baseball and golf.  He is becoming such a big boy!

 And remember those firecracker pants I made McCord a week or so ago?  I can't get enough of them so I used the same pattern to make a pair of jams for him.  We're bringing back the 80s!

Everything Trucks & Firecracker Pants

Did anyone make it out to Come-See-Me's Everything Trucks event last weekend?  We were there in full force.  At Everything Trucks, children were invited to climb aboard all different types of trucks, sit in the driver's seat, and honk the horn.  McCord has never been so enthralled!  We saw a firetruck, a cement mixer, a forklift, a UPS truck, a gigantic crane, a front loader, a moving truck, a Coke truck, and lots of other trucks that I can't even imagine what they do!  I couldn't resist posting these photos of McCord.  I hope to have some of these blown up to make a canvas collage wall in Mc's bedroom to accompany the tractor canvas.

Also, I've been doing a little bit of sewing for McCord.  I made the seersucker pants and onesie that he's wearing in these photos.  I forgot to get a good picture of him modeling them but you can kind of see how they fit here.  I found this free pattern online at Made - it's so hard to find a pair of pants that fit Mc properly, and this pattern does the trick.  Plus it's easy and I totally recommend it to any of you out there who are interested in making something for your 2-3 year old.  It's a great beginner pattern.  I'm seeing some madras print pants in Mc's future.

Here's the booty shot - I put a High Cotton tag on the back of the pants to keep them from looking so homemade.

Grilling out with friends before the final Come-See-Me festivities: band and fireworks at the lake.  What a lucky guy Mc is to be the only guy dining with these lovely ladies!  Gesticulating with honeydue on a fork  is one of his flirting tactics.   Not sure how effective it is though...

Bo and Chap and McCord and his Kindermusik buddy Winn.  Two tired babies!  We were trying to stretch them out to see the fireworks.    

 Since Mc wore these to see his first fireworks show, we've been calling them his "firecracker pants."

We are so thankful for our town's volunteers who put together the Come-See-Me festivities.  Here's a quick video I shot of Mc watching fireworks for the first time.  It was one of those simple moments - just the three of us watching the dramatic display.  Sheer amazement on Mc's face and excitement in Bo's voice.  It was like magic.