Merry Christmas ~ with Gratitude

I wanted to take a minute to say thank you to those of you who follow my blog ~ and thank you for your patience when I am absent. I appreciate your comments ~ and you! Never one lacking for ideas, I have a few new designs and products I am hoping to develop in 2011; a few causes I look forward to supporting.

But until then I am wishing you and yours a beautiful holiday ~ full of sweet memories and tons of fun!

Catch you in the new year. :)

Keeping Things Current

One cannot stay unplugged for long at this time of year (see previous post).

Something that I have started doing with my Etsy shop lately is updating photos for popular items. I'm sure every shop has a handful of items that are good sellers, thus bought and relisted over and over.

It occurred to me yesterday as I was making my ~ umpteenth ~ Simon Owl (not that I'm complaining!) that he had kind of progressed over the last year and had some upgrades from my original Simon; and yet, I was still using the original photos. It actually got me to thinking that ~ just out of curiosity, plus good marketing ~ I wish I had kept close track of which animals sold the most. Which ones have I relisted time and time again. (Note to self: that is something to start in the new year. I'm sure if I check, Etsy can help me track things like that. I love all the tools provided!)

But I digress (it is early and as I wake up I am thinking out loud). I think Simon Owl was the very first Wee One I designed. So to still be using the original photos for him was outdated ~ and somewhat inaccurate ~ information. Plus he's just cuter now ~ the new and improved Simon! I made sure to digitally document the latest incarnation of Simon and replaced the photos in my Etsy listing.

Just something that occurred to me on this holiday season morning ~ it is important to keep online information accurate and up-to-date. It may even result in more sales! :)

Unplugged.

Like many of you, I spend probably about 90% of my waking hours connected ~ either on my iPhone, my netbook or my studio computer. It has enabled me to take my little critters and my little business to levels I never could have imagined ~ nor could I have accomplished without all the technology available to me.

I have often thought how different my life would have been had all these avenues been around 30 years ago (yes 30 years ago!) when I was a stay at home Mom with two little guys. I did a lot of the same things I'm doing now back then and how I would have loved to been able to work from home and market to the world! But back to present day ~ I am just grateful to have the opportunities I have now.

However (you knew this was coming, right) ~~ however, I sometimes need to unplug. Walk away. Turn it off. Step back 30 years.

At least once I week I try to sit down and snuggle up with a cup of peppermint hot chocolate, my dog, my cat, a stack of magazines and catalogs and a note pad. I find that when I slow the pace down a little, open my mind, tap into some inspiration from unusual places ~ creativity flows in new and fun ways!

It is often a time when my best ideas are developed. My physical being appreciates the relaxation ~ and the dog and the cat are pretty darned happy I spent some time with them, too!

And The Winner Is...

Freddie helped me draw the winner of the Wee Pillow design contest this morning.

And the winner is... (drum roll)

KETRYN!!! Ketryn suggested a teddy bear design for a wee pillow so that will be the next design!

Thanks everyone for playing! I loved all of your suggestions and am keeping them all in my design file. You just never know when one of your ideas may show up on a Wee Pillow... :)

(Ketryn ~ I'm not sure how to contact you, so I'm hoping you will see this! Can you email me at cindi@cindimh.com by Friday, December 3 and we will work out the details. Thanks!)