A Safe Harbour - Handmade Monday

I finally finished my cushions and as much as I am looking out  at some glorious sunshine I would really like to go blow the cobwebs away but I have so much to do in the next couple of days.

I want to finally realise what a great stash of stock I have and get it organised, as well as updating  my Etsy shop and getting my new product line up and running for August.

I've been checking out quite a few new (to me) craft blogs over the last few weeks and have really
 enjoyed checking out all those joining in handmade monday over at handmade harbour.

So a quick peek at my cushions finally in place.

And a happy handmade Monday to all.

Catherine at The MacsX

My Usual Sunday BS - lots of creativity

y travels around the web this week brought me to this gorgeous site that gives you letters you can drop into your blog.  When I clicked on 'M' and this came up I just had  to use it.  There are lots of gorgeous letters to use.

I enjoyed the video for Austin Kleon's talk on 'Steal Like a Writer', lots of hints for putting writing pieces together, highlighting how important words are and that they can come from almost anywhere.

Crafty Creatives have been highlighted on a few blogs recently, not least of all Claireabellemakes, it's a really great idea, each month you receive a box of crafty stuff to create away to your heart's desire.  I have swithered over trying this out - to try out some different creative talents.  However, one of the tasks I've given myself over the next week or so is to sort out all my creative stocks and just looking through my collection I think I could make up my own boxes for a while.  So I'm filing Crafty Creatives in my Tools notebook on Evernote and may well start to use them once my stocks run out.

The post from Story of Telling on drawing the line was so simple and but just summed up my whole outlook on creativity -it's all about drawing your own lines.  And LightboxSF called out the whole thing about 'not having enough time' is total bs.  Bang goes my excuse for all the things I've not done this week.

Plays with Needles did a great piece on Fall 2012 fashion, highlighting the needlework trend coming through.  And this just reinforced my feeling that my new product range - all will be revealed here on Wednesday.

Meanwhile Christmas in July continues over at my Etsy Shop.

A week of wonder to all

Catherine at The MacsX

Lazing on the Cushion

I'm still working on my cushions - that really makes it sound like it's taking me ages to put these together.  In all honesty there has been a lot of procrastination and a lot of tangent hopping as I've been putting together some sketches for my new range.  So much to do and still not figured out time management.

The difference between Work In Progress and UFO's - Is there really any?

It's even getting to the stage of blogging rather than finishing.  Not quite sure what I'm avoiding I really enjoy seeing the craft coming together.

Onward ho!

Catherine at The MacsX

My Usual Sunday BS - reframing obsession

So, this week I've been working on my cushion collection, I blogged about that here earlier in the week.  I've also been working on my Christmas designs and thinking about my first completely(almost - difficult to craft XBox360 Games and other such high tech doodahs) Handmade Christmas.  There's been a lot of thinking going on and I have enjoyed putting some sketches together with a Christmas Theme in mind.

I've also been working on my new product line for launch in August.  And whilst I have avoided becoming too engrossed in my projects of late, trying to avoid obsession I've found seems to quash creativity.  And so the Pin I found this week led me to reframe my obsession with obsession and to relabel my love of creativity and putting together my new products as dedication - and, so far, that's working out pretty well.

I put together the framework for my Sunday BS while filing my Evernote findings for the week.  This week Lottie of London helped propel me back into my creativity with her blog on Pantone colours for the up and coming season.  I am loving the Ultramarine Green and Tangerine Orange although I know I am personally more likely to flaunt the Olympian Blue and Honey Gold (there really is no escaping those blasted games!).

I'm keeping it short and 'sweet' this week as I'm really getting on with doing more of the same - but hopefully with some photographic evidence for support.

Hope you all have a great week

Catherine at The MacsX

Cushions and Christmas in July

My cushions are still awaiting my final touches.  Whilst for Christmas in July I had really intended on creating my Christmas card template for this year - with an embroidery pattern, and complete panels and UFO's.  So looks like I'm going to be busy over the weekend.

I find great inspiration for my needlework in all sorts of areas just within this hour I found this.

And so inspired and feeling some dedication I am off to design this year's Christmas Card.  Yes, in July...

Happy holidays
 

Catherine at The MacsX

Every Picture Tells a Story - Really?

I opened my Etsy shop in April last year.  And to date I have had 0 sales.  I guess the big question is what am I doing wrong - or perhaps what am I not doing right?

My Etsy Shop

TheMacsX $16.00	TheMacsX $14.40	TheMacsX $14.40	TheMacsX $9.60
TheMacsX $28.00	TheMacsX $16.00	TheMacsX $12.00	TheMacsX $24.00
TheMacsX $16.00	TheMacsX $11.60	TheMacsX $12.80	TheMacsX $14.40
TheMacsX $12.00	TheMacsX $6.40	TheMacsX $6.40	TheMacsX $4.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

I must admit that I haven't really got the hang of teams or circles or treasuries.  I have enjoyed putting a few treasuries together.  I am in some circles - can't admit to knowing how I got into them really and I have joined a couple of teams.  I recently joined the Glasgow Etsy Team mostly due to the suggestion of meeting like minded folk in  a real setting.  I am so looking forward to meeting everyone in Glasgow on August 1st.

Anyways, what is it I'm doing or not doing?  When I asked some of the folk on the Etsy Success Team it seemed unanimous that my pics left a lot to be desired.  So, while I've got everything on sale for 'Christmas in July' I'm going to work my way through the pics, especially since I've found PicMonkey, and hopefully improve them.  I really am averse to spending a lot of time on pieces I completed some time ago, especially as I'm about to launch a new product line.  So if anyone can think of any quick fixes I welcome them all.

I do know that doing something rather than just putting stock in my shop and waiting on the sales to start happening is a good move.  Since I've started tweeting I have increased my traffic - but still no sales.  I know that my pieces are good I just need other people to know too.

Onwards and upwards

Catherine at The MacsX