Monday, December 21, 2009

End Of The Season

Another year of crafting is just about over and now it's time to regroup and rebuild for next year. We tried some new ideas this year. Some worked , some didn't. We will work on some new designs in the next 3 months and try to be ready for show time in April. We will be working on a new promotion for our online shop also. We have to get better keywords and work on SEO. Online promotion and online advertising isn't as easy as I thought it would be but I'm learning, slow but sure.
I hope everyone had a good year and we wish everyone a Happy Holiday season.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Handmade Christmas

How about a Handmade Christmas this year? With a handmade gift, it's unique, one of a kind. As a crafters, we use many different things to create our products. In my case, I build my products out of wood. No two pieces of wood are identical. So even though I build many items that are the same, because the grain in the wood is different, the finished product has it's own unique look. This can't be achieved with mass produced copies. The hand painted items that Elaine makes are also unique because the brush strokes aren't exactly the same or in the exact same spot or size. These handpainted items will resemble each other but they are unique in their own way.
Check out our shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/OldTimeCountryCrafts and see if we can't help fill your Christmas gift needs.

P.S. While you are here, sign up on our e-mail list to recieve special offers only available to our e-mail subscribers

Monday, November 30, 2009

It's that time of year again and everybody is busy. So I won't waste your time or mine. We have a sale on framed 8x10 prints. These are $15.00 each but until 1/01/10 you can get 2 for just $22.00. Plus these come with FREE SHIPPING in the Continental USA. Go to our shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/OldTimeCountryCrafts and have a look.

While your here, sign-up on our e-mail list for other special offers.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

I've been a bad boy. I could use the excuse that I've been too busy to blog, but that sounds quite lame. The fall craft shows here have for the most part been OK. People weren't buying big items, but they did spend on smaller decorative items. It did surprise me that people weren't buying much holiday decor from anyone. It's always a guessing game what the public will want, so I just take what I have and hope for the best. A sale is a sale right? Our e-mail list is growing. By signing up, you become one of our preferred shoppers. When we send out e-mails, we include discount codes that only members receive. The e-mail sign- up is on the right. We won't sell your name to anyone else and we won't send you junk e-mails day after day. We will send you an e-mail a few times a year to show you new products and to remind you who we are and what we make.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Holiday Shopping

It's that time of year again where money and time are in short supply. At Old Time Country Crafts, we understand both. We can't help the money situation, but we might be able to help you in the shopping time department. We offer a variety of gift ideas for the whole family. We have a selection of framed prints to choose from on our website and more that aren't listed. If you are looking for a certain picture, send us an e-mail, we just might have it.
We also make some hand painted plaques and silly signs. We have crocheted snowflakes that you can add to a gift instead of a bow. You can find crocheted hair scrunchies in many different colors. For Christmas, Elaine has made Jingle Bell scrunchies in green or red.
Please take a few minutes and stop by our shop and have a look. You can find us at http://www.etsy.com/shop/OldTimeCountryCrafts

While you're here, sign up for our e-mail and become a preferred customer. You will recieve discount offers only available to people on our list.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Finding that special gift

Finding that special gift takes time and effort. You know the person so well that you really want your gift to be meaningful. You have several options available for shopping. You can go to the mall and look through several different stores. You could go to one of several department stores and look through lots of everyday items. Or you can shop online. Still nothing jumps out and tells you this is the right gift.

One option online is going to a "HANDMADE" site. Many designers and crafters, like myself, make and sell our products on ETSY.com. On ETSY, you will find thousands of shops making a wide variety of items, all unique in their own way. Because it's all handmade no two items are exactly identical. I make my products out of wood. The grain in the wood is different causing each finished piece to have just a little different look, all it's own.

One other point that I need to mention is that most of the people who sell on etsy can design an item just to fit your needs. This is not an option at the mall. Some of the products that we make are pictured here in the right side of this blog. To get to our shop just click on the words OldTimeCountryCrafts on the right and it will take you there. It's located just above the e-mail sign-up form. Sign up for our e-mail list to keep up with our new products and promotions. We don't e-mail often, only to let you know of new products or special offers just for our subscribers.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Fall is HERE and CHRISTMAS is coming


Another summer has gone by. It doesn't seem possible but it's gone. Time to get ready for the fall holidays and start our Christmas shopping. I've been busy with several projects. I'm starting to feel better now that my surgery has healed and the treatments have begun. I've been putting together a new web site just for my home decor items. This internet world is all new to me and it changes so fast it's hard for me to keep up. I'm trying to build the new site myself so at the moment it's a work in progress. I have added an E-mail sign-up form here so please sign up. I don't intend to send more than 3 or 4 e-mails a year. I only intend to send them to announce sales and include promotional codes to people on the list. This list will be for my use only and your names will not be given out to anyone else.

We have several fall and Christmas listed in our Etsy shop. Stop in to OldTimeCountryCrafts.etsy.com and take a look around. Everything we sell, we make, so if the size or color isn't right, let us know how we could change it to fit your needs.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

It has been a long week of @#$%^^? things , one right after the other. I'm not healing right after my surgery and my truck still isn't fixed. If I so much as twist just a little , I disturb my incision. I guess I'm not supposed to move at all. I know this is all for the better but gosh, HEAL ALREADY! Maybe I'm just in a hurry to start my treatments and expecting things to happen faster. My truck is another sore subject. My mechanic, who has done all are work for 10 years, is being a royal pain. I say that they didn't do the work right and they say they did. Like I have time for this battle. Fix the truck right and you will get paid. Somehow this seems wrong to them. I don't know, maybe my business sense is screwed up or something

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Another year is already half over. Where does the time go? Gee whiz, I know time flies but this is going super sonic or something. Time marches on. Summer is upon us bringing new things to concentrate on. We have our outdoor activities, vacations, and the thought that winter and Christmas is right around the corner. So with Christmas in mind, as an independent crafter, it's time to start promoting Christmas. All the projects that you do only for the season come off the shelf and back to the work table. HoHoHo and here we go again. There is nothing like a summer craft show, 80+ degrees outside, and a table full of Christmas. But it produces sales and orders for that one day of the year when we all get to be young again. Even if it's only in our minds and is short lived.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Frustration

Have you ever wondered what life would be like without all the problems we face on a daily basis. As much as I complain about things, I think it would be too boring if all was well all the time. I could do with a few less things to deal with, but too little would be about the same as too much. We all have problems of one kind or another. So even though my life isn't exactly the way I had it planned as a teenager, it isn't as bad as it could be. We all face challenges on a daily basis. We just keep plugging away and do the best we can with what we have.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Hopefully on the way to recovery

I had my surgery last week. I'm tired and sore but once I heal, I will have to feel better than I have felt for a long time. I don't understand why more people with kidney problems don't opt for peritoneal dialysis instead of the normal hemo dialysis. I can do this at home, at night while I sleep and still have my day free to do what I have to do. I now have a catheter coming out of my stomach but I felt this was a small price to pay for my freedom. I change my fluids and hook-up the circulator, then go to sleep. In the morning, get up, change the fluid and I'm done until night. I felt this was a better option for me. Going to the hospital 3 times a week for up to 6 hours a day just didn't seem like a good fit for my lifestyle. So here's hoping I made the right decision.

Friday, June 19, 2009

As usual I'm a day late and a dollar short. The powers that be have gone and changed the system. I was just starting to understand a little about SEO and Meta Tags, and now I can learn the new way. The internet Guru's all make it sound so easy, but for an old farm boy like me it's a load of Blah Blah Blah. At least now I understand some of what they are saying and doing, I'm not completely in the dark. This internet system changes faster than the weather. New ideas, new systems, new avenues to explore. It just keeps growing. So now I'm off to find myself in cyberspace and try to make it so others can find me easier. It all in using the right words , at the right time, in the right places. Yee haw, here I go again.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

It's Not Getting Any Better

I never considered myself in terms of being a "nice guy" or not. I always felt that I was fair to other people when dealing with them. But that isn't the way business is done in our society today. People don't stand behind their work anymore. I just had a new motor put in my old truck and I have been having problems ever since. Now my mechanic says it's not their problem, it's due to the age of my truck. The starter fell off going down the road. The mechanic says that couldn't happen, someone had to remove it. The mechanic as much as called me a liar when I said the truck was running and I had started it three times that morning. He told me that that didn't happen that way. I was there. I was driving. Don't tell me it didn't happen. So needless to say they won't fix it without charging me an arm and a leg to fix their screw-up. So the old saying "Nice Guys Finish Last" comes true once again. 10 years this shop has been doing all my vehicle repairs. I have purchased all my tires from them also. This must be the thanks I get for being a loyal customer. So I must be a nice guy after all because I 'm finishing last for sure.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Not having a Good Day

I'm TICKED RIGHT OFF!!!! My poor old truck is in trouble again. The 1st of April we had to put a new engine in our truck or junk it. We decided on the engine as our cheapest and best option at this point in time. When we got it back from the garage it ran well but it just wasn't right. We were assured that all was well. It started developing shifting problems. Once again we were told no problem. Today it became a problem. Going down the road and we heard a small bang. I thought I hit a stone or something and kept going. When we got to the Blue Lagoon, I parked to unload. After unloading I went to move the truck, turned the key and received a click. I opened the hood and got a shock, the starter was gone! I looked closer and found the guard on the bell housing was missing. No wonder the clutch wasn't working right! Yeah, I'm TICKED OFF!!!!!!!!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

We have been busy this week increasing the size of our inventory. I have been building as fast as I can and Elaine has been painting up new things as fast as she can. Each week-end at the Marketplace at the Blue Lagoon has been a little better than the week before. Our hope is that this will continue. This week-end is village wide garage sale in Sylvan Beach so people will be out and about all week-end. It is always a crap-shoot at any event but so far this has worked out well and summer hasn't started yet. So we will build and paint and paint and build. No matter what, we will have a good time this week-end. We will be at the BEACH.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Making Progress

I can finally sayI'm making progress on all fronts. I have learned how to use Twitter better. That get us more exposure for our Etsy shop. Our week-end venture is working out well. With the summer season about to begin, our hopes are that this will continue and get better. Our new style frames seem to be accepted by the public so I'll continue to make them. And finally, after many Doctor visits, I'm now waiting for a surgical appointment. Maybe sometime soon I will be ready to start dialysis and get some of this backed up waste out of my system. I know I'm never going to be like I used to be, but I will have to be better than I am most of the time now. So all is going well at this point in time. We'll call that PROGRESS.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Promoting yourself can be real hard, but it has been fun learning. Everyday my Twitter following grows and we get more visitors to our ETSY shop. Promoting yourself seems like bragging in a way. You tell people what you have and tell them why they should buy from you instead of someone else. This isn't any secret. Big businesses have been doing this kind of advertising for years. We know it works so where's the problem. Money for a big add campaign! So I will keep posting and keep telling about our products the way I have been. Not because I'm too cheap to pay for advertising, I couldn't afford it even if I wanted to. It may take me some time to build up sales, but I'm having a good time learning and I'm meeting some great people along the way. Welcome to the 21st century Jay. The internet market is my oyster, I have to learn to open it.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Marketplace at the Blue Lagoon

The marketplace at the Blue Lagoon, in Sylvan Beach, has been a good time so far. Every week-end us vendors turn the lawn into a shopping center. Some of us are there every week-end and they add new sellers all the time. Since Sylvan Beach is a resort village, we have a new crowd of people every day. The weather and sales have been good and the summer season isn't really here yet. There is a nice variety of vendors. Some are crafters, some are retailers, some sell candy, and some are selling antiques. If a person can't find what they want at the marketplace they can still enjoy a round of miniature golf.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Twitter Works

My Twitter account just keeps growing. I'm not doing any gimmicks or anything crazy. I just keep following people who are in a similar business. I follow people who post interesting articles and points of interest. I follow these people in order to learn from them and most follow me in return. Now I have a large base to learn from. There is always something of interest right there on my twitter home page. Twitter is a good tool, all I have to do is learn how to use it properly. I post my new etsy listings on twitter and I post my new blogs there also. Twitter works. I know because I get views on my other sites after I post on Twitter. I get seen! That's proof enough for me that Twitter works!

Friday, June 5, 2009

Getting Ready

This week-end we are going back to the Marketplace at the Blue Lagoon in Sylvan Beach. So far, it has been pretty good and shows promise of getting better. This is the first year that the owners have tried this. Blue Lagoon is a miniature golf site and we set up on the lawn. Sylvan Beach is a small resort village on the east end of Oneida lake. There is a new crowd of vacationers, boaters, and tourists every week-end so it is different every week-end. The owners are hoping for more vendors when school is out and more people are available. So far , so good. The owners are happy, the vendors are happy, and most important, the customers and general public are happy. Ok, it's time to finish a few projects and start to load the truck. The weather is supposed to be good this week-end so people will be out and about. So we're off on another handmade adventure!

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Spooky


That Darn Cat. I think it was Disney who made that movie, but I'm not sure. Our cat "Spooky" could star in the remake. Zing, zoom,bang and he's off! He might be just chasing his tail and away he goes. He has a leash to go outside. It only takes a little breeze to make him happy. The grass moves a bit and he's got a play toy. Then it's time for a nap. What a life! No worries, a warm dry bed, and all the food he can eat! I'm jealous!!! When he wakes up, his alter ego will appear. Just like people, he get's attitude. He goes from 12lb. lovey cat to a miniature tiger. Fingers become chew toys and legs become scratch trees. Then a few seconds later and the lovey cat is back. Time for a nap again

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Can't seem to concentrate. Working on inventory for the marketplace this week-end and just can't get it together. Nothing is happening. My creative side is out to lunch. No new ideas are coming. I need to add something new, but nothing is jumping into my mind. I'm just blank. I know I'll come up with an idea when I'm not really ready for it, but at least I'll have it. It will come on it's own, I can't force it. So it's time to eat supper and maybe relax for a little while. Who am I trying to kid with that relax line. I know I didn't buy it. Did you?

Monday, June 1, 2009

Confused

When I looked at the calender today I got a little shock. It says today is June 1, no shock there, June 1 always follows May 31. Then I looked at the thermometer. 34 degrees. No way can this be true. But there it was. June 1 and I have my furnace running. That's just not right. Who ticked off Mother Nature this time? Here in central New York, we should be in the 80's during the day and the 60's at night by now. This is April weather not June.I'm so confused. Oh well, time to put on my coat and get started on my day. Maybe I'll build a clock today. Hmmm. That might not be a bad idea.

Friday, May 29, 2009

I've not been feeling very well this week so I haven't been online as much. A few things have changed though. We rented vendor space at Blue Lagoon in Sylvan Beach. We will have this spot on week-ends thru Labor Day. Traffic last week-end was pretty good. This was the first time this was tried by the owners. The weather was good and people were out enjoying the beach. We made some contacts and had some sales, so time will tell. Relisted some items on etsy this afternoon and BANG!!! We had a sale of a relisted item. A fast return on our .20 cent investment. I wish it happened like that all the time.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Sale

This simple little 4 letter word has a tremendous effect on society. It seems like people just jump at the word. They don't really need to buy anything, but it's a sale! Off they go to spend the day at the mall. Once they get there, they can't find the right color or size. Then they find out that they can't get a raincheck. Now they are ticked off and head to the food court to relax. Who ever relaxed at the food court. Kids crying, others yelling and running around. All this fun makes me want to run right over to the mall right now! OH BOY!! For a quieter time at a sale, check out my etsy shop. All framed prints are on sale until 6/14. Go to OldTimeCountryCrafts.etsy.com and have a look around.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

I Stumbled

I'm disappointed with myself. I didn't stay strong in my commitment. I gave in to Nic yesterday and had a cigarette. I have not lost the battle against smoking, but it is step backwards. I will beat this. So it's off on day 3 in my battle with nicotine.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

48 Hours and Counting

Well it's off on day 3 of this smokeless adventure. I really think it's the habit that is the hardest to break, not the addiction. My habits tell me it's time for a smoke more than mine physical need for nicotine. Driving should be done with a cigarette. Meals taste better with a cigarette. All the things that I always did with a cigarette now seem different without one. But it's the habit of having one that makes me want one. My need for nicotine doesn't seem to be as great as my need to hold a cigarette between my fingers. On my way , 48 hours and counting.

Monday, May 18, 2009

24 Hours Later

It's been 24 hours since my last cigarette and so far ,so good. Good old Nic-O-Tine is right here waiting , teasing, and laughing at me. Just one puff, what can it hurt? Just one will take the edge off. I've heard, said, and made enough of those excuses in the past 33 years. Now it's time to just face myself and face life without nicotine. To be honest, I don't feel a real urge to have a smoke,but I find myself reaching for one just out of habit. So now it becomes mind over matter. I don't mind so nicotine doesn't matter. I refuse to be controlled anymore.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Competition; Nic and I

Once again, today I will try to beat an old nemesis. The battle will be fought on three fronts. Physical, emotional, and psychological . My nemesis, actually my old friend Nic, is a lazy little bum. Nic doesn't do anything but get you to do it all. I don't need a boss anymore. So much for the emotional battle. As for the physical battle, I'm just going to step on Nic and rub Nic in the dirt. Done deal. Just a spot on the ground. Right where Nic deserves to be, rubbed out. The psychological part may prove to be the tough fight. Nic has a hold on me, sometimes almost to the point of controlling me. When I put it that way, I guess I would be Nic's dog on a leash. Looking at Nic like this makes me think of a past employer. Irv was a big man, 6' 4" and over 300lbs. He used to laugh at me. He would say," Jay, you argue with me over the way we should do something and not be afraid at all. But when Nic speaks, the rest of the world stops. You have to listen to Nic!" Irv didn't like Nic at all, and with good reason. Nic interupted the work place and wasted time. More important though, Nic wasted money. I doesn't walk so I carried Nic around. When Nic called for my attention, I was there. But no more of this nonsense. Nic can't control me anymore. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I have smoked for 33 years but I am done with Nic-O -Tine.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Facts of Life

Is there anything out there that doesn't have an effect on our lives? We do create some of our own problems, that are ours alone, but many of life's problems are shared by all of us at one time or another. We all face growing older with it's multitude of changes and as far as I know, there is no fountain of youth. Oh how I miss the hair on the top of my head, and hate the hair in my ears. We all face money problems of one kind or another at some point in our lives. We have to adjust to the problem or fight a losing battle against a system with no mercy. Our health is our one solitary battle. Everybody is a little different. Symptoms are hidden so we don't even know we have them.The cure isn't always 100% and isn't always easy.The facts of life are not always fun facts.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Patience

Sometimes I get a little frustrated with myself over things that I shouldn't let control me. Competing in the internet world of marketing is huge and takes some time to get established, especially on a zero budget for advertising. Everyday I post here and on other sites to get attention for my shop and it's working, up to a point. I'm getting people looking at my shop and that's part of the battle won. If they find me once and look around, hopefully they will return at some point and buy. I know I can't sell to every person who comes along. That would be great but that's not going to happen. Patience is a virtue they say. They also say that all things come to those who wait. So it's off to another day of promoting and building. Later I have to load the truck for tomorrows craft show. I never thought I would be hunting for attention, I used to think I attracted it.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

The Good Old Days

What made the Good Old Days so good? It sure wasn't because life was easier. It wasn't because we didn't need things. I think the thing that made them good was our age. Because we were younger we were able to adjust quicker to change. We may have been more open minded which allowed us to accept change more willingly. Plus we had to prove to the "grown-ups" what we knew and what we could do. Every generation goes through this proving stage. New methods are born and the old way is passed by and retired. We have all been a part of this change process. Some invented the change, but most of us just followed along and did our part. So were the Good Old Days really any better or we just more adaptable?

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Things Change


Someone once said that the only thing that remains the same is change. When I move the cobwebs and stir up the dust in my mind I am reminded that change is constant. Each day is similar but different. We are not the same as we were yesterday. We're the same person in some ways but we are changed by life. Being a person who makes something to sell, these small daily changes provide us with the opportunity to be creative. Our creativity then becomes a force of change, and the ball of change rolls on. Not every person will like my work, some will find it just awful. But for those who do, I will try to keep up with the pace of change.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

TheJumble in my Mind

Everyday we make a countless number of decisions that affect our lives. We base these decisions on the information that we have available. Some of these decisions require no thought and are almost automatic. Others demand our attention. Today's dilemma for me is life altering. Which medical procedure do I choose? Which one will offer the best solution? 3 doctor's advice, 2 options, both with pros and cons. Both come with restrictions, but which one offers me the most freedom?
What to build today? What to promote today? These are simple to answer and require no real thought. What to do about my health problem is going to take me a little time. I first have to sort out the Jumble in my Mind.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Turtle Mode or Snail Speed

Everything today just seems to take f..o..r..e..v..e..r. Not that I'm in any great rush today but, gee whiz. When I can type faster than my computer can list it, something is wrong. I type using only one finger, never more than 10 words a minute. Truly Snail Speed! So my computer must be having a bad day or it just knows that it's 5 o'clock SOMEWHERE. My cell phone is having the same kind of day. I've been trying for an hour to send a picture to my son. The phone is in TURTLE MODE. Me and my electronic world, what a happy place to be.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

What is TODAY ?

A very small and simple question, the answer isn't small or simple. Someone once said ,"Today is yesterday's tomorrow." Someone else said,"What we are today is the sum total of our yesterday's." The mistakes we make are learning experiences that aid in making us who we are today. Almost everyone has said, " If I could only go back and change something." If we did go back , it would change everything from that point on, even us , to the extent that we would not be the same either. Sometimes I'm not content with myself but I know me. If my life had been different, maybe I wouldn't be any better off. I'd just be different.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Moving On

Today I'm going to try to remain positive. This could be quite a challenge since I am one of the world's great pessimists. I am always seeing the cup half empty, never half full.
So with that said, I will get back to work and I will try to keep not only my eyes open,but also my mind.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Still Learning


I haven't been feeling well lately, so I haven't kept up with my work like I should. I haven't been listing new items in our Etsy shop. I haven't been promoting like I should. I haven't been here to my blog. What I have been doing is slacking off and making excuses to myself. So now it's time to get off my lazy butt and get back to work.
In my quest to learn how to market online, I think I'm learning. Although I have to admit that it is a slow process and more complicated than I thought. There is alot of good advice to be obtained by reading what other people post. The things that work ,those that don't, and will it work for me. The thing I find the most amazing though is how much information is readily available. Just click and read. It can't get much easier than that.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Rules To Sell By


Everyday I try to learn something new about how to sell successfully online. During this learning process I have found certain things that I can group together. This grouping allows me to get a better idea of how to go about using information that I have gathered. The groups are real simple : WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, HOW, and WHO. The hard part is knowing what goes where, why it goes there, and when to put it there. I feel like I should have Bud Abbott and Lou Costello here to help with this.


WHAT is the easy one to answer, What do I have to offer? Handmade homedecor items made of wood. Easy answer!

WHEN is my product available? Another easy answer, 24/7 online at my website. The website is OldTimeCountryCrafts.etsy.com. That also answers the WHERE question. Now is when it starts getting tougher.

WHY should people buy from me? Can't they get the same thing some place else? What can I offer that no one else offers? This must be what politicians go through during a campaign. Yes, I make a damn good product, I have a good selection, and I can build it specifically for you to fit your color and size needs.

HOW may well be the hardest to work on. HOW DO PEOPLE FIND MY PRODUCT ? Simple right, it's online. Then the reallity appears, there's millions of things online!! How are they going to find me? After hours of looking and reading posts from other people I have to wonder, am I learning how to sell online or am I just killing time and having a little fun? Promoting on a limited budget is a real challenge but I'm going to keep trying. I will post on social networks and any other place I can find that will let me post for free. I'm starting a mailing list also. Learning KEYWORDS was not as easy as I thought but it does real well.

WHO is the question I like best. And just like Abbott and Costello, WHO's ON FIRST? WHO is on first because WHO needs my product!!!!!!! WHO is the consumer!!!!!!! WHO is YOU!!!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Thursday Thoughts

I often wonder why I'm not satisfied with the way things are. Why can't I just be like ever other Tom, Dick, or Harry and never try to change who or what I am? Why do I want to do something that other people might find rather foolish? Maybe they are right and maybe I am foolish but I'm still going to do what I'm doing.
I like to take a piece of wood and make a useful and decorative object out of it. No two Items are identical even though they are built to be. The wood itself creates a unique design in ever piece. When I was working as a contractor on a house what you were doing soon became apparent to all who looked. Now they just have to look in a different place.
I don't mind being different and not just do the same old thing over and over again. I probably will never get rich building and selling my products but I'll bet that I have some fun in the process.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Where does the time go ?

It's already the middle of another week and almost the middle of another year. Where does the time go? Have I gotten anything done or has the time just been wasted? No matter what I get done, I always feel that I should have been able to do more and do it faster. Oh well , I guess what will be will be. So it's on to my next project, list more items in our shop, finish a project or two that I have started, Then see if I can find my kitchen table again. I know it's under there somewhere.
In honor of EARTH DAY , I am offering a framed print of Yosemite National Park for 25% off with free shipping in the continental United States , TODAY ONLY . You can get it in our etsy shop. Here's the link @http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24026083

Monday, April 20, 2009

Not just another Monday

Another week-end is gone and now begins another work week. Hmmm, I just remembered, I worked all week-end so where is the begining and the end of work? Just one more perk for being self-employed I guess. I'm not complaining, this is what I choose to do and I do love doing this. I always thought that a 40 hour week meant that you only worked part time, so the hours I devote to making and selling my products doesn't bother me. If you truly like what you do I don't think that you are bothered by time invested.
So I guess I was right. It's not just another Monday.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Something Different

I'm going to be different today. I've decided not to complain about things as much as I usually do. The fact remains that I still have alot to learn about marketing and promoting online. But if I spend my time working on learning how to do a better job, I'll have less time to complain.
So, as it's a nice day here in central New York, I've spent my day promoting. I talked to my son this morning. My 2 1/2 year old grandson was helping make breakfast with his mother while my son was playing with the baby. It still seems strange to think that I'm a grandfather. Where did the years go.
Time to get back to work. I'll learn something today and maybe even sell something

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Marketing Woes

Mother's Day is coming, everyone is either buying or selling or both. Everyone is looking for the perfect gift for mom, so how do we get them to shop with us becomes the big question. Finding the right way to do this can take time, time costs money so we have to find the right way fast or lose the sale. Just what we need, more pressure. And I thought I knew everything when I was in school, what a fool I was. It seems like I'm calling myself a fool quite often lately. There's nothing like being an "old dog" trying to learn "new tricks". The learning process never stops, we just don't realize this when we are young. Today I'm wondering if I can learn how to have a successful
internet business or will I go crazy trying. That is the question that I need to answer correctly. The future is ours, all we have to do is find where we fit in it.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Marketing Online

I'm a complete novice at online marketing but I need to keep a record of my "progress", or at least I hope I'm making progress. It's a different and difficult world online (as if my life offline was easy). As of today, this is what I learned about selling my handmade goods online.

(1) I didn't do any research into how to successfully sell online, list and sell right? What a fool. It would be nice if it worked but much to my dismay, it doesn't.

(2) How to get customers to my site? $64 question and my answer may not be worth 2 cents. Do I use free ads or do I pay and where in the heck do I do this?

(3) At first I wondered, what the heck is social networking and how the heck is this going to help me sell my woodcraft? To repeat myself from earlier, what a fool.

(4) So now that I know a little about social networking, and a little how to promote my woodcraft, what's next? Keep learning you FOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok. So I guess what I've learned most about so far is myself. Since I hate to call myself a fool, I had better get back to work and learn how to do a better job of online marketing.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

You know you want to look ......So................LOOK

I know, everybody wants you to look at their products, everybody has a deal "To Good To Pass Up". Believe me, I've heard them all just like you have. So , I'm not going to make you any promises, I'm not going to tell you that you have to buy from me. All I'm going to say is that I would like you to check out our store and see if you like our products or not. We make everything we sell and we sell everything we make. We also welcome custom orders. So stop by, look around, and tell us what you think.


Etsy
Buy Handmade
OldTimeCountryCrafts

Friday, April 10, 2009

What works best?

When it comes to promotion, what works best? Do we keep posting on social networks, or do we pay for advertising, or do we use both? The world is our marketplace, how do we promote our product to the consumer who wants and needs it? I know I'm completely baffled by all of it. Doing craft shows was easy, you go,set up, sell, pack up and go home. That was not complicated at all. The internet is something completely different and I'm not sure I'll ever get the hang of it. Generating hits and getting sales may be out of my league. This competing with the"big guys" is far tougher than I thought it would be, learn as you go may be to slow.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Give me a BREAK

Well the week-end is over, so now we get to do it all over again. Right? Wrong. The first thing I have to do is see if my old truck is repairable or if it will cost more than it's worth. The new parts that were installed on friday were defective so now I may have more problems than before. Time will tell. On the bright side, we had a good time at the craft show. Seen some old friends, made some new one's, and sold some items. I wish we had sold more, but then I always wish that. All in all, I can't complain. We had a good location and there was a good crowd so it was a good time, all except for the truck incident. Better days are coming, oh , if I only believed that was true.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Craft show

We went to set up last night for today's craft show and I wish I could say it went smooth and uneventful but that was not the case. Rainy and cold all day for loading and driving, then just for excitement we had truck problems on the way. Fun, Fun, FUN. How boring would life be if everything went right? I don't know, but it would be nice to try it once just to see if I liked it.Oh well , it's 5:45 am and time to get dressed to go and drive 60 miles in the rain. On the bright side, at least the show is inside so the rain won't bother me all day. I hope it doesn't keep the people away.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Week-end Craftshow

Getting ready for what I hope is a good show this week-end, but don't we always hope it's going to be a good show? I mean really, would we go through all the work that's required to do a show if we already knew that we had no chance at any sales? We all love what we do but I'm sure most of us like to sell it almost as much as we like to make it. People love to shop, but the real challenge is to get them to buy from you, not someone else. Your presentation and your product don't stand a chance if the show isn't promoted well and attendance is poor. So many things to consider. Oh well , in reality it comes down to us promoting ourselves. Craft shows are good exposure for us. We will give out business cards and get e-mail addresses for future contacts and hopefully make some sales. I know that I will see some old friends this week-end and I will meet some new ones, so it will be a good time.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

New Color

I personally never liked painted wood as a decorative item. Being a woodworker I always liked seeing the grain in the finished product, seeing the texture of the tree that this wood was a part of, seeing something that nature created for our use and enjoyment. But everyone's tastes are different, which is a good thing, we like different designs and colors. We want our own look, one that nobody else has. we need to be unique. This is one thing that makes us individuals, we can choose to be different. As people of the "handmade" community, we have the opportunity to create these unique designs for the individual tastes and needs of the public. As usual, I got away from the point of this post. I am starting a new line of painted decor products. First up will be this black frame in the 8x10 size . More colors and styles will be added in the next few days.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Thinking

Always thinking of new and better product designs , you can never rest in the world of "handmade". Being a woodworker specializing in home decor, I sometimes find myself lost in a design that I personally don't like . Although this makes it harder to complete, I must stay at my post until it is finished. As I get older, I realize more often that I have to design for a wider scope of home decor schemes. When I started doing this 30 years ago, I only built in the "colonial" style . To compete in todays market I will need more options .

So it's off to the design sector of my world to see what I can come up with . Nothing like a little handmade design time to keep me out of trouble .

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Promotion

It's not taking the time to promote, it's making the time to promote. You can make a great product but if shoppers don't know it's there, how are you going to make a sale? Making product and promotion have to work together to get the sales . I'm trying this idea of making time for promotion. I have my products up for sale so now I need to concentrate on getting people to know what I have and where it is . So as much as I like working with wood, I'm leaving my saw alone and I'm going to be hard at work on promotion.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Spring is almost here



Well the snow is gone here in central New York and I'm ready for mowing the lawn, working in my garden, and the outdoor craft show season. I'm working on some new item's and I will still have my regular things that people want . New for this year will be some shabby-chic home decor items . When these get finished I will post them . I will be eager to here what you all think . In the meantime, here's a couple of my old standby's for you to view . Talk to ya soon , Jay

Thursday, March 12, 2009