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.

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.

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!

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!

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

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?

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.