Rasta for Christmas!

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www.lovepetals.etsy.com

Hey Guys, check out my latest design on Etsy.  It is a custom made dress for a customer.  I prayed and asked God to send the work and He did it "exceedingly, abundantly"!  It turned out better than I imagined!

Also, Christmas was great!  I spent time with my family.  We share laughs, jokes and even tears of joy!  Its a blessing to have family and share special times.  Things wont always be great but cherish every moment.  They are gone too soon and you cant get time back. 

All through the night I dreamed of new designs.  It was crazy!  I love what I do and cant wait to get started creating my newest vision.  Ill share it when its completed.

Well, gotta go, just wanted to drop you a few lines and share my latest design.  Happy Holidays!

Happy to be here!

I am soooo happy to finally be posting on my blog!  I forgot the password and have been struggling to log on with all of the changes to the site.  But, finally I am here and I am very happy!

I am also happy to be here after hearing about all of the tragedies that have been happening around the nation.  We take life for granted daily and we must realize that tomorrow isnt promised and every moment we have is a blessed gift from God.  Please take the time to tell your friends and family that you love them and treat eachother with respect and love. 

Great things have been happening at Lovepetals.  My orders have been soaring off the roof!  I have been overwhelmed but in a good way.  I am also incorporating knitting with my designs and I am very excited about that.  Learning to knit has been my New Years resolution for several years and finally I have learned.  Of course I am a beginner but prayerfully by this time next year I will be advanced and making wonderful and beautiful new designs.  Stay Tuned!

I just completed a beautiful gown for a customer and she seems very pleased.  I will post pics soon.  Thanks for hanging in there with me and waiting patiently for me to return.  I have found my way back to you and believe me I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE!  I will be posting again soon thanks again and God Bless You!

Exhausted but Happy!

     I am sooo exhausted that I can hardly see straight.  I have been up crocheting until 2am to complete an order.  I am not complaining by any means, just explaining.  I was sharing with a church member that when you ask the Lord for something be prepared for it.  He has a habit of giving it to you in large doses.  And I am thankful for it!!!
      I just put my Christmas Tree up on Friday.  I dont know why I didnt put anything up with yarn!!!  Last year I saw a Christmas Tree and garland displayed in Macy's that was filled only with lights and various colored yarn balls!!!  You know I almost flipped my wig.  lol!
     Just this Saturday I was also in Target and saw ornaments for sale for $5-$6 dollars that were balls of yarn with a snowflake hand embroidered on it.  It was pretty cute, but I have too much yarn at my house to purchase something like that.  But, it makes you think outside of the box. 
     A friend of mine placed a large crochet order for gifts for her son's classmates, her co-workers and his teacher.  I really appreciate her patronizing my shop.  I also appreciate that she thought enough of them to purchase something that was handmade and also made in america!!!  Things like that show that you took the time to be thoughtful in your gift giving. 
     Many times we run to the store to spend lots of money and get caught up in the hustle and bustle instead of being creative!  It is when we sit still and think, pray, meditate, relax. . . . that we hone in on that special gift or think of new and genuine ways to express our love and appreciation for family and friends.
     Dont get caught up in all of the commericals that urge you to spend money that you do or dont have, dont get caught up in trying to compete with someone else, dont get caught up in trying to be something that you arent!  Do you, and if it takes you out of your comfort zone, makes you spend a little more time being thoughtful and creative, it will be well worth it.  You'll be exhausted . . .  but Happy! 
MERRY CHRISTMAS and dont forget that CHRIST is in Christmas! 
                                                                                                                                     Love ya!   

Staying in the Race!

     I am happy, and encouraged! I have seen my etsy website spark to life after a two year dry period.  Dont get me wrong, I have made sales to friends and family off site but not many sales through the website.  I have received alot of activity, views, hearts, etc, but not alot of sales.
     I participated in the Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday sales with a 35% discount.  I posted the sale on my Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/crochetlovepetals) and emailed friends and family to let them know about the discount.  It seemed to have worked!!!  I have been busier than ever!!!  It has sparked a new fire inside of me.
   My sister told me to add new items to my site which are geared towards winter and see how things faire.  So, I made a few scarves and hats and added them.  Voila,  I got a few hearts and then folks started purchasing them and I even have a few custom orders for other items.  Thanks Michelle for those words of wisdom.
     You see, sometimes we get stuck in a rut and continue to do the things we are comfortable with or used to doing.  I had a vision in my mind of what I wanted to make, but Im not sure that I had a feel for what the customer was actually looking for.  So, because I wasnt in tune with them, I wasnt getting any activity. 
     Since I am a stay-at-home/work-from-home Mom, I dont get much interaction with others and hear other view points.  It prompted me to join a new team on Etsy "Etsy Artist of Color" and they have inspired me to network and try new things.  I am excited to see the success of other very gifted and talented artists and to be able to bounce off new ideas and critiques with them.  I am sure they are gonna invigorate me to do more!
     The scripture says : " I have seen something else under the sun:  The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.  Moreover, no man know when his hour will come;"  Ecclesiastes 3:11-12.  So I encourage you and I also encourage myself. . . . stay in the race, be patient, believe and things will eventually work out!  But, you cant just sit and wait. ..  you have to take action. . . you have to run, walk, work, take action!!!  Things will ALWAYS work out for the best!  I love you, smooches!

Is Handmade worth it?

I am a bonafide crochet artist.  I love it!  I live, eat and sleep yarn, needles, stitches, etc..  It is my desire to make something beautiful with hopes that someone, anyone would love it as much as I do and make a purchase.  I get lots of compliments on my work and some inquiries and very few sales.  It doesnt stop me.  Its my passion.  It does discourage me at times.  I see other artists making and selling items hand over fist and wonder why arent my sales going through the roof?

I just read an article on a blog that I saw posted on someone's facebook page.  It was titles, "The cost of handmade."  http://www.somersherwood.com/?p=126  The article was very true.  Most crochet items are one of a kind, uniques, custom and well made.  The price may be a little more expensive but you are talking about materials, experience and custom here!!!  My quibble is that most people want their item as a "pookie" discount.  Honestly, I give away alot of the items I make and mark the prices low because I REALLY want the person to have it.  Most times I walk away only making back what I spent.  Even on my Etsy site. . . Ive marked items low (which makes my items look cheap or not well made) but I find that if I mention a higher price, the little sales I make will disappear.  What can I do??? 

You wouldnt ask the sales rep at Target, Macy's, Bloomingdales, etc to give you a discount unless it was advertised or marked on the ticket.  Why is it that you are so quick to suggest it to a vendor who is out trying to make money off of their hard work and time? 

I dare you to take a chance, help the economy and your local crochet artist or any other artist out there honestly trying to make a living.  What you get will be unique, original, well made and you will get the satisfaction of supporting  someone's business and giving a gift that was thoughtful and made with love.  Try it and let me know what happened!

I say to you that Handmade is DEFINATELY worth it!  Most items are better than store purchased and you wont see someone else in that same item.  Maybe a different color or spin on it but definately not the same. (at least not from my website). But, dont forget to read that article on the blog.  It is a good read with lots of good information.  It will enlighten you.  Have a great day!

Feeling Thankful!

It is the week of Thanksgiving and it seems that most people begin to be very reflectful and thankful!  I am one of those people.  I have things that I can complain about but it wouldnt change a thing.  However, I have too much to be thankful for.  I have a pretty good life!

Im excited today because I just learned that Etsy, the site where my website is hosted, has a new app for the iphone!!! I just downloaded it!!! This is just another tool that I am using to enhance my website and open me up for opportunities to fine tune my business.  I have alot to learn but am very optimistic about my future!

Being sick for those few days gave me the opportunity to reaccess my business, my style, my brand, marketing strategies, etc... However, I did cancel the Pre-Holiday Shopping Boutique & Mixer because of my families illness.  But, I am in the process of re-scheduling and re-vamping it!  We will come back stronger and better.

I am thankful for my beautiful family, my friends, and the talents that the Lord has given me.  Every day that I am alive is another day to continue working, striving, trusting and believing that things will get better.  I would like to show my customers, friends, family and followers how Thankful I am . . . I am offering NO SHIPPING on any purchase until December 26th and 10% off to any and all of my recurring customers. 

This discount will only apply to purchases made through my website.  Delivery options are still available via usps or hand delivery.  I will be distributing raffle tickets for each purchase made and will be raffling a secret item on December 20th!  Good Luck!

So remember. . . . be safe and thankful!  Things might be bad but they could always be worse!  I love you and have a great day!

Too Sick to Crochet!

My hubby got sick last weekend and was down and out! He was laying around on the couch, blowing his nose, taking meds and clicking the remote all weekend. I, on the otherhand, spent that Saturday at the BLISS luncheon and hanging out with my daughters and we both went to church together on Sunday. Also, my new granddaughter had puffy eyes, and a snotty nose. Why did I think I was gonna be immune is a mystery to me!!!

By the middle of the week I began feeling sluggish. I tried to ignore it but it got the best of me by Friday. I have been bed ridden since then!!! I have no voice, I am coughing, feverish, hardly eating or drinking. And, worst of all . . . I HAVE NO DESIRE TO CROCHET!!

Anyone who knows me knows that I crochet morning, noon and night! I always take a bag of yarn and crochet needles with me almost wherever I go and I sit in bed at night crocheting until I can hardly see. However, this is not so this weekend.

I feel horrible, I have been in bed for two days and it doesnt look like things are gonna be any better tomorrow. I am a sickly person. But I dont remember feeling this horrible in a while. Also my middle daughter has been feeling ill and now she is losing her voice also. I have sprayed the house with Lysol and am waiting to see if it will make a difference.

I guess I should be taking a flu shot or whooping cough shot when I get better. I dont want to give the cooties to my grandchildren and I definately dont want to go there again. But, as I lay here thinking of this I guess I am giving my creative side a break for a couple of day. If I wasnt sick I would be crocheting, which I do without a break, and now I have the time to lay and think and visualize something new, beautiful and creative.

The other thing is I wanted to try to learn to knit this year! I learned but I am not as good at it as I want to be. I love how knitted items have a different look and texture than crochet. I want to be as good with knitting as I am with crocheting. Ill keep you posted on my efforts. I know it wont happen before next year, but it will happen!

Well, Im feeling a lil drowsy and I think its time to drink tea or theraflu and go to sleep. Thanks for stopping by. Take some Vitamin C, stay wrapped up and get plenty of rest. I definately dont want you to go through what I am feeling right now! Smooches!