Summertime!

Hi there everyone! Just thought I'd update my blog with a quick hello!! I hope everyone has been enjoying their summer!

It's been slightly on the cool side here, but not going to complain...as long as there's no snow, I'm pretty darn happy!

I've been busy with my two shops http://www.jenscloset.etsy.com/ and http://www.mymilkglassshop.etsy.com/ and of course, last week I had the excitement of winning the Etsy contest for my ruby red fenton candholders...thanks so much for your votes!

I am also enjoying the mom-taxi service I am still providing to my youngest daughter, Katherine. Since she is 16 and will soon have her license, I'm guessing I'll loose that job!

I have also just started a new business venture that I will tell you more about in a few weeks. I'm trying different ways to promote it...and it's local thing, but I really feel there's a need for it in our area...I'll fill you in soon!

Enjoy the sun..and even the occasionally rain (I actually think of rainy days as cozy days!)!

Thanks for following my blog! I would absolutely love to feature anyone's shop on my blog anytime, so just comment and I'll get back to you asap!

Best wishes to all!

Jen

I Had A Bad Day

So what's a bad day to you? Bad hair day..or bad traffic trying to get to work? Maybe it was too cold, too hot, too rainy, or...even too sunny!?

In a few days it will be the day we celebrate the 4th of July!

All I can think of is the men and women that fight for our country everyday. They're away from their wives, their husbands, they're children.

Can you imagine being in iraq or iran or wherever you're stationed...without your family? Or perhaps your family has followed you to where you are stationed..do you think that's easy for the family? No...probably not...but they do it. Who are they doing all of this for?

Well...let me think about that...for maybe a 2nd! I know who they are doing all of this for! For all of us! It's not just one person...it's a family..it's the entire family that is sacrificing for us!

So please take time during the fun times this weekend, to remember what this is all about..our freedom..and the people that keep on fighting for our freedom..they are our hero's--I know the word hero mean a lot these days..like movie hero's...whatever hero's you can think of! I know who are true hero's are..

But right now I'm focusing on the hero's that are away from their family's...and the family's that that are away from their hero's..their dads, their moms, their daughters, their sons...

I thank you....you are not forgotten.

Thank you so much for our 4th of July 2009!!

and best to you and your families! for without you,we would not be celebrating this day!

Jen

The Power of Twitter

This blog update is not for non-twitter-people who "don't understand twitter"...this is for the true believers...my friends..my twitter friends! The ones, that no matter what time of day/night it is, are there...and look when I say I listed something new, or when some drama has happened and I just need my friends to chat with...

Here's proof of the power of http://www.twitter.com/ ...I was nominated for an Etsy "award" for my Ruby Red Hobnail Fenton Candleholders, by a twitter friend!! You must check out her absolutely adorable shop http://www.maybeads.etsy.com/ you're sure to find the perfect gift there, or just a fun gift for yourself! Okay...so she was kind enough to nominate me...! During the nomination process others from twitter popped up to lend their support. Here's one http://www.enchantedquilling.etsy.com/ (an Australian darling!!) you must check out her very cool shop also!!

So that's a few of the reasons I love twitter and am on there constantly! Most of my votes-I think just about all of them, came from my twitter friends. I've said this before..I work at home, this is where my office is, my warehouse, etc. I love to talk, that is why I was constantly in trouble at school as a child, and at work as an "adult". So I miss that! I think of twitter friends as my "cubicle friends" --like I'm just workin' away, but chatting over the cubicles until some boss-guy comes along..and the best thing is...there is no boss guy anymore!!

http://www.etsy.com/storque/etc/jenscloset-has-the-spirit-4271/

If you haven't noticed by now from all of my blog updates...I do ramble! This is the actual way I talk...usually very fast, and sometimes I make a little sense, sometimes no sense (nonsense)...and sometimes I surprise even myself, by saying something that truly is unbelievable deep and thoughtful...but not often!

So, what I'm trying to get at is...I love twitter (and even my daughter's boyfriend, Derek www.twitter.com/derekbronish , loves it too! even though Lindsey laughs at us)...and I don't care if you get it or you don't get it-I get it-

So twitter or don't...I will continue and I thank my twitter friends, truly thank them, for all of the times they are really there for me!!

Thank you-you know who you are!!

Love you guys,

Jen

Shopping

Yes...that's a good title! Shopping! Lindsey is home this weekend, and whenever she's home...we are shopping together!

Lindsey was here last weekend too -oh, in case you don't know, Lindsey is my oldest child, and happens to be my best friend too!! anyways--she was here last weekend so we could celebrate her b-day! So of course...we had to go shopping! We went to one of our favorite little places, Francescas ( http://www.francescascollections.com/ ) . They always have the cutest dresses and the prices are so reasonable! Oh--and they're accessories are amazing! Great jewelry-and even better handbags! I have to buy at least one dress everytime I'm there! I love dresses, it's one piece, just add cute shoes and a cute handbag, and you're done! (and they're very comfortable in hot weather!)

Okay-so this weekend was vintage shopping...and since my house is jam-packed-full of vintage china, etc., I focused on looking for jewelry (takes up less space...and it's so darn cute!). Boy...did I hit the jackpot...and I could have bought more, but my little brain finally told me to stop! I am so excited to get some pics of it and get it listed so you can see it all!

I have taken some quick snapshots that I have on flickr www.flickr.com/jenscloset -so take a look and keep watching at http://www.jenscloset.etsy.com/ as I try to list at least one or two of these great pieces each day!

I must get to spin class tomorrow (not spinning yarn-spinning on a bike)...been bad this week-last workout was Thursday! Too much shopping!!

Hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend!!

Take care,

Jen

Bribing with Candy

I just found out my ruby red Fenton hobnail candleholders are up for voting on Etsy! I'm so excited...and hoping it's not illegal to beg for votes...and even bribe with gifts of candy!!

On the serious side, I am excited...so if you do happen to love my ruby red Fenton hobnail candleholders...please vote for them!

Thanks--and I will be updated my next step on shipping soon!

http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?ref=voter&room_id=56

Best to all!

Jen

Happy Father's Day!

In honor of Father's Day...a new look for the blog!

Happy Birthday Lindsey!

Tomorrow is my oldest daughter (oh...and best buddy), Lindsey's 26th b-day! How did that happen! I swear she was just born in Denver, CO, on fathers day..and she happened to be on the news because of that (along with her Dad!).

Lindsey was not easy as a baby..she had colic...so bad! It would start with her just kind of wimpering around 6 pm (yes...I remember all the details!!), and it would gradually go into a full-blow-crying and I felt so bad for her and at the same time I was going nuts! Her Dad worked afternoons, so I didn't have help...and sometimes, well...most nights (sorry Lindsey), I would just have to put you in your crib and let you cry for awhile while I took a little breather.

Okay--so I haven't forgotten that! I never said being a Mom was easy! But guess what? It is still the best job in the entire universe! Despite all the trials and tribulations....I give my unconditional love to all three of my kids. That means no matter what they do, no matter what they become...I will be there, I will love them, and I hope they always know that. If they ever think they're alone, they are not...I'm here whether it's physically or spiritually, I will be there!

Okay-so back to Lindsey! I was fortunate enough to be able to be a stay-at-home Mom.. It wasn't that I was wealthy; her Dad had a pretty good job with United Airlines, but we certainly could have used my income. I just drove a "clunker" and didn't buy all the clothes that I do now! I will never forget this time Lindsey (probably around 3) and I were in a store and I was admiring and wishing I could have this certain dress (or something--I don't even remember what it was) and Lindsey handed me a nickel-and said "here Mom, now you can get it"! I saved that nickel. For years I kept a journal of my Mom-days-with Lindsey-and that is in the journal!

If you're a new Mom-or even an "old" mom (like I am now!!) I highly recommend writing ajournal. For me writing is therapeutic. When I have something tough I'm going through (like my Mom's death), writing helps me sort things out...to pour out all of my emotions. The same was true with me keeping a journal as a young Mom with Lindsey. The good, the bad, and the ugly..all written down!

Sorry, Lindsey, I keep digressing! It's your birthday tomorrow...and after all my babbling...I just want to say how lucky I feel to have you as a daughter and a friend. All the "friends" that have come and gone...well, that's okay!! I have you! My cute little Lindsey (well, you still are pretty teenie!!).

Happy Birthday Lindsey...I love you..and I am so proud of you!

I hope this is the best b-day ever!

Love,

Mom

Okay...Finally Ready for the next step!

weigh it

bubble wrap is my friend!

Packing supplies

It's been a busy week..not sure why business picked up like it has, but I'm happy! So I haven't had time for blogs...I'm going to add the next step.

Let's see...my first step after the excitement of getting notification of a sale (and then jumping up and down!), is to prepare my little thank you note, send a convo to thank the customer, and leave feedback.

Next step:

Gather up my packing supplies, bubble wrap, fragile stamp, a box (I'll talk about boxes more in another blog), packing tape. My investment dollars for my business haven't been to high, the most expensive investment was my camera, which was a good deal, and I love it. For approximately $40 you can buy a scale from www.usps.com it's a must have.

So after my items have been wrapped pretty in pink tissue paper and ribbon added, I bubble wrap the heck out of it! Then..I have newpaper-type paper that I purchase at www.uline.com and I use that to wrap the item up some more!

I pack the bottom of the box with regular newspaper for more cushion, and then add the item to the box and make sure there's no chance for movement while it's on its' trip!

I have my fragile stamp that I stamp all over the box, as well as using my permanent marked to mark "glass" in a few places on the box. I also have fragile stickers that I purchased from www.uline.com . I use a lot of packing tape to be sure it's sealed up tight (I usually just buy the big six-pack of packing tape at office max when they have special deals).

I can prepare my labels at www.paypal.com or www.usps.com unless it's an international shipment, then off to my local post office!

I add one of my moo stickers (www.moo.com ) to my label (my stickers are pics of things from my shop--just a little extra advertising!), and I have a little thank you sticker I add to the box.

Okay--that's enough for now-back to actually packing I need to do!

Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!

Jen

I Got An Order!! Now What!!?

This is the letter I send with a few of my business cards (love the Moo cards!).

As anyone knows that has seen either of my shops, most of my items are fragile! I've learned quite a bit about packing these fragile items in the past year! I'm going to talk more about packing safely in a blog to come soon!

First, of course, there's the excitement of the sale! The first thing I do, after the sale and payment, is to send feedback and a convo to the customer to thank them for their order and let them know when I will be shipping their item (usually it's that day, or at the latest..the next day!).

Then I have a letter I prepare to send with the package, with some of my business cards (you must check out www.moo.com if you haven't already!).

Okay--those are the first 2 steps...the next few steps will be added to my next blog!

Jen

New Update Coming Soon!

Where does the time go!? My next blog update is going to be about packaging! I have taken all the pics...step-by-step of what I do and I'm going to talk about safely packing fragile items..and about making your packages "pretty"! After all...there's so much talk about the economy, we need to appreciate each & every sale, and let our customers feel like they're receiving a gift!

In the meantime..while I was at my endurance spin class yesterday (usually 1 1/2 hrs, but we went 1 3/4-just for fun!)..I was thinking about an idea I had for a blog. I usually get my inspirations while I'm spinning (spinning, in case you don't know..is a great workout class-nothing to do with yarn).

Okay-so my idea was to talk about your choices! I know there are a lot of real things that hold us back, but I also know that there are quite a few things that hold us back, that are just that..."things"..things we make up in our own minds. Excuses why we don't exercise, why we don't open an Etsy shop...whatever, you know what I mean! Believe me, I've talked myself out of quite a few idea!

But we have choices! We can choose to be positive..we can choose to smile at the stranger in the store...we can choose to help out an elderly person struggling to get her mail! For a long time I watched my elderly neighbor, Rea, with her walker, struggle to go out into the road to get her mail. I kept thinking...I should help her! But I just kept thinking it. Finally..I did it--I walked down 3 houses and asked her if I could help her! That turned into a long term commitment, which involved my now 17 yr old son, Mark. He goes and gets her garbage once a week (before that, she would put it in her car (still using the walker) and take it to the end of the driveway and throw it to the curb.

This is not only helping Rea, it's helping a 17 yr old young man to see that he's not the only one in the world, and there are people that need our help!

Okay-anyways-Rea, who is 91 yrs "young" is an amazing lady! And she's turned out to be my friend!

So what was I saying--oh yes...choices--we have choices and we can choose not to help anyone but ourselves...we can choose not to push ourselves to do something new...whatever! You have more chooses that you can imagine!

So just do it--do that one thing you've wanted to do but haven't had the nerve to do! I've had a full year of doing new things..and have loved ever minute of it!

Best wishes to all!!

Jen