Yesterday I hit a new milestone in my endevours to become a designer-maker, I made my first Etsy sale. I’ve sold a few pieces to friends and at a craft fair but this is my first foray into online selling. What surprised me most was that the lady in question didn’t buy just one piece, she took 4 pieces of my textile art, yes FOUR!

How’s that for a big pat on the back?!! I can’t think of a more sincere way to tell someone you like their work. I’m so happy I have been bouncing around like an excited child 🙂

She sounds like a really lovely lady and is planning to hang a couple of them in her wellness room (she practices holistic therapies), which sounds wonderful.  I hope they bring her serenity and peace.

These are the pictures she selected:

Today is the 1st of February 2014 and this seems like a good point to take stock of the goals I set at the beginning of the year. As a reminder, here they are:

1. dedicate more time to creative activities (I have already “bought” some extra annual leave at work that should allow me to spend 1 day every 2 weeks dedicated to felt making and other creative interests)
2. create at least 50 good quality pieces for sale
3. find alternative sources for selling my works, including at least 2 craft fairs and improve marketing of my work
4. complete my City and Guilds felt making course before August
5. post at least once per week

This is where I am today:

1. I took 2 days leave during January and did manage to dedicate both days to being creative, my biggest worry was that I would just end up doing chores, but I was good and managed to have 2 very productive days, mostly working on my City and Guilds work.
2. I was hoping to average at least 1 good, commercially viable piece per week, this isn’t quite going to plan but I do have 4 pieces that are very nearly finished and hope to share more on those either tomorrow or Monday (I have another day off to be creative on Monday).
3. I have been really rubbish at this one, I haven’t even posted anything new on Etsy in January. In my defence I have identified a couple of local craft fairs that I plan to visit before deciding if they are worth booking a table at but I really do need to get my act together with Etsy.
4. This is back on track, I was about a month behind after spending all of December in Hong Kong and New Zealand but having spent every spare moment in January on my course-work I am back on schedule. If I keep this up I might even finish early!
5. I managed to post 11 times in Jan so I think I can give myself a big tick for that one 🙂

How are you getting on with your New Year’s goals / resolutions?