Sandy - we're helping

A lot has happened since my last post, including a move to south Texas. Less than 4 months later Sandy devastated the area. Luckily our hometown wasn't hit as hard, but New York and New Jersey will never be the same. Since I can't do anything hands on right now, I'm donating ALL proceeds from sales from any of my direct sales sites. If you want to buy a Noah's Ark animal (or 5) for children who lost everything in that area, I do have an address of someone *in* a devastated area who is distributing donations to shelters. My facebook page for my business is Shelszoo Superstores where my links are posted. I will keep people updated on our progress as we get donations sent.
Thank you for any help!

after the storm

We survived Irene and even kept our power. I did manage to finish another headband and cut ribbons to do more. Now I need a chunk of time where I can sit down and do nothing but craft! I have some shows coming up and I'd like to have some more stock made to sell.

I managed to get my helper interested in crafting and she'll be making some stuff to sell, along with a couple of things we have for her to sell - bracelets and beads. We're keeping our eyes out for other goodies she can make to sell too. I'm always on the lookout for stuff I can make to sell - just need the money for supplies and a space to store everything! lol

So far I don't have a busy fall/ holiday show season planned, but I'm hoping to add shows as the time gets closer. I have to be a little more choosy on shows due to the financial aspects. Last year was to get my name out, now I'm looking for more sales.

I'm planning to look into a spot in a craft mall and consignment stores. Just have to get some stock built up and the time to actually go and talk to the people in charge.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope to have pictures soon of more stuff I do and stuff my helper makes!

Starting the season

This is usually my busy time with shows, but I'm going to be taking it a bit easy this year. I'm going to look into some consignment stores and picking my shows carefully. With a move planned, I'll also be spending alot of time selling stuff online. Looking to get a night job as well. That will cut into my crafting time, but it's just something I have to do right now. My newest venture (see pic above) doesn't actually take me too long to do. I just have to slow down and make sure I keep the ribbons tight or I end up undoing all the work - which isn't too bad unless I'm almost done! I plan to spend more time making these headbands so I have some stock for upcoming shows. I do have some other things I'm making and selling, plus stuff my oldest little will be doing. We have a huge show coming up and I'm hoping we do well. At least to make it worth getting up and driving there. I'll be spending the day with 2 of my favorite vendors, so that's always a plus!

Going to go work on headbands while it's quiet - at least until a cat comes to attack the ribbons!

August- impossible!

Here it is August and I don't have my calendar filled for fall. I'm seriously slacking! I think I was underwhelmed at the spring shows and I'm looking to be a little more selective on the fall shows. Make sure they have a decent following before I sign on.

I put in my Uppercase order for new catalogs, Blume catalogs (new line of jewelry), and a few other things that I hope help me get more orders. I'll wait to order a bunch more animals and some outfits. Also did an order for some girly stuff to sell at shows. They go well with the towel ad diaper cakes. Been working more on the headbands. Managed to do a thinner one last nght at football. Didn't take me long at all. Just can't work too far ahead without clipping or I get confused. We all know it doesn't take much to confuse me! lol I'll expand that line once I get organized here with listing clothes and stuff for sale. I have to get busy with that since school starts soon and I'll have 4 doing school plus the little guy trying to do some school stuff like the older ones. Add in football, driving another to/from work, cleaning, crafting and I may not have time to sleep! Still figuring out adding in a night job. Looking to catch up on all my click to earns and surveys, then maybe add in something like a researching job since I spend hours on here daily now. Might as well make money from all the time I'm on here!

I'm looking to expand my line of what I sell. I did buy some stuff to sell that will be here next week. That means I *have* to book some shows! I also found a couple of things I'd like to make. My only issue is space and little man getting into my stuff. If I could figure out where to store my stuff safely, maybe then I could make up a bunch of stuff beforehand to sell. Like the cute candy bouquets and cakes I saw in a magazine. A few other things caught my eye, but the money issue is stopping me from making those right now. Maybe if I can get better at blogging I could get more followers and actually make a couple of bucks doing this. *grin* Not big bucks, but it could help me sell what I make too. Not sure I can make my blog pretty though. I'm not a real computer person.

Just got handed another basket to sort. Real life intrudes!

the weekend

I actually made it to Friday! Tomorrow the development is having a yard sale, wasn't going to put anything out, but now I'm thinking I just might! I can have my tables like for my shows (with all my business stuff, flyers, etc.) and a table with some kids clothes. Just quarter on the kids clothes, and I'll only put them out. I don't have much luck with yard sales - even when I have stuff at a quarter, someone wants them cheaper. Sorry, can't buy unstained clothes for under .25 anywhere!

Sunday I signed up for a vendor event. It's a little further than I'd like, but it's a playground fundraiser. That should mean lots of parents. Which, I hope, means I'll have some sales. Now I just have to get busy with my hair clips and headbands. There's still more I'd like to make, but we have no room to store it, little man would destroy anything in his way, and there's always that money issue. Just can't justify spending money on supplies right now.

I'm still listing on webstore, right now it's my clothes and some of my oldest's stuff. Hoping to get a bit more organized tonight, sort more littles stuff, and maybe start trying on all my stuff. I know I'll have more I can get rid of and whittle down the mountains of clothes in front of the tv in here.

Maybe after the yard sale here I can walk around and put flyers in doors and hand out the salon flyers. We'll have to see about the weather though. It seems to like to rain when I want to do something lately.

All right, better start on the littles pink persons clothes and then start on some of the hair clips.

Keeping Busy!

Found an event for Saturday. It's a doggie adoption event, and as long as we have good weather, we should get a good turnout. Hoping to be able to make a couple of puppy cakes for this - puppy wee pads, treats, toys, ribbons. Think they'd do well. I'll also do some diaper and towel cakes to show and have a sign that I do custom orders. Plus my animals, Uppercase, Greeting cakes. I think I'll do a couple more journal jars and some s'mores jars. Maybe a couple of seasoning mixes, too. I may have some pet treat in a jar recipes I can do. Hmmm. Going to have to look into that one. Not sure I have enough time to do some bath bombs and bath bomb cupcakes. I'd like to do a couple of pet beds, but will need to get fabric and a couple other things first. Lost my thought on what else wanted to do! lol Yep, if I don't do a list, I totally lose what I wanted to do!

Jim's been busy on the weekends, and needs my truck. I'm just doing some last minute bookings for shows since I don't know when he'll need to use my truck and when I can get to a show. No problem since I don't make much right now at the shows. I can use the time to list on webstore and make some stuff for upcoming shows. I know one of the good ones is coming up in August, plus I got info on some car shows where I'd like to set up. Just have to keep football in mind when I book shows! It's not only the games, we have other events like feeding them before games, making sandwiches for them for game days and other things we do for the boys. I'm going to try to do all I can since it'll be his last year (*sniff, sniff...SOB*). I think after the holidays, instead of booking like mad for spring, I'll take time to do some consignment and online sales. The spring shows just haven't been profitable for me (or most people I've been talking to). Plus I'll be in the final countdown for moving, so I'll be doing the last bits of decluttering and packing things and all that goes with a distance move.

I'm trying to keep up on my facebook page (ShelszooSuperstores), and have 150 fans so far. Will have to look into doing a give away soon! Maybe a Greeting Cake for this one. Don't have many things from UL I could use since I've been doing quite a few events that want donations of what I sell. The last raffle blitz rally wiped out my supply of expressions. Hoping to add to them this month with the Buy 2 Get 1 Free deal. Add a couple of display items and get stuff I can use for the raffle blitzes.

Busy weekend

Yes, another busy weekend! lol Tomorrow I have a show in Allentown to help raise funds for the Light the Night Leukemia/Lymphoma charity. Pack up and head to the Freedom Football golf tournament. Hoping for sunny skies for once!! I get to come home and crash after that, then Sunday it's a car show to raise funds for the local youth programs in Wind Gap. A bit of a drive, but hoping for a good turn out. I've done well at outdoor car shows (the one I did where we were indoors was a bust due to the home show that weekend as competition). I'll be sorting bags and organizing stuff since I may need to take all the kids Sunday, unless the oldest has off.

Looking for a grant to help build my business, but I can't seem to find any for the "cottage" industry. Would be nice to be able to make up more crafts to sell and possibly get into a consignment shop or two. Any ideas??

Sorry, this one is going to be short. I have to go work on my pile of work supplies!