Organized!

First off... I'm not dead.

While working on bags & wallets for the Big Crafty, I realized that my space was far from efficient. In fact, it was chaos.
I took a few weeks off after the show to relax, but since then I've been taking apart and reorganizing my crafty space.

So I've spent the last month re-doing it all.

And I'm almost ready for the big reveal. I'm gonna finish some stuff up this weekend and SHAZAM! All done!

This is all I'm revealing for now, but I would like to share a link I found while organizing... it's a beautiful to-do list! There is so much going on in this prinitable list... I don't know how someone COULDN'T use it to organize.

Good luck with the list and I will see you soon!

"Fan of" CatzillaCrafts

This week I want to brag about CatzillaCrafts. I admired her stuff online for a while, but a few months back I was able to see her awesome crocheted cacti in person!
Needless to say, I was weak in the knees and I went home with a cute cactus (featuring an even cuter pink flower).

Her Etsy shop is full of many other things besides cacti. There are many plushies (owls, cats & other creatures), cat toys, record bowls & purses.

She also offers crochet patterns. All of it is wonderful and I'm looking forward to buying some more goodies.

CatzillaCrafts has been selling on Etsy for years and her patterns have been featured in magazines and will be seen in an upcoming book.

Please go to her shop, look around... enjoy the desert scenery... and buy me another cactus. They are super affordable, so you can always buy yourself one too!

"Fan of" Sublime Stitching

Dream Garden by Jenny Hart

m. ranae designs is a big 'ol fan of Sublime Stitching!

Sublime Stitching is the dream of Jenny Hart, stitcher-extraordinaire! In 2001, Jenny launched Sublime Stitching out of her own personal need for better embroidery instructions and her "stitch or die" attitude.
She, alone, brought back the resurgence of embroidery in teens & 20-somethings. Her easy instructions & hip patterns have launched the craft of embroidery into new heights (and new age groups).

I found Sublime Stitching in the back of an old issue of Bust Magazine (my favorite magazine... feel free to buy me a subscription). After that I was logged into Jenny's site reading & practicing her how-to's. I also tried to get a stitching group together here in Asheville, but the response was minimal and we didn't get past one meeting. But I've been stitching ever since.

Recently, I submitted a project of mine for Sublime Stitching's Combo Contest, where we were asked to combine at least three of Jenny's patterns into one project.

Here is my submission:


So if you're looking for a new craft to try, try Sublime Stitching on for size. Through her website you can purchase kits to get you started. She also has a few crafty books that have been published and you can find those at any book store... just ask for books by Jenny Hart or Sublime Stitching. And check out the website & blog for more info & how-to's.

Enjoy!

Belated Resolutions

Well, I'm a sucker for peer pressure.

All along the web I've seen people (bloggers and such) talking about their New Years resolutions, in the crafty sense. Some talk about all the things they want to accomplish and all the things they want to create. Others talk about things they'd like to avoid or things they'll change.

And I'm usually a firm believer that resolutions don't work. Blah, blah change... blah, blah diet... blah, blah bigger boobs.

But secretly, I've been finding my hate towards resolutions softening. I now see that a new year is like changing the sheets. It's so fresh and crisp and it smells awesome!
Plus, everyone else is doing it (don't worry, this never worked on me with smoking).

So here are a few of my resolutions. Some are personal, but most involve m. ranae.

-- Blog more. No surprises here... especially if you actually read my blog and wait patiently for the next post (which sometimes takes a while).

-- Upload to Etsy more frequently. It's a known fact that the more days you upload stuff to Etsy the more "seen" you are. I use to upload tons of things at a time... now I pace myself (like a seasoned runner... running, of which I know nothing about).

-- Do at least one craft show. This may be harder than I think, because you have to be accepted to do it. I was recently rejected... so maybe my rejection streak will continue. Nonetheless, I'm gonna try.

-- Keep track of my papers. I don't sell tons & tons of stuff, but the bit I do involves some paperwork. This year I'm gonna keep my files organized and easy to locate. Yay!

-- Keep track of my life. I'm forgetful and scattered and sometimes I don't have a clue what I'm doing. I have an iPod with all the right apps... I just need to use them.

-- Learn more about running a business. I feel the key to success is know your enemy. My enemy is bookkeeping and other business related voodoo. I bought a "Gardening for Dummies" book and now I can actually grow things. I plan on buying "Small Business for Dummies" and start growing my biz.

-- Play more Plants vs. Zombies. Nuff said. Really.

-- Get healthier. I take a lot of vitamins and I try to be conscience of what I eat and do. I got into the habit of exercising last year, but fell out of it. This year I'm gonna conquer exercising.

-- Perfect my art. Every day I get better and better are making my bags, wallets, pouches & such. But there is still room for improvement. There are still things to learn. So I'm gonna keep on keeping on.

Well that is it for now. I'm sure along the way I'll decide that exercising sucks, Plants vs Zombies is time consuming and it's more fun to play games on my iPod than work. But I'm a winner as long as I try to follow these resolutions

Who? What? When? PART TWO

Okay... so I did some searching on this "Featured on Etsy" thing. I learned that there isn't really a notification system.
But other Etsians have had this problem and they've found a solution; either Google Analytics or Craft Cult. I used Craft Cult (cuz it's cool).

So... below you will find the list I was in. Mine is the orange & paisley makeup bag.
Yay!

Who? What? When?

Okay... so apparently sometime over this weekend I was featured on the front page of Etsy.
Woo hoo! Right?
I'm not so sure...
I didn't find out about this from Etsy. I found out because I had posted it on Facebook. But I didn't actually post it... a computer (somewhere out there) did it for me.
So I was excited... until I logged into Etsy. I didn't have a message there telling me I was featured. And I looked at the front page of Etsy and I didn't see my shop there. So I'm baffled. I figured I'd get some e-mail somewhere along the way. But all I got was the automatic post to my Facebook.
Weird, huh?
Again, I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth... I'm just confused. Strange system they have in place over there at Etsy.
Strange.

Etsy Favs

OK... I love Etsy. No joke.
I log in every day to see what's new. Today I saw these beautiful Tidal Pool earrings on the front page. They sold out quick!
Most days I just add the things I like to my favorites, but I have been noticing a new pattern lately... I'm starting to buy.
Oh! I love it too. I run across all kinds of things that catch my eye. Sometimes they are supplies for m. ranae designs, but other times I just want something special for myself or I get someone else a little something.
Now I totally cruise for the best deals. Thankfully, you can search fairly easily and sort by price. Sometimes I'll shop and not buy... I just want to window-shop (or computer screen-shop). Nonetheless, it is fun and Etsy is full of unique, awesome stuff.
Check out my favorites list... and if you're really inspired you should create an account and start your own favorites list.

m. ranae designs' Etsy favorites

Happy Birthday m. ranae designs

Yay! I've been selling on Etsy for a year now! Woo!

And I haven't sold enough to quit my job, but it has reinforced how much I love making and selling stuff.
And I've grown so much in the past year. I get better everyday at sewing and being creative. I've learned a few tricks and I've found some great vendors for supplies.
I made up all kinds of different things... things that sometimes come to me when I should be sleeping (and then I want to get up to start making them).

Honestly, it's been good. I'm about to really dig my heels into Christmas and I'm hoping this next year is even more fruitful and exciting.

To celebrate I've discounted everything in my shop by 15% for the rest of the month of November... and I'm gonna add new stuff every week this month!

So check it out & keep in touch. I'll see you next year!

FREE SHIPPING

Check out my Etsy shop for FREE SHIPPING for a limited time on all aprons.

I'm trying to get them out before I get new ones up.

So start shopping!

Ooh! Exciting!

I am working on something totally cool!

I can wait to reveal it.

But I guess you have to wait.

Ha!

Goddess Gown

I stumbled upon this gorgeous Goddess dress the other day and I'm stoked about it!

A few days back I was trying to make a maxi dress, but this is damn close enough!

I don't make a lot of clothing, but the little I do make is just for me, me, ME!

So once I get a chance to purchase fabric, I will put it together and post pics!

AND by the way... my sewing machine is not fixed by any means but I found a way to work around it. You have to do that when you're addicted like I am.

I'm gonna ramble a little okay.

So this is my periodical blog about how I am horrible at blogging regularly.
And honestly, I just get busy. Or lazy. Depends on the day.

But I do care about m. ranae designs and think about it all the time. I just have a hard time sitting at the computer to tell everyone about that.

So here's whats new:
I figured up a prototype for a mini bag. My inspiration was this. I will post pics of it today!
I joined Twitter! My hopes is to help my fans keep up with what I'm doing. Follow me!
I am gearing up for making lots & lots of stuff. I haven't sold a thing on Etsy since Februray, so I'm planning on gathering & selling on the streets. I haven't figured where yet, but that is the plan.
Plus, once I get some more zippers in, I'm working on a new design for a makeup bag.

That's a decent update if I say so myself!

Etsy Exposed Treasury

The Asheville Etsy Team & I have patiently been waiting for an opening on Etsy for our Asheville Treasury.
And it's here!

The Treasury is an ever-changing, member-curated shopping gallery of handpicked items. An Exposed Treasury has a mini-bio about each member & features an item for sale and/or the member's studio or craft room.

The exciting thing is it's only good for three days... our's expires Monday.

So please stop by and take a look at some of our team members & their items for sale.

It only lasts for a while... so hurry!

ASHEVILLE ETSY EXPOSED TREASURY

Cowboys, Cowgirls & Denim

I logged into my m. ranae designs e-mail account today to find something really exciting and no, it wasn't my Etsy bill.
I found that I was chosen to participate in an Etsy Treasury. The little cowboy coin purse I had made was chosen for the Cowboys, Cowgirls & Denim theme.



There are a ton of great cowboy themed stuff in there. Check it out!

Procrastination

I swear I am browsing every damn page of the internet today... all to avoid going into the craft room and actually getting something done.

Shoot me!

I'm gonna do it, I swear (which I have said about five other times by now), but I'm gonna.

As soon as I read this... and that... and this...

I Must Be Asking For Too Much!

I was determined yesterday to find a bucket o' buttons in Asheville, NC.

The main reason I want them is, honestly, just to have them in case I need a button. I have some small ones for eyes on my little stuffed creatures, but I wanted a variety of larger ones for bags & stuff.

I have seen them before, years ago, and when I was younger, my mother bought some... somewhere.

But after driving to three places yesterday morning, I came up short. I could not find a container of assorted buttons anywhere!

Freakin' impossible!

I went to obvious places like Foam & Fabric and Hancock Fabrics. Then I went to a couple not so obvious places. And I turned up with nothing.

Nada, zilch, zero.

A search on the internet didn't yield much either. That's sad too, because after failing in Asheville, I figured "you can find anything on the Internet." I eventually found what I was looking for, but I'm nervous about ordering online, because I can't look at the buttons in there. However, it looks like that is the only way I'm gonna get what I want. I'm gonna have to gamble that what I pay for online with actually work for me in real life!

On the other hand and out of desperation to have an assortment of colorful "somethings," I purchased a bag of miscellaneous ribbon. I don't use a lot of ribbon in stuff, but I will now.

And dammit, I'll show those buttons what they're missing out on. Just think, you crazy little buttons, you could be sewn on to a bag just like this ribbon is gonna be.

Ha! Take that!

So far...

First and foremost, this blog is me... blogging more. So there... I'm doing it.
Okay, now to the task at hand!

So far, I've been on etsy. com for a week and I haven't technically sold anything, but I have been contacted by a fellow etsian (that's etsy.com talk for a person who is a member of etsy) for a trade.
She loved my messenger bag for a friend of hers and wanted to know if I was willing to trade.


Of course, I was! So I chose a new scarf that she had just worked on that has this awesome fish-net lookin' design. I got to pick my colors... burgundy & gray and it will be here soon!

I'm very excited!

So, I encourage my few readers to check out her etsy... and I will post pics when I get my new scarf.

GothBarbie.etsy.com

Finally! My etsy.com shop is up & running!

I didn't do anything today except work on my etsy. com shop

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade mranaedesigns.etsy.com

Everything looks great! I'm so excited!
Please check it out, buy something, just leave comments!

Really, beyond this, I haven't been doing a lot and my lame-ass excuse is my personal stuff I've been dealing with. It's not serious stuff, but it's still consuming at times.

Okay, so enough bull-s***, I'm gonna start posting more. At least once a week, because I have lots to say and hopefully, I can get more readers.

So check out my etsy and I will see you soon!

OK, I'm a slacker.

I admit it.

I did my four days and I got a ton of stuff done. The whole experience was interesting too, because I was timing myself to see how long it took to do each type of thing... and that was to help me price things later on.

But, I haven't photographed any of it and therefore, I haven't added it to my etsy.com account.

I'm a slacker. Seriously.

And here's my excuse, because I can't be a real slacker without a lame-ass excuse.

So, after the four days of working REALLY, REALLY hard I was tired. Yeah, worn out.
So I rested.
Then a week after that, my brother came to town and I had to spend time with him. He doesn't like crafts, so we did NOT spend time in my craft room. That would have been silly.
So yeah, I was entertaining him before he had to fly back.
And then I was worn out from that... so I rested some more.
And now...

... well now I have ran outta excuses. Blah.

Now I have to get back to work in the craft room.

So, last night I went to work creating a pattern for a purse/evening bag thing. I will take pics and post soon. It worked out okay...

And I forgot until this morning, but I was gonna try to do this tiny monogram thing I found at Sublime Stitching. It looks like fun and I've figured out what I'd like to do... I just need to freakin' do it already. Especially since it's due tomorrow. So if I want in... I gotta do it tonight.

Wow! I'm really a slacker. Someone smack me already.

Okay... I've got some fun posts for the next couple of weeks. I will be back soon!

Etsy & Inventory

So....

... I joined Etsy.com and I'm excited about it. I think I might actually be able to sell some of my things on there to the masses! I can go to flea markets & craft shows here, but with Etsy, I might be able to reach out to the many others in the world & USA. So it's exciting.

But...

... there is absolutely nothing on my site as of now... mranaedesigns.etsy.com. I have a few ideas and what-not of what I'd like to put on there, but we're talking like maybe two or three things.

So....

... I need to build an inventory. Things I can purposely sell on Etsy. And this is my new "project."