7/05/2013

Skirt Sale FAQ

It is hard to share even a little bit of information on Instagram, so I thought I'd make a little blog post to share about my skirt sale!  First of all, it will be on this Sunday night.  I will start listing the skirts right at 8 PM EST.  Some of the designs I've shared a preview of have been super popular (Minnie Mouse, Foofa, Lalaloopsy) and I want to give everybody a fair chance at snagging them for their daughters :) so if you're interested, be on you account at 8!


A tiny bit earlier in the evening I will list a few things like hair clips, owls & tooth fairy pillows.  I am super excited to share the things I've made with you!  I've been working like crazy all week.  It's really fun :) I want to answer some questions I've been asked lately:

Can I get a discount for buying two skirts?  I wish I could, but I think for the time and effort and money that I've invested in them, I think I sell these fairly cheap :) but I do appreciate people who support my business in such a generous way, and I always try to include something extra in the package when it arrives to you!

I need a (insert character here) skirt by next week!  I don't buy the shirts that I use to make these skirts new because it would be too costly, and so I have to go about sourcing it in other creative ways.  When I take my girls out shopping, we're not really sure what we're going to find.  I always try to keep my eyes open to what is popular, or what people have asked for.  If you have a request, let me know and I will add it to my list!

... but I really need that skirt for her party!  If you have a shirt that you would like turned into a skirt, we can absolutely do that.  I can take $4 off the price of the skirt for you.  Send me a message and we can work that out!

Do you have another of this skirt?  It sold but I really love it.  Each skirt is one of a kind and absolutely unique.  and chances are there could never be another identical to it.  But I could try :)

How do I purchase on Instagram?  Leave your name and email address as a comment on the photo of the item you'd like to purchase.  If you are the first to do so, I will send you an invoice.  I ask that invoices be paid within 24 hours so I can start the shipping process.  It's super easy!

What size does this fit?  I use a rib knit fabric waistband on my skirts.  It's a bit like a stretchy yoga waistband.  I really like it because it allows these skirts to fit a wide variety of sizes.  When it comes to my daughter's clothes, I love love love it when she can wear something over a number of years.  Skirts are perfect because it can start off as a longer twirly skirt, and end up as a cute skirt to wear with leggings!  I offer three different sizes of skirts, and each skirt will specify the waistband length & skirt length.

TINY: waistband is 16 inches relaxed, __ inches long, will fit babies 12 months & up :)
SMALL: waistband is 16 inches relaxed, 11 inches long, will fit 2T & up! (I'd say to size 6)
MEDIUM: waistband is 18 inches relaxed, 13 inches long, will fit 3T & up! (I'd say to size 7/8)

How do I wash this?  I wash my daughter's skirts on cold, and toss in the dryer with all her other clothes, and they wash super well.  They are just shirts, after all :)


Thank you for your interest :) My family is feeling super excited and super blessed by our adventure here.  Emma has helped me with the packages, Zoey has helped me by actually taking a few naps this week, my husband has been an amazing support by supplying me with Coke, Dr Pepper, late night serger emergencies, lots of encouragement, and on Sunday night we will be excited & ready to give one of these skirts away!

7/03/2013

Hello to Instagram!!!

You guys.  Let me tell you what happened last week.  I had a rough week.  I was feeling pretty defeated.  We were all grumpy.  I got sick.  The girls were fussy.  It was a long weekend.  and on Sunday, I decided to list my skirts in my Etsy shop.  My Etsy shop has always been for fun, it's never been crazy busy, never really been a high volume of orders, but it's something I enjoy and I think it's important to keep a shop front open and available online so I keep it up.  I have seen some of the people I follow on Instagram do something called a "flash sale" or an "Instasale", so I thought I'd give it a try.  I posted a few images.


and there was some interest in it from some people who follow me, so I thought hey!  This may be cool!  I may sell one tonight!  I prayed for the next few hours that I would sell 5.  I think I listed around 20 something?  5 seemed out of this world to me.  At indie craft shows, I sell a LOT.  It's such a thrill to see the things I've made with love with my two hands going to all the little girls who come to my table with their mommies.  :) but online, I just don't sell 5 skirts in a day.

8:00 came, and I went to the computer and started the sale.  I think by 8:30 I sold one and we all cheered.  The girls clapped and danced, it was a good time.  and then I sold 2.  and 3.  and by Emma's bedtime we sold 5.  and then 6.  Some of my IG friends had shared about the sale to the people who follow them, and all in all I gained about 200 new followers.  Messages were coming in by the second!  and by the time it was all over the next day, I sold 18 skirts.  18 SKIRTS YOU GUYS.  18!!!


and I made a few new friends on IG!  It was SO fun.  Nothing like that has happened to me!  I had been praying for God to bless this effort and bless my business, and when He answered my prayer, He more than tripled it.  I still cannot believe it.  The next day I spent with a notebook, pen and my laptop, sorting it all out, sending out invoices, and packing everything up.  Every single person paid their invoice, and the whole process was time consuming but so easy.  I am happy that people found the clothes I make worthy enough for their girls to wear :) some are going to be presents, some are going to be birthday skirts, and some are just for everyday wear!  I think that is SO fun.  That is why I love my job.

One of the coolest things was having Emma help me package everything up (she drew smiley faces on the thank you cards!) and sending them all away in the mail this afternoon.


So I planned another sale for THIS Sunday, like a crazy woman.  People were requesting skirts and the demand is too high!  If a little girl needs a special Minnie Mouse skirt, who am I to turn her down, right?  I spent Monday and Tuesday fabric shopping and came home with over 30 pounds of fabric to cut up and start the process of making new skirts.


I hope to have 20 new skirts to sell on my Instagram on Sunday!  I have been cutting them since Monday night.  I have 7 piles of fabric: cool solids, cool stripes, cool patterns, warm solids, warm stripes, warm patterns, and main detail shirts.  It is so much fun to pick from the piles and play around with colors and patterns and CUT UP CLOTHES!  It's something you're never allowed to do, but I get to do it!!! :) I love chopping away at something old and turning it into something new and beautiful.  


and so if you're visiting from Instagram, welcome!!!  I'd love to share a couple of things with you.  I started my business in 2007 as something just for fun, but became really serious about it a few years ago.  I have accomplished some pretty cool goals that I had for myself.  My studio was featured in a printed publication.  I was a "crafter of the month" for a popular craft supply brand.  If you live in Richmond, you've probably seen my stuff around.  I'm in a few shops locally, and have been in a few shops nationally, too.  Through my Etsy shop, I've sold things all over the world.  Greece, Japan, Australia, Iran, France, Brazil, England... that's only a few!  I am proud of achieving those goals, because I'm a stay at home mom to two little loves, Emma & Zoey.  It gives me something to do!  People to talk to!  A purpose other than changing diapers!  I always wanted to be a stay at home mom, but my hands cannot stop creating, and my mind cannot stop dreaming up of things to make, and in my house we are artists.  We make things.  We reconstruct, we upcycle, we paint and we create.  I love being able to provide for my family by the things that I make, but more importantly, it's such a fun journey for us all to go on.  My girls will learn so much from this.  I want to make them proud :)  So thank you SO MUCH for supporting my shop.  


ps -- see you on Sunday!  Back to work for me!