From Etsy to Amazon

So, I have had to take my precious iMaxi off the Etsy site recently. (sad face) Wendie and I were unable to keep up sewing all by ourselves. I had a company make a ton up for me and quickly put them for sale on Amazon and now ebay. Etsy is a handmade site only so no mass produced items allowed. They ARE still handmade, but the mass part puts me in a different category now.

One big problem, no one knows they are there. All the tweets, facebook chatter and blog talk all take you to my etsy site that says sorry there is a problem, we cannot find your item. Blerg!

I was nervous to take this route in the first place, does anyone really want a giant maxi pad for a case? Sales have proven me wrong, and people do still want it. Which makes me laugh, I love that people like the product. I recently did a custom order for what we call the "nasti maxi", I hope his friends don't want me to duplicate it cause I don't think I can make it again.

So now, I'm sitting on a big pile o pads. Guess I need to work harder to get the word out of their new selling location.

AMAZON

and

EBAY

The iMaxi

Hello World, I can hardly believe the buzz that is surrounding the iMaxi already. I only put it up on Etsy 2 days ago and we are almost at 30,000 hits. I knew the idea was funny, but this is ridiculous.

A few weeks ago, my friend Brooks called and said he had an idea and wanted to know if I could make it. I thought the idea was hilarious and of course I'd make one. So all of you who have said how funny and dare I say "genius" I am...it's ALL Brooks. He is also the one behind the written words. You are too funny Brooks...glad to be a part of the ride.

Anyway, I go get fabric and make a few prototypes, until finally we come to "the one". The iPad doesn't come out until next month, but I wanted to get it out there before anyone else did and see what everyone thought.

Check out the ETSY site for the other "color" options. I crack myself up.

Hip Hip Hoorayyyyyyyy

Well...whew the show is over and as much fun as I had at the show, I am so grateful that it is over.

I was overwhelmed (on many occasions) to have all the support from my incredible friends. There wasn't a time during the day when I would look up and not know at least 3 people in the room. I love you all and so appreciate you. It was a bittersweet day for me, for those who do not know my little family is moving to Alaska in a few weeks so most of the people there I might not see for awhile. Not to mention, I moved earlier this year so a lot of the people who came I hadn't seen for some time. I had several...Oh, my gosh it's been so long...and Oh, my gosh it's going to be so long...moments. Needless to say, I was crying a lot.

I haven't decided when I will do another show yet, I think I need some downtime to decompress from it all. I would be curious to know if any of the vendors would like to do it again (I did have several say already that they would). I would also be curious to know if the customers would like us to do it again too.

I don't think I would have it in Burbank though...tax was 9.75%! What a joke! The permit stuff was crappy and overall it was just way too expensive. Not to mention we weren't allowed to have signs and so if you didn't have a personal invitation there wasn't really much more we could do to increase the traffic. The cost of it all wasn't even covered by the entry fee or the profits.

I do think I will do another show in another city where it won't be so costly...time and place TBD

Beth was the lucky winner of the last giveaway, way to go Beth!

Hip Giveaway

Our final giveaway is brought to you by autumn dame. The detail on these ladies shirts is just extraordinary. Not to mention just plain cute. I did not have a hard time finding favorites, but I am definitely not able to narrow it down to one.

These are my favorites...

I grew up with short hair and never even though of adding a detail to the back of a shirt. How smart. I would have transformed a million shirts when I was younger had I had the foresight. Anyway, I love this one.

I am in love with this green number not only for the great design, but my kid would love nothing more than to play with the ruffle. I think I would have a hard time putting her down, not to mention the perfect place to wipe her little drool face. I know this is probably not the intention for their lovely design, but now maybe they have another way to market this top. HA!


Now this top is just too pretty for words, I just love the cascading petals. Soooo pretty.

Ok...now for the giveaway. For one who always needs to be wearing sleeves, I was excited to see them adding sleeves to tops and making that a part of their design.


Up for grabs is this lovely black top with puffed sleeves. You choice of S, M or L. Won't you be so cute in your new top.

To enter, please visit their blog and let us know which is your favorite. Their blog is only a sampling of their work, they will have even more at the show. Can't wait to see them.

For an additional entry let us know what you are most excited to see. We have had several giveaways over the past few weeks and even more vendors we did not have time to showcase. Visit the links to the right for a sneak peek.

Good Luck.

Hip Winner - Cindi

Congratulations Cindi, I am very jealous of your win. I truly want several of these little mugs. I will have claylicious contact you for your mailing address.

Only 5 days left til the show and I must admit I am getting nervous. I know I'm supposed to be all confident and in charge, but my knees are very wobbly and I have a bazillion butterflies in my stomach. I just pray that we get a good crowd. So this is the last push. Please please send emails to all your friends, shout it from rooftops. We have great merchandise, I have no doubt that people will be happy shoppers once they get here...it's the getting them here that makes me nervous.

Hip Giveaway - Claylicious

Ok, this week it is all about Eshkar and her amazing pottery!!! Everytime I go to her Etsy site she has something new and incredibly adorable. Last week it was this owl cup, which I am dying for...and lucky for you it is the item that she decided to giveaway. So fabulous!



But as I was putting things together I went to her site again and this was her new item of the week...


Is that not sooo cute, and only $10.00. What a lovely, inexpensive, creative, thoughtful gift. Thank you Eshkar for you sweet simplicity!

I also love this...


And isn't this the cutest soap dish you ever saw?


I'm going to let you check out the rest of her stuff...you won't be disappointed.

To win the owl cup, check out her ETSYsite and leave a comment telling us your favorite one.

Giveaway will end Sunday night.

Good Luck!

Hip Winner - Laura Gerencser

YAY!!!! Congratulations Laura...please email me so we can get this right out to you.

My buttons came in this past weekend, and if you have talked to me at all you know that I have been dying for them to come in. It's an unusual way to advertise, I know but I'm anxious to see if it has any effect at all. If you bring the button with you to the show you will be entered into a drawing. Proceeds will go to Phoenix House.

Here they are...

I will spend the next two weeks trying to disperse them as much as possible.