Boo!

It's Halloween! I've miraculously finished both my kids' costumes (photos of Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter tomorrow) and am feeling pretty optimistic about my ability to get things done.


That said, I just want to remind everyone that tomorrow, November 1, is the last day to place a custom book order before the new year (check out the options here). I'm not exactly sure when I'll resume custom orders in 2012 so if you have a holiday or winter book order in mind now's the time to act! Even if you're not quite ready to order I'm happy to reserve a place for you, just let me know and we can work something out. I am going to be strict about this deadline, though; I have a ton of stuff coming up and really need to be able to schedule it all. Exciting times!!

p.s. My Kickstarter campaign is going great! We're almost at the halfway mark and I've more than doubled my goal, but no need to stop there! I've raised enough to develop and print 12 book designs and would love to add a line of alphabet books to that--one book for each letter of the alphabet. If you'd like to get in on the action and receive one (or more!) of these awesome, 100% organic books I'd be ever so grateful!

The plan to manage it all

Happy Friday! And for me it really is--I feel happier than I have in a long time.

Not that I've been miserable or anything but with the success of my Kickstarter I'm waking up to the fact of just how much and how hard I've been working, and at times it's felt like I've been spinning my wheels. I love the custom work I do and will be continuing with it regardless of the success of the printed books but there's really only so much of it I can do and it was limiting the growth of my business. Now, with the boost from Kickstarter, I'll be diversifying into the less labor-intensive printed books and I really believe that the balance between some custom work and some readymade work is the key to my continued success without killing myself to get it all done. It's really quite exciting!


Of course, the vast majority of my work thus far has been custom and with the addition of another line of books something will have to give. I will need to limit the number of custom projects I take on and right now I'm not really sure what that will look like. I'm thinking I'll be able to manage 3-4 custom book orders per month, though it may be more or less and it will likely vary with the month. As much as it pains me to do this I will also need to increase the cost a bit, looking objectively at the amount of time it takes me to complete a custom book (at least 6 hours, often more like 10). It won't be an insane increase, but it's something I need to do in order to make it sustainable.


That said, I have a couple announcements to make:

1. In order to fulfill my Kickstarter rewards (and not go completely insane this holiday season) I will stop accepting custom orders on November 1. Any orders placed before then (and those already placed) will be guaranteed for delivery before the end of November (or at least in time for the holiday, in case I get a mad rush ;).

2. I will resume accepting custom book orders in January at the new rates and will be limiting the number I accept.
So, if you've been thinking of ordering a custom book, either for the holidays or just because, now is the time!

Technical difficulties left and right

Hello!

I'm a bit sore from falling off the blogging wagon so many times but I've finally got a plan for some holiday-related content, so stay tuned!

In the meantime I just wanted to put a few things out there.

1. I'm more than a bit freaked out about this one: my Etsy convos have gone really wonky. Some messages arrive at their destination but an increasing number do not, or are very late in arriving. I'm not receiving all of the messages that are sent to me, though I have no conclusive evidence of this. The thought of any one of my clients or potential clients thinking I'm ignoring them has me quite upset and I'm really panicked that this is happening at my busiest time.

I reply to each and every convo I receive so if you've sent one to me and haven't heard back please know that I'm not ignoring you, there's simple been a communication breakdown somewhere along the way. My email is exlibrishandmade at gmail dot com and I welcome inquiries there.

2. I'm having another sale! 10% off all items in my shop (custom and readymade!) until November 15. Prices on listings have been discounted (and I have found a new love: etsy on sale). Woo hoo!

That is all ;)

Readers only sale!

Well, the kiddos are settled into their school routine and I'm keeping busy making lots of new stuff for the shop and working on custom orders. I'm determined to maintain my sanity this holiday season (unlike last year...) so I've planned out the next few months to ensure that I stay on top of everything.

A big change this year is that I am limiting the number of custom orders I accept and will stop taking orders by Thanksgiving. I've plotted out completion dates for a finite number of custom orders and at the moment there are 19 spots left for custom books and 4 spots for custom quilts. For now I'm not planning on limiting the number of custom banner orders I will accept but that may change as I get busier.


If you're considering ordering a custom book to give to a little one this holiday season I'd like to encourage you to think about doing it sooner rather than later with a bit of a sale, just for my blog readers!

From now until the end of September I am offering my blog readers 10% off orders of $50 or more, 15% off orders of $100 or more, and 20% off orders of $200 or more! This includes everything in the shop, custom and readymade, and is in addition to the free shipping promotion already in place in the shop!

To take advantage of this promotion place your order and include the phrase "readers only sale" in the Message to Seller. I'll send you a revised invoice or, if you've already paid, a refund of the discounted amount.

Cheers!

Hello, stranger!

I apologize for my disappearance from the blogging world for the past month. I decided to throw in the towel on the 85 days of summer documentation when I realized it was turning into a desperate countdown to the first day of school.


No more countdown--the kids went back to school today! I love my kids and enjoy being with them but there definitely comes a time when all of us need some space from each other. We were all rather chipper this morning, excited to go off on our own little adventures. Well, all of us except Skye who is on his fourth cigarette-free day today....

I'm excited to really get to work on my blog, my shop, my business, my life in general. At the moment I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of the possibilities and all of this new-found time but it's only halfway through the first day. I'm sure it won't be long before I settle into a good routine and hopefully start checking some things off the old to-do list.

Over the next week or so I plan to share a lot of the work I've been doing, some of the ideas I have for the coming season, and a special offer just for my blog readers!

Thanks so much for sticking with me!

Just f.y.i....

Custom book order listings are in the shop!


Keep in mind that these listings are only the most popular options, I'll gladly put together any type of book you can dream up. Also check out the new pages at the top of my sidebar which explain custom book pricing and list all stock image options. As I was going through all of the appliques I've made I realized that there needs to be another "most complex" level for pricing so that will be reflected on those pages.

All in all I'm very pleased with how the pricing formula has worked out--most options remain around the same price for a book with simple images (which are pretty cool, if I may say so ;) and go up in price slowly as more complicated images are added.


Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or comments or ideas! Or, you know, if you'd like to order a book ;)


Right now I'm only accepting 6 to 8 custom orders per month so please get in touch soon if you're interested!

Custom book pricing

Okay, so I've been working really hard on coming up with a pricing plan for my work, stretching my math skills to their (admittedly short) limit. I think I've cracked the code and I'm feeling pretty good about it despite my fear of under/overcharging.

Without further adieu, here it is...

Price for base book (no images/embroidery)
6 page: $16
8 page: $20
10 page: $24

Price per image
Stock
Simple: $5
Medium: $7
Complex: $10
Custom
Simple: $6
Medium: $8
Complex: $12

Price per page for embroidery
Single word/phrase: $2
Bilingual: $3

Cover Style
Monogram: $4
Full name appliqué: $8

*a simple dedication can be added to the back cover free of charge.

So basically you start with the book length you'd like, decide if you'd like a monogram full name on the front and whether or not you'd like embroidery, and then choose your images. Here are some examples of what I mean by simple, medium and complex images:

Simple: These are straighforward images composed of 2 or less pieces and easy to cut and sew.

Medium: These are images that are composed of 3 or more pieces or are more intricate to cut and sew.

Complex: These are either super custom images or very intricate images with lots of detail and/or embroidery.

(EDIT: after going through all of the images I realized that there needs to be another category: most complex ($15 stock, $17 custom). It's all explained here.)

Stock images are ones I have already made templates for--there are a lot of them! I'll be spending some time over the weekend cataloging all of them. Custom images are ones that I haven't done before and include custom portraits (like the house and dog above).

So, basically the options range from $50 for a simple monogram 6-page book without embroidery to $172 for the most complicated 10-page book ever. I admit, I have to regulate my breathing when I look at that last figure (yikes! that's a lot of money...) but the fact is that that book would be worth every penny, and is unlikely to be ordered. Still, if anyone out there is itching for a crazy-cool custom 10-page cloth book I'm game!

I will try to add some generic listings to the shop that can be purchased for custom books, or at least figure out a straightforward way for folks to order a book. It's definitely a challenge to sell custom items on Etsy; I'm thinking about hiring a web designer to help me put together a site that will work with the system I've put together. Not until I make some money, though!

It's definitely been difficult to put this all together but I really want to continue in this work while making it as affordable as I can. I am always open to working with people individually and welcome new ideas from customers which may be more affordable. I welcome offers of trades, too and will work with folks on payment plans, etc. It's important to me to have options that most everyone can afford so I will also have lots of other options in my shop (readymade books, single image hoops, buntings...) at a lower price point.

I'd love to hear any comments or questions you have about this or any other topic!

Making a Living

I tend to be a pushover to inertia; when I'm working, I keep working and find it difficult to stop. And when I'm not working... well, I tend to have a really hard time overcoming that inertia hump and starting back up again.

calling to me...

Of course, I love my work and have a visceral need to be creative, but I also really needed that break. Sure, my shop is still up and I've been slowly working on some readymade things to fill it (and I still have some very delinquent things to finish for some very gracious and forgiving friends) but it's really my custom work that sells. And so I really haven't sold anything. And, it turns out, I can't make any money hanging out with my kids and organizing my house.

I am not really a fan of money. I wish we could all barter for what we need and not have to think about money. But, alas, there are bills to pay and children to feed and clothe and deck out in silly bands and the silly band peddler isn't interested in my work.

The mister and I have been thinking a lot about how we can live well with little money. We're firm believers in the idea of right livelihood (which I talked about a little bit here), doing and making as much for ourselves as we can and "working" (for money) only as much as we need to, doing things that we love and care about or at least don't hate. Skye is really starting to feel burnt out on carpentry (mostly physically, but also a bit psychologically) and I've been feeling more and more determined to actively contribute to our family's income.

Priorities.

So it's time for me to get back to work. Seriously. I'm ready to jump right in but I'll have to take it slow at first. I don't have much time with the kids home for the summer but I'll make it work. Thinking about starting up custom orders again has me thinking more about money and the sustainability of my business and I realize I really need to rethink my prices and make sure I am charging enough. The reality is that I have been charging far too little for some of my work (even though it can seem like a lot, I know!).

I'm working on a system of pricing that will make things more manageable for me and fair for all. It's based on lots of choices and hopefully there will be something for everyone and options that everyone can afford.

The idea is this: Books will be priced according to their length, the complexity of the images on each page, embroidery and cover style. There is a base price for each book length and then everything else is á la carte. This actually doesn't change book prices too drastically--in fact there will now be some even more affordable options--it will simply mean that the more complicated images that take so much time to make (but are so cool!) will be priced accordingly.

I'll be back on Friday with some concrete numbers for all of this and will spend the weekend listing some custom options in the shop. Stay tuned!

Shop Update

I've finally taken the time to list some of the items that have been ready to go for some time. This time around it's monogram cards and appliqued hoops, but over the next couple of months I'll be adding some quilts and readymade books, as well. Head on over to the shop and check it out!

And, after a long hiatus I'll be accepting orders for custom books soon. Stay tuned!

Change and chance

I have always disliked New Year's Eve. I just can't take the pressure of expectation, the full, round hope that it will be the best night of the year, that great things will happen, that all of the promise and potential of the coming year will be foretold on that night. In my experience this has led to nothing but disappointment and usually a bad hangover.

Of course, this was all much more acute when I was younger. I know now that it's all a bunch of hype and even if I didn't have kids as my excuse to stay home I would gladly curl up on the couch with a book or a movie, all too happy go to bed before the magic hour (which I rarely do on regular days). I know now that this night is more about putting the past year to rest and waking up refreshed and inspired (instead of exhausted and sick), ready to face a new year.

Some years I take it as a challenge, others I accept it as a welcome reprieve from a difficult time that has passed. But always the coming of a new year reminds me of the inevitability of change, and the chances that come with it. I'm reminded that it's up to me to use those chances to improve my life.

"Mom" by Tigerlily

In this new year I've been taking some time to really hone in on the changes I want to see in my life. To be healthier, happier. To do better in my roles as mother, partner, friend. To grow creatively and to make my business truly sustainable. To share more of myself, my knowledge, skills and ideas. To remember my love for writing and cultivate it.

My plan is to really begin to use this blog as an avenue for these goals. I'm not exactly sure what that means just yet but at the very least I want to make this space more valuable to others and will be working on incorporating tutorials and other types of skillsharing. I want to see where I can go with it.

will 2010 be the year of the scissors tattoo?

I hope you'll come along for the ride.

last chance!

My biggest-ever sale will be ending at the end of the day tomorrow! Stop by the shop to check out the deals.

Happy New Year!

year end sale

This New Year I say, "Out with the old, in with the new!" So all readymade items in the shop are on sale until the end of the day on Sunday, 1/3.

HALF OFF all stockings and in-stock books!


20% OFF all wall art and notecard sets!


Happy New Year!!!

getting in the spirit

Though the weather's been warm and it's not even Thanksgiving yet I'm already gearing up for the winter holidays. I'm warding off the feeling that I'm actually a bit late with all of this, but I'm determined to be at least a little less stressed this year while doing a bit more for and with my family.

I'm excited to be a part of Leah's stocking stuffer swap again this year and have just signed up for Sew Liberated's holiday traditions swap. I've got some good ideas and am excited to put it all together. Plus, it's so much fun to get a bit of surprise mail, especially at the holidays!



I'm also planning a big holiday shop update which, if all goes according to plan, will be on Friday, November 20. Be sure to check it out!

'tis the season

busAs scary as it is ( to me, at least--I still have to make Halloween costumes!), the holidays are less than 2 months away! Last year I was absolutely swamped with custom orders and, though it was fantastic to have so much business, I was really crazed for the whole month of December and wasn't able to enjoy my own holiday as much as I would have liked. To avoid a repeat of the insanity in our home I'm hoping to pace the orders a bit more. So, I've posted this announcement and offer in the shop:

I would be honored to make a custom book (or banner or quilt…) for your little one to open this holiday season and hope to be able to accommodate everyone who would like one. Please keep in mind that orders do book up very rapidly and, though I may be able to take orders after this point, I cannot guarantee holiday/Christmas receipt of custom book orders placed after NOVEMBER 30.

As an added incentive for people to get their orders in early I’m offering 10% off any custom book, quilt or banner orders placed before November 8. Once your order is placed and your payment received I will refund the 10% to you via PayPal.

Thanks so much, and enjoy the season!

100% recycled alphabet quilt

:Fair warning ;)


I'll also be stocking the shop soon with monogram eco-felt stockings (this year I'm offering a mini-version to hang for your pets) and recycled card sets, and may even find the time to open a little shop (evilolivedesign) for the crocheted earrings I make.

sale on top of sale

Now through Sunday night take 15% off all orders in the shop (including custom)! This is on top of the already discounted amounts!!!

Take advantage of some great deals and cross some things off your holiday gift list!

Just mention "weekend deals" in the message to seller upon purchase and either wait for a revised invoice or a refund of the discounted amount via PayPal.

making way for the new

Well, I'm officially gearing up for the holidays, and I don't mean Halloween (though there's a lot to do there, too...). And so, it's time for a sale!

This is my biggest sale to date--all readymade items are reduced, many by as much as 50%. Orders over $50 will also receive a set of 8 notecards made from 100% post-consumer recycled cover stock and the bits and pieces of fabric that I can't bear to throw away.



So what are you waiting for, the holidays are right around the corner!

weekend sale!!!

To celebrate the return of custom orders, I'm offering 15% off your entire order this weekend! Now through midnight (EST) on Sunday, 4/9 just enter "WEEKEND DEALS" in the message to seller at checkout and you'll receive a refund of 15% off the total cost of your purchase.

Hooray!

books on sale!

Head on over to the shop before the end of the day on Sunday (EST) for 20% off all items! Just enter "weekend deal" in the message to seller and either wait for a revised invoice or a refund of the % off. Cheers!