I hear this a lot: Why make custom clothing, after all, isn’t it cheaper just to buy it at the store? Yes, box store clothing is cheaper. It is mass produced using a pattern in a size that they feel suits everyone, but the truth is that not everyone is built the same. My granddaughter, for example, is tall for age 6, and usually needs a size 7 in length. My grandson is smaller in the waist and needs a size 6, but then, they aren’t long enough. I need …
How to care for your HTV items
We sell a lot of HTV items in our shop, and we want you to know that purchasing these items is safe, and they can last a long time with a little care. HTV is the acronym for Heat Transfer Vinyl. It is a vinyl design that can be adhered to any garment using a heat press that combines heat and pressure to adhere the vinyl permanently to the fabric. Because of the method of adhesion and the vinyl, certain precautions do need to be made to make sure that …
Starting Somewhere
Sometimes it feels like a dream. I’m in the starting blocks ready to begin the race. My mind is whirling with my strategy of how I’m going to make it to the finish line. Suddenly, I’m panicked because what if my strategy doesn’t work? What if someone else’s strategy is better than mine? I know that as I move forward, I have to start somewhere. There is a clear beginning for me. I lost so many of my previous websites, but I know that those things were just in the …
Changes in Embroidered Offerings
If you read my post a few weeks ago, you will know that my large embroidery machine is now a thing of the past. I had to sell it to catch up my bills due to surgery and health issues (and I’m still concerned about health issues), but I have decided to press on. I still own the very first embroidery machine I purchased and started this adventure with back in 2019, and I have pulled it out of the closet to use it once more. The only thing I …
Health Updates (and why the changes)
Back in March, I had a breast cancer scare. I went through multiple testing and biopsies until at last, in June, I had surgery to remove the mass and be done with it for good. It’s gone, final biopsy, and I don’t have to fret about it anymore. After my surgery, I just could not get back to my old self. I had zero energy and was in a super depressed state. I stopped going into my sewing room. I stopped cleaning my house. I stopped doing everything. I just …
So long Etsy for now
If you have been following our shop, you may notice that our shop is no longer open on Etsy. I made the executive decision to close the Etsy shop due to the rising costs to stay competitive on the website. With so many print on demand shops in operation, and everyone competing for the embroidered niche, I felt like my handmade clothing items just did not stand out. Plus, my sales were not covering my advertising fees each month. When you have to spend nearly $50 per day to compete …
Sometimes it all goes sideways
With all of the medical issues and tests and then the surgery, my already behind bills snowballed into a much larger issue. It’s difficult to make ends meet when you can’t find your usual job and have to take a 65% cut in pay. Bills pile up. Money does not. I wish I could say that this business did well, and that I didn’t have to worry about money, but that would be a complete lie. I don’t have nearly enough business, and my full time job barely cuts it. …
Southern Heat Ain’t No Joke
We are having a bit of a hot spell here in the South. The heat index is absolutely no joke right now. Plus, my poor A/C just can’t keep up and my fan decided to not work. Not sure what is up with that. Right now, the only solution is to stay indoors and try to stay cool. No yardwork for me. If it doesn’t cool off soon, there won’t be any work in the studio for me either. I really need that fan to work! At least the most …
Changes are coming
After much consideration of my use of Etsy as a selling platform, I have decided to make some much needed changes. The first change is to step away from selling on Etsy and sell on my own website. While Etsy provided me with much needed traffic, trying to be competitive and provide quality products was becoming a struggle, especially with Etsy’s fee structure. Not only does Etsy charge you to add a product, they also charged you a percentage when it sold, plus a fee for shipping, plus a fee …