Etsy Resolution 2016

Over Christmas while enjoying our holidays, relaxing with the family. I sat back and contemplated my life. This usually happens when I have a moment or two to myself. I came to the conclusion that this year I would make more time for me, to do something I enjoy, something for relaxation. It could be ten minutes or a day here and there, but I was determined to do something.

So the question was – What should I do? What is something that I could do each day for myself to make time for me?

Hmmmmmmm

Something I enjoy

Something I find relaxing

Something creative

ANSWER = SEWING

2014 -2015 flew by. After Christmas when the chaos slowed down I realised that the only sewing I had done, was for school uniforms and to make Christmas presents and decorations.

I loved sewing

I missed sewing

So this would be my time out. A time where I would make a date with myself each day to sew, relax and unwind.

It was on holidays with the family and my sister when I found a post on Frankie Magazine about something called ‘Etsy Resolution 2016’

I read it

I got excited – I could do this

I showed my sister – “You should do this Kylie”

So I signed up

So what did I sign up for you ask?

Etsy Resolution 2016 was a free, 4 week online tutorial to help get you started opening your own shop on Etsy.

Etsy is a global marketplace where people buy and sell unique goods. It is a website dedicated to all things crafty.

The tutorials didn’t include the technical stuff like click here, open this. It was the behind the scenes type of tutorial. All the things you need to think of to start up a shop.

The four week program covered topics such as product photography, lighting and editing photos, how to use tags and add them to titles and descriptions of your products. How to get found in the big world of online sales via SEO (search engine optimisation). We also learnt how to tell the story of our brand and how to use social media for marketing.

In the beginning it was exciting. I read the first tutorial ‘Photography’ and joined the Facebook group. I would read the posts and comments, writing down new ideas and watching other people’s progress and admire their photos.

That’s when I realised I didn’t have stock to photograph. That’s when I started to feel overwhelmed.

After that first week I realised something important.

I will open an Etsy store

And….I’m just not ready yet.

I continued on reading the tutorials and following along in the group. I watched as some amazing crafters and artists got up and running, opening their stores. I felt proud and excited for them as they sorted out their photos and made a few sales.

There is a lot of behind the scenes stuff that you should do and definitely think about before you open a store on Etsy, such as your policies, postage and social media.

It’s not as simple as make something great and list it. There is a lot more to it.

(I was a bit naive)

Etsy Resolution finished long ago, but the  group are still together in the computer world. Some with great successes, some slowly building the momentum, and some like me, still figuring it all out, taking it slow but still holding onto the dream of having a store online.

It’s May already !!!!!!!

My me time, doing that one thing for me each day, hasn’t been heaps of sewing. Instead it’s been learning something new and connecting with other like minded people around Australia and New Zealand.

I’ve started the Etsy journey and will keep plodding along. It is giving me a creative outlet and making sure that I have my me time.

So Stay tuned

Etsy Store coming soon!

(hopefully before the next Etsy Resolution Begins in 2017)