Getting things in order

The holiday season is approaching, and I felt a need to stock up on some new materials.

A short trip to the market and fabric district area in Tel Aviv (so little time, so much sweat) resulted in this huge pile of loot!

The Pinky's not included

Lavender, rainbow, red, and white fake fur; Tons of colorful ribbon and lace, 17 tubes of contact glue for the price of 8 (gotta love the market); Silver-crimson and new sky blue marabou; Buttons and little flowers and fabric ornaments.

I also bought the world tiniest watermelon and figs, but it a whole different story.

After that, I knew it is time to finally arrange my eye collection. It has been dragging for months now and so I did - late last night, at the price of one fingernail who is now a lovely shade of black-purple and hurts like hell.

Eyes eyes eyes, in all types and colors - blue, green, brown, hazel, pink (for mice and albinos), purple, black, lavender, azure. Button eyes, vintage eyes, bead eyes, eye eyes, plastic eyes, safety eyes, glass eyes (maybe I should ask my uncle for his glass eye to add to the collection too?). It may now seem like much, but it took an hour to sort, and behind the two little see through boxes, there are two more similar boxes, thrice as big.

Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix

Erez and Moti performing an aria from "Samson and Delilah" by Camille Saint-Saëns.

I have had it up to shnik

I have had zero sales on Etsy this month. Zero. It annoys me a lot. No, I do not rely on Etsy for my living, but the extra income needs to count for something. This is after all a business, not a game. I am enjoying the business side as much as I do the creative side. This is who I am - an artist and a business woman.

I was wondering a lot if I should close shop. I spend way too much time on the forums, which don't really bring much sales anyway since buyers don't look there most of the times. This thread I posted today, and which got plenty of helpful response (as well as supporting, which was lovely but not what I was looking for), gives me a lot to think about. My mind is not yet set-up, but this is what I came up with so far.

• I started a DaWanda shop, to see how I sell without all this annoying constant promoting.
• I am waiting till the end of December before I decide whether I will close shop.
  
• I am considering stopping to promote on the forums till October. I am just not sure I will be able to do that, cause seriously - I am addicted to the forums.
  
• I am planning a local promotional activity. You can read about it here, if you wanna join - let me know ASAP.
• I removed the baby Lavi text from my shop announcement. People commented it is too sad and a sales turn-off. Of course I will still be donating more if I can.

I will do more thinking tomorrow, after I review the thread again. Any thoughts are welcome.

Free shipping weekend on my Puppets & Crafts shop!

Free shipping on quite a few items on my Puppets & Crafts shop. The prices have already been revised, and the sale ends on Saturday the 16th so grab your favorite item while you can!
All of the items are here.

I also started listing prints in my Art shop. Here are a few of the illustrations you can now buy.

Call for promotional items

I send out a little free promo pack with every order from my Etsy shop. On special occasions I send XL promo packs too.

I want to get my holiday season promo packs ready ahead of time, so I started collecting items.

This year they will be postcard size. What I am looking for is more than the usual business card

► It must be light (not to burden my shipping fees)
► Up to the size of a standard postcard (preferably smaller) and flay
► Ideas - Coupons, charms, greeting cards, pin-back buttons, magnets, stickers, etc.

I also have coupons I would like to add to your promo packs.

If you are interested in participating, please contact me for shipping details!

The importance of being balanced

Today I saw the light, and it looked so much better than before, I just had to share!

Being horrified at my latest listing's photos (which I shoot inside, at night, with flash) I was looking for reading material on how get more out of my world most horrible camera when I stumbled on this how-to article on the Storque.

Oddly enough, my disaster of a camera does have a white balance setting, which I knew nothing about till this afternoon. And more - it really does a world of a difference, look!

I was so happy, I re shot some of my hamsters whose images left something do be desired (mainly, a better image).

For example - before

And after!

Donation for baby Lavi update and a royal Flutterbutt

I decided it would be better to donate 10% of my total revenue this month instead of specific items. I hope to gather enough to help!

And now, may I present her royal highness, Gloriana, The Virgin Flutterbutt, Queen Elizabeth Flutterbutt.

Elizabeth is a very cheerful Foamie. She is not a mobile, but a stand alone (and stand she does!) puppet. She is intended for display, but I am sure she will also play around. She already started talking here, and oddly enough - has a French accent. I am not sure why, I know her mother spent several of her early years in France, but I am not sure about this young lady.

It all started with the lovely ribbon I found on the craft shop the other day, which immediately made me think of a Tudor collar. I decided I will make Elizabeth, and chose purple and red ribbons and lace for her dress, the royal colors indicating a very spiritual and strong character. From there, the road was short to creating this little cutey. The back of her dress is not very Tudor, but I just couldn't help myself - I am a bow addict.

Help raise funds for sick baby Lavi

Lavi, the 10 weeks old baby of Gili and Yulia Ben Moshe, two people who helped change my life once upon a time, was born having a genetic disease named Canavan. Lavi is deaf, blind and suffers from restlessness. As the disease will progress he might develop mental retardation and loss of motor skills. His chances to survive after the age of 4 are slim.

There is one medical academic center in the U.S. testing a treatment and reporting some progress dealing with the disease. Such treatments will not be financed by their current health insurance. They are currently there, with their kids, and are trying to raise the 250,000$ they need for treatment.I want to help them raise funds to help baby Lavi see, talk, and live a good life for as long as possible.

I will donate 50% of the proceeds of these items to Gili and Yulia's fund. Your help is appreciated!

You can find more details about baby Lavi and his parents' struggle here. They truly are remarkable people, who are devoted to their 3 kids and are so optimistic about raising the funds and providing their son a good life. They deserve any help they can get.