World Traveling Flutterbutt

I haven't blogged lately, due to my cold-flu thing now turned sinus infection, but I wanted to write a short update regarding my World Traveling Flutterbutt Project.

The little lady is almost ready to go. I will write an introductory post, of course, during the next few days. But in the meanwhile (aka - till the antibiotics kick in) I would like to ask anyone who wants to join and haven't done so yet to comment here!

The hosting guidelines will be, more or less, as follows:

1. Take good care of the Flutterbutt and make sure she is not eaten by stray dingos.
2. Ship the Flutterbutt to its next host by registered mail, so we have a tracking number to follow-up on.
3. Write about your mutual adventures on your blog and add photos.

I will be making a "I hosted a Flutterbutt" button for the participating blogs, so they can boast in their glory.

Okay, headache now. I am looking forward to your comments!

In the meanwhile, here is another world famous Flutterbutt traveler,
Pinky during our trip to London

הקאפקייק הציוני

כל כך הרבה נכתב לאחרונה על קאפקייקס, אותן עוגות אישיות חמודות בזיגוג קרמי חמאתי ונימוך. יש מיני חקייני קאקפייקס מקומיים שמתרגמים את העוגה החמודה למאפין בציפוי קרם דליל ובלה. אחרי שאכלתי את הדבר האמיתי בלונדון הבנתי שמדובר בפריט חמדה שכשהוא טוב הוא נהדר וכשהוא רע, אלוהים ישמור.

בכל מקרה, קמתי ממיטת חוליי לקיים הבטחה. ביום חמישי נסעתי לשוק האכרים בהרצליה כדי להעמיס אבוקדו וגבינות עיזים ונתקלתי שני ילדים נחמדים שחילקו טעימות לדוכן חדש של קאפקייקס. הטעימות היו טעימות, ולכן בסיום ענייני הלכתי לבדוק את הענין מקרוב ונתקלתי לתדהמתי במראה הבא.

מצלמה סלולרית, חושך בחוץ, תארו לעצמכם כמה טוב זה נראה באמת

הטעמים מגוונים, הבסיס ברב המקרים שוקולדי (פרט לטירמיסו הקטן, שהתחפש לקאקפייק) וטעים והקרם כמו שצריך להיות - סמיך, נגיס, מתוק במידה, טרי ויפה. הבטחתי להם שאם יהיה טעים אני אחרוג ממנהגי לכתוב באנגלית ואציין אותם לטובה בבלוג, וכך אני עושה (בתקווה לקבל שוחד שמן בביקור הבא שלי). הבעיה היחידה היא המחיר השערורייתי של העוגות - אחת בעשרים, שלוש בחמישים, חמש בתשעים. בכסף שהוצאתי על שלוש חמודיות יכולתי לקנות עוגה משפחתית ולקבל עודף (אחח, הייתי מאד שמחה לגרסה גדולה של הקאפקייק שוקולד עם קרם תות. הייתי טורפת חצי ממנה עכשיו וחצי אחרי ארוחת הערב). מה שכן, הם באמת טעימים להפליא. אני חושבת שאם הם יורידו את המחירים הם יוכלו להפוך ללהיט. אפילו חיברתי עליהם שיר קטן:

קאפקייקים נחמדים עם קרם תות
כל כך טעימים, שבא לי למות

שני הילדים האלה הם אנשי מכירות כל כך טובים, אני צריכה לדבר עם המנכ"ל שלנו שיציע להם עבודה

אקיצר, הקאפקייקים של נאדין, לכו תטעמו ותביאו לי כמה מתנה. אני חולה ומסכנה ונואשת לעוגת שוקולד.

עדכון - החבר'ה מנאדין עדכנו אותי שבעקבות מה שנכתב כאן, הם יורידו את המחירים החל מיום חמישי הקרוב. אם טרם תכננתם לבקר אותם השבוע, זאת סיבה נהדרת לרוץ! תודה וכל הכבוד לכם חבר'ה.

Sick sick sick

I got a flu vaccine. I got a swine flu vaccine. And now I got a cold.

I have custom orders to work on, but I can't smell the glue not to mention cut anything. I have tons of work at the office, with a very strict deadline, but I can't go to work. I also have a new guide I'm working on, which I cannot write. But I do have a sore throat, a bad headache, fever, coughing and a stuffed nose. Tonight I woke up at 3am and started vomiting. I am not a happy camper. Hell no.

On top of this mess, Pinky and Mini Me are sick as well. It breaks my heart seeing the little ones so miserable. They are so small you see.. What a world, I tell ya.

Illustration shot

The many bags of Mini Me

Just like her mommy, my Mini Me has a many shoes, bags and accessories to choose from. Someways it takes her half an hour to decide which bag fits her outfit best.

Someways she just grabs the closest one, throws her keys and wallet in and runs out the door.

It is pretty annoying to get home from a long day at work and find your doggy spooning with your new sneakers.

When she goes out, she likes wearing her high heeled boots with a little sequined evening bag.

When it's her turn to take the doggy out, she usually wear sneakers and a large messenger bag, with enough room for plastic bags (for doggy) and magazines (for her).

Doggy is always cheerful after a nice walk.

My Flutterbutts usually get tired after a long shoot, but sometimes I find them sleeping in piles. When did Pinky get in there? I honestly have no idea, but sssshhhh!!! Don't wake them up.

If you want a mini me of your own, click here

These boots are made for walking

What do you get when you take one woman and have her work on a major product release during the day and custom puppet orders at night? One very hungry and very busy woman.

That is why I was shocked to find myself making a new Flutterbutt in the middle of the night, when I should have been tucked in bed and snoring peacefully.

But I wanted to make her, and so I did - a teen, with a woolly purple flower shaped barret and a purple sweater (I bought both months ago and was waiting for winter to use them), a short skirt and the fuchsia pompom boots I bought on eBay a couple of weeks ago.

I seriously need to get me boots like these

Holding one of the lovely balloons Junie sent me

I photographed her against a Brussels sprout Christmas paper I bought in Urban Outfitters. There is no end to how pleased I am that I managed to bring it home from London in one straight piece. I was sure it will be ruined in my suitcase.. I wanted to shoot with an opposite color background, to make her pop. And she sure does!

When Mamisha saw her, she cried out "Ooh, peas!" and so I decided to name her Sweet Pea.

If you like peas too, you can buy her at my shop. I promised Mamisha she will be hers if I don't sell her within a month, so you better move fast! When my mom wants something, she usually gets it.

Yes I can!!

Lately, I have been discussing the issue of declining custom work with my fellow artist, who shall remain nameless. I was telling her how I declined a custom order for making an owl puppet a little while ago, and she said I should never turn down an order just because I am afraid of making it. When I told her I never made a bird puppet, she said "so?you'll learn". After that discussion, I decided I will start saying "yes" to orders that scare me.

When a lady asked me to make her a custom Flutterbutt in shape of her brother, I was horrified. I can't sew, I have no masculine shoes at home, I can't make a mustache! It was clear the order scares me, and that I must accept it, so I did.

The customer wanted me to portray Mr. Brother during his ski vacation. She asked for a blue parka and a scarf. I was planning to work on him on Saturday, since Friday was full of Hanukkahish and other pre-planned activities. The first of which, was going to a clothing swapping party (where each participant brings a bag of cloths she doesn't want and everybody can look for something new. Very ecological, and so very 2009!). After locating a sexy evening gown with a sequined snake, a completely new purple skirt and stylish black skirt-pants, I decided I'm tired of looking for cloths and decided to pick up some leftovers for puppet supplies. That was when I found a single blue ski glove, which I immediately recognized to be the perfect material for my tiny ski coat.

It took me two hours to sew the little coat, and let me tell you – it almost drove me nuts. I was miserably sticking needles into myself, curding the rough parts I could hardly get the needle through, and sewing tiny fingers to make sleeves. I thought it is going to end in a total disaster, but once I was done (including stealing Pinky's holiday shoes. I promised to buy him new shoes on eBay ASAP), added a scarf my mom knitted and of course a mustache, I had to admit it to myself and the world – this must be the cutest Flutterbutt ever!!

I mean, just look at him – how cute is he??

The parka is asymmetrical, with writing on one sleeve and a single wide aqua stripe on one side. The inside is partially padded, to keep Mr. Brother cuddly and warm. Can you tell how hard I worked on sewing this?

Do you need a new brother, mother in law, or friend? I can make one for you, in various sizes, with or without a mustache!

My Hanukkah article is on The Storque!

I wrote an article about the holiday for Etsy's official blog, The Storque. I think it turned out quite lovely, and features some wonderful artists from the Etsy Israel Team (not to be confused with the ISART team).

Happy Hanukkah everybody!

A gift of a guide and a romantic couple

This week was blessed with custom orders thanks to being on the Gift Guides. Unfortunately, one of these customers bought the original item instead of asking for a custom listing, and so the Gift Guide, dozens of hearts, and almost 2000 views are all gone. But I must not complain, it really was an amazing week.

Huge jump in views, now it's down again

All I can hope is that all the people who hearted this item will see it sold and heart the relist as well. BTW, I offer express shipping, so you can still get your purchases in time for Christmas Eve.

Back to this week's orders, another fun project was making a custom made married Flutterbutt couple (Puppet Mobiles this time). The couple are look alikes of the customer's brother and sister in law. I loved the photos she sent me, and Mr. Flutterbutt was definitely a challenge, since none of the ready made glasses I had at home fit. Eventually I made him little glasses out of my Bluetooth headset plastic wrap. He also got a nice aqua colored feathery tutu and a sky blue satin tie. His gorgeous wife got a tan complexion and a complimentary strapless peach dress decorated with a big beautiful sequined gold heart.

Both mobile cords are decorated with Czech glass, plastic, glass, lampwork, stone and some of my late Grandmother's rose quartz (for luck in love) beads. I have to say, they looked very much in love with each other since the moment I completed my work. It truly was love at first foam!

Custom made sister

Thanks for being in the Gift Guides, I got some last minute custom orders for Christmas.

One wonderful lady asked for a look alike Flutterbutt of her sister who turns 30 on Christmas. I have to say I was very excited when I heard her description - professional dancer with long legs, short dark hair, big blue eyes and a huge smile who loves mini dresses, Converse shoes, and long dangle earrings. Is that a dream Flutterbutt to make or what?

Since the last thing I watched on TV before starting to work was an old Project Runway rerun, I was very excited to start working on her dress already. Though I have to admit, that it was fun making her nose.

I made her a double layered mini skirt, reminiscent of the dress she wears in the photo her sister sent me. I used an under layer of black satin with a lace trim. On top of that I added a golden sheer organza bustier with gold trimmings and a thin black satin belt. It was designed to mix well with the colorful Converse All Stars I had for her, to help her stand up (she is not a Puppet Mobile). The final touch was adding long dangley emerald colored rhinestone earrings.

So here she is, waiting to meet mer mommy. I hope mommy will love her Mini Me, as I love mine!

Merry Christmas to both sisters!

Why on why my sales have die(d)

Traditionally, November and December are excellent months for my Etsy shop. I am not a full time Etsian, and my items appeal to very certain audiences (which I like to call "silly grownups", like myself) so I don't aim to sell 300 or even 30 items a month. A 10 sales month is great for me. A 16 sales month is excellent.

But this November was my worst ever (in fact, it was the worst sales month of 2009). I also got very few new item and shop hearts. Less than half of my usual rate. I have to wonder why.

This is what I've come up with so far:

1. My short vacation cost me a week of promotions.
2. I did not invest any money in paid ads this month.
3. Etsy's SEO "improvements" cost me my Google ranking - it plummeted from 3/10 to 0/10 which effects my search engine result.
4. In previous years I did some trades that showed up on my sales total. I no longer do that.
   

I am not quite sure what to do about this. There is a limit to how much I can invest in forum promotions, I already do too much of that. I want to spend less hours on this, not more. As far as the ranking goes, I contacted Etsy support after reading articles on the site and they just directed me back to articles I already read, which probably means there is nothing I can do.

I want December 2009 to be the best sales month I had this year. I want it to exceed 2007-8 sales rate for December. My last international shipping date for Christmas Eve is Sunday 6.12.09 which doesn't leave much time, as far as Christmas gifts are concerned (of course I offer express shipping that arrives in 4 workdays, but still).

Since I hardly had any revenue in November, I cannot invest in paid advertising now.

I find it hard to believe my shop suddenly fall out of taste, so I don't consider that as a possible reason. Perhaps my recent diversity in item categories (Flutterbutts, jewels, cards, headbands, and so on) has a negative effect?

Your thoughts, comments, ideas and of course - purchases are most welcome.

Update - is it possible the name Flutterbutt turns people off? Recently I found some nasty websites using this term. Maybe it is not as cute as I thought. Should I change it?