Purple Moon Fibers

DSC_0920

2010-03-09T06:02:00.001-08:00

DSC_0920, originally uploaded by McMoosie.

blockin' the big girls

DSC_0921

2010-03-09T06:01:00.001-08:00

DSC_0921, originally uploaded by McMoosie.

Last week's game

Lesson's Learned

2008-07-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

Today I had to make the sad decision to pull my stuff from a brick and mortar shop (B&M) It was my first experience having anything made by me in a shop and I was very flattered when the owner actually contacted ME about vending in her shop.

Her deal was that to have items in the shop was a flat fee of $30 and any sales of my items then go to me. So I paid to ship off the items requested along with the check for the first month's rent. They arrived with much excitement and were placed in the shop. I even got a photo of the items in the shop in a cute little nook.

All month I resisted the urge to ask how sales were going. So today the e-mail arrived letting me know that rent was due for the next month and that there have been no sales of my items.

It was a blow to say the least. While I wanted my stuff to succeed in this shop and that was going to take time, there was no way I could do it for $30 a month. So I have asked for the return of my items, which I will most likely have to pay for.

So what lessons are learned?

1. Keep the early dealings with B&M shops local.
2. Either have the items bought outright for wholesale or do a consignment.
3. Do NOT pay for shipping, that is the responsibility of the shop
4. Keep trying.

The last lesson is the most important. I about an hour I will be walking to a fabulous neighborhood shop that wants to carry some of my items. It will take time for my stuff to sell especially in this economy and this time of year. But I will not give up. I make cute, quality natural items and they will sell.

I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and dog gone it, people like me.

dancer and drumer

2008-04-15T17:32:00.001-07:00

dancer and drumer, originally uploaded by Purple Moon Fibers.

It may be officially spring for good here. After the last bit of snow on Saturday, the sun and flowers felt WONDERFUL. I couldn't resist the chance to take a few photos outside of some of my dolls. They were just meant to be outdoors. It really is too bad that felt dolls are not outdoor friendly. I love the idea of them being out in nature, but hate the idea of them falling apart. Well, they can at least get out for a visit and a photo shoot from time to time.

woodland trio in shells

2008-04-10T08:19:00.001-07:00

woodland trio in shells, originally uploaded by Purple Moon Fibers.

I am in love with tiny creatures that fit into walnut shells. My daughter had asked for a hedgehog for our fairy tree fort set. So here he is with a couple of friends. This set will be posted on my etsy shop. Don't worry the kids are getting their own hedgehog.

mushroom mania

2008-04-08T15:24:00.001-07:00

mushroom mania, originally uploaded by Purple Moon Fibers.

Well, here they are! I have been totally mushroom obsessed this spring/late winter. Seeing all of the little guys all together like this is really fun. It could become a regular item for me. I'd love to find a shop that would like to sell them...

Palan, he's with the baaaand!

2008-04-06T11:47:00.001-07:00

Palan, originally uploaded by Purple Moon Fibers.

I am in love with this guy. he is my first doll to be finished in many weeks. Hopefully soon there will be a companion. Possibly a faun playing on pan flute. This guy is a drummer playing on mushroom drums. I am on a mushroom kick right now and will blog about that tomorrow.

Flickr

2008-04-06T08:53:00.001-07:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

MUSHROOM MADNESS

2008-03-06T04:40:00.001-08:00

I got a real bee in my bonnet about mushrooms this past week. So naturally I started making lots of mushrooms. This has lead to March Mushroom Madness in my Etsy shop
http://purplemoonfibers.etsy.com
Come on by from March 10 to the 16th and check out a new mushroom item each day.

I love being able to go with my own quirky desires and ideas.

Happy mushrooms!

A New Record

2008-03-03T04:49:00.000-08:00

I just had a new record set for sale time of an item on my Etsy shop. A cute little mushroom table and chair set that I just posted last night, was sold this morning! It was so cool to see the e-mail. It was especially cool as I was feeling a bit sorry for myself over a hard time I am having with an art doll in my studio (the studio is actually the family dining room table). I still do a happy dance all around the house every time an item sells from my Etsy shop.

Oy!

2008-03-01T19:37:00.001-08:00

So my partner and i were just sitting down to do our taxes (we are not prompt people about this) and I figured out my felting income for the year and my expenses for the year. My goal financially for 2007 had been to break even on income versus expenses. Well I fell short by $25. Not too bad but it is a bit depressing when you think about all of the work, energy and time that went into creating my felt work.

Oy! We both mixed up martinis so that we could cope with the fun of taxes. I'm not sure that alcohol and taxes are a good mix. Looking at my income for last year it is helping me laugh at the state of my finances. Oy! Sometimes that's all you can say.

Open Arts Studio Tour

2008-02-28T06:20:00.001-08:00

Whoo-Hoo! It looks like I will get a chance to get some of my art dolls out into the world as part of an open art studio tour this spring. I love the idea of getting my dolls out there in the world. They really show their stuff much better in person.

Posted on the side is a photo of one of my favorite dolls. He is simply called Grandpa. I am currently working on a grandchild for him. He has always looked to me like he is telling a great story. A grandchild in the lap will be the perfect audience. Can't wait till the grandchild is finished.

A day spent felting

2008-02-24T06:17:00.000-08:00

Once again the day was spent down at Rainbow Fleece Farm. This week the weather was sunny with no immediate threat of biblical level winter storms. In short a great day to be out in the country playing with wool and surrounded by sheep. There were several recently born lambs on the farm, one pair just born that morning.

The turn out was better than last week and as usual the people who did come out were a joy to teach. Anyone who is willing to pick up something new and play around and learn is usually a pretty good person IMHO.

We also got to celebrate a bit with Hazel Carter, a fiber artist/knitting goddess in the area who turned 80 this past week. We had cake and sang happy birthday to her and her visiting family. I hope to be doing so well at 80, surrounded by loving family and still creating things of beauty. It was a treat to meet her.

Unfortunately I left a doll out at the farm. Thankfully it is up high so the new farm puppy will not get a hold of it. That little stinker made his way into the wool barn and kept running out with a new ball of roving to chew every chance he got! But I do need to find time to get back out and get her. If I'm lucky someone I know from town will be going out and can give the doll a lift back to Madison.

so many communities

2008-02-22T11:58:00.000-08:00

Who knew that a huge chunk of having a hand craft business would involve so much computer time? There are 100s if not 1000s of web sites to use and connect to all pertaining to Etsy! I was going to use the morning to create but spent it instead setting up a promotional page over at http://etsylove.ning.com/ It seems like a cool site, I already have a few virtual friends who have cool Etsy items up on their pages. It's worth the time to look around and view some of the wonderful talent on Etsy.

Tonight I do plan to felt. We are finally letting the kids see Star Wars for the first time (A New Hope, not the other movies of which we shall not speak) Anyway, sitting in front of the TV can be a great time to work as long as I don't pay more attention to the TV than the needle (ouch!)

Could be a perfect time to do those finger puppets!

hooray!

2008-02-21T16:53:00.001-08:00

Does it seem demented that 19 degrees seemed really warm today? It was so wonderful to feel the sun and the "warm" air that for a bit I went around with no hat and my coat open. It was a welcome change after loosing feeling in my toes going down by the frozen lake to watch the lunar eclipse (for the record the view was worth the temporary numbness)

So feeling more inspired to work I manages to get a new item up on my Etsy shop. It's a gnome family which has been waiting to be finished for some time. I was going to make zombie armadillos but the first armadillo came out too cute to "zombify" so my daughter claimed it. It really is cute if I do say so myself. (note to self, post photo of armadillo)

Now I am itching to make a round of finger puppets. Last fall there were several rounds of fun monster finger puppets but when ever I made a batch one of my kids would get a birthday party invitation. Sigh...at least we are never at a loss for fun things to give.

First I need to work on a landscape piece which I want to pitch to the local botanical gardens as a class. I am psyched about the idea of getting out and teaching others needle felting. Speaking of which Saturday it is back to the good folks at Rainbow Fleece Farm. Always a good time. Really any day spent getting my work out in public and getting to felt and teach is a good day.

teaching day

2008-02-16T20:08:00.001-08:00

Spent the day at Rainbow Fleece Farms doing informal needle felting instruction as part of their Cabin Fever event. Not too many folks showed up as time to get anything done between snow storms is scarce. But the few who did make it were very fun. In general I find people respond well to needle felting. It opens them up to playing and experimenting and creating. It is a real joy to share it with others.

I also made great connections and opened some possibilities. One is an open art studio day this spring down in Stoughton. How cool is that?! I also connected with the folks from the Waldorf style school here in town about teaching classes for kids and adults.

Any day spent creating and teaching is a day well spent.

better now

2008-02-16T05:24:00.000-08:00

Well, the blahs have shaken out a bit and I was able to really work and focus yesterday. Made a new wonderfully freaky critter based on a drawing done by my son (see photo, see item also in my Etsy shop) Now I have to get cracking and make a couple more because my kids each want one too (perhaps for Easter this year)

feeling uninspired

2008-02-14T11:50:00.000-08:00

Is anyone else having a hard time getting inspired to make anything lately? Perhaps its just mid-winter blahs setting in. This one has been wicked in the frozen north of Wisconsin. I am having a hard time sitting down and creating anything. Or I get a project started and run out of steam.

I think I need to make a cup of tea and just sit quietly with my wool. Meditate, just be, let the creative process come to me. mmmmm...warm herbal tea is sounding good right now. I'll update this tomorrow with any progress. Possibly photos of anything in the works.

2008-02-05T06:24:00.001-08:00

That was fast

2008-02-04T19:04:00.001-08:00

OK so the photo thing was quick! Can't wait to see what other technological marvels will occur in the near future. Check back cuz they will happen! Next item a link...ooohhh...

First post

2008-02-04T18:52:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog. It's a look at my day to day life and various businesses. I am a home based mama of two kids as well as a childcare provider, a Reiki practitioner and a fiber artist based in Madison, WI.

Future posts will contain photos of my felt work and a link to my Etsy shop once I get it all figured out and running smoothly.