Friday Features - New Year Motivation

Friday Features are back for 2014! As each new year begins, I always seem to look for words of wisdom, some motivation and encouragement. And since I'll soon have a new studio to decorate (update post coming Monday!), I went searching for motivational art prints (and a coaster) for my new studio. Here are my faves...

  

She Believed She Could So She Did Quote

by reimaginationprints

  New years resolution, 2014 print, This Is My Year, motivational printable poster 

by CakePrintShop 

 Quote Art/Coaster (4x4) "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream another dream" --C.S. Lewis

 by StolenMomentsStudio 

 Downton Abbey, INSPIRATIONAL Quote Poster

by GoGoBookart

A Look at 2011

Each year I set goals for my blog and Etsy Shop and share them with all of you. I feel that putting my goals out there for everyone to read gives them more power and helps keep me on track.

Today I'll share how 2011 went and tomorrow I'll share for new goals for 2012!

Blog Goals:

*Blog 3-5 times per week: SUCCESS!

I had 275 posts in 2011 which averages out to over 5 posts per week!

*Get my followers up to 150: SUCCESS!

I am at 249 Followers!!!

I contribute this to visiting a lot of new blogs this year, having a giveaway in April and contributing regularly in the Etsy Blog Team forums.

Shop Goals:

*150 Etsy Sales: SUCCESS!

I actually had 309 Sales in 2011!!! I far exceeded my goals and expectations for 2011!!! By getting my laser engraver and expanding my inventory, I really opened my audience and the sales show it!

*450 Shop Hearts: SUCCESS!

I currently have 614 shop hearts! And I again contribute this to adding so many new items and attracting new buyers.

Other goals:

*Add new products: SUCCESS!

My Wood Guest Books, Personalized Bottle Stoppers and Photo Ornaments were great hits!

*Add another consignment shop: SUCCESS!

I started selling at another local winery and have had better success at this one than I did at the first one!

*Add a new show venue: SUCCESS!

My booth partner and I added another show that occurs in both the spring and fall. They were our best shows of the year!

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As you can see, 2011 was an amazing year! I never would have imagined that my new laser engraver would grow my business in such a way! I hope 2012 is just as great!

Stop back tomorrow to see my goals for 2012. And I'd love to hear how your year went and your new goals for 2012 in the comments!

2011 Goals

Last week I reviewed my 2010 goals and saw how well the year went. Now it is time to set my goals for 2011! I'm not one to make resolutions. To me those are just hopes and dreams. Goals are measurable and more specific. And, by putting them out there for everyone to read...I'm more likely to stick to them :) *Blog Posts: 3-5 posts per week. Last year my goals was to blog everyday. I enjoy blogging and I see traffic from it, but some days I just felt like I was blogging to blog. I didn't really have anything to say and I think readers can sense that. This year my goal is to have fewer posts, with more content :) *Blog Followers: 150 I know I need to promote my blog more to get this accomplished...add that to my list of goals! *Etsy Sales Goal: 150 Plan of attack...More price points and more inventory! *Etsy Hearts: 450 Total Shop Hearts Those are my specific and measurable goals...here are the rest: *Add new product lines. With the new laser cutter I'm getting at the end of the month, my head is racing with new ideas! I just have to make them all reality! *Look at more brick and mortar shops for consignment or resale. Goal: Add at least one new venue. *More shows! Last year I had to cancel a lot of my shows because work got so busy. This year I hope to plan ahead better and be more prepared for more shows :) What are your 2011 goals? Share them here or drop a link to your blog post about them. Put them in writing and share them with the world :)

Welcome 2011

Today's features are all about the New Year! One I am super excited about in so many ways!!! I hope 2011 is a wonderful year for us all :)

Oprah Winfrey's New Year Quote Cream Pillow Cover

by decology

New Year's Tags or Cupcake Toppers - Printable

by CupcakeCutieesCards

Customized New Year's Resolutions Mug

by myworldlycloset

New Year 2011

by LynnsBoutique

First Custom Albums for the New Year

I am happy to say that orders have been coming in wonderfully to start off the new year :) As a seller, you just never know how sales will be after all the holiday hustle and bustle is over. I think my Custom Name or Word Albums sell well all year because of the endless possibilities they offer :) Take these first three albums I made for example:

Custom Pet Name Album

Custom Baby Name Album

Custom Family Name Album

All three albums offer three very different choices :) There's a Custom Album for everyone and for every need!!!

Blog Review and Goals

As each new year begins I like to look back on the year past and evaluate what the year brought and what I want the new year to bring. I do this in every aspect of my life and my blog is no different.

I started my blog in 2008 and had 69 posts. For 2009 I had 329 posts!!! That's a major accomplishment :)

What do I contribute to this rise in posts? Several things:

• I started scheduling posts more often
• I started some regular features like my Wordless Wednesday and Friday Features posts
• I added more personal postings as well. Before I had tried to keep it strictly business, but I found that I enjoy reading personal blogs and wanted to add that to my blog as well.

So what are my goals/plans for 2010?

• I am up to 80 followers and would like to see that rise to 100 before the end of the year...or sooner :)
• I want to post EVERYDAY in 2010!!!
• I want to start doing giveaways again...just haven't decided the exact details yet.
• I want to redesign my blog and add a 3-column layout.

2009 was a great year for my blog and I plan to make 2010 an even better one :) What are your blogging goals? What are your plans for your blog in 2010? I'd love to hear about it :)

Celebration

For New Year's this year we celebrated with Jesse's family for a surprise birthday/new year's party. His cousin turns 30 on Jan. 10th, and his wife thought New Year's would be a great time to surprise him! Tons of the family was there and we partied the night away :)

Here's the birthday boy...who was definitely surprised :)

And here are two pics of Jesse and I...I couldn't have asked for two better photos to end the year with :)

I hope you enjoyed your New Year's Celebration whether it consisted of a night on the town or a quiet night in :)

Friday Features-Happy New Year

Happy New Year!!!

Welcome to the first Friday Features of the New Year!!! How exciting...2010! And how fast it got here! I know it's a total cliche and I say it every year...but 2009 really flew by!

But I'm ready for 2010 :) I have so many plans for the new year including getting back into jogging and adding more and bigger craft shows to my list!!!

Without further ado...here are my Friday Features for the New Year:

Yoga Mat Bag

by VirtuoSew

4 HAPPY NEW YEAR Phrase Die Cuts

by Cosmocraze

Year of the Tiger Greeting Card

by 88avenue

Fun 2010 Write In Calendar - 12 months and 40 mini stickers

by TheArtOfJoy

Have a Happy New Year...and Happy Handmade Shopping :)

First Sale of 2009!!!

I was thrilled to get my first sale of 2009 yesterday! I really thought January would be pretty slow. After the holiday rush and with our "wonderful" economy, I didn't quite know what to expect. This just made the sale even more special :) It looks as though my Custom Name and Word Albums are going to be popular again this year!!! Here is the album in process. It will say MR&MRSHARVEY (Mr. and Mrs. Harvey) when finished. The MR and MRS will be vertical on the page to make room for the last name. I know it's a little hard to see right now...don't worry, I will definitely be taking more pictures when it is finished :)

I plan on adding more Name and Word Albums to my shop in 2009. Many more premade options and more custom options as well. Keep watch for these new albums in my shop soon :)