New Shipping Rates and Times

Today is starting off great! I spent the morning sewing, and decided that today I was going to print off some shipping labels to use USPS south of the border. I have a bit of a guilty conscience when it comes to lying to border guards, perhaps that comes from being married to someone in law enforcement, so I did a little Googling.

Turns out, there's a company local to SusieCues, who has a business of taking shipments south of the border for us, which is very exciting. I've sent an inquiry in to the owners, and if everything goes according to the FAQ's on their website, SusieCues could very soon be shipping just like our American competitors. This means a decrease in both shipping fees AND shipping times.

Very exciting!! Stay tuned for details.

Baby Girl

Just in time for spring, and using the fabric I got on Spoonflower! Will post more pictures when the room is done, there's a twin sheet and comforter cover, pillows and a valance to go, not to mention painting. But, this girl does NOT paint!

Vacation Starting January 6th!

SusieCues will be temporarily closed, from January 6-13th, while our family is away on holiday. I'm not sure what the internet situation will be like while we're there, but if it's feasible, I will check in a couple times over the week to answer any messages, and questions.

Our vacation will not affect shipping times, just communication over the week we're away.

We'll be back in full force on January 14th, and look forward to serving you then!

Hello, Spoonflower!!

In the search for the perfect fabric for a project of my own, I discovered Spoonflower.com

OMG. I don't think I've EVER been so excited about a company before. I've already placed my order! We're doing yellow, aqua and white crib bedding, and I could NOT find the fabric I wanted. I have the perfect aqua, a pattern I adore by Paula Prass (Aqua Garden Trellis), and it's available in an array of colours, but not yellow and white.




Enter, Spoonflower! In less than 5 minutes, I was able to alter the colours of the orange print, turning it to yellow, and I ordered the yardage I needed. $3 shipping! Yes, the fabric is PRICEY (read $18+/yard!) but it's totally worth it.




You can upload any pattern, picture, drawing, print, you name it! When we're back from holidays, I plan on setting up some listings incorporating completely unique fabrics. Imagine, bedding for your toddler, in a print SHE drew! Blankets with those special drawings, handprints, scribbles... so many options! Have a favourite picture, or print you want the theme of your nursery based on? We can have fabric printed with that EXACT print! In the right colours! It's AMAZING.

Love it! Check it OUT: http://www.spoonflower.com/

Swap Meet on January 22 - Local Fundraiser

Looking through our stash of Ready-to-Ship items, I realised we have WAY too much on hand at the moment, for our tiny studio, so we'll be participating at a local Swap Meet on January 22nd, with a kid-friendly business table!

We'll be selling our legwarmers (with new packaging!) changing pad covers, fitted crib and toddler sized sheets, as well as minky blankets! Custom orders for all of the above can be placed at the meet, and if you see something you like, and would like to buy it ahead of time, we will have pick-up packages ready to go too :)



Wasn't sure that craft fairs/swap meets, etc... were the direction we wanted to go with the business, but I'm always willing to support community fundraisers, especially when the proceeds go towards a great elementary school.

Here's the flier, complete with details!

They're Back! Twin-Sized Bedding Sets!!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/65123160/3-piece-twin-sized-bedding-set-any

Sets are $130,and include:
FITTED SHEET
-in any fabric of your choice
-with elastic all around, for safe, snug fit on mattress
-double sewn seams, and serged for durability, and to ensure the sheet lasts through endless washings
-fits standard twin mattress *mattress depth will be required
Length: 75 "
Width: 39 "

COMFORTER COVER
- in any fabric of your choice (up to 3 fabrics)
- fits standard twin sized comforter insert
Length: 86 "
Width: 64 "
-zipper or aplix closure

PILLOWCASE
- in any fabric of your choice with coordinating ribbon embellishment
- fits standard sized pillow insert
Length: 20 "
Width: 30 "

As always, pieces are available individually. Pictures to follow :)

Ringing in the New Year with a SALE!

That's right, another sale :)

On New Year's Eve Day, the code Bye2010 will give you 10% off everything in store.

On New Year's Day, the code Hello2011 will give you 11% off everything in store.

Happy New Year's Everyone!

Merry Christmas!

I know, it's only the 23rd, but I come from a Scandinavian background, and we celebrate the 23rd (lille jule aften), the 24th (jule aften), the 25th (jule dag) and the 26th (? we have a huge left-over smorgasbord). Christmas is a big deal in our household, and this year even moreso, as our son just turned two, and understands everything from celebrating Baby Jesus' birthday, to making sure Santa has lots to eat when he comes to visit - this year, as per Jakob's request, Santa will find soup and a salad at our mantle.

I spend all day, every day linked into the online world, it's what allows me to connect with you, my customers, and make sure that we're active and up to date on everything. I try very hard to reply to all my messages as soon as possible after you send them, but for the next couple days I'll be taking a step back from the computer, to spend time with the people I love.

I'll be back in action on the 27th, and knowing my internet addiction, I will probably be checking in once a day, but if you're trying to reach us and you don't hear anything for a couple days, please know that we'll write you back very soon.

We wish you the absolute BEST of the holiday season, and a merry Christmas. It's too soon to wish you a Happy New Year, we'll definitely be updating again before then, but if you're away, enjoy yourself, enjoy your family, your babies and everything this season has to offer.

All our love,
The SusieCues Family <3

Lists

My "To-Do" list is two pages long. Writing a blog entry isn't on that list, and there's probably good reason. We had a cleaning lady come the other day, which was fantastic, but honestly, you can't tell she was here. How do people with toddlers keep their houses in order??

The hubby's grandpa is in the process of designing and building me a new sewing centre for the kitchen. I am beyond excited about it, seeing as I'll finally have a place to stash all my fabrics, and tools, and everything that comes with running a small-time custom bedding and accessories company.

I've had a LOT of interest this week in my custom sets. By a lot, I mean about half a dozen people are sending me legitimate inquiries on a daily basis. Pretty cool, so I'll just have to see how that plays out.

Having just returned to work, I have no intentions of quitting my day job. I LOVE getting out of the house, it totally gives me my sanity back. I thought I would appreciate the four days I have off right now, but I sort of wish they were broken up by one day of work. Ah, well... I shouldn't complain. Jakob is really good about going to bed before 8pm, and staying asleep, so I get most of my online work done in the evenings. I try to sew around nap times, and have decided that it is okay to leave a project half way through, to get chores done, and return to it when my obligatory duties are finished.

I've been meaning to re-shoot all the photos on my Etsy site, but haven't found time. Did manage to get a few decent shots of Little Man, modeling legwarmers and little shoes, though. Don't know where he gets his photogenic genes. Definitely not from me.




Isn't he cute?

I ordered packaging for my legwarmers and shoes a while back, and got it in the mail, which was fantastic. Dropped a bunch of pairs of legwarmers at Buttercups today, and they seemed to appreciate the more professional appearance.


I really wish it were easier to edit listings in Etsy! I want to replace all the pictures on the legwarmer listings, but it's so much work, and time flies WAY too quickly.

Okay, off to get something useful done.
Goodnight :)

Back to the Real World

After 15 months out of the work force, I'm back in, albeit part time. I really didn't think I would like going back, but it really helps that I have a wicked job, and I am always in a new place, seeing new things, every work day.
My boss is great for scheduling me around the hubby's days off and on days where the grandparents can look after Jake, too.

Been doing lots of sewing of late. Working on a few custom fitted sheet sets, a whole "big-kid" bedroom set, and also designing and creating some really great 0-6mo baby gowns. Lots on the go!

I'm ready for the Olympics to be over, and for life to return to normal. I wish my hubby had a boring job! Instead, he's worked every day since almost a week before the O games started! Yuck.

New Items

I was at the fabric store the other day, and had a very specific "must-only-buy-these-items" list. Well, I couldn't help myself when I saw this awesome, punk rock, black and white skulls fabric. I didn't need it, but I HAAAAD to buy it.

Got home, and figured I should do something with it, so I made these:


I totally loved them, and showed the hubby, who suggested I try to sell them on Etsy. I posted them, and within half an hour, they sold! Go figure. They're awesome!

So, I made a bunch more, out of fabric scraps that were too small to donate, and not big enough to do anything too exciting with. Ended up with these :





So, we'll see what happens with those. They're super fun to make, although they are a little finicky.

Had a lot of recent interest in my custom bedding, which is always a bonus!

New Directions

I think I'm going to start going to swapmeets... I have heard some really good things about them, and there are some huge ones out in Cloverdale at the Fair Grounds, and they allow people to sell new goods there.

I always do really well with the leg warmers at craft fairs, and now that I have an assortment of items, and about a billion leg warmers, it would be good to market them elsewhere than on etsy. The one downfall is that it costs money to have a table, and you're not always guaranteed to make it back.

But, tables are only $25, that's about three pairs of leggings. Not bad. I bet I could do better than that, especially if it's as busy as people say they get.

Going to sign up for a few, just to see. Bonus is that it's located five minutes away from my sister-in-law's place.

Will have more details as they get closer!

Sew Sew Sew

So... I've been sewing a lot, and it makes me really happy. I love that I can be working AND looking after Jakob. It's pretty phenomenal. Of course, there's a lot to do before people start beating down the door trying to buy things from me ;) BUT, at least I can tell myself it's worth the effort to get the ball rolling.

I've been really good at only spending money on materials from money I've earned through sales, so that's not so bad, especially when I managed to hit a few really awesome sales.

Got permission to use Great-Grandma's (<3) serger, and it's the COOLEST thing I've ever used. Oh my goodness! It makes life so much easier, plus it's an excuse to get out of the house with Jakob and let him have time with his Great-Grandpa!

I have a custom order bedding set that I'm waiting to sew. I ordered the fabric before Christmas, so any day now. I really like what she chose! It's a pretty pink and white damask print. Should be fun to put together.

Other than that, I made almost 30 pairs of leg warmers today, taking my time uploading them to my etsy site, though. Have to space them out so I don't get lost in the crowd.

Ah, market saturation...?

Anyway. It's past my bed time!

Adventures in Etsy and Happy New Year!

So, a while back now, I set up my own little shop on Etsy (the mecca for buying and selling handcrafted goods online).

I've sold a few things, and learned quite a lot more than I ever intended. For instance, in order to sell things in the states, you have to meet all sorts of crazy labeling regulations, and have to submit your goods for lead testing and phlatate testing. UGH!

So, I've ordered myself some fancy labels, which I'll admit, will make my products appear more professional. I have NO intention of going big time with my endeavors, I just want to make a little extra money for buying things for me :)

I've got a bunch of baby leggings listed, and two bunches more to list. I have to remember to list things daily, and at random times during the day, so that they stay at the front of the search pages.





I have my bedding sets, and custom listings posted, but I also have my sets in a local business here in Ladner. Fun times. If you'd told me that I would be selling a product in a real STORE, I never would have believed you, but here we are, and I don't quite know how I got here.



Really though, all I want is to be able to make some money while being able to spend time with Jakob, who is growing so quickly it's mind blowing. He's amazing, he's fast, he's funny. He's my everything!

I also started making baby slings, mostly because I wasn't happy with the ones that I paid a lot for. They never fit me quite right, so I made my own, and they seem cute enough, and I know they're well made enough to sell online too. We'll see. When my sleeping baby awakes from his nap, I think I'll put him in one to photograph for the site.

I can't believe it's the last day of 2009. This has been the fastest year of my life. Incredibly amazing, but so quick.

I hope you all had a wonderful, marvelous Holiday Season, and wish you all the best for 2010.

See you in the new year :)