I just placed another order!!

[Seahorse]

On my continuing journey of kicking myself in the butt to get me making and selling my goodies I have to say Ive just placed an order for over £40+, the most ever on one order, and its only findings, not even pretty stuff!!

As I only got my first credit card about 2 weeks ago, I have yet to experience the 'whack in the face' of the first bill that comes through.

Dam, those credit cards, I curse them and every sweet buying experience they ease for 5 minutes then have a hold over me!!

Please feel free to say supportive and nurturing things, I need it.

[Jane_Russell]

Buying findings is a bit like buying washing powder and toilet paper. You can't do without them but you'd rather be buying shoes and chocolate! I hope the bill doesn't hurt too much. You can always send a cheque before the bill arrives and then feel smug that it says zero when it does arrive :D

Jane

[Seahorse]

Im budgeting already,but looks like a few loved ones will have to go without chrissy prezzies this year, hoho.

[Funkyhand]

Well just make sure that the 'loved ones' missing out are the 'least' loved ones!
Anice xx

[swirlyarts]

Yeah - it's a step in the right direction!! Thought of encouragement coming from me :D

[Seahorse]

Yeah - it's a step in the right direction!! Thought of encouragement coming from me :D

ahh, thanks.
Thought theyd turn up on saturday so I could have a crfaty weekend but they didnt show up.

Managed to get off my bum and get some things done anyhoo.

[swirlyarts]

Yay!! I've had loads of ideas but nothing done yet.....:rolleyes:

[Seahorse]

The ideas are half the battle.Draw/write them down so you can go back and work on them when you have time.

I sounded like a mother then!!

[swirlyarts]

I already do! I will forget them all otherwise! I just need to stop procrastinating and get on with it!!!!

[Seahorse]

Ok, so my credit card bill is nearing £200 all on craft stuff and I feel very sick.

Suppostive, nurturing things need to be said please.

[Craft Chick]

But isn't the craft stuff an investment that you're going to make money out of? In my eyes that justifies it perfectly. Plus the credit card bill can be spread over a couple of months and I've heard and had much worse than 200 pounds so instead make yourself feel better by thinking of all those gorgeous goodies you've bought and all the lovely things you're going to make out of them! :)

[swirlyarts]

You need to spend this money to build up stock etc - it's not like it's money wasted. I think my start up costs were about £500 so you are no where near that yet! Positive thoughts coming through :D

[Peter]

I did a really funny post, and it said I couldn't have 5 smileys, and I had to go back and do it again.............................yeah, right. :D

[Jane_Russell]

Ok, so my credit card bill is nearing £200 all on craft stuff and I feel very sick.

Suppostive, nurturing things need to be said please.

Ouch! Mine is over £3000 on camera equipment if it makes you feel any better :)

Jane

[Seahorse]

Thanks guys.Im being so silly Ive really narked myself off.
My primary budget is £500(not including computer when I need to get one) so I dont know what Im complaining about either.
Everything I make isnt quite up to my Leo standards, I made a necklace the other day, quite fiddly, and the tigertail coming out of the fastener ends wernt quite the same length after Id crimped it all together.My silly side says just leave it, youl be wasting expensive sts crimps if you take it apart, but my business side says its not perfect enough to sell, do it again.

Il do my utmost not to complain again

[Seahorse]

Ive placed 2 orders today and I actually enjoyed it!!
I feel I actually have ordered the things i need in order to produce some good pieces.

£10.09 left of my budget Ive allowed myself .....oops just realised I need about £20 more,eek, but eek in a fun way.

[handmadeheaven.biz]

my start up costs are similar to Jane's - around £3000. The kiln alone was £1200ish. I am doing a few different disciplines: glass, jewellery and felt, predominantly. Glass, especially, doesnt come cheap. You have to speculate to accumulate though. Just make sure when your price your products you cover material costs and production costs. That money spent is certainly not money wasted :D

[Seahorse]

I suppose Im panicing as knowing myself as well as I do I have it in my head that il chicken out and not do anything towards selling them, hence a few hundred pounds down the drain.

But I cant think of any reason to NOT make a go of this.
Ive worked out I need about £50 tops worth of more orders(not including boxes etc), then if I cant make good things out of that I should just give up!!

I received 2 orders when I got home, everything is sparkly!!!So Ive got something to get on with.

Thanks for your comments.

[Seahorse]

Right, thats it!!
£230+ on my card, thats all Im spending, its enough to make alot and if I ever buy anything again you have permission to throw tomatoes at me.

[Peter]

...................can't afford tomatoes!:)

[Seahorse]

...................can't afford tomatoes!:)

Il buy some on my credit card, send them to you and then....doh!!!

Just managed to get headpin debri stuck between the keys on my keyboard.

[Seahorse]

So yesterday, around lunch, Id done all my buying and was very happy to stop.
But then I bought something else that afternoon, then another thing just now.

Please dont judge me, I cant help it.I think Im addicted.

[handmadeheaven.biz]

on the internet? online shopping is WAY too easy!! i know that 'oo, one of those...and one of those...oh, that's nice, one of those...' feeling!

[Seahorse]

Oh, yep on the internet.Theres nothing much in high street craft shops, everything I want is on the net and usually America.

Ive definately stopped now, nothing else, never never never..never..., thank goodness Im only at work(the only place with a computer)for next Monday and thats it til new year.So I wont be able to buy anything.

Whats annoying is if you buy 1 thing you need another thing to go with it or its pointless getting the one thing to begin with!!

Glad to know its not just me.

[swirlyarts]

Ive definately stopped now, nothing else, never never never..never...,

Why don't I believe you??? :p Not that I'm doubting you intentions though! :rolleyes:

[Seahorse]

Yes, Ive done it again.
My second of the year, its from an american site which Ive wanted to buy from for months.
It was an order under £20, alot of that was on postage.
Ive not gone shopping mad.

[swirlyarts]

Remember that you do need to spend money to make money - and crafty things of course!

[Seahorse]

Remember that you do need to spend money to make money - and crafty things of course!

I need to have that tattooed on me.
Ive sat here like a lemon all day with a load of necklace ideas, Ive totted up how much the beads will cost and it was £40,justfor one necklace.
Im still havin trouble.

In complete contrast, I normally wouldnt have spent £7 on P+P but I thought 'hang it, I want them and Im gona have them'.

Im a bit strange.

[swirlyarts]

I need to have that tattooed on me.
Ive sat here like a lemon all day with a load of necklace ideas, Ive totted up how much the beads will cost and it was £40,justfor one necklace.
Im still havin trouble.

If it's a beautiful necklace then people will be willing to pay top dollar for it - you just have to make sure that you are aiming it at the right market.

[Seahorse]

I think thats whats partly holding me back.Just coz I like what I make doesnt mean others will.
I need to tell myself the quicker Ispend out and make things the sooner I can reap any financial awards, mowohohohohoho(rubs hands together in a Scrooge McDuck kind of way).

[Seahorse]

I got home and there were 2 orders waiting for me!!!!

How about this for proof that my brain is detereorating.

I got what I ordered and also 10 fuchsia beads which I dont recall ordering/wanting/needing, yet there they were on th eprinted out invoice form the site!!!
Crazy I tell you, crazy!

[Seahorse]

Lovely site lady said she would swop them for me.

I just place another order,£25, but they sure are perdy.

[manwanis]

Seahorse... sure now I understand the aggression.

Altough we are living in online environment... but sure the old practices of buy and sell still exists.

I think its more about the maturity levels of people involved.

[Seahorse]

You have many a wisw word manwanis.
Im astill wary of the amount im spending but I think if I dont try a new adventure il never know if itl go well.

I hope there is still a practice of buy and sell, even tho I have to say the old toyshop I worked in was on the front of the local paper this week saying its closing down in about 2 months due to lack of trade!

[Seahorse]

I havnt ordered anything this week(yet, need alot of findings)but just thought id let you know that Ive had to move my invoices from a fab and groovy holographic small file into a more official and bleek looking black lever arch file!!

[Seahorse]

Godammit!!Ive just been paid, ya know what that means dont you!!

[Lianne86]

But your allowed to spend money when you've just been paid.... then regret it the week before your next wage!

[Apple Tree Crafts]

....flogging any/all of the junk from around your house on eBay, or like me, all the crafty stuff from crafts I've tried but didn't stick with. You end up with a tidy [ish] house and few pounds in your paypal account which is handy for buying whatever crafty bits you want online, either from eBay or US sites, most of which accept paypal.

BTW If you're buying from the US ask if your seller uses Global Priority Flat Rate packs.....these are much cheaper for postage; you get upto a certain weight for however much i.e: If I order upto 8 yards of cotton fabric I pay a flate rate of $10 (£5). The only downside is that I might only want 2 yards, but then feel obliged to buy another 6 to get my money's worth......there's logic in there somewhere, I think :p

I imagine you'd get a lot of beads in the small pack.

Jules

[Seahorse]

Admittedly Ive not bought huge amounts in one go from the USA as Im worried about import tax.But I was thinking about the delivery prices ive paid the other day and they range form£2.50 to £7 which seems resonable, even to me!

Im the same, I place an order thats in ratio to the delivery cahrge.

[Seahorse]

I worked out today is credit card turning point day so I can delay payment for a month.Just spent nearly £60 on findings!!!

[Seahorse]

Just did another order thingy.Someone needs to take my credit card away from me.

Only £101 spent so far this month!!But what i bought is economical and totally usable.I didnt buy what I didnt need and even have plans for left over beads!.

[mollymandy]

Well thats money well spent then thats what i say.

[Seahorse]

Well thats money well spent then thats what i say.


Thanks, makes me feel better.
And Ive just made a necklace, now do I sell it or give it to an internet pal who showed interest in a picture of a similar necklace? She could be my guineau pig, advertising my work.

[mollymandy]

Id say internet pal good advertising net a big place worth a trycan you make another to sell.

[Seahorse]

Ive hada a 9 hour day and Im very hingry.
I hope there is some crfat delivery waiting for me when i get home!!

[Seahorse]

Got home and there were 3 packages for me!!!......and a credit card bill....which was more than I thought.

[Seahorse]

Just got some rhinestones so I can get on with finishing a few things!

[mollymandy]

Love parcals comming through the post.

[Seahorse]

Receieved a the worst order of my life yesterday!
Admittedly Im to blame as I chose the bead colours but they are yucky!!I based my choices on fashion colours.The yellows nice, but I also got copper which to some people could look nice but the worst was carribean opal which looks totally different to the picture I saw(which is fair enough as we can never get a proper idea of colour form a screen)It looked lovely in the pic, got them and they look like a muddy pale blue.They look beautiful when held to the light so I cant do with them what I planned as the design was a necklace next to the skin so I have to completely change the design.

[goldy1]

Are they that bad you won't use them?
Where did you get them from? they might change them for you if you say they aren't like advertised. Have you got any pics?

[Seahorse]

Ive used the yellow, and will use the topaz/brown, Ive adapted the blue, hopefully to its best effect.
The colours arnt to my taste, thats all.
Cant blame the pictures on the site.They have swopped beads for me in the past but dont want to annoy them again.
I need to learn that just because i dont like them doesnt mean others wont.....but ...for two thirds of the order...yuuuuuck!

[goldy1]

I know what you mean about personal taste. I have a very unusual colour taste, I sometimes have to think will others like my ideas. A lot of the time I make things that I know people will like but I wouldn't ever touch.
I find it hard to do things I don't like but I know others will these projects become a chore and can take much longer to compelte, then I'm not always happy with the result.

[Seahorse]

I placed an order last week, and got a 'its at the post office' card throught the door.
Now I have to wait til an opportunity to go into town or the weekend til I can get it!!!

I need new things!!!Dont they realise I cant wait this long!!!

[swirlyarts]

I'm waiting for some new glasses (for eyes, not to drink out of) and I know there will be a card through the door cos the postman will want to deliver when I'm at nursery!! Hopefully they will be here before I go away next week so I can look stylish on the plane :cool:

[Seahorse]

Got my fingers crossed for ya.

[swirlyarts]

Enjoy your parcel!!!!!

[Seahorse]

Got my parcel, realised the coloured tigertail I got doesnt really do much, youths may like it though.
Pendants are still in their packaging.Looks like il be at work all day so Im sure I can experiment today.

As the credit card has clicked over to payments due next month i can start all over again.
So far(in my head), I have racked up £70 worth of goodies.Am I going to talk myself out of buying these things....naahhhh.I feel an evening job is on the cards.Just think at some point in the future i may have 3 jobs!!

[Seahorse]

I received 2 orders yesterday(hoorah)Some fabulous rubber stamps, angel wings and swirly flourishes.Cant wait to experiment.

[EMEvans]

I thought i had a spending problem. But i agree theres nothing better than having a big parcel of goodies delivered. This month i've spent about £600 on goods my flexible friend comes in very handy but i think we'll fall out when i receive my credit card statement.

[Seahorse]

£600!!!!! I can only dream of allowing myself to spend that amount.
I allow myself £150(£180 at a push) a month.Im already up to £100 and its only 9 days into the month and I have plenty more I want to buy!!

[Seahorse]

Dear Lord help me!!!!
Id already spent my limit I allow myself this month but I just went mad and ordered stuff to make about 3 pieces, it all came to over £80!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Im going to craft hell!!!!!!

[Seahorse]

At an attempt to justify my spending £18 of it was on an entry form and £10 was on Comic Relief.

[icecreamgirl]

Craft Hell? See you there............................:eek:

[Seahorse]

Craft Hell? See you there............................:eek:

I bet itl have 1000's of tv channels but no access to any craft channels!!

[EMEvans]

I know how you all feel, i've just spent another £650.00 this week alone, ok most of it is for supplies to resell but as of yet i've only had one order through my website. It's come to the point now where i'm telling myself to give up on my dream, but it's so hard to let go. Not going to worry about paying for the stuff untill my credit card statement arrives!

I'll save you all a place in crafters hell as i'll be the first one there if my boyfriend finds out about my failing business venture!

[Seahorse]

NEVER GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I heard a phrase once-Use your talents, thats what they are intended for.

[swirlyarts]

Just remember - you have got to spend to accumulate!!

[EMEvans]

Thats what i always tell myself,but now it's hitting the £3000 mark it's a bit scarey. Never mind at least if it all goes t**s up i'll have enough card making materials to last a life time.

OH sugar just realised the time, got to go pick the kids up from school, bye 4 now!

[Seahorse]

I spent £300 with just 1 of the 12 ish suppliers I use and i havnt a clue what all that money has gone towards because I certainly dont have £300 worth(of their goods) of things to sell!!

[euston-74]

DON'T give up!!
Hang on in there and concentrate on finding ways to sell what you have already bought. You never know when you'll turn a corner.
Mel