LolliShops

We've all had those days where we wake up and think "WoW, this is gonna be a great day" and then about 5 minutes into it something happens that just derails you right then and there.

I'm an optimistic soul so I'm taking this as just a small bump in the road to financial success. I know I've blogged about, Twittered about, FaceBooked about, emailed about my LolliShop, PrimsyWhimsy (just click the logo above to visit). I was so enthusiastic about my participation in this new website because I could see that the work that had gone into it was well thought out. There was a vendor's Guild and a Shopping guild where you could promote your business to fellow vendors and shoppers alike. I could see the future as nothing but bright and rosy.

This past weekend I spent helping my DD get ready for a new room mate (yes my sweet baby is a bit of a piggy-poo)and so I missed all of the drama surrounding the dissolution of the two ning.com communities where all of the Lolli dreaming took place. Of course I wasn't there so I'll never really be sure what 'went down' but the CEO of LolliShops killed off these two communities that were precious to me and most of the vendors who participated. How or why the 'fight' began I don't know but apparently it was nasty and even went so far as to spread over to the Etsy groups. The Etsy groups I've never participated in because I've heard they are warrior class folk and LOVE to duke it out on the net:)I try and keep my online life as undramatic as possible since my 'real' life is more soap opera than comic strip!

Anyway, I digress...the groups were dissolved and now I'm left with a BIG question as to whether or not to open my own website and link thru Lolli. My stomach is actually knotting up as I write this because I put a lot of faith into the future of a site that I thought would finally be the answer to "where do I want to start up my business". It's not that the 'rent' isn't reasonable enough and is scheduled to go down a bit to promote more participation. BUT...without a forum for us to sell promote our business through, how do we even begin to reach a target audience?

I know that the owner is doing a lot of print advertising. I worked in the print media business for years so I know that it can be effective. Unfortunately not as effective as it once was because of the big take over of the Social Media groups such as the LolliShops Guild once was.

Most of the sales at our grand opening happened because as I've previously mentioned I used EVERY social media at my disposal to get the word out that we were open. Oddly enough...after I stopped promoting it that weekend three weeks ago we've only had ONE sale...and that one came because I posted to Twitter. *sigh*

I'm seriously re-thinking my career path at the moment but never fear...I have never before cried UNCLE and given up. I kicked the h*ll out of breast cancer and if I can beat that, I can surely find a way to solve my current insolvency.

Hugs and LOVE to all the friends I made on "The Guild". Leave a comment so we can reconnect and plan our next move.
Caar

Sebbie is Baaaaaack

Just a quick note to wish you all a Happy New Year. I've been away for a few days tending to my favorite kitty who was sick. Why is that those you love the best can rip out your heart so easily?? He's doing better but still a bit twitchy. Here he is in his pre-twitchy days

Starting to seriously upload to my Lollipop store. Lots of new stuff arriving daily, be sure to drop by and see us when you have a chance.

LOLLISHOP TIME

In a little over ten days Primsy*Whimsy will be the guest weekend artist on LolliShops. That means I gotta hustle my bustle and get things up on line. I'm starting today.
I'll be posting as the days go on toward our grand opening on Jan. 9th!

FauX FeaTHeR TRee

It's the Holiday season but my head has been into our spring line of craft supplies and instruction CDs for Primsy*Whimsy, our new LolliShops Shoppe. Instead of wrapping presents for underneath the tree I spent the week working out the instructions for making a faux feather tree. I am a penny pincher and figured out how to create it for under ten dollars! You can see that it still needs finishing but I just HAD to show it off to everyone I know. I'm in love with feather trees!



I chose to make it in a Shabby Chic PINK but it could be made in any color that pleases your fancy. Keep your eyes open for this upcoming craft project that is an original Primsy*Whimsy design. All designs are copyrighted and subject to the copyright protection law. Carolyn Sadowski is the originator of this design on 12/19/08.

LolliShop Lover

I LOVE my LolliShop. It's such an amazing community that surrounds it. With Sadie Hartmann at its helm, Lollishops is going to BE the place to BE in a very short time!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=54071570638 is a group I started on facebook for all Lolli Lovers to post links to their shops. I think the more we network together the better the sense of community and the better our chances of success in each of our shops.

If you want to start your Lolli experience, feel free to start with: http://www.lollishops.com/primsywhimsy My sister and I are starting a craft supply business that will bring together some of the more unusual types of craft items. Vintage ones as well as our own handmade line of goodies. I am completely psyched about this site and totally support Sadie Lou and her crew and give them kudos for all of the work they are doing.

Do yourself a favor and shop homemade this year. And start with the LolliShops community: http://www.lollishops.com/

STEPPING INTO THE VOID

There was a game we played as children. You had to be blindfolded and be trusting enough of your friends and/or family that they would not put you in harm's way. That's how I've been feeling lately. I've been blindfolded. Groping around in the dark trying to decide if I dared to move ahead without fear.

With trepidation I announced to my customers on Sunday that I would no longer be selling Avon. It's been my saving grace, my pocket money, my little bit of security against total financial insecurity. But my customers have been dropping off one by one because of their own financial problems so that it has left me hardly breaking even. The amount of work for just a few dollars would be better invested in my new LolliShop, PrimsyWhimsy.

So I did it, put in my last order, 30% of which are gifts for family and friends. And then by stepping off into the void I hit the bottom and bounced up, up and away!! I received an email from the owner of LolliShops: "Hello! I would like Primsy Whimsy to be the Weekend Artist the weekend of January 9th-12th". Amazing, spine tingling serendipity OR the plan the universe had for me all along and was just waiting for me to step off and find my wings?

LOLLISHOP OPENING

It's been a long time coming but finally my sister and I have opened a shop together. We're selling craft supplies and a few special gifts, etc on LolliShops. We're calling ourselves PrimsyWhimsy and if you click the logo above it will take you to our stash of goodies.

GALLERY WALL

Found out this evening that I need to have some kind of structure to hang all of my pieces for Friday's Gallery Bash in Belmar, NJ. Fortunately DH has a solution for me so I'm not as distraught as I was about four hours ago!

I'm getting really excited about this LolliShops beta opening on Saturday. It's also the Sugar & Spice bazaar at church so I'll have the gallery show Fri., Bazaar table Sat and the cyber opening of my wild gypsy shop on Sat. as well. Full creative week ahead so I've got to hit the sheets so I'll have the energy to do mega creating! If you're any kind of crafty be sure to click on the LolliShops banner to the right and pre-register. And be sure to tell 'em I sent you 'cause we get credit for recruiting our crafty friends!

Night all...big king sized bed and heating blanket are calling my name. Til tomorrow y'all, keep creative...it just might save your life!
Caar

I'm travelin' On The Good Ship LolliShop!!

There's excitement 'round the ole woodstove tonight! I've been accepted to join the beta launch of LolliShops. Here's what my email said:
You have been accepted! You are just what we're looking for.
Our Beta Launch is scheduled for November 15th
And our whole site launch is scheduled for November 28th!!
PERFECT, PERFECT PERFECT timing! My gallery show is the 14th and I'll have goods aplenty to upload to the site for the beta launch. Stay tuned for more happiness from the Jersey Girl!

The good ship LolliShop

I'm still in a race down to the wire for next Friday's gallery blast. I'm taking a moment to pre-apply to the lollishop's website. I hope that the owner will like my work but everyone has different tastes and I've long since given up trying to appeal to everyone. I'll just be me and that will have to do.

I've been quiet since Election Night working my hands until the OA reared its ugly head and made me slow down. Nonetheless I've gotten some VERY interesting pieces finished and I think that instead of going back to the SOS on eBay I'm going to see if the Lollis want to have me aboard. Wish me luck.

AND IF YOU'RE IN JERSEY NEXT WEEKEND. STAY TUNED FOR INFO ON THIS ONE NIGHT GALLERY BASH!
Huggabugs, Caar