woensdag 25 september 2013

My Etsy Shop is Making Me Feel Like a Loser...

I opened my Etsy shop and already have a few nice things in there. Well, I think they're nice. But no one is looking, at my shop or my listings. Why can't they see how great these things are?

You have to admit this rack is gorgeous, don't you?

And just look at those details, the craftsmanship! And I can customize it: (almost) any size, (almost) any color!

And practical, too, look, just look, and please, please tell me my rack is wonderful, no, tell me I'm wonderful, no, not wonderful, the best!


I made a peg bag, too. With lovely vintage fabrics and rough linen. I really like the texture.

I can't even say they're not buying because they don't like them, or because they're too expensive, because they are not even bothering to take a closer look... And even though I don't like to admit it, it makes me feel like a loser, in a sense. I love the stuff I make, and I feel the whole world should love it, too, and people should be falling over each other just to be allowed to be the next one I make a beautiful laundry rack for!

Doesn't it look nice? And practical? And lovely? Love me, love me, love me!

And it's even more flashy when you reverse it!
I know, I know, I'm being terribly self-centered. I know the world doesn't revolve around me, but maybe it SHOULD!? I was never big on any social media, like Facebook or Twitter, but now I get why people can get so hung up on them, and go to check if they have any likes like every 5 seconds. I find myself wanting to go check my Etsy dashboard first thing in the morning. When I have a view, my heart jumps. When there is (more often than not) a great big zero staring at me, I feel like a failure. By putting a (precious) piece of myself out there, I have unwillingly tied up my self worth to other people's willingness to look at my work and tell me they like it. That was never what I set out for. I didn't start this shop to earn big bucks, or to have people fall down at my feet to tell me how great my work is (well, I didn't consciously do it for that reason, but maybe it was part of the reason). I just wanted a hobby and a way to share my passion for creating beauty with like-minded people. That's why I decided to put my building plans on Etsy, rather than just the finished product.

See, DIY instructions, so you can get to work yourself!
I would love for people to get building themselves, with my plans! I would also like to make custom orders, something unique for that unique person or occasion, something people will cherish. But one week after opening day, my shop is making me feel like a loser. Maybe I should just ditch the whole idea? Anyone who reads this, feel free to leave some comment to cheer me up. But since this blog is more like a personal journal than a way to share things with the world, I don't get a lot of readers and almost no comments. And that's fine, because that way at least this blog is just fun, and it's NOT making me feel like a loser for not having any readers! ;-)

Felix looks at me as if he's trying to tell me to get a grip and realize that he is much more important than an Etsy shop's success or failure and that he'll always love me, even if I am a crazy mummy.

donderdag 19 september 2013

Drying Rack Blues Cured

I made my very own drying rack, for just 30 euro in materials! And four hours of woodworking, and many more spent calculating and scheming, but I did it!

Don't we have a nice view from the garden?

I'm quite proud of myself. I drew out instructions (only in Dutch at the moment, but I'm working on the English version, and imperial measurements)and put them up for sale in my new Etsy shop

DIY instructions, from my sketch-book

I also put the laundry rack up for sale, although it's ridiculously expensive. But that's just because I spend so much time making it. I figure that I'm not going to undersell my own time, and people can always buy the plans and timber and make one for themselves.

I have pretty laundry!

Next up is a rainbow rack project....

Meanwhile school is well on the way again, and work on the house is progressing.

Inside the plasterers are making the house look like a house again.


And the outside is finished!