First Sale!!

Hey guys been really busy lately!! So many orders but wanted to let you know a good idea I had on sales and marketing!! Right now (the only time I'm allowing this exact one!) I'm doing a sale for $5 off each animal but for only 5 animals!! Once those five animals are order the sale is over!!

From now on I'm going to do something similar to this each month but make it more structured where I can make them ahead of time! Each month until October (because that's when Christmas orders start coming in) I will have a sale for $5 off 5 animals of a certain type. I'll make the animals ahead of time and usually it'll be ones that can be standardized in color and people will pick their bowtie or head bow color!

Next month I'll be doing Christmas in July with Penguins!! Thought it'd be a cute idea!! Please let me know what you think and what you think I should do for each month like a cute name or idea for an animal!!

This sale this weekend is special because it's any animal and they get to pick the colors but this one won't happen again!!

By the way here is a picture of the sale poster I made on my iPad on Phoster

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Honey Bear!!!! Original!

So I've finished the original piece and the person received it!!! :D She loves it!!!

Honey Bear!! The original character design that was ordered!! The Honey Bear design was created and made by Katy Gautier! She's an amazing artist! The picture on the left is the picture of her drawing and the picture on the right is my 3D c...rochet piece modeled after her design! This piece was so much fun! I really enjoy taking people's 2D ideas and turning them into something you can hold!!

And this piece is 20.5 inches from top of the ear to the tip of the toe, 17.5 inches from end to end of the arms outstretched, and 9 inches wide (stomach to tail). The eyes are made of felt and sewn on.

Original designs are $70 and up depending on the character! If you want to get a quote send me an email at intheloop.sarahjayne@yahoo.com

 

Please let me know what you think of it!! :D I'm proud of it but I'd like to know what you all think :) Btw I am working on a penguin at the moment as well so look forward to that!!!

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Most Profitable Month!

Hey guys!! May has been the most profitable month by far for me! The amount of revenue I got from that one month was three times what I've had in other months. I just finished two owls and will post those another time! I have also finished another giraffe! And working on another for the Etsy shop! Once I finish that giraffe I'll be able to actually open up the shop! I'm so excited!!

So this is how I decided to package my creations for sale! I got a bunch of tshirt bags from Uline and got some ribbon from the nearby Jo-Ann's and I make cards that go with my animals that explain how to take care of it and what you should do if you get it dirty. Just look at the Poly-Fil directions for cleaning and the yarn's directions for cleaning and figure out what to do.

I made this via the Calligraphy app on my iPad mini. It took forever but was totally worth it. I had to make bows in all colors that I offer and take pictures and edit each one. Sometimes the colors didn't come out well on the bows so had to find colors from the animals I have made in the past. This is something I will be sending to the people that order from me on Etsy so they can either choose their color bows or if it is a custom piece they can choose their colors for their animal this way. It's very convenient for them - lots of work for me.

So I hope this helps or gives you some ideas for your own shop!

By the way I got this incredibly cute stuffed animal chair at a garage sale and I'll show you pictures later because I'm planning on painting it and stenciling the name of the company on it. I need help deciding colors though. Please leave comments for what you think about everything in today's post!

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My favorite so far!! And a bit of Etsy.

So the picture I'm posting today is of my favorite creation I've made by far! I mean I love all of the ones I make but this is definitely my favorite with how it all turned out.

So you want to know the reason why I love this little guy??? Well he just turned out perfect!! When he sits down he sits up all by himself thanks to the way the tail is designed and attached! It pushes back up on the monkey to counter the weight and ends up not only propping up the monkey but the tail as well!! My boyfriend actually ended up buying it from me!! lol!! But I plan on making a brown and tan monkey soon that way I can standardize it for Etsy in order to sell it easily.

I've figured out a couple things about my Etsy and am almost able to start it up and write a good blog about it!! Right now here's what I've done. I've bought clear tshirt bags to put the animals in and tie with pretty ribbon and put into boxes for shipping. I bought the bags through ULINE which was good priced and ended up being delivered the next day. I also bought a roll of that brown Kraft paper to use for cushioning in shipping. I've figured out prices, shipping, and pricing per extra item. I've also made a banner!

I've decided I will only put the animals on that I have the pieces created for and that can be standardized (one's that have particular colors that it is known for in) like the giraffe, ladybug, duck, monkey, etc. and make the pieces ahead of time in the normal colors. I will list one of each once I create the pieces for it and the person will pick then whether they want a headbow or bowtie and what color they want it in and then I will attach everything and hopefully get them sent out within the week depending on the orders. I have also crocheted bows in all the colors I have so that people can not only pick their color bow for their animal BUT they can choose the colors I have from there for any custom orders. I will also be taking custom orders and I'm thinking I will say those will take about 3 weeks from order to ship out day depending on orders. But when someone buys from the ones already listed those will be taken off the site until I can make the pieces for it again and once that is done it will be listed back on the Etsy. This way it gives me time and I'm not overloaded with orders and I can send them out quicker.

Well I hope this gave some insight to those of you who are making an Etsy. This is just what I have decided so far and some of them I feel are some good ideas. Leave comments please and let me know if you have suggestions or comments or advice or what you think about the monkey and the Etsy!!

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Been a while!!

Hey guys!! Sorry it's been so long since I've posted! Trying to figure out the Etsy stuff!! It'll hopefully be up and running within two weeks! After that I'll post a nice update explaining how to do it for yourself!! I've been busy with orders like crazy! Just finished two of them a bee and a butterfly but I will only post the butterfly today! I've decided to make some changes to it from now on such as the wings will be bigger and the next shorter! But like all the others you can put either a bowtie or head bow with your choice of color and customize your's to your colors.

 

Also I must say everyone always comments after seeing them that they are much bigger than they thought they'd be. Keep in mind that these are usually 12 inches or bigger. I'm also trying to figure out the shipping amounts and everything! Hope you like the new update and they new creation!! Please post comments on what you think!! :) Still needing 22 likes for my FB page!! If you like my creations please support it by pressing the like button below!! I'm figuring out what I will offer once I get 100 likes! Please help me out!

 



FINALS!! DONE!

So just finished my last final of the semester today!! YAY!!!!

Finished packing up my stuff and heading back to my hometown tomorrow!!! I'm so exhausted and now I need to finish up the Bumble Bee order and do the Butterfly order. I also got in a crochet order for an original character that someone has been drawing for years! I'm really excited about it and excited about the possibilities of this broadening the business to people who make up their own characters!

Because I can look at a picture and figure out a pattern for it, this is perfect for what I love to do! The Ideas Challenge didn't pan out for me an all but with all the possible orders I got and people coming up to me and asking for my business card, I think it was a success!!

I'll be finishing those three orders and also working on new ones while working on animals for First Friday for next semester. Also as soon as I get home I plan to start setting up my Etsy shop to also get more orders! I've printed out and research a lot so probably in the next week watch for an article about the research I've done on how to set up an Etsy!! I'm very excited and hope all of this helps!!!

I don't have any new projects today so I will post the usual picture!

 

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Special!

Hey guys!! Well I finished the Ideas Challenge yesterday and even though I didn't win any of the prizes I probably got enough orders to be more than some of the prizes!! Many of the judges kept telling me to increase prices and make an Etsy so I'll be making an Etsy soon and thinking I'll wait to increase prices.

But I have an order for a very special animal! It's a custom one that this girl has been drawing since forever!! It's exciting!!!

Other than that now I have to get ready for finals and I just delivered my specialty order for My Little Pony - Pinkie Pie! I'm so proud of how it turned out! Please leave comments about what you think about it! I would love to hear your thoughts!!!

 

Remember to stay in the loop and please press the like button below!!! I only need 30 more likes to have 100!!!

Also thinking about doing a limited edition type of orders once I do get 100 so please help me out and if you have any recommendations for good limited edition ideas please leave a comment!!

 



Sooo sorry guys :(

Hey everyone!!!

Sorry I haven't posted in a couple days! Things have been crazy with the whole Ideas Challenge and everything! I also found out I was picked (after a long interview process that was really enjoyable) to receive the Raymond Entrepreneur Scholarship :)!!!!! I got it!!!!!!! You have no idea how happy I am!!! I will also be able to see the Raymond's who are also sponsoring the Ideas Challenge on Wednesday at the presentation!

I went to the meeting on Wednesday and now I need to finish my presentation and time it and everything, all while getting ready for finals, and working on the monkey and the Pinkie Pie My Little Pony crochet order!! It is actually turning out really well!! I'm extremely proud of it and look forward to seeing it when I'm done guys!!!

You will probably not hear from me for a couple of days because of everything going on this week!

BUTTTT Something else cool that happened was on Friday Startup Aggieland (a student business incubator that helps Aggies get their ideas off the ground and start businesses (very successful btw)) decided to use my Giraffe picture where it is sporting the Ideas Challenge glasses as their cover photo on their page on facebook!!! If you want to check out their page and like it if you'd like, you can find it underneath my likes on my page at www.facebook.com/InTheLoopSarahJayne and they wrote a real nice comment with it!!! Below I will post the picture they used :)

Also please don't forget to like my page and tell your friends to or share your favorite post I've made on it with your FB friends! I'm still working real hard to get my 100 likes so please help me out and press the like button at the bottom of this post!!!

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Please help!!

Yay: Got to eat Panda Express today!
Nay: Still super busy :((((( so not a long post

Not going to be a long post because need to do a lot of studying and such but again I will show you a picture!!!

Isn't it cute??? It's the giraffe with sunglasses I got for the Ideas Challenge :) Had to take it and thought it was cute and wanted to show you all!!! Wednesday will be a very busy day this week so don't expect a post from me! I'm really excited about the Ideas Challenge!! And again wish me luck!!

Also please go to www.facebook.com/InTheLoopSarahJayne and like the page if you haven't and please please share it with your friends and ask them to like it too! I want to get 100 likes soon! I'm trying to figure out some incentives to purchasing through me and certain giveaways once I get a specific amount of likes. I'm not sure what it will be or anything but please I would appreciate it if you shared it with your friends and helped me get more likes!!!

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Another Quick One

Yay: I won another Liebster Award!! Thank you!!!
Nay: I can't respond to it yet because I have so much work to do!!

I just wanted to post real quick and show you guys a picture of the giraffe I finished!! I'm really happy with how it turned out!!!

 

Didn't it turn out cute :) I'm proud of how it did turn out!! Now I'm working on the My Little Pony and monkey!! Won't have much time though because tests are coming up soon and same with finals :(((

 

Leave a comment if you enjoyed today's short post and the pictures and please check out the main page and like it if you liked the pictures I posted!! I really appreciate it!!!

 

If you would like to order a giraffe or any other animal send me an email at intheloop.sarahjayne@yahoo.com

 

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More and more orders!!!

Yay: possibly getting more orders in soon!! people are interested and asking questions!!! you should send me an email if you have one too!!!!
Nay: finals coming soon :(

So today's a quick update!!! Delivered the ladybug and giraffe today!! Yay!!! I'll leave you with a picture of the ladybug today :) you will have to wait for the other tomorrow ;)

Cute right?? This is the most asked for animal!! That and the owl and following up is the giraffe so far!!!

Also went to my boyfriend of almost 4 years orchestra concert today and they are amazing especially since A&M has only had an orchestra for five years or so!!!!

Aren't we cute??? And yeah lots of people say we look related but we are not!!! lol

Sorry this was so short it's been a long day!! Make sure you come back tomorrow and I will have a better and longer one!!!

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Jumping Up and Down!!!

Yay: I GOT CHOSEN AS A TOP 40 FINALIST FOR THE IDEAS CHALLENGE AT A&M UNIVERSITY!!!
Nay: I don't think I did well on the test today :(

Before I go into the Ideas Challenge I'll show you a picture of my mom with the bunny! She called dibs on it before I even got halfway through it!! Isn't she pretty!!!! Goes to show you these cute animals aren't just for little kids!!! If you need a Mother's Day present contact me!!! intheloop.sarahjayne@yahoo.com 

So basically the Ideas Challenge is a competition where a lot of people (groups or individuals) enter a business or an idea for one (you have to go to Texas A&M) and then judges pick 40 finalists out of all who entered and those people go through an interview process on May 1st. There you go through two sets of interviews with two different panels of judges. You have five minutes to present your business to them and then there is a five minute Q&A. Both panels are the same format but different judges. That same day (once everyone presents) 7 businesses are chosen and they are awarded cash prizes. First place gets $3000, second $2000, third $1000 and the remaining four get $500 each. I have a meeting next Wednesday that helps me figure out how to do the five minute presentation and I plan to try my hardest!! But I'm truly thankful that I was even chosen as a top 40!! That is a prize in and of itself. But it doesn't mean I won't try for the top 7 ;) Wish me luck though!! And by the way it was for Sarah Jayne Studios which is the main company I started which In the Loop is under.

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When In Doubt

Yay: finished my notecards for my test tomorrow!!
Nay: Still sick :(

So, being from Texas I would really appreciate everyone out there keeping the people in West, TX in your thoughts and prayers. Not to mention keeping the people from the Boston explosions in your thoughts and prayers too. I know a lot of people that know of people affected by the explosions in West, TX; people that go to Baylor University that I know. I just wanted to start off this blog with that.

Other than that, I'm still sick and trying to juggle not only studying for a test tomorrow, but also finishing this giraffe order so I can hopefully give it to my boyfriend's mother on Saturday when I go to his orchestra concert! Finals are also almost here, which means I will be very busy soon and probably not update much so keep that in mind.

Also I must admit that I am a huge Gleek (although lately I have to admit that I'm disappointed with its lack of plot and watered down excessive character list) and I look forward to the new episode tonight!! They will be singing the song that originally got me hooked on the whole show many years ago!!! Hopefully this show will turn back to its old ways and realize that it used to be better. :(

Other than that, there isn't much going on. I'm still waiting to hear back about the scholarship I interviewed for and I'll know by tomorrow if I have been chosen as a top 40 finalist of the Ideas Challenge here. Exciting!!!

I will leave you with the most precious picture you will ever see and this is one of the main reasons why I do what I do. Seeing this uncontained joy on a child's face.

Isn't it just precious!?!?!? Please press the like button below for my page if you like this picture!! I would really appreciate it and also take a look at my page at www.facebook.com/InTheLoopSarahJayne

If you would like to place an order send me an email at intheloop.sarahjayne@yahoo.com

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Award!!!!

Yay: Thanks to +Jei Crochet for picking me to receive the Liebster Award!!
Nay: I'm still very sick, was within less than an inch of getting hit by another car today, and just well REALLY sick!

Thanks to +Jei Crochet for choosing me to be awarded the Liebster Award!!

I was supposed to pick 11 other bloggers to award this to but I just recently started my blog so I don't have a lot of people I know who have one but I have figured out four that have really aided me since I've started and have helped me a lot and this is my way of thanking them for all their help:

MillyVanilly Handmade

Forgetmenotsblue

http://crochetbusiness.com/

http://www.crafterscornercafe.com/

These next questions are from +Jei Crochet blog.

1. What motivated you to start a blog? I was trying to find more ways to get the word out about my business and have more people hear about it and like it and enjoy my creations!

2. Knitter or Crocheter? Crocheter

3. What are your goals in life? To run my own successful company one day that helps customers in some way.

4. What is your favorite food? Chinese

5. Boxer or Brief? Boxer briefs :)

6. What is your favorite movie? Stick It

7. Who is your favorite actor? I don't really have one

8. Yarn or thread? Yarn

9. Do you consider yourself to be an artist? yes very much so

10. Are you a morning person? Nooo

11. Where are you from? Houston Texas

And here are 11 questions for the bloggers I chose:

1. Where are you from?
2. Do you consider yourself to be an artist?
3. Are you an outdoors person?
4. What is your favorite thing to crochet?
5. Do you do any other artistic things?
6. What is your favorite place?
7. What is your favorite type of weather?
8. What are your hobbies other than crochet or knitting?
9. What is your favorite movie?
10. What is your favorite animal?
11. What is your favorite color?

Rules of this award

1.   Acknowledge the person / blog that gave you the award , in addition follow the blog of the person that gave you the award.

2.  Answer the 11 questions of the person that gave you the awards

3.  Grant the award to eleven blogs that you like,  just starting or have less than 200 followers.

4.  Develop eleven new questions for / bloggers you reward.

5.  Award Report to each of the winners.

6.  Visit the blogs that have been awarded along with yours.

7.  Lest you break the chain, avoid sending the award back to the blog that awarded you.                                 

Thank you again for the award!! I'll leave you with a picture of the owner of the duck that I made!!

Check out my website at www.facebook.com/InTheLoopSarahJayne and also follow me on my blog and like the page!

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Neat Color Combo

Yay: didn't go to all my classes today
Nay: reason why I didn't was because I suddenly got sick :(

So woke up with a VERY sore throat, went to one class and came back. Even though not feeling well I haven't updated you in a while. I know I was supposed to let you know about the Etsy thing this weekend but it's been slightly crazy and I'd rather know what I'm talking about and have time to write it down. For now though, I have another test this week on Friday and I'm working on the giraffe. Also going to be working on a monkey soon and it hasn't been sold and it isn't for an order. I figured out a neat color combination for it and I'm really excited about it. Let me know if you want to see pictures of what it may look like once done if you are interested in purchasing it. It will be from $35-40, I won't know til I start.

Aren't they pretty? Well the dark teal (it's darker in person) is for the main body, the light teal is for the detail pieces like the face, etc, and the salmon color is for the bowtie I will do. I'm excited once it's done. It may not look good now but it'll look cute once it's made! Again let me know if you would like to call dibs on it. Email me at intheloop.sarahjayne@yahoo.com and don't forget to like and share my page at www.facebook.com/InTheLoopSarahJayne

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Yay and Nay

Yay! Did the interview today! I think it went really well!!!

Going to start off today with a little thing I plan to start every blog off from now on with. It is called Yay or Nay! You basically say something good that happened to you today (Yay) and something bag (Nay). I will also try to figure out a good schedule for posting (like topics I'll try to keep to each day).

Yay: The interview went well!
Nay: I'm sooooooooooooooooooooo tired lol

Usually it will be a bit better than today's but I'm just really tired! Went to bed late and was at school for almost the entire day! I was planning on posting some of the comments and feedback I got about the previous post on Etsy, but I'm just too tired to put that together today. I promise though I will get it out sometime in the next few days! For now I will at least show you one piece of advice I got that I think will be very helpful!

Hawwa Land5:46 PM

GO FOR IT! Take one standard animal to your local walmart or similar store, go to the stationary aisle and find out what box/envelope would best fit them and your needs/budget. Buy 2 or 3 of them then just keep buying as you go You can usually calculate shipping online (a small postal scale comes in handy) or go to your local post office for rates. Fees aren't a big deal, I think Etsy only has one insertion fee and a small pocket fee after your sale. Make sure to price your animal according to what you want to make after fees. Policies are easy to figure out. Descriptions are very important and are the first impression for your customers next to good pictures. Apart from that be optimistic, take risks, and if you fail... well... at least you tried! Good luck!

 

Thank you so much for the great advice!!

 

I plan to look more into the whole Etsy thing and all of the sites that everyone gave me to look at for it and once I compile everything I will write a good blog explaining everything I found out. Follow me to make sure you see it when I post it! (Btw how do you follow people? lol)

 

I also want to say thank you to everyone who likes and shares my facebook page! I really appreciate it and I appreciate all the support as well! Please keep spreading the word as well and if you haven't liked the page, please do! www.facebook.com/InTheLoopSarahJayne

 

Leave a comment of an some topics you would like me to write about and make topics for each day of! I'm trying to think of some and I'd really appreciate any advice or comments you have about it!

 

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A New Addition

Just finished a cute little bunny for my business!! It has already been sold though but I can always remake any animal! Funny enough my mom called dibs on it before I even finished it!! This goes to show you these aren't just for little kids, teens, or college students, but for adults as well! I'm taking orders for Mother's Day and Father's Day so hopefully I get more of those because I truly enjoy making these!!

This is just a quick post because I have a test to study for so gotta get on that!! Enjoy the cute picture of the newest addition!!!

Also remember to contact me at intheloop.sarahjayne@yahoo.com or check out my page and like and share it with your friends at www.facebook.com/InTheLoopSarahJayne message me or send an email to place an order!

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