Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

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Giveaway by Future Heirloom Designs

This week Cafe Handmade is kindy hosting a giveaway for Future Heirloom Designs. Follow the link in the post title and enter to win these gorgeous earrings made from red fire crackle beads, decorated with silver heishi beads and suspended from hand crafted sterling silver ear wires.

Also, visit Future Heirloom Designs Facebook page and leave a comment in the post to automatically get entered in the next giveway that I will host on this blog soon.

Good luck!

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Little monster of a project – my secret revealed.

I have not been active recently on Facebook, my blog or Twitter and for that my dear fans I apologize. I do have a valid reason for my absence.

Here it goes:

After continuously getting lost in the array of spreadsheets, papers, recipes and statements for my products and supplies I decided that time has come for little organization. Also, since I have my own site, and stores on Etsy, Zibbet etc I find myself going back and forth between them to see what products I listed where. So I end up spending more time at the computer than doing what I really want to do – create. Those of you in the handmade community can probably relate to some degree.

So off I went to search for a product that will help me deal with my dilemma. I was looking for a program that will not only store the information about my supplies but also help me in tracking my own inventory. In addition I wanted a something that will assist me with pricing of the products, keep track of consignments and allow me to create line sheets for wholesale without much rework. I found only couple of programs but neither of them did all that I wanted. Yes, they integrate with QuickBooks, but I don’t use QuickBooks so why pay for it. Since I am on a pretty tight budget I decided to take the matter into my own hands, put my software skills to use and create something myself.

After I started designing my little application and listing out the features that are important to me I began to wonder. The software I found is targeted specifically to jewelry designers which is fine since that’s what I do but what about all the other folks. What if an artist creates dolls or pillows or anything else for that matter. Hmm – nothing out there to help those guys. Or is there and I just haven’t found it?

Regardless, that was enough for me to take my simplistic solution to the next level. So from a little project grew a little monster of a project.

So my dear fans that is what I have been doing lately. With the goal of not spending so much time at my computer I ended up spending ALL of my time at the computer LOL.

Some of you may think I am wasting my time and should just purchase what is out there. Yes that would probably be the easy way to go, but I don’t like to take the easy route. Plus this has become a challenge for me.

I would be interested in hearing from you – especially my Link Love fans since you are artists yourselves, if you currently use a program to help you stay organized and if not do you think you would find it useful.
If you are using a program already can you share what it is or what features you like. What is missing? Anything you wish was included in your program?

I will continue to work on my application because I already found that it has helped me greatly. Where I go from here is still a big question mark but once I figure it out you will be let’s see, second…no, third ones to know.

I've included a couple of screen shots in this post from my first draft. Colors, background, buttons and spelling errors are subject to change :) Let me know what you think.

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Just in time for Mothers Day GIVEAWAY

The Art Walk Etsy Team invites you to the:

5 Days of Mother

Each day, starting Monday April 26 to Friday April 30, 2010, one lucky winner will be chosen to win prizes from participating AWEteam shops on Etsy! Entries are being accepted now until April, 23, 2010. AWEteam members are not eligible to participate in the giveaway.

For all prizes and more information, click here
http://stitchnstudio.blogspot.com/p/5-days-of-mother.html
 
Please visit these participating AWEsome shops!

http://www.ponderosaquilter.etsy.com/
http://www.eclecticarmidillo.etsy.com/
http://www.futureheirloomdesigns.etsy.com/
http://www.honeybeecrochetbystrumdm.etsy.com/
http://www.jadedumpling.etsy.com/
http://www.1cupcotten.etsy.com/
http://www.pixestreasurechest.etsy.com/
http://www.sarahsquiltsandcrafts.etsy.com/
http://www.stitchnstudio.etsy.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/gnormyle
http://www.etsy.com/shop/DJsArt
http://www.etsy.com/shop/paulajeansgarden
http://www.etsy.com/shop/OneHeartJewelry
http://www.greenleafwood.etsy.com/


Example prizes:

Slate Blue Shoulderbag/Purse/Handbag

http://www.etsy.com/shop/StitchnStudio

You Hold the Key to My Heart Silver Pendant and Chain Necklace

http://www.etsy.com/shop/futureheirloomdesign

and many others....

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