Custom Orders: Realizations and Goals

This photo shows a custom order that I just completed.  I was asked to make 150 plantable tags as wedding favors for a woman in NY.  She wanted the fronts of the tags to be pink and the backs to be navy blue.  I dyed the navy blue color.  It was so satisfying to see them all bundled in the box and ready to ship!  I heard from her already and she was thrilled! She is going to send me pics of the tags in action at her wedding and I will hopefully add them to my listings in my shop.

As this is my first holiday season with Green Post, I am realizing that doing such large custom orders while trying to keep up with my Etsy shop is going to be difficult.  So, next year I think I will say no to large custom orders in November and December.  Instead, I will focus on keeping my shop stocked with goods.  I would like to see more products in my shop than I currently have.  However, I had no idea that my tags would be such a success! So, I am just trying to keep up with the demand.

I am truly happy that I can provide a product that people feel so good about buying. People are always thanking me for doing what I do and this tells me that I am providing a service that people truly need. People really want to buy GREEN products! That is wonderful news to me and makes me feel more optimistic about our future.

I am also in the process of establishing a set color palette.  I want to be able to provide a consistent product and set some limits on what I offer.  Up to this point, I have been offering any color under the sun for custom orders.  But, this means that I have to rely on dyeing.  I would really like to get away from using dyes as much as possible.  The palette I am working on is colored almost entirely by colored paper scraps and I think I can offer a pretty consistent supply of these colors.  In January, when things will inevitably slow down, I will work on making paper sheets from each of these colors and create a set palette photo to add to my listings.  I also want to create listings for large custom orders so that the customer can order directly from the shop and not have to discuss the entire process with me.  I think simplifying this process will free up some of my time and narrowing the options for the customer will help them with their decision making process.

How much of your time do you spend typing letters throughout the day? Do you find you are repeating yourself most of the time? How do you think you can resolve this in your shop? I would love to hear your thoughts about your goals for the coming year.

Thanks!

Borrowed From Kind Over Matter- What A Great Blog!

"Do not let this universe regret you!"
http://kindovermatter.blogspot.com/

crafterall confetti meets green post after craft cards

confetti |kənˈfetē|nounsmall pieces of colored paper thrown during a celebration such as awedding.ORIGIN early 19th cent. (originally denoting the real or imitation sweetsthrown during Italian carnivals): from Italian, literally ‘sweets,’ fromLatin confectum ‘something prepared,’ neuter past participle ofconficere ‘put together’ (see confect ).

diminutive, colorful shapes intricately extracted from brilliantly designed artwork by crafterall and discarded.

salvaged and embedded in recycled handmade paper plantable notecards by green post.

a gala in honor of collaboration!

gala |ˈgālə; ˈgalə|nouna social occasion with special entertainments or performances : [as adj. ]a black-tie gala that begins with a cocktail reception.ORIGIN early 17th cent. (in the sense [showy dress] ): via Italian andSpanish from Old French gale ‘rejoicing.’

the story of overcast

the story of overcast begins as the scraps of all my handmade paper. every color and every shape thrown haphazardly in a box.
then these lovely scraps journey on into the deep waters to soak. they really get to know each other.

now they have been blended. they have become one. because as you may know, when all colors come together they become a warm grey. they have been neutralized. individual identity has vanished for the benefit of the greater good. however, if you look closely you will see evidence of everyone involved.

the story ends with overcast on the screen, still inside the boundaries of the deckle.

 deckle |ˈdekəl|noun (also deckle strap)a device in a papermaking machine for limiting the size of the sheet, consisting of a continuous belt on either side of the wire.• a frame on the mold used to shape the pulp when making paper by hand.ORIGIN mid 18th cent.: from German Deckel, diminutive of Decke‘covering.’

overcast

adjective |ˈōvərˌkast; ˌōvərˈkast|1 (of the sky or weather) marked by a covering of gray clouds; dull : a chilly overcast day.Here is where I admit how truly clever I am. The color's name indicates the grey(gray) hue but also the action of casting paper over and over; recycling the fibers infinitely. 
double entendre |änˈtändrə|noun ( pl. double entendres pronunc. same)a word or phrase open to two interpretations, one of which is usually risqué or indecent.• humor using such words or phrases.ORIGIN late 17th cent.: from obsolete French (now double entente),‘double understanding.’

work in progress: mirage expands

yep. it's big!
recall the other day when i posted 2 completed collage paintings? well, now they have been incorporated into something much larger. 4 ft. X 5 ft. to be exact.  i went crazy with oil sticks and scribbled all over this massive sheet of canvas.
the table is an architect's table that i found at a value village a year ago. it can be set at any angle- very handy.  now, it's covered with my papermaking setup. the painting, which has already progressed past the point pictured, is draped over our dining room table to dry.

i intend to do some serious glazing, with oils, and build up some layers.  The layer pictured was meant to give the piece some texture and structure.  If you could see the surface, you would see what i mean. i also intend to work on it forever. it may never be for sale. i guess i'm tired of selling(haha) paintings. the business of art sucks all the love out. i want to put the love back in. i need it.