The Let Down

I went to my first purse show tonight. I didn't even sell one purse. My girls were there though. Carrol, Jeannie, and Tracy came to support me. That meant the world to me. I just feel like I let everyone down. Jeannie has cheered me on and given me multiple ideas, Tracy brought me patterns and thread, Carrol made business cards and provided the rack for me, Sally and Jeannie helped me to make my purse-suit design placards. Not one purse. Tracy and Jeannie made me promise not to get down. I am working on it. I did make some good contacts. Michelle (in charge of the night) wants me to come and visit with her on Wednesday to see about putting my purses in her beauty salon. I also had a lady ask me if I could customize some bags for her to use with her company. So, I guess it was worth the evening. I just had plans for the money. Several birthday gifts that are past due and a digital camera to take pictures of my purses. It just sort of sucks. Tomorrow is another day.

Purse show

ok...so Monday is "P day"...(purse day). My first showing. I have 2 days left. I made a trip to Joann's fabric last night to get purse magnets and wound up buying fabric, roller cutter, ect. because they were on sale. I then took my son and grandson out for dinner and defeated the purpose of saving money from buying on sale! Oh well, life goes on. We had a good time.

I am soooo stressing. MY first public showing of my purses is on January 12. It is now January 4! ARRRRGH! What if I am wasting my time? What if people are cruel? What if it is just another "latest obsession"? Too many "what if's". Oh well, time marches on. I will know on the 12th. So much pressure! So little time. I need magnets and time and money are both an issue. HELP!

ok... so this thing just keeps growing. I needed internet to sell my purses and my son (with ulterior motives in mind) offered to pay for internet. After I had internet I realized that my cheapo digital camera didn't take good enough pics to upload onto etsy and barely passable for ebay. Lo and behold my best friend; a professional photographer; came over for lunch yesterday, brought her camera, and guess what... I now have professional pics of 20 out of 30 of the purses I had on hand. She is editing them and putting them on a cd for me and then I can share on etsey, ebay, and anywhere else I feel like sharing. She mentioned Craig's list. I will have to check it out. On another note. Today is the first day of a new year. You know what that means... another weight challenge. This year Ed (hubby) is going on board with me. We'll see.

The Journey

The Journey began two years ago when I was offered a box of discontinued fabric samples that were destined to be thrown away. Being a crafter combined with a hatred of seeing anything thrown away that may have any kind of potential use (it is a crafter thing)...I hauled the box home. I just sat and looked at them for a while not having a clue what to do with them. I hadn't sewn in years, but I broke out the dusty old Singer sewing machine and made the ugliest purse you have ever seen in your life. Due to the fact that my husband lies like a dog on a cheap rug when it comes to my crafts... I had the false illusion that it was somewhat cute. So I made another one. They were for no purpose other than for my own personal use. I showed one to a fashion designer and she gave me just enough encouragement to dive in. The purses developed and evolved, but I became bored and was ready to move on to another project.

A co-worker/friend showed me a web site from a crafter who was making millions by making and selling purses on line. I jumped out of my skin.

I sent some purses to another friend who sold on ebay. They sold slowly. I tried several avenues and I am still experimenting to find their avenue.

Every time I am about to give up... God gives me a sign. Another person gave me 10... count them... I said 10 boxes of discontinued fabric samples. A week later another person came in and gave me purse patterns and purses to use as samples. A couple of weeks later, a purse sales lady looked at my purses and told me she would like to help me find avenues to sell them.

I don't fully understand what God has planned for this avenue... but good golly molly...it's gonna be huge.