I recently came across a quote that really resonated with me:“The Only Person Stressing Me Out Right Now, Is Me, Because I Want So Much Better For Myself.” Many of us tend to take on too much, trying to do everything at once and often achieving very little, if anything at all.Running a small business… Continue reading Something’s Gotta Give
Blog
Alt Text
There are often questions in Facebook groups about Alt Text and does it help your listings on Etsy and other platforms.So what is it. Alt Text (Alternative Text) is text you add against an image that describes it for people who may be blind or have limited vision, who use screen readers. On sites like… Continue reading Alt Text
Size Does Matter!
Listing photo's on Etsy can make or break a sale - it's usually the first thing that catches a potential customers eye, and can be the reason they click on to your item to find out more about it from a sea of search results. I've mentioned previously that I am not the best photographer… Continue reading Size Does Matter!
If at first you don’t succeed…….
Give up and hide under the duvet!No, that's not right, but it's how I feel most of the time. This week I finally got around to posting my 2nd YouTube video, it is similar to my 1st as it's demoing applying a decal, but this time onto a painted boxed canvas.I recorded the video several… Continue reading If at first you don’t succeed…….
Be Brave, Professor
I'm sure I'm not alone in starting the new year with goals. Some of mine are purely to help me in what seems to be my never-ending goal of being organised. Basic things like getting food out of the freezer either the night before or in the morning, so I don't have to waste energy defrosting… Continue reading Be Brave, Professor
It’s got to be Perfect – Not!
Oh, why do I always strive for everything to be beyond 100% perfect! All it does is make me put off finishing things. I'd still not completed my 1st YouTube video. Initially, I uploaded one, but then realised I didn't include everything I wanted to. So back to the drawing board.2nd time around I did… Continue reading It’s got to be Perfect – Not!
Lights, Camera, Action
So I've been wanting to do some YouTube videos for a long time, especially as I do my blog posts series on the tools and equipment I use for my home business, which I have planned. But me and cameras are not a match made in heaven.My phone is pretty old, so not ideal for… Continue reading Lights, Camera, Action
Time to prep for Christmas
When you have a handmade business planning and preparation is key, and I admit, I'm not the best at it - ok I'm terrible.But this year I'm determined to be better and much more prepared for Christmas; I've started to make some tree decorations and planned other items too, so I'm already way ahead of… Continue reading Time to prep for Christmas
Yoo-Hoo YouTube
It's been a while since my last blog post. For about a month, my internet connection was incredibly slow, making it almost impossible to go online. Very frustrating since being online is a significant part of my daily routine and it's my primary source of connection to the outside world. In addition to my daily… Continue reading Yoo-Hoo YouTube
This is how I do it, Baby!
I've been working on a new product for my Etsy store - an A6 notebook cover. So, I thought it would be helpful to share my step-by-step process of adding a new item to my shop in this week's blog post.This is going to be rather long, so I've added some links to take you… Continue reading This is how I do it, Baby!
To Pre-Wash or Not Pre-Wash
In sewing groups, the topic of pre-washing fabric often sparks debates, particularly when creating items for selling purposes. The opinions vary widely from experienced sewers who have never pre-washed to those who pre-wash every piece of fabric. Some only pre-wash clothing and similar items that will require washing after being made.Me, I prewash my fabric… Continue reading To Pre-Wash or Not Pre-Wash
The Dark Side of the Net
Many people worry when buying online that they are going to be scammed, especially when it's from a small unknown seller.The flip side of this is that every day, there are people trying to scam sellers, usually targeting small business owners, who like everyone else at the moment, are trying to get by.One way that… Continue reading The Dark Side of the Net
All the Pretty Colours
This week my main focus has been designing and perfecting my own pattern for an A6 notebook cover. I did say I wasn't going to sew any new items until I'd uploaded everything else to Etsy, sometimes you need to step back and do something different so one task doesn't become boring and monotonous. Plus,… Continue reading All the Pretty Colours
Stuff It!
Spent time last week prepping more Etsy listings, focused on some of my drawstring bags, which are made from fabrics that have a beach theme; ideal for holidays and days out, or just storing things like suntan lotion so can be easily found. I'm always trying to find items to help me take my pics,… Continue reading Stuff It!
Overnight Success – not
So, it's been a week since I officially launched my Etsy store; ok so it wasn't really a launch, more of a - hey I have more than one item listed. The main thing is that I haven't had my account suspended, which as I spoke about last week, could have been a possibility. Which… Continue reading Overnight Success – not
And we’re off
It's been a busy couple of weeks, but yesterday afternoon I activated 8 listings on Etsy.Ok, so there are 9 in total, but I've heard of many new shops being shut down almost as soon as they open and apparently it can happen even if you've followed all of Etsy's terms and conditions. They say… Continue reading And we’re off
Prop It Up
This week I've been focusing on Photo Props.Etsy allows you to upload 10 photos for each listing, the more you fill the more complete Etsy sees your listing to be.Some of the slots I'm using for helpful info, key points about the item, postage and packaging etc., which yes is included in the main detail,… Continue reading Prop It Up
The Perfect Pen
When I was in middle school, there was a teacher who did an award for handwriting. No matter how many times I submitted my sample for assessment, I never passed; never even made it through the first stage. This started me on the journey to try and find the perfect pen; one more suitable for… Continue reading The Perfect Pen
I’m Free! – From Affinity and Beyond.
At the start of October 2025, Affinity removed everything from their online shop, announced that big changes were coming, and said that all would be revealed on October 30th.As Canva acquired the company in March 2024, the biggest concern was that a subscription model would replace the one-time payment system that made Affinity so appealing.… Continue reading I’m Free! – From Affinity and Beyond.
Making a Clipboard – YouTube Tutorial
I'm still very new to recording YouTube content, but I'm amazed that I have managed to upload another video - that's 2 weeks in a row now!Are there some things I would change? Yes, of course there are, mainly trying to improve the background; it looks a bit murky, especially at the start of the… Continue reading Making a Clipboard – YouTube Tutorial
Rewind
I always used to kid myself into thinking I was a multitasker, when really I’m someone who darts from one unfinished project to the next because I either get bored or convince myself I’m not good enough. A big part of the problem is how disorganised I can be. I rarely stop to make a… Continue reading Rewind
The Perils of Packaging
When considering the introduction of new items to sell, one of the first aspects I evaluate is how to package them for shipping. I aim for my items to look presentable without being over-the-top. I make use of my Silhouette Cameo to cut various sleeves, envelopes, pillow boxes, and similar. I don’t seal all the… Continue reading The Perils of Packaging
Me, Myself and AI
Whether we like it or not, AI is here to stay—and I'm learning to embrace it.I live a fairly isolated life (cue the tiny violin 🎻 lol). But sometimes, it helps to have "someone" to bounce ideas off, do a bit of research, or even just have a little natter about how I'm feeling. It… Continue reading Me, Myself and AI
Recording Voiceovers Just Got Easier (Thanks to These Tools)
I’m determined to get more videos recorded and uploaded to my YouTube channel. One area where I really lack confidence is the audio that goes alongside my videos. I always prefer to record the video first and then add a voice-over, but even with a script in front of me, I still get flustered and… Continue reading Recording Voiceovers Just Got Easier (Thanks to These Tools)
Is this the end for eBay UK Private Sellers?
Last October, eBay UK made it free for private sellers to use their platform.They also changed it so you wouldn't automatically get your funds from a sale the day following an item being purchased; it would be held for 3 months and then paid out, though I believe you could ask for a payout if… Continue reading Is this the end for eBay UK Private Sellers?
Tool of my Trade – SpreadSheets
Spreadsheets can be as simple, or complex, as you want/need them to be.From creating a list that can be reordered at the click of a button, to one with lots of formulas and links between sheets, enabling you to do calculations quickly and easily; once it's all set up.I'm currently working on new decals to… Continue reading Tool of my Trade – SpreadSheets
And, that’s another year over!
So, did I achieve everything I wanted to in 2024? The answer is no, but I think I’ve done okay. It’s been a while since I last wrote a blog post.I don't think I've gotten back into a routine since completing my Digital Marketing course, and I’ve found myself in a bit of a slump,… Continue reading And, that’s another year over!
I am Reviewing, the situation
I recently saw a Facebook post with a review for a business and the business's response to it. The review was a customer complaint and was quite rude. The customer had not checked whether the company offered the service they needed; instead, they assumed they would be accommodated. When the business responded to the complaint,… Continue reading I am Reviewing, the situation
Penguin and the Bee 