Waving at trains ....the internet experiment so far....

Over the past two months I’ve flirted with four website selling venues.

The first one, Dawanda didn’t last a second date. I listed a few things but received virtually no views. Perhaps things seem more attractive if you’re in the Eurozone.....

So I thought I’d try something a little less European.

The next one Misi, seemed so cute and I loved the idea of decorating my shop with my own background.  I also got hundreds, and I mean hundreds of views. In reality admin issues meant the shop never seemed to be there when I called and the flirts giving my bags the eye weren’t willing to commit.......

         So I thought I thought I’d try something a little less unreliable.

The next one, Etsy, easy to sell yourself, seemed really smart. Perhaps too smart for me.  I hung around for a little bit but felt very uncomfortable about the changes to their privacy policy and once the forums migrated to wherever forums migrate to I felt totally mismatched.....

          So I thought I’d try something a little less corporate.

Meet Folksy. So far so good, seems really friendly, lots of relevant support from their admin. Think I’ll stick around for a while......

http://www.folksy.com/shops/FromtheSewingRoom

Misi missing in action.....

Finally back at my own computer and needed to check up on all my on-line experiments.....

Totally unable to access the Misi website. At first I thought it might be my computer or my new BT internet connection, (which I have to say so far has been pretty good). Nope, everything fine at my end.

So what’s the problem???

As I’ve now decided that you can find out anything on the internet I went off to lurk in some of those craft forums. Couldn’t see anything so even though it was after 10 at night I posted my own thread.  Within no time at all I got a reply.

Wow, there’s some well informed people out there. I now have a mental image of people chained to their computers at all hours of the day just waiting to respond to whatever question is thrown at them.

Apparently Misi’s  new server is having difficulties with internet explorer!!! (Know the feeling).

Managed to get onto Misi today but I can’t get into my shop. The forum has one or two postings asking when things will be sorted out but I’ve got a feeling that lots of people have just given up and found somewhere else to show off their latest goods.

Mmmm ..... Where are the life rafts?

Let down by a dongle!!!

I had intended to add an item a day to my latest shop until I reach the magic 22 but the best laid plans and all that ...

I've been away from my computer for the last few days as I've been on a fabric finding mission. I took my laptop and dongle with me so I could upload some picis of more of my bags but did it work ? No. Every time I tried to connect to the internet I got the screen with the blue writing. I was going to try an internet cafe but as I'd forgotten my memory stick to transfer my photos from my laptop it wasn't worth trying..... Grrr.. Very trying....

Back home now so I've listed two more bags. I'll start my one a day listings tomorrow.

Did find some fab pink fabric and the most amazing mulberry coloured tweed. Mmmm where's my sewing machine??

Have you ever made something you like so much you don't want to sell?

I've just finished this really sweet relaxed patchwork shoulder bag. Sort of reminds me of an old lady knitting bag.

I made a patchwork from upholstery fabric for the outer and lined it with the most fab vintage material. It's got a really practical inside zip. 

It's just the right size to carry round all my bits n' pieces ...... 
and it's so nice I don't want to sell it!
Usually when I fall in love with a bag I'm sewing I make myself something similar but this one took soooo long to make I think I'll just keep it.
 I'll never make a business woman. 

I've also set up onother on-line shop!
I've found a site that looks promising so I'll give it a go.
I've posted two photos at the end of the posts.

Washing lines, on-line, what’s on the washing line ...

Well, so far my on-line selling experience has been more about surfing forums in disbelief than selling anything!

It would appear that some selling venues don’t seem to work for most UK sellers, regardless of how fab their shops look  ...  

Some are more of a virtual coffee shop for crafters to admire other crafter’s handiwork  ....  

Others seem to be selling products so cheaply you have to wonder about the quality of the raw materials ....

And there’s one out there that makes me feel like I’ve just fallen down the rabbit hole....

Ever the optimist, I’ve decided to carry on regardless.

Going to spend the next few days taking more photos and loading more bags into a few of my on-line shops ......  Also need to do more 'making shops look nicer tweeking'.

And who knows, one day all of those hundreds of views and lots of hearts and favourites may turn into one sale!

My quest for the perfect pici continues..

I’ve been so busy bag making and trying to work out how to take better photos of bags that the world of the selling venue website has passed me by this week. I must list some more bags soon, but for today the quest for a passable pic continues...

Someone suggested I use models to show the size of my bags. This sounded a great idea so I duly enlisted some ‘volunteers’ to model my latest offerings.

 Of course, as every woman knows a large bag makes you look petite and a small bag makes you look like you ate all the chocolate.  And as I now know, a UK size 14 ish woman makes my small bags look like purses and a size 6-8 ish woman makes my shoulder bags look like massive messenger bags! (Yes I do know some size 6 women).

You know how those ads for cosmetics have disclaimers about the product being used on hair extensions, false eye lashes etc. Perhaps my photos should have info about the size of the person shouldering the shoulder bag or clutching the clutch bag.

Another suggestion was to use a light box. I loved the idea of this one. It sounds so professional. There are lots of sites out there which give you info on how to construct your own but as I don’t have the space I decided to buy a foldaway one. It arrived in a super compact circular zipped bag. The minute you open it, the metal frame springs out into a large, and I mean large square. This then opens out into a cube.  Love the cube, will probably replace the backing cloth with something that’s easier to iron, but the basic idea is great. Just need to source some appropriate bulbs for my lamps.

There is the slight problem of trying to cram a 80cm cube back into a 30cm diameter bag.  Mmmm....

Oh, someone’s just told me that there’s a youtube clip out there that shows you how to get the light box back into the bag!  Just love the internet.

First an on line shop and now a blog...

... the 21st century must be catching up with me!

Spent the last few days trying to find my way round Etsy. All seems very technical and more than a little bit scary.

I've been so busy writing descriptions, taking photographs, retaking photographs and realising that I'm going to have to take them all again because they're still rubbish that I haven't had time to do any sewing in days!!

I've got some lovely material just sitting there, waiting to be turned into a nice little clutch bag and here I am tapping away on my lap top.

                                      Well, I suppose there's always tomorrow.