bjdonabudget

In thinking about my etsy shop, I’ve been trying to figure out the good angle for moving my products. Find a niche is a good way to establish ones self in the vintage realm, so let’s see how it goes online. There’s always going to be doll stuff in my shop, because I’ll never run out of excess doll stuff, and being as I’ve always been a big fan of cheap thrills, I’ve made a “WtF? Just a Buck!” sale bin where I’m going to offer up some bargains and fun little things for a dollar. On the forums it’s been suggested that I try opening a dollar store called that, because it’d be so very cool to go shopping at the WtF? Just-a-Buck store. I’d even have two’fers, I want a dog named Two’fer. It always sounds like the Mr. Alan’s shoes ad in my head, 29 or 2 for 50 said in the most ghettotastic of deep-voiced announcer voices you’ll ever hear.

Thus far, my WtF sale has been very well recieved, and I’m very proud. It’s not making loads of money, but I’m making a modest profit on things so I’m doing well with it. As long as it’s bringing in more money than it costs, I’m doing good, and so far I’m doing great. I keep my shipping costs down by reusing packing suuplies when I can, just got a good coupon for a office supply and got twenty bubble mailers for two dollars out of pocket, so that’s not a concern really. The listing fees and transaction chareges are quite modest, not much out of my pocket, so I can’t complain. Overall, it’s a good hobby thus far.

I’m also celebrating selling my first few articles to an online writing buyer, I’ve not made a boatload of cash, but I did get paid for what I know, and I know lots of odd little things so it’s a good thing I found that place. Thus far I’ve written a bit about my darling little iguana baby Bob and the care and feeding of her species, a bit about etsy and a piece about picking out nice oranges. It’s not hard to write a good piece for me, I’ve been writing for pay for years now, just now it finally has MY name on it. Ahh, finally being an honest writer is much nicer than being a ghost writer of academic works and ’study aides’ as I used to call them, papers really, but if I claimed it was a study guide I could pretend it wasn’t plagerism. Once it left my hands, it was no longer my concern, which is why I sign over the rights to most of my work, it gets me a few more cents and if I need something like it in the future, I’ll just write another one, no big thing.

It’s underway, as I write this I’m in the main house and my dear sweet Mr. is getting into the re-working of our little cottage. The princess adjusted quickly, after we realized that she’d be much more comoftable with her mum sitting by her cage and I ran to be by my little lizard-girl’s side. Not quite that melodramatic, but I’m ill with the most pleasant of viruses today and really don’t mind if I do embroider the truth for my own amusement, it’s less effort than finding other pursuits. Even blogging from a borrowed computer, it’s got a touch screen! Yep, fancy and fast and very confusing for the malady beseiged brain I’ve got here, just rambling through the medication and sleepy awakeness. As tired as I am, I don’t know how sleeping is going to go, it’s always odd that first night away from your familair bed. It’s just next door, but it’s the same no matter how far you go, if something isn’t yours, you can’t just use it like it is.

As the bell tolls in the kookoo clock, I know that’s going to get really annoying really quickly. Whatever, it’s not that long, I can block out most anything if I really want to. In a couple months I’ll have a sweet neww place completely without any beige at all and it’ll be just fabulous.

I need to adjust my swapbot profile to reflect my new obsession- my needle felting kit came yesterday- minus one important piece thanks to a postal machine chewing my package- but I made do without the foam workpad- I used a towel and made some of the most fun to do little felt pieces- pieces to what I’m not sure yet- the little bear I did came out just so sweet and vintage looking, reminds me of the bears in the Sears Wishbooks from the 60’s, kinda cute but a little menacing too.

Green Mountain: Wee Woolies is an awesome seller- she’s even sending another work pad to replace the one the postal system ate! The fiber assortment in the needle felting kit was just amazing, great colors, and a good mix of them. I’m thrilled with my purchase, and will no doubt be hitting the shop up for more wool. I just want to poke the fluff into cute little things forever- forget shopping or cleaning, that can wait, I’ve got fibers aching to become things just sitting right there- I’m so deeply in love with needle felting.

If you’ve not seen, needle felting involves taking a puff of wool and stabbing it repeatedly with a barbed needle made just for this purpose and working the wool into a felted, matted snarl of cuteness. I even felting some yarn designs into a piece I’d felted into a coin shape- I think it’ll make a neat-o-keen pendant for someone, made two of the bases thus far, need to do more decorative work to make them really awesome. But, to my dismay, chores come first- there’s stuff to do that doesn’t involve repeated stabbing wool, and I have to do those things first- then I get my pokey treats.

So I’m stalling, every box I try to pack up hold a treasure- and i want to play with every single one. The hard part of being a pack rat is knowing that amidst the crates and boxes lies my shameful love of stuff. I admit it, I’m in love with stuff, it’s hard for me to part with any of it, even temporarily. My hubby isn’t the same way about things, so we’re coming against a wall- I don’t like packing, because it’s hard. I get distracted, I see a project halfway done and don’t want to pack it away, I want to finish it, right now. At least I’ve gotten most of the yarn tucked away- yarn can kill a day for my like nothing. Same with dolls, I want to dress and comb their hair before I pack them, because it’s like saying ’see ya later’ to my little plastic friends, I don’t like parting on bad terms. While I debate what to pack away next, I do so with a heavy heart, because I know it’s going to be a while until I’ll see it again, and I love to see my stuff- it’s all been carefully selected for my own amusement after all. In the end though, I know it’s worth every harsh good-bye to these overvalued possessions. We’re re-doing our place, to be more practical- and for the first time in a long time, I’ll be able to unpack EVERYTHING I own and enjoy the massive collection of knick-knacks who’ve been tucked away so long that I can’t recall everything that awaits, but at the same time, I’m anxious about it all- it’s going to mean moving into somewhere even smaller than where we are now until it’s done. Oh well, I’ll go out in the yard if I need space.

So I just bought myself a needle felting kit off etsy- links and info to follow when it comes (so I can be certain the seller is awesome)- and I’m rather excited about learning a new craft. After looking at the kit for a few days, I decided I really do deserve a treat, after all, my shop sold twenty things thus far. So now I can start thinking of all the cute little things I can make by poking at a wad of wool with the very sharp needles- yes, there’s seriously a craft that makes cute little things by stabbing wool and I’m not doing it yet- but give me a few days!

I also made a new rule for my shop- for every twenty items I sell, I can get a treat. That way, I actually put money towards real-world type stuff first, but in selling my collected treasures and things I’ve put hours of love and attention into making I don’t lose out on my need to hoard things. I admit it, I’ve got issues with stuff and the need to have stuff and to get that stuff as close to free as I can, but it’s okay, I’m sending out more than I’m bringing in- finally! So, that deserves my wooly fun treat.

We’re about to re-do our whole place from floor to ceiling, which includes a move to the main house while our cottage is being worked on, so I’m packing away most everything, save for a couple lucky dolls. Of course, Loolu isn’t going to see the inside of a box, she’s the favorite and everyone knows it. The other, well, she’s the unnamed employee of my etsy store, my blythe doll, because she’s part of my shop. In my month or two of being down to two dolls, I hope that my Blythe will reveal her name, if not more of personality. Thus far, she’s a quiet little thing, very shy. Once I know her more I can do her makeover, I’d hate to goth up a hippie doll or go too girly on a tomboy. She won’t reveal who she is, maybe she just doesn’t like me. Oh well, I like making things her size, so until there’s enough spare cash to get prettier, nicer Blythe, she’s mine, and she’s got no say in the matter. Aren’t I mean? Someday I might try to rip out her eye-chips to change their color, or just for kicks, I haven’t decided yet. Heard that the ADG dolls are horrid to customize so I’m holding off, but if the girl doesn’t speak up soon, it’ll all be my choice Ah well, the joys of owning a uppity doll.

I want you to swill along with me on this one, trust me, it’ll be okay; unless you’re at work but that’s your choice. Go get yourself a bottle of pucker, doesn’t matter what flavor, I’ve got cherry-berry and it’s pretty tasty, and a bottle of sugar-free lemonade. Got em? Good. Now we’re fixin’ to fix ourselves something tasty, so go get all dolled up and done up nice, we’ll wait….

Aren’t you fabulously darling! Ok cutie, get a glass, pour it about halfway full of pucker. Yes, just a little bit more, there ya go. Now we pour in a little lemonade, about the other half of the glass, give it a swirl with your favorite swizzle stick- those things are just the bee’s knees, aren’t they? And now you take a sip of my wonderously simple delightfully wicked new beverage. What should we call it? The Pouty Princess comes to mind, because it could easily be prissed up with an umbrella, or an ice cube. Whatever, that’s just how we roll in these parts.

Ok, either we dance, or we go home, so let’s shake it my babies

It’s been one full month since I’ve posted my first item, and in that time, I’ve rocked the place. Twenty sales- according to etsy stats which count each item as a sale in multiple item sale. I’ve learned about promoting and tracking and tagging, and shared my learnings with a few people. I have yet to buy myself a treat for it, but soon, things will be comfortable enough that I can. Not to imply that I’m broke, but my thriftiness prevents me from spending much when there’s any sort of economic uncertainty. Yes, I’m one of THOSE people, the horrible ones who screw up the whole economy by being scared that if I have a little fun, the whole house will come crashing down upon my head, and not only will I need to fix that, I’ll hurt myself and medical bills to go with it. Yes, I’m crazy, but you should know that by now. Who wouldn’t be a bit nutty when it’s this much fun? Ah well, back to work, it’s time to pimp the buttons

My plan is to take some that foam sheeting type stuff sold in the craft shop kids art department and make shoe sole shaped cut-outs, loolu’s foot being the model. To the MSD sized soles, I will attach ribbons and cords twisted, tied, knotted and crocheted into the most fabulous little sandals, with beads if they look right. Just making notes of things to myself really, but if anyone wants to try my vague plan, go for it. I’m waivering in my interest to blogging like this, I’m having soo much more fun on etsy and there’s a content site that’s been a bit more generous in paying for my writing. Sometimes it doesn’t make sense to keep doing something that’s just not working into what you’d planned. I’ve got bags of half finished projects to be unraveled for re making. Maybe this is one of those things that I should tuck aside for a while and see if I can look at with fresh eyes or when it doesn’t stink of sweat.
if you happen to have a sheet or two of that oh-so cheap craft foam that you don’t need, drop me a line, I’ll trade you something shiny for it. I love to barter, so I’m also in the market for a custom banner for an etsy shop, should you be handy with graphics and like getting the random trinket in the mail. Alas, my tea is ready so I bid you adieu

If you’ve been following doll news, you no doubt know all about the bratz/barbie fiasco and the deadline of December 2009 for final Bratz products. It’s been an ongoing battle for the tween girls for years now, and it seems that Barbie had a secret weapon, a great lawyer. As a loyal friend to my favorite plastic lady, I can’t say that I’m surprised, she’s the better doll and she should win, but I am a bit sad to see the Bratz go, their funky glitter-coated faces and off-putting proportions aside, they had some great accessories. Great accessories are all it takes for me, the tiny stuff will win me over every time, and bratz had it, in bulk. There were fabulously outfitted salons, sushi bars, and apartments. There were fabulous handbags and tiny little packages of cosmetics. I couldn’t really get into a doll whose feet stayed in their shoes when they changed. Bratz have these very distressing little pegs on their legs where feet should be that hold their snap-on shoes and boots in place, without feet. Barbie’s toes may be unrealistically small and stupidly arched into perma hi-heel pose, but she HAS feet. Huge bonus points for a doll that has all it’s body parts. I’m not pretending that I won’t be mining the clearance from cool Bratz sets, but it’s my Barbie dolls that will enjoy them.

The Heartomatic is and absolutely awesome tool for stalking your etsy shop, and who’s hearting your stuff. I check my shop throughout the day, just for kicks. Rather than going item-by-item, the Heartomatic will show you everything in your shop laid out in a chart, showing hearts, views, views per heart and new hearts today. You can see who loves your shop, just like on etsy, but you can also track your hits like no where else- it even has an ‘update’ button on the view count page. I like to monitor my promotion attempts that way, after I post an ad, I can see how many more people looked at my items. It’s not an exact science, there’s no way to tell where the traffic comes from, but for quick-moving things like Twitter it can tell you if people are looking after you post. From my Twitter I know an item will get at least five looks in the next ten minutes, when it’s slow. Granted, I’m not sure if any of my sales came through twitter, though a couple of the items I was ‘test marketing’ there to try out Twitter as a business tool did sell, but it could be a coincidence.

A good product at a fair price sells itself, always has, always will, the people just need to see it. If you take my view of marketing, you’re just introducing people to the item, they’ll decide for themselves if they want it. Having a friendly attitude can’t just be a put-on though. I’ve always looked at business relationships as a special sort of friendship, if I can befriend a potential customer by giving them honest and helpful input, I do. If I don’t have much nice to say, I don’t say much at all, unless I’m cracking jokes. Humor is a good opener as well, a laugh can open all sorts of doors. Hone your wits and have fun. A laid back and generally amicable shopkeeper is bound to make a few friends who’ll stop by the shop periodically just to say hello and find that thing they can’t live without. This isn’t a button-down corporate type scene, it’s okay to be yourself and show off your quirks. It not only applies to online selling, but real-world retail situations as well, I’ve always had great customer service skills because I can put myself in the customer’s shoes. How would I like a person to help me? I like dealing with friendly, non-pushy sales people, so that’s how I sell.

The Ashton Drake Galleries editions of the popular Blythe doll are not known for being easy to customize into your dream doll. I knew this when I bought mine, a blond who came wearing the most wretchedly 70’s paisley dress. But given that her scalp may be glued on with two bottles worth of heavy-duty stuff, I can’t bring myself to try a re-root, no matter how much I adore a mohair headed doll. So we’re looking at simple stuff, a trim, a dye job maybe if I get gutsy, nothing too far from her out of the box condition, just a little cuter. And much less tangled. It seems to be a common thing for the ADG girls to have nappy hair.
Being as I’m terrified of what I might find should I open up her head, I can’t do a full makeover, but I think I may touch up some of her face, at least that darn olive green eyeshadow that makes her look a little creepy is going to leave. Do I dare take out the acetone on a doll I can’t easily rinse? No, looking into my other options is a better idea for now. Maybe I can add some blue to get a nice turquoise, something with a bit of shimmer might be nice. I’m afraid of becoming the target of a snark group if I screw with her too much, but geez, I want a pretty model for my shop, knot by 9, where the yet unnamed lady models handmade and vintage clothing. Perhaps just a trim of her hair for today, maybe a bob. Blythes look cute with bobbed haircuts, something about it just makes the eyes pop all the more.

In a couple of the swaps I’ve joined on swap-bot, I’ve received things that while well within the guidelines of the swap and quite nice in their own right, aren’t right for me. Sometimes it’s just a surprise that was already in my collection, but what to do with this stuff? Thus far, I’ve been saving it in hopes of someone else loving it. But I’m not going to be as swap-crazed as I was before, I’ve found etsy, I can trade things for paypal there, and paypal can become anything. Of course, paypal is real money, which makes it hard for me to spend. I’ve just got the cheapness right down to the marrow of my bones. There’s lots of excess stuff around my house that’s not right for etsy though, so I’ll keep swapping until I’m completely happy with every single thing I have. Yes, that means until I go senile and don’t know that the tee shirt I’m wearing isn’t a Dior evening gown. There’s just no end to it, I’ve been trying to tidy up in preparation for our remodel, and just keep wondering what I’m going to do with all this stuff. So, my obligatory Etsy pimp of the day:

As my Blythe doll is now a business necessity, I should take better care of my employee. So, she’s getting a few treats when I whip out the sewing machine. I don’t have any vintage skipper patterns at the ready, so a searchin’ I shall go~
http://www.blytheworld.com/eng/pattern/ is a pattern for those funky UGG boots all the girls love this time of year. While not my taste in footwear, they’re wildly popular around here. They’re cute, just not my thing. But maybe the unnamed model would like a pair, because I’ve wanted to try making shoes for a while now, and that’s a pretty straight forward pattern for starting with. Still haven’t addressed her mass of snarling hair… sigh. It’s not my strong suit, hair dressing has never been my thing. I can make some nails look good, but hair? nope. I can make a hat to cover it.
http://www.puchicollective.com/sewing-patterns/Has a massive list, enough to make a very complete wardrobe for my good little worker.
http://members.optusnet.com.au/orriettacat/patterns/Is another endless source of starting points, as I never really follow a pattern to the end anyways.
http://www.dollyculture.com/archives/176 Is the cutest most darling little girly dress that I want in my size too!
http://www.xoxoblythe.com/patterns/index.php Features what could easily be the most retro of samplings, the ‘all spruced up’ dress reminds me of one of my own favorite dresses.

As you know by now, I’ve become obsessed with Etsy. I’ve got a number of items in my shop modeled by a Blythe doll, who I haven’t played with nearly as much as some of the other dolls, who is going to get a make-over soon due to her duties as Knot By 9 spokesdoll. Being as the URL and name of this blog are set, I can’t adjust to reflect some coming changes, but be warned, there’s non-BJD dolls to be discussed and I’m not sorry about it all.

Perhaps we should start with a name. Or a hair style. Or thoughts on make-up. Let’s call it what it is, this is a full-doll overhaul. I’ve always thought of her as a shy little artsy thing that lives on fancy coffee drinks and vintage everything, like many of the girls I knew (and dressed) in college. Suzie? Sounds nice, but I’ll keep thinking. Post away if you’ve got an idea- maybe it’ll become a contest.

Want to see what I’ve Etsied today? Adding doll clothes, vintage clothes for Blythe mostly, for the next few years… seriously, I ain’t about to run out anytime soon, so don’t worry about my dolls will wear, they’ve got plenty.

I made my first sale today, it’s terribly exciting, still a bit giddy about it. So to celebrate, any purchases made today, tomorrow, or until I get tired of it will get EXTRA surprise treats. I love etsy that much. I just posted a very nice vest for MSD size dolls, in my shop. It was fun to make, and it looks pretty on, but it’s just not Loolu’s taste. Funny, she loves the off-white slipdress I made her, but doesn’t like the vest or shawl I made to go with it. Rather like a vintage film star, lounging about in a slip like that, if only I had other shoes for her. Combat boots don’t look right with the dainty slip dress. After the holiday, I’ll have a bit of gift money though, and I’ll get her some nice ones. I’ve been talking to someone about a pair of pink mary janes with kitty faces on the toes, maybe that’s how I’ll splurge on me for Christmas.

Since I’ve posted those first handful of items, I’ve been amazed by how many views they’ve gotten, it’s exciting to see that folks are curious about the things I’ve got for sale, what a rush!  No sales as of yet, but it’s only a matter of time until the right person sees just the right thing and I start getting feedback showing that I’m a decent seller.  My hubby laughed his tail off at how many times I’ve checked my shop since I posted the first item, it’s like a new addiction seeing how many looks each thing has gotten.  I’m going to try posting some lower-cost items today to see if they’ll be an easier sell from a new vendor.  It makes sense that people are hesitant to deal with a new seller, I know I’ve debated a purchase given that the seller is lacking in background info, if only there were a way to combine all the forum feedback threads on the trade/sale websites I’ve wandered into… Until the day when everyone has a ‘permanant record’ online, I guess I’ll just keep on being me and know it’ll work out just fine, just like it always does.

I’ve just opened my shop on etsy , the perfect venue for a crafter who loves vintage to offer up their wares.  Knot By 9 is going to be stocked with handmade dolly wear, vintage treasures and all the things I love to make.  Right now, as a special thanks to my blog readers for their support, I’d like to offer an extra-special surprise gift with any purchase just by mentioning that you’re a reader of BJD on a Budget , or my other bargain-centric blog, Fabulously Frugal .
Coming soon: vintage delights from my personal jewelry collection, toys, handmade hats and scarves and much much more….

This offer is open to the first THREE buyers who mention that they’ve seen either blog, at my discretion and until I decide otherwise.  Prize has no cash value, and is not redeemable for cash.

Soo excited, just got a package all the way from the UK with a holiday gift inside, it rattled like there’s something fabulously fun inside, but I’ll find out on xmas, because for once in my life, I’m really not going to open anything beforehand.  It started under my mom’s supervision, peeking into the gifts from distant relatives before the big day so I could brace myself for opening some of the odd things I got.  One year, I opened everything that was tucked into my mom’s closet early, and didn’t re-tape things very well, all the toys were almost loaded up to go back to the store but I saved it by being cute.  The hubby already told me that I’ll have to wait on his gift, as there’s not a Wii to be found under five times the list price right now.  I’m getting a WII!  Yay, that rabid rabbit game looks cute, maybe it’s just the bunny I like, but I’m going to need it anyway.  And there’s The Other Man, Mario.  My hubby knows what he’s in for,  he’s seen me go without food or sleep because I was THIS close to the next level.  Whee!  what fun, we’re getting a Wii!  Oh the hours I’ll waste with my new love, the afternoons of pointless flailing and cussing the hard levels, I’m a geek, and I like it.

In tidying up my dresser and jewelry box, Loolu claimed a necklace for herself- in truth, a key chain.  The shot-bead type of chain was perfect for a skater-style choker on my girl, it held a tag on my chuck taylor sneakers originally, a stray bead fob for a pendant and POOF!  Instant doll necklace of designer quality.  The type of chain I mean is the same type of chain as used with military dog tags, but in short couple of inch lengths as one would use for keys.  A charm is the hard part- I think I used a piece of a broken earring but who really knows where those bits of damaged jewelry come from- I can’t ever remember what they were let alone where the other bits are to fix them, so I keep them to make into new thing, like doll pendants and ‘collage’ styled mis-mash earrings.  Dig through your jewelry box, I’m sure your doll will find something suitable.