How to Design a Blog

Want to design the perfect blog? The design of your blog is important because it draws viewers in. Here are a couple of my favorite blog design tips:

1. Think of a theme for your layout. Do you want it to have a artsy and colorful look to match your brand (good to use for Etsy owners or artists)? Do you want it to look more simple and minimalist (great if you want more focus on the content)? Think of a few words to describe the look you are going for and even make a mood board or inspiration board. Choose a few layouts you really like from other blogs and make a note about what you like about each of them.
2. Make sure you use a font and font size that is easy to read in your blog entries. Good fonts to use are Tahoma and Verdana. On graphics, you can use more unique fonts. Stick to a few basic fonts to use throughout your blog layout.
3. Choose a couple main colors for your layout. I like checking out Design Seeds for color palettes which will give you ideas of color combinations to use. Do not use bright colors against white that are hard to read.
4. What rules will you have for your blog? Will you blog 3x a week? Do you have different collaborators? Consider these rules when creating a layout because you want the design to work with your blog. If you have different writers, you might have a plugin that shows who the author is for each entry.
5. Have personalized graphics in your blog posts with the title of your post that fit the style of your blog. These are perfect for sharing on social media. Canva is a good tool to use to create blog or social media graphics that are the right size.
6. A sidebar is important to have in your blog and you should consider its features when designing a layout. How will you draw viewers in? Have an avatar or image yourself to personalize your blog. I also like to include a “read more” link or clickable image that takes viewers to my about page. Include social media icons if you use social media pages. Also, include other links on your blog such as a link to your website or Etsy shop, but try not to overfill your sidebar with widgets. I like to have a newsletter or subscribe opt in also so readers can stay connected.
7. Have share or Pinterest button or click to tweets
8. Check how your layout looks on different browsers. I like using Browserling. Also, check on your phone or tablet to make sure your blog is responsive.
9. Fill in a style guide to keep track of your info. Write down the basic fonts, colors and rules you’ll use.

Download my eBook, Your Thread of Thought. You will learn how to find a platform to blog, what to blog about, how to create a layout, how to promote your blog and more! You will also get s free workbook with worksheets to help you blog.

10 Companies You Didn’t Know were Vegan

Vegans avoid all animal products when possible. Part of being a vegan is avoiding non vegan brands in other products besides food. It can be easy to shop vegan. Though it may not be possible to use vegan products 100% of the time, people who are vegan may come up with personal items they avoid (e.g. they avoid leather, but still buy beauty products with beeswax). Here are some vegan alternatives to products other than food.

1. Did you know glue sometimes isn’t vegan? EcoGlue is a completely vegan glue you can use for daily use or any of your craft projects. Animal glue is traditionally used in paper and wood processing, bookbinding, painting, conservation/restoration and for making musical instruments and furniture. Making your own items or buying handmade or vegan brands is one way to make sure the glue used is vegan.
2. Do you use beeswax? Beeswax is used in bookbinding and some beauty products. I found a vegan beeswax called
3. Poppy’s Cleaners
4. Faux leather, sometimes caused pleather, is not too hard to find. Did you know that products that qualify as vegan or faux leather can be made from materials as varied as cork, barkcloth, glazed cotton, waxed cotton, paper, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyurethane.
5. Photos, both printed commercially and at-home, use paper that contains gelatin. Non-photo quality paper avoids gelatin.
6. Bone fine china tableware can contain animal bones. Earthenware or porcelain that’s creamy white is usually vegan. Find china that’s origin is mineral.
7. Many makeup brands are vegan if you check the labels. Urban Decay came out with a Vegan Palette that’s both vegan and uses vegan inspired colors. I have seen seen popular brands, like Bobbi Brown, carry vegan products. Looking for natural brands or handmade beauty products is always a good idea.
8. Lush often has vegan bath products that use natural ingredients. I also love being soap on Etsy. Just search for “vegan” in the search bar and tag your items vegan if you carry vegan products in your shop.
9. Vegan clothing is not hard to find. High end brands often carry vegan products. For example, Nine West carries some high end vegan products.
10. Kat Mendenhall sells the first 100% vegan true Texas style cowboy boots on the market.
11. Love shoes? Just type in the word vegan when searching for products on Zappos. vegan http://ift.tt/2fmGgol Mendenhall sells the first 100% vegan true Texas style cowboy boots on the market.

Want to find more vegan brands. Get my free printable with a list of vegan brands.

 

10 Ways to Cleanse Your Body

If you are feeling sick or out of touch with your body, cleansing your body can be a good way to get rid of bad toxins and feel better again.

• Dry skin brush before you take a bath or shower. I also like dry brushing my face, but use a brush made especially for your face so it has softer bristles.
• Take a warm salt water bath or steam in the shower.
• Deep breathing can help calm you down. Do yoga. Try just doing 20 minutes of yoga a day or picking up a yoga DVD or video series.
• Drink water. Try adding a couple extra glasses a day.
• Try eating healthier. Go on a cleanse or add a couple healthy foods in to your diet. Check out these 30 cleansing foods that naturally cleanse your body.
• Use a neti pot to naturally cleanse your sinuses.
• Try the hydro therapeutic technique of taking a shower with hot water and then switching to cold. Afterwards, get under covers.
• Go for a run or walk. Try exercising at least 20 minutes a day or move your body in some way.
• Get a massage or do a self massage with your favorite oils.
• Try drinking hot tea with herbs in it or taking an herbal soak bath.

What do you do to cleanse yourself? Let me know in the comments.

10 Things I Can Do For You as a Virtual Assistant + Free Toolkit for Creative Business Owners

Are you a creative business owner? I just relaunched my personal site. Instead of focusing on my art and personal projects, the new site is all about resources for business owners and creatives.

The main thing I sell on the website is services as a virtual assistant. You can buy any of my packages or work with me hourly. Services are great for creative business owners who need extra help on their social, Etsy or blog. I have worked as a virtual assistant for several years on Upwork so I am excited to launch on my own website also. Here are ten examples of things II can do with you as a virtual assistant.

1. Create your Etsy shop. If you don’t have an Etsy shop, I can get you up and running. I can create your profile, write policies, write an about page and get your first listings up.
2. Promote your Etsy shop. If you already have an Etsy shop, I can promote your products. For example, I can do paid advertising or promote your listings in the Etsy forums to get more views.
3. Promote your KickStarter campaign. Do you not have the funds you need for your business? I can start or promote your KickStarter campaign. I helped launch a successful KickStarter campaign through social media promotion that raised over $35,000 to create coastal paintings in to functional dinnerware for Kim Rody Art.
4. Improve your listings. SEO is a method that will use the write keywords to get your product noticed. I can edit your tags, description and title to use SEO to get your listings noticed. I can also write you descriptions or help you choose photos to use with your listings. I edited descriptions and helped with SEO for Cecelia Aurand Jewelry, a new shop on Etsy that sells jewelry.
5. Fine tune your social media. If you haven’t touched your social media in a while, I can improve your social media page by updating your cover photo, writing your bio and creating photo albums.
6. Grow your following on social media. When I grow your following, I will grow it organically. This means I won’t use robots to get you fake followers. Though you may not get a higher number of followers in a short time, the followers you get will be genuine and interested in your business. For example, I promoted Gardens of the Sun, on Pinterest and helped grow their audience organically.
7. Interact with your audience. If you already have an audience, I can interact with them and create new posts on social media. I can also update your mailing list and send e-mail updates.
8. Write blog posts. Do you have a blog? I can write high quality, SEO posts for you and include images.
9. Bulk list items. Do you need something a little different? I have bulk listed over 1000 items in Cuff Links R Us, a shop that sells cufflinks on Etsy and eBay. I can bulk list your items or transfer your listings from one site to another.
10. Work as your personal assistant. I can schedule appointments, send e-mails, contact companies or anything else you need for your business. If there is another project you need me to work on, I am flexible.

If you are looking for a freebie, check out my free toolkit for creative business owners. You will get access to the toolkit just be subscribing to my newsletter. Whether you have a handmade business, blog or freelance business, this library has goodies for you to start or grow your business. This toolkit has over 10 printable documents and spreadsheets.

Let me know what features you would like to see on my personal website.

 

How to Write an About Page for Your Etsy

Have you written an about page on your Etsy shop? An about page is important because it lets your viewer get a more in depth look at your shop. To edit your about page, go to Your Shop > Shop Settings > About Your Shop on the Etsy website.

Members

Your shop viewers will like to see who is behind the shop. The members section allows you to include a short bio of yourself. You can add info about yourself, what your other job is, your hobbies or where you live. You can also add a photo. Add a headshot or a photo of you working in your studio. You can also add other members or people who work on your shop.

What’s Your Story? 

Every shop has a unique story behind it. Your about page lets you share this story to your viewers. Start with a story headline that describes what your shop is all about.

The story section allows you to elaborate further on your shop. You can write about how you came up with the idea of your shop and how it get started. Maybe you have an interesting story or reason behind why you started your shop. Maybe you wanted to raise money to donate to a charity so you decided to open a shop selling a specific item to start earning money. Maybe you lost your job and thought opening an Etsy would be a unique way to earn money. Let your viewer know what your shop is all about. You can also include info on how your shop has grown throughout the years or places you have been featured on. Maybe you were featured in a magazine. This is a good place to write about it.

The story page also allows you to add five photos. Use high quality photos that are displayed 760 x 428 pixels. Since you already include photos of your items on your shop page, include other photos here. Studio photos work well such as photos of you working in the studio or in the process of making your craft. You can also add photos from craft shows, places you’ve been featured on, displays or your items or group photo shots of items.

Links

Finally, there is a section for shop links where you can include links to your shop blog and social media sites. This will help viewers find you on other websites.

Etsy might allow you to work with an outside manufacturer. If you do work with a manufacturer to create items for your shop, you can apply to work with a manufacturer in this section. Etsy will review your application.

Grab my free printable for creating an about page here!

Be sure to share it on social media.

What tips do you have for creating an about page for your Etsy?

Vellabox Candle Review + Giveaway

Vellabox is an artisan candle subscription box. They sent me a subscription box to review. We are also hosting a giveaway (scroll to the bottom to see how you can win a free monthly box).

I love the cute little yellow box Vellabox came in. Candles are delivered monthly from the finest American candle makers.

The theme for this box was Fourth of July for the July theme. I love the patriotic theme and you can still use all the items even though it was a little after Fourth of July when I received the box. The candle was wrapped in this cute blue star bag.

The candle that came in this box was from the company Pontie Wax from Brooklyn, NY. You can see their instagram @pontiewax

The fragrance for the candle was fig mixed with oil from olive. It isn’t made with vegetable soy wax and natural oils that are highly fragrant. I loved the natural scent of this candle. They also had information about a bergamot and amber scented candle that was listed on their notecard and I think came in other boxes (you get a random candle). I think it is great you get a full size candle and they make sure the company makes quality candles that are hand poured in small batches. I only wish the box was filled with more candles!

I love lighting candles to relax and set the the mood so I thought this subscription box was a great idea. I used to collect candles, but haven’t bought candles lately so this box made me want to start collecting candles again and get different scents.

They also included a SPF15 Original Lip Balm from All Good from Morro Bay, CA. The lip balm is all natural and cruelty free inspired by wilderness. It is reef friendly and gluten free. The lip balm made my lips really soft and it is great to carry around or stick in your purse. Follow their social media @allgoodbrand.

Vellabox and My Thread of Thought are doing a giveaway of a 3 month Lucerna subscription! The Lucerna subscription contains a 4oz hand-poured artisan candle monthly plus one surprise gift.

All you have to do is subscribe to My Thread of Thought on Feedly  (you can also search for “mythreadofthought.com” directly on Feedly), share this post and leave a comment with your email address.

The giveaway ends August 1. The winner will be chosen randomly from all the entries. I will leave a post and email the luck winner. Good luck!

Pancakes and Booze

Move the Needle will be vending at the Pancakes and Booze Art Show on February 24th-25th.

It will be held at Reggie’s in Chicago. If you are in the area, stop by and visit my booth. I will give half off any item if you mention you heard about the show from my blog.  You can RSVP on Facebook here.

Here is some more info:

• 80+ Emerging Artists Exhibiting

• Live Body Painting

• Free Pancake Bar

• 21+ EVENT

• 8PM-2AM both nights

• $5 GA (Cash at the door)

• $10 VIP skip-the-line

• Live Audio Performances

You can check out the Pancakes & Booze website here.  You can also follow them on Instagram here.

Collage Inspiration

Collage is a piece of art made by sticking various different materials such as photographs and pieces of paper or fabric onto a backing. You can see collage items in my shop here:

You can see more collage inspiration here.

Vinyl Mnky

Vinyl Mnky is a music subscription service. They sent me a record to try out.

Each month, members get:

• One breakthrough record of the month
• Custom add on specific to the artist and album
• Original write up of the breakthrough album
• Members only discount to the Marketplace

The vinyl record I got was the debut LP from Aquillo, “Silhouttes”. Aquillo has an electronic soft rock sound. The note they wrote was reecommened I check out the song she “Sorry” and “You Won’t Know Where You Stand”.

I also got got an autographed lithograph which I though was nice since I collectvaufographed albuns.

Monthly Membership arts att $30 and shipping is free. If you want to learn more about Vinyl Mnky, you can visit their website.

How to Make Vegan Products

Want to make handmade products that are vegan to sell on Etsy? I always try to make sure my products are vegan and cruelty free. These are some tips I use:

Source your materials.

When finding materials, check to make sure they are vegan. Do they use leather? Do they use beeswax or animal products? When bookbinding. I make sure not to use beeswax in my products.

Check if an item is tested on animals.

Do they test on animals? Are they organic? Make sure they don’t test on animals, especially with beauty products.

Ask if something is vegan.

If you are not sure if a product is vegan, ask the shop owner or email the company. It doesn’t hurt to ask or double check.

Make a note that your products are vegan.

In your policies or about page, mention your products are vegan and don’t use animal products.

What are your best tips for making vegan products?

How to Make Your Own Body Scrub

I got sent a few beauty recipes to try out. This tutorial will show you how to create your own body scrub with just a few simple ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sea salt
• 1/2 cup Epsom salt
• 1/4 cup finely ground cornmeal
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Essential oils: Use 3 drops peppermint oil with 5 drops lavender oil for a “for her” salt scrub. Use 10-12 drops of sandalwood or Thieves essential oil for a “for him” salt scrub.
• Optional ingredients: Use 2 ground bay leaves for a “for him” salt scrub. You can also add a couple drops coconut oil or vitamin E oil.

Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients well.

2. Store in reusable glass jar with a tight fitting lid.

To use: Apply salt scrub to a clean body. Relax for 10-15 minutes with the salt scrub on. Rinse off and pat dry.

This scrub has many benefits. The sea salt will open the pores and Epsom salt will pull toxins and restore magnesium. The essential oils and herbs give benefits to the skin.

I really liked this salt scrub. I used it on my body when I took a bath after dry brushing to help release toxins. I also use it on my hands. I love the scent and way it makes me feel.

Let me know if you try this out. Have you ever tried making your own homemade beauty products?

10 Ways to Organize Finances

Finances are important to keep organized, whether it ia for business or personal.These are some tips I try to use.

1. Keep your money organized in one place. Use Mint or Learnvest to look at all your banks, credit cards in one application.
2. Set a budget. Budgets can be helpful. See how much money you make and set a daily budget and a budget for different items
3. Pay with cash when you can. Carry cash in your wallet.
4. It may sound silly, but keeping a nice wallet can help you stay more organized and even help you make more money. Find a wallet you love.
5. Sign up to get statements electronically to save paper.
6. If you prefer paper statements, make sure to save them in a file folder dedicated to finances. Backup a copy of important files electronically.
7. Pay bills on time. Write in your calendar when a bill is due and set reminders the day before so you are not late.
8. Pay off debt. Make a plan to pay off debt. The snowball method is a great method to use. One of my main goals this year is to get rid of all my debt. With the right plan, debt is possible to pay off.
9. Save money. Set a seperate bank account for your savings. Use an application like Acorns to automatically save money.
10. Ask for a raise. You deserve it! Or get an extra job to make more money.

What are are your best money saving and organization tips?

The Revolution Will Not Be Digital

Flying Vinyl is a music subscription service. Flying Vinyl sent me their December/February box to review.

I want to build my record collection so I thought this would be a a good subscription to try out. I love the cute packaging the records came in and the sayings they have. 

It comes with five vinyl records that are exclusively pressed in to 7″ vinyl. You don’t get to choose the records yourself or have them selected to you like with some other subscription services like Vnyl. I had not heard of any of the artists I got, but I like that they were new artists and bands to discover. You also get an artist info booklet and extra merchandise.

The box costs $30 a month with free delivery. I would recommend checking out Flying Vinyl if you are a music fam. 

What’s On My Vegan Bookshelf

Thinking of going vegan? These are some of my favorite vegan books with recipes or tips on going vegan.

• Student’s Go Vegan Cookbook by Carole Raymond: This was one of the first cookbooks I picked up when I became vegetarian. I like these recipes because they are easy to make and don’t need a lot of complicated ingredients. It is a great book to start with if you are a new vegetarian or vegan or if you are a student going to college.
• Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser: I read Fast Food Nation when I was younger when I first became vegetarian. I liked the information in this book and learning about the fast food industry. There is also a film version of this book.
• The Kind Life by Alicia Silverstone: This book has tips for following a vegan diet. It was written by the actress, Alicia Silverstone. I like this book because it talks about the health benefits of a macrobiotic diet.
• Color Me Vegan by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau: This author has a lot of good cookbooks. I found the author from listening to her Food for Thought program. This cookbook takes a different approach and breaks up recipes by color. It also talks about the nutritional value of different colors. I especially loved the avocado pudding.
• The Complete Guide to Vegan Food Substitutions by Jonie Marie Newman: This book has a lot of helpful information about vegan substitutes with lots of recipes to try. I haven’t tried a lot of recipes in this cookbook myself, but I like to keep tr book for reference.
• Food Rules by Michael Pollan: Not necessarily about being vegan, but this book has a lot of good tips about food and cooking in general. For examples, some tips are to eat slowly, eat mostly plants and don’t eat products with more than five ingredients when you can. I like the tips in this book because they are simple rules for eating well. The tips are organized as a manual so it is a good book to just keep in your kitchen or read a page a day. I actually met Michael Pollan because I heard him speak and got this book signed when I met him.
• Vegan Stories: I picked up this book on a swap website. It has stories from vegans all around the world. It also has poems related to veganism. I haven’t read a lot of it to be honest, but I liked the concept of this book so I wanted to include it on the list too.
• Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin: This is a fun book about going vegan and starting a healthy lifestyle. It uses lots of swearing in its writing style. It talks about the food industry and the health benefits of going vegan. It also has a recipe plan for new vegans.
• Cooking with Compassion: This cookbook is from Etsy and had vegan recipes from the members of Vegan Etsy, Cruelty Free Etsy and EtsyVeg teams. I actually have a recipe in this book from being part of the EtsyVeg team. It is a small, paper book that has recipes from other Etsy members. I do not know if this book is still for sale, but you can look on Etsy or similar places for vegan cookbooks or recipes.
• Vegan Made Easy by Anna Leehey: I have my own vegan cookbook all about going vegan. It is a simple guide for new vegans. Check it out if you want to support me and are interested in veganism.

What are your favorite vegan books?

Interview: Megan Lee Designs

Megan Lee Designs specializes in screenprinted apparel, tote bags and greeting cards that have fun and quirky illustrations and graphic prints. All designs are drawn by Megan and are printed by hand.

Why did you choose to sell on Etsy?

I wanted to reach customers without having to create my own website (I began selling on Etsy a LONG time ago) and also still believe that you can reach a much wider and/or different audience through Etsy than you can through your own website. Etsy’s search function has brought me lots of customers who have never heard of my shop before.

How do you come up with design ideas for your shirts? What is your creative process like?

It’s a lot of sketching/doodling and just thinking about things I like. It’s honestly super simple and I often go back to my first sketch when I try and re-draw things a number of times.

What is your best selling product in your shop?

I think its still my “Midwest is Best” heart design, which doesn’t surprise me because the Midwest is amazing and it also covers a LOT of ground. I never really even realized how many states consider themselves Midwest.

Do you ever have creative blocks?

I definitely do, and thankfully I don’t have to create and come up with designs daily because I have so much business-y stuff to take care of. I find that my creativity sometimes comes in waves, and I honestly have no idea what it corresponds with, but its like every few weeks I’ll just get a burst of lots of good ideas.

Do you use social media?

I do, and need to use it more and more effectively. I am getting a little better at posting daily on Instagram, and I do enjoy it. It is just that there is always so much to do, especially now with having two very small children.

Do you have a blog?

No, and sometimes I wish I did, but I feel like its something I just wouldn’t update often enough!

Do you sell at craft shows?

Yes, definitely! Not quite as much as I used to, but we do probably from 10-25 shows/year. Our next big show is the Spring One of a Kind Show in Chicago. Can’t wait!

Do you sell wholesale or consignment?

At this point almost all wholesale, but I definitely started selling on consignment and we still have a few good consignment accounts from a long time ago. They can both be good options depending on a number of factors, but at this point we are only adding wholesale.

Do you ever have problems with customers? 

Honestly nothing too major, but just things like items being delayed in the mail, maybe a hole in a shirt, things that are usually easily fixed.

What do you hope for in the future for your shop?

Just to keep expanding my designs and possibly trying some new products based on my customers requests.

Once Upon a Color Story…

Want to get beautiful effects on your photos?

I have been recently using the app A Color Story a lot. A Color Story was created by A Beautiful Mess and focuses on bright colors.

These are some pros:

• Easy to use
• Works well with iPhone photos
• Free to download with options for free and paid filters
• Easy to layer different filters
• Bright color styles make your photos stand out
• Good for blog photos
• Option to save editing steps

I liked a lot of things about this app. The main thing I love is the bright, colorful and modern style of the filters that is different from filters on Instagram and other apps which usually aim to give your photos a more vintage look. The filters are similar to the A Beautiful Mess actions and I love that you can save the steps you took for each filter so you can edit multiple photos with the same filter pattern easily.

These are some of the cons of this app:

• The effects don’t work as well with non iPhone photos
• Could offer more free filters
• Bright color style might not suit everyone

I think the editing and filters fit well on blogs and the web. They might not work as well for other photos. I tried on a couple photos I didn’t take on my phone and I didn’t like the effects of the bright filters as much. Sometimes, it was too much of an overkill. I liked the effects on phone photos and old photos though.

Here are some examples of photos I edited and how they turned out.

I started with a simple photo of a plant.  The first thing I do when working with a photo is to crop it and adjust brightness and contrast.

This is the photo after I played with the color a little. It has a sort of soft look now.

I thought the filters looked a little dark  so I also tried this style where I made it more green. I can’t remember what filters I used, but I like how it turned out. Here is another example: 

I liked this rose photo I took in my

neighborhood. I cropped it and then brightened it and played with colors.

Next time, I would recommend adjusting the filters and colors little by little (instead of turning a filter all the way up, just do it a quarter or a half way). You should also layer filters to get different effects.

Let me know which photo you like the best. Have you ever used A Color Story?

How to Make a Sushi Bowl

Have you ever wanted to make your own sushi bowl? This recipe is easy to make and you can use whatever ingredients you have

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sushi rice
• Nori sheets
• Carrots
• Avocado, chopped
• Salad greens (optional)
• Soy sauce or other toppings

Instructions: 

1. To prepare the ingredients, chop the vegetables how you like them. I sliced the carrots in to thin strips. You can add other vegetables you have. Cut the nori sheets in to thin strips lengthwise. I also cut my strips in half.

2. Cook the sushi rice. To cook 1 cup sushi rice, boil with 2 cups of water. Reduce the heat to low and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Let the rice sit for 10 minutes and fluff with a fork.

3. To prepare for serving, add the salad greens to a bowl if using greens. Add the nori sheets. Assemble the rest of the vegetables.

4. Top with additional nori sheets and about 2 tablespoons of soy sauce. Add your own favorite sauces or toppings. Enjoy!

Let me know if you try this out in the comments. 

Polies Vegan Nutritional Balls

Polies is a company that sells the original nutrition ball. Nutrition balls are healthy power snacks comprised of seven premium, raw ingredient.

Polies sent me a set of 3 nutrition balls to try not their core flavor. There are many health benefits to these snacks:

• Heart healthy omega 3

• Rich in iron, fiber and vitamin E

• Natural protein

• Nutrient dense

• No preservatives

I really like the idea of polies. I am always trying to eat healthier and I have never tried nutrition balls before. These polies were raw, gluten free and dairy free. The balls were the right size. They are great for being to travel with or snacking on. The polies I got contained flax, sunflower, chia and molasses. They were not too sweet. They had a good molasses flavor. Having just one nutrition ball made me feel good and energized after eating it.

The polies come in a compostable package. A percentage of profits go to support organizations protecting the inborn and their mothers in the US. The polies are made in Texas in the US.

If you want to learn more about Polies, you can visit their Etsy Shop or website

Why I Didn’t Make Money Online

Have you ever tried making money online? I try out a lot of different methods to make money online. These are a couple reasons I think I was unsuccessful at making money:

I fell for scams.

There are a lot of scams online. It may look good to read how someone made a million dollars online, but is it really a practical method for making money? Did they spend years doing what they are doing to make money before seeing a profit? Also, do not pay for anything unless you know it is legit and try to set a budget on how much to spend if you do pay for a service. One way to check if a site is a scam is to use a site like Better Business Bureau which reviews websites and checks if they are scams.

I wasn’t careful when working with other people.

It can be great to work with other people to make money, but make sure you set guidelines beforehand. I worked with someone selling products on eBay and got scammed twice so be sure to know what you are doing. Use a site like Upwork to work with people so if you ever have problems, they will be held responsible. If a site has an option to review someone after working with them, this is a good feature to have to make sure they don’t scam you. I have good results with Upwork and Fiverr and some problems with finding people to work with on Craigslist. I think the review system helps make sure you are finding real people to work with.

I didn’t invest in myself.

This is there other side of being scammed. Sometimes, investing in your company does pay off when you spend money in the right places. If you really want to take a course, go ahead and sign up for it. If you see a product at wholesale price and have already proven it will sell, it could be  good step for your our business.

.

I didn’t backup my stuff.

I have lost files from not backing up my stuff so always do this. A program like Carbonite works well for your computer. I use Flickr to auto backup photos. Keep stuff on Google Drive and other cloud based services like Dropbox. You should also stay organized and keep track of any money you receive and any money you spend on your business. Consider having a seperate bank account, or even just a credit/debit card, for your business

I was overwhelmed.

Sometimes, it can be overwhelming to figure out what to use to make money. You can try all the methods at one time, but I think it works better to try or one or a couple methods at a time and then move on to another method later. For example, if you want to learn more about monetizing your blog using affiliate marketing, just try that out for a month. If you want to also learn about making money with guest posts, try that out next month. It can also be overwhelming to know which information to use. Do you use eBooks,  videos, classes or articles to get new info? I recommend choosing one to two programs to start with to focus on so you can look at it in a detailed way and then looking for other info.

I didn’t keep a schedule.

A schedule will help keep you organized and productive. On some projects, I never set a deadline so they just went on and on or sat in the background without getting finished. If you are a perfectionist, it can be hard to mark something as finished. Set deadlines for each milestone or project you have. Give yourself breaks also.

What are your best money making tips?

30 Ways to Update Your Etsy Shop

Have an Etsy shop? These are a couple ways to organize your business to make it run smoothly.

1. Get rid of old listings that aren’t selling. If you have Christmas items and they are not selling, save them for later.
2. Do you have sections for your items? Create 10 sections, or however many sections you need.
3. Switch up the photos for items. Use a new photo or angle for products that have been listed for a while.
4. Keep four featured items at the top of your shop and star a couple extra items in case one sells.
5. Organize your products in to collections of 10 with a thene instead of randomly listing items. See my printable here.
6. If you have a bunch of favorites, organize in to sections for easier buying
7. Write an about page and clear policies.
8. Create shipping profiles that will make it easy to add to lsitings
9. Use a similar template for listing titles and descriptions. Write a format or brief guidelines for a writing style you want to use
10. Download a spreadsheet of your orders and listings and keep them backed up on your computer.
11. Have ink and paper ready for shipping labels. Keep shipping supplies in stock for easy and fast shipping. Buy shipping supplies in bulk.
12. Keep all your finished handmade items organized in one place.
13. Label all your products and keep them in a protective covering such as a box or clear sheet.
14. If you have items with imperfections, give them away or use then yoursed
15. Keep enough supplies in stock if you do made to order items.
16. Have a crafting room or place where you do all your crafting
17. Keep craft supplies organized in boxes, bins and baskets.
18. When out get an order from Etsy when buying, keep all business cards and samples in one place.
19. Have enough business card said in stock. Keep a couple business cards in your pocket purse to give out.
20. Save articles about business you like with a tool such as Feedly or Evernote.
21. Use Google Drive or a folder on your computer to save Etsy latest documents such as spreadsheets, worksheets and documents you write.
22. Keep photos organized in folders on your computer. Favorite photos you want to list on Etsy and get rid of duplicates and bad photos.
23. Easily five photos a white background with FotoFuze.
24. Start a mailing list and if you sell wholesale, keep another list for retailers.
25. Create a media kit, press kit or line sheet.
26. Make sure your social media links and website links are accurate on all platforms.
27. Use the same logo and colors across multiple platforms.
28. Carry a notebook with you to jot down creative ideas and inspiration.
29. Have your Etsy items and updates automatically post to social media
30. Get help! Hire a virtual assistant and delegate tasks.

What are are your best Etsy tips? Let me know in the comments.

Pancakes and Booze Review

This was my first time going to the Pancakes and Booze Art Show. I went for two days. The show was late night from 8PM-2AM and was held indoors.

The show is an art show, but they also have craft vendors, photographers, bands, and DJ’s. The show features 50-150 local artisans. They also have  live painting, body painting and servings of pancakes. I love that they offered pancakes, but one downside was they did not have any vegan food options so I did not get to try their food.

Pancakes and Booze has shows all across the nation. The Chicago show was held at Reggie’s which is a nice music venue and bar. Reggie’s has three floors, a rooftop bar and a record store. I was on the second floor when I vended. There were not too many other craft vendors, but I did get to check out the other artists.

Overall, the show was a lot of fun. The turnout was pretty good and I liked the energy of the show. The cost was $100 to vend or sell art and I was able to make back the money with items I sold. My mini journals were popular at the show.

I would commend checking out Pancakes and Booze if they are in your area. 

A Beautiful Mess Happy Mail

A Beautiful Mess sent me a couple past kits of their Happy Mail subscription service. Happy Mail ships monthly with fun stationery goodies. The My comes in a cute envelope package.

The kits are mostly filled with paper items. Some items the kits contains include: 

• Cards
• Envelopes
• Postcards
• Art Prints
• Sticker Sheets

I loved opening these kits. I will definitely save the cards for the future. The stickers are great to use for planning. I am going to stick the shopping list in my purse. I love that these items are both cute and functional. Have you tried or any subscription box? 

Interview: Blankets and Knitting Tools from BeCozi

Describe what you sell in your shop and the process of giant knitting.

I sell super chunky Merino wool blanket, DIY Knitting kits, giant needles and luxury Merino wool knits. I knit all my product using my hands. It give giant, 3 inches stitches and a beautiful chunky look to all knits.

Your products are made with Merino wool. You also sell vegan alternatives to Merino wool. Can you describe what Merino wool is? Why did you decide to offer vegan products?

I am selling 100% super chunky Australian Merino wool which made from the wool of Australian Merino sheep. Merino wool is the most amazing wool in the world: it is hypoallergenic, moisture wicking and even antibacterial because the fiber is so fine that bacteria can not attac to it! It is extremely soft, not itchey at all and very gentle to touch.
I also sell super chunky vegan yarn: 100% Acrylic which looks and feels like Merino wool for those who prefers everything vegan or just wans a cheaper alternative.
Some people have such severe wool allergy that even Merino causes it, those love my super chunky vegan yarn.

How would you describe your style?

My style is in the name of my store – BeCozi. Be cozy – is my style and a motto. All my products are made to make you feel cozy and comfrotable.

Describe your studio space. Where do you work?

I work from home. I have a studio with a special custom made table for hand knitting: it is a completely unique product designed by me. Hand knitting is my personal technqiue not used by anybody before. Now you can find people on YouTube who are copying my style but a year and 3 months ago when I started – I created this unqiue style of hand knitting.
I also have a shipping room with all the wool and shipping supplies in my house.

Do you ever have creative blocks?

No. I always have so many ideas and unfortunately not enough time to make them all the reality.
What is your favorite feature on Etsy? Do you use any other websites?
Not sure what is the first part of the question about, sorry.
I do sell on my website www.becozi.net and also on Amazon and Ebay.

How do you package your products?

I package the wool in plastic white mailing envelopes and for all the other products I use special sizes boxes.
Do you use social media?
I do use social media:
http://ift.tt/2lDg1uM
facebook.com/becozi
instagram.com/becozi
http://twitter.com/becoziknits
youtube.com/c/becozi

Do you ever do craft shows or sell wholesale?

I participated in one craft show in my city – Holland, MI in May 2016 for a Tulip time festival Carft show, otherwise I do not really have time to do it. I do offer wholesale for the wool and my items – 15% off from the price on Etsy and website. It is not 50% as wholesale usually works because my retail prices are very reasonable.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Giant knitting with super chunky Merino wool or super chunky vegan yarn is a lot of fun. It is my passion and joy, I love to do it and I love to share my passion with the world! 

A Beautiful Mess App Review

I love checking out all the things A Beautiful Mess does. I have the A Beautiful Mess photo editing app on my phone and thought I would do a review on it. I edited these four photos (pictured above) on it by adding text and doodles and then collaged them together in a grid using the app.

Pros:

• Fun scrapbook style that is good for blogs or digital scrapbooking
• Good for adding text and doodles to photos
• Paid and free options for doodles and text
• Collage feature

The highlights of this app are the fun text and doodle elements you can use. It is fun to play around with. I am not sure if I would use this for professional photos, but the editing options are nice for social media and blogs. There is a paid version of doodles with craft items I would like to try out.

There is also a collage feature that has square collage options and fun shapes like triangles and hearts. I played with the collage feature for fun with some patterns I found on Pinterest:

Cons:

• Can’t change the text or doodle size
• No undo options
• No custom color option
• Lack of editing features

The things I didn’t like about this app are it doesn’t have some of the features a lot of photo editors have. You can’t adjust brightness or play with levels. It was also hard to customize options. For example, you can’t change the text or doodle size and there were also no custom colors when choosing a text color (for example, you can’t enter a HEX code). They do have filters though which are the same as their other app Party Party. I could not find an undo button when editing photos which was kind of annoying because I would have to start over when I messed up.

Overall, this app is for fun and quick editing. It is something you would add doodles to after editing or a way to make a collage out of multiple photos. In combination with other apps, this app add a bit of jazz to your photos.

Have you ever used this app? Let me know in the comments. 

Can You See the Texture?

This is the second challenge in the A Beautiful Everyday Photography online photo class. You can see my first week here. This challenge asks you to explore textures in your environment or workspace. These are some other photos I took with my phone. I took a bunch of photos outside, but for some reason they got deleted on my phone so these are just some texture photos I retook around my house. 

I decided to edit them so they are all black and white because I thought that helped show the texture in the photos better. Let me know which photo is your favorite.

Pancakes and Booze Art Show

Move the Needle will be vending at the Pancakes and Booze Art Show on February 24th-25th.

It will be held at Reggie’s in Chicago. If you are in the area, stop by and visit my booth. I will give half off any item if you mention you heard about the show from my blog.  You can RSVP on Facebook here.

Here is some more info:

• 80+ Emerging Artists Exhibiting
• Live Body Painting
• Free Pancake Bar
• 21+ EVENT
• 8PM-2AM both nights
• $5 GA (Cash at the door)
• $10 VIP skip-the-line
• Live Audio Performances

You can check out the Pancakes & Booze website here.  You can also follow them on Instagram here.

Interview: Vegan Cheese from Three Girls Vegan Creamery

Three Girls Vegan Creamery is an organic, plant based and dairy free creamery. They make artisan cheeses from nuts and aged to perfection.

Describe what you sell in your shop.

We do not have a storefront YET! We are planning a crowdfunding effort on Indegogo in April to help us setup our very own facility. Right now we are working out of a family restaurant’s commercial kitchen in Madison, CT. It is an Italian restaurant and they began offering vegan options with our Mozzarella “di Bufala”.

You have three people who run your shop. How did you decide to work together?

The Three Girls Vegan are a mom and two daughters. We have been a team forever.

Why did you choose Etsy as a platform?

Curiosity. We have always heard great things about Etsy. To test the waters we just posted a few of our items. So far it has been fun and we have met some wonderful people!

Why did you become vegan?
We are 100% Italian and were raised on a traditional Italian diet. Once we went vegan, it was the cheese that was the hardest to give up. We began creating the recipe for the Mozzarella. We ferment and culture to make authentic cheese, but instead of using any animal products, we use the cashew as our cow. The process of creating the Mozzarella recipe took over 9 months and more attempts than we care to remember. It was so important to make a mozzarella that was perfect in a caprese salad but also melts, stretches and is ooey gooey when in a lasagna or on a pizza.

What is your favorite thing to cook?
We have veganized all of our traditional Italian dishes. We make Mozzarella en Carrozza sandwiches, eggplant rolotini with almond ricotta and grated parmesan and romano topped with mozzarella. We make fried calamari from oyster mushrooms, crabcakes from artichoke hearts, homemade gnocchi with creamy alfredo. All dairy free, animal free! This is our culinary activism. We have converted 6 family member to veganism because the food is so good!

What other vegan products or companies do you like?

We love to support as many vegan products as possible.

Do you sell wholesale or consignment in other shops or restaurants?
Yes, we sell wholesale to several Connecticut, NY and MA stores. You can see a listing on our website (http://ift.tt/2lfYYlj) store locator.

Do you do craft/food shows?
We do a local Farmers Market monthly. We are super duper excited to be a sponsor at the upcoming New England VegFest in Worcester, MA on April 30th. We will be serving our famous Mozzarella en Carrozza Sandwiches!

Do you have a blog or use social media?
Yes, we are on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and of course our website. @threegirlsvegan

What do you hope for in the future for your shop?
We are praying to raise the funds necessary to open a small shop. We will always remain small batch artisan and need our own place to grow!

Three Girls Vegan Creamery also sent me some products to try – Assorted Aged Cheese Wheels and Mozzarella “di Bufala” Pearls and Assorted Aged Cheese Wheels. I love that these products imitate traditional cheese that can be used in Italian and other dishes. I have never tried a vegan mozzarella that was not shredded or a cheese wheel that was vegan.

The Assorted Aged Cheese Wheels were cashew based. The flavors were Pistachio/Cranberry/Fresh Thyme/Pumpkin Seed, Vegan Maple Bacon/Pecan/Herb and Old Fashioned Fireball. The texture was great. I liked the Old Fashioned Fireball the best. 

The Mozzarella “di Bufala” Pearls was cashew based, fermented and cultured. It had a great texture that is the same as regular mozzarella. I really liked the mozzarella cheese and think it is something I would buy in the future. I did not think try cooking it so I do not know how well it melts, but I enjoy it would taste great in any recipe or that calls for fresh mozzarella.

I did not cook anything with these ingredients this time, but I think I will buy from in the future and try out some recipes. Let know what types of recipes. 

What I’ve Learned from Love

I did this art journaling entry a while ago about things I have learned from love and I thought I would post it for Valentine’s Day. These are some of the things I wrote.

Trust what you feel and go with your gut. It doesn’t matter what other people think. There are some times when you should listen to other people, but you should listen to your own heart and do what makes you happy. If you are in a relationship with someone your friends don’t approve of, sometimes it just makes sense to do it anyway.

Take risks. I remember reading a quote about how even if you take a risk, you will still regret it more if you don’t take a risk. Don’t be afraid of rejection.

Love yourself first. You must love yourself before someone else can love you.

Love comes when you least expect it. Love is kind of mysterious and you can’t always predict when it is going to come. Do not wait for love.

You can have more than one soulmate. Let go of the past. People have different definitions of a soulmate, but I think you can have different soulmates. Don’t hold on to past relationships. They might prevent you from something better that is coming along.

Relationships don’t usually work out so enjoy the ride. Nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. Most relationships don’t work and not everything will last. It is about the journey.

Sometimes it is the fantasy you are in love with. Movies and TV shows about love are different than the real thing. The fantasy might appeal to you more than the real person.

You are loved by someone even if you don’t see it. There are all types of love in the world. Whether it is love from a significant other, a friend, family or even an acquaintance – somebody out there cares about you.

What have you learned from love?

How to Do a Chocolate Bath Spa Treatment

How about bathing in a bath full of chocolate for Valentine’s Day? Chocolate is a common spa ingredient that softens and rejuvenate your skin.

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons cocoa powder or dark chocolate
• 1 cup bubble bath or unscented shampoo (optional)
• 1/2 cup powdered milk or soy milk powder
• 2 tablespoon cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 drops peppermint or chocolate fragrance oil
• Handful of large marshmallows (optional)
• Chocolate scented candles (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mix cocoa, powdered milk, cinnamon and vanilla.

2. Run a hot bath. If you want to create bubbles, add bubble bath or unscented shampoo. You can even use dish soap.

3. Pour the powder mixture in to a hot bath. Finally add the drops of peppermint or chocolate fragrance oil and marshmallows. The marshmallows will dissolve in the bath.

4. Light some candles (this is optional, but I think it sets the mood). Chocolate scented candles are perfect, but you can’t use whatever you have. Play some romantic music if you have it. Soak for 20-25 minutes and rinse off in the shower.

5. You can also choose not to do a full bath and instead soak feet or hands in the mixture for 10 minutes. Just put hot water in a large bowl and add the mixture using the instructions above. This is perfect to do before a manicure or pedicure.

Let me know if you try this out.

Interview: Photography from Helene Smith Photography

Helene Smith sells photography in her Etsy shop, Helene Smith Photography. Her photography is of nostalgic, mid-century-style snapshots of Americana.

You have a lot of photos from Chicago and Michigan. Where is your favorite place to visit?

I haven’t been able to travel nearly as much as I would have liked to over the years for various reasons, but I actually really love to take weekend trips to rather small towns and find hidden little gems to shoot.

Your photos have a feeling of nostalgia. How do you get this feeling in your photos? Do you think it is something that comes naturally or is it a look you try to capture?

I have always been drawn to beautiful old things and beautiful odd (old and new) things and even things that are not beautiful, things that are ordinary and overlooked.

My work also looks a bit vintage because I try not to use any (if any at all) filters (effects). I might lighten a shot a little if it’s hard to see, but part of what I am trying to convey is exactly what I see so I don’t want to change it too much and that’s becoming rarer these days. So many photographers want to play with effects. Effects can be alot of fun, but that’s just not me. That’s not what I am trying to convey in my work.

How do you promote your shop?

I have a Facebook Fan page and I also use Twitter and Pinterest, online. Of I’m selling my work at an upcoming event, I will also try to put posters up at local businesses. And I still use email for special events.

Do you ever do craft shows?

Yes, I have done craft shows/art fairs for many years though usually just a few a year – holiday time and maybe a few in summer.

What do you hope for in the future with your shop?

There’s just so much I would like to do. I have so many photos that I’d like to add to my online collection, but it’s just a matter of time (each listing takes a bit of work when it’s new). I’d love to offer additional photo items like photo calendars and maybe some lockets at some point. Eventually maybe photo compilation books as well, specific to Chicago or Grand Rapids. On the other hand, I am a purist and I don’t want to clutter up my shop too much with much more than prints. I used to sell photo cards as well, and might add them back, too.

How to Organize Your CDs and DVDs

How many CDs and DVDs do you have? Why not toss out old media you don’t watch and organize the rest of your collection?

Swap Items

I used to use a site called Swap where you can build or get rid if of your DVD or CD collection. I pretty much got all the DVDs I own now from swapping them. Amazon also works well for selling or finding CDs and DVDs. You basically just pay for shipping for used items if you find them cheap enough.

Find Gems

Are you looking for rare items or autographed memorabilia? Check out Discogs for music fans where you can find rare CDs and vinyl. I have found some good deals off eBay. I have sold some autographed CDs there also and able to make some pretty good money.

Arrange Your Collection

If you have too many discs, I like this idea from Hi Sugarplum. Store CDs and DVDs in sleeves out of their case and put them in a wire basket with alphabetical tabs.

CDs or DVDs are great to display also. Pick your favorite items or autographed copies to frame or display. I have an old autographed Michelle Branch album sleeve from a CD in a photo frame. The album sleeve is opened up so you see all the artwork in the frame. A shelf is also is great for holding CDs. In my old bedroom, I glued down blank CDs to the bottom of a shelf and arranged my music CDs on the top of the shelf.

Let me know in the comments your favorite CD or DVD in your collection. 

Ways to Organize Memorabilia

We all have memorabilia of some sort; These are collections or objects that remind us of important people or events in our lives.

Does This Item Spark Joy? 

1. Lay all your items or like you did with other collections.
2. Look at each item and ask if it sparks joy or makes you happy. Does it remind you of a certain event or person? Does it give you happy memories?
3. If there are items you no longer want, see if you can hand these down to someone else. If it is from a collection, put them on eBay or trade them so you get a return on their worth.
4. Keep track of items you have if you want to stay on top of your collection. I like using a spreadsheet to write all items in a collecting. Using a tool like Airtable is a good idea. For photos, keep backups of old photos by scanning them digitally.
5. Display your items. Memorabilia can be great to display. Photos can be put in scrapbooks. Collections can be displayed creatively.

What Collections Do You Keep? 

One collection that is important to me is a glass frog collection from my grandmother. I like to display it on a shelf, but I could find a better way to display it. The glass frogs were originally in a glass case which is a nice way to keep them protected. Right now, the glass frogs sit on a glass lily pad. I am not sure if the glass lily pad was my grandmother’s, but it works perfectly for the glass frogs and helps give the collection a story.

Some other things I collect include autographed items and ticket stubs. I will do a longer blog post with my collections.

How do you store your memorabilia? 

Ways to Organize Clothing

What are some ways to organize clothing? It is essential to keep your clothing organized. Just by cleaning out your closet, you can help figure out your personal style and what you love.

Get rid of the unnessecary.

Outdated clothes? Clothes that have holes? Jeans that don’t fit? Toss them out! I recommend emptying your closet and making piles of clothes you no longer want, clothes you want to keep and clothes you aren’t sure of.

Use the handy infographic above I found on Pinterest to decide what to keep and what to toss.

Take care of what you love.

The capsule wardrobe theory recommends keeping 37 items you love. This doesn’t always mean keeping expensive items, but you should choose clothes that are high quality and you wear every day.

Take care of clothing you have so it lasts longer. I like this laundry chart above. Make sure to read instructions for washing clothes so they don’t wear out quickly. If you have items that have imperfections or missing pieces, fix them.

Give the items you keep a home.

Now, it is time to put all your clothing back. It can be a lot of fun to arrange your closet and clothing. Try color coordinating hangers by assigning different types of clothing a different color or arranging by season. I like to arrange my clothes by color in my closet or arrange items from light to dark.

In the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, the author recommends folding clothes and storing them vertically. You don’t have to do this, but I find some items benefit from folding while others work on a hanger. I keep clothes I wear for working out or sleeping in folded in a drawer while clothes I wear go in my closet on a hanger.

Accessories can be arranged using creative methods. Shoes can be arranged in shoe boxes with a photo of the shoe on the outside. Boots can be kept in shape by putting rolled up magazines inside them when not in use. If you have multiple scarves, hang them on a hanger.

In the next entry, I will talk about how I am personally trying to organize my clothing.

What are your tips for organizing clothes? Let me know in the comments or even use hashtag #mythreadofthought with photos.