Giveaway Draw!

The hardest part of running GreeneTrends for me is the advertising, maintaing my blog, facebook page, even my Etsy shop. I love the crocheting, designing, and overall creative process. But all that other stuff is a lot more work then people ever say. First I have to do the actual creating, take photos, edit, post, share, and then maximize how many people see it. That's the real challenge! What motivation do others have to check out my page? Well, there is the first and obvious option: that I work really hard to make great quality items, and my friends and family are interested in what I am doing. But what about expanding that group? I mean my family and friends can't support my business all on their own. So I decided I needed something that gave my friends and family a reason to share my page with their friends and so on.

I honestly didn't have a clue what to do, but I was looking at my Sister-in-law's page AubieDax Creations on Facebook, and she was doing this giveaway promotion when she got certain numbers of page "likes". I decided to do the same!

My giveaway is one of my newly designed headband sets! The headband is adjustable in size, using a button. And the 7 different styles of flowers are interchangeable using a snap clip. Which also means they can be worn without the band! I've already had 2 winners, and their color choices have been adorable!

Future draws will be: "likes" from 10-25, 26-50, 51-75, 76-100! There are plenty more chances to win, so tell your friends, like the page yourself. And even if you don't have a little girl this set makes a great baby shower gift, Birthday gift, or Christmas gift!

Here's the link to my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/GreeneTrends/207678542610012

just click the Like button and your entered to win!

Make Over!

The last couple of weeks have gone by so fast! I've spent nearly all my time crocheting headbands and flowers. My idea was to make headbands with adjustable sizes, and flowers that were interchangeable. I have definitely done that! The bands button up, so you can tighten or loosen it as a baby or child grows. And the flowers come on a snap clip so they just clip on the headband where ever you  want to place it.

Originally I only made 4 different flowers, but after 2 weeks and 88 flowers I got very bored. So I made 3 new styles. I haven't crunched the numbers for pricing on the set of 1 band, and 7 flowers yet. But I think they will be a big hit!

To begin with I started the headbands because I was planning on doing a craft show that had no table fees. Thankfully, my hubby and I decided to check it out before showing up to sell. And we learned why it's free...it's in the middle of the ghetto. It was more than a little scary, we didn't even get out of the car, just turned around and drove home. My hubby said there was no way he would be okay with us closing up at the end of the day and having to walk to our car with cash. I agreed!

So I set about giving my Etsy Shop a make over. Going over my listings, especially the writing.  I read a lot of the Etsy Seller Handbook about Pricing, and Writing. 24 of 34 listings have been completely redone, along with my profile. I still have much to do, but I am very excited to be doing it!

There are two big reasons that I have an Etsy shop in the first place. 1. I love to crochet, and I am always making something. So I need to support that cost. 2. Supplementing my income, my husband works very hard and is doing very well in his career. But being a Canadian going home to visit my family is a big expense. Bigger than fits into our monthly budget. So it's my Vacation fund! And Emergency Fund, and our Save to  buy a house fund! 

I am also thinking about locally offering crochet lessons, any thoughts on that?

Check out my shop if you'd like to see my most recent creations! http://www.greenetrends.etsy.com/

My return!

Yesterday my father-in-law had surgery. It meant my husband and I sat with his Mom for 14+ hours in the waiting room. Both through the surgery and then waiting for visiting times. He came through great, and is well on his way to recovering. His sister was sitting with us and she has started crocheting. I had brought some with me to pass the time. I haven't been crocheting much recently because it has really started to feel like work instead of something I enjoy. But yesterday I had an idea for a scarf pattern and went to work figuring it out. It was fun, and I remembered why I enjoy crocheting so much. My Aunt told everyone who came how great I am at crocheting, and bragged about my etsy shop. I was very flattered, and appreciated the praise.

I have a lot going on in my life at the moment, but I will continue to crochet!

Sale!

I decided to do a 20% off sale. Every single item in my shop is 20% off! I am also continueing to offer free shipping to all destinations!
The coupon code for this sale is : heartgreene

Hope you check out my shop and enjoy the sale!

Slip slip slippers!

My lastest creation, two styles of slippers! My inspiration came from a conversation I had on the phone with my sister the other day. She is diabetic, and has a lot of problems with her feet and circulation. She told me that her feet are so cold at night that they make her legs hurt and it makes it hard to sleep. Geez! No kidding! I mean my feet get pretty arctic, just ask my hubby! LOL But no where near cold enough to cause pain. I suggested socks, and she told me that she can't wear socks because they are simply too tight. They cause swelling and further reduce circulation. I know they make special socks for diabetics, but nothing that would combat Southern Alberta cold.

So I told her what she needed was for me to make her some sleeping booties! I told her they would be thick and warm, but loose on her feet and ankles. I set about finding a pattern I liked, I tried 3 different ones. And each time got part way, decided I didn't like it and took it out. LOL, I know I'm picky, but these were bad! I ended up concocting my own design, it was fun, I learned a few things, and I think they turned out pretty well.

That was all last night, this morning I was trying to decide what to do with the left overs, and since I don't often ship things back home to my family I wanted to make the most of it. I called home and got my Mom. I shared my dilemma, that I didn't have a whole lot left, but I had some scraps from other colors, I wondered what else my sister would like. My Mom said,"Would you have enough for another pair of slippers?" Geesh, why didn't I think of that? She has fibromyalgia and her feet are very sensitive, what better than super cushy and soft slippers? I mulled it over and decided I might be able to piece all the colors together into my pattern and make it work. I began construction, it took some time, and a little estimating of how much I had of each color. But I made it! They are so cute, and I'm happy with the color coordination. I'm thinking of making some for myself too! I have hypothyroidism, which affects my temperature, my feet are icy!

                Scrap N' Patch Slippers - http://www.etsy.com/listing/66014028/scrap-n-patch-slippers

Ultimate Comfort Slippers- http://www.etsy.com/listing/66013136/ultimate-comfort-slippers

Ugly glove

For christmas my Father-in-law bought me a crochet pattern magazine. In it was this really cute pattern for fingerless gloves and a hat. Yesterday I tested the glove pattern. I Hate it! The sizing turned out way smaller than the pattern said it would. And the faux seaming, ugly! I do however, really love the  overall stitching pattern. Unfortunately the pattern was complicated enough it took 6 hours to make, only to discover that I don't like it, and would never want to post in GreeneTrends.

So, I adapted. I took the parts that I like, and made another glove. Increased the size a little, and "poof" cute glove! I still have the hat pattern to test, and a scarf to design around it. I think it will turn out well. I'm finding that I much prefer taking an idea from a pattern and designing my own from there. Maybe it is because I like to do things MY WAY! LOL! Maybe it is because it's fun to create something thats all mine...

I'll let everyone know when I finish and list this set!

Huge Sale!

I just finished revamping my whole shop, listings and all. I took a lesson from my Sister-in-Law. She only buys the higher end, meaning pricey, makeup and jewelry and other items when they come with "free gift with purchase". I thought to myself, why not throw in a little something extra to sweeten the deal?

So I did!

It took me nearly two and a half hours to change all my listings but it's done!
Afghans come with extra throw pillows, baby blankets get a free monogram, sweaters come with free fingerless gloves, there's an item with a free flower hairband, and sets with bonus items! And of course I decided to continue my Free Shipping sale! I'm super excited about it and I hope it brings results. It's also got my creative juices flowing and I have some really great ideas for new designs. Can't wait!

Creative wishes,
Lynae