Apricot Jam!

This years apricot jam was definitely a trial for Etsy...really, I made it for me and family, but thought that it'd be a good item to list if I did happen to set up shop.  Well, we did, and I listed it. We've sold four jars already, and that leaves eight available to sell on Etsy! (If we end up selling out this year I may list the six jars I'm holding onto, and we will definitely be making a few more batches next year!)

thank you Etsy user caguilar78 for your jam purchases!!!

Apricots are so tempermental, and have an EXTREMELY short season (some types only have a week or two "in-season"). So, it's a treat when you find good apricot jam. This years jam...whether it be the type I used or just the year the apricot trees had...is amazing. Wonderful, bright, tangy flavor...the jam ended up with a vibrant orange glowing color! And when you taste it, you can FEEL your glands salivating...mmm...it's wonderful!

So, hurry to our shop and buy some! The more jars you buy the less shipping costs per jar! :)  (If you would like more than one jar, send me a message on Etsy, and I can make you a custom listing for multiple jars and adjusted shipping costs.)

Custom "Evelyn" Listing Sold

Finished and sold another custom apron order today!

The fabric chosen for this one is really cute! It's a birthday gift for my customer's "boho" styled friend......The buyer chose the fabric and the "Evelyn" style, plus wanted a few extra custom details:  extra long waist tie, pockets, trim and ruffles on the pockets, and ruffle on the bottom of the skirt.

(front)                                              (back)

...thank you Etsy user rachelrosene for your business...

(fabric detail)                               (new pockets with detail)

Turned out cute, huh?

Well, I am soon going to be adding a page on here that will be "BYO Apron".  I will have a few various options on the different aspects of the aprons (skirt style, top style, strap style, pockets, etc...) and have photos listed to assist you all in designing a truely custom apron that you will love!  Keep checking back to see what options we will offer, (remember if you have idea we do not have listed, it never hurts to ask...send our shop a message on Etsy and you can attach a photo of your idea to see if we can accomodate you!)

First mention from an outside source...!!!

Well, thank you to all of those who have featured our items in your Etsy treasuries, we appreciate it and are so happy people are responding well to the first few items we've had listed.

Last week, though we were mentioned in a blog! Bombshell Lolita wrote a blog post (Etsy Shout-Outs) about Etsy and the shops she has found there, and we were listed!  So, lets return the favor, shall we? Go check out her blog!!!

**photos are property of Bombshell Lolita, Copyright 2009**

She has all sorts of ideas and reviews (she loves decoden, and explains what it is to those of you who don't know), for beauty, feminine, and health products.

Thank you Bombshell Lolita, love your site too!!!

Etsy Success- Holiday Boot Camp!

Oh my...well, with attempting to be a wife while getting my business up and moving is proving to be a challenge and a stretch of my time management skills (or lack there-of). We have had lots of sales in the first two months of business, and we thank you those of you who have contributed to that!!! And, quite a few custom orders as well!

Well, I am determined to do better, and use the timing of starting this venture as the perfect key to launching sales...we are approaching Christmas afterall! (Yes, I do use the word Christmas instead of "Holidays"!!!) That's right, school just started and already the stores are getting in their stock for fall and the Christmas season! Plus, Etsy Success launched their Holiday Boot Camp last Thursday...I was a bit hesitant at first, but after reading the pledge (and a few other posts, they have so much helpful information readily available to sellers it's wonderful!) I took it! I pledged on the event page, on my facebook page, and now here (which will also post to Twitter).

**photo is a candidate for the Etsy Success Holiday Boot Camp mascot, and happens to be one of my votes, and is a listed item in "poordogfarm"s shop**

I, Nutmeg of Sugar Spice and Nutmeg, pledge to participate in the Etsy Success Holiday Boot Camp to the best of my abilities. I vow to check in every week, do my homework and support my fellow Holiday Boot Campers. I will read the weekly newsletters and blog posts, check in on the weekly forum thread, read the weekly blog post, check off the checklists and salute the mascot. I promise to share what I've learned with those who need it, support my fellow Etsy indiepreneurs and, most of all, have a positive and persistent attitude. I understand that together we can spread the word about our handmade and vintage goods, making this holiday season a more unique and meaningful one to gift givers and give-ees everywhere!

So, here's to a hopefully incredible and successful holiday season, hopes for lots of traffic in my shop and lots of new customers shopping for special unique gift items!!!

Check this out!!!  This armoire is a piece that my mom aquired at an auction when I was very young. When we got it home and openned it up it had a lovely little love letter in it, and the door pull has "British Made" engraved in the back.

I love it!

Well, my parents are re-doing their guest room, and this really has no place in their house anymore...so, it is now in mine!  In my guest room/office...it is currently serving the purpose of containing the masses of fabric, paperwork, shipping materials, ETC that I have had scattered all over the house since the end of July! And, thanks to the unique metal loops on each side, I have a place to hang my on-hand aprons as well!

I love antiques, and this piece is gorgeous!!!......and yes, I am awaiting peoples comments about how much "household" stuff I already have!.......

New Apron...and more to come this weekend!

New listing: Evelyn apron with new fabric! Soft muted tones, antique vintage buckle slide, and a feminine style.

Additional aprons coming throughout the weekend and next week, as we sew our way through the fabrics we have on hand.

New Item...Homemade/Handmade Apricot Jam

Listing a new item today...homemade, handmade, sweet and tangy apricot jam. The apricots were GREAT this year! Very juicy and wonderful flavor, and it really came out in the jam. The type of flavor that you can feel your glands salivating over!!! Very aromatic as well.

Ingredients: lots of fresh hand diced California Blenheim apricots, cane sugar, pectin, and a tiny bit of lemon juice and butter.

ONLY 12 JARS on hand!!! (Well, 16...but some of those are for me and my family!) And once they're gone, that is it until next June!

And be creative...we have found that this jam is fantastic used as something other than just spread for toast. On warm fluffy rolls during the holidays, this jam makes apricot oatmeal bars have a fresh tangy flavor, and even used for fish dishes!

New Items...and More Sales....

We posted a couple more half aprons today...so, we are nearing the end of our current scrap pile. We have enough new fabric for about 12 new aprons, and then we will be using those scraps for more half aprons!

Here are the two we posted yesterday:

The second one unfortunately...I don't know if it was the lighting or just that the fabric doesn't photograph well...but I could not get a good shot of it, and it is cuter in person...

In the last two days, we also sold two items, one of which had just been posted!

Thank you Etsy users NakedBathSalts and bedelk00 for your orders!!!

New Listing

Here is another half apron (I am recycling scraps from some of the aprons I've already made and using them as half aprons and pot holders). Check back, will continue posting a few more half aprons and some pot holders throughout the week!

First Listing of a HALF APRON!

Yes, we have added women's half aprons to our repertoire!  Here is the first one...I am currently using the scraps from my custom aprons to create these (Waste Not!)...

Go check out what we have available right now...Also, check back...this week we will be adding fresh fabrics for our aprons, more half aprons, and pot holders!

New Items Coming to Etsy Shop!!!

We have been working on some fun and unique items that we found while "JUNKING"! (New favorite activity!)
We will be adding a new category to our Etsy shop: Furniture...and Home Items...

Here are some of the items, as they looked when we salvaged them!!!

The first chair is done...painted and upcycled seat. The dark side chair is in process of being painted and the seat has been redone. The coffee table we got at an estate sale- we have sanded, and reglued and stablized all the joints. Just trying to decide what direction to go with that...  We will then be on to tackling the fully upholstered chair!!! (As nervous as I am, I'm excited!) And! Today I acquired another side chair, a mid-century sort of cafe bistro chair- (the manufacturers tag is still on the bottom! and all the quality control dates are from the late 1920s!)...I like the lines on it, and I have a fabric and paint for it already...

So, we should be posting quite a few of these items within the next week!!!

Sold: Saffron and Black Charlotte Apron

We sold the Charlotte apron that was a saffron and cream geometric print with black accents. Purchased as a going away gift.

This makes our SIXTH sale!!! WOOHOO!!!

...now, to crank out some more with the masses of fabric we have...