Why blogging is important to me

In the past few months, the Facebook Group of Etsy Sellers have been about the changes in Etsy Advertising. Well, they say change is the only constant. As a seller, we can't do anything about it, because we can't control what the Etsy management or shareholders want, right? 

The same goes with social media ever changing algorithm. As a  user,  we simply has to adjust our step to match their changes. Last week, I found that some of my Instagram Story Highlights are blank! I updated the app and they are still missing. This made me think, that we can't rely too much on social media too. We work so much to make beautiful posts and suddenly one day we'll find they are all gone? What will you do?

I'm glad I still have my blog. Though I haven't been able to write so much recently, but at least this blog is here. I can easily look up  the archives or search the blog for my past works or simply to read my earlier posts. Many friends asked me how to promote their products. Well IMHO, there is no exact formula, simply do what you're comfortable with. What you want to do? What is your future goals? etc. As for me, I want to keep enjoying what I am doing while at the same time, giving something back to the crafting community through this blog by sharing few tips and tutorials. Frankly, my blog is still one of my biggest source of traffic when it comes to Etsy or my Website. 

****

And here's the pouch that  I forgot to post!  Ehm, actually this post was in my draft folder and I forgot about it. Anyway, this another combo of denim and patchwork pouch. You can see the tips and video of another pouch I made in HERE.

Patchwork Pouch

Mini slip pocket for cards

Plain denim at the back

I really love working with denim and I'm glad there is one shop here which carry different kind of denims. But my fave is this dark blue denim. This pouch is very simple, it has one slip pocket inside. The size is perfect to carry your phone or passports. Well, we always need more than one pouch, right? I love making pouches and keep them. They make a great impromptu gifts and everyone love handmade pouch!

The pouch is available in my Etsy as well as in my Webshop. 

Thank you for stopping by,

Have a nice day!

~ Elvira ~

Quirky Passport Wallets

Hello,

October is my fave month, because the weather is just perfect. A perfect sewing weather! 

I recently finished these two travel wallets from my own Pattern (you can get it HERE). This yellow one below with quirky travel theme print is  really cute. I saw this print on Nomura Tailor Instagram page and luckily when we went to Kyoto in January they still have it! I picked up 3 colors of the same print. I am wondering what to make next, since I only purchased half yard each. 

Quirky Travel Wallet

I used blue checked shot cotton (handloom) fabric for combination and a stripe shot cotton fabric for binding! 

The second one this this pink and brown combo. I call it Catman in NYC print. Salmon pink & brown always go really well together, right? The polkadot fabric for the flap is from my stash. (I seriously need to sew from my stash only!) 

Couple Passport Holder

This passport wallet is very popular with travelers. Either couple traveler or small family. The passport slot can easily store up to 3 passports, plus there are 2 slip pockets and 1 zipper pocket along with 6 card slots. I always this travel wallet when I travel alone. That way, I don't need to carry extra purse with me. 

These wallets and the pattern are available on both my Etsy Shop and Webstore. As I mentioned in my previous post about new Etsy advertising policy, I did increase the price in Etsy after I sat down with hubby and did a serious calculation which turned out I was in the red for a couple of months! But if you want to save some extra bucks, do check out my Webstore and let me know what you think about it!

If you're running a handmade business, especially if you're selling in Etsy, do your calculation properly! Well, having your own website is much cheaper, but Etsy has the crowd. Change is never easy, hopefully we all will be back to track again soon! Thank you so much for always supporting handmade artists _/\_

That's all for today! Happy Crafting!!

Elvira

Resources :

Travel Wallet Pattern

Quirky Yellow Travel Wallet

Catman in NYC Passport Wallet

Retro Wallets and New Etsy Advertising

Hello,

I've been busy trying to make sense of the Etsy new advertising this past few weeks. Reading forum posts, FB groups and also YouTube videos. Well, the new Etsy Advertising did hurt small shops! Some big ads spenders are affected too and they even lower their ads budget so low! 

We're filling up the research /feedback forms and hopefully they will bring back the old Etsy ads where we can set our CPC and can control where our money are being spent. In the mean time, I had to switch off Ads in my Fabric Shop and Handmade Shop due to the low ROAS in the last 2 months! Willingly or not, we have to increase the price to cover the cost of Advertisements, Etsy Fees and Paypal Fees. Well, we live and learn, right? Let's hope for the best

In the meantime, I enabled Worldwide Shipping in my Webstore. I'm glad I decided to start the Westore (though it was a bit neglected in between), but now it's all stock up and I'm trying to pay more attention to it. There is a currency converter on the top right of the page as your browse my Webstore. I think the Webstore will be a Win Win solution for buyers and sellers! 

Well, building a small business as a solopreneur is not easy but it is soul satisfying :D. If you just started don't be discouraged! Keep going and like they say in Kdrama, if it's not a happy ending, it's not the end as yet! 

Now let's check out what's new in the shop! 

1. Wonderland Fabric Bifold Wallet. I really really love working on this one. The Wonderland Fabric from Rifle Paper Co is really beautiful. I ordered a few more and got them a few days ago. Yay! 

Women's Wallet | Etsy | Webstore

Wonderland Bifold Wallet

2. Paris Mini Passport Wallet 

One of the popular print for passport holder in my shop is Paris theme. I mean, who wouldn't love la tour Eiffel? For the card slot I used salmon pink fabric with the same theme but in cotton. (the exterior is Japan Linen) and using a wine color polkadots for the rest. If you're a music lover and love Paris, this will be a great gift for yourself. Or check out more Paris theme Passport Holder in the shop. 

Mini Passport Wallet

3. Everyone's fave Mickey Mouse Zipper Pouch with metal double zipper. I got quite a few of Disney licensed fabrics this time from Japan and I think it's high time I start using them. If you want in different Disney print, you can check out my Instagram Page which I created only for fabric options. I mean, it's too much of work if I have to show each client what fabrics I have, right? 

Disney Double Zip Pouch | Etsy | Webstore

Polkadot yellow inside! Love it!

Thank you so much for your support all through this years! I will put the link under this post for resources, in case you decided to sew the wallets yourself ;)

Happy Sewing

- Elvira -

Resources :

Bifold Wallet Pattern

Mini Passport Wallet Pattern

Double Zipper Pouch Pattern

Linking up to:
Handmade Monday
Handmade Tuesday