You should focus on publishing a few of your hat patterns a year. With your UA-cam channel growing, more people will know you and support and buy your patterns. Love your mermaids and Della. Love watching you! Very creative!
I appreciate your advice. I think I need to just take my time and try not to put too much pressure on myself, lol. I'm sure once I get back into it, it will be fine, and the wheels will start rolling. I really love making the mermaids and Della the Duck, OMG... Don't get me started. Thank you so much for watching and commenting. Much love!
I still need to sew it, lol. It's been a busy week with my daughter's birthday and then graduation yesterday. I started pinning it to sew. So hopefully in the next video I film. Thank you so much for watching and commenting. I really appreciate you.
I am really enjoying your vlogs, it's fantastic seeing someone else at the same stage of life as me with a small business. I have teenage children, house work and cooking diner just get in the way of crafting! 😅, constantly driving everywhere too. Love your plushies, just all adorable. I needle felt for a living, my vlogs are monthly (weekly is too much for me!). I recently started crocheting and now it's my reward once I have done my all needle felting stuff. Great to see you properly monetized, keep up the good work xx
I appreciate the encouragement more than you know. I just subscribed to your channel, and I will be taking a look at your videos. Your thumbnails look beautiful. I see you have a large following on UA-cam, congratulations. I hope to get there someday. I love the art of needle felting but have never tried it. I like to call my life Beautiful Chaos! I tell everyone I'm constantly just winging it, lol. As mom's and business owners we do the best we can, and I am proud of that. Crochet is always a reward for me. I love it so much! Thank you so much for watching and commenting. Have a great day.
What if you publish the base hat pattern with all sizes, then have supplemental patterns for the different animals/characters and just note what colors to use for the base hat. If that makes sense? Breaks it up a little anyway. Maybe you can slowly publish patterns as you slowly scale back on markets and work through your yarn. That will give your patterns time to gain traction and figure out the market/pattern/youtube income balance from there. You got this!!
Jenny, I am blown away by your generosity. I appreciate you more than you know. I have definitely thought about your suggestion, which is probably what I will do for tutorials on UA-cam at some point. Although, I have typed up all of the sizes for the base pattern. So I am working on it. It's always about finding that balance in life. Thank you so much for your comments and your support! Much love to you! April
Your hats are so perfect! Maybe publish one pattern a month so it’s not so overwhelming. You’ll generate two sources of income from the patterns themselves and from tutorials,etc. on UA-cam. It’s a lot of work but may even exceed the amount you’re making from markets. Your idea for doing fewer markets is spot-on. We are cheering you on!❤🎉
Thank you so much for the encouragement. Life has been crazy lately with my daughter's 18th birthday and graduation yesterday. These are 2 milestones I wasn't sure if we would get to 2 years ago. I am starting to talk myself into writing again, lol. Once I get those wheels rolling it will be great. I appreciate you so much and I hope you are having a marvelous day!
I'm so thankful for you! You are so sweet. Thank you so much for your encouragement. It means a lot. I'm curious what are you crocheting? Have a great day.
Your hats are amazing, they are so detail and so original. Regarding selling your patterns, you'll know when it's time. In the meantime do what you love.....
I loved to see your adorable dog,reminded me of my dog Luckey, who passed away at 18 years old. I enjoyed seeing your cute makes,the mermaid looks amazing.❤
Awe! I love my little girl so much. She is literally my baby. She's so spoiled. She is 12 and her name is Aggie. I've had many animals go to the other side and I still think about each of them. Thank you so much for commenting and watching.
WOW, how cool and surprising was that 😀❤. I was enjoying your vlog, and then suddenly I heard my own voice ups... hihi... 🤣 Thank you so much for sharing, - I really appreciate it 🥰. Thinking about your "development" or process during this week of vlogging, it seems as you were so "fed up" with the hats, and then you ended up making like "thousands" of them 🤣😉, and with enthusiasm and happiness. I guess it is just some phases you have to get through in order to get to the other side, and when you are in the zone, going for it, then I guess time flies and suddenly you've completed an insanely high number of your adorable and personalized hats. I know it is so tempting to just want to continue with the plushies because you have found a new love and interest for them, but when you're in the zone, I guess the happiness of fulfilling your "obligation" of making those hats overshadows the desire for making that plushy hehe... We can all get tired of something we do so often and so much of, and you've been doing those hats for more than a decade, so it is MORE THAN understandable to have some "down" days, but your happy self shone through more and more towards the end of the vlog. I love the Dolly and I really, really love your owl-hat. With those "hairy" ears, - they are just adorable. And yes, - I am SURE that if you made a pattern-book with your hats, it would be extremely popular ❤
Oh Linda, thank you so much for the encouragement. You are so sweet, and I always look forward to hearing from you. Crochet is Life for me. The force is so strong, lol. It literally pulls me in and it's hard for me to find a balance to fit other things in my life. I do love making my hats, but I want to have more time to design, write and publish my patterns. We make hundreds of hats every year. Not to mention I have other hobbies. I love house plants and outdoor gardening. I love throwing parties and being outdoors. I have a Jeep Wrangler and my husband, and I go off roading. We love spending time with family. These are only a few things, lol. The question is how do you balance it all? I have been asking myself this question for years. I don't want to give anything up, lol. On a really exciting note.... My daughter turned 18 this past Thursday and her Graduation was yesterday. They are both momentous occasions to our family. Two years ago, we weren't' sure if she would get to these milestones. I am grateful that she did. Just know... I appreciate you more than you know. Sending you lots of love!! April
@@thecozybuckeye You are so sweet yourself, April 🙂. Thanks a lot. I can really see that having that many hobbies, family and work, it can be overwhelming, - totally understandable. I am just myself, and I spend "all" my time out of work, crocheting. At least like 80% of it, - when I am not sleeping hehehe... Congrats to your daughter´s graduation 😃. You are understandably a very proud mom ❤.
I just found you on UA-cam, and I wish I had your problem, I would love and can’t wait until you release a hat pattern. I love making plushies and just purchased the book for the lovies. I am also going to start using the embroidered eyes that you showed. Thank you for your videos ❤❤❤❤
I’m really enjoying your videos. I’m at the start of my crochet business so I’m learning a lot even though I’m 62 and have been crocheting since I was 18. Hoping to have UA-cam channel one day.
Ok my thoughts and I had to jot down reminders so I wouldn't forget to summarize them .. lol Put your Etsy in vacation for a week once a month catch up and then pattern design until the week is over? Completely agree that mass qty sucks the fun out but discipline is the name of the game and you seem to be balancing it in a way that still scratches the "new itch" every once in awhile. Maybe add some custom plushie listings to your Etsy that you like to make so maybe you start getting known for that and can make plushies for $$ instead of hats. Ok I think that's all! ❤❤ Enjoyed the vlog. We're too much alike it's scary 😂
Hey Stacy, I'm blown away at your generosity. I know you are busy, but yet you take the time to write a summarization of my video for me. What?! I so appreciate you, more than you know. I've never wanted to put my Etsy on vacation mode, because I do sell patterns. So, I usually extend my processing times when I need to. Also, when you put your shop on vacation mode it buries you in the algorithm. Not a good idea from what I've heard. In 10 years, I have never used vacation mode. I do like the idea of adding plushies to Etsy. I am really wanting to write my patterns though, but life continues to kick my butt. I'm hoping to share more details in my videos to come. I know you know that life is about finding that balance. I feel like if we knew the answer to this, we would know some secret worth billions, lol. Your channel is inspiring to watch and that's why it's doing so well. You are killing it working a FT job, crochet business, mom and wife. I love the dynamic of you and your daughter Tara as well. My mom and I have been working my business together for 12 years, so I know how special it is and love watching you both. You are right, we are so much alike. I feel like we could be Bff's, lol. Much love to you!! April
If your worried about time then my suggestion would be take a week enitionally and to the write up and pictures and videos for a select few patterns to start off with.
I appreciate this suggestion. I was just thinking if I start it will be good to get those wheels rolling. My life is beautiful chaos it seems and it's just a matter of finding the time. Hopefully soon. My daughter's graduation was yesterday and I'm planning her grad party right now. Thank you so much for watching my video and your comment. Have a great day.
Thank you so much! The mermaids are so much fun! I have never heard of Good Better Best in terms of a florist. I'll have to do a quick google search. LOL. Thank you so much for commenting and for watching. I appreciate you!
I definitely agree. Everyone has a preference & mine is the embroidered eyes. I just think they have more personality & when I sell them they are not limited to kids over 3 years old. I’m hoping my products will move quicker at markets this way. There are a lot of safety eyes that are beautiful. I have been thinking of painting some real soon. You never know my opinion may change after that. Thank you for your comment. Have a great day.
Beautiful Mermaids! The hair is super cute but for markets you might be able to half it to make it go faster. Do you have a method of pricing for markets vs etsy? That's the biggest thing I struggle with. For the patterns could you do an Adult pattern, Kids patterns, and baby/toddler patterns? I know its more work but then its all available. Im sure you will get all of your money back for the time spent on the patterns :)
Thank you! I do love the mermaids. I think if I precut the hair that would probably help. I sold plushies at 2 markets last fall. I didn't sell any plushies over $20. I plan to sell at my first Summer show in years on June 3rd, so we shall see how my higher priced loveys do. Now my hats are priced based on size and detail. I also price them based on demand. If things sell quickly and I can't keep up with the demand, I raise my prices. Etsy versus markets is funny. Things that sell on Etsy sometimes don't sell at markets and vice versa. It's trial and error for me. I never make a bunch of anything until I test it at a market. If I make something new, I photograph it (good photos) and put it on Etsy as made to order. Test it out and see if it sells. I usually give it a year and after that if it doesn't sell I retire it. Everything I list on Etsy is made to order, except for my top sellers. I try to keep those in stock. As far as writing my patterns I think I am leaning to 3 sizes per pattern. Thank you so much for commenting. I really appreciate you! Have a great day!
I do use my Cricut when I can. Alot of my templates are drawn by me. I need to figure out how to make them svg files that cut clean. I recently bought and iPad pro but haven't figured out the digital art process. Thank you so much for commenting and watching. I appreciate you very much. Have a great day!
I do love the Della the Duck pattern and yes, I have been told a few times, lol. Thank you so much. I love hearing that. I appreciate you watching and your comment.
You should focus on publishing a few of your hat patterns a year. With your UA-cam channel growing, more people will know you and support and buy your patterns. Love your mermaids and Della. Love watching you! Very creative!
I appreciate your advice. I think I need to just take my time and try not to put too much pressure on myself, lol. I'm sure once I get back into it, it will be fine, and the wheels will start rolling. I really love making the mermaids and Della the Duck, OMG... Don't get me started. Thank you so much for watching and commenting. Much love!
I cant wait to see what that sloth turns like!. I have a small crochet sloth.
I still need to sew it, lol. It's been a busy week with my daughter's birthday and then graduation yesterday. I started pinning it to sew. So hopefully in the next video I film. Thank you so much for watching and commenting. I really appreciate you.
WOW! You should just do a book of hat patterns!!
Thank you so much! I would love to!
I am really enjoying your vlogs, it's fantastic seeing someone else at the same stage of life as me with a small business. I have teenage children, house work and cooking diner just get in the way of crafting! 😅, constantly driving everywhere too. Love your plushies, just all adorable. I needle felt for a living, my vlogs are monthly (weekly is too much for me!). I recently started crocheting and now it's my reward once I have done my all needle felting stuff. Great to see you properly monetized, keep up the good work xx
I appreciate the encouragement more than you know. I just subscribed to your channel, and I will be taking a look at your videos. Your thumbnails look beautiful. I see you have a large following on UA-cam, congratulations. I hope to get there someday. I love the art of needle felting but have never tried it. I like to call my life Beautiful Chaos! I tell everyone I'm constantly just winging it, lol. As mom's and business owners we do the best we can, and I am proud of that. Crochet is always a reward for me. I love it so much! Thank you so much for watching and commenting. Have a great day.
You’re gonna make me get that Della duck pattern 😂 I already have the stuffed version but the lovey is soooo cute!
You should! You will love it. It's one of my favorite to make right now. LOL
What if you publish the base hat pattern with all sizes, then have supplemental patterns for the different animals/characters and just note what colors to use for the base hat. If that makes sense? Breaks it up a little anyway. Maybe you can slowly publish patterns as you slowly scale back on markets and work through your yarn. That will give your patterns time to gain traction and figure out the market/pattern/youtube income balance from there. You got this!!
Jenny, I am blown away by your generosity. I appreciate you more than you know. I have definitely thought about your suggestion, which is probably what I will do for tutorials on UA-cam at some point. Although, I have typed up all of the sizes for the base pattern. So I am working on it. It's always about finding that balance in life. Thank you so much for your comments and your support! Much love to you! April
Your hats are so perfect! Maybe publish one pattern a month so it’s not so overwhelming. You’ll generate two sources of income from the patterns themselves and from tutorials,etc. on UA-cam. It’s a lot of work but may even exceed the amount you’re making from markets. Your idea for doing fewer markets is spot-on. We are cheering you on!❤🎉
Thank you so much for the encouragement. Life has been crazy lately with my daughter's 18th birthday and graduation yesterday. These are 2 milestones I wasn't sure if we would get to 2 years ago. I am starting to talk myself into writing again, lol. Once I get those wheels rolling it will be great. I appreciate you so much and I hope you are having a marvelous day!
Always love spending time with you while crocheting!
I'm so thankful for you! You are so sweet. Thank you so much for your encouragement. It means a lot. I'm curious what are you crocheting? Have a great day.
@@thecozybuckeye I am currently making a bandana using the free pattern from The Turtle Trunk. It's a beautiful design and it is also a gift!
@@stasya6154 I have been wanting to make a bandana 🥰
@@thecozybuckeye they are fast to make and could be good for your market coming up!
Such a sweet duck! Now I need that pattern! Thank you for sharing!! 🥰
Thank you for commenting. It’s a good one that works up quick & it’s one of my favorites. ❤️
That was the cutest interrupter I've ever seen!!
She's my sweet little baby! LOL
Your hats are amazing, they are so detail and so original. Regarding selling your patterns, you'll know when it's time. In the meantime do what you love.....
Thank you so much! I really appreciate you. This is great advice! Have a great day!
I loved to see your adorable dog,reminded me of my dog Luckey, who passed away at 18 years old. I enjoyed seeing your cute makes,the mermaid looks amazing.❤
Awe! I love my little girl so much. She is literally my baby. She's so spoiled. She is 12 and her name is Aggie. I've had many animals go to the other side and I still think about each of them. Thank you so much for commenting and watching.
That dragon is beautiful. The one with the pinkie purples
I love that pattern. I need to make more for my markets.
WOW, how cool and surprising was that 😀❤. I was enjoying your vlog, and then suddenly I heard my own voice ups... hihi... 🤣 Thank you so much for sharing, - I really appreciate it 🥰.
Thinking about your "development" or process during this week of vlogging, it seems as you were so "fed up" with the hats, and then you ended up making like "thousands" of them 🤣😉, and with enthusiasm and happiness. I guess it is just some phases you have to get through in order to get to the other side, and when you are in the zone, going for it, then I guess time flies and suddenly you've completed an insanely high number of your adorable and personalized hats. I know it is so tempting to just want to continue with the plushies because you have found a new love and interest for them, but when you're in the zone, I guess the happiness of fulfilling your "obligation" of making those hats overshadows the desire for making that plushy hehe...
We can all get tired of something we do so often and so much of, and you've been doing those hats for more than a decade, so it is MORE THAN understandable to have some "down" days, but your happy self shone through more and more towards the end of the vlog.
I love the Dolly and I really, really love your owl-hat. With those "hairy" ears, - they are just adorable.
And yes, - I am SURE that if you made a pattern-book with your hats, it would be extremely popular ❤
Oh Linda, thank you so much for the encouragement. You are so sweet, and I always look forward to hearing from you. Crochet is Life for me. The force is so strong, lol. It literally pulls me in and it's hard for me to find a balance to fit other things in my life. I do love making my hats, but I want to have more time to design, write and publish my patterns. We make hundreds of hats every year. Not to mention I have other hobbies. I love house plants and outdoor gardening. I love throwing parties and being outdoors. I have a Jeep Wrangler and my husband, and I go off roading. We love spending time with family. These are only a few things, lol. The question is how do you balance it all? I have been asking myself this question for years. I don't want to give anything up, lol.
On a really exciting note.... My daughter turned 18 this past Thursday and her Graduation was yesterday. They are both momentous occasions to our family. Two years ago, we weren't' sure if she would get to these milestones. I am grateful that she did. Just know... I appreciate you more than you know. Sending you lots of love!! April
@@thecozybuckeye You are so sweet yourself, April 🙂. Thanks a lot.
I can really see that having that many hobbies, family and work, it can be overwhelming, - totally understandable. I am just myself, and I spend "all" my time out of work, crocheting. At least like 80% of it, - when I am not sleeping hehehe...
Congrats to your daughter´s graduation 😃. You are understandably a very proud mom ❤.
To me handwritten is always cool and better because you can look back on your journals. I just love it. Plus computers crash.
So true! I do love journaling.
For what it’s worth, I’m proud of you with all the hat making ❤ Della duck is just adorable
Awe! Thank you so much for your encouragement. I appreciate you more than you know.
I just found you on UA-cam, and I wish I had your problem, I would love and can’t wait until you release a hat pattern. I love making plushies and just purchased the book for the lovies. I am also going to start using the embroidered eyes that you showed.
Thank you for your videos ❤❤❤❤
Thank you so much!! I hope to start working on patterns as soon as possible. I appreciate your support. Much love!
I’m really enjoying your videos. I’m at the start of my crochet business so I’m learning a lot even though I’m 62 and have been crocheting since I was 18. Hoping to have UA-cam channel one day.
Thank you so much for watching my channel and your support! Much love!
I dont have a book, but I have so many tutorial videos saved. Lo ing the vlog.
Thank you so much for commenting and watching. Have a great day!
Ok my thoughts and I had to jot down reminders so I wouldn't forget to summarize them .. lol
Put your Etsy in vacation for a week once a month catch up and then pattern design until the week is over?
Completely agree that mass qty sucks the fun out but discipline is the name of the game and you seem to be balancing it in a way that still scratches the "new itch" every once in awhile.
Maybe add some custom plushie listings to your Etsy that you like to make so maybe you start getting known for that and can make plushies for $$ instead of hats.
Ok I think that's all! ❤❤ Enjoyed the vlog. We're too much alike it's scary 😂
Hey Stacy, I'm blown away at your generosity. I know you are busy, but yet you take the time to write a summarization of my video for me. What?! I so appreciate you, more than you know. I've never wanted to put my Etsy on vacation mode, because I do sell patterns. So, I usually extend my processing times when I need to. Also, when you put your shop on vacation mode it buries you in the algorithm. Not a good idea from what I've heard. In 10 years, I have never used vacation mode. I do like the idea of adding plushies to Etsy. I am really wanting to write my patterns though, but life continues to kick my butt. I'm hoping to share more details in my videos to come. I know you know that life is about finding that balance. I feel like if we knew the answer to this, we would know some secret worth billions, lol. Your channel is inspiring to watch and that's why it's doing so well. You are killing it working a FT job, crochet business, mom and wife. I love the dynamic of you and your daughter Tara as well. My mom and I have been working my business together for 12 years, so I know how special it is and love watching you both. You are right, we are so much alike. I feel like we could be Bff's, lol. Much love to you!! April
@@thecozybuckeye much love to you too!! Next spring we're going to have to make it happen!! 👍🤣❤️
If your worried about time then my suggestion would be take a week enitionally and to the write up and pictures and videos for a select few patterns to start off with.
I appreciate this suggestion. I was just thinking if I start it will be good to get those wheels rolling. My life is beautiful chaos it seems and it's just a matter of finding the time. Hopefully soon. My daughter's graduation was yesterday and I'm planning her grad party right now. Thank you so much for watching my video and your comment. Have a great day.
I love it, I just started making some mermaids too i love the hair, such a good idea.
They are so dang cute! I love them so much! Thank you for commenting and watching. I appreciate you!
Our fur babies never understand us working. My cat just looks me like 'Why do you work?? Playing is more fun.' lol.
My dog is demanding, lol. She is funny! She drives my husband crazy wanting him to play all of the time. It cracks me up.
Love mermaid pattern. Love the way you did them. Consider selling them the way a florist does? Good better best?
Thank you so much! The mermaids are so much fun! I have never heard of Good Better Best in terms of a florist. I'll have to do a quick google search. LOL. Thank you so much for commenting and for watching. I appreciate you!
Safety eyes and embroidered eyes are both nice, one doesn’t have to be better than the other
I definitely agree. Everyone has a preference & mine is the embroidered eyes. I just think they have more personality & when I sell them they are not limited to kids over 3 years old. I’m hoping my products will move quicker at markets this way. There are a lot of safety eyes that are beautiful. I have been thinking of painting some real soon. You never know my opinion may change after that. Thank you for your comment. Have a great day.
@@thecozybuckeye awesome! I love both too. Good luck with everything, your makes look great.
Thank you! ❤️
Beautiful Mermaids! The hair is super cute but for markets you might be able to half it to make it go faster. Do you have a method of pricing for markets vs etsy? That's the biggest thing I struggle with. For the patterns could you do an Adult pattern, Kids patterns, and baby/toddler patterns? I know its more work but then its all available. Im sure you will get all of your money back for the time spent on the patterns :)
Thank you! I do love the mermaids. I think if I precut the hair that would probably help. I sold plushies at 2 markets last fall. I didn't sell any plushies over $20. I plan to sell at my first Summer show in years on June 3rd, so we shall see how my higher priced loveys do. Now my hats are priced based on size and detail. I also price them based on demand. If things sell quickly and I can't keep up with the demand, I raise my prices. Etsy versus markets is funny. Things that sell on Etsy sometimes don't sell at markets and vice versa. It's trial and error for me. I never make a bunch of anything until I test it at a market. If I make something new, I photograph it (good photos) and put it on Etsy as made to order. Test it out and see if it sells. I usually give it a year and after that if it doesn't sell I retire it. Everything I list on Etsy is made to order, except for my top sellers. I try to keep those in stock. As far as writing my patterns I think I am leaning to 3 sizes per pattern. Thank you so much for commenting. I really appreciate you! Have a great day!
Not sure if you have one but a Cricut could help with cutting the felt pieces.
I do use my Cricut when I can. Alot of my templates are drawn by me. I need to figure out how to make them svg files that cut clean. I recently bought and iPad pro but haven't figured out the digital art process. Thank you so much for commenting and watching. I appreciate you very much. Have a great day!
I really enjoy watching you and I had to get Della the Duck. She is so adorable. Has anyone told you that you look like Jennifer Aniston?
I do love the Della the Duck pattern and yes, I have been told a few times, lol. Thank you so much. I love hearing that. I appreciate you watching and your comment.
Book on toys be nice .
I agree 100%