Business is Beyond Slow . . .

So, I got on Google (I'm on the third page if you search the words 'blackberry bramble', but because there is such a huge amount of competition for baby products on the web, I am invisible if you search those items.  I have been thinking about placing some products on e-bay and etsy, and even in our local craft mall.  All those things are taking a backseat now to decorating and preparing for Christmas and my kids' birthdays (both in December).  I'm working on some projects for the family now, and will probably not have anything new up on the site until January, when I will really focus on getting my products out there!  I have a 15% off sale going on now through Christmas - code: warmth  at Blackberry Bramble.
For now,wishing you a joyous holiday season!

Car Seat Canopies are Up

I've just added two new car seat canopies to the site; this cute owl pattern is my favorite - isn't it sweet?

SEO

Again I find myself dazed and confused! It seems that if you want anybody to be able to find your website, you have to get it on the search engines.  How? You submit it to them. Geeze.  I thought the state tax workshop I attended earlier this week was a headache! Anyway, I am in the process of optimizing my page for search engines so that people can find my page - I can pay to have it appear instantly (a monthly fee + "bidding" for particular search words and phrases), or I can do it myself and it will take a little time to appear.  Since I don't have a monthly advertising budget, it looks like I'm on my own!  I really am out there, and hopefully, those who don't already know me will one day be able to find me!!

New Blankets on the Site

I've got a couple of more sweet blankets up for baby girls.  Check the site often for new designs and products!

Ready for Business

It's official! The website is up and running!  Check it out at www.blackberrybramble.net and let me know what you think! I've got several cute, snuggle-soft blankets and some burp cloths up so far.  I'm working on some car seat covers that should be up this week, and a couple more "girly" blankets.

Technical Difficulties

The website was looking great and was ready to launch, and then I had to go and mess it up! I am not sure what I did yet, but I managed to lock myself out of the administrative functions and put the store part of the site down for maintenance. YIKES!  I've got support requests in, so I'm hoping things should be up and running next week. 

Gotta admit, I am a bit nervous about it actually being operational! So many things could go wrong! Trying not to focus on those things, but they're lurking around in the back corner of my brain.  Meanwhile, I'm sewing away.  Here's a sneak peak of one of my favorite blankets so far . . .

 

Now we're cruisin' . . .

Things are picking up finally! Yesterday I got my business license from the county. I got my cute web design ordered from The Cutest Site on the Block, and I've got my labels and hang tags ordered and on their way from Linx. Hopefully I'll be launching the site in the next 2 weeks.  Very exciting and somewhat nerve-wracking!

So much to do!

It has been a bit more crazy than usual around here, and the business is going slow.  I still need to get my license from the county, and while I do have the designs for my hang tags and labels, I haven't ordered the actual products yet.  I was really hoping to have the site up and operational this month, but it is so expensive getting started. I'm keeping optimistic, though, and know it will be fabulous when it's finally all together.

Labels!!

Today I got the proof for my care labels; they look fantastic and I was able to order a small quantity fairly inexpensively.  Miss Label has a page on etsy as well as on the web.  Can't wait to get these babies sewn into my creations!

Hang Tags

Who would think you could get so excited about such a little thing as hang tags?  Saw the preview for my designs today and I just love 'em! It is so thrilling seeing each little piece come together.  Heidi at Heidilyn Originals Custom Design is designing things for me and doing a fabulous job! If you're in the market for a graphic artist, she is awesome!

Impatiently waiting . . .

So much to do when starting a business! Got the business license. The domain registered. The logo is looking pretty good. And now, starting to blog about it.  I'm excited and nervous and crazy right now, hoping it will turn into $ and success, even if it is just a little success.  The sight should be operational sometime next month, and then I'll find out if my little home-made gifts are really "good enough to sell".


I've got some darling fabric from the Hoo's in the Forest line by Riley Blake - cute apple patterns that I am transforming into place mats.  Also working on soft and cuddly baby blankets using Daisy Kingdom's adorable nursery flannel.