Wednesday, January 04, 2012

In the year of 2012

Valentine Heart Fairies listed January 2, 2012
Happy New Year! Like many of you, I've got plans and daydreams. For my shop, newly renamed on Etsy as Alkelda Dolls, I've made a few changes. I'm now listing my creative offerings once a week: Mondays by 8 PM Pacific Standard Time, unless otherwise indicated). I'm taking a break from custom orders, though suggestions, requests, and recommendations are always welcome.

In 2011, I was so concerned about promotion and sales that worry clouded my enjoyment of the creation and presentation of the dolls. Now, I've acknowledged to myself that the modest profits I make after materials and fees help justify the time spent in creating dolls for children and grownups. Reports from customers reveal that both boys and girls enjoy the dolls I've made for their pretend play and storytelling.

This year, I would like to resume visiting and commenting on blogs in a more focused way. My online friendships are as important to me as the "off-line" ones. At the same time, I want to refrain from getting sucked into the "Facebook minute", i.e. "an elongated and obscure period of time spent distracted on Facebook when the original intent was to merely check your messages" (Urban Dictionary).

11 comments:

tanita✿davis said...

My goal for 2012 is to be able to buy one of your dolls. They're not ridiculously unaffordable, but I wanted that math doll set, and someday that will be a reasonable idea - to just buy something because it's cool.

At least, that's the hope. :)

Saints and Spinners said...

Tanita: You're very kind. Thank you. I realized recently that I've never sold a math gnomes set. I've done trades for them, and they sold at the school auction a few years ago, which is why I'm working on single math and science gnomes. Stay tuned for (cue echoic voice) The Gnomes- Of- Science! I just finished the Astronomy Gnome, and am thinking about a general math gnome, plus chemistry, botany, entomology, algebra, and geometry gnomes. I imagine them keeping grade schoolers and college students company while they figure out proofs and theorems.

Kathy said...

Hi from the island!

Good thoughts. And I love the valentine dolls!

Charlotte said...

Those Valentine ones are supurb!

WendyLady@GoodBooks said...

I just found you via Pinterest/flickr. Your dolls are so cozy and adorable. I especially love the St. Lucia and Christmas/winter dolls I've seen in your archives. Excited to be able to order some when they become available again. The young girls in our church do a St. Lucia Procession every year - my daughter would have loved one of your little dolls when she was a little girl. Precious.

I'll have to find your Dolls for Storytelling on Facebook as well - I have a page for my blog, too (Good Books for Young Souls), and like you, try to keep my internet time in perspective with real time. It's a great way to communicate, but it can take up too much time, if we're not careful.

Anonymous said...

I love plans and daydreams, and I wish you luck with all of yours. The Valentine Heart Fairies are lovely.

Saints and Spinners said...

Wendy: Thanks for stopping by and commenting! (Such nice comments, too.) I'm glad to have your blog on my reader now.

Adrienne: I think of you when I make the heart fairies. I remember when you told me about how much you loved hearts.

Saints and Spinners said...

Hi Kathy from the island! I miss you. We really do need to see each other more than once a year, considering that we are mere miles away from each other. We both have March birthdays, hem hem.

Saints and Spinners said...

P.S. Which reminds me--happy birthday, Charlotte! Okay, time to get off the computer now....

Lone Star Ma said...

Gorgeous dolls.

KateCoombs said...

These are so pretty! I'm glad to hear that you've had a creative epiphany about your doll business. Happy 2012!