Goodbye Etsy, Hello Artfire!

I've been with Etsy for a year now and after fully considering the options, I'm moving shop to ArtFire.  My Etsy shop is deactivated, and I may or may not reopen it.  The kicker is the fees.  For the last 3 months, I have paid more in fees to Etsy than I have actually made.  Etsy charges listing fees, sale fees, and they have made it impossible to get exposure without constantly relisting.  With the added PayPal fees and material costs, I just can't keep up.  Artfire is charging a flat-rate $11.99/month, which is great for me!

Please come over to Blue J Crochet on Artfire and support my new shop!  I know it will take time to build up the same customer base that I had before, but I'm certainly hoping it becomes even more successful than Etsy.  Artfire also makes it easier to make sales, coupons and gift certificates, so I'll be really happy to be able to offer more discounted goodies!

The Giveaway for this month will be changed from my Etsy shop to my Artfire shop, however all of the products are exactly the same and my prices haven't changed, so you can still use the $25.00 Gift Certificate for all of the same stuff you could have found on Etsy.  It will take me a few days to get all of my items relisted but I'm working on it!

ARTFIRE COUPON CODE:  BSV4MFD0N7-Z629CUNT35
Use this for 25% off all patterns at my new ArtFire shop for the next 5 days!  Pass it on to all of your friends and help me kick off to a great start! 

bluejcrochet

Handmade Soap

Thanks for your continued support!  I love you guys!
♥ Julie

1000th Etsy Sale!

"Happy Happy Joy Joy, Happy Happy Joy Joy"!  So, am I old or just immature for singing Ren and Stimpy in celebration of my 1000th Etsy sale?  Either way, I'm so happy!  THANK YOU for helping me reach 1000 sales in just over 1 year!  To celebrate, EVERYTHING is 15% off until Next Friday, the 19th!  This includes custom orders! 

Also, I just joined the Pinterest and I'm really confused, but in a happy kind of way.  I think I feel like my mom did when she joined Facebook the first time.  Anyhow, if anyone wants to be invited in (its a pretty elitist group, lol), just shout at me and I'll send you a link for it.  If you're already on Pinterest, go check out my Etsy shop and start Pinning!  Here's a perfect example of a Pin-worthy pic...

This amazing photograph taken by Valerie Ott Photography

in Kalamazoo, MI.  Check her out at:  http://www.valerieott.com/

The next tutorial coming up this weekend is how to do a Magic Ring so check me out next week for that one!

Valentine Treasury

Its a little early but I just had to do it... haha.  Here is the only (I promise) Valentine's Day Treasury I plan to make:

As Promised, A Great Giveaway!

I've done giveaways in the past but since this is a fresh-start to my formerly lack-luster blog, I'm going to be making this one extra special.  I have high hopes for this blog, and this year in general.  I'm looking more into how I can become a stay at home mom, and even though that may not be attainable in the near future, the success of my Etsy shop is critical in keeping my growing family in food, clothes and essentials.  It helps pay the bills and keeps us afloat in a sea of endless bills, car repairs and other 'emergencies'.

I'd like to be able to give something back.  I don't only crochet for profit.  Its a great way to express a lot of creativity that I don't have another outlet for, and I love being able to pick of a hook and a wad of string and know that something beautiful can come from it.  With that said, I'll soon be offering Gift Certificates at BJC on Etsy, and the very first one will be given away right here!  Gift Certificates are easy to use, and can be used toward anything in my shop, including ready-to-ship items, patterns, and custom orders! 

• $25.00 Gift Certificate for Blue J Crochet Etsy Shop (http://www.bluejcrochet.etsy.com)

Gift Certificate can be used toward any pattern, item or custom order, including sale items.  Instructions for how to redeem the Gift Certificate included with the Gift Certificate.  Not valid at any other Etsy or online Shop.  Must be used within 1 year of purchase/prize date or available funds will be lost.

*UPDATE 1/15/12:  My Shop has moved to Artfire!  Gift Certificate will be for my new ArtFire shop (all the same items and prices as Etsy, just a different name!)

Please tell your friends, families or any new or expecting mommies you might know!  I can make anything for any size but babies and tots are my favorite customers to please!  $25.00 is enough for mary janes and a matching headband, or a ton of patterns, or an owl hat... tons of stuff!

• Become a follower of this blog (1 entry)

• Become a fan of my FB page (1 entry)

• BONUS ENTRY:  Ask me a crochet-related question that I can blog about!  Ever wonder how to do a certain stitch, or have a technical question?  I'd love to be able to answer it if I can!  

IMPORTANT!  For each entry, post it in a separate comment on this blog post.  Multiple entries made in one comment will only count as one entry.

• US and International Guests eligable, but please consider that shipping charges are more for international packages, so the usable value of the Gift Certificate for actual 'stuff' will be less for international customers

• Gift Certificate will be mailed to you with instructions on how to use it

Deadline for Entries is Friday, January 20th.  Winning entry will be selected at random Saturday, January 21st and will be contacted that day.  Winner will have until Saturday, January 28th to reply or a new winner will be choosen January 29th.

See you soon!