Revamping the pics

Ok, so my last post was a bit of a downer. Sorry about that. *sheepish lopsided grin*

While business is still slow across the board, I'm still focusing on the housekeeping end of the business. Currently, photographs. I am realizing that the pictures of my products leave much to be desired, both in the technological settings of the camera, and the composition of the subject.

My camera is getting old, but I want to get the absolute most out of it before I have to upgrade, so I may have to lean heavily on the creativity end of things. Critiques and suggestions are greatly appreciated and enthusiastically encouraged.

Click here for the Etsy shop
Click here for the Blujay shop

Sometimes I wonder...

This post is going to be a bit "diary-like", so feel free to skip if you like.

Sometimes I wonder if I've taken on too much. A few months ago, I said I'd soon have my own storefront in addition to my Etsy and Blujay stores. Well, obviously that hasn't happened yet. I bought the domain name, but it still points to my Etsy store. I've also been having trouble keeping up with this blog, which I SWORE to myself that I wouldn't ever abandon.

In no particular order, here are some of the many worries vying for my attention:


* All of my prescriptions went on strike and stopped working at the same time, prompting many doctor visits to switch/re dose/reevaluate everything.

* My day job is in major financial trouble thanks to our governor, and we are scrambling to find ways to keep from being laid off.

* Family goings-on present us with the possibility of needing to move very soon, but affordable/appropriate housing seems to be nowhere to be found.

* I am constantly using system restore on my new laptop, because it inexplicably keeps forgetting I have any other drives besides C.

* Inventorying my supplies and products is insanely more involved than I ever thought it would be.

* I am feeling an urgent need to scour the web any chance I get for money-saving tips of any kind to help pull us out of the livid red.

* I'm having all kinds of trouble with a certain vendor at my day job, and the problems I need to contact them about keep mounting, making it very hard to keep my cool.

* ...



Ok, I'm gonna stop listing these things for now, as it's stressing me out to think of it all.

In reality, I'm sure things aren't as bad as I'm making them out to be, but there are certain feelings I just can't shake. I can't help but feel responsible when something is remotely not the way it's supposed to be, then I can't help but beat myself up for not doing enough to make things right. I beat myself up because, in my mind, someone has to. Someone needs to be reprimanded for things not being the way they are supposed to be.

Somewhere there is a sliver of sanity that knows these feelings are ridiculous and unnecessary. When I recognize that sliver of sanity, I desperately try to shut off my brain and call upon my alter ego, Betani, to take over and steer me toward reason.

Don't worry folks, I don't have Multiple Personality Disorder or anything. There is a small part of my brain that is able to disassociate from the baggage of my fears and reservations and actually get things done. This part of my personality is so different from my natural state that I decided to call it my alter ego and give it a name. That's why I named my store after her. Without Betani, I never would have started my crafting business. She is the one who picks up the receiver whenever I need to make a phone call. (Yes, I'm that shy.) She's also egging me on to write this post and expose my vulnerabilities. I am sure that she will be the one to click the publish button, too.

At any rate, I guess what I'm saying is, it's gonna be quite some time before I can finally think about my own website. I will do my utmost to keep up here, despite not really knowing if anyone really reads this. If you don't see me update for a while, go ahead and leave a comment asking where I am. I thrive on feedback, and if I know people are out there and visit this blog, I will be much more encouraged to keep up with things.

If you've gotten this far, thank you so much for letting me sound off. It means a great deal to me to know there are people out there who care.

Boring Ole' Business Stuff

Ah, it's that very slow time of year in the craft selling, when sales have pretty much come to a halt. People just don't want to sit in front of their computers and shop for knitted things. And I can't blame them!

So, the last couple months I've been working on the mind-numbing business side of the world. Setting up a customer database and taking a full inventory, and all the while brainstorming up new product ideas to use with my mountains of excess supplies.

If anyone reading this is also in the crafts selling business, I would be remiss if I didn't spread the word about the inventory management software I found. A company called WakefieldSoft has a wonderful little program called DoInventory. You can get it for your Palm, PocketPC, or just your desktop PC. It is very customizable and easy to use, and it will support a barcode scanner if you wish.

Here are screenshots from all three platforms. From top to bottom: Palm, PocketPC, Desktop.








There is a fully functional demo you can download and try for two weeks to see if it will work for you. Give it a shot! You've got nothing to lose for trying it. It beats the pants off of all the freeware programs I've tried, and it's not overly bloated with things I'll never use like the higher priced titles.

Testing, 1,2,3...

I downloaded a nifty little program that should let me post from my new PDA. This is just a test to see if I set it up correctly.

Introducing my new BluJay store!

Now up and running, buy your authentic handmade Betani's Bureau merchandise on BluJay!
PayPal and Google Checkout accepted.

I'm still working on my own website, but it's on hiatus until business picks up. This does give me more time to make it just right before launching, though ;)

Stay tuned for more venues!

I've decided I need to expand. The governor has it in for libraries in this state, and job opportunities are slim for people who don't drive. So, I think my store could use some more exposure in a couple new venues.

Keep an eye out for my goodies at BluJay.com, and in my very own storefront, as soon as I get hosting for betanisbureau.com! No, I'm not leaving Etsy. Perish the thought! The community is great there, and I've got a good customer base. I'm just hoping to catch a broader market by branching out, and hopefully to someday make that elusive profit!