Moonmum

Four years worth

I have been doing this online-crafty-business thing for over four years now... four years. Time seems to have flown by. But on the other hand, Moonmum's day one does feels like a long way back.

My very first sale on etsy was back in the dark ages of January 2008! Wow. Life certainly looked a whole lot different then. For one thing the Moonlets were only five and two years old, two preschoolers at home with me every day. I discovered etsy while looking for inspiration online one night and decided to test the waters by putting up a few cards for sale to see what happened. 

These are the two very first sales i made on etsy! And two designs that still sell the best!

Fast forward through four busy years and my days are changing now that both the kids are at school. While wondering about what will come next it's nice to take a moment to look back too.

Moonmum has been a creative outlet for me always. I'm one of those people who need that element in my days in some form, i'm just happier and more content when i'm using that side of my brain. It's provided a few extra dollars to the family budget while being a stay-at-home mum. I've had lots of online sales and established a wonderful mix of wholesale customers. I've been published in a book and magazines. I've met some completely wonderful people along the way in this handmade world, online and in real life. I've made a whole bunch of mistakes. I've learned a lot about online business, people and myself.

It's nice to think of all the Moonmum bits and pieces out in the world: the cards that have been written in, the notebooks that have been filled, the pictures up on children's walls and the colouring books that have entertained them. Thank you :)

I know a lot of you that stop by this blog are on this creative business journey too... how are you travelling? Do you ever feel the need to stop and take stock?

 

Robot colouring posters are here!

Have been so looking forward to sharing this project with you... 

I've taken my robot fellow and dressed him up 50 different ways in three different posters. Plus there's an extra poster of plain robots for the kid's to use their imagination and dress up however they like!

There are four posters altogether, printed on a nice heavy paper. Each one is A3 size, which is perfect poster size but not so big to lose their attention. We have 'product tested' them here in the Moon house already and the kids loved looking at all the charaters and thinking of new ones to do on their own robot page. Apparently it's a bit outrageous that i didn't include a zombie robot however...

Available in the shop and here too.

Colouring book two for one offer

It turns out i kinda over ordered on the last print run of the colouring book sooooo..... i have lots in stock and decided to do a little two for the price of one offer! Yep! 

Available in both online shops: buy on etsy or buy on madeit (Aussie site).

Maximum offer of three per customer, ie buy three and receive six. If you'd like a bigger order just contact me and we'll work something out. 

A few customers have bought these to have at their wedding on the kids table, isn't that a great idea? Also fantastic to have a few on hand for the birthday parties kids get invited to all the time, stocking stuffers come christmas, and they are the perfect just to have in your bag as a stand-by when you get caught in waiting rooms, restaurants, etc with impatient children :) 

Stock up now! Not sure how long i'll run this, we'll how the stocks hold up.

Banishing the current bah humbug-ness

Did you get the newsletter yesterday? If not, the low down is i'm struggling to get motivated for christmas shopping... in case you are too, i'm giving you a little nudge:

10% off everything in the shop using the code Use the code '10formotivation' during checkout. Every order that uses the code gets two of my colourful chrissy gift tags too. Hurrah!

(A colourful variation of the tags that appeard in Better Homes and Gardens mag.)

Also, the SALE section of the shop will be emptied as of Monday 21st. Grab some discounted kids wall art at $10 per piece quick sticks.

My own little book week + giveaways

As promised, there are some of my new bookmarks up for grabs this week... They're pretty and tactile, made from vintage wallpapers and thread. If you're a paper person or a book person, they're for you!

If you'd like some immediately, they're in my etsy and madeit stores.

I'm giving some away this week... To bag a set of four in mixed colours just leave me a comment on this post and tell me what you're reading at the moment. Is it good/bad/bland? An extra entry for those who tweet or facebook the giveaway too. Winner will be chosen at random and announced in Wednesday's post. Open to everyone, of course i'll happily post to you international lovelies!

As for me... just before midnight last night i finished The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Have you read it? I was totally absorbed. I like a couple of days after finishing such a great book to contemplate and absorb it, so it hasn't quite settled in me yet. I would absolutely recommended this one, it's amazing.

Looking forward to hearing what you guys are reading at the moment!

 

What's going down online

Both online shops have a sale-type thing going on at the moment that will run through until the end of August... you can either:

1: Receive a free Moonmum colouring book when you spend over $30 (not including postage) in my madeit shop.

OR

2: Receive 20% off everything in my etsy shop by using the coupon code 20OFFTHANKS during checkout.

Choices, choices.

 

August

It has only just occurred to me (because i plan my business not so well and i'm completely not the most organised person...) that i have no markets booked in for August. So instead there'll be a couple of specials in the online shops next week. Certainly not this week because i have a some party preparations to undertake for a  Moonlet turning 5. You guys know the drill: party bags, baking, presents, games and of course i have to clean the house so they can trash it again. 

Join the mailing list to get the first bite - link on the right there --->

 

Finding more time for online

A little bit of extra time today so have finally reopened the madeit store... and my mother bird card flew straight to the front page, yay!

The return of the Russian dolls

Yes, i've posted about these dolls before because i made them months and months ago (dare i say it may have even been this time last year?!?) but i think i'm finally ready to part with them. I've listed them in the shop before and then taken them out again. I've taken a few to market and had trouble parting with them. They were made and loved, but they are now back in the shop ready for new homes...

Why am i so attached to these? I'm not really sure, but i think its the colours and the extra detailing. They all have little bits of thrifted lace, hand embroidery and buttons, which just make them so tactile and lovely. 

This is just a few, they'll all be over in the shop in the next couple of days. 

 

Time for a sale

I have never actually had a storewide sale. Can you imagine? This is something we shall remedy straight away. 20% off every little thing in my shop until the 21st of May! Enter the code 20OFFTHANKS during checkout, postage costs remain the same.

 
EDIT 19th May: Sale will now go through until May 28th! Thanks.