Taking Stock of Old Stock and what to do about it.

A time for contemplation.... 

Little Mole: I made this little chap a while ago, and while he has been featured in Etsy treasuries, and "liked", but no one likes him enough to place an order. I have added clothing, pipe cleaners to the inside and still there he sits, while newer designs have come and gone.. 

 

I can see him looking nervously, wondering if he is going to be recycled into something new. 

"Fear Not!" I tell him, and having re-read helpful tips from Abby Glassenberg  at While She Naps and with the help of Mr C who is a keen photographer we got the shot above that I am happy with. You can't beat having the right equipment and knowing where to put it, as the results show. 

I will check the stats in my Etsy shop and think about the advice given in the Seller Handbook to refresh my product line if the photos don't do the trick.  

Moving On 

One step closer to moving on last week, I just picked up the keys to our old house and took one step closer to moving back home after 14 years away. Needless to say, I hardly recognised the place. While the move will involve a lot of upheaval it does present the opportunity for me finally to develop my business, and to engage with other makers for real. 

This change of focus has made me think more about the title of this blog and the content. Somehow "Crazyhoundstore" ( A name that I thought up on the spur of the moment when I first opened my Etsy store in 2009) doesn't seem to hit the spot. I spend a lot of time telling people what I make, and what I do, and feel embarrassed about the name. The last person who asked, who bought three of my dogs did ask if I had thought of changing the name of my shop. I checked it out on Etsy and found out that I can change the name once, and that finally set me thinking. 

So, between now and next week I will be working on a new name and possibly a new blog. I have read that putting your name at the centre of the business is vital and am playing around with: 

 "Hawkes and Hawkes" that includes my husbands creative photography input  "Hawkes Hounds" that keeps the focus narrow on what I make, but it may constrain me in the future. 

"Hawkes at Home" reflecting the journey I am on and enabling me to broaden out in the future and include homeware and vintage home design that I want to broaden out into.  

If anyone out there has experience of name changing and keeping people with you I would love to hear about your experience. 

    

Happy 1st May ! and hoping for Summer !

I turn the page on the Calendar and it says "May" and in all kinds of calendars that means Summer is just around the corner. Around these parts, May 1st is "VALBORG" and that means as far as I can see, collecting up all the old branches and trees that fall during the winter months, putting them in one big pile, and setting fire to them, while singing a happy song with your friends and neighbours. This is what we did last night, on the eve of Valborg... 

This was on the dunes about 100 meters from the sea, a small procession walked from the church to the beach with lit flares held by very small children.... it all went without a hitch.  Song sheets were given out and a little choir of locals sang out while most around chomped on hot dogs and drank Coke and gazed wistfully at the bonfire hoping for a good Summer! I forgot to mention that most were dressed in duvet type ski jackets, hats and gloves because it was so very cold. 

One of my favourite artists, Inge Look from Finland have just issued a May day card to celebrate the day, showing a May Day that I would like to be at. They've got frocks on rather than ski jackets for one thing. You can order her Calendars and cards even if you don't live in Scandinavia, just drop them a line.  

Mr Mole gets some new boots...
I finished Mr Mole a while ago, and something was missing, no feet or should I say paws. Well, this week I have finally put things right and given him a wonderful pair of wool boots and pipe cleaners inserted into his legs so that he can be a bit more mobile. 

I think he likes them...