Homespun Tales

Are Covers that Important ? Apparently Not.

2012-02-13T19:55:00.000-05:00

As I sit here in my "computer" room, and look around at all the Stuff I have to sell... it makes me crazy. I spent a good portion of today, rearranging it and listing some things on Etsy. I also want to list on Ebay tonight- the Ebay fees are annoying me- but I have things that I can't list on Etsy due to their age and have to do Ebay. I want my 1500 feedback there. I am close.

But today I decided... I guess I don't care how I sell my books. Others are taking off the dust jackets and selling them in a group by binding color... for home decor. I went through my vintage books that are not selling and did the same thing. Maybe they will sell that way. And then I will figure out how to market the dust jackets that I took off some. Maybe to scrapbookers.

I really want to downsize all the stuff I have to sell. It is confining to me to have so much stuff. I have pretty much stopped selling for others, it gets to be too much, especially when no one wants to come back to pick up their things that just don't sell. I am not a storage unit.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/92930811/red-hardcover-books-home-decor-display

http://www.etsy.com/listing/92946643/white-hardcover-books-home-decor-display

http://www.etsy.com/listing/92925394/gray-black-books-home-decor-ellis-peters

Other than trying to downsize.. My taxes are at the accountant! (Yea). And I sold a book today on Etsy. (thank you!). So, all is well with my world today. Hope it is in yours too.

It's back... (the Snow).

2012-01-13T12:11:00.001-05:00

Well-- it is back... the snow that is. Not sure for how long. We had snow at the end of December and then nothing til now. All the schools are closed and the roads are slippery today. I am staying home, I don't have any place to go and have a ton of things to do here. And while I love the snow-free days that we have been having, I totally do not mind the snow. Realistically, we now only have 8 wks of possible snow left. I think the latest that we have ever gotten plowable snow is St Patricks Day. And the weather people are saying 50f next week!! So, go figure.

Destashing

2012-01-07T18:12:00.002-05:00

Nasty business-- but someone has to do it!

If you read my other blog -- you will know that I sew, a lot. And I am most definitely in The Race (the big one to see who has the most fabric race). But this blog and the Etsy shop that goes with it, is the one where I sell my destash along with Vintage.

So, January is a good time for me to sort through fabrics that I have and seriously wonder where my head was when I bought them! I am slowly but surely going through my bins of fabric and just selling off what I just do not want any more. That extra money will help when I find more fabric to purchase.

One of my teams suggested that us fabric people have pheromones that others do not - we get a huge rush in a fabric shop...and when we wash the fabric... they disappear and we have to go buy more to get them back!! (I think that's true. I know I get a huge rush in a fabric store).

Are you destashing? And what?

Books to Read, Books to Share

2011-12-11T11:37:00.001-05:00

I so love to read and I just do not have the time to read in the fall, at all. In fact the library told me that I had not been in to take out a book in over 8 months! Surprised me... but then I do have lots of books here to read and re-read. And it's not like I have not been reading or listening to books on tape in all that time. These days- books on tape are so much easier. I can do what I have to get done and still "read" at the same time. I am careful to get the unsbridged editions. I think I am up on my favorite authors latest books.
I do however have 3 hardcovers here to read-- and I think I have to get them read asap or risk a fine with the library. And- No the Kindle or like devices are Not for me. I really do not want to have to wear my glasses to read a lighted screen, I can still read a page without donning my glasses. Eye strain is not fun. I so enjoy sitting in my favorite comfy chair with a hardcover book and reading. Maybe if I was traveling or sitting in waiting rooms- I would feel different.

So my books to read this week are 1) Prince of Ravenscar, by Catherine Coulter 2) In the Company of Others, by Jan Karon 3) A Crafty Killing by Lorraine Bartlett (a paperback). With all I have to get done for my other business --The Homespun Loft- it will be a lot to get these read before my library time expires.
And I am off to sew and listen to a MC Beaton book featuring Agatha Raisin!

What are you reading??

I am Back!!! For a quick minute....

2011-12-07T18:54:00.001-05:00

Okay-- So I know I have not been here to post anything.... I am swamped with sewing orders and supplying my gift shops and for my other Etsy shop.. that I have let this one slide.

Nothing new is going on.. I really need to check in with all my forums and post some things on Etsy 2.

I have some vintage Christmas things that I will be listing this weekend on Etsy 2. And all the hardcover books that I should be listing here and on ebay....

And think that after Christmas- I want to start doing interviews for other Etsy sellers here. I do it on my other blog and it is fun for me and hopefully the seller too.
I will get back into this.. when I get some free time.... lol.

Another thought

2011-09-08T23:24:00.000-04:00

I found a great shop..The Stitching Coop on Etsy. She sews the most wonderful things. And she is having a giveaway on her blog-- http://shesinthestitchingcoop.blogspot.com/ .

Here are a couple of her things that I just love..
http://www.etsy.com/listing/81382250/pillow-teacup-roses-doily-cottage-shabby

And here is another.. http://www.etsy.com/listing/81111317/rag-quilt-hearts-pink-roses-cottage-chic

Please go to her Blog and check it out..

How I do a Treasury on Etsy

2011-09-08T23:16:00.001-04:00

I think I forget to post on this blog since I post similar things on my other Blog ... But people ask and this is

How I do a treasury...

I pick a theme-- these days I am into the Alphabet... Then I open my Treasury page (click on the main etsy page-- the orange logo on the top left... The treasury page is on the left side most of the way down-- go to "create a Treasury")... and fill in my title and some of the tags...
Then I open another tab ( you can open as many tabs as you want-in case you want to go look at something better) and go searching for items that will fit into my theme. I Look around and just copy the link to the item that I want and paste it back into my Treasury page. Very simple. Just make sure to keep the original page open with your 16 treasury picks.
Then when I am all done-- I might rearrange them and add more tags. You can add tags for your teams. I think you are allowed 18 tags. Try to use the Buzz words that Etsy is looking for-- for the front page.

When you are done with the treasury-- You don't have to do anything. The shops who are in the treasury should find out that they are in it by looking at their activity feed. But many somehow just don't know.. So-- a lot of the time-- I let each of them know to go check it.

I hope this helps some of you who just have not done one before. They are fun to do and it really does bring exposure to your shop and when you are done- make sure you tweet it and put a link to it on your blog and facebook too.

Good luck..

New Treasury Lists

2011-09-03T13:41:00.002-04:00

I really like to do treasuries and decided to start doing series of Treasuries.

One is an Alphabet one.. Based on Books and Authors.
Lousia May Alcott

And another based on all the Colors in a box of Crayola Crayons.
Orange

Please come take a look and leave comments on Etsy or here...

Cats and Books

2011-07-20T13:00:00.000-04:00

Maybe you can tell that Cats play an important part in my life. ( I also have 2 dogs that I love to pieces).
We used to have 12 cats and now are down to 2! And for the time being these 2 will have to do. One of my dogs seriously hates cats-- and she grew up with them! So, go figure.

My cats are Henry (5) and Gus (7). They are best buds and came to us as strays when they were 6 wks old. They are indoor cats. Gus used to go out- he always stayed around and would come if I called him, out from under a bush or somewhere close. Henry is petrified of outdoors. So they both stay in. I don't think Gus minds much anymore. It took about a yr before he stopped trying to get out. It has been 4 yrs since he has been out. He has open windows now (open from the top since he can pop the screen and escape!).

Gus

I find really nothing more soothing that a purring cat. I love to sit in my favorite chair with a good book and a cat on my lap, and a dog at my feet (my dogs are big ones).

Henry

And as I have written before some of my favorite authors have cats in their books. ( Lilian Jackson Braun & Jan Karon).

So, lets chat-- Who are your reading companions?

2011-07-19T17:11:00.001-04:00

So- while today is really a nice day out. It is about 85 but low humidity.. it is still too hot to sew at my house. I have been playing on line for a few hours. Mostly updating my HomespunTales etsy shop.
I decided to destash some sewing patterns that I have. I will never make them and yet I continue to hold onto them...not sure why.

Found all sorts of craft patterns. Maybe someone else will get some use out of these.

Oh- Also signed up for a Twitter acct for this shop/blog. So think about following me there too.

I hope you are staying cool today and later this week when we here in the Northeast are supposed to have temps about 100 and high humidity!

It is a sad time...RIP Dear Friend

2011-06-11T08:49:00.002-04:00

Lilian Jackson Braun died recently on June 4,2011. She was after all 97. Rest in Peace Dear Friend. I feel like she was a friend for all the wonderful books she wrote. Her whole Cat Who series. I have read them all many times and own most of them in hardcover and on CD to listen to over and over again. She was one of my favorite authors of all time.

As a tribute...My friend M and I decided to reread all her novels starting from "The Cat Who Read Backwards" and meet each month to discuss. We are both saddened that the book series has ended and are praying that she left notes and someone close will be able to publish after this. For the last few books it has seemed like she had help with them- the tone was slightly different.

"The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers" was her last book. The series is 29 books long.

I am glad that Polly (she was a wimp) left for Paris and that Barbara seems to be maybe a new girlfriend- It might be too early to tell- But she is a lawyer and I think Qwill could discuss other cases with her and it won't be too delicate for her ears. I would have liked more closure with the fair folk of Pickax.

I still have my books to read. And maybe now we will finally have a movie from the books. I have always thought Tom Sellack would make a good Qwill.

My sympathies to her family.

Thoughts about Books

2011-02-12T21:27:00.000-05:00

I just signed up for a Blog hop from "In the Bookcase" and I need to write about books.

I have an etsy shop- Homespun Tales that I sell what they call Vintage books. The copyright has to be 20 yrs or older. Which is really fine with me. I have LOTS of books here to sell. I also have a huge personal library of hardcover books. I collect the hardcovers in my favorite authors. But like others- I rarely have my lists with me and while I am at a sale am liable to pick up a duplicate book. That is really how I came to be selling books. I would have 2 or 3 copies of the same book in my shelves. One day I listed one for sale on eBay and got like $35.00 for it. WOW-- that was wonderful. So, then I went through my shelves and took out all the duplicates and sold them. Now I go to book sales and really just try to get the authors that I love and sell them. And when I say I have a lot- I have really about 300 books at anytime here to sell. I think I know my customer base for most of my books and that is what I tend to sell. (on both etsy and ebay).
Recently I decided that Patricia Cornwell & Kathy Reichs were too gorey for me and I have been selling their books. At one time I had all of their books in hardcover. I do that sometimes. I go through my personal library and just decide that I don't need to collect a certain author anymore and sell them.
But I keep my old standbys.. Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, Elizabeth Peters, Phyllis A Whitney for sure... and some of the newer authors that I also love.

But right now I have decided to read Elizabeth Cadell. I have a few of them here and I have never read them. Every time I list them for sale they sell. I want to see why. And who knows maybe I will start to collect her books too!

Please leave your comments and tell me who your favorite authors are...

Vintage Etsy Team Treasury

2011-02-01T14:07:00.000-05:00

Today I posted a Treasury filled with Planters from the Vintage Etsy Team. I love those old things. And seriously am thinking of collecting them... WELL Not all that sure-- just one more thing to collect when I am trying to sell things that I am sick of collecting!
Vintage Etsy Team Treasury

And as long as I am thinking about it... I did a Treasury for the Vintage Book Team on Etsy last week.
Vintage Book Team

Etsy Teams

2011-01-16T23:09:00.001-05:00

I joined 2 etsy teams this week and hope to promote them with this blog.
Vintage Team
Vintage Book Team
And I already belong to CNY Etsy

The Cat Who Books

2010-11-17T12:02:00.003-05:00

At this moment I am listening to The Cat Who Went Bananas by Lilian Jackson Braun. One of my favorite authors. I enjoy her books and really look forward to reading or listening to it being read on tape or Cd... it is like going back home to visit. I like to hear what the people in Picax are up to. what mystery they are solving. And I listen to books on tape while I sew. ( see my other blog for more about that--The Homespun Loft )

I wonder if at 97! Lilian is okay. I wonder if there are any more books coming from her. I do believe that she must have had help in the recent books since the writing style is slightly different. I want to know if with Polly's move to France what Qwill is up to. I do want more.

I am frankly glad that Polly has left- she was annoying. Qwill deserves better. Someone that he can share his thoughts with, someone to bounce ideas off of that will listen and not change the subject. I am angry that Polly who professed to LOVE her cats-- just up and left them.

So- yes. I probably have too much time on my hands... and I do treat the villagers of Picax like old friends. I think that is the fun of reading a cozy. It makes you want to come back for more and more.

What do you think? What do you read? Who are your favorite authors?