I thought it was time we had a book review as it’s been a while since I did one! My friend, Ariel, whom I did a post on her Tsumami Zaiku, showing the hair ornaments she makes from folding fabrics and paper, (HERE), loaned me a few books back in December and as much as I wanted to get them all read and return them to her, I had more pressing things to do at the time. I read most of the way through them but realized not very far into the books that I wanted them for my own library. I was reading them slow, because I wanted to absorb what they were talking about. I ordered my own copies from Ebay and now have them in my possession.
This isn’t a book about sewing, like some of my other book reviews have been, but more a book about what to do with your sewing after you get your items made. It says it’s a step by step guide to Etsy, but the things discussed in the book can apply to Ebay and how your present things there for your listings.
I can’t say this is the absolute best book out there on the market, because, just to be honest, I haven’t read that many “books” on making your business better… I read lots of articles and blog posts about it, but not books. This one grabbed me right from the start though. I think it was how the author made it so easy to understand and he used his wife’s jewelry business for all of his examples.
If you click on any picture, it will enlarge.
The book is called “How to Sell Your Crafts Online” by Derrick Sutton. It is in paperback form with a very nice slick cover and has a copyright date of 2011. There are 196 pages plus an index.
Mr. Sutton gives many examples and has pictures to show you just what he is referring to and he has LOTS of links to things I didn’t even know about. As I was reading the book, it made me want to improve on this and fix that and work on this area and add this to my listings. I was very impressed with the book and found it a very good reference book. It’s laid out very well and covers SO many areas that I want to learn more about.
Here are a couple of chapter beginnings that you can get a feel for the way he writes.
I have had an Etsy store for 4 years and after reading his book it made me want to add my picture to my profile, and add the little section at the bottom of the page that tells more about how I do things, work on “branding” my things sold in my shop, and package them in such a way that shows who I am and what I’m doing.
It’s an easy read book, but also one that makes you want to take notes and change some things you might already be doing. I’m always game for improving things. It’s easily found on Ebay and I just checked…the lowest priced one is $3.96. I paid $3.97 for mine with free shipping!
I hope you’ll consider this book if you’re into selling… I really enjoyed it.
I made something fun and pretty today and hope to share it with you tomorrow… :o)
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Of course, I don’t sell anything, but it does look like a very good read if you do. I don’t know why, but Etsy seems so much harder to get used to, compared to Ebay, at least for me. Maybe it’s the way Ebay is set up on my computer, but it seems I have to go through a lot of steps to get anything on Etsy. For sure, I don’t have time for looking at both! As I get more and more of what I want from AG, Etsy is getting to be more attractive for me though.
Jeanne, you already have good, no, make that excellent, photography!! Your pictures are so crisp and clear, you certainly don’t need to improve on that! I too, love the way you show your creations, especially the doll dresses, and come up with a story line. A picture of you would be nice to show, though!
Happy President’s Day to you!
HI Linda,
I knew this book wouldn’t be for everyone, but I do appreciate your kind words about it anyway! I used to feel the same way about Etsy too, until I sat down and figured it out and then I asked myself, “What was all the fuss about?” It’s pretty easy to do once you get a few simple instructions… maybe I should do a post on that sometime…
Thank you so much, Linda, for your kind words about my photography skills… I certainly could learn more, but I do love to improve, so that’s okay… I need to find time to do all the things the book taught me… maybe one of these “slow” days… (what’s that???) :o)
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Thank you for the excellent book review. Even though I don’t currently have anything to sell, doesn’t mean I might not in the future. I hope you had a good weekend and have a great start to the week,
Take care.
HI Charlotte,
Thanks for liking the book review even though it wasn’t exactly up your alley! Like you said, maybe in the future it will be!
I have had a busy day with my mom and tonight we are going out for a birthday dinner with Sara ( my little Columbian seamstress) and her mom and dad. It will be late when we get home and I haven’t gotten in my sewing room yet… I’m so sad! :o(
Blessings, Jeanne
I hope you have a wonderful birthday dinner. I know all about sewing having to wait and I hope you can get into your sewing room.
I have sold a few stuffed animals that I made but mostly to friends or friends of friends. I thought about having a little shop but all the rules and regulations associated with toys makes it a little scary to venture into. It was a wonderful feeling though when someone really liked something I sewed. I’m sure you have felt that way many many times.
Take care.
HI Charlotte,
We are home from the birthday dinner, and now it’s 9:25… almost too late to start anything, but I might give it a whirl.
I know what you mean about all the regulations and rules and things you can and can’t do and what’s allowed and what’s not! I remember those days of just making something and giving it to someone!
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
I appreciate your taking time to mention this book to us. Aiming to do the best one can is always a great goal.
Blessings.
HI Becky,
Thanks so much! I’m always looking to improve things…in my life, my home, my sewing, and my blog! I like to strive for excellence! :o)
Thank you Becky,
Blessings to you too,
~ Jeanne
Fun book review on this yet another cloudy/rainy day. Looks quite interesting should I ever decide to sell.
Think I need a how to clean the house book around here. Things just keep piling up. 🙂
HI Joy,
I’m glad you liked the book review and YES… I do have a very good book on cleaning your house… it’s a book by Marla Cilley, called SINK REFLECTIONS. Marla is also known as The Flylady. She teaches you to clean your house in zones… …just because you asked… :o)
Thanks Joy,
I hope you aren’t getting too water logged!
Blessings, Jeanne
Joy so often says what I’m thinking. Things just keep piling up here too, but I did get the Hoosier cleaned off — though I see that the silver I keep in it needs polishing. Fortunately there are only a few pieces there — most things are china or glass.
This book — at that price — seems to me a fantastic bargain.
Happy Monday to all of you. I can seldom see anything but a few flashes and the brocade background of the blog anymore, but today I can get the entire first page — but not any of the others. And I want that chicken pie recipe. Yesterday I could get only the first blog entry, today a whole page — maybe tomorrow I’ll get more — or less. So I’ve taken this opportunity to send greetings to all of you. I miss you and the blog, but my computer may recover. It did before.
I’m thinking that Tenney’s meet outfit and the picnic outfit mesh quite well with Julie’s clothes. Also, and this surprised me, Felicity is not a bad stand-in for Tenney. Her hair is the wrong color but the right length and is wavy with tendrils, and she always looks to me to be ready for adventure. Julie’s hair is also the right color and length. With luck my computer will come around to letting me look at past pages of the blog to see what all of you are thinking about the new AGs. One thing is for sure, new Felicity owners need Jeanne’s Felicity outfits. AG isn’t supplying them, at least not yet.
HI Marilyn and WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME again!
We have all missed you!
The book is a bargain at $3.97..and I couldn’t resist!
If your computer doesn’t completely heal itself, I can email you that chicken pie recipe. We really enjoyed it around here.
Yes, the AG discussions…there are plenty of conversations going on on a few doll forums and even a few boycotts planned since AG decided to add permanent panties to their dolls bodies. That got everyone in an uproar…to say the least!
Well, I hate to run, but I have to answer Anne’s comment below you and then get ready for the birthday party tonight for Edgar.
Thanks for checking in with us Marilyn…we hope you can show up tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Good Monday afternoon everyone! We are on our fourth consecutive day of sunshine and mild temperatures in the 60s and 70s here in central Ohio, so maybe that old groundhog got it wrong this year! Joy, I hope you and all those with clouds and rain will receive some sunny rays soon. And Jeanne, I hope spring is close for you and all your readers, even if only close in heart! Pretty springtime dresses like Noel’s are my favorite!
Thank you for the wonderful book review, Jeanne. This looks like an easy read filled with good advice and common sense principles, and I know just the person with whom to share it. Once again we have proof that your blog informs as well as delights, blessing many people beyond the scope of your regular readers.
Your Sunday post was a pleasant surprise, Jeanne. I hope you enjoyed a relaxing weekend. Can’t wait to see your “fun and pretty” creation tomorrow! Happy President’s Day to all!
Thank you Anne,
We got up to 77 degrees today…that’s unreal for February. If cold weather comes back, which is very likely, we will be in shock! The peach trees in the orchards around here will get it the worst!
I hope I gave enough information for everyone to know whether or not they needed this book. It was a no brainer for me… I knew right away I wanted this one. I need to just find time to implement what he says to do… I’ll do that on my day off! *she sighs*
Well, I have a birthday dinner tonight and I haven’t made it into my sewing room yet, so we’re going to need some kind of miracle for me to have a “wonderful” post tomorrow… part of it is done, but not the part I wanted to add… We’ll see…
Thanks Anne,
Blessings, Jeanne
P.S. Special greetings to Marilyn! I’ve missed your comments. I hope your computer issues are solved soon, as I think a day without Jeanne’s blog is a little less “sunny!”
Awwww Anne,
How sweet…to Marilyn AND me… thank you so much!
Blessings, Jeanne
I was so glad to hear about Sara again. Thank you, Anne, for your special greeting. When I get up in the middle of the night, there was always Jeanne’s latest post to cheer the beginning of the day — you are right — it adds sunshine to the day.
Thank you Marilyn,
I had no idea I had such an effect on the sunshine in people’s lives! :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
Thanks for the tip about the book, although I had told myself “No more books.” It was $0.01 on Amazon with $3.99 shipping, so it was the same $4. I have so much “stuff,” mostly dishes, that I’d like to put on eBay but am reluctant about packing and shipping. Maybe this book will help. Thanks again. Love hearing everyone’s doll stories.
HI Susette,
See, that’s part of my “job” to enable people to buy things that help them out… :o)
You’ll be selling those dishes left and right… although glass things are hard to sell. My brother and sister in law sold Aladdin lamps and it was a night mare. If a customer got something they didn’t like, they complained about little flaws in it or sometimes my B-I-L was certain they broke the item to get a refund… What could Larry do with a broken lamp them. It was pretty brutal…
Thanks Susette,
blessings, Jeanne