100 Etsy Sales!

Wow! I'm not sure any other word can explain what is going through my head right now. This month isn't even over, and already it is record breaking for Heart Felt Design! I woke up today to sale number 100 in my Etsy shop, not to mention that it was my 21st sale this month.

Heart Felt Design was started just 10 months ago with absolutely no expectations of success, and I am still in this phase where I am surprised every time I make a sale. I have met so many wonderful people, customers and fellow artists alike and am extremely thankful for all of the support, encouragement and critique that has come my way.

The picture above is of my middle son Zeke and Surge, his surgery plushie I whipped up for him the day before he was to have his tonsils out. Surge is the plushie that started it all. After posting this pic on facebook, a friend asked if I could make a monster for their kids and then another, and another. Z still sleeps with Surge and it makes me smile every time I see him.

Thanks you to all my facebook, deviant art and Etsy friends and customers, my JustPlush and Etsy Plush Team teammates, and to Daft Crafts and Green the World, for giving my plushies a spot in your stores. I have no idea what this next year will bring but I am super excited and loving every minute of my job.

I just love this scrunchie face! This is my little Samuel Levi. He is the youngest of my brood and being two years old, is also the one who gives me the most trouble. He is often referred to as the cereal killer due to his propensity to dump entire bowls, and sometimes boxes of cereal on the floor and crush said cereal with his feet. He also goes by the aliases of Samster the hamster, Sama lama ding dong, Sammy the Fish, Sammy, Sammy hammy or my favorite, made up by his then three year old sister, Sammy bear.

My kids are my life and the inspiration behind most everything I do. I have always been an artist to some extent. Some of my earliest memories are of coloring in favorite coloring books that no one else was allowed to touch for fear they would ruin the pages by coloring outside the lines. Art has always been an escape for me. A way to relax and release my creative energy, but it wasn't always encouraged. For a time I came to believe what family was saying, that a career in art was a waste of time, that I had no real talent and my dreams of art school were brushed aside. For a long time I didn't draw, paint or do anything creative. Then I had children. Some of my favorite times with them are just painting and drawing together.

I am so happy to see my children grow up in an environment where creativity is encouraged. Sammy is just learning how to put crayon to paper but seeing his eyes light up with expectation as he shows me his latest picture is so much fun to me. I pray that my children grow up confident in who they are, able to think outside the box, and unafraid to pursue their creative interests. I hope that by starting my little business at home they will see that you can do what you love even if its just on the side.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of the McClary family having fun and getting our art on. :P

Give away

Oh my goodness I had soooo much fun this week doing my first ever give away. It wasn't until after I drew names that I realized I hadn't promoted the give away in my etsy shop or on my blog. Ooops. I was totally surprised at how quickly people responded and were liking my page. Thank you so much to Lanikins, Spooky Pooky Creations, Lu&Ed and Daft Crafts for sending people my way. My little Hannah was a great helper. She enjoyed picking names out of t a hat for me. Here she is ready to start.

Ahhhhhhh! I love this guy. My family rarely goes to the theater. We have four kids and the prices are just way too much for all of us to go, so we were late jumping on the Despicable me bandwagon. Last fall we finally rented it on redbox and instantly fell in love with the minions! Of course being a plush maker my kids quickly insisted that I just had to try making some. So I did. My first attempt went really well and I actually ended up selling some to friends and then later in my etsy shop but I felt that he needed updating so....here he is. So what do you think?

Things are really starting to progress here with my little business. I've had my first craft show, put items up for sale in two brick and mortar stores, got a mention in stuffed magazine, and hit 50 sales in my etsy shop.....all within the first 7 months of starting up. I'm so excited to see what the future holds for Heart Felt Design. For now here is a glimpse at what I have been up to this week.