For this year I will either blog more or let it die. How’s that for decisive?

The problem is that I can’t get the FTP to my host working in order to update WordPress or fiddle with the files. It’s a frustration that I haven’t had the time to deal with since the birth of my daughter last spring.

So, that will either get fixed or I’ll let the whole thing expire and start over. Maybe.

Ha!

I’m in a different room this year. I usually had the family room, which is a much larger room. But this time I’m in the parlor, which is just off of the front door and also connects to the kitchen. Good traffic either way.

I’m looking forward to the weekend. We’re expecting large crowds. I hope they come ready to spend money!

Other soaps I have enjoyed include the Peach Magnolia from Kreated by Karina. This one smelled warm and soothing.

Cherry Blossom by Mountain Mama Chic. Smelled lovely and of spring.

Blackberry Sage by Shine Your Hiney Soap Co. I love the shop name - so clever. I liked the crispness of the sage with the berry aroma.

No words can describe the pleasure of Chocolate Cardamom from Savor. The name says it all, right? This one didn’t last long enough to suit me. (But that’s not to say it wasn’t long lasting - I just wanted more!)

I should also mention the non-soap items that I have bought, used, and loved…

The Milk and Honey Lotion Bar from 4th Avenue Soap Co. I have had this for a couple of years and I keep it in my purse. The tops of my hands get super dry in winter - this bar is perfect for applying lotion only to the dry areas and it feels soft and non-greasy. I plan to buy another one, if she still carries them, when she reopens her shop.

Bathing in Luxury’s OCV Whipt Pudding is my all-time winter favorite. OCV stands for orange, clove, vanilla - these three scents smell divine, like Grandma’s kitchen at Christmas. And the silkly soft warmth of the cream as it gets smoothed into my skin is wonderful. I use this on my dry legs in the winter - it’s my bedtime and post-shaving treat.

There are plenty of other wonderful soap-makers on Etsy, too. I plan to buy from more sellers, but I’ll go back for more of these favorites, too.

*sigh*

Anyhow, I’ve been busy. Here are a few of the new items that have already sold in my Etsy shop:

The Agate and Jasper Necklace

… and matching earrings

Vintage Rhinestone Shoe Clips

Vintage Thai Princess Ring

Recycled Hand in Time 2 Necklace

There are other items sold, too. More than I remembered!

It’s been a pretty good fall for sales so far, considering the many months that I let things languish at the end of my pregnancy and soon after my daughter was born in late March.

New look coming soon.

New content coming soon.

I promise. Really.

I just got back to my work table in the last month. New pieces are being listed in the shop and I’m preparing for the Tea For All Reasons Fall Open House that will take place in late October.

Blogging will resume in earnest as I get things back in gear, including upgrading the WordPress and freshening the look to go with my new branding.

More soon …

My excuse is the baby I’m expecting to deliver at the end of March.

I predict things will remain quiet here for a while yet…

Big changes coming in 2009 for me.

1. First off, I’ve decided to take the “move the shop” plunge at Etsy. Beginning Jan 1 (actually, I’ve already got stuff listed and had one sale), my shop will be found at BeadWire.etsy.com. It’s way more professional than jenspeaks and there are personal reasons for doing away with that handle in my business anyway.

Related to the move is a rebranding. I’m very excited about my new look! It’ll be the same basic color scheme, but with a lovely, more elegant touch.

2. Second, more personal than business is the coming of our second child in the spring. I’m heading into the third trimester, which is hard to believe really. Just about 90 days go to until this baby arrives. We won’t know the sex until birth because the baby didn’t cooperate at the final ultrasound. So we’re working on two names to have ready on the big birthday.

3. Third, there’s the possibility of a job change in my future with my full time job. I’m excited about the possibility, but wondering how it will affect my business. Considering the guy I’d be working for, I don’t think it will have much impact - he’s a great guy.

I’m excited about 2009 and all of the potential for expanding and learning new things.

I had low expectations for sales this time given the economy. However, I did have a number I was hoping to reach and I mainly wanted to unload some inventory. Both goals were accomplished!

The most exciting sale was for a necklace and earrings I made just a couple of days before the open house. The necklace was not like anything I had made previously, but I got great feedback on it and it did sell. I have terrible flash pictures from my display table that I need to download and will put on the blog soon.

[Added 11/17]: Here are the photos of the Blue China necklace and matching earrings that sold at the open house. Please forgive the quality of the photos.

I’m now considering an online open house - sending out an Evite to my mailing list for folks to shop my Etsy shop for Christmas gifts. I can’t do an actual open house in my home this year, which is a bummer, so maybe that can be a way to remind them that I still have pretty things available for their gift ideas.