Welcome 2011

Happy New Year!!! I can’t believe 2010 is over already, I feel like it went by crazy fast. Last year was a rough year for me personally but I feel like it’s slowly looking up. So I’m excited for what 2011 has in store…I think it can only get better.

2010 was the first full year of running Green With Envy Studios and boy did I learn a lot and I still have a ton to learn.

I do make resolutions and it’s hit or miss whether I stick with them but I decided to make some goals for my shop for 2011.

1) Get Organized. Mainly I need to do a better job of tracking expenses and sales. I have all the info from all my sales organized in a filing cabinet but I haven’t consistently plugged the info into any type of spreadsheet. My goal is to get a more accurate picture of how much I earn from this business and where I can spend or need to cut cost.

2) Develop a marketing plan. I struggle with this one every day. I know this is the biggest reason why I don’t have the exposure I want. I have a very hard time putting myself and this business out there. Mainly due to fear of not being received well, but I know I need to get over it and just do it. I have already started gathering information on ways to better market my business so I hope I will really make some strides in this area in 2011.

3) To expand my product line to include some non-paper goods. I already have some products in mind and can’t wait until they are a reality. Also would love to hear what you guys would like to see in the shop!

4) Make better use of social media. Not so much as a market tool but simply I would like to get to know the people that like my products and I want them to know me.

5) One of my biggest goals is to make Green With Envy Studios in a business that is making a consistent income that my family can rely on. So hopefully with all the work I will be putting into it this year that will be the end result.

Now I have more short term, specific goals for myself but in general these are the big themes. I also sat down and did a list of personal goals too. I think it really helps to have things written down and tangible. Not just because I forget really easily but because it helps me stay focused and driven.

What are some things you guys would like to accomplish this year for yourselves or your businesses?

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Change Is In The Air

Sorry for the lack of activity...it kind of plays into what I'm posting about today. So there will be some upcoming changes to Green With Envy Studios. I have struggled for the last year to balance GWES, my day job and my family. But I really don't do a good job. I put a lot into GWES, a lot of times at the expense of my family and that is not fair. I sometimes feel like I haven't really seen the return on my investment yet and that makes it even harder. I really want to continue creating items for my customers but I'm currently trying to figure out the best way to do so without sacrificing as much of my time but still offering a good product.


I have brainstormed several ideas and I'm still not sure what I will end up doing but stay tuned for some big changes. I'm going to wait and see how the holiday seasons looks before I start making changes. But I'm thinking I will close the shop after my Dec. 12th shipping deadline and do some revamping and re-open in whatever capacity I can after that.

Thanks guys. I will try and post some but probably not a lot until I figure out what I'm doing. Thanks for understanding!

I am a constant work in progress...

So I have gone back and forth about posting this but I decided to because it’s reality. I am only human and I think getting it out there will help me move past it. I will begin by saying I LOVE Green With Envy Studios. I look at my shop now and I really love the look and feel and I think it screams ME! And I have heard from the people who know me in real life that it does reflect who I am. So I am very glad for that because it did take several months and several “revamping” for me to be satisfied. Now I feel like I can focus on adding new items, patterns and illustrations to the shop. But…

There are days where I am frustrated, jealous and resentful of the other stationery shops out there on Etsy. I’m frustrated that I can’t seem to figure out what I’m doing wrong, I’m frustrated because I don’t seem to have the constant amount of time or brain power to do everything I want when I want to. I am jealous of their success, their fans, their constant praise from other artist and other blogs. And I am resentful because I think I make some neat, fun stuff and it’s just as nice as theirs, so when will it be my turn. There are days when I want to yell at my shop “what’s wrong with you!?!?”…

WOW I “said” it and I feel better for it.

The truth is I don’t feel that way all the time or even half the time. But it creeps in every now and again and takes over a bit and I’m trying to move past it but it’s going to take some time and self reflection.

I actually follow the blogs of several other Etsy stationery shops because I value the business information they provide since they have gone through the same things I am now going through. And I enjoy seeing the products they produce and seeing the wide range of aesthetic out there. I want to be successful like them and they give me hope that this “side” business could really take off some day.

And the truth is I’m pretty sure I know why I don’t have the exposure I want… I suck at marketing.

I am a very talkative outgoing person in general but as much as I love my shop I have to admit I’m self conscious when It comes to other people’s opinion, mainly people I know. So I don’t tend to talk about GWES. Really only my family knows about it. I am also shy when it comes to reaching out to other artist about questions, or collaborations etc. I know that word of mouth is key to success…

I am a constant work in progress….

Being Happy With Reality...

I will admit it, I'm a dreamer. Most days when I pass the Powerball billboard on my way to work I find myself daydreaming about how I would spend my winnings. Even though I know the reality that the likelihood of winning is slim to none (especially if you rarely play) there is still a little part of me that thinks I could really win one day.

When I was in the planning stages of my shop I envisioned that it would be an instant success and I would be overwhelmed with orders and then I could quit my day job. When I finally got my shop up and running I had no doubt everyone would be flocking to put in orders because I loved my products so everyone else would too, of course.

I opened my shop right before Thanksgiving. I offered free shipping for Black Friday through Cyber Monday and I thought I would just sit back and watch the orders pour in. Well I didn't get any sales during that period of time. That was my first reality check.

I have learned so much since starting this shop and I am still learning. I am finally super happy with the look of my shop. I am getting orders here and there and I still get excited each time I see I sold something or some sends me a convo.

I realized last night as I was working on a proof for a customer that even though I would love to have orders pouring in all the time (heck who wouldn't love that kind of success) I am actually really happy with the way things are now. I know the reality is that especially given the economy people aren't spending as much on non-essentials so to get business at all is a good thing. Plus I step back and think I have a very demanding/draining day job plus a high energy toddler at home, so I am not able to put as much time into marketing as I would like. So to be able to still make sales is a plus!

I believe it will only get better and either way I'm enjoying the ride :)

Redo Update

I'm alive!

I have been a bad blogger for this site and my family blog. I have been re-working the shop and have had some late nights. I did a long photo shoot this weekend and edited the pictures only to decide that I wasn't happy with how everything was looking. Finally last night I found a background that worked well for my pictures so I stayed up late re-shooting my stuff (I am very impatient so I had to do right then). I really like how it turned out. I still have several more items in the shop to re-shoot and some new items to list. I also re-did my shop banner (which matches my blog banner). I like it a lot and I don't think I will be changing it any time soon. So hopefully by the end of the week my shop redo will be complete.

I am also going out of town next week to visit my family and I am debating on whether to bring my laptop with me to work on new stuff. Since I will be with my fam I will have more free time to work on things since they will be showing the munchkin with love but my hubby (who is not going) will probably not like being stuck with our super old desktop that he claims doesn't work right (I believe its just a ploy to hog my laptop) and theres always the struggle with making time for family in the midst of all of this. Decisions Decisions...

Ok so enough babbling...here are a few new items now available in the shop.

Ramblings...

I've been very neglectful of this blog. Its been busy all around for me with my day job, the shop and the holiday season. I am working on new designs and putting a lot of focus on figuring out the best ways to promote my shop. I'm hoping to have some images of new items this weekend when I get a chance to do a photoshoot.

I also think I am going to set a schedule for mailing out packages. I realized that trying to get orders done during the week is pretty hard. Not to mention I was sick last week so that slowed me down big time. Right now I get up at 4:30 am (hit or miss lately because I've been super exhausted) and work on shop stuff/new designs by 6 am I need to be out of bed and getting myself and my munchkin ready for work/daycare. I'm gone from my house until 5:30 on a good day and general I can check my email a couple of time during the day but thats hit or miss. Then I try to be a mommy until 8:30/9ish and then its shop time until 11 pm. I am hoping once I am getting consistent sales I can prioritize my time better and find a good balance (yes if you didn't notice my hubby gets very neglected...but he is pretty understanding since he knows how much this means to me).

Busy Bee

I've been very busy this weekend in and out of the shop. This weekend we are decorating for Christmas and I have to get our Christmas card done and mailed. I also am working on shop orders and stuff for my friend's baby shower. I have also been working on re-shooting items per the suggestion of some Etsy members (I requested some feedback).


I have also been working new stationery for the shop. I AM TOTALLY IN LOVE!!!! I had a lot of fun designing these illustrations and Wade helped with some design idea that I am still working on.

I listed these in my shop

Stop by the shop to see more options!

Black Friday = New Items

I hope everyone is recovering from Thanksgiving. I was all prepared to brave the crowds and do some shopping this morning. I spent some time before bed going through the ads and looking at my list of what I was getting for people and realized I could get most of the stuff online for the same price and free shipping so why get up and go. So why was I up at 4 am anyway...no idea!!

I did list some new items in the shop today and I plan on listing more as the weekend goes on.

Personalized Apple Folded Note Card---Set of 12

2010 Desk Calendar

These make great gifts for the holidays!!! I listed 7 new items so take a look at my shop.

I have a few hours to myself because my in-laws kidnapped my daughter for the day and my hubby went out to the stores so I am going to clean my house and work on some more items for the shop. Enjoy Black Friday!!!

*** Remember FREE SHIPPING until Nov 30th***

Finally!!!

Welcome Welcome!!!

Green With Envy Studios is finally a reality! While I was on parental leave earlier this year I happened upon Etsy. Its an amazing site that offers a wide variety of handmade items. I have always had a love of paper since I can remember. I loved when my sister's school would do the wrapping paper drives because I love looking at the all the different types of wrapping paper.

I decided that I would try my hand at creating customizable/personalizable (not sure that is a word) stationery. I am always the person that sees something she likes but they never have the color I want available. I am a girl that LOVES color (if you've seen my house you would know that).

This has been a LONG road to get here. I have a day job that is very hectic and unpredictable plus when I started this I had a 2/3 month old child. So adjusting to going back to work, making time for family and also trying to get my shop off the ground lead to many stops and starts...not to mention working out the kinks of creating stationary. So I am hoping all the hard work pays off and I hope you guys enjoy what I have created.

I was planning on already having items listed but have had a few hitches due to my day job and family stuff so here is a preview of what I will be listing hopefully by Friday of this week.

I will be trying to list new items often. I attend this blog to be way for me to let you guys know what I'm working on in the studio, sharing some of my inspirations and also show casing some of my favorite shops.