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Entrepreneurship:  Ornaments--not just for Christmas anymore. . .  |
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wallflower
True Blue Farmgirl
101 Posts
Holly
East Walpole
MA
USA
101 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 24 2007 : 09:45:12 AM
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Hi everyone! I was hoping to get some input. . .as a side business, I paint ornaments. People send photos of their homes, and I paint it on a glass ball ornament. I do enjoy painting, but most people only order around Christmas, so my holidays are spent stressing about finishing orders. Some people have given them as housewarming gifts, or wedding/new home gifts but very few. (I have also thought about painting pets on ornaments.) I am thinking about giving this up for now, so I can enjoy the holidays--but it does bring in extra money for the holidays. Any thoughts? 
handittoholly@blogspot.com |
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Utahfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1940 Posts
Portland
Oregon
USA
1940 Posts |
Posted - Aug 24 2007 : 09:49:21 AM
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Holly, you should post some samples. Nothing gets folks interested in a product like seeing it. That's why the needlework stores always have so many made-up projects around. Gets you to drooling..
Much good luck to you!!
Farmgirl hug,
Patricia
check out my etsy site http://ThePlayfulFarmgirl.etsy.com
Take me home, country roads |
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wallflower
True Blue Farmgirl
101 Posts
Holly
East Walpole
MA
USA
101 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2007 : 7:56:25 PM
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Thanks for your input! I will try to get some pictures out there!
visit my blog at handittoholly@blogspot.com |
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Bonne
True Blue Farmgirl
3003 Posts
Bonne
Littleton
CO
USA
3003 Posts |
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cabinmoose
True Blue Farmgirl
218 Posts
Lorna
Forest Hill
MD
USA
218 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2007 : 6:41:59 PM
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Holly,
I have a christmas tree that I leave up year round. I can't drive past a christmas shop without getting me a new ornament. So please don't give it up. Sounds like you are talented.
Please share a pic or two or three or.........
Unfortunately most people do wait until the holidays.
Also Baby's 1st Christmas ornaments too.....lots of births all year long! I got several of them at my shower and actually one came from a girlfriend that I had lost touch with until this past year. She was so tickled when she saw it hanging on my tree this year.
hugs,
Lorna
Forest Hill, MD
“I laugh, I love, I hope, I try, I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry.
And I know you do the same things too, So we're really
not that different, me and you.” ~Colin Raye |
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cabinmoose
True Blue Farmgirl
218 Posts
Lorna
Forest Hill
MD
USA
218 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2007 : 6:44:08 PM
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Anniversaries too!
Have you seen the ornament stands? Let me see if I can find one.............
Display them year round on these. I love them.
Hugs,
Lorna
Forest Hill, MD
“I laugh, I love, I hope, I try, I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry.
And I know you do the same things too, So we're really
not that different, me and you.” ~Colin Raye |
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wallflower
True Blue Farmgirl
101 Posts
Holly
East Walpole
MA
USA
101 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2007 : 8:35:44 PM
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Okay, I am going to see if this works. Here is one sample of my work. I will try to get more to my blog as well. . . Holly
visit my blog at handittoholly@blogspot.com |
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wallflower
True Blue Farmgirl
101 Posts
Holly
East Walpole
MA
USA
101 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2007 : 8:38:35 PM
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Here is another sample. The ornaments are approximatley 4" in diameter. I add names, sayings, etc., to the front or back. Holly
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Edited by - wallflower on Aug 26 2007 8:50:00 PM |
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sunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
4877 Posts
Wendy
Utah
USA
4877 Posts |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2007 : 10:14:15 PM
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I would suggest telling having a realistic "back order" time- I don't know- 6 weeks? So if they want it for Christmas they need to order in the middle of October or something. And the more orders you get the longer your back order list should be.
Hugs!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
http://home.test-afl.tulix.com/aleeandnora/ |
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Nancy Gartenman
True Blue Farmgirl
9094 Posts
Nancy
West Seneca
New York
USA
9094 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2007 : 05:26:47 AM
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Holly,
Those are so nice, I can't believe you hand paint them! You should see my nice stick people that I can draw.
With your talent you could make cards, bookmarks, small framed drawings, its endless. Yes I agree that you should show pictures and encourage people to order ahead of time. I think small framed drawings of a family home and so on would be a year around gift. Think out of the box. You have talent!!!!
NANCY JO
www.Nancy-Jo.blogspot.com |
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9590 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9590 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2007 : 11:32:01 AM
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Holly,
Have you done any with pets on them? We just lost one of ours and that would make a beautiful gift to give to my husband. How do you advertise? Do you have a website or something?
Denise
"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof and all that dwell therein."
www.torismimi.blogspot.com |
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Miss Bee Haven
True Blue Farmgirl
4331 Posts
Janice
Louisville/Irvington
Kentucky
USA
4331 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2007 : 11:49:53 AM
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Holly - Wow! I really love the ornament! My dh and I are slooowly working on an old farmhouse. I would love to have a series of your ornaments for our farmhouse - starting with the spooky, falling down beginning and sort of progressing through our journey with the house. I also think Denise's idea of doing them for pets is fantastic.
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?" - 'Brother Dave' Gardner |
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wallflower
True Blue Farmgirl
101 Posts
Holly
East Walpole
MA
USA
101 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2007 : 8:38:11 PM
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Thank you all for your input!
(I fixed my blog address Sunshine, thanks!) I don't have any ornament pictures posted yet on my blog, but am working on that! I do have photos that I have taken on there.
I can do animals as well, Denise. I am flexible, in that I don't have to do the picture on an ornament.
I did have a request for a family pet on a piece of glass that could be hung in the window as a suncatcher, or on the wall as a picture. I don't have a website yet, it has all been word-of-mouth so far. I try to work with any request--everyone is different!
With all your encouraging words, I will keep moving forward. Thank you all so much!
(I am just getting the hang of this blogging thing, so I will try to get more photos and info out there!)
visit my blog at handittoholly.blogspot.com |
Edited by - wallflower on Aug 27 2007 9:11:53 PM |
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sunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
4877 Posts
Wendy
Utah
USA
4877 Posts |
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9590 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9590 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2007 : 4:48:06 PM
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Holly,
I'd like more information so I am gong to email you.
thanks,
Denise
"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof and all that dwell therein."
www.torismimi.blogspot.com |
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wallflower
True Blue Farmgirl
101 Posts
Holly
East Walpole
MA
USA
101 Posts |
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sunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
4877 Posts
Wendy
Utah
USA
4877 Posts |
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Loosebuttons
Farmgirl in Training
12 Posts
Gabrielle
Rancho Cucamonga
ca.
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2007 : 08:02:08 AM
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Holly,
These are just beautiful. Love your work. A suggetion! How about painting, ornaments of historical buildings, landscape, points of interest in your area. Then take your wares to gift stores, visitor centers in you area. I'm sure there are people that visit your area, and would love to take something home, to rember the trip. Show and Tell for the visitor.
Good luck,
Gabrielle in Rancho Cucamonga, Ca.
Ciao Bella |
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wallflower
True Blue Farmgirl
101 Posts
Holly
East Walpole
MA
USA
101 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2007 : 6:27:26 PM
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Thanks Gabrielle. There is a small craft shop in town here, maybe this year I can take some ornaments as well!
Holly |
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tribalcime
True Blue Farmgirl
2963 Posts
lisa
lexington
ky
USA
2963 Posts |
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tribalcime
True Blue Farmgirl
2963 Posts
lisa
lexington
ky
USA
2963 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2007 : 05:01:48 AM
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Do you know a veterian in your town ? You could place one with a pet in their office and make up brochures saying what all you can do. If you gave a couple to the vet as a gift --bet he wouldnt mind at all displying them. When i use to do home health i always left my cards at a vets office here in town--i got several patients that way. Pet stores and pet groomers often have bullentin boards --also beauty salons.Book stores. Even realtors. Here the realtors often give small holiday gifts to people that are selling their larger price homes/farms. Bet a house would be perfect !
LIfe is a witch ~~~ and then ya fly !! Items i look for in a barter .http://tribalwitch.blogspot.com/ http://people.tribe.net/0ab53fca-f8de-4477-ab56-85ff9484b93d |
Edited by - tribalcime on Sep 05 2007 05:03:19 AM |
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wallflower
True Blue Farmgirl
101 Posts
Holly
East Walpole
MA
USA
101 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2007 : 12:23:49 PM
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| Thanks for the ideas! |
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Entrepreneurship: Ornaments--not just for Christmas anymore. . . |
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Ornaments--not just for Christmas anymore. . .
Oops, let me try this blog address one more time. . .thanks Sunshine!