May Goals and April Recap

  
Hello, May! I'm happy to report that the energy and creativity I was feeling in April is so far continuing into this month. I just wish I had more hours each week to devote to crafting! 

Let's see how all my extra creative juices translated into accomplishing business goals last month:

1. Make and ship at least 6 items to Kooky by mid-month. Status: Complete.
   I actually sent 10 items (below), one of which has already sold. Yay!
   
2. Finish raffle donation for fellow FAE teamer's Susan G. Komen 3 Day walk fundraiser. Status: Complete.
   There's still time to get your raffle ticket! Please visit the link above to participate. You could win my Wings of Hope owlet, among many other fantastic artworks.
3. Complete my first Plush Team challenge (due April 11). Status: Complete.
   I decided to submit my kelpie. He sure had some stiff competition! Check out all the entrants and the fabulous winner over at the Plush Team blog.
4. Share my first print interview with all of you. Status: Complete.
   In case you missed it, I was honored to be interviewed for the April issue of Get Creative Magazine.
5. Add at least 2 new items to the Etsy shop. Status: Complete.
   I even exceeded my goal by 300 percent! Yay!
6. Clean my craft room! Status: Incomplete.
   Are you surprised? When will I ever get this done? I'm a bit embarrassed by how long this item has been on my list, but apparently not embarrassed enough to actually cross this item off. . . .
   
   Total Accomplished: 5 /6. Not bad! Not bad at all. I think this is my second-best month ever.

So, what will May look like?

1. Send at least 6 items for Plush Team's Maker Faire booth (due May 15).
   The Plush Team has a booth at the Bay Area Maker Faire this year. I am sadly unable to attend, but any member can send as much stuff as they want to sell during the event. I have high hopes for my little guys! If you live near San Mateo, I highly encourage you to attend!
2. Complete 2 custom orders: a mini blue cotton candy yeti and a red owl (yes, this is yours, Yates!).
3. List at least 2 new items in the Etsy shop.
4. Make another dragon.
   These guys are time consuming! But I really enjoy making them, and I have lots of fun color combinations planned.
5. Make a fun variation on my bigfoot that a conversation with the FAE Team inspired.
   One of the many great things about belonging to Etsy street teams is the conversations with like-minded artists. So many great ideas have been flowing lately thanks to these conversations, and I'm really excited about the latest inspiration.
6. Aaaaand, of course, the perennial clean-my-freaking-craft-room-already goal. I know, I know, you're not holding your breath. 

A very happy and productive month to you all!

Comments

[Kaeti]

Your blue giraffes are too cute!!!!!

[Jessica]

Thank you, Kaeti! I had such a hard time deciding which ones to send to Kooky. I had originally planned to send the one on the left too, but I just couldn't part with him yet. I'm glad the ones I did send are being appreciated in Chicago. :)

[Cyn]

Great April, Jessica! I love reading about all your plush/craft adventures. I'm with you on your work space clean-up. I really need to make it a priority!

I will be purchasing from you soon. I love your work so much and I know my boys will too. My youngest will be 5 in July and he'll get his very own Plushroom Soup original :)

Good luck this month!

[Liz]

Awesome work in April, and I too LOVE your giraffes! Now go clean your freakin craft room, and have a GREAT May!

[gaia Cornwall•Illustration]

Good job for last month! Can't wait to see the bigfoot! And good luck on the big clean. I started mine and seem to be stuck half way through. ugh:)

[deb]

great job for april! sounds like you really did awesome, hope may is just as good!!

[sarah]

I'm with you on the cleaning and organizing stuff, I actually had a meeting today in my office/studio---embarrassing!!! Congrats on your list, you have been very busy....best of luck in May and I LOVE your softies and so does my daughter who is standing over me while I write this....

[Jessica]

Thanks for all the encouragement and props on my plushies! I can't believe how popular the giraffes are this year. They were a huge hit my first year in business, then interest waned, but this year has surged again. Go figure!

Cyn, I'm excited about this impending order. I'd love to make your son something special! Lemme know if you want a custom. :)

Gaia and Sarah, maybe if we keep hounding each other, we'll finally get our spaces cleaned up!

[Debbie]

Love your softies. They are so fun. Good luck with May and the Makers Faire, it is a really wonderful event and hopefully you will get a lot of exposure even though you can't be there. I also like the Etsy Teams, I wonder if they have on for illustrators. Hum...I will add that to my May list.

[sara]

I love your creatures! I feel your pain about getting the work space cleaned and organized - I stopped even putting that on my list - lol!

It looks like you had a great April - I hope May is just as productive for you. :)