Fourth Day of Christmas

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, four colly birds (yep! that’s the English word used in the original Twelve Days of Christmas song, not “calling” birds)! The four colly birds (blackbirds) symbolize our four Evangelists/Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Photo Credit: Shuttered Dreams

When Lanetta’s Creations began, I created a few beadwork items. A few remain available in my ArtFire Studio:

Bookmarks

Christian Beads for Prayer

Eyeglasses Leashes

Zipper Charms

I don’t plan on working with beads anymore unless it’s a special request/order for a specific item, color, or theme. (Free shipping until the end of the year on all beadwork! No coupon code needed!!!)

It’s been over two weeks since I’ve created something new for Lanetta’s Creations! I’m starting to get the shakes! Will do something today! Maybe I’ll cut out the special doll dress I’ve been planning…

NOTE:  Until the end of the year, all aprons at Lanetta’s Creations are on sale! Use coupon code 121212 at checkout to receive 50% off! All other items have free shipping (no coupon code necessary) until the end of the year!

Re-Thinking the Business Side

There are many things I love to create, and much more items I want to learn how to make (and will!), but I need to re-think the business side of Lanetta’s Creations. So, a couple of weeks ago, I came to a decision. Then while driving home yesterday from the *Lampasas Mystery Book Club gathering, I became more and more excited about the decision to concentrate primarily on creating doll clothes, and all things associated with dolls, like the American Girl, Vintage Chatty Cathy, and Gotz!

*Email me if you would like more information about the Lampasas Mystery Book Club, i.e. upcoming books we’re reading, where/when, etc.

Although I will still make aprons – as I love creating aprons – I plan to focus on only special requests/orders rather than creating “spec” aprons. Email me!

To make shopping for aprons easier, I have three different sections in my ArtFire Studio:

Aprons for Children

Aprons for Either

Aprons for Women

And, right now, everything in my shop is on sale!!!

It’s Christmas in July, indeed!

All bead work will remain listed in my shop; however, I will not be creating any new designs.

Beaded Bookmarks

Christian Beads for Prayer

Eyeglasses Leash

Zipper Charms

 And, right now, everything in my shop is on sale!!!

It’s Christmas in July, indeed!

The e-Reader Covers and Apron Oven Door Towels will also remain at Lanetta’s Creations. Although I can’t see making more in the near future, I welcome the opportunity to create special orders in specific colors/prints and sizes! Simply send me an email!

And, right now, everything in my shop is on sale!!!

It’s Christmas in July, indeed!

I already have a nice selection of American Girl inspired 18” doll clothes and for the 15” dolls (like Bitty Baby) in my ArtFire Studio!

Some of the clothes pictured here have already been sold!

And, right now, everything in my shop is on sale!!!

It’s Christmas in July, indeed!

Anyhoo… must get busy marking things off my “to-do” list!

If you’re looking for me, I’m out in the barn building a doll bed to showcase more doll quilts! My dear husband’s helping me and we’re considering offering doll beds in the future!

Would you be interested in a doll bed for 18" dolls?

Twelfth Day of Christmas – The Art of Blogging

Before I share my thoughts on the art of blogging, I’d like to say it’s been a grand Twelve Days of Christmas! Again, Merry Christmas! I also want to remind everyone, the various sales going on at Lanetta’s Creations will end tonight! But, you’ll only find the coupon codes within the individual articles posted on this blog, beginning on the First Day of Christmas! The free shipping and handling on all items also ends tonight.



Photo by vtgard

Over and over, I beg the question: What is the art of blogging? What is the magical key, the way in which to attract readers, followers, and receive comments? What content should I include that others will want to read, comment on, then share the article’s link with their friends?  

Photo by Sean MacEntee



I'm always wondering, did I spike any interest, anywhere? Have I inspired anyone? How about encouraged? Did I possibly influence someone to create something new? Accomplishing any/all part of this is the art of blogging!

To get the answer to my original question, I've read oodles and oodles of articles on the subject of blogging. According to most "experts" I’ve gone about it all wrong!

I’ll critique my blog right here in front of you as I go through ~ item by item ~ what Pamela Vaughan wrote concerning the 7 Reasons No One Shares Your Blog Content.

1. Your Headline Sucks. Well, I don’t think “Twelve Days of Christmas” really sucks. I wanted to use the Twelve Days of Christmas when it was the appropriate time to use it, not before Christmas Day like retailers. Guess what I wanted didn’t work and catcher, snappier titles should have been my focus.

2. Your Timing Is Off. I can’t figure out the “scheduler” within blogger or the “networkedblog” within Facebook… sometimes they work, other times not. According to research, the articles should hit early in the morning for best exposure. I'm trying!

3. You Don’t Have “Regulars”. I’ve attempted to “spark” conversation as Pamela suggests, but rarely receive comments. Note to self: work on this!

4. You Write About Yourself. Yep! That’s it! That’s the big no-no I did all over the place, especially over these past Twelve Days of Christmas!!! However in defense, I believe over the course of this blog’s life, I’ve sprinkled it with how-to articles, lists of tips, and have shared a bunch of resources/links in between.

5. Your Posts Are All the Same. I totally agree and need to work on breaking up the format with different visuals, to make it “look” different on each post.

6. You Ramble. Probably so!

7. You Make it Difficult to Share. Just checked, that shouldn’t be an issue with Facebook. The Facebook share button is right up there top left! I think it works, although I don’t think anyone’s ever used it! I’m using hubspot’s Ultimate Cheat Sheet for Creation Social Media Buttons to add other social shearing buttons like LinkedIn, Google+ and Twitter to my blog. 

So I don’t commit #6 and ramble here, I’ll simply say I’m going to go over and over Corey Eridon’s 16 Quick Ways to Squeeze More ROI From Your Blog. (ROI = return of investment). And, I’ll work on implementing Janet Aronica’s suggestions found in her 10 Kinds of Shareable Headlines To Try On Your Blog.

With all that said, I'll also follow my heart, especially after reading The 10 Commandments of Unique Blogging:

Personality

Sincerity

Confidence

Design

Competition

Originality

Innovation

Meaningfulness

Communication

Memorability

I’m excited about the upcoming changes! Hope you will be, too!