Business has been picking up!

Up and up and up, and that is a great thing. I wish I could tell you what to attribute it all to, but I really can't!

I've done a set of cheer bows for a squad, I've done a set of monogrammed hair bows for a great consignment shop that I LOVE to shop with.

I've done a Tupperware party.

I'm getting ready to do a Scentsy party next weekend.

And I'm getting a lot of requests for embroidery work.

The embroidery work really excites me because I love using my machine. My husband purchased me a Janome 350e and I'm in love with embroidery! I'm self teaching myself which probably isn't the smartest way to go about it, I've made plenty of mistakes... the upside is that when a pattern isn't sewing just right, I can usually pinpoint the problem real easily... although I will say once I almost went to the dealer to find out what the heck I was doing wrong!

I love my machine. There are people out there who equally love it's competitor and counterpart the Brother PE 700 II. I'll be honest, that really was the machine I was after, but they had sold out. And I'm kind of glad they did. After reading the differences in my machine and it, I think I got the better end of the deal! Consumer reviews have said that the Brother is loud, and VERY picky about the thread you can put in it (Brother only). I've found a great thread that isn't so expensive and my machine loves it. The other thing I read was that particular Brother model had to have the computer attached straight to it to add designs from the internet whereas I only need to plug in a flash drive into mine. Very convenient. The only downfall I've found personally is my machine is very picky about the tension. It has to be just right. But, that may be the case for all machines, I don't know, this is my first one.

I flirted with buying my machine online because I found that I could get a great deal from a particular store and a huge start up of thread and optional hoops for VERY inexpensive. But, since I have never owned an embroidery machine, I was thinking it may be smart to hit a dealers shop local to me to learn a little bit first. It turned out my trip payed off. I was able to snag a machine that retails for about $700 more than the original one I was looking at for about the same price as the original one. I got a KILLER deal. My Janome retails for right around $1600. A gigahoop set retails for around $400 (Gigahoop is a software and hooping program for doing much larger designs that a normal hoop wouldn't support on my machine.) So, this is my scoop. A lady had purchased the machine and the software at full price. Then, she decided it was too difficult for her to use and brought it back. The dealer purchased the machine back from her. Instead of reselling it to me, they sold it to me at a "used" price. A brand new machine! Still in the box, still in the packaging, all the parts, and even the gigahoop program and hoop! For $950. YEP.. I got $2000 worth of machine and software for $950. Is that a steal or what!

Even better... my dealer offers free classes since I bought my machine from them! Yep, if I want a class on my machine all I have to do is call, schedule, bring my machine, and they will teach me how to use it! The dealer even services all types of machines, and they know exactly who I am, what my favorite projects are to do, and what I'm looking for when I walk in the door. As a caveat, I can say I supported a local small business in my area. That gives me a great feeling all around. Now don't you think that everything I've received is much better than purchasing the machine over the internet?

In my mind I've only really begun to play around with what this beauty can do. I started with words, monograms, and have done some more sophisticated designs. I've embellished purses, bags, towels, aprons, blankets, clothes, hair bows, and I have a million more projects lined up. Time Time Time... that is the only thing I'm lacking! Isn't it usually though?

My next project to learn is quilting. There is a great lady at my church who has the passion for quilts and is going to teach me all she knows for Free! She took classes to learn what she did... and paid for those classes. I in exchange am going to do some embroidery for her for a quilt she is making her daughter as a Xmas present.

I love to craft! I love the business of it on the side! I hope I've helped some of you in a future decision regarding a machine. Oh... and my dealer also sells, sewing machines, sergers, and quilting machines! When my sewing machine needs and upgrade, you know where I am going!

Have a fantastic day everyone!

I need to streamline...

In a very big way. I think that part of my problem is I have "starter kit addiction". Hello, my name is Shannon, and I have starter kit addiction. Let me face the facts with my own problem. I LOVE to shop, and there is nothing I like better than getting a kick butt deal on products I love. Let me run you down a list of what I've done. I'm not ashamed to admit this either, so be kind LOL:

1 - Avon- this was the first direct sales company I was ever involved in. I did pretty good with it too, but left Avon when I left the military. I joined again though LOL. I missed my Avon!

2 - Mary Kay - Yes I drank the Kool Aid and joined at a party! What was I thinking. Well let me tell you. The products are FANTASTIC! And who wants to pay retail? Not me! This was a great way to get my goodies cheap... but even I didn't use my quota in products... bye bye MK

3 - Usborne Books and More - Hey I've got 5 kids, and we are readers. Do I really need to discuss this one further? If I do let me say this... no quotas, lifetime consultant status, discounts, and I'm going to be a teacher! The classroom potential and home potential is endless!

4 - Tupperware - I admit I joined for the discount. I haven't done half bad either. I've had a few parties. A few RIDICULOUSLY good parties! Holy Cow $1200 on one of them! That is insane! The starter kit had like $300 worth of TW in it for only $80. I'm good!

5 - Close To My Heart - I was really going to pimp this out. Awesome products, beautiful creations... the only problem is the economy tanked, and who wants to pay those types of prices when you can use your coupon from Hobby Lobby or Michael's. My favorite thing about CTMH... the ink and the projects.. Gorgeous! CTMH will be missed :(

6 - Homemade Gourmet - Holy gourmet the food is AWESOME! The quota not so much. We eat a lot around here, but not that much. It just wasn't budget friendly for me when I didn't get a lot of customers. I LOVE HMG, highly recommend their products... they will be greatly missed.

7 - Scentsy - Ok... use the heck out of the stuff. LOVE the stuff. My Aunt is a consultant and needed another in her downline and I figured I could help her out... plus we are going to do some craft shows together for some bonding time... it's a family thing.. and what can I say.. We smell good!

8 - Sundry Dreams - This is me. This is my company. These are my products, my crafts, and right now it mostly consists of hair bows. And I'm going to be the first to admit, I'm not doing half bad on that. I just sold a small collection to a consignment shop, I sold a set to a cheer squad, and I've been doing great things for my kiddies.

So, what can I say. I have a lot of dreams, but as a realist I have to adhere to a budget. So if you are counting, yes I am a consultant of 3 direct sales companies, and the owner of my own... and I go to school, and I have 5 kids... oh and I work too!

Yes, I am crazy. But not really. This is my strategy...

I have a helper with Avon who gets me most of my business, and I get great discounts on things for me... Think Christmas presents people! Avon is great because you can spend nothing or something. But at least do $25 within 2 months and you are active with the company.

Tupperware is for my personal self. I buy the heck out of it. And when people want, I can sell the heck out of it too. It's an ebb and flow thing. I love my discount, when people are interested I make a tidy profit. I don't run all over the place trying to grab customers, doing raffles, and tons of parties. Bet I'd make some great cash if I did though!

Scentsy is new. I'm going to do it with my Aunt, and some light promotions. Let's face it... it can't hurt to smell good, and since I use it why not get a discount on the stuff I love? It's a win win situation!

Sundry Dreams is my baby. I'm always adding to it and at the same time I can relax with it when I need to. Hair bows is my major thing with SD now. I know it sounds crazy, but I do have 4 girls so it made great economical sense to learn how to do it for them... and great sense to sell it so I could make a little money on the side. Now its turned into somewhat of a business. I just picked up a retail store that wants to carry my embroidered hair ribbons, and during cheer season I have squads who order look alike bows for their girls. In the meantime I handle individual orders too.

So when do I sleep? Never.

I will probably eventually get so much Tupperware I woun't be able to house anymore... but really I don't see that happening anytime soon! Oh I have 1 person in my Avon downline too. I don't actively recruit but if someone wants to sign up I sure don't tell them no!

Wish me luck folks. Life is too short to sit still!

Bubbling with Excitement!

It has been a pretty fabulous day considering... considering I had to buy a tire for the van. But, fabulous because I realized it instead of having a blow-out.

Fabulous because its my daughter's 1st birthday!
Fabulous because this is the last weekend before the kids start school hee hee!
Fabulous because I book a Tupperware party!
Fabulous because I got a slamming good deal on a Goodwill auction and got well over $200 in retail charms and jewelry for about $25!
Fabulous because I found $20 fancy curtain rods at Lowe's for only $2.70!
Fabulous because I get to eat cake today!
Fabulous because its Friday!
Fabulous because this is the day that the Lord has made! I am rejoicing and GLAD!

Joy is a wonderful feeling that God blesses us with and I am thankful when it just hits you out of the blue reminding you that God is Great!

I really hope that my flea market selling goes well this weekend, because we are strapped for cash due to the tire, but I know God will provide.

Pictures are coming soon of the new hair bows.

My site is finally formatted in a presentable manner, now its just time to fill that sucker up!

School is starting and with that I hope my sales skyrocket. Tonight will be open house for my kids at their school. I wish my business cards were ready so I could hand some out, but I will have all of my girls modeling their bows. When I make a little spending money, they get to have fun.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. I hope to have some tutorials up soon!