Sometimes I Feel Like I Need This Shirt!

This "Gymnastics" t-shirt has been very popular lately. I'm about to ship another one today. Maybe I need to modify it and write, "Mommy is a gymnast" or "Gymnast of Life". Don't we all have to be gymnasts anymore? Hurdle obstacles, be flexible, hold on when we find ourselves barely hanging on? Oh, yes, we can all learn a little something from gymnastics!

In the Works

Spring tutus are underway!
And I got a box today! I can't wait to start using this gorgeous organza!

ArtFire Tips, Anyone? Anyone?

I'm not exactly sure what's up with my ArtFire store.  I have done (IMO) very well on Etsy in the short amount of time my store has been open--better than I had expected anyway.  On ArtFire, however, every time I log in, I can hear the proverbial crickets chirping and see dust-bunnies blowing down the aisles of my make-believe shop.  What is the deal?
And it's not for lack of views, either. I have a ton of people checking out my stuff on ArtFire. For example, my teen/tween Rock 'n'Roll Tutu has 992 views all by itself.  So people are coming, they're seeing the exact same items as in my Etsy shop--but they aren't buying anything.  Why do you think that is??

The extremely popular Rock 'n' Roll teen/tween tutu

Is it because I don't have any sales yet so people are leery? Is it because people don't think of ArtFire as a place to buy tutus?  Those of you who have been successful on ArtFire, what do you contribute your success to?
If any of you are considering purchasing an item from my shop, would you maybe go to ArtFire and purchasing it there instead of Etsy--just to get the ball rolling??
I've even considered closing my ArtFire shop but I do have so many views and I know google-search likes that so I keep it open for that reason as well.
Okay--end of frustration-posting!  Something better tomorrow, I promise!

How Do You Choose Your Tweeps?

I realized pretty quickly after I started using Twitter that I needed to be careful or it was going to become an obsessive personal contest and a lot of pressure I put on myself. Why is that, you say?  Because basically everything I do becomes an obsessive contest where I put to much pressure on myself--but then, that's another story!
I pre-determined a number in my head for how many Twitter followers I would like to have by the end of 2013.  It may seem like an arbitrary number to some people but there was a reason behind it for me.  I also have a longer term goal.  I don't just want followers for the sake of followers, however, I want people that are interested in my products, in crafting, in Etsy, in selling, or people that know a lot about these things and want to share their knowledge with me.  This includes a lot of people, however--moms, dancers, gymnasts, fashionistas,  people who like to read blogs, and anyone who wears clothes--yep, a lot of people!  So, it was very difficult for me initially to decide who to follow.  Eventually, I found someone similar to myself but more successful and started following some of the same people as her. I also tried to convert blog followers and Facebook followers to Twitter.  I even joined some groups on Bloggymoms and Etsy that asked other people to follow on Twitter.  I felt like these people would have a lot in common with me.
Slowly but surely, the number of followers began to grow--and then drop a bit--but then grow.  Originally, I followed anyone back who followed me.  But then I realized some people were following me just long enough for me to follow them back, and then they would unfollow.  This made me upset and angry.  It was difficult to tell who I was following that wasn't following me back.  I started looking more carefully at profiles.  If a person seemed legitimately interested in what I was posting about, I followed back.  I stopped following people who looked "scammy" or people that looked a little sinister.  If you are a 57 year old male who likes bicycling and hunting with your German Shorthairs, why would you be interested in looking at little girls' tutus--or do I want to know the answer to that?  Maybe not.  So I wasn't following everyone any more but I will still follow anyone remotely related to what I do.

I still had a lot more "following" than "followers."  I found a website yesterday that allowed me to go in and clean out some of those people that had followed me and then stopped following me after I started following them.  It also identified some "bots" or "spider" or whatever you want to call them, so I was able to get rid of them, too.  Unfortunately, it would only let me do 100 a day and I had about 400 to get rid of so I started using my phone to go through and unfollow as well.  I still have some tidying up to do but I'm much happier with my numbers now. I've found I'm much more likely to follow someone who has a good ratio between followers and following because they seem pretty legitimate and they will most likely continue to follow me. If you have a lot more followers than following, you seem to me like you're not quite, "doing it right."  I also have HootSuite on my phone so I can create columns and won't miss the tweets of the people I really like to follow.  Sometimes it can get a little cluttery when you're following so many people.
I really hope that everyone who signs up for teams or groups of "follow me on Twitter and I'll follow you back" is taking that seriously, too.  Same story with Facebook.  It's sad when you spend a lot of time signing up to follow other people and they don't follow you back.  I have met a lot of amazing people through Etsy and I like following them on Twitter and Facebook.  I hope they feel the same way about me.
If you are not following me on Twitter, it might be a good way for you to know when I've posted here.  That's about all I use it for and to promote items of some of my Etsy friends.  I'm @GlitterTulle and if you start following me there, please tweet me so I know where you came from and I can be sure to follow you back--even if you're not a suburban mom with gorgeous little girls who will look perfect in my tutus.  That doesn't mean I won't be interested in what you have to say.
I have another twitter account that I use for work so if you happen to be a teacher or a parent, you can follow me there, too @AmyVanHornCISD
How do you determine who to follow on Twitter? When do you decide to Unfollow someone?  Are there any cool apps or sites that you use to manage your Twitter account?  Or do you hate Twitter and wish that little blue bird would just fly away already?

Not to Swag--For Now

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about Swag Bags and if anyone had ever participated in a Celebrity Swag Bag event before.  I was asked to participate in an event for the Oscar's.  I really wanted to participate and sent in my intent to do so. However, through no fault of my own or any intentional fault of the company I was working with there were some missed connections and I felt a little rushed as we closed in on the deadline so I've decided not to participate this time around. Instead, I will be submitting my items for a celebrity event for the Emmy's in September.  I will be working with the same company and I'm very excited that I have the opportunity to be involved in something like this.  I am a big television/movie buff and I just love the thought of some of my favorites potentially dressing their little ones in my designs.  In the meantime, I'm going to be working on promoting some of my tutus and other items with the same publicity company and I'm hoping to build up some more clientele through our efforts. I run a pretty small business right now and I don't foresee being able to quit my day job any time soon (not that I want to--I love my day job!) but eventually I would like to open a brick-and-mortar boutique and so I'm looking for more opportunities to build brand awareness and establishing myself as a leader in Princess-Making, if you will.
I know there are a lot of tutu shops on Etsy and other online markets.  I don't see a lot of different designs coming out of them so I think that's one area where I can say I'm different.  I'm constantly trying new things, creating new looks, such as my boas, my boa-bodice tutus, and the new tulle circle tutus.  I also think I have strengths in my customer service, the short amount of time it takes for me to complete and ship orders--even custom orders--and a solid price point.  These are the highlights of what I feel separates Glitter and Tulle Boutique from the other tutu shops. I also know that there are not a lot of other shops that sell rhinestone t-shirts and very, very few that will allow a customer to design their own t-shirt and then create it and ship to them within two weeks.  The tutu and rhinestone bling outfits I have recently put together are also a rarity and I hope that this provides customers with some new options when it comes to choosing outfits for special occasions.
I know many of you also have Etsy shops.  What sets you apart?  What are your strengths.  Where are you looking to grow?  Those of you who do not have shops, what are you looking for when it comes to choosing a shop that specializes in handmade items? How do you choose one product or item over another?
Please forgive me for going off on a bit of a tangent but this is all related because it ties in to my attempt to grow my business. If any of you have ever participated in a swag event or worked with a celebrity gifting company, I would really love to hear from you!
Yesterday, I used my new wire mannequin to photograph several of my new tutus.  She was such a breeze to work with!  She stood still, she let me change her without chasing her around, and none of her pictures are blurry!  Again, this is not the Spring line, kind of a precursor, but I am really happy with how the tutus and shirts I made this weekend turned out.  I think this one is my new fav! I wasn't sure how the mossy green would look with the fuchsia but it turned out very unique and pretty.  What do you think?

Fuchsia and mossy green tutu?  Yes, please!

New Tutus and Rhinestone T-Shirts!

So, this is what I did today!

Red, White and Blue Tutu!

With Rhinestone Bling T-Shirt or Onesie

Easter Tutu and T-Shirt or Onesie

St. Patrick's Day Tutu and T-Shirt or Onesie

Birthday Tutu, T-Shirt or onesie and headband

I really love this headband!

Fairy tutu

Spring tutu

Purple and blue shimmer tutu

Aqua and purple tutu

Pink and green tutu

But this is not the Spring Line, it's just a bit of a preview.

Rhinestone Weekend

I've been working on an order for a custom rhinestone t-shirt most of the weekend but I also found a little bit of time to work on some tutu/rhinestone ensembles I'm getting together for some upcoming events.  Placing hundreds of rhinestones is a lot of work but it's totally worth it when you're all done and the t-shirt looks exactly how you'd envisioned it would.  Here's what I've been working on:

Are you feeling lucky?  4 -leaf-clover, shamrock bling for St. Patrick's Day

Easter Egg bling, can be customized in any color/color combo

Cupcake Bling, perfect for a birthday or any fun occasion 

The plastic is still on in these photos but I think you get the idea.  What do you think? I don't know if I like that stripe of darker color I put in the middle of the egg.  It's kind of glaring.  Is that distracting to anyone else?  Do you think I could change it?  I'll be listing these on Etsy and ArtFire soon but I will also be taking advance orders so message me if you want to place an order.  I will be making matching tutus and headbands with flowers on them, too.  Entire outfit will list for $25.  Just the t-shirt or onesie will be $10, tutu $10, headband $5.  I'm still running that blogger discount through tonight so I can apply it to any orders I get emailed to me today.  If you want to visit my Etsy store today, use coupon code BLOGGERLOVE2013 to save 25% on anything and everything.  My email is glitterandtulleboutique@gmail.com if you would like to message me about this new bling.