Who Buys This Stuff?

Lol, I think that's the question a lot of people think when they ask what I sew.  A lot of you do & I am very grateful for every one of my sales. 

Since I recently hit 100 sales, I decided to use zeemaps to plot them out.  My favorite sales are international ones because I love to travel and secretly wish I could hand deliver them.  Paris?  Australia?  Count me in!  Canada?  I loved the little bit of time I spent up north--why not travel up there again to deliver some felt food sushi?

I had fun making this map & had to share it with you.  Thanks for being fans!!!!

To see the map, click here.

Etsy Shops, Taxes, and Bookkeeping: Oh My!

It's that time of year again.  Time to get ready for taxes.  We use an amazing accountant, so for our personal lives that usually means keeping a file folder handy to put tax forms into as soon as they come in the mail.  Our accountant is a personal family friend and she mocks me each year because I often don't even open the envelopes until I get to her office.  This year we'll have to mail everything to her so I'll be opening envelopes & trying to organize things as best as I can for her.

We get to file in 3 states this year.  I like to think we're keeping our accountant Shannon on her toes, lol.  We sold our house in MI finally, lived in WI for most of the year but then moved to WA so we have those to file, too. 

My business is pretty simple so far.  Since we moved this year & shut the shops down for nearly 6 months out of the year, I had a lot of investment but little profit.  Translation?  I won't be paying any taxes on the shops since I'm so far in the red. :)  I'm thankful the numbers don't matter too much to us since we don't rely on my etsy businesses at all.

Tax Categories Most Etsy Sellers Keep Track Of

1.  Car Mileage:  going to get supplies?  going to the post office?  Keep track of mileage!

2.  Legal/Professional Services/Rent:  Yep, this means the accountant for me!  Servicing my machines would count, too.  Did you know you can write off part of your mortgage or rent if you use a space ONLY for your business? 

3.  Office Expenses:  Paper, copying, printer cartridges, etc.

4.  Supplies:  For me?  Fabric, fabric, fabric.  Thread...more fabric.  Velcro.  Fabric.

5.  Travel Expenses:  I'm still looking for a need to go to Hawaii to purchase fabric or something, lol. 

6.  Meals & Entertainment:  If work related!  Please don't try to write off your Netflix subscription, even if it does ease the boredom of working late into the night. :)

7.  Postage:  Easy enough to understand that one as an online seller!


The best advice I got recently was from Ashley of LilBlueBoo's Business Posts is to set a date each month and catch up on paperwork.  It makes sense:  don't get behind!  I've set two dates a month because that way I can work on it in smaller batches.  Last year I tried a spreadsheet approach but I realize now I'm too old school for that.  It's a notebook for me, all the way! 

How do I store receipts?  A new shoebox/box each year. It's accountant approved!

I enter the receipts in my notebook so the data is already collected, I just need the receipts if I ever get audited. 

I started to enter my data but then I realized I could procrastinate needed a cute notebook and box to keep track of all these things!

First I grabbed some supplies.  I've had this paper stack for about 5 years & it's still handy!

Cutting the paper to fit my box, I ended up using packing tape

since I lack the patience to wait for glue to dry.

My helper was more than happy to use up my leftover paper

and extra letters I had cut.  She loves to glue letters onto paper!

The finished notebook pic is at the beginning of this post.  Here's the finished receipt collecting box.  I love it.  Now if I could only get the box & notebook to fill themselves..... :)

Time for Bacon & Eggs!

     It's time for a giveaway!  Want to win this bacon & eggs set?  It's easy!  Just be a fan of Felt Food Kids on Facebook, comment below and you are entered.

For Additional Entries (leave separate comment for each):
-Share this giveaway with your friends on FB
-Become a fan of my new shop, Sweet Doll Boutique

Rules:
-Winner will be randomly picked Friday at 5:00 Washington time.
-Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email/pm or new winner will be chosen.

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.  CONGRATS HEIDI!

Greetings From Spokane, WA!

     First, let me apologize for my very long absence.  We moved for the second time in a year for my husband's career and this move was 1700 miles from the first one.  What have I learned?  Moving twice in one year is very, very hard.  Moving 1700 miles?  Also very hard.

One of my favorite pictures from the move:

Grace's face as the plane took off--her first plane ride in over a year,
 she was a little surprised when we started flying!

     I got a beautiful large sewing studio out of the move, while our daughter scored a HUGE play room, just off from the sewing studio.  We are both very happy with those changes!

     A lot of my felt food inventory was damaged by the movers but I've been working to get that back in order.  I've also been sewing something else:

Doll Diapers

AND

Doll Clothes

     I've opened a third and final shop (no more, I promise, although etsy shops are like kids...you keep wanting more once you have one!):  Sweet Doll Boutique.

     Sewing for dolly babies runs deep in my family.  I come from a long line of women sewing for dolls and barbies.  It was natural for me to start doing so.  My new shop, Sweet Doll Boutique, is now open on etsy:  http://www.etsy.com/SweetDollBoutique.  

     Another change?  My first shop was originally named Amazing Grace Creations Shop....a very long name.  Too long for me.  Etsy allowed shop owners to change their shop names recently & I changed the name to Necessary Cuteness (http://www.etsy.com/NecessaryCuteness).  It will continue to focus on adorable items for babies, I just really wanted to change the name!

     I am really looking forward to a year where I can focus on my shops as well as being mom to one of the cutest little girls on the planet.  No more moves.  No more shutting down the shops over and over waiting to move.  Hooray!

     Thank you for hanging in there with me and staying my fans.  My photographers have been busy taking pictures of new food, I've been busy making new foods & I can't wait to add them to my felt food shop.  I want to have more fun with things this year so next week:  A GIVEAWAY!

STAY TUNED!

Amy

The New Studio

Our recent move to Washington came with perks.  Sure, it was our second move in just under a year but it was great for my husband's career AND I was promised a studio.  Boy did my husband deliver!

The new studio is huge.  I love it.  The shelving on the far left contains shipping supplies & started projects.  The next unit is felt, felt, felt,  The third unit is cottons on top and fleece on the bottom and the far right (barely visible) holds my flannels.  That's a 6 foot table in the middle of the room!  The three bins underneath hold my scraps--felt in the left, then cottons/flannel, then fleece.

Yes that's another shelving unit to the very left of this photo.  It holds more projects.  You can see my inventory storage on the right.  The crates hold felt food, as do the shelves above.

Sorry for this terribly blurry photo.  This wall holds a cabinet for my various small supplies, some bins of projects/ fabric, and the dresser holds doll diapers for my other etsy shop, Sweet Doll Boutique.

See that door?  No, that doesn't lead out of the room....it leads into a walk-in closet WITH window.  Perfect for my photography.  Nothing like natural light to enhance my photos.  I'll have to post pictures of that room later.

Keep in mind that we've just moved--I still have bins of fabric to get out & we obviously need to get some cuter storage (with this beautiful room the garage style plastic shelving units aren't cutting it anymore!).  It's a work in progress but a great start.

Right outside of my studio is a 20 ft x 10 ft. room that is our daughter's play room.  Wonderful!  The person who designed this house used this space as an office.  I wonder what he'd think of it now?  :)

Ahoy Matey!

I still can't tell you my secret yet.  Two more weeks.  Until then, my shops are shut down in vacation mode & I am taking the time to finish projects I started a year or two ago!

The latest is this pirate baby gift.  I had the skull fabric I'd inherited from someone & just couldn't figure out what to do with it.  My eye caught the red & white stripe fabric also in my collection and inspiration struck.  I made a diaper bag with 4 pockets inside & a pirate applique on the outside.  I hand embroidered the words Pirate Booty Bag & it was ready to go.

The quilt is large enough that it'd make a great baby play mat or cover up for baby.  The three burp cloths & set of reversible bibs?  Well, let's just say I'd walk the plank for 'em they're so cute!  Now, I just need to find someone having a pirate baby.....hmmmm...... :)

Burp cloths--sorry pics are sideways!

Quilt--sorry sideways again!

Set of reversible baby bibs

More Photos

Awesome Pictures from Heather Ashley Photography

My Little "Helper"

     I'm not sure if I should title the post "Helper" or "Hoarder."  Grace decided to help me with my latest creation--a felt food snow cone--by hoarding every single piece.  Luckily, she responded well to the trade of crayons & a coloring book that I offered during hostage negotiations.  I was able to get this prototype whipped up.  It's being sent to LucyCake Boutique down in Texas next week along with the rest of my fair food.

Felt Food Snow Cone

It makes me wish I still had my Snoopy Snow Cone machine!

     I make a lot of patterns for my felt food myself but this one was an Umecrafts pattern.  Gotta love her stuff!

Snacks by Letter: Healthy Snacks Starting with the Letter F

Fresh fruit

Fruit smoothies (100% fruit juice, yogurt, fresh fruit, ice-blended)

Fruit kabobs

Fruit & cheese cube kabobs

Frozen fruit Popsicle

Frozen banana (optional dipped in chocolate syrup)

Flax seed and bran muffins

Fruited Jello-O

Figs

Fig newtons

Finger-sandwiches (on whole-grain bread w/peanut butter/lean meats or cheeses)

Fish-shaped pretzels/cheese crackers

Fortune cookies

Fruit frappe

Fruited yogurt

Finger Jell-O

Fruit pizza

Frozen go-gurts

Do You Know the Muffin Man? Felt Food Mini Muffins

My Latest Creation:

Mini Muffins w/Mini Muffin Tin

Blueberry

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

Fast Food Felt Food Breakfasts

     I apologize for my lack of blogging or even facebooking with my fans.  We sold our house in Michigan (hooray!) but with that has come a slew of paperwork, etc. while we wait for a final closing date.  In addition, I have been sending boxes of felt food to photographers, which has meant time spent creating a lot of new items!

Egg Felt'Muffin Set

Is it wrong that when I see these pics I get hungry for fast food?

Bacon, Egg, Biscuit & Cheese Set

     It's exciting and I am so thankful to Heather Ashley Photography (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heather-Ashley-Photography/155482276581) and Lavish Photography (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lavish-Photography/200005516682013) for being willing to take this journey with me!  If you are in the Virginia/Ft. Wayne area, please check these photographers out for your family photos.  They are SO incredibly talented!  Heather just finished pics of her box of felt food and I can't wait to share them with you!

Box of food just sent to Abby at Lavish Photography last week.

      I am happy to announce that a third photographer has partnered with Felt Food Kids.  If you are near Katy, TX, check out the amazing work of LucyCake Boutique (http://www.facebook.com/LucycakeBoutique).  LucyCake specializes in product photos so if you are a fellow etsy seller be sure to check her out!

     Photographers interested in becoming FFK partners, please contact me at FeltFoodKids@yahoo.com.  In exchange for your awesome photos, you keep the felt food!

     I'll share pictures of my mini muffin sets later this week--I promise!  Keep cool this week!
     Amy

Snacks by Letter: Snacks Starting with the Letter E

Egg (hard boiled)

Eggo mini waffles

English muffin (w/peanut butter, fruit spread, or made into pizzas)

Egg-salad wraps/sandwiches 9made with whole-grain bread/tortillas)

Egg-shaped finger Jello or fruit/cheese slices

Snacks by Letter: Snacks Starting with the Letter D

Snacks Starting with the Letter D

Diamond-shaped fruits/cheese slices with whole grain crackers

Dill pickle spears

Dinosaur-shaped crackers or fruit snacks

Dip with vegetables, fruits or crackers

Doughnut (plain with fresh fruit)

Dried fruit

It's a quick list!  Anyone else make any special foods for Cinco de Mayo yesterday?  We had quesadillas for lunch and Mr. Felt Food Kids made a carne asada salad for dinner last night.  Muy bueno!

A Breakfast Cafe Set

I've been working hard for a few weeks, designing, designing & designing.  I just finished up this breakfast cafe set, just in time to send to the photographer this week.  The idea had come to me months ago but it wasn't until a psychologist asked for a custom order set for her waiting room that I really got inspired.

Grace loves cooking meals for me in her play kitchen--it's time momma got a menu to order from.  I talked with my friend Jenny of SweetApronzNCupcakes (http://www.etsy.com/shop/SweetApronzNCupcakes) and she's making waiter/waitress style aprons that will be a perfect accessory to this set.  She's working on them soon but if you need one earlier just contact her.

I love my menu.  Is it wrong to say that?  I love the bold lettering on the front & the back?  Well, that's fabric I printed actual pictures of my items onto.  There's a light cardboard sheet inserted in the center to help give the menu better stability.

It's great for beginning readers to associate the words with the pictures--even pre-readers will get excited feeling grown up ordering from the pictures.  I can add prices for those wanting to use the set to work on math skills as well.  I can also add a name like "Grace's breakfast cafe menu" or if someone comes up with an imaginative cafe name I can work with that, too!  I can even customize a menu & set for someone.

We've always taken Grace to restaurants twice a week to help her socialize and learn how to act in public (still working on that one from time to time, lol!).  I love that kids can use a menu like this at home to practice ordering their own meals and interacting with servers, etc.  

One side of the menu:  Yes, the letters & sun take
time to do but are soooo cute!

The other side:  that's actually printed FABRIC & not paper!
All foods shown are included in the set.

 The set will include 2 eggs, 2 slices bacon, one ham and cheese omelette, 2 sausage links, 2 pancakes with butter and syrup, 2 waffles with butter and syrup, and 2 slices of french toast with butter, syrup & strawberry.

Closer view of the menu. 

I try to keep an ala carte style shop, selling sets & individual items so you can choose what works best for your budget, your preferences, and your child's interests.  Here's a planned price list:
Bacon, Eggs, Pancakes--already in the shop!
2 sausage  $4
Ham & Cheese Omelette     $10
French Toast w/Strawberry, Syrup & Butter Pat  $10.50
Menu:  $15

Total Set:  $52 (save $10 off buying the pieces individually!!)

In the meantime, here's some closer pics of the foods I'll be adding to the shop soon!  They are also part of this set.

French Toast

Waffles

Ham & Cheese Omelette w/Velcro Closure.
I will be adding 2 other styles of omelettes to the shop, too!

I'll be adding this set to the shop around late May.  I'll be sending it to the photographer for pictures on Saturday & she's awesome but will need a few weeks to get pics done for us. :)  If you need a set before then, just let me know & I'll be more than happy to whip one up.

Not into breakfast?  Don't worry!  I'll have lunch cafe, mexican, seafood and pizza shop sets coming in the near future as well.  I love making felt food because the options are ENDLESS!

Want to be a Felt Food Kids photographer?  FFK photographers get to keep all the food in exchange for sending me your awesome photos.  Please contact me if interested.

Contact me:  feltfoodkids@yahoo.com
Shop:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/FeltFoodKids