Continuity using the 'White Theme'

So to start off the New Year... the Nursery has a NEW look for all of its printed materials.

I'm calling it 'The White Theme'!!

This new line covers two styles of business cards, thank you cards, disclaimer cards, gift cards, guardianship cards and magnets. All of which I did on a white backdrop and using the company's coloured flower icon. I opted to go with sizing down the letterhead design which I think worked really well to tie in the font colour and to add a bit of a garden theme since I took away the stump and rose vines (see Blog banner above). Oh, and there was a new one added in the mix this time around - the 'A Little Something Extra Just for You' card. As I always like to give little trinkets away with each sale, I thought that this card would do the job perfectly.

Since I changed over the website, Blog and all other social media sites last year (2017) to using a white background, finishing off this project completes the look of continuity throughout the company.

A massive thank you goes out to Sherry (Elite Business Services Ltd.) who created our updated QR code and again to VistaPrint who did an outstanding job again.

So, what do you think? Do you like the clean white look?

Card # 1 - Business Card (with contact information on the back)

Card # 2 - Business Card (with QR code and website address on the back)

Card # 3 - Thank You Card (front only)

Card # 4 - Disclaimer Card (front only)

Card # 5 - A Little Something Extra Just for You Card (front only)

Card # 6 - Guardianship Card (folded with all four sides printed)

                           







Card # 7 - Magnet

Googling Yourself!

A happily found accident??

As the Nursery has had to update its contact phone number I was going through all of my saved sites and ended up coming across one that I did not know about.

This is an advert of sorts, I'm guessing but I have no clue who added it, posted it or when it even happened. Advertising is always a good thing, free advertising is even better so I'm thinking that I will just leave it be. The contact information is incorrect of course but it does send one to the Nursery's website and it does have an email address that will get messages to me.

So, ummmmmm..... thank you to whomever added my wee Nursery to the Visit Yellowknife website.

The Best Rules to Follow

"There is no law stronger than that of magic. - Kian'

Author: Kialin Gow,
'Bitter Frost'

Turning Green on a Teacup

spinning around on a porcelain teacup (disclaimer .. please do not spin too quickly, as i cannot be responsible for faces turning GREEN). 

squishing your barefoot toes in the grass (disclaimer .. please do not do squish after freshly mowed, as i cannot be responsible for faces turning GREEN). 

climbing on tree branches to reach the highest apple (disclaimer .. please do not eat the fruit that has fallen on the ground, as i cannot not be responsible for faces turning GREEN .  

smelling the pretty coloured flowers (disclaimer .. please do not touch your nose to the petals, as i cannot be responsible for faces turning GREEN).

wishing for an ice cream snack (disclaimer .. please do not eat the coloured dots on a mushroom, as i cannot be responsible for faces turning GREEN).

catching a butterfly in a net (disclaimer .. please do not try to ride on the wings, as i cannot be responsible for faces turning GREEN).

taking off your socks (disclaimer .. please do not smell, as i cannot be responsible for faces turning GREEN).

nibbling on fresh pea pods (disclaimer .. please do not mistake for lima beans, as i cannot be responsible for faces turning GREEN).

cleaning off after a nice warm bath (disclaimer .. please do not mistake cotton for a fern, as i cannot be responsible for faces turning GREEN). 

and after a very long day of playing and your eyes cannot stay open any longer ..

turning down the covers to dream (disclaimer .. please do not nudge the chameleon sleeping in the middle of the bed ...AS THEY ACTUALLY WILL TURN YOU GREEN).

now wouldn't it be fun to live on a teacup!!

Jami

Clare

Button

Hazel

Star

Lucy

Lady Regina

Jemma

Windsor

Vale

Buttercup

it's all about me & you, nah, it's all about me

as there always comes a time, when eventually you have to crater, to the questions and requests to see who i am...well okay, as me as the owner of The Enchanted Pathways Faerie Nursery, that you realize that perhaps it wouldn't be so bad after all.

i'll will chalk this whole hesitation thing up to, well thinking about it, for, that for some unknown reason that i just haven't been able to put a face on my company, on me. (yes, that reason being shyness. yeah, that excuse will work... but, okay, but those who know me, will tell you quite blatantly that i am anything but shy)

i will admit though that i have gotten better at talking about the company over the past bit instead of squirrelling away busy as a bee and keeping to myself.

has this hampered my business, YES, i can tell you that without a doubt that if you want to be noticed then it is a pretty hard sell when nobody has actually heard about or seen or met you!

with being a wife, a mom, a grandma (to 4 and currently counting) that i've always told myself that i am just being protect of those that i love but ummmm how is anyone going to know that type of personal information when i haven't even told you about it?

okay fine, i must admit, deductive reasoning makes sense when spoken (okay, typed) out loud and yes, that even shouting out from the rooftops, this type of noise can only help.

after much thought, a few cookies (a whole box to be exactly honest), a cup of tea or two (possibly more), i have come up with a history of this, this being the company and then this, this being me.

i really love what i put together but i really put a lot of hard work into it. (yeah, you can stop reading here...like i work hard...my job is in a faerie nursery how much harder can a job get?).

so all of this painstakingly work can be found on the website under the tab named 'about' (yeah, yeah, yeah, i know, how original is that for a tab name).

oh, and,

p.s. ..... it is amazing that how easy it becomes once you start talking about you, that it just becomes easier and easier to do so. (um, but then again who doesn't like to listen to themselves talk about themselves?)

the photograph that i have put on my website was taken in this same photo-op. a massive thank you goes out to Chris who took the time in the sweltering heat to help me out.

so yeah, here i am!

this is me!

this is me....hard at work!

The missing link!

I know, I know...how on earth do I think that I can keep social media alive?

I agree, that even though there are so many wonderful sites and pages that I speak to everyday (okay, just for my sanity and yours, I leave out Saturday and Sunday) and share not only thoughts but photos as well.

So, it may look like I am not loving you...it might look like I have neglected you...and certainly you must thought by now, why on earth does she even have a Blogger page.

But, please do believe me when I say, 'Hello' to each and everyone of you, and even everyday (well, except for weekends, that were discussed on the second above paragraph...but incase you have decided to just skip or even just scan this page and might have accidentally missed this part...I will once again repeat...{sorry to those that have to read this whole thing again...I speak to everyday (okay, just for my sanity and yours, I leave out Saturday and Sunday}).

It may only be for a quote (that has really pretty and well thought out graphics (yes this was a plug for my own work and for teaching myself Photoshop Elements} ) for everyone to enjoy....

Sometimes, you comment and even share these quotes which really really really make me humbled and proud of what I have decided to do on a daily bases and well again, to repeat myself for a third time (I speak to everyday (okay, just for my sanity and yours, I leave out Saturday and Sunday).

So, if you would like to check out my quotes of faeries, fairytales, and even the odd dragon...then please take a boo...

Faerie Nursery Webpage

Blogger - 'Thought of the Day' page

Facebook - 'Thought of the Day' page

Pinterest 'Thought of the Day' page

Flickr - 'Thought of the Day' page

Twitter - 'Thought of the Day' page

Hmmmm....see, I really am kinda busy...and I have not forgotten you by any means.

Lots of love

Finally..well kinda finally

I will admit that it has taken me almost 2 months (bad on me) to post the remaining 4 faeries from the Northern Line.

Now granted, I could make a thousand and one excuses...but technically...I really should have done this a wee bit a go but just haven't (bad on me again).

Right now they can be viewed on the website but they are not listed or linked to one of our e-commerce pages but hey, they are up for viewing.

Oooooohhhh but before I forget (and this one isn't a bad on me)....I have taken all NEW photos of The Northern Line Faeries....perhaps that is one of the reasons it has taken me this long for them to be  displayed.

Now, the next step...well, after I have these faeries listed/linked...next will come posting The Calendar Line.

You would think that with the craft fairs, the Christmas rush (guaranteed mailing dates) and well just most (some) of the general stuff being over for the year that I would be way more organized. But I am proud to admit...there are still 5 boxes that need to be dismantled from the craft fairs, all accounting (I haven't even found my sales book yet), posting of new faeries and the whole just keeping up with all of my sites (blog, website, e-commerce pages, Facebook etc.) I am pooped!

This is when I start to think that it is time that my wee faeries come out of hibernation and help me out...but everything that I have done so far has been unsuccessful. I have made tea (the really pretty pink coloured kind), sugar cookies (with extra icing), ringing sweet sounding jingle bells (even my ears are starting to pound), purposely leaving beads laying around the nursery (and yes, I have almost fallen on my keister once or twice), unlocking the cabinet that holds all of the wee jars of faerie dust (man, I know that I am just asking for trouble now)...and well....not too sure what there is left for me to do....any suggestions?

Well off I go to do something...not sure what this something will be...but I'm sure I will end up doing some of it anyways.

Erosion can only bring the old to new light

As there are always things that are evolving here at the nursery...perhaps not actually evolving...more like...I love change. Well, that should be rephrased....I love change on my terms. Example...when growing up, I was the one that would change the bedroom around at least once a week. Why you ask? Because I could! This habit in a way has never left me. I love to change and move furniture, decor and well pretty much all of a room to this day. And, isn't it strange that both of my children, particularly my son, do the same?

So to continue on with the original thought...change here in the nursery of course due to space, table, shelving and well everything has really limited and stymied this habit...which isn't a good thing! so instead I have taken this 'need' and funnelled it to my on-line presence instead.

I'm  not sure if some of the last month or two changes here on the blog you will have noticed but this last week in particular has seen some dramatic updates. Of course, the phone call has been put through to Shawn, the nursery's website guru, to just tweak the background, okay, I will admit it...this whole coding part of which I have no clue on how to do....and okay, I will admit it....I'm kinda not allowed to touch as I am the type to do big oooop's that take a few more that just a couple of minutes to fix! Example...just like with everything else to do with the nursery...I do not care for disorder...that even goes towards my iMac's desktop! And ummm.....well, I had decided that there was this really UGLY icon on my desktop that for some reason I was unable to change...so off it went into the trash. So ummm...yeah, that was my hard drive, my operating system, ummm the umph of the computer! And well, this wee little icon movement caused a few phone calls to Apple Helpline and more than a few calls from my son to try to retrieve it. Hence....I am not/do not add or delete any icons from my desktop without permission from my son and ummm....I really doubt it if with this knowledge in hand, would Shawn appreciate me getting behind the scenes into this whole coding changes/updates that he has worked so hard to put into place.

There are still a few small and some quite dramatic changes/updates that will be happening over the next few weeks. I'm hoping that they will improve the look and feel without losing, hampering or compromising the actual look of this blog so it doesn't lose the coherence and flow from one site to another.

The Week of October 6 - 10, 2014

Welcome, welcome, welcome to the week of October 6 - 10, 2014!!

The Quotes for this week have been from...
William O'Brien, 'Peter, Enchantment and Stardust: The Poems'
Awwthentic, 'The Prince and The Fairy'
Lucy Aisy
M. F. Moonzajer, 'A moment with God; Poetry'
Kailan Gow, 'Bitter Frost'

The Instagram postings for this week have been of...
Our new packaging
Hoarfrost
Holiday Edition

I am happy to say that our Website, Flickr and Pinterest pages have updated as well. I have opted to know type out the whole quote instead of just the author's name where noted. I even found out that on Flickr that you can add key words!! Granted, I did have difficulties figuring out what 'Tags' to use but I did manage to get a few in. I am presuming though, that I should start updating our Google+ page with these postings as well? All in due time I guess!! And of course, these 'Thoughts of the Day' will be posted once again on our Facebook page. For now, all of our impromptu Instagram photos are automatically put on our Flickr, Twitter and Tumblr accounts.

Being Back But It Seems Like I Never Left?

Once again, the company's Facebook page has been re-opened I guess that might be the right wording to use?

I guess when you leave you hope to come back to a clean slate...sigh...unfortunately everything is exactly where I left it.

Previously one of the reasons that I had left, besides not being appreciated so to say about my art...were all of the 'false' likes that had started 'following' my page. Now, granted some of these I might have invited myself by joining sites that shared your pages with others but there is no way that I could have done all of these 2715!

I did notice though that when I put on freebies or a giveaway...and even ones that I had actually paid to have advertised, there were only a handful of entries from people that I even knew, some had been on my page previously and most/all people that had entered were out for  'the free buck' so to say.

With all of the above reasons I shut down Facebook altogether. I gave my closing date...even said goodbye. I did postings for almost 2 weeks on how everyone...anyone (please) could keep in touch, follow along, maybe even leave a comment or two.

Well, that all completely fell through! I had one or two FB friend's that followed our Instagram account, oh wait...those one or two also had visited here as well...and well ummm....ummm... ummm....Can you understand now why I felt the need to just go away?

I think perhaps the best way to deal with all of this nonsense is that I might look into just starting a new page? That might help, so to say...weed out those that aren't interested in my Enchanted Pathways Faerie Nursery.

As of today, well...maybe this weekend...this will be my goal. What is the point of having 2715 'like's' when I don't exist anyways?

Now, for those of you that have taken the time to listen, to read, to look at all of the pretty pictures, have visited our Website, Instagram, Flickr, Google+, Tweeter, Pinterest...well you get the idea...thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Actually, I don't think I can ever say thank you enough.

Into the KNOWN Wild Blue Yonder

Do you ever get the feeling that you that you have to do something in order to do what you need to do?

I have sat here for almost 3 weeks looking at my work table that is still scattered with stuff that I have either never bother to unpack, display or just plain and simple put away!

But that isn't even the worst of it yet!!

I know that once I clear and clean off my massive 1.2m x 1.2m (4'x4' ) table that I really will have to not only do something productive with both my time and energy but that I will have/need to start getting creating again.

Now, please do not get me wrong by any means!!

I love being creative. It's in my bones. It's in my head. It's in my heart. The difference here is that in essence I have/need to be creative.

Now, please do not get me wrong by any means!!

This next Line of Faeries truly inspires me. Excites me. Is part of me. I have purchased absolutely everything that I require/need to make/create these Faeries. Everything is separated into their own pretty coloured cloth boxes and rubbermaids just waiting for me. Calling to me. Even whispering to me.

Now, please do not get me wrong by any means!!

I so really want to get these Faeries done by the holiday gift giving and craft shows. I think though that I have missed my international shipping time for any of my Faerie creations in order to reach their destination in time to be wrapped and opened. This is such a massive hurt/blow to me as I was really counting on, well let's face it...for more sales.

Now, please do not get me wrong by any means!!

Since I have shut down my Facebook page I know that I have missed out on the largest looking/shopping opportunity. Promoting my website, blog and even my e-commerce pages is way harder than I had expected. Well, actually I know that I was throwing myself under the bus but I needed to take a break.

Now, please do not get me wrong any means!!

I have tried relentlessly to promote my wee company. To get seen. to not fall behind on what I need to do. I do know however that I made these massive changes and transformations since I knew that I would be away from the nursery for almost three and half weeks. Trying to keep up remotely would have both been way too time consuming and well, let's face it....not the type of vacation that I truly needed.

Now, please do not get me wrong by any means!!

I didn't want to be away from the nursery. I needed to be away mentally and physically. Anyone of you that run a small home based business knows that it takes about 7-10 hours a day. Yes, this is way longer than a full time job. These are the sacrifices that need to be done. This in itself takes everything that you have. Everything that you want to do outside of the business. Everything that you want to do socially un-business related. Everything that you call a personal life. These all get interrupted and/or cut short.

Now, please do not get me wrong by any means!!

Since leaving work (and not by choice), loosing your independence (I am no longer cleared to fly or to drive a vehicle), to being in the house all day with only three critters to keep you company and well, to talk to. When I was a Mom at home with two children this scenario was quite different. Yes, I was still home alone (technically), I did have the ability to fly and drive (but I'll admit somedays just wasn't worth the effort) and when I was talking essentially at least I was teaching (hoping) to teach my children a few life experiences.

Now, please do not get me wrong any means!!

I do promise myself (and you) that the cleaning of my table will start. My head has rested. My body has rested. My heart has rested. Everything else can be called my creativeness and it too have been rested. It is time for me to become Faerie Amma once again.

The Unknown Progression

I find it truly amazing how the progression of my ideas have come to this point.

Back in 2010 I had only begun to think of making flower petal faeries. I was doing them to keep myself busy until I could find a full time job in our newly move to the Northwest Territories. Granted I have lived in the north for 14 years already but never in Fort Smith, never married and never for following someone up here (well okay, there was one time but I was only 7 months old, so I don't think that this is a true indication of the point that I am trying to get at).

My wee Enchanted Pathways company was registered in British Columbia and at that time I was just looking to try to make replica doors as shown in the *Hobbit movie. I thought they would be fun to make so there I was with a design in mind, a massive of amount of new tools and even a **Dremel. Alas, this idea never did come to fruition. I did have fun though!

In the process of this whole new experiment I did learn some very valuable information. Shopping, how to get the lowest price and value for the dollar. Shipping, how to get products from the USA without having to pay duty on them. Ideas, how to jot everything and I mean everything. Tools, how not to loose a finger or other appendages. Paperwork, how to document and file. Education, using all that you have learned in the past and trying to adapt it to what you need now. Friendship, the importance of having someone to bounce ideas off. Love, knowing that you are someone believes in you.

I have now gone from the original play of making Hobbit doors and then onto simple flower petal faeries to what my company is today.

1 - Generation 1 Flower Petal Faeries ~~ that have an average of 20 silk flower petals and stand approximately 7.6 cm (3") in height.

2 - Magical Wooden Faerie Doors ~~ these are now actual cutout wooden doors and no longer doll house doors.

3 - Teacup Nurseries ~~ using miniature trees, flowers and dollhouse items that have been made into a small garden area that faeries just might be found.

4 - Seed Pod Babies ~~ using the small roses that I used to take apart for the smallest petals when making the Generation 1 Faeries are now transformed into a full rose head with a curly wired tail and then placed into a tree pod with a bed of moss.

5 - Generation 2 Flower Petal Faeries ~~ using a wooden platform these faeries stand about 12.7 cm (5") and are numbered for collection status. This style is made up into full groups that are meant to be purchased as a full set.

So that is the product end of my company. Now onto the other end of the company!!

I am now quite proficient at the accounting end but still have a hired certified accountant to do the tax filing. I do all of the GST filing on my own currently.

Photography is now done completely be me. I am able to use my ***Photoshop program in order to clean up and adjust the photos as required for website usage. I have a complete shadowbox that allows me to take consistent photos.

Website has now been changed over to a ****Weebly program where I have full control over the pages. I still do have a tons of assistance from Shawn my In-House-Guru that helps me with absolutely everything when it comes to coding.

Extras are now designed by me for all printing purposes this includes cloth bags, sticky notes, magnets, rack cards, tri-fold cards, postcards, business cards, labels and rubber stamps.

Graphics have thankfully been done by both Alyssa and Shona for the icon and main stump photo.

Adverts are now done by myself as well. This is a part of the company that I never thought that I would teach myself to do (with help from Linda). It is amazing how I have been able to create a background and then put all of the company information on it. These adverts are now run in national magazines and local newspapers.

Additions include the new 'Thought of the Day' graphics along with quotes and now Instagram photos that have a wee stories with them.

Wow! Now that is progression!

Here is the advert that will be going into issue #28 of the Faerie Magazine. I am really happy with what I have been able to create and make my own.

On a final note, this all wouldn't have been possible without you!

* The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - WingNut Films
**Dremel Tools - Robert Bosh Tool Corporation
***Adobe Photoshop Elements 12 Editor
****Weebly website and blog site founded by David, Dan and Chris

The Disappearing Tan Lines

Sigh....well with every holiday to the land of sunshine eventually the tan starts to fade away but thankfully the memories are and will be still fresh in your mind.

I had a wonderful time on the sunshine coast and was able to take some pretty fabulous photos that I posted through Instagram, well I thought that they were pretty fabulous photos!

As promised, I will start back this week with the 'Thought of the Day' postings.

And, as promised, I will go back and create a new tab for the 'Photo of the ??'. I have no clue exactly what to call this new idea.

I do notice though that unless I post something through this regular front blog page that no one really knows when I update the other tabs. I find this very frustrating and I am quite disappointed in this part of the Blogger program. I am still trying to research how to either get around this dilemma or how to let you, the reader know that I am posting. If anyone out there knows how to do this...please, please, please either comment on this post or send me an email. Any help at this stage is much appreciated.

I also apologize for the lateness of the posting as I had hoped to do it as soon as we had arrived home, okay, well after I unpacked from a three week vacation, well after I had a nap that lasted almost 24 hours, and well after I finally made it the grocery store to get some food the house!

As well, there are so many things that I need to get accomplished kind of ASAP.

• I am trying to make sure that the website has all of the correct links to each faerie that is available for sale. 
• I need to post all 13 members of the Northern Line of Faeries. 
• I would really like to figure out how to zoom when I am using the Instagram program on my iPhone. 
• I have everything, and I mean EVERYTHING that I need to start the new Line of Faeries. 
• I need to clean up the nursery after putting every general box and bag that landed on my worktable that had anything to do with the nursery.
• I took over 200 photos on my camera that I need to upload and figure out what I want to share.
• I was able to purchase another wee cabinet that currently holds all of Sapphire the Pixie's Faerie Dust jars. Now I need to know what to store in the new one and then to remember to give Sapphire the key!!
• I have a new butterfly diary that I would like to start using in the nursery...but again, what do I put in it...and no, this one doesn't have a key that I need to give to Sapphire.
• Photos, photos, photos. I took all new shots of the Northern Line of Faeries and I will need to see if that will be perfect to put on the website or not.
• I received a phone call from late July for one of our most favourites' visitors to the nursery and I just haven't either felt well enough or silly enough to not be ready for them to drop in.
• Speaking of those 'faerie minded' visitors, I received through an email a beautiful photo that I need to print off in colour and hang. It is always a humbling feeling when someone thinks of you.
• I guess I could go on and on and on...but I just realized that instead of writing all of this down here, that I guess that there were a few things that I could actually be doing to cross off of on my list...sigh...
• Ummm...anyone care to come for a visit to help me out?

Oh, and I have asked our website guru to see if it would be possible to change out the font that I am currently using on Blogger as if I can't read it, I really don't know how you can??

The Instant Photo

I have had such a great time continuing my wee stories through the nursery's Instagram account that just like the 'Thought of the Day' postings I would like to share them with you as well.

I will add yet another tab at the top so you can see the photos and story that was written to go with them.

In that same breath, again, this same idea will be carried over to the website as well.

I can't wait to start sharing even more of my silly antidotes, musings and even sometimes inspirational short stories. Mind you with all this being said, it seems that I might have started giving 'mankind' in general a hard time? But, this I will let you decide for yourself...mind you if you are a troll, a whale, a faerie or even a snail....you just might not actually have this same perspective!

I will start this new addition to the blog once I am back in the nursery.

The Forgotten Addendum

As I am scrambling to update my 'Thought of the Day' postings that have been late this whole week, I have just noticed that on all of the ones I just posted today....that on the bottom left hand side, not only have I added my amazing logo (a more than massive thank you to Alyssa) but that I had put on an address that you could either visit, stay up-to-date on or to confirm that indeed I had created this graphic.

Now here lies the dilemma with this whole thing...when I had saved them I was at the time still had and was active on the company's Facebook page!

Arggggghhhh how embarrassing! As most of the ones that I still have waiting to showcase were made prior to the closing down of the said FB page they too will have that link on them. Unfortunately by the stage of them being ready for 'print' so to speak...the rest of the ones that I still have waiting were created in a PNG format and then saved as a JPEG format. Sighhhhhhh.......Arggggggg......

As I am in the process of creating the next few graphics, I promise that the link will be changed to go back to the website! Sighhhhhh......Argggggg......

The Deactivation

Well the time has finally come....

I have said my goodbyes, I have shed a few tears, I have asked over and over and over again for my friends to just follow a simple link...a simple link to the website.

For those of you that take the time to come here and say 'hello', thank you so much. Thank you for your support, your friendship, your love.

I promise that I will work ten times harder at keeping you engaged, in giggling fits, in ear to ear grins,  to doing jumping jacks, dancing in the rain, clapping your hands, stopping to say 'hello' to a stranger, jumping in muddles and stopping to smell the flowers.

All of these things come very naturally to a faerie....not so easy to do for us mortals...so let's all peek through that thin veil between their world and ours...let us learn a new a way to live our lives...

On that note...Goodbye Facebook...I shall miss you but I am sooooo looking forward to our next adventure.

Radical Changes!!

August 16, 2014 ~ CHANGES -- Although this list of things will drastically change the way and the face of my company they are the ones that at this time I feel will be the best for me, the best for the company, for the best for all things. In one aspect I am leaving behind some of the biggest sites that allow my company exposure but then on the other hand it will give me the change to expand in other ways. I hope that those that do follow me now will be able to continue or if not be able to adapt to the new structure. I am not trying to say 'goodbye' by any means I am trying to say 'hello'. So 'hello' new world...HERE I AM!

August 16, 2014 ~ TIME LINE -- Now please do not panic! I hope to begin to adapt these new changes over the next week or so. I will put a on each page an explanation of why I am closing that social media site for at least two weeks as I hope that will give everyone time to either change their easy of following me or a way for those to say goodbye. I know that there will be a probability of people that will either have to or even want to say goodbye as they feel that if I shut down one site why should they bother changing what they do. To those ones, I will apologize to but I do hope that they will understand my actions, my new options, my new initiatives and my new Nursery.

August 16, 2004 ~ WEBSITE -- I really feel like I have dropped the ball on this page. I rarely update any of new faeries or for that matter any up-to-date news that shows that this page is active. So, it is time to change things up at a bit, to spruce things up, to be Faerie Amma!

August 16, 2014 ~ FACEBOOK! -- What to say, what to say. I have decided with sometimes much apprehension and misgivings to yes, I have to do this, not just for the business but for my own self worth. I have found this social media something too overwhelming, too time consuming, all the way to not being noticed at all. In order to have a business page on Facebook you are required to also have a personal page that it can be linked to. I know that every 3 to 6 months I purge everything that I have posted just as I see it not relevant to what I am doing today. I do know that for a fact though that through the way Facebook is now set up that even if you decide to delete anything from either being seen or to even just deleting that everything that you do or have posted does not actually get deleted from their server but actually gets stored for their own future advertising purposes for you to see on your newsfeed page. Is this required? Certainly not to my liking!

August 16, 2014 ~ BLOGSPOT.CA -- I know that earlier this year or was it later on in 2013 that I stopped using this site as a way to communicate to the world. At that time, I had my devoted computer guru (that's you Shawn) create a blog with there on my website. I was hoping that this page would be a great way to replace this blog site but I found that it was a very difficult way to have people follow me, to advertise that I had done a posting, to getting my message out there. I have decided that I will now copy my 'Thought of the Day' onto my webpage as well, as those that find my website should get to know all of the aspects of the nursery. I don't want my website to be just a place to push people to buy something but to share actual valuable information with them as well. Oh and I will get our computer guru to change the font here on this page to be a bit more reader friendly as well!

August 16, 2014 ~ TWITTER -- So this is a very interesting platform for social media. As I have always had anything that I post from my website and then again from our Facebook page to be automatically 'tweeted' I am able to reach an audience that I never even knew existed. I try desperately to remind myself that my account is set up for the business only and that is how I am to treat it, but who doesn't want to be following Sir Patrick Stewart or Chris Hadfield or Diana Gabaldon or Melissa Gilbert or friends..trust me the list is endless...to say the least...I follow 232 and I am now followed by 217. So in the end, I guess my odd mixture of not so faerie related and actually faerie related follows/followers is a great even constant.

August 16, 2014 ~ PINTEREST - What a fascinating site. I have made quite a few albums that pertain to all the different things that are relevant to the nursery. These albums showcase all of the faeries, whether being from the Generation 1 or Generation 2 styles. I have created a file that includes the 'Thought of the Day' and I have actually had people not only 'heart' the addition but sharing it on their own pages as well. Know I have head that Pinterest is a marvellous place to get lost in, to look for photos, to look for ideas, to find find friends that are on there and then to follow. I myself, have not spent a lot of time here as I really need to stay focused on what I am trying to create and display and when you get down to the nitty gritty in the hopes of actually selling an item.

August 16, 2014 ~ INSTAGRAM -- Wow, what a program! I can actually change the look of a photo that I have randomly shot and then post it to difference accounts instantly. Whoever came up with the fascinating concept is a genius for sure. I am sure that there are many, many, many tricks that I need to learn but I am slowly figuring them out.

August 16, 2014 ~ FLICKR -- Yay! I am finally getting the knack of posting photos directly from Instagram and having them show up on the Flickr account. Now tell me, how fun is that! I have created a few new albums right onto the Flickr pages where I can have the photo actually posted in to that folder! I am making sure that anything that I do take photos of whether from my iPhone to iPad get posted onto Flickr to keep everyone updated on the goings on here in the nursery.

August 16, 2014 ~ YOUTUBE -- Even as a much under used account, I am quite proud of the videos I have posted. I do feel that this social media site of them all really does put me out there to the public, bares my soul for all to see, makes me more nervous than even going to that dentist appointment that you know will include freezing (sorry, I am just trying to look for comparison). I do hope to add more as I do have a list going that I need to address but either I haven't had the time or I have just not wanted to do more. I promise to try my best at putting a few together to share.

August 16, 2014 ~ SALES SITES -- There has been some major thought thinking over here at the nursery (yes, the Faeries were standing by with the fire extinguishers) to how we are going to proceed with the social media platforms that we are currently using to keep our business in the 'lime light' (mind you we do much prefer being in the 'sparkle light'.) We have found that there are some very import and large pages that although they have been wonderful to participate in, that they have not generated any further views to the website or for that matter any sales. I will be merging all sales pages back to the Etsy page as it is the only of the current selling sites that is actually being viewed and purchased from. The ones that currently do a monthly charge will be deleted. Yes, I do realize that Etsy too does do a $0.20 charge to renew all listings after 4 months, and yes, $0.20 certainly does add up over the span of a year but if I want to be found on the massive thing called the 'web' then I need to do some serious changes. All current photos that link to these sites will be changed over to our Etsy page so there will be no interruption in our services.

August 16, 2014 ~ 'THOUGHT OF THE DAY' -- Quotes will now be hosted on two pages one being here on the Blogspot.ca account and the other on our website page under the tab marked BLOG. I have had such wonderful responses to these quotes along with my own perceptive thoughts and ideas. Granted that sometimes these just become rants, other connotations to being either religious or wicca, all the way to being philosophical in nature. As hubby dearest pointed out that eventually I will run out of quotes to post and that stage I do believe that I will go beyond the realm of faeries and will start researching dragons and the such. But do not be alarmed I will always include my own personal touch no matter how bizarre that happens to be!!

Now I would like to thank all of those that managed to actually read down this far to the bottom of this list of thoughts and ideas...if you have actually done this huge feat...then please do press the CONTACT ME button just to your left...to fill in your name and contact information and I will get back to you so I can send you a gift of our appreciation for you having to decided to join me and the nursery on this wild new ferris wheel ride of an adventure.

The Ultimate Change-over...

I have decided to change my blog hosting site from Blogger to my own website of www.faerienursery.com

For the ease and practicality of having so many sites that I have to update and monitor it was just a matter of time.

I will be keeping this blog as it is now my archive and there is a link to it on my actual website, both on the home page and on the tabbed blog page site.

Shawn was able to move over my countdown for the International Faerie Day and it can be found closer to the bottom of the home page.

He was also able to set up a 'follow by email' link on the blog page and he is currently working out the logistics of seeing if can get the Google links added as well.

I would like to thank everyone who is following me here and in the same breath invite you to my blog page.

www.faerienursery.com/blog.html

Here's help to getting noticed on the first page of Etsy.

Handmadeology has come out with another fantastic product for all Etsy users titled "Your Etsy Relevancy Strategy".

I know that I have a terrible time trying to figure out what 'key' words I should be putting on my descriptions for my faeries. I never realized that Etsy uses your descriptions along with the 10 tags that you are allotted.

Handmadeology offers great courses that are affordable and feature topics that we all need to know for running a small business through e-commerce.

You can check out their Facebook page to find out more information or visit their website.

Way to go Handmadeology! Another great product :)

Hello You, Yes, I'm Speaking To You Personally.

Being a Mom and a Amma Emm (Grandmother), I love traditions. Perhaps this is a bad time to write about it, with the holidays just around the corner as I don't want you to think that it happens only at Christmas time. Even though my babies are all grown up with their own families, I still send packages year round reminding them of the holidays we shared together. Yes, it would be cheaper for me to send a $20.00 bill in the mail but to get a package of Easter Eggs or red candy hearts or a Trick or Treat bag filled with sweets, is to me, a way better gift. Even to this day, when my own Mother sends me a 'care package' there is always a few candy bars tucked inside for hubby and me.

So, for those that follow me, here on my blog, Facebook or on my website, I would like to repay you for the gift that you have given me. It is one thing for me to believe that by me making these faeries, teacup nurseries, seed pod babies, the whole kit and kadoodle of my Enchanted Pathways Faerie Nursery but to have others follow me or like my page means the world to me. In return I would like to send each and everyone of you a small token from the nursery to say thank you. Thank you for believing in the world of faeries. Thank you for letting me not 'grow up'.

If you would like to receive a gift from me to you, please just hit the 'contact' button right beside this blog entry. You will be redirected to my website where you can either fill out the form or just email me directly your name and mailing address. I will not be singling anyone out, so please do not be shy if you live far away from my little wintery nursery. I promise that this will be a one-time thing and I will not be inundating you with emails in the future. I hope one day to get to the point that I will start a newsletter but that is a on my very long to-do list. 

Again, thank you so much for following me, it really does mean the world the to me. 

Emmanuelle