the folksy children's category disaster

ok, folksy.com is turning into the most annoying website to sell on.

they have removed the category for 'children' on the account that categories are for 'objects'. added in is 'housewares'. As they say on the blog it is a huge category but on that is recognised on many online shopping sites. Duh as is children.

Etsy, notonthehighstreet.com, misi , dawanda - all have children or baby and child top level categories.

As was pointed out by several posters on the blog people often browse a whole category looking for inspiration for presents. Now on folksy they have to search each top level category to find the children sub category.

And then I find admin put a little post up a while back asking for 'feedback'. I can't stand this way of communicating. Not everyone has time to read all the forum posts everyday. What about a dedicated email to sellers. That would seem fairer.

Along with the static and frankly boring front page, front page link to a competition that finished last year and the everlasting totes promotion it just looks to me like they couldn't give a monkeys about how their site looks.

I've never really looked into misi or coriandr in depth as their front pages put me off. My pet hate is anyone's items photographed lying on a laminate floor. Ok for some old tshirt you are sticking on ebay but your handmade items?

But at least their front pages have some life to them. On folksy there are some items I see pretty much everyday. If I was a buyer I'd think they had bugger all to sell.

Ok rant over....

I thought that A Resin Revivals 'organ grinder' pendant and locket was appropriate!

new etsy purchases

well finding some cash in my paypal account was nice after a little flurry of etsy and ebay sales so of course this was burning a hole in my virtual pocket so I decided to buy some supplies and also a little treat for myself.

I bought magnet backing which are used in the back of a badge instead of a pin and hey presto you have a button sized magnet. We've had fun making some vintage fabric magnets which are residing on our lovely fridge at the moment.

The seller , kungfucowgirl.etsy.com also very kindly sent me two fantastic Obama 2008 badges plus some stickers and a picture of a punk hedgehog. The little lady was transfixed by both the stickers and the hedgehog and spent hours playing with them. The simple pleasures of toddlers!

She also loves the kungfucowgirls logo sticker which we cut off the envelope - The little lady declared that the baby fairies live under the mushrooms. Then we made shortbread biscuits. It's all good in the world of littlechook!

my little treasure

I am in the blog dog house as I haven't been blogging for ages. No excuses really apart from a visit from the grandparents and just general tiredness.

I didn't realise I hadn't uploaded the pics I had taken on our day out in brighton and this one just sums up what happy wee soul my daughter is. (most of the time!). She loves buses at the moment.

Design wise not much happening either but trying to get back on track. Few sales on etsy for vintage fabric cushions which has been nice and I'm trying ebay again to see what happens there.

children's bedrooms

Whenever I see children's bedroom in interior magazines like living etc and elle dec it makes me feel a bit sad as they are always so 'styled' and more for adults than kids. Recently DesignSponge featured a Yellow and Grey colour scheme which to me was really bland and had very little to stimulate a child's imagination.

Ok so the pics here of the little lady's room are after a good tidy and hoover this morning but it is a room for playing and enjoying. Yes it does have elements of her mum's style in it - vintage furniture and crochet blankets but it is for her to enjoy as she grows and if she wants Barbie wallpaper at some stage then so be it!

The wardrobe I bought on ebay, it is victorian pine and it is gorgeous. The child's chair I resuced from the side of the road. The rug is from ikea (it's really easy to clean) and the grey toy cupboard was given to me by my mum.

The wallpaper is cream with silver flowers - it was here when we moved in and I actually really like it now!

New Kids Tshirt Design

made this one quite girly with a red heart and one of the pigeons is singing away. The little lady has taken to rubbing her nose against the flock shapes! I used the moo cards as the washing instructions label as the flock needs ironed on the back (although who the heck irons kids clothes!!!)

The tshirt itself is organic cotton and I was surprised at how soft it is. It is so different to the fruit of the loom t shirts that I think it does justify the higher price tag. I got some new t shirt samples today including some red organic ones from Mantis and some long sleeved unbleached ones.

I also got some Fruit of the loom v necks and I ordered a Large and X Large and I cannot believe how small they are! I can barely fit into the XL - it is sooo tight accross the chest I looked like I should be headed to the Playboy mansion. So I have scratched them as the tees for the 'plus size' collection.

I'm having more luck with tshirts from the supermarkets but the low price does make me worry about the conditions of the workers who make them.

Ideally I will buy two overlockers on ebay this weekend and will make my own t shirts eventually. My mum will be helping so we will be a two women sweatshop!

my heat press is here!

I'm very excited and have bought some flock on ebay to make the sample kids tshirts. Hopefully the flock will arrive tomorrow or saturday.

I haven't unpacked it yet cos it is so heavy.

Also discovered another potential craft market. The eco baby and children fair in on 26th april in Muswell Hill. The company, futurefriendly fairs has another in Islington in May which I am going to look into. Would be a fab place to see what customers think of my kids tees. www.futurefriendlyfairs.com

My etsy shop is filling up too. I have 61 items for sale now and the vintage fabric cushions seem to be getting a good number of views. Will add this blog address to my shop announcement tonight too.

Off to bed now, am knackered from all the fresh air at the park.