Looking for some idea's today. It seems like each time I update this blog it's because something lousy is going on and it bothers me. But for those of you who have read my blog from day one, I did state that the contents would be my "everyday life". No great advertising, no spending lot's of time window shopping to show you great items I find. Just me and what's going on and the sad fact is , the one place I am comfortable doing a bit of venting is here. Yes it is very public but in a way so much easier. We don't personally know each other, not my family that I have to face everyday or someone I have somehow let run my life and tell me how wrong things are. That being said, here we go.
I have been dealing with increasingly worse health problems for more years than I can count. I think the moment that it became real is when I underwent the first brain surgery in 2004. Then we did it again in 2005. Then we spent a few years trying to regain the use of my legs and hands so I can attempt to work. I have tried several times over the last few years, starting strong at first then anywhere from 6 months to a year ending up having done nothing but worsen the disability I live with. Right now I am waiting for a February appointment with a neurology team. I have a pretty heavy duty case of Hydrocephilis. An over abundance of excess spinal fluid filling the tumor's in my spine and backing up into spaces in my head around my brain. I also have new growth on the tumor that was removed named Henry. The mistake being , the last surgery I was not given radiation therapy after because it came out cleanly and easily and was supposed to be a done deal. Well it's back with a vengeance. This time no longer a free floating tumor but attached. So that will be one more surgery and this time there is no question. Radiation treatment is on the table. It is probably I good thing I don't love my hair.
Add into this mix the non stop health problems with my daughter and my Granddaughter. My granddaughter especially is sadly at 16 in the same condition as a 70 year old. We can do very little for her chronic, lifelong illnesses other than help her learn how to control the worst of her pain through diet, possible excercise and the right attitude.
The bottom line here is the financial mess. I have been totally financially responsible for myself, daughter and both grandkids for several years and it would be pretty obvious to any one that the financial tole has been totally devastating. I have lost everything. I am now in the process of losing my home. I have no where to go or no one to take me in. No one to give me a huge financial loan. But if you know me, you know I wouldn't want any one to give me that. I was raised to find a way to provide for myself however possible.
So that is what I have done. When able to work....I work. When I cannot go out into the world for a normal job, I bead like crazy. I have been running my Ebay and Etsy shops since 2007. No miracles but enough to keep me trying.
So once again, I am brainstorming. How about mass selling of something that is very easy.. Like these friendship bracelets. The teens and preteens wear them as much now as they did 20 years ago. So then I spent some time thinking of how to sell them. First I thought about selling wholesale lot's on Ebay. I did put up and sell one lot. A good idea but if I sell them for 1 or 2 dollars myself, I am looking at getting 25 cents each if I'm lucky selling them as lot's. Then there is Etsy. Well I do have some better ones listed on Etsy in sets of 2 but selling one bracelet at atime doesn't work. Most people who would buy these are not going to open an Etsy account to buy a bracelet for her 12 year old. No one is going to spend $3.00 shipping on a dollar bracelet. Then I started to think, years ago any magazine you picked up were full of adds. Buy this or that or the other thing. Send $1.00 along with your name and address to such and such address. I know they worked. I often myself took advantages of those ads. But we live in a different world now. I could take out ad's in our little local weekly papers. I could list it in my blog, I could twitter and facebook it. What I can't do is put my address out there for the world full of not quite okay people to see. My daughter came up with the idea of renting a PO Box and it is a good idea. But it cost's money that I don't have. But I am thinking about it if I can come up with a few sales that would be enough to do it. I need to think of something, I cannot lose my home. Not that I am that attached to this particular home but I am not interested in a cardboard box behind some store downtown.;o)
So I am looking for any ideas how to do this. Has anyone who normally sells through Etsy,Ebay,Zibbet etc. ever tried a different way of selling a large amount one product? Any advice or idea's will be welcome and appreciated. Post me a comment here or email me deb913@gmail.com.
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Here she is as promised, Amelia Rose, This is one of her first pictures so in the weeks she has already changed a bit but I am in love. Also feel like I am making progress getting back to normal. My studio is set up and I am actually making things. I am keeping up with my schoolwork and doing ok at keeping my spirits up. Maybe things are falling into place one more time. By the way, it is Mothers day so Happy Mothers day to all of you Mom's!
