Today
I’m taking a moment to look back at what I’ve accomplished in 2012. Overall this
has been a busy, productive and positive year and for that I’m very grateful.
In
2012 I did a bunch of writing and a whole lot of designing, made connections
with new people in the industry, taught classes, made a few people angry at me,
sought out new opportunities and got a bunch of them, made some excellent
friends, and worked really hard doing what I love.
I’ve
been designing toys, trying to sell them, and writing this blog for nearly
eight years now, but this is my first “year in review” post. Here goes!
In
2012…
I wrote 149 blog posts on While She
Naps. Here are the top five most popular posts on my blog this year:
An Interview With a McCall’s Pattern
Designer
How Patterns In Sewing Books Go
Untested and Why That Should Change
Should You Have a Unique Online
Storefront or Are You Better Off on Etsy
Make It Rain: How to Drum Up Business
When You’re a One Person Show
I also guest posted on Sew, Mama, Sew!,
WhipUp, A Happy Stitch, and the Craftsy blog, with one more guest post on Sew,
Mama, Sew! coming at the end of this month.
Here's my Facebook page. I'm not a big fan of Facebook, but I've come to realize it's importance as a business reality.
In 2012 I completed the transformation
of what I do from a hobby to a full-fledged business. Abby Glassenberg Design
is now incorporated. I now have a business checking account, I’ve made things
official with the state, and I’ve officially separated my business finances
from my personal finances for good. And I broke down and started a Facebook
page.
Check out my nifty logo!
In March I turned in my manuscript for
my second book, edited and re-edited many proofs, and celebrated as my book
went to press. I can’t wait to show it to you in May!
I licensed a set of softie patterns to
Simplicity this year. They’ll be out as a pattern envelope in May and I can’t wait! This
kind of licensing means that my patterns will be in national chain stores like
Wal-Mart and JoAnn’s.
Here's my revenue chart from Etsy. I began selling patterns mid-March.
This year I designed and self-published
23 sewing patterns. I cleared out my Etsy shop and restocked it with digital
PDFs of my patterns. I’ve made over 530 sales this year and my Etsy shop is now
a significant source of my income. Self-publishing patterns also allowed me to
begin selling on other websites. My patterns are for sale in my Craftsy pattern
shop, on Sew, Mama, Sew!, and on the Pink Chalk Fabrics website. And selling
patterns has made my business truly profitable. Hooray!
I did quite a lot of teaching this
year. I taught more than 60 people to use their sewing machines as part of my
group and private Getting To Know Your Sewing Machine classes here in
Wellesley, MA. This culminated in self-pubishing my first ebook, A Teacher’s
Guide to Getting to Know Your Sewing Machine. This is the first product available for purchase right here on the blog, which is exciting. I also taught a “Design Your Own
Stuffed Animal” class at Gather Here in Cambridge, MA. And I created a workshop
for Craftsy on making a Humpty Dumpty doll.
Poor guy is a bit bloated.
Some favorite design projects of 2012 included
making a custom constipated teddy bear for a pharmaceutical add, designing my
first inside-out toys and my first set of puppets, and collaborating on a
project with one of my favorite soft sculpture makers. I also created display
pieces for National Nonwovens’ booth at spring Quilt Market and contributed two
projects to a forthcoming collaborative book.
The more you do the more you risk
failure and I’ve had my share of that this year, too. I had a project rejected
by Stitch magazine. I joined and was subsequently expelled from the Etsy Plush
Team for trying to make changes that the team wasn’t at all interested in
making. There are other rejections, but they’re still sore so I’ll have to wait
to share them once I’ve moved past them further. I can say, though, that for
all of these things, I’m glad I tried.
Video has become a part of my social
media presence this year. I participated in a live video chat hosted by Sister
Diane about effective blogging for handmade businesses and I recorded video
chats with the CEO of Goodsie and with Stan Smith, a leading social media
expert. I also took my first online class, Monetizing Your Craft Blog with
Sister Diane, which was excellent.
I’ve got big plans for 2013 and I
couldn’t be more excited to continue designing, writing, and interacting with
all of you. Thank you for your thoughtful comments and emails this year, for
your support and encouragement and feedback. You guys are awesome.
Cheers to an amazing new year of making, sharing, supporting one another, and reporting the reality of handmade. Thank you!
Verte adelie says
And all that with 3 young kids :). Congratulations on this super productive year, Abby!
abbyjane says
Thanks, Veronique. I'm so thankful to be able to be home with them and to have found a way to work, too. It's really a great combination. Happy New Year to you, too!
Jodi says
You are a rockstar! Way to LIVE instead of just dream! What a great year, Abby!
abbyjane says
Thanks, Jodi. You've been a great friend this year. Thank you.
Stacey (FreshStitches) says
This is so awesome!
I just *love* reading end-of-year wrap-ups, and yours is amazing… you’ve had such a great year!
I totally missed the custom bear you did… that’s so hilarious! Love it!
Best wishes for 2013!
abbyjane says
Thanks, Stacey. Your awesome year in review posts inspired me to create this one!
Lindsay says
What a great year you’ve had! I’ve enjoyed following your blog, and if you feel so inclined, I’d love to have you link up your post at: http://www.craftbuds.com/craft-buds-2012-year-in-review-link-party.
iHanna says
Wow, what a great year and so many big achievements in just one year! Well done, and awesome that you did a review post, I love that kind of thing!
Jodie says
having read your year in review Abby, I feel I must have been asleep for most of my year. I know thats not really true, will have to go and ruminate a bit on what I acheived ( easy to concentrate on what didn’t happen sometimes).
your year is inspirational, lots of different areas coming together to create a wonderful diverse exciting year for you.
Whilst I have the comment box, I just want to say thanks for all the information you share here on your blog, both the business type posts and the practical demonstration posts. I direct a lot of people overe here, when they ask me tricky questions. I really appreciate everything you do to promote softie/plush/toy design and making.
And besides all that you are a great person!
abbyjane says
Thanks, Hanna! It's so great to still be in touch with bloggers who were there in the early days of craft blogging! Happy New Year to you!
abbyjane says
Oh, Jodie, thank you! Thanks for all your support, and for all of the inspiration I get from watching you make beautiful toys. One of the things I love most about blogging is connecting with likeminded people who understand why handmade plush is amazing. Cheers to you!
Joanie says
Cheers to you too Abby.
A very full year indeed. Give yourself a giant thumbs up.
All the best for a productive and profitable 2013 too. x
abbyjane says
Thank you so much for your support this year, Joanie! Happy New Year to you!
floating thru fields says
Cool, very interesting seeing your year in review and that constipated teddy bear that just makes me want to laugh out loud but at the same time thanks for sharing that anything is possible 🙂
Betz says
What a fantastic year! Here’s to a great 2013 as well. Thanks for sharing what you do!
Jody Herbert says
What a fantastic year! Well done! Keep up the great work and look forward to seeing what you achieve in the year ahead.
abbyjane says
Thank you so much, Jody! You're awesome. Happy New Year to you and your family!
abbyjane says
Happy New Year to you, Betz! You've been such a great friend and sounding board for me this year. I really appreciate all your honesty and help as I try to figure out the next steps for my business. You're awesome. Thank you.
Melissa S., SoChick! says
What a fantastic year, I hope 2013 is just as good to you, if not better! Thanks for sharing such awesome info/inspiration with all of us! Happy New Year!
abbyjane says
Thank you so much, Melissa! Happy New Year and I wish you a wonderful 2013!
Leslie says
Congratulations on your eventful and successful year! I cannot imagine the hours and work you must devote to your crafty business. I’m looking forward to seeing more of your softie patterns available for purchase! Any sneak peaks available? 🙂
Best wishes for an awesome 2013!
Leslie