Well, Etsy has been making a lot of changes in the last two months, and I've become almost invisible.

My profit, after expenses, last month was $45.00 and so far it's $22.00 this month. Le sigh. Now, they're creating some ad system where you buy ad space on the site. This new system charges you a certain amount of money for the keywords you use. The more you spend on keywords, the better your chances are of showing up on the first page of the search within the site. That's how I understand it, anyway. I think I'm going to wait and see how others respond to it first, but I'm very skeptical.

I'm officially not counting on Etsy for any of my income. It makes me sad to say that, but the last 2 years have been so frustrating for me. I put so much work into my shop. I spent so much time and effort trying to get traffic there, and the last two years have just been so disheartening. The last two months have been even more disheartening. It's gotten to the point where I've questioned myself as an artist and it's made me kinda depressed.

So, I decided that I don't need that in my life. Nope. Not one bit. I've been working really hard this week at trying to get my work in stores around town. E-mailing those who have done orders with me in the past and creating new postcards for shops. I'm getting my wholesale sheet updated through Trunkt and trying to get more work up on Big Cartel, although, I'm not sure online sales are really where it's at...

I'm so determined to make this work, and I'm crossing my fingers, and toes, that it does :) 

I won't be closing my Etsy shop. In fact, I'm still adding new things to it weekly. I just won't be totally relying on it for funds. Whatever I make with it will be "fun money", whatever that means. Maybe treats for Chloe? Maybe new socks for me? Maybe cake and coffee? Who knows. all I know is that I what I need right now is not to worry about something that I obviously have no control over no matter how much work and effort I put into it! I feel good about this.