great big octopus

sorry about being so MIA for so many weeks the month of april. it turns out i've been caught up in a sort of technical disaster-land, and it's been pretty tough to get things sorted out. the last collection, for whatever reason, gave me lots of problems on the order/shipping end, that just had my head spinning. more than the usual amount of address changes, combined shipments, bounced back packages, double-sales, you name its. thanks also to paypal for not sending me a handful of order notifications. i've been, well, kind of screwed up and pulling my hair out for weeks because of it. it's really hard at times, to be a one-woman show. i try my best, to juggle a home business, a baby, and a second grader. and still find some energy to be a good friend, and loving partner to my husband. and sometimes it feels like i'm doing great, kickin' ass and takin' names, even! and other times, like lately, it feels like i just dropped a great big glass ball, and i'm standing in a pile of little broken pieces, trying to figure out what went wrong. and it just feels terrible.

matt and i were having a big conversation last night, one of those talks (that we seem to be having a lot of lately), and he was describing that overwhelmed feeling as being something like trying to stuff a big, wrangling octopus into a cardboard box, and as soon as you get 4 or 5 legs in, another couple pop out, and another one sticks onto your arm, and it's just absolutely exhausting you to get those 4 legs stuffed in. not to mention the whole 8. and the whole thing just seems damn near impossible.

life. is that just the way it is, sometimes?

so. i'm cautiously coming up for a bit of air here. right now, we are having some issues with the site, primarily some admin-related things... the contact form has been broken for weeks, and there is an issue with order notifications and paypal. if you have tried to contact me through the contact form, chances are, i did not receive your email-- i am painfully aware of how bad that looks, and i am beyond sorry if you've not been able to get through to me for whatever reason. if you are one of those folks, please write me at frecklebird at gmail dot com, and i will get back to you asap.

i am considering moving the shop over to etsy, or doing a big cartel thing. in the name of simplicity, and easy management, and in an attempt to not completely overwhelm myself so that i start dropping glass balls and want to throw in the towel all together. my poor husband just does not have the time to maintain my website anymore, between work and school, and life. it's just impossible. how do you guys feel about finding me over on etsy? or finding my shop over under some big cartel run thing? i must confess, i haven't looked into it all that much- i only know that things are so tough at times that it just becomes un-fun, and i feel like i'm just doing a terrible job of it all, and from what i can tell, either of these options would be more easily managed by little ol'me. and me plus easy management equals a happy you. which makes a happy me.

and with that, i will end my boo-hoo-ing. if you've made it this far, THANK YOU. i heart you.

:::

i promised the mamas some sneek peeks at some of the cute things i have in store for the little guys.
the next collection, called SMALL SIZES, will be available soon. i was shooting for may 1, i haven't completely ruled that out, but it might end up being somewhere around the 1st of may, instead of definitely may 1. i've got oral surgery coming up, which is completely throwing me into a panic. seems that i can birth babies ok, but the thought of oral surgery pretty much has me running for cover.

 
 
 
 

i hope spring has sprung for you. it's absolutely somethin' gorgeous here in virginia.
the scent of lilacs is breezing in and out of my bedroom window, the hummingbirds have officially returned, and the days are long. a few reminders that when everything else is crazy, there are the beautiful outdoors for escaping.

lots of love.
me

Comments

[lishyloo]

i so feel your pain. i think my site lasted a month because i couldn't deal with any of the techie stuff. i knew it would just cause me to get frustrated with Ev because i am impatient and wanted it all done NOW. you're doing great!!

[Vanessa]

I geeze. Hang in their Jenny. I say, find the place that will make your world a little easier, if it means big cartel or etsy, why not? if it means less frustration right?

all those little people things are so sweet, esp. the boots!

[Virginia]

if Etsy (or something else) is easier for you to manage, i say do it! your crowd will follow you :)
and btw, cant wait for the baby stuff collection, too much cuteness!
xo

[nath]

Oh deary me, what a pickle, eh?

I have been wondering where you've been, and now I know, damn and blast that big octopus.

I know I'm not a customer what with being in Blighty, but for what it's worth, I have heard good things about Big Cartel, more so than Etsy and I'm all for making lives simpler. You just need to be able to do what you do without any fuss. And actually it's pretty amazing that you've achieved so much, seeing as you've got your hands full with babies and whatnot.

I am in a pickle myself, I need to earn some money, but have no childcare and have been making a few bits and pieces and wondering if I should open a store - if you fancy wading in on the debate - http://le-petit-oiseau.blogspot.com/

Otherwise Jenny, hang in there, the SMALL SIZES collections looks absolutely cutiful ( I just invented a new word for it, that's how good it looks)

Can't wait to see where you end up, I reckon you'll be parcel taping that Octopus box before you know it and Fed-Exing it to far-away lands...

Epic comment, eh, what?

[Laura.]

oh, jenny! i hate overwhelming times (that is perhaps an obvious statement). you are doing great, and i say, move to wherever is easiest! i remember a post of yours from early in the year about choosing "the path of least resistance", which is something i have taken to heart and ask myself now and then when i feel overwhelmed. so go for whatever will make your life easier!
those little items are just adorable, i can't get over those boots!

[Our Little Love Nest]

I am so grateful to have you selling the fun stuff you sell (however you decide to do it)and I am so sorry for my octopus-iness part in the past bit with our package. You really are an angel and tre`s amazing at what you do. You have us enchanted with the new kiddo stuff too!
(much condolences for the oral surgery...my sentiments on it, exactly..eek)xo

[jenny]

hey guys, i am feeling awful if i implied AT ALL that anyone of you lovely ladies caused me grief. i completely understand a simple post-order address change, so please, no apologies on your part is necessary!!!!!!!

for whatever reason, lots of little this's and that's popped up with this collection, and all together, it kind of had me questioning the great state of my being. ok, an overstatement, but you know *wink*

anyhow. thank you for all your support. obviously, the jury is still out on this little mini drama.

i love you all!!
jenny

[Amelia]

Etsy is swell! Plus, from a purely selfish p.o.v., great for me if you join since there will be no new accounts or passwords to remember since I'm already a member.

[sharilyn]

hi jenny - i know exactly how you feel. I only have one toddler and sometimes it is just so hard. I feel so lame for not always being on the ball with my shop - its been forever since I have been able to update it, even though i constantly think about it. Running a small business there are just so many things to constantly DO, and most often I feel like I have the giant octopus part-way in the box, too.

The other day I received the NASTIEST email from a (potential) customer, so full of venom that it was actually amazing and almost didn't bother me at all - the emailer came across as a bit of a psycho. Except for it made me wonder how i look to to the world - like a huge big spinny flake? I just assume that most of my customers read my blog and so they hopefully get that I have other things going on, that it is really important to me to be the best mom I can be, and this is my priority before making more THINGS for customers to BUY.

But I rarely ever have products. huge waitlists that at time can be difficult to manage. I've had problems finding decent and reliable suppliers and outsourcers. Email/Paypal/Spam filter issues happen often. I often wish I had a manager or a partner to help me out - But I've never found a good fit. I am trying hard but often I feel like maybe I should just give up.

anyways, rant on! Just wanted to really say: I KNOW. I'M THERE WITH YOU. and, I THINK YOU'RE GRAND!

much love, sharilyn

[Stefanie]

I think for your type of store and the ease of uploading things when you want to I would go with Big Cartel. Look at it this way, you wouldnt enjoy the sweetest parts of life if it all came easy. (at least that is what I tell myself to make me feel better on those overwhelming days,weeks, or months)

[Jeannie]

Dearest Jenny!

There are so many of us out here who love what you do and appreciate/admire/laud the fact that you continue to strive for that elusive balance between family and work. I think that a move to Etsy or Big Cartel would be totally fine for your shop and would relieve so much of the burden upon you to constantly wrangle these technical issues. As a mother of a very energetic young child and as a woman who is trying to find a way to put herself out in the world, I really admire your ability to do both things quite gracefully!
Keep it up, Jenny! We're all rooting for you!

Love,
Jeannie

[Angela]

I've been following your blog for a while and love the cute stuff you have in your shop. I've been tempted to buy stuff, but haven't jumped in yet. I think Etsy would be great. I have a vintage shop on Etsy, and it's been pretty easy to keep up with. I notice that vintage clothes sell really well on Etsy. You take beautiful photographs and already have a lot of interested buyers, so it would probably be fairly easy to change to that.

[Megan]

I was totally going to suggest Etsy or Big Cartel for you before you brought them up later in your post. It would just make life so much easier for you...it's already streamlined and done for you. It would shave soooo much time off your efforts and make life much simpler. I say go for it! In the end, you are making more money because less time will be spent on the admin side.

[trupeach]

thank you, thank you for my lovely green shirt (it arrived on saturday, the day i read your sweet email). and, all those extra goodies to boot! and, did you know that spree are one of my favorites?!? i have been pleasantly puckered these past couple of days.

and, as for the site ... do what helps you to take a load off! i have been comparing etsy and big cartel myself lately for a photo shop and i think the latter may have won. i think.

keep us posted on those 8 legs, sweetie!

[des]

dearest jenny,

thank you for being so frank + honest. as moms we all need a reminder that we just can't do it ALL. heck, having a baby and the change of lifestyle was so overwhelming for me + my partner that when it all settled down + we clicked again, we got tattoos to mark the occasion!

we all need to do things to simpify,(your resolution, right?)and if moving your site else where does that for you then we will follow. small business is great if its a passion and not a headache, life is much better when we live it!

i have always admired you + have been so proud of everything you have accomplished through the years. your strength, wit, humor + passion for your family is really what keeps me coming back so if you just blogged for the years to come, i would be just as happy as if you were still selling lovelies in the shop!

take a breather, a spa day, a date, bake some cupcakes, have a girls nite out, make some tea, eat a brownie, smooch a lot, play; then think about the shop and where you want to take it.

sending you lots of love + hugs!
so fondly,
des

[Brandy]

i think it would be just fine to move over to etsy or wherever makes your life easiest. it's not like the quality of the things you sell or your cute way of displaying them will change. :)

[shannon]

yes, a new format of some sort wouldnt keep people away. Just link us and we will follow! Perhaps you'll get more traffic with their search engines and such.

I have an ecrater store. No fees! and customers don't need a password either. (I hate setting up new accounts to buy something, but it wont stop me if I want it bad enough)

Your store should still bring you some joy. otherwise the stress will overflow into every other aspect of your life and it just isnt worth it. Your family comes first and this should be a creative outlet, even if profitable. (the profitable part makes it more fun!)

[Hyena In Petticoats]

Oh Jenny love - I hope things have calmed down for you a little - I think we all know the feeling of wrestling that damn octopus....

You are such a considerate and amazing seller that I think only the craziest people would refuse to forgive a tech drama or two, but it does sound like your current system is more work than it's worth!

My recommendation is for Big Cartel - simple to use, different levels of cost depending on what you need, and you have FAR more control over stock, the look of your page, things like that. I have been a member of both, and I found Etsy to be quite frustrating, especially with aesthetic things - I could never seem to get my photos looking good, etc etc.

Anyway - whichever direction you take, I'll be looking forward to your next collection - deep breaths girl, you're doing an amazing job!

Leah xxx

[Conversation Pieces]

Hi there. I only recently discovered your blog – and therefore am more of a customer-in-waiting than anything else. I agree with everyone here – do whatever it takes to keep you sane and still sell all your fab finds!

[Dawn]

Jenny
Oh no.......I know exactly how you feel.
I often feel like I can accomplish absolutely nothing...with Soren teething for almost 3 months now I am very tired. Yet when I get a chance to nap I get things done instead which always leads to me having a mini sometimes medium breakdown. I have been with Etsy since 2006 and I find it easy, a joy and I have been lucky and have had absolutely zero hassles. Big Cartel seems to be super too so both would be great options.
When you feel like you are in a pickle and can not do anything right just think of everything you have done...you birthed TWO babies in your lifetime and that alone is amazing. Plus you are a fantastic mother and the fact you get as much done as you do and your house still looks so amazing is HUGE!!!
You so ROCK.
Can't wait for the next collection, I love that quilted wall hanging!!!!
xoxo
Dawn

[alex*]

YAY! A Freckle post! I've been waitin' mah dear....
Wow, ain't it the truth. Please tell Matt Octopus in a box is genius. And I agree with the lovely lady above (Des I believe) when I say THANK YOU for always sharing the good and the challenging with us. I think sometimes mommies can feel like they're the only ones who have ever had to deal with a crabby toddler, wrangling a fussy baby or simply juggling life. You manage Camp Freckle soooo well, but heck we're all human. I so love how you let us get a little peek into your world, but the sunny days and the days when ya just wanna call in sick.

*mwuah!*
OH, and I can't believe you are considering Etsy. I was seriously going to email you to ask your opinion (i'm toying with Etsy Vintage too, as opposed to the Ebay BEAST!) I think that could be an amazing thing. I love your site....but if it makes life easier for you (and you still are able to sell sell sell) then go for it!
xoxox

[Trappedintimedesigns]

Oh, my. Go to etsy! Save your poor head the pain! I've been selling there for a bit, and the headaches are FAR and few between--if any arise at all, that is. We'll follow you wherever you go!

[Ashley]

I have been buying from you and following your blog since my first year of college... almost 6 years ago now. oh man. But I love your site. Love it. And I truly believe that if you moved the shop to etsy, especially if you kept the blog rolling, absolutely no one would be put off. You sell such quality items, and your eye for the visual (in terms of your photos) is impeccable. No quality lost.

So take a breather! Everyone needs them!!

[Jen]

Jenny Jen, I switched over to Etsy "temporarily" well over a year ago when my own run shop kept doing screwball things (double selling one item) and disappearing items when they sold (I was dead set on those items staying up so that others could see the work that sold), as Im sure you want to do as well, since your pics are so nice. Etsy archives all your sold items, so even if your shop is empty, people can browse through and see what kind of things you offer. My main issue is the fees, which really do add up..but if you do a little math you could figure out the diff between how much you'd lose on etsy fees as opposed to the big cartel (monthly fee?) The other thing I was held up on is that soooo many folks are already on etsy, i wanted my shop to be unique....but after linking my shop page to the new etsy one, the sales didn't stop, and the headaches were over. Much love sent to you and cuties, don't know how all you mommies do it! Happy early mama day!

[Eartha Kitsch]

You should totally do Etsy. You have a huge following of customers who will gladly follow you there. Life is too short to have to struggle. Get you some peace. :)

[Julia]

Hi Jenny,
I live in Australia. Thanks for your post. It reminded me of 15 years ago when I was trying to run a business, be a wonderful partner and nuture my new baby. I was so sure I could do it but in the end I realized it was TOO over-welming. It felt like I'd never get through it. But things change so quickly (and the babies grow so quickly). A few years later I was back into being self employed and now it feels do-able.
As for Etsy-I love Etsy. It's worth a try for simplicity. I buy things from the USA on Etsy and have no trouble at all receiving them in Australia. I look at Etsy 3-5 times a week.
Happy everything to you.
Cheers, Julia.

[Estelle]

Etsy, for sure!!!!!! Etsy is WONDERFUL and easy to manage by one person. Not alot of tech stuff there. :) Hope you figure everything out soon. You are so inspiring. I should tell you that you were one of the very first blogs I started reading (WAY back) and helped encourage me to step out and start my two businesses. Don't know why I never told you before now, but there it is. Thank you. Please don't stop doing what you're doing.

[celia]

i love those duck boots, i used to have a pear similar to those when i was little, and kids developed a nick name for me "duck feet" hehehe!

[erin]

Amen sister... or as us Pee-wee fans say over here, "Amen Globey."
With a preeschoolr and a now one year old(as of yesterday!!), in the tiniest house ever, it's tough. I often visit your site for inspiration on keeping it together, but it's extremely refreshing to know that you're not alone. My husband has been saying nearly the exact same thing as yours lately, but over our second budding toy business. Where does one find the time with two kids and a full time job? I'm lucky enough to stay home to "freelance" but still have a hard time figuring out how to manage that, especially with two babies that don't really want to leave my side EVER. I do have to say though, that I try really hard to appreciate that, because soon enough they'll be teenagers that are dying to get away from me, right? And our first priority is being good parents...if being artists for the public has to wait until the kids are in school for us, than so be it. We can only do our best with what we have right now. (and enjoy how little our little ones are for such a short amount of time.)
All in all,
Thanks for a glimmer into your life, your honesty, and save yourself the headaches... move to Etsy, your people will follow. So here's a virtual hand on your shoulder, "that" look, and a nod. We're all there to some degree right now. But please know that what you do is ....is there a word for it? There's definitely a feeling for it...it's wonderful.
Oh, and the picture you have up for your shop right now is great!!
...and a late happy birthday to your little girl, She was born last month right? I can't believe a year has gone by so fast. It was very emotional for me yesterday...can't wait to see the cake pics!!

[Cindy]

Etsy is great! I've been selling since March and so far it's been a very stress free environment. I think you will really enjoy it.