Simplicity + a shop shut down

Perhaps shut down is too harsh a term. For awhile? Yes. For good? Who knows. For now? The best decision for me and my family.

Lately, I've been purging "things" left and right. Clothes that don't fit, suit my lifestyle, or just aren't me anymore. Toys that Bird is not playing with or has multiples of. Teeny outfits that Ham just blazed through. Extra papers, books, bags, furniture, just "stuff" that doesn't have a place in our lives.

Through this process I've come to the conclusion that, for now, Goose + Trisser - the shop, is just one of those things that doesn't "fit". I have loved my space in the handmade market for the past two years and the tiny treats I've created and sent out into the world. The truth is that now I have a second precious creation at home that is demanding my everything and I have to get them both ready to send out into the world as well. Not only is that where my focus should be, that is where I desperately want my focus to stay.

I can't promise that I'll stay away from the handmade community for long. I'm still open to custom work and one off pieces here and there (email me to get a quote) and who knows what G + T will have in store for the future. What I do know is that it has been fun and it has been real.

{side note: I will be having a shop closing sale, featuring all pieces, samples, and materials priced to move!
UPDATE: everything is listed, check it out here!}

A random feature

As I was checking over my shop stats the other day, I came across a new referral site, lovelyish.com and decided to check it out. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon this gem of a post, "5 Etsy items on which someone thought to stick Tupac." All I could do was laugh, in a good way. All press is good press, I guess.

Shop vaca

Last fall on Mackinac Island

You may have noticed but my shop(s) are on a bit of a vacation for a while!

During this time, I'm working on some fun new things, new takes on old things, and more tiny treats all around! I can't wait to share what I've been working on. Be sure to stay posted for sneak peeks, shop updates and a reopening in the fall.

Sample sale

Now that I'm feeling better and the creative juices are flowing again, I've decided to have a little 2-day sample sale in the shop to move out my older inventory and make room for the some new things this fall!

Use the code SAMPLEGT and take 50% off everything in stock til 8/25. Some things may be returning in the fall, others you may never see again, so hop to it!

Hanging around

1. chevrons | 2. rosie | 3.townie | 4. chromos | 5. ornamental lawn | 6. cyclone

Necklaces, freshly added to the shop in the wee hours of the night!

Thanks to Andrea for being my ever willing model.

Proud to be small

precious orders ready to mail

I know I haven't been in "the business" long.

I know I'm a small business.

but...

I know this is just the beginning.

I know my word is all I have.

I know my awesome customer service means a world of difference when it comes to online marketplaces.

I know I love working on each and every order that I get.

I know I enjoy collaborating with someone new to make something special.

I know that, even as I get busier + busier, I will always strive to make each customer feel like a person, rather than an order.

I know I've been given one shot and I have to do my best each and every day.

I'm not saying I'm doing it all right, cause I know I'm not. I know I have a lot to learn - but I'm ready, to learn + grow + share.

I'm proud to be small.

Oh wait, did I tell you?

The new shop is up and running!

Don't have an etsy account? Don't want one? No problem! Head on over to the new shop and see what's in store!

I'll occasionally be updating my Etsy shop but for everything fresh + new from Goose+Trisser, the new shop is the place to be.

« « «  » » »

To celebrate + perhaps pick up something for Mom before her big day (May 8th!) take 25% off your order this week with code SPRINGOPEN ENDS 4/29 AT MIDNIGHT

enjoy!

Biz cards, G-sales, & Prayers

*Things are really ramping up around here in regards to moving. T and I cleaned out and set aside a TON tonight for our garage sale that starts tomorrow! We have a move date planned (2 weeks from tomorrow) and our list of things to do is getting smaller as the hours countdown to us not being homeowners (see #4). It really feels good to pare down our belongings again and let things go to people who can really use them.

*I was so excited about their arrival when they got here that I forgot to show off my new business cards! I ordered from UPrinting.com and their site was super easy to work with and the quality was just what I wanted. They are little 2"x2", glossy, double sided cuties that I'm amped to share.

*Speaking of amped to share, I have more big news...I received my first wholesale order for a Goose + Trisser product. This spring you'll be seeing my signature Yes, Michigan State Love hoop here. That means two things 1) I better get busy and 2) We're taking a trip to the Island this spring!

*Please pray that we get through the next couple weeks with work, packing, work, moving, work, taking care of Bird, play time, saying bye to good friends, recovering from last week and much more.
 

Bits on a Sunday

-I have (yet again!) a new blog address! Update your links to make sure you can follow along at

www.gooseandtrisser-blog.com

-I changed addresses again because a) I have a splash page now at www.gooseandtrisser.com, leading you to this here blog and other goodies and b) I have a new online shop, which will be at 

www.gooseandtrisser-shop.com

It hasn't launched just yet, so stay tuned for updates. You can still find my tiny treats in my Etsy shop for now.

-There are a couple things on sale in the shop and I added a couple items to help benefit relief efforts after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the Pacific. Head on over to check those out, including this cutie:

50% of sale will go to American Red Cross

-Lastly, you have two more days to take advantage of my March sale going on - head over to A Hasty Life to see my sponsor feature and get a great discount code! Expires March 15th.

-Totally not shop related, had a Skype date this morning with my oldest bro and SIL. I highly recommend it to families that are far apart. They got to watch Bird run all around and see what she can do now. I hope to do it more often cause it is a great way to for Bird to get to know them better since they live so far away and aren't over all the time.

-This is going to be a busy week, with tons of appointments, friend dates, play dates, hopefully moving updates, cooking at home, and lots + lots of stitching (I have 8 hoops to get done!)

As we say around these parts, "Get an early start!" Happy Sunday!

Snow days

This is our view out the back window today. Yesterday afternoon we could see the green grass.

When will this be over?

Lucky for us, T got a snow day and we got to extend the weekend! On the agenda for today:

A little work from home for mom
Hot soup and toast for lunch - Cream of Potato with Ham (mmmmm!)
Several naps, hopefully for all of us
Maybe braving the snow and hitting up Sam's Club for some necessities
Netflix on the TV all day
Tons of playtime with Bird

Happy President's Day!

In honor of the federal holiday and all the snow, head on over to the shop and take 15% off with code SNOWEDIN15 today!

Merry Christmas and the winner

Just popping in to say a Merry Christmas!

Finally the reveal of our holiday card from Shutterfly.com! I couldn't be happier with how they turned out.

--

also, the winner of the giveaway is Jewel!

Congratulations, shoot me an email at blog {at} gooseandtrisser {dot} com letting me know if you want a digital GC or a physical one, and if so where to mail it to, and I'll get that right out to you!

Enjoy your holiday! In the morning I'm going to indulge in homemade french toast and bacon for breakfast, present opening and giggles with T and Bird, and then Chinese food for dinner!

--

p.s. hope you like the new blog update...perhaps I have too much time on my hands and should get to bed.

So excited I almost forgot to share.

Another shop update, just in time for my holiday giveaway, which you still have 10 hours to enter (!)

+

a story:

So I read this a little over a month ago and thought, this is for me. I quietly crafted my submission email and sent it off in the wee hours of the night, divulging this only to T. I was excited and nervous and didn't know what to make of it all except that I wanted the position.

After a phone interview and some time had passed I finally received word that I got it! I am so excited to be joining the papernstitch team as their intern, to gain an amazing experience and to use my skills to help from right here at home with my little lady by my side! I don't think things could have turned out any better and it feels like another great Christmas present.

--

Enjoy your holidays and I'll be back with giveaway results in the morning!

Welcome!

Just wanted to say a hello to anyone popping in from KylaRoma.com today!

Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog and hopefully my shop Goose and Trisser.

As an early holiday gift to my readers I'm giving away a $20 gift certificate to be used in my shop!

Here's how to enter:

Entry period for the giveaway is from now until Christmas Eve at 11:59pm (Friday, Dec. 24th). The winner will be announced Christmas morning! The winner will receive either a digital or physical gift certificate (your choice) good for any unreserved item in my shop, Goose and Trisser.

Perfect for yourself or to give to a friend.


To enter:
1. Comment telling me your favorite item from G + T. (You can favorite the item and/or my shop too, if you'd like, I won't mind!)

2. Tweet about it and @gooseandtrisser me so I know (come back and comment that you did)

3. Write a bit about the giveaway on your own blog, and leave me a link in the comments.

That's 3 ways to enter! Do 1, 2 or all 3!
 

Enjoy your stay on my blog and good luck!

See something you like and don't want to wait for the giveaway results? Don't forget to use the coupon code Kyla told you about for 20% off.

Christmas #1, done

And did we have a great time!

We spent a couple days up north with T's parents and they definitely took advantage of time with their granddaughter! We went shopping in Traverse City on Friday and they spoiled her (and us!) rotten as grandparents are prone to do. We are so thankful for their generosity!

Once we got back to their house, we had dinner, including T's brother and T's parent's neighbor Don (like family). After dinner, we played two rousing games of Rummy-o, which I ended up winning in my own cunning way.

Present time was upon us as the night time and Bird's bed time were approaching. Bird enjoyed playing with the wrapping paper almost as much as her presents. Among other things, we were gifted our own Rummy-o game which will get tons of use on our game nights!

We met up with some friends at the local bar and enjoyed a good night out after putting Bird to bed with a prayer and a song. Karaoke was done and that's all I will say about that. Well, I will also say that I was duped into singing a song not of my choosing, like Karaoke Roulette, but made up for it with a fun duet with friend/bartender Erin.

The car got packed up to the gills this morning and after a small allergic reaction to breakfast (secret nuts in the coffee cake) we headed home. Despite that, I call the trip a success!

Christmas #2, where are you?

Oh and here is a peek at the presents we (I) made for T's parents and brother, now that they have seen them:

 

1 + 2. hand-monogrammed kerchief - want one like it, get a custom one in the shop
3 + 4. hand embroidered hoop scene - a little wall decor - find something for your walls here

I've been quiet

It has been a bit quiet around here for two big reasons:

1. I've been addressing our holiday cards which I finally mailed today and will share in a few, once people have received them in the mail.

2. I've been treat making and working on a shop update and it is finally done! Go check out some of the newest items in my shop!

Here is a little peek:

Encouragement

Polka dots

Red eye

Sunburst

Thanks for all the support, checking things out so far.

It is going to be quiet again for a few days as we are going to have the first of our 3 Christmases(!!!)  this weekend with T's parents and brother. So much needed rest and family time after a busy week!

Happy weekend, ours starts now!

Vintage shop clean out

I have another little shop that I give very little love to on my blog but I'm cleaning house and offering you all a little steal of a deal:

Enter code 

RAWSHOP50

 and get 50% off your items. 

There aren't many items but if they are what you are looking for then now is the time to snatch them up. They would make lovely Christmas gifts for someone.

Take a look here at rawshopper.etsy.com

Happy Thanksgiving

Today has been nothing like I thought it would be but I still have so much to be grateful for (not in any particular order)

Bird
T
Family
Great friends that are family
Old Country Buffet
Not having to do dishes after dinner
Jesus Christ
my health (including my sugar loving teeth)
baby orajel
World of Warcraft
having rich people's problems
enough money to have clutter
my blog
me time

The list goes on but it is late and I'm headed to bed.

Oh and as a special Thanksgiving present to any who read here and wanted to pick up a little something from my shop, Goose and Trisser:

use code 

GANDTBFCMBLOG 

between now and Monday 11/29, at 11:59 pm 

to get 25% off your items (not including shipping and tax). 

enjoy!

First Treasury

After a very small shop update a few days ago, one of my kerchiefs from G + T was featured in an Etsy Treasury!

I was very excited to be notified and am loving this new community that I get to engage with.

Hello my name is...

Rachel Anne. There I've said it. Nice to meet you.

Some of you knew that and some of you didn't but I've been here in this space for over three years and I figured now was as good a time as any to let you know my name. Because...

...well because this here blog just got a new name + blog address! Update your feeds because now you'll be able to find out about all our antics here at the roost at

gooseandtrisser.com

...as you were.

Creation Station

As promised here is a little peek at where I create for G+T, enjoy!

 

The little space where I blog away

My ribbons and twine

A bit of my fabrics

Gifted machine (from Val)

Threads down the length of my desk

Packing area with some packages ready to ship