Sending or Selling?

Not Strictly for Etsy: 

Most of the time mom and I make cards strictly for our Etsy shop (check out the link to our shop at the top right corner of the blog and follow us here on TRC's blog via Google Friends Connect)!

Well, recently there have been several birthdays and a few engagement, baby, and wedding cards that I've wanted to make. But I have a hard time keeping up with everyday tasks, like getting to the coffee maker in the morning.  Ahh, that's probably the most important part of the day. Making cards, decorating, playing the piano and reading the Bible and articles has been very therapeutic. I'm seeing some progress with this new treatment plan! So, I'm able to read and write a lot better. Hallelujah!

I mentioned making cards earlier and that it's a challenge sometimes. Well, here are two of the cards I made that weren't sold but sent. These cards can be replicated if you'd like. Just go to our Etsy shop and send a custom order request. Leave a comment on this post if you have questions. 

For Grandpa Roop's Birthday: 

For this card I used the Cycle Celebration stamp set. All of our cards are made with fabulous products from Stampin Up! I just love this bicycle! 

For Courtney and Corey's Wedding Shower:

This card was soooo fun to make! I just love this music paper from Stampin Up! and the dahlia embellishments AND the big bow (so girly:). The sentiments are from the One in a Million stamp set. 

Our family has been friends with the Fraziers for as long as I can remember. Kristin and I are the same age and we're pretty tight :) Courtney helped me through a really rough time with my health when we were still in Greenville. So excited to go back to the Gassaway Mansion in January to see them get married! Mom and I couldn't make it to Courtney's scheduled shower but Ken and I went over to meet Corey (Courtney's fiancé) and Saddy (Justin's wife)

Pics from our visit!

Shine bright, 

*Robin* 

Meeting Sydney and Health Update

I'm back from my unplanned blogging hiatus. Usually people go to Hawaii and can't blog. Yeah, it's not like that. :) Mom and I started crafting for Christmas and I thought, "why am I not blogging this?". Major props to the big time bloggers that are so consistent with their blog posts. I struggle just to get out of bed in the morning. Although it's tough to get things done, I was so thankful to be able to see my cousin's baby and to start a treatment plan that is based on new lyme research findings.

Meeting Baby Sydney:

Ken and I were blessed to be able to go to Lynchburg this Thanksgiving. Last year there was no way to make it because of my health. Loved seeing family, and especially my grandparents. This thanksgiving we finally got to meet my cousin's baby girl! She is such a happy baby and as you can see, a very cute and cuddly one too. Love my cousin and aunt so much. 

Four generations!

Sydney checking store specials

Aunt Mary and Sydney

New Treatment Plan:

At our last visit to Dr. P we got some new info on Lyme treatment for the 25% of Lyme patients who don't see improvement with regular treatment. I'm in that 25%. Bummer, I know. Friends and family know that I have improved since last year but haven't seen the progress we'd all hoped for by this time. 

Dr. P had just gotten back from a conference when we went to see him. I'm kind of his Guinea pig for this, I guess. I'm ok with that. I'll try anything at this point. Except skydiving. That's just not my thing. Anyway, we knew about biofilm early on in the process. Not only is the Lyme bacteria invasive and destructive, it is also intelligent. Biofilm is the protective covering the bacteria makes for itself over time. A covering that is hard to penetrate in some cases. 

I'm on a protocol that breaks down fat-soluble toxins such as biofilm, etc. There are no antibiotics involved but some fairly intense treatments. Praising the Lord for getting me through one of the toughest parts this weekend. The entire treatment plan is eight weeks long. It's too much to explain but I'm starting week 3 today and we are hopeful. I am still have violent pain attacks at least once a day that leave me exhausted and discouraged. Thank you to those who have been faithful to pray and show love. We are hoping to tear this biofilm to pieces so we can annihilate the bacteria! 

Blessings. 

*Robin* 

A Verse Ministry and Paper Tutorials

Over the years I've accumulated tons of stationary and office supplies. Notecards, post-it notes, binders, folders, pens, gel pens (oh my word, I bought the 50 pack of those when they were really "in"), I could go on and on about the paper and ink products I have on hand now. The way I'm currently using my extra stationary is by sending notecards with verses on them and journaling who I send them to in order to stay organized.

1. Choose how you'd like to use your extra stationary

Since I can't get out much because of pain, I'm currently using my extra stationary to mail verse cards. *Side note-If you are bedridden or have to stay inside because of an illness you can still glorify God, often in unique ways. Don't give up the fight and don't forget about others.*. I use notecards that have piled up over the years. Just hope I don't accidentally send one with a study question on the back! I used notecards a lot during school.


2. Organize your stationary according to what you need for your project 

For me this is the hardest step. I used to be more of a free spirit before the illness hit me then I got super OCD. So now there's this part of me that wants everything to be in it's place and another part that wants an organized mess (aka organized stacks).

Materials for verse ministry:

1. Notecards
2. Pens
3. Envelopes
4. A Bible
5. Postage stamps
6. Binder or Notebook to track which verse you sent to which people, what day it was and their address.
7. Address book (if you have one-still need to compile my addresses!)
8. Post it notes (I use these on the first verse card I send just to let people know what I'm doing. That way if they continue receiving verses they'll know why). You don't have to do this step.

Even if everything isn't perfectly organized, make a special spot/container for your supplies. Decorate the notebooks if you want. Make things fun :)

If you're interested in the verse ministry, you can make a card to send it in or send only the notecard. If you want to send with a card, check out our Etsy shop for some cards that are sure to encourage as well! TRC Etsy Shop

Project Ideas

-Learn to make origami figures Origami Crane Tutorial
-Use notecards as learning cards, just like you may have done in school. Never stop learning!
-Donate excess school supplies to kids who need them
-Make greeting cards
-Make a home organization binder
-Decorate unused notebooks or notepads and give as gifts (Check out these sites for ideas and tutorials: Tutorial for Covered Notebooks Tutorial for Notepad Toppers )

Have fun creating :)

*Robin*

Customers and Cookies

Customer Acquisition 

No, we did not open a cookie shop! But a couple weeks ago we were contacted by a bakery based out of Massachusetts  Check out their bakery and our card fronts on their cookie boxes here -----> Bellavella Cookies The lady from Bellavella Cookies has been great. We get orders from the bakery on a consistent basis, almost every week! We are thankful for this opportunity that came to us. Praise the Lord! I can't work fast anymore but I still try to work hard. That's what I'm learning, it takes hard work, patience and diligence to get results. So keep at it if you have a small business or an Etsy shop going! 

Customer Retention

Anyone who owns a business knows that customer satisfaction is a key component to obtaining repeat customers. We use Etsy's business platform and they offer tools to keep customers happy. What I've realized over the past few months is that the more items you post to your shop, the more interest you get from potential customers. At first I was happy that we had a shop and some success on Mother's Day and Father's Day this year. However, we knew most of the people who bought from our shop. We're thankful they came to our shop! If you're one of our customers, just know that you rock! Our goal has been to keep our customers interested and gain customers by figuring out what people like and stocking the store with those items. Thankfully we have people from all over the country that buy from us now. I haven't written any posts that are serious or about business but I really enjoy the topic. Please leave comments on how you keep your customers happy. If you're one of our customers or interested in our products let us know what you like! 

This post is a result of my Dad encouraging me to have the link to our shop visible. Pretty good idea I'd say. :) So here is the link to our shop, The Rounded Corner Shop. I'll also be posting the link on the homepage of the blog so it's easy to find. 

Lyme treatments are going slow. Not much progress but not much regression either. Lots of raw pain and fatigue. We go to see the doctor soon. Even though it is miserable, I hope we get back on an antibiotic regime. Thanks to all who have been praying for us. This past Thursday was the 1 year anniversary of my diagnosis. It was very emotional. Lots of flashbacks but I'm thankful to God who is my sustainer! The light is at the end of the tunnel shine bright and eat a cookie while you're Rounding the Corner to get there! 

*Robin