Getting a head start

I had spent a lot of time on Etsy, before my Chrome started crashing it and read quite a bit of the Seller Handbook. I found it immensely useful and would recommend it to anybody who would like to try and make a go of their crafting skills. It's written in a regular, human way without preaching or patronizing. The Seller Handbook (ESH from now on) is the reason I started this blog and also one of the motivators to take the time and learn to be better with my hands :)

Anyway, ESH says that you should prepare for the coming season before the season actually hits. So, for example, December 15th is not a good day to post your new Christmas themed designs, since, with settling orders, payments and shipping, the item might be late arriving. If you still want to risk it, here's a useful bit of reading for you, my fellow procrastinators. Still, better to avoid the stress, right?

I had wanted to do something holiday themed and even got in a bit of drawing in. Yes, as always, it was hamsters. This particular little guy was going to be a little ninja, trying to hit another hamster with a candy cane. I hadn't quite figured out what the other hamster would be doing to fight off the attack, but it would have been something epic, by all means.

The next idea was for a hamster stealing some chocolate chip cookies. I quite liked his happy little face and the one damaged ear was a little tribute to my current fluffy buddy, Treesha. I thought to myself that ok, this is too many hamsters, isn't it? I'm really pushing it. So I decided to take a hamster chill-pill and just not do anything for this holiday season. Yes, they're fuzzy and adorable, but you *can* have too much of a good thing.

Two decisions were made. One - the number of hamster designs should be equal to or less than 1. Two - I will prepare for each holiday/event/markable occasion on time. For 2013 (unless the world ends tomorrow), I've made a list of dates that require some sort of marking, when they are and when to start preparing themed products for them. You'd think this would be easy, but I assure you, it isn't. Many different holidays are marked throughout the world. I'm sure I'll be leaving much out, so please, let me know if you think I should add something. Also thanks to these guys for keeping their super fun site.

FEBRUARY

Groundhog day - February 2nd - January (just for giggles, I had to list this one)

Valentines day - February 14th - January

MARCH

Women's day - March 8th - January

Pi day - March 14th - February

St Patrick's day - March 17th - February

International Earth day - March 20th - February

Easter - March/April - February

APRIL

Mathematics Awareness month

Sexual Assault Awareness month

Autism Awareness month

MAY

Lupus Awareness month

Asthma Awareness month

World Press Freedom day - May 3rd - April

International Nurses day- May 12th - April

Mother's day - May 12th - April

International Museums day - May 18th - April

Towel day - May 25th - April

JUNE

LGBT Pride month

World Environment day - June 5th - May

Father's day - June 16th - May

JULY

Bastille day - July 14th - June

SEPTEMBER

International Literacy day - September 8th - August

International Talk Like A Pirate day - September 19th - August

OCTOBER

Breast Cancer Awareness month

World Vegetarian day - October 1st - September

Halloween - October 31st - September

NOVEMBER

Movember

COPD Awareness month

Thanksgiving - November 22nd - October

DECEMBER

Seasonal Depression Awareness month

World AIDS Awareness day - December 1st - November

New Year's Eve - December 31st - November