I’m in the doghouse

Cats are great. They are independent, self sufficient, and, occasionally, they let you pet them. You don’t have to walk them, bag their poop, or look into brown, sad eyes when they want a treat.

Image of Momma and Stumpy

Cats love routine- and my three (really four) know mine. They know when I would be there to feed them in the am and pm. They know when I will be working at the house.

So throwing in a week long vacation AWAY from them really threw them for a loop.

Mom went over twice a day and fed them but not on my usual schedule. For some reason she didn’t want to get up at 4 am to walk over and feed them. The food arrived late each morning and sometimes late each evening.

Image of Ash

When I got home, Momma (aka Baby Girl) had been a no-show at food times for a few days, Ash was also MIA, and Old Man was chasing Stumpy. Well, that part wasn’t new. Stumpy has a healthy dose of fear when it comes to dear old dad.

Later that day, to show how much he missed me, Ash decided to get into the attic (again)- but this time it was closed off with layers of insulation mom and I put up when the AC quit. I had to get a ladder and to make a hole over the bathroom ceiling to pull him through. He drank a little and headed outside for the bathroom.

Stumpy was his usual love muffin form- flopping on one side as his usual “pet me!” sign. Which I did. And I picked him up for cuddles.

Momma, meanwhile, was still MIA. The food was gone, so I knew she was coming in. Two days later she showed up for breakfast. She still voiced her dissatisfaction with my abandonment by not showing up for another two days. Now she is back to being a regular morning greeter.

Old Man was there every single time, ready for his meal. If he doesn’t get it I have a possum that will happily eat it.

They are also used to me working on the house each evening after the pm feeding. Mom and I are working to get her other house. We have company coming and we need to be able to sleep over there- which means turning up the AC to where I’m at least comfortable.

  • Install a smaller window for cross ventilation- in case you are wondering, NOTHING likes to cut through 3 layers of plywood
  • Insulate the outside wall in that area
  • Get the hole in the subfloor patched and the layer above that.

We did it but it’s been a busy week and weekend and the kids are feeling neglected. I’m glad I get to work there this afternoon. They need some lov’n.

How do your fur kids react to you being gone?

Small Labels Video Drop

Taking an away vacation for a week allowed me to concentrate on editing the Small Label Series. I completed 2 long videos and a number of teaser ones and they are now scheduled on my YouTube channel in the Small Labels Playlist. This series was created for quilters who are adding labels to their quilts.

As I sell sublimated quilt labels in my shop I thought it would be nice to showcase the Eights Category (8 labels on a sheet) that I will be selling soon in the shop. I have a lot of quilt labels of various sizes in my shop, check them out here if you want to see them.

The Eights label set is great for quilters who want a small, but impactful, label for their quilts. The Eights labels come as all the same design in 8 different colors. The wording can be the same on all 8 or 4 different sayings twice. As with all of my labels- customization is allowed. But these are small- the size of a business card. That makes using them a little problematic as there is a LOT of fabric in such a tiny little space.

Enter- framing!

When you frame your label I find it tends to elevate it to look more elegant. It goes from “mmmm- yeah, thanks” to “Wow! Did you buy this label like this?”

I did make mine into little quilts so I can wash them to see how they hold up- but you can just add it to your quilt!

I did a few different styles and on Vacay I found out about ONE more I can do! I’m excited to try it! Here were the methods I tried at this time:

  • Naked- no interfacing at all
  • Light weight interfacing- like stitch witchery in a large format; I did two- only the inside edge and the whole frame
  • Medium weight interfacing; I did two- only the inside edge and the whole frame

I have to say, I was impressed! All five labels looked sharp and crisp.

The best part? This can be used for ANY label!

This full size label is square. I made the quilt for a church friend and used my Service label. He was in the Army for 20 years. The last stanza of the Star Spangled Banner is on the label, the first stanzas are quilted in one of the narrow borders. I think the frame fabric around it as the backing fabric makes it look like a floating label, doesn’t it?

This full size Solo label is one I made for my cousins wedding quilt. I used orphan blocks to help frame two sides of the quilt. No date as the wedding date was changed a few times. I thought it safer that way. Thankfully, there are no quilt police to tell me I got it wrong.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Watch the videos and tell me if you liked them, learned something, or want me to make you some labels. I’d love to!

My Etsy shop again- https://hmjoriginals.etsy.com

Ultimate Etsy Course

My Honest Review of Dylan Jahraus’ Coaching Program: From Zero to Multi-Six Figures on Etsy

Launching a business on Etsy can feel like stepping into a jungle. With countless shops, competing products, and confusing advice scattered across the internet, it’s easy to waste time fumbling through trial and error. That’s exactly why I decided to join Dylan Jahraus’ coaching program—a decision that changed the trajectory of my Etsy shop and gave me the clarity I needed to build a thriving business. This is my honest review of the program, its value, and whether it’s worth the investment for anyone dreaming of quitting their 9–5 job.


Why I Decided to Join Dylan Jahraus’ Coaching Program

Like many aspiring entrepreneurs, I knew I learned best by watching, following along, and having someone break things down step-by-step. But when it came to Etsy, the sheer volume of advice online was overwhelming. Everyone seemed to contradict each other, and I didn’t want to waste months experimenting with strategies that might not work.

That’s when I discovered Dylan Jahraus. I saw that she had built a multi-six-figure Etsy business herself and was now offering a clear, structured way to replicate her success. The promise of a documented Etsy blueprint step-by-step was exactly what I needed. Instead of piecing together free YouTube videos, I could access a proven framework with expert coaches guiding me every step of the way.

If you’re curious about what Dylan offers, you can explore her services here.


What I Liked Most About the Program

There were several standout features of the program that made it invaluable:

  1. Fast response times from coaches – I could ask a question and expect a response within 24 hours. Better yet, the answers were always specific to my exact situation.
  2. One years access to recordings – Every coaching call is recorded and stored in a searchable library. This means I can revisit topics for a refresher.
  3. Multiple weekly coaching calls – While I was in coaching, I had access to five live calls every week. Now that I’ve finished, I can still view these sessions in the live call library.
  4. Access to ongoing resources – Even after completing the main program, I retain access to the resource library, video archives, and student chat areas up to a year of starting the program.
  5. Coaches who push you forward – The coaches weren’t afraid to challenge me. If my idea wasn’t strong, they’d say so—but they’d also give me alternatives. For example, they’d ask: Have you thought of bundling this with that? or How else could you solve your customer’s pain point?

This hands-on support made all the difference in helping me understand Etsy SEO, product positioning, and the famous 7 types of products strategy Dylan teaches.


What It’s Like Working With Dylan’s Team

At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Shortly after joining, I even received a couple of random phone calls—turns out, it was just the program team checking in to see how I was doing. That personal touch immediately set the tone.

The coaches truly take the time to understand your shop. Before answering my questions, they would review my Etsy store and even look back at interactions I’d had with other coaches. That way, their feedback was always cohesive rather than contradictory.

What I valued most was their honesty. They aren’t there to sugarcoat your ideas—they’re there to help you win. If something wasn’t working, they’d tell me straight up, “This idea might flop, but here’s how to tweak it so it succeeds.” And they always tied their feedback back to the program’s foundation:

  • Who is your customer?
  • What pain point are you solving?
  • How can you present this in multiple ways?

These questions became the backbone of my Etsy journey.


https://dylanjahraus.com/pricing

Naturally, one of the first questions anyone asks is: What does the Dylan Jahraus course cost? Pricing can change depending on the package you select, but you can find the most up-to-date details on the official pricing page.

I’ll be honest: the program isn’t the cheapest option on the market. But the truth is, you get what you pay for. The support, structure, and resources make it far more valuable than trying to cobble together free content online.

When you consider the fact that I had my first sales within 10 days of opening my shop and hit 10 sales in my first month, the return on investment was clear. For me, it was worth every penny.


Real Results: From Concept to Execution

When I joined, I didn’t even have an Etsy store. The program took me from idea to execution in record time. Instead of spinning my wheels, I was able to set up my shop correctly the first time, list optimized products, and began driving traffic immediately. The system for ranking higher in Etsy search worked—I was getting visibility and sales faster than I thought possible.

Of course, the results aren’t automatic. The program gives you the tools, but it’s up to you to use them. Momentum is something you build and maintain yourself. But having Dylan’s Etsy blueprint step-by-step gave me the roadmap I needed.

If you’d like to see what other students say, you can browse the full reviews section here.


How the Program Helps You Rank Higher on Etsy

One of the biggest game-changers for me was understanding how Etsy SEO actually works. Instead of guessing at keywords, I learned how to:

  • Identify what customers were actually searching for.
  • Craft product titles and descriptions that rank higher.
  • Optimize tags without “keyword stuffing.”

By applying these lessons, my listings started climbing search results. More visibility meant more clicks, and more clicks translated into sales.

This is especially important given the changing marketplace. For example, Etsy has faced challenges with tariffs and shifting policies. Having a solid SEO strategy ensures your shop can withstand these ups and downs.


Building a Business That Lasts

The goal of Dylan’s program isn’t just short-term sales. It’s about helping you quit your 9–5 job and build a full-time Etsy business. For me, the biggest takeaway was realizing that Etsy success isn’t about luck—it’s about systems. By applying Dylan’s methods, you create a repeatable process that allows you to scale.


Addressing Common Questions

If you’re still on the fence, I recommend checking out Dylan’s FAQs page. It covers common concerns like time commitment, expected results, and whether the program is right for beginners.

From my own perspective, the value is clear: I joined with zero experience, and within weeks of starting, I had a functioning shop generating real sales. That kind of acceleration is rare.


Final Thoughts: Is the Dylan Jahraus Course Right for You?

If you’re serious about building an Etsy shop that generates consistent income, Dylan Jahraus’ coaching program is one of the best investments you can make. It combines expert guidance, actionable strategies, and ongoing support to help you go from concept to multi-six figures.

This isn’t just another course—it’s a system designed to give you the confidence and clarity to scale your shop, quit your 9–5 job, and achieve financial freedom.

For anyone wondering if it’s worth it, I’ll say this: without Dylan’s coaching, I would still be stuck in research mode, overwhelmed by conflicting advice. With it, I have a shop that’s growing and a roadmap for future success.

If you’re ready to take the leap, start by exploring Dylan’s services and pricing to see which option is best for you.