fieldnotes 15

Fieldnotes #15
Happy October!

I was at an online summit the other day and it cracked me up. One talk on why you should say “no” more, and the very next one on why you should say “yes” more. If that doesn’t describe my life right now, I don’t know what does. 

HOUSEKEEPING NOTE: I’m switching email service providers. Yes, again. 😅 But in my defense—it’s been a whole year! Last October I moved to Flodesk, but I’ve decided it’s not worth the price, so I’m heading back to something simpler (and less expensive).

Switching ESPs is always a pain—not just the logistics, but also keeping my list healthy and making sure emails still land where they should. And while a lot of folks are switching to Flodesk right now (their unlimited plan is tempting ), here’s why I’m moving away: it looks gorgeous, but I don’t need “pretty” if it’s not serving me. For me, functionality trumps aesthetics. 😎

So October will be full of behind-the-scenes email housekeeping. If all goes as planned, November’s Fieldnotes will come from Kit (formerly ConvertKit). And because you’re putting up with me during this transition, I’ll make sure to have a little something extra tucked in there for you. 😘

Alright, let’ s get to it! Remember, as always, you’re free to just scroll down and snag this month’s freebie! You know I won’t judge! 😉


Don’t Do More, Do What Matters
If you’ve been with me a while, you know October tends to be a “thoughtful” month for me. This year even more so, since I was already reflecting on where I want my life and business to go in 2026 before October even arrived.

One thing that really stuck with me recently came from Michelle Rohr’s podcast Focus on Your Own Pain Points where she talks about how dysfunction drains us and why we need to focus on fixing it before we can do anything else. She quotes that Abe Lincoln line about sharpening the axe before chopping the tree…and wow, did it hit me differently this time. 🤔 

I realized I’ve been swinging way more than sharpening. 

Case in point: I opened my bookmarks folder and was horrified at how many courses I’ve purchased and never touched. 🙈 And yes, I even had to buy a whole external drive to store all the “resources” I swore I’d use. (Hi, my name is Kate, and I’m a digital hoarder. 😅) 

So I’ve been in a de-cluttering season: unsubscribing from email lists, leaving Facebook groups, and clearing mental space. Which is why I want to remind you: it’s okay if you unsubscribe. Yes, even from these Fieldnotes. 😉 If it doesn’t serve you anymore, I won’t be offended. I’d rather have an email list full of people who want to be here than be shouting into the void. 

Here’s my promise: I’ll like you the same whether you like me back or not…whether you subscribe, buy, or walk away. 😉 

Which brings me to something I need to say out loud, just so we’re clear on ya’ girl Kate and exactly who I am. I’m a Christian, and my Faith shapes how I live, work, and serve. Yes, this business is secular, and I don’t expect everyone here to share my beliefs. What matters most to me is treating one another with compassion, because disagreement doesn’t erase our shared humanity, and I believe that every one of us carries the same core identity: a human soul. So whether you subscribe or unsubscribe, agree or disagree, my care and respect for you remain the same. 🩷 

And at the end of the day, my hope is that this space will continue to be one of encouragement, honesty, and creativity for all of us. ✨

  

Pileated Woodpeckers
This summer brought an unexpected showdown at our house: My Husband vs. a very determined, very loud, very “gym bro“ Pileated Woodpecker who decided that the spot where the aluminum gutter meets the aluminum siding on our house would be the perfect spot to drum for a mate. Every. Single. Morning. 😵‍💫

Now, if you’re not aware, Pileated Woodpeckers are basically the linebackers of the woodpecker world. They’re massive - up to 19 inches long with a 30-inch wingspan! (For comparison, most woodpeckers are only 6-9 inches long.) And while smaller woodpeckers make tiny holes scattered across a tree, Pileateds go all-in, drilling holes so large that other animals actually move in! Check out this 45 second video for a look at how wild they are!



So yes, they’re stunning birds with bold red crests and dramatic markings. But make no mistake: they’re the jerks of the woodpecker world. Oh, and they’re a protected species...which I secretly suspect they know, so that just makes them bolder! 🤣

I’ll spare you the whole saga (he’s thankfully moved on), but in the process, we learned more than we ever thought we’d need to know about woodpeckers: why they peck, where they peck, and what it actually means. Fun fact: their tongues are so long they wrap around their heads and act like a built-in helmet while hammering! 😮🔨

Anyway, as the saga went on, I couldn’t help but see connections to Zazzle, and to my life! (Of course! 😅) Like that woodpecker, we often start with a goal in mind. For him, it was finding a mate. For us, it might be scaling our Zazzle shops or finally getting our home and schedule organized so life feels less chaotic. We settle in, aim at what looks like the “right spot,” and then we hammer away, certain that effort alone will eventually break through.

But here’s my point: effort in the wrong place is just noise. You can bang your head against the wall all day, but if it’s not the right spot, nothing gives…you just end up tired and sore. Our woodpecker “frenemy” was convinced that rattling our gutter was the perfect plan. And it was definitely loud, but instead of attracting a mate, it attracted the full attention of my very determined husband. 😈

On Zazzle, that might look like uploading nonstop without strategy, chasing every new trend, or constantly changing things without checking the data. It feels busy, but it doesn’t build anything lasting.

Real growth doesn’t come from effort alone. It comes from purposeful effort - from listening for the hollows, finding the spot that actually gives way, and then consistently showing up there.

So my question for you is this: are you building with purpose, or just making noise?

p.s. My husband solved our woodpecker problem with a couple of fake owls whose spinning heads were straight out of a horror movie. 👀 Let me be your “fake owl” - snapping you out of the noise and nudging you back toward what really matters. 🦉


Updates at Zazzle 

Update #1: A/B testing the new design area
Zazzle is testing a new customer-facing design area, and people have feelings about it. (The forums are…loud. Enter at your own risk. 😂)

Here’s the quick breakdown:
➡️Old version: customer clicked “personalize template,” a sidebar popped up with text fields.
➡️Test version #1: sidebar opens automatically, and customers can also double-click text on the product to edit.
➡️Test version #2: no sidebar at first…customers just click directly on the product image to personalize, but the sidebar is still available if they want it.

Why the shift? My hunch is that Zazzle wants the platform to feel more like Minted or Basic Invite. In fact, the new screen looks a lot like Minted’s. 🙈

And if I put myself in a bride’s shoes: Minted feels polished and high-end, while Zazzle’s old version looks more utilitarian - like comparing an iPhone to a flip phone. From a customer perspective, the change makes sense.

Ask me again if/when they make changes to OUR design area!  

Update #2: Image templates are converting to masks
Zazzle has converted photo fields into masks so customers can drag and drop images more easily. Bonus: if they accidentally delete a photo, the frame stays in place, which means fewer late-night “help!” messages for us. 🙌

Of course, this is Zazzle, so it hasn’t been 100% smooth. Some designers have reported missing or broken images. If you run into issues, file a help ticket with Zazzle. In my experience it’s more effective than the forums, where bug reports tend to get buried or just seen as “complaining.” 🤷🏻‍♀️

Also worth noting: Zazzle prefers we use their built-in frames since they’re less likely to break. If you usually make your own masks (SVG + image method), keep doing your thing, but check their frames first. You might save yourself some tweaks down the road.

Update #3: Paper type changes
Several paper options are being discontinued. 🥲 Zazzle will try to migrate your designs to available papers, but don’t be surprised if you see funky results…or missing cover images.

Designers who rely on specialty papers (like pearl shimmer) may feel this more. Personally, I stick with the default “signature matte” and let customers upgrade if they want to. It keeps my pricing competitive, and if they upgrade, I get a little extra royalty from the paper cost. Win-win. ✨

Final thoughts
Yes, changes can be frustrating (and sometimes buggy), but I choose to see this as Zazzle actively looking for ways to attract more buyers, which helps all of us.

When I get “patiently annoyed” (LOL), I remind myself: Zazzle hosts our designs, prints, ships, and handles customer service. We design, post, and promote.

There’s a cost of doing business everywhere, whether it’s Etsy listing fees or the overhead of running your own shop. For me, Zazzle still offers the calm business life I want, and that makes the trade-off worth it. ✨


What should you be creating right now? 

❄️Last Call for Winter Holidays! This is your final push to get products posted for the 2025 holiday season. If you’ve been dragging your feet, today’s the day! Remember: this is passive income, so what you create now can keep selling this year, next year, and beyond. So don’t let the timing scare you off. (Your freebie this month will help!)

✨Q4 is also the time to shift to creating a lot of evergreen products that will sell year round, rather than for a particular season or holiday. Think baby showers, birthdays, home decor, pet products, etc. 


What should you be promoting right now?
Q4 is traditionally focused on promotion, promotion, and promotion! Even spending just a few minutes a day pinning your products can have measurable results as the season draws near!

🍁Thanksgiving & Friendsgiving
🎃 Halloween (especially if you have digital downloads enabled - which you should!)
🎄 Christmas & Winter Holidays



Remember that Last Call I just mentioned? To make it easier for you, this month’s freebie is a set of 10 on-trend holiday patterns you can drop straight into your designs. 🎄

They’re seamless, so use the tile button to really get some variety! Even something as simple as a patterned background on a minimalist holiday card can make the difference between a scroll-past and a sale. ✨

Click here or on the image below to grab the pack and get started. 



Both of this month’s FTF are free and fun (well, as much as math can be fun…).

First up: My friend and fellow Zazzler, Amanda (CtrlZ Digital Designs), just launched a brand-new Creative Community for people who sell their work online! 🎉

It’s a fun, FREE group where you can:
⚡Meet other Zazzle sellers (plus creatives on Etsy, Shopify, Amazon, and more)
⚡Share your progress and wins
⚡Get accountability and encouragement
⚡Jump into creative challenges designed to spark ideas and keep you moving forward.

I’ve already joined, and in just the first couple of weeks Amanda has hosted some great challenges that really got me thinking in new directions. She’s such a warm, encouraging person and is FULL of ideas to help you grow and not feel so “alone” in your entrepreneurial journey. 

If you’ve been craving connection and motivation, this might be just the community for you. Click here or on the image below to check it out.
You can browse without subscribing, but if you want to comment and participate (and you do!), you’ll need to sign up (“subscribe”) to her community.

Note: this is on Substack, which is basically an online platform where people publish their content. There’s an app, but you can also just go to the website from your computer (if you’re old like me Hah!). 

Second: If you’re a numbers cruncher, please check out Col’s (of Col’s Creations) FREE Zazzle Earnings Calculator here. 

I don’t know about you, but I get tired of trying to understand “Zazzle Math,” so Col’s calculator has been a real help to me. You just plug in your numbers and ✨magic✨happens! 


Coming Soon! I’ve been part of the beta test on another very cool Zazzle listing helper, and the creator is currently implementing changes that will make it a really helpful tool! If all goes as planned, look for that promo in next month’s Fieldnotes!

♥ That’s it for October! ♥
Thanks for being here - I appreciate you! ♥

Be sure to reach out if you have questions or just want to say hi!

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