January 21, 2012 - Wake Up Call

I suppose if I want to make a press kit and do some more promotion, I need to think a little more about branding. Branding. I really need a good logo, good headshot of me (lol) and a good tagline. I've stolen a line from Matisse, which I love, but I think I need something better. Something exclusively me and in my own words. Do you think, “I make great shit, buy it.” will do?

I think I have it. The Morton Salt Girl. I need something somewhere between my current business card and the Morton Salt logo. I am only branding my Eco Felt Flowers.

I found some recycled glass rondelles that I can uses as my flower centers. Too expensive for now. Must remember later.

I also just realized today, that I've been brainwashed by Etsy. I haven't sold there in over a year, but I'm still brainwashed. Everything they encourage their sellers to do for exposure, benefits Etsy. They don't really encourage you to make a press kit or sell your wares to brick and mortars. Why would they, when they can get commission off your sales online? They also encourage you to up your prices (don't undersell yourself) which means more for them too. Not that I don't think that a business shouldn't do all it can to succeed. I think it would be better if they not pretend they are the good guy whey they are just as greedy as the next corporation.

God I'm running my business just like the seller who made crafts in Girl Scouts and thinks she can make a living off of it, just because there is a site and a store with her name on it. There is so much more to running a business than just making pretty things and I should know better. I should just slap myself across the face, knowing that I didn't wake up sooner than this!

If I want this to work, I have to promote, and put a name and a face to it, and hit the road. I need to create in image and get me some press. I am a designer. If I can design lighting, I can design a business that can sell and be viable. I know I can. I just need to take a look at all the parts I need and assemble them in the most appealing way and voila!

January 19, 2012

I've almost forgotten again why I'm writing this diary. I had hoped that I could sort out my life. Find what it is that I really like to do, and really make a living at it. I am finding that trying to set up all of the possibilities is exhausting. Add to that the exercise and I can barely move.

I know I'm crazy, but I really really love my flowers. Yesterday I read something that suggested we all follow our passion. This is going somewhere, I know it. If I can just follow this path. I love flowers, because I love nature. I love the earth and people so I want to create an art that leaves a small footprint on the environment. I do that by making my flowers out of recycled plastics.

I'm not exactly sure that really helps, because I don't think we ever should have used plastics as much as we do. I mean, seriously, disposable cameras? Well I guess with camera phones, we don't really use those any more. I guess it's not as bad as bottled water which when tested turns out to be tap water in a plastic bottle that we pay too much for. I can bottle water myself. Maybe we should all keep milk in it's original container and how about eggs. We can keep chickens and cows (or goats) yes?

My head is splitting today and I'm very tired. I only had about 4 hours sleep last night. Long story, but I was doing dishes and laundry at 3 am because I couldn't sleep.

Then someone tweeted a picture of their press kit. Press Kit? Seriously? And I started doing research. I need a freaking press kit and I need to get some press. Maybe only local to start, but I need some. Now I have to do some more research. Press kits. Once I make them though I know where to start. If I want to start locally I know which press to hit and how to swing it. I need to join more organizations too. Having the feature on Nosh will help a bit. Press kit. Ugh!