April 27, 2012

Another fun filed listing day today, but today, I've almost finished with my packaging design. I hope it ends up being successful. Here's what I've come up with. Two types of packaging, box or hanging display. The boxes are kraft recycled paper brown and will be stamped on top with the same pattern as the cardstock backing in the acetate pillowbox. The boxes will be brown, the cardstock will be gray and it will coordinate with my business cards.

I bought a print background stamp to use on the cardstock. I wanted the pillowbox to kind of feel like a corsage box and the faintly printed cardstock, will look kind of like the print coated tissue that florists use to wrap bouquets with. I hope it all comes together.

I wasn't sure what I should use to tag my flowers in the boxes, a business card is too big, but I've cropped them down and they work perfectly. I love how they turned out. Everything is on it's way and I should have it by next week. I can photograph the packaging and get it all together for the brochure.

I can easily assembly line stamping paper and boxes. I have a nice paper cutter too that can make quick work of cutting the cardstock inserts. And as I've said, I have a binding machine to get the brochures together.

How much more can I accomplish in 3 days?

April 12, 2012

Things were so different when I was a kid. It wasn't just that I was naive, the whole world was. Those of you who are older know. Those of you who watch Mad Men can see for yourself. No one even imagined that little Sally could suffocate in that plastic bag, or get addicted to those sleeping pills. What was the harm in that? Everyone was innocent back then. I'm recalling how I loved my baby seal skin hooded jacket and my baby alligator purse. I didn't know back then that someone was killing babies. I don't even think my family who bought them really realized it.

OK, so today I just killed a bunch of ants that were trying to get into the cereal and my crock pot. I'm not a Buddhist after all.

Today I did some more photography and listing of my flowers. But as promised, I'll review what I did for my product design business.

I was only supposed to be getting myself ready to present my product to potential clients, but somehow I ended up with paying clients. Not a lot of money, but some, and maybe more sales in the future. This was all from updating my linkedin resume. Not a bad idea to just add something once in a while. When I am done with my website, I will add that too. My portfolio website, that is.

What did I plan to do, that I didn't. I planned to loose weight so I'd look more professional. Nope. I planned to learn my CAD program so I could send clients, CAD drawings. Nope.

I did however learn to use the CAD program enough to make some rough base drawings and alter old drawings so I could work on Photoshop to finish the designs. About the only thing I did accomplish is to work on my website and even that isn't finished. Although it is very close. The way business is going this month, I'll have plenty of time to finish it too.

The big thing I have yet to do is make my resume. I have an old one that I need to polish up, things like explaining what I've been doing for the past 4 years. I need to take a peek at how resumes are written these days. Formats change like lighting and I haven't written one for 4 years. Progress is a fickle companion.

April 4, 2012

Today I finished some new flowers and shipped the ones I sold. I'm pretty happy that I'm finally selling jewelry, and it seems I sell brooches in lots too. I suppose I should try that on eBay. Lots of pick your own bouquets. Might get some wedding orders there.

Things are still quiet on the design front, so I'm enjoying the peace and getting some personal things done today. I really need to clean up my area. I've been working so much that it looks like a tornado hit inside the room. Too much work and too little time to organize. I didn't really mean to work quite this hard. It's not the designing or the production that is the issue, it's the planning and extra blogging that I won't be doing in the future, that is adding to my work load. I really didn't think that my plans would work so well before I had completed them.

It is really amazing what just taking a step back and looking at what you're doing can do for your business. At the end of the four months, I will give a summary as to all the changes I've made in my business as a result of my examination. Those of you faithful readers, probably know already.

Tomorrow I plan to spend a little time on my sewing. My new product there, has been taking off like mad too. I added bow ties to my line, and they are great sellers and pretty profitable too. I'd love to cut back on everything else and just make bow ties. Not that they are entirely original, but I did make my own pattern, and because I have so much grosgrain ribbon, I used that for the neck portion. They actually look really cute on a bare neck for women, and they are fastened with hook and loop. I'm making Jack Skellington tomorrow, but so far the Beatles fabric and Batman are my best sellers. Genre Bow Ties.

March 30, 2012

I've had such an exhausting month. I hope it was all worth it. Of course it wasn't all the work that made it exhausting, it was a lot of the extraneous things (life) that did it too. Family health issues, birthdays, the woman next door locking herself out at one in the morning after I worked for 14 hours straight and pounding on the door and screaming for a half hour before someone finally let her in. And no, she's not a drunk, just a little altered from her med cocktail.

I had a semi relaxing day. I haven't sold much this week so after watching my granddaughter most of the day, I cut out the few things I sold, did the dishes and some laundry. It was nice after all the work I did.

I had bought some colored pencils on line, and was expecting them at the Post Office. I guess the people at the Post Office didn't notice them, because my daughter didn't pick them up. What she did get, however, was my new post cards. Now, I just ordered these Monday from Vistaprint and I've NEVER received anything that quickly from them. They were horrible. Cropped wrong, wrong color, just horrible. I was so disappointed. I'm not sure what they were trying to accomplish working so quickly, but it didn't impress me. Now I either have to contact them and get a refund and look somewhere else or trust they will send me a new set with correct images.

This really sets me back on my brochure, but I do have time to get better prints. The cards I got were blown up and cropped off center and kind of pinkish brown instead of the nice pewter. Not terrible, but they don't match the business card I got PRINTED AT VISTAPRINT!!!! How can I send out something to potential clients that don't match? This has just been a cursed month and I suppose that because of it, none of my product designs will sell to the huge retailers that were presented with them.

One thing about all this work I've done the past three months is that I really love designing product. I like crafting, but I love designing. And I'm good at it too. I'll share my website when I'm finished, and you can see.

March 22, 2012

Life gets in the way part 365. Yes, that's the days in a year. I suppose I should say 366, because this is a leap year. How lucky we are to have an extra day to screw up things with. If you didn't get that sarcasm, it was.

I started the day cutting flowers in the sun. It was beautiful and peaceful. But my daughter needed me to watch the baby so I had to help. So much for flowers. Then I finally got the baby to rest and sleep. Next to me, because she relaxes better and sleeps sounder that way. I actually sang her to sleep. First time, I was shocked.

I was able to crochet a couple of denim blue headbands while she was sleeping. Good progress. Not exactly sure what to do with the white. I want something really lacy so I have to design that. Maybe with a lacy peak that falls down to the hairline.

I planned to work on more flowers and at night when the family was asleep, working on finishing my lighting drawings. My daughter took the baby and her eight year old down to the beach. He was playing with a friend.  He was trying to tow her on a boogie board, by the cord. We told him that she was too heavy and to stop because the cord might pull out. Right then and there it did and the plastic T that holds the cord to the board snapped forward right into his left eye.

That was the end of that evening of progress. His parents scooped him up in hes soaking wet T-shirt and bathing suit, grabbed the baby car seat, diaper bag and took him to the emergency room. They almost released him and then saw blood pooling in his iris. Parents had to take him to Cleveland to a better emergency room where they had to wait for several hours to see a Doctor and a few to be released. The accident was at 4pm, they got home at 1am.

While they were gone I had very little word. I couldn't think to design, I was pacing, and then decided to put my energy into mindless cleaning. I got more work done around the house than I had done in a very long time.  I was very far behind because of the cold and flue of the past months. I guess that all worked out, but I was already behind on designs, and they asked me to do more.

All things considering, it was a fairly productive day.

March 19, 2012

I was reminded today about the whole Cinderella thing. I think I may have mentioned why the name Cinders. It has to do with being called Cinderella as a young child in the hospital. Endearing terms for an ailing child, by interns and nurses. I was a pretty sickly little kid. I spent so much time in the hospital, that when I was finally healthy, I really missed it.

I began to think of myself in terms of Cinderella and her life, even getting a stepmother and 2 step sisters. I thought that when I grew up, Prince Charming would come and rescue me (never gonna happen). I loved the birds and the little mice too.

Cinders is a combination of Cinderella and Cindy and also my favorite Hans Christian Anderson tale, the Tinderbox. And it also represents recycling to me. From the cinders (or ashes) I can make something beautiful.

I didn't finish this post last night, so some people might have gotten my post emailed without the balance of my thoughts. Not that anyone is reading this one anyhow. My life has been so hectic lately that I'm leaving out steps all over the place. I just remembered that I forgot to cancel my car insurance 2 weeks ago. No car, no need for insurance. I have quite a few more important things too, before I get to that.

I spent the day sewing and then spending time with my cousins. I didn't even have a chance to draw or work on my brochure. But at least I got all of my sewing done. Hopefully I get more finished Tuesday, but it's not looking good. My daughter's birthday is tomorrow, I have to watch her baby while she works, package my sewing, grocery shop, and make her favorite cake.

March 18, 2012

Today was a crafting day. I also worked a bit on my next design project. I have to get them in by the end of the week. A few phone calls, one from the person I am designing for to discuss the project, and one from my cousin to arrange visiting my sick cousin. I understand he has a terminal illness, but is feeling very well considering. Terminal doesn't mean the same thing it used to. Many people with terminal illness can live longer than those without. As I've said before, my son who we were told would not live to adulthood, has outlived many of his friends.

I was reading this wonderful post on Handmadeology about Offline Marketing for Online Businesses. I can't even begin to tell you how much Handmadeology has helped me put together my approach to promoting my business. It's almost as if they are reading my mind and know the next stem in my progress. Are you watching me Tim?

Speaking of watching me. I've noticed that certain places like Groupon, Facebook, Vitacost and of course eBay and Amazon, seem to know what I'm browsing and coincidentally send me ads in key places. I even get ads on Google or AOL that relate to emails I get. I'm not sure I really like being spied on like that.  I suppose one day I'll have to invest in software that block spying, because my freeware doesn't seem to be doing the trick.

Back to Handmadeology. The post is about cross promotion and using shops or other venues to get your product seen. I hadn't considered this before. It's about not just taking your wares to a shop and dropping it off to sell, but also offering a service to your shop. For instance, I have a fairly large following on Twitter. I suppose I should grow that following locally too. But I could promote the business that I might sell at too. I could promote myself to local papers and say that my product is available at .... cross promoting them as well.  It's just brilliant.

I know you would like to think that your product alone is what would sell you, but we live in the real world.  Remember that Our past president couldn't pronounce the simplest of words and got all D's in school. It's not all about the product, a lot of it is the packaging.

I also think that I need to be using this information in my everyday life. Even in my design business. I need to sell myself. I've been working on my design portfolio website, and haven't even made a front page yet. I finally  realized what it is I need to do to promote myself. High End design at Low manufacturing cost.  Brilliant epiphany.

March 14, 2012

I haven't been able to sleep much lately. Maybe I have too much on my mind. I'm not sure that's the problem, because I always have a lot on my mind.

I contacted an old work associate today. I feel like I'm being dragged away from what I have invested the past four year in. Of course I invested many years into product design too. There were things I didn't like about my jobs though. But I guess there were some pretty wonderful things about it too.

I also received some pretty bad complaints about my jewelry today. Really horrible. I've been making it for several years now, and no one has complained like this. I did have a complaint once, that a buyer lost a bracelet while she was wearing it, but I think she just didn't have the toggle clasp closed right. She didn't know, but blamed it on me.

I know there are people out there who are just trying to play you. I guess there are good and bad people in every walk of life. There's the dishonest seller, who steals ideas, and there's the ones who will give you the shirt off their back. I've gotten help from people I barely know that I'm just amazed at. There are wonderful buyers who keep coming back, just to show support, and there are the ones who complain just to get something for free.

It's the same way at a job. Some bosses send you home crying and others will bend over backwards to promote and support you. I just seem to attract (or be attracted to) the bad ones. I might be able to return to work with a good boss. I might be able to marry again with a good man.

March 5, 2012

My horoscope this month suggested that I visualize where I want to go. That the time is ripe for my life to change and my goals to be met. I really believe in visualization. I believe it can lead to clarity, focus, and the ability to meet goals. I closed my eyes and tried to see myself happy and working hard and comfortably successful. Nothing specific came to mind. I still can't decide what I want to do.

I know that I don't enjoy sewing. I know that I enjoy doing computer graphics, and design. I know that I enjoy the therapy of handcrafting jewelry and even crocheting. I wanted to teach. I really wanted to teach, but I think that ship has sailed. I'm getting very close to retirement age. Maybe I can teach crafts at my retirement home in a few years.

I had quite a lot of things to complete for my flower jewelry business. One was a new business card that reflects my new product and my new website. I also wanted the address on the card to be my new website, which is linked to my Artfire shop. I really needed some, because I was almost out of cards.

When I woke up this morning I read my email and found a deal I could not pass up, so I had to throw together a card quickly. I was waiting for my new logo, but realized that it wasn't really suited for the business card. It will be on my website and brochure though. I decided to make the card reflect my website and the brochure I'm working on.

I'm very pleased with it and only hope that it turns out nice. I'm not sure how the photographic image will turn out, but the altered photo worked well on my last card.

Another thing checked off my list of things to accomplish in four months.  

March 4, 2012

My head is really spinning with all the work I'm doing. I had to spend the whole day today at a friends baby shower, but all the time I'm thinking of what I have to design and what I need to do for my flower business.

As soon as I'm done with the designs and can take a breather, I'm going to review everything I need to get ready, and look at all I've done. I'm hoping I'm pretty close to completion for my flower jewelry wholesaling. I know I have packing to complete and my brochures and of course samples. But I'm doing pretty well so far. I also need to look at blogs and websites that I can contact for promotion.

I really need to spend a bit of time on my design portfolio. I've been fairly successful with that, so I think I need to make some more contacts. I just need more hours in the day.  

March 1, 2012 - March Comes in Like a Lion

You're starting to know so much more about me than anyone else does, I might as well let you in on a little secret. I promised myself if anything happened, that I had some free time on my hands, I would write a book. Well, for the past four years, I've had lots of time on my hands, but no book. The main reason I'm writing all this down, is just to prove to myself that I can write, four months every day.

It's March, that means I've written for two of the four months everyday. Go me! That in itself is quite an accomplishment. But have I accomplished my goals?

Here's a wrap, this week has been heartbreaking and amazing. There were so many ups and down this week. I haven't had such a roller coaster ride in a long time.

The downs were that our car died, after we put so much money into it. Money we didn't really have to spare. $2000 for a car that only lasted three months and barely that is not good. And then there was the shooting in Chardon. The community we spend so much time in. The school that my daughter's brother in law went to. The school she was considering sending her son to, because his school doesn't have the best programs for him.

First positive was that on the weekend I found I got my Power Seller status on eBay and then Top Seller and later this week I rolled over 1900 feedback with a 99.4% positive rating. Darn that .6% of people who just have to be negative.

And then there were the sales. This week was amazing. I can't believe how many sales I had on all my shops, and at the end of the month. The nice thing is that most of my sales were on Artfire which means I don't have to pay those ridiculous fees on eBay.

Lastly, I got a design commission. I guess updating my profile on linked in payed off. I'll give you a little tip, even if you are a handmade artisan. Join linked in and make as many contacts as you can. Updating your profile sends out notification to your contacts. This reminds people who you are and what you do.

It's been quite a week and I can't wait to see what else March has in store for me.  

February 7, 2012

I am so excited about my website. It is not perfect yet but It is almost just what I want it to be. I still need to finish packaging and show examples and clean up my bio and some of the information, but overall I love where it's going. I'm not crazy about it changing daily, but I'm not really promoting it yet.

I'm using it as a gateway to my Artfire shop and the Artfire shop as a Gateway to the website. I really rather have my items for casual sale on Artfire and my Shop and Wedding sales through the website. Which reminds me, I need to do a Bridal Page.

I'm really excited about tying up my website. It will drive the direction the rest of my packaging and brochure. Oh and I'm going to do baby props too.

I want to keep the website simple, but there is so much more to do with it. And then there's the design website to do and I gave myself a deadline of February 15^th to learn the new CAD program. Too much to do in too little time. I need to ask others that have set up websites if they are getting any business there too.

February 6, 2012

Every day I think to myself, you can do this. You have a lot of experience in design and retail and you know marketing, trends and you have an uncanny insight to what all people like. I was given such a hard time in school for my product designs, and yet many of my designs look very much like what was developed in the market shortly after I graduated. I really did know where the market was headed after all.

Every day I think to myself, I can't do this. There are so many talented people out there trying to do the same thing. What would make a person want to come to me, instead of them? My flowers are nice, and cute, but what makes them more special than anyone else?

I spent some quality time in the bath today and came to the conclusion that I will not be doing embroidery on my flowers. I'll leave that to someone else. I need to focus on just 3 things, the flame sculpting, the crocheted bases and the watercolor painting. I will expand on those as the sculpted flower and the watercolor are my own processes. The crochet is the only thing I really want to add.

I also spent the evening working on my website. I was so frustrated with it and then it came to me. It still needs a bit of work, but I know the direction I'm going now and it will be easy to finish. I'll be finishing my packaging soon and other than my brochures, I'll be about ready to start approaching shops.

I don't know exactly how my brochure will look. I do know that they will be half letter size sheet. I have spiral binders, small black so that's how they'll be bound, save me a little money. I will have a picture of one of my broaches, actual size on the cover and I will attach an identical sample through the cover. That way they can wear it, but there will still be the image if they should pass it on to someone else.

I also have to design the labels for the tags, which will be seed packets. I think I have an idea for that one too.

All in all a pretty productive day today.  

February 2, 2012

Fooled around with my website again late last night. I have so much to do on it it is not funny. I can't contact shops yet, and I need to design a little brochure. I want something nice. I will give samples of mini bouquet pins as giveaways with the brochures. I guess they should be part of the cover, I think I should have a photo of a mini bouquet brooch and have the real matching brooch pinned on top. I like it! I hate the idea of using too much ink. Maybe I should have post cards printed as page one and cut the inner pages. I have to price things. I do like the pin on the picture idea though.

Today I didn't think much about my flowers. I had such a down day yesterday I gave it a rest. I did taxes and that was a interesting. I thought we were down so much in sales since my daughter and I were kicked off Etsy. Turns out she made almost the same. I made almost as much this January as I did on Etsy last January. I looked at my 2010 sales and it was almost $1000 more, what a shock, but the bottom line was much closer, I forgot that it was when I was selling supplies and my cost of materials was way higher than crafting supplies.

I've heard so many Etsy friends say that their sales have gone way down, but I did OK and Poppy's sales were really good. She did have a decline, but not that much. It will be nice to see the economy pick up some day. I think we're all heading in the right direction though.

I also heard from a former associate, about the possibility of picking up some work in China. Maybe I won't have to make the decision I've been thinking about. Maybe the choice will find me. The work would be part time, which would leave me plenty of time to work on my wholesaling of the jewelry. It will also give me a bit more income (maybe enough to fix the car) and to help with material costs to boost my own business. I hope something works out, because I would love to go back. I was beginning to think I would never get the opportunity again.

I also lost a little more weight this week. Was hoping to loose 10 pounds in January. I lost only 4, but I'm heading in the right direction.

January 31, 2012

I have a little confession to make, well, besides the fact that I have just not been motivated to do something with my flowers since I was booted off of Etsy. One of the reasons I don't make longer necklaces is that the flowers sitting on chain tip. They sit nice close to your neck, but if they are hanging on a chain they tend to go all wonky. There I said it.

So, I guess if I want to make longer necklaces, it's back to the drawing board. The flowers sit well on a crocheted or fabric band, but I think chain would be nicer (although more expensive as I'd need twice as much for each necklace. I'd love to come up with some kind of recycled eco bead that I could wire. Maybe that mass of dryer lint we always have.

Back to the flower pendants. I could either make a “ballast” on a single flower, with maybe a stone hanging from it's chain loop, or I could make some kind of posey pouch that the flowers hang from, like a little envelope with chain on either side and filled with 2-3 flowers. I kind of like that Idea. I think most of the necklaces need to be simple. Maybe a tiny flower vase or handmade “stems”

I have another confession. I hate artificial flowers, or silk flowers. Always have. You might think, “why is she making artificial flowers and trying to push them on other people”? I think of my flowers as not reproductions of real flowers, but little impressions of the flowers we love. Kind of like an impressionistic painting. I love paintings of flowers, like Van Gogh's Sunflowers or Art Glass flowers, like the ones L. C. Tiffany made in his mosaics.

I'm glad I'm writing this blog, because it's giving my mind clarity about what I want to do with my flowers. And I'm finding that that is my heart's desire. Which is a good thing to know. Is it starting to show?

I was also inspired today by this post on Handmadeology by Tuckoo and Moo Cow. It's short, so please take the time to read it. I think this is why I haven't sold much, and what I am missing.

January 23, 2012

Why am I doing this again? Oh right, a place of my own where there are a few less animals, and I don't have to sleep on the sofa in the living room. Actually I like sleeping on the sofa. I'm a bit too active at night for my own good and limiting my space seems to prevent a lot of injuries. I should probably sleep in a hammock like sailors do. But knowing me, I'd fall out and crack my skull.

Oh, and maybe health insurance of some kind would be good. I hope I'm not dying, because it's been 3 years since I've seen a health care professional, and the news of my heart was not great at the time. Hoping the exercise, vitamins and supplements are working on that too.

I'm finding that trying to discover which career turn to take, is taking up a lot more of my day. It's a lot of work when you know what direction to turn, it's even more when you don't. For instance writing two blogs? Just forget my evening TV shows. I'm not only writing this one daily, I'm trying to add more posts to my other blog. I'm working on making a serious business out of my eco felt flowers, and make a web portfolio for my product design .And if I decide that sewing my homewares is where my future lies, I have to promote that business too.

I'm finding that just like the way I sleep at night, I'm all over the place. I mean it's tax time too and I have to do that for my business AND my daughter's business. It's not that mind a lot of work, it's just that with so much, I'm not sure the focus is in the right place.

I need to find better focus to get all I need done. I'm big on spreadsheets, or at least I was when I was working. I know it will take a few hours to design one, but I think I need to set out my goals, give my self ample time to complete and put it all on virtual paper. I will never accomplish anything if I don't.

Hopefully in the next day or two, I will design a nice calendar or spreadsheet with my daily or weekly tasks and start to meet them. It needs to be flexible, as I have found I need to add more to my already huge list of to dos. Press Kit. Press Kit. Press Kit. And how do I get Lady Gaga to wear my flowers?

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!

January 17, 2012

Wondering why I keep writing about things from my past? Memories like those are what I am made of. They are what I use to base my decisions making on. We all have a vast amount of experience and memories that we compile and pull from when we make decisions. Sometimes that is what and why we dream, to sort things out.

When I was in College, I would program myself to problem solve during my sleep. If I had a project or problem I couldn't figure out, I would think about it before I went to sleep and most often I would wake up with the solution. The mind is an amazing machine.

I seem to solve things better when I'm asleep, because when I'm awake there is so little focus. I'm supposed to be planning my flower jewelry packaging and new merchandise, and working on my design portfolio. So what do I think about in the tub today? My dream tiny house. I even started imagining plans and dimensions today. I really want a tiny house. I'd love to have one on a little piece of semi secluded land. I want it to be eco, with a composting toilet and solar panels, maybe a small cistern for collecting water. I don't want to be overly eco though, because I want t full sized tub, not just a teeny shower. I think I want a small full refrigerator too. And I can't be totally off the grid. I need my Internet.

I did my photo shoot today. Model was great, but lighting was not. I also had too many things to do, so only took one picture of most. Bad idea. Some were kind of hazy. But they are more for atmosphere and teasing anyhow. Most of them will do just fine. I wasn't crazy about the lighting in some shots. There were shadows that I didn't like much. But I do have a lot of new product for the shop.

Working my tail off on my flower jewelry and accessory shop, and what do I sell? Aprons, bow ties and Aprons, clutches and Aprons.