How-to Thursday - Finding Inspiration in the Most Unlikely Places

What inspires you?  It's an easy question but one without an easy answer.  Inspiration comes to each artist in different ways.  Inspiration can come through color or it can be found in shapes.  The sound of the ocean crashing against the beach or tree branches silhouetted against a night sky are timeless sources of inspiration for many.

For me, the final piece of the design inspiration puzzle is definitly my hubby.  It's great to have someone who looks at life differently than you do.   I see beautiful flowers with amazing colors and what does he see?  A high pollen count.  His idea of beautiful flowers are the ones found on vegetable plants. 

Please don't misunderstand me.  I am serious when I say that I couldn't complete my designs without him.  He is the voice of reason in my artistic world.  He is the "nuts-and-bolts" of creating the table display for the craft shows we attend and he is the genius who can fix any computer mess I find myself in.  When I go into panic mode, he is the one who helps me stay focused so I can get everything done.

But my hubby will tell you that creative he is not.  He has asked me - repeatedly - to not "drag" him into these "artistic" conversations. Sometimes though, I just can't help myself and I ask him:

"What do you think of my new design?"

Sand Dollar Snowman Wine Glasses

The design in question on this day was one that combined my love of winter (snowmen) and the beach. It was a cute design, nothing too fancy--just a smiling snowman standing between two palm trees on a beach with the blue ocean in the background. All I really needed to hear was, "It's cute, sweetheart." Instead, what I got was,

"Snowmen can't live at the beach. They would melt."

So much for encouragement.

So I began to think. And stew. And get frustrated. And then it came to me...prove him wrong. But how? He was right. Snowmen would melt at the beach. You can't make one out of sand because then it would be a "sandman" and not the effect I was going for. I could draw a little freezer for him to stand in, but that just took away from the cuteness of the design. I could draw a beach umbrella for him to stand under. Made the whole thing look too busy. I knew this was a great design. I knew that people would like it. I KNEW IT would sell. I KNEW...

Sand dollars. They are round-ish. They are white. And you could stack them up in the shape of snowman. HAH! I had my answer. As the rest of my family slept (did I mention that this conversation was as hubby was heading upstairs to bed?) I worked on turning sand dollars into snowmen.

The next morning, there were eight glasses all arranged on the end of the table. The snowmen were patiently staring at the stairs as we waited for hubby to come down. After a while (I am the morning person in the family) my patience had worn thin and I pestered him until he came down to look at my work. And I knew I had a winner when he smiled and said,

"These won't melt."

Vacationing Snowman Glassware

How-to Thursdays - Staying Positive in a Negative Economy

In this crazy world of internet businesses, I think that at some point we all end up with tunnel vision:

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
SALESALESALESALESALESALES
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Having worked in the food service industry for 12 years, I learned something that most people and major businesses have forgotten:  Long term goals are just as important as short term goals.  When I was promoted to manager of my own store, I sat down with my crew and explained just what I expected from them and where I wanted us to be in one month, six months and one year.  No one had ever talked to them farther ahead than next week's schedule.

We had a lot of work to do in that store.  It was in the bottom 15% of the company in all categories (shrink (theft), spoilage and labor costs).  One year and one pregnancy later (mine!) we had turned it around and were in the top 15% improved stores.  How did we do it?  Why were we successful when other stores and seasoned managers were seeing sales decline?

1.  We had a goal.
I wanted us to be known for customer service.  I wasn't looking at weekly and monthly statements as it applied to my bonus.  If you focus on the finances to the exclusion of anything else, you will loose.  People won't purchase your product to help put money in your pocket.  But they will make a purchase (and be willing to pay more) if they feel valued for being your customer (not just your paycheck.)

If you have a great product, people will come.  But you want them to come back and bring friends!  We didn't adopt "The customer is always right" approach.  We went with "Rock their world!"  We wanted them to WANT to come back and see what we had going on each day.

2.  We were prepared to work hard.
Hard work is just part of the equation of success.  Nothing rewarding has ever been achieved without a fair amount of sweat and tears being applied to it.  And for anyone involved in business, hard work is part of the price you understand needs to be paid. 

It wasn't hard for me to think "outside the box" and look for creative solutions to the problems in the store.  It was a little harder to explain myself so that the crew understood what I was suggesting.  The hardest part was getting rid of the "dead wood:"  old policies that were not in line with our current vision, old habits that needed to be removed and employees that just were not willing to change and move forward.

3.  I accepted help.
It's been said before but it bears repeating here.  You don't have to re-invent the wheel.  There's nothing new that you have to deal with that someone else hasn't already tried/failed/tried/failed/tried/partial success/tried/failed/tried/succeeded. 

So, how about you?
1.  What are your goals for today? And this week?  This month?  This year?  Dream big and then find the steps you need to take to get started to that place.

2.  What part of the business have you been putting off?  Is it learning how to be more technical?  (Google Analytics?)  Is it learning how to take better pictures?  Have you thought about how you are presenting yourself through your contacts on line?

Every business that is successful is always working to change and grow.  And every business will have its own type of dead wood that needs to be removed.  Don't be afraid of change-- you never know what surprises and opportunities are around that next corner!

3.  What opportunities do you have right now to make your shop or product better?  Regardless of the venue you sell in, they have many tips and suggestions that cover just about anything you might have a question about.  Be sure to ask for constructive criticism.  You might have the best product, but if it isn't appealing to someone looking at it for the first time, it really doesn't matter.

Making the leap from crafting on your table to selling on line is huge!  Congrats for taking that first step!  Don't lose the momentum...keep moving forward.  Each new day is an opportunity to learn something new.

How-to Thursdays - Stuck in a Rut

I am going to try to post some type of "how-to" advice every Thursday.  I say "try" so that until I get this into my routine, you will be patient if I miss a week here or there.  Thanks in advance!

This week's tip is an idea for getting past a creativity block. 

I always have a hard time getting started with a new project.  I like thinking up new ideas and designs, but to actually put that idea onto a glass is intimidating at times.  The biggest concern is "what if no one likes it"?  Thankfully I have family and friends who help me push past this stage and still love me anyway! 

My current dilemma is that I have wanted to get started on my designs for toasting flutes for weddings.  I'm a hopeless romantic at heart and my first big sale was for a bride who wanted the water glasses on the guests' tables to be their "thank you" item.  I painted 150 wine glasses with white roses (similar to this photo) and the couple's names.  It was a neat feeling to drop off all those boxes to her house and see her excitement as she inspected them!

But each wedding is as unique as the bride and groom.  Traditional or modern, casual or formal, an intimate few or a large party...the choices are endless.  Where does one start without a couple to give them direction?
                                                                                                            

I was looking at Web Designer Depot's advice for designing a logo for your business when I realized the answer.  The first step to create a new design is to go to the drawing board!  Just as a writer will have several rough drafts before arriving at the final product, the same holds true for any other artist.

So, I traced the champagne flute shape onto about a dozen pieces of paper and started sketching.  Believe it or not, this went on for several days!  I thought about themes, seasons, holidays and non-traditional ideas.  And from all those sketches, I found a couple that had potential. 

The butterfly flutes pictured here are part of my spring collection and can be customized with the couple's names and their special day.

I am especially proud of this set of champagne flutes.  The glasses say "to have and to hold" and "from this day forward."  Delicate flowers add visual interest to the design.  Easy to customize with different colors, a bride has a fantastic keepsake from her wedding day. 

Don't get stuck in a rut!  It's all about trying something new.  Take your sketch book out into the woods or down to the beach or onto your back porch and see what grabs your eye.  Try pairing different colors together and see where your creativity takes you.  Above all, don't give up!

SEO Info

The vast amount of information that needs to be understood and acted on to have your internet business stand out is incredible.  Thank goodness for sites like Mommy the Marketer.  Funny and informative, this blog is definitly one to keep on  your reading list.

Tags and keywords, titles and descriptions...and spiders?!? These are all covererd in SEO Help Me! Part One . 

I admit I am not an expert when it comes to this type of thing--which is why I am recommending you head over to Mommy the Marketer's blog and take the next step in making your shops and sites all they can be!

Fab Fridays - Made By Melissa

Today marks the beginning of something new for Fab Fridays...interviews!  I love getting to know people and how they do what they do and I am so excited to introduce these amazing artists and crafters to you as well. 

If you would like to be featured here, please leave your info on my Facebook page Mommy's Dream Blog Feature and I will be in touch!

Our first feature is Melissa from MadeByMelissa. Her store is full of beautiful pieces of jewelry as well as crocheted items. 


Mommy's Dream:  How did you get started with your craft/art?

MadeByMelissa:  I started making jewelry as a summer hobby when I was small. On the first day of summer, my mother would take us to the local Rag Shop and we’d stock up on our craft supplies for the summer months. I started with embroidery floss friendship bracelets and matured into using glass, crystal and wire!

When I was 10, my grandmother taught me to knit. I was terrible at it, but I wanted so badly to impress her so I tried as hard as I could to keep up with it. At 13 I learned to crochet and that really clicked, I picked it up very easily. I taught myself the more complicated stitches and how to read patterns.

MD: What prompted you to set up a home-based business?

MBM:  I really just made too much jewelry for myself to keep, I needed to do something with it all and I needed money to go towards craft supplies!


MD: What part of your craft is your favorite? (Designing, creating the actual piece, working with custom orders, etc)

MBM:  Creating is the best part – looking at your supplies and seeing what they can become and then sitting down and doing it.

I also love doing custom orders, it’s a lot of fun to communicate with a customer and then make them the item that they really want. I’ve done quite a few custom orders for plushies and it’s always great to see the customer’s reaction when they get it.

MD:  How have you changed since starting your business? How has this impacted your craft?

MBM:  I started my business right after I got married – my husband worked in NYC and I worked in NJ. He often got home 2 hours after I did, so I made jewelry and worked on my business while I waited for him to get home. Now, I have a 3 yr old puppy and a 2 year old son and I’ve gravitated more towards my crochet products since its easier to crochet with them around than it is to work with beads and wire. I’ve also added amigurimi plushies to my shop and they’ve been great fun to make and to share with little ones.

MD:  What is the most challenging aspect of running your business?

MBM:  Finding time! I work from 9-5, I have a family and I am often quite tired! But I love to create things, so I make time to sit down and work on things. Another drawback (which is also an advantage at the same time) is that the only deadlines imposed on me are ones that I set myself, so if I don’t have custom orders or craft shows, I can let things slide and not create and list as much as I know that I should.

MD: How did you come up with your shop name?

MBM:  My shop name is Made By Melissa, I wanted something cute, but at the time I was only selling my jewelry and I didn’t want to limit myself because I knew at some point I would want to add crochet items to my shop. I thought and thought and well, I figured – my name is Melissa and I made all these things, so Made by Melissa! Then I realized that its not really as unique of a name as I thought it was, by that time, I was fairly established and it didn’t seem worthwhile to change my name.

MD:  Where do you see yourself in five years? Where do you see your business?

MBM:  Wow, 5 years… my son will be 7!! I don’t know, really, my business has come so far in the last 4 years, I am excited to see where it will take me in the future. I’m just going to sit back and enjoy the ride!

MD:  How do you keep a balance between home and business responsibilities?

MBM:  Home and the 9-5 job come first, they have to. My son is still very young and still requires a lot of my attention, and I love it that way! After that, I focus on customer service – I answer emails and convos and blog comments and all that fun stuff, then after my customers are happy, I move on to creating. Its hard, but I enjoy all of my three jobs, so I make time to fit everything in, even though it can be very difficult sometimes!

MD:  What is the funniest/craziest/most touching thing that has happened while having a business?

MBM:  I’ve heard a lot of really sweet things since I started crocheting the plushies. I made them originally for my son, who now asks to adopt things that weren’t made for him – he’s taken over a turtle and a snake, requested a frog and is now campaigning for another turtle. I overheard him talking to his little zoo of crochet pets and he said “my mommy made you” and then he gave each one of them a hug. He also hijacked my potholders that I made, I also caught him hugging those as well. It's really sweet.

I’ve sold quite a few plushies and then heard later from the customers that their kids love them and sleep with them a night. And that just really makes me so happy, just to know that something I made is giving a little one comfort at nighttime.

MD:  If you could give one piece of advice to others who are just getting started with their businesses, what would it be?

MBM:  Don’t give up!! The sales aren’t going to come pouring in just because you opened an Etsy shop. You have to promote, you have list things regularly, you have to take good pictures and all of that takes time to learn. And don’t be afraid to ask questions, we’ve all been there and many people are more than willing to help out.

MD:  Can you give us some links to be able to follow you? (Etsy, Artfire, Twitter, Facebook, etc)

Etsy: http://madebymelissa.etsy.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/madebymelissa

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/madebymelissa

Blog: http://madebymelissa.blogspot.com/

I also write the EtsyNJ team blog – http://etsynj.blogspot.com/