My apologies for being lame
Missy of Glitter and Grunge sent me a really lovely package for our pot holder swap. I forgot that when doing a swap it is always de rigueur to send more than the swap called for. Generosity is the hallmark of swapping. Shit. I'M SO SORRY MISSY. (Because I only sent the swap item.)
I'm not ashamed of the pot holder I made for her. Except I kind of am. Because look at this fancy pocket she made. (And she says it's her first pot holder!)
How cute is this one?! Now I just have to figure out how to post it on the flicker swap page that Happy Zombie set up. I'm terrified of trying new things like that. Which is truly ridiculous because I'm fine once I get it. See all my links? I don't even have to look at my notes anymore because I have the code memorized and can link to things absolutely any time I want to. I could link all day long if I felt like it.
These are the Keens I bought. They might actually be more comfortable than the Birkenstocks. Which is good because they only cost ten rubies instead of an entire treasure chest. However, they still look like Hippie shoes. Lucky for me that I don't have time to spend looking at my feet.
Philip and I have had a meeting about all the things we need to get done. We've prioritized the forty five point list. We also came up with a super brilliant plan for some kits and patterns that I'm not going to discuss right now. Because what if someone was reading this and realized that we are on the verge of something really profitable and stole our ideas? Aside from the fact that we are still an unfortunately well kept secret, you know we're going to have an empire someday. Just like Mary Jane's Farm. Did any of you realize what an empire that is? I confess that it has been slightly disappointing to realize that her farm and all it's components are beginning to smell a little Martha Stewartish. But if I ask myself honestly whether I'd rather be wondering if I'll still be in business in six months, or raking in the dough on about five zillion products and services, what do you think I'd choose?
I can't afford to sit here and say I don't care if we make money or not. I would love to be doing all this for no other noble purpose than to make cool shit. But the truth is, if I didn't have to make money, I would be farming for myself. I would be homesteading. I would be doing all this cool stuff for myself. I am making table cloths to sell, cocktail napkins, and key chains. How much have I made for our own home in the past year? Nothing. Seriously. I don't have time. My house looks like total generic crap. I've painted just one room so far. The rest of the house is antiseptic white.
I'm very excited about what we have to offer and the plans we've been making. I really am. This is so much better than working at JoAnne's fabrics. What we need is a marketing tool that will actually work for us. Do you all think I ignored you the last time I asked for ideas? Ha! If you thought that, you couldn't be more wrong.
Here's what we've been up to and what we're working on:
You see how busy I've been listening to all my well wishers? When I ask for suggestions, I may not follow all of them, but I do them all the credit of a good think. I have pursued the ones that seemed most practical and appropriate.
I also contacted SCORE and it keeps coming to an apparent halt and then someone will call and pick up the thread. I've asked for help with marketing. By the time I get help I will have already figured out what works or I will be liquidating.
I received word back from the sewing contractors I'm interested in using. They are willing to take the next step. I have to put together a formidable package of information, patterns, and contracts to get to the next step. It will be a long time and some money later before I find out if we can afford their services. I'm going to be putting in a lot of late nights again. SOON.
So if you don't hear from me on your blogs in the next couple of weeks as often as I usually do, don't feel abandoned. I'll be back. I'll still be writing everyday here. Because if I don't, well, you know...MY HEAD WILL IMPLODE.
Philip and I have had a meeting about all the things we need to get done. We've prioritized the forty five point list. We also came up with a super brilliant plan for some kits and patterns that I'm not going to discuss right now. Because what if someone was reading this and realized that we are on the verge of something really profitable and stole our ideas? Aside from the fact that we are still an unfortunately well kept secret, you know we're going to have an empire someday. Just like Mary Jane's Farm. Did any of you realize what an empire that is? I confess that it has been slightly disappointing to realize that her farm and all it's components are beginning to smell a little Martha Stewartish. But if I ask myself honestly whether I'd rather be wondering if I'll still be in business in six months, or raking in the dough on about five zillion products and services, what do you think I'd choose?
I can't afford to sit here and say I don't care if we make money or not. I would love to be doing all this for no other noble purpose than to make cool shit. But the truth is, if I didn't have to make money, I would be farming for myself. I would be homesteading. I would be doing all this cool stuff for myself. I am making table cloths to sell, cocktail napkins, and key chains. How much have I made for our own home in the past year? Nothing. Seriously. I don't have time. My house looks like total generic crap. I've painted just one room so far. The rest of the house is antiseptic white.
I'm very excited about what we have to offer and the plans we've been making. I really am. This is so much better than working at JoAnne's fabrics. What we need is a marketing tool that will actually work for us. Do you all think I ignored you the last time I asked for ideas? Ha! If you thought that, you couldn't be more wrong.
Here's what we've been up to and what we're working on:
- Contacted Mary Jane's Farm to see about being featured in her magazine. Which I have a feeling is going to go absolutely no where. However, I did get to talk to their book keeper who was really enjoyable to talk to and she passed along my information to Mary Jane herself. Plus, last night I wrote the first draft of an article I will submit to them.
- Last night I sent off a submission to Bust Magazine which I am assured will be looked at and if they like it they'll get back to me at some indefinable point. If they don't, I will probably never know for sure until my chin hairs have doubled in length. The point is: I did it. I worked on a piece that I thought would actually be interesting to them. However, I've never been published and the chance that I will catch their eye is pretty slim. I'm not a hopeful fool. I'm just determined to try every angle.
- I am ordering supplies for an Easter Bonnet decorating class. We are (today) deciding what information will be on the poster for it which will go in our window and I believe we will distribute some copies in other places. Philip will be designing it. I will also be decorating sample hats for the window. I will be doing this today.
- We will be working on an article to submit to Ready Made as well as finding out what it costs to advertise in their publication. I'm pretty sure we can't afford it. But we'll find out for sure.
- I am also researching who the current costumer is for Desperate Housewives. My friend Lucille from Forest Whimsy suggested I send one of my aprons to the set and see if they might use it in their show. You won't believe how hard it is to find out who is the costumer RIGHT NOW. There have been several. A show I would really love one of my aprons to appear on is Gilmore Girls. I would love to make one for Melissa McCarthy who plays the character Sookie St. James. But even though she plays a chef, she doesn't wear cute aprons. Besides, I'd have to adjust the size and no knowing her actual size could lead to insult, if it lead to anything at all. Who else could I send one to? Oprah? You think she's take an interest in a tiny company struggling to get noticed? She already champions my competition.
- I sent off a letter of inquiry to Whole Foods with pictures and swatches.
- I will check out the price of advertising in Craft Magazine. Maybe submit an article to them as well.
You see how busy I've been listening to all my well wishers? When I ask for suggestions, I may not follow all of them, but I do them all the credit of a good think. I have pursued the ones that seemed most practical and appropriate.
I also contacted SCORE and it keeps coming to an apparent halt and then someone will call and pick up the thread. I've asked for help with marketing. By the time I get help I will have already figured out what works or I will be liquidating.
I received word back from the sewing contractors I'm interested in using. They are willing to take the next step. I have to put together a formidable package of information, patterns, and contracts to get to the next step. It will be a long time and some money later before I find out if we can afford their services. I'm going to be putting in a lot of late nights again. SOON.
So if you don't hear from me on your blogs in the next couple of weeks as often as I usually do, don't feel abandoned. I'll be back. I'll still be writing everyday here. Because if I don't, well, you know...MY HEAD WILL IMPLODE.