Obstacles

And isn't that oh, so true!

I have hit many obstacles over the last several years of running my own business.  However, of all the obstacles I have hit and over come, I think that the most difficult one is...

Finding a Balance between Family and Business

This is a tough one.  Without my family, I am nothing.  Without my business, I'm working for Big Corporate America again.  Sheesh.  

The first step in finding that balance was gaining support from my family and coaxing them to believe that my business is more than a hobby.   I used to be asked to babysit during the day all the time.  I used to be asked to be the family taxi.  I used to be asked to do all the errands.  While I did all these things in the beginning, I still attempted to put in an 8 hour day with my business at the very least...many times, a few hours more.  Soon, my family saw that my life was full of errands, babysitting and work with not much time for anything else.  I had to stay firm with my discipline in getting work done and they saw this.

The second step was to stick with my discipline.  I only get asked to babysit when it is an absolute emergency now.  My husband has taken over the stupid errand running on the weekends.  And I am not asked to taxi everyone around unless it is a serious medical condition.  I drew the line in the sand and firmly planted my feet just behind that line.  Now, I don't let anyone cross the line again.

The benefits?  I saw a profit in my second year.  Last year's profit was even better, and isn't that the goal of every business?  To make a profit?  My accountant was impressed that I pulled a profit in my second year.  I do strive to keep overhead down, which does help.  But the bottom line is that I stuck to my guns and continue to yield them on a daily basis.  

I do all this because I believe my business is definitely worth fighting for!

New Year, New Blog

A new year brings new beginnings...or at least new directions for old ideas.  This is the year that will be focused on this blog.  It has been difficult staying on track so far in 2011 due to a couple family emergencies, but things are starting to slow down and I am finally regaining my momentum.

After spending the end of December looking back on this blog, I realized that it needs a new direction and a new focus.  I invite you to take this journey with me, offering me feedback as we walk down that road together.

The fact of the matter is that people just don't have time to waste on blogs that don't have a clear-cut purpose or a certain element of focus to it.  This includes myself.  While my blog visiting has been pretty sporadic since the holidays, I aspire to get back on track with this also, but want to offer my readers a reason to keep coming back.  So, this post marks the beginning of this new journey.

So, you may be asking exactly what is the purpose of this blog?  I have thought long and hard about this and this is what I intend to offer:

• I plan to continue to embrace the handmade movement and share my enthusiasm for this with you.
• I will continue to share my designs and creations but include you more into the working process, inspiration, the eras that my jewelry reflects and any other aspect revolving it.  
• I will continue to share my love for antique buttons and plan to educate you a little bit more than I have in the past.  You may not end up loving them the same way I do, but I guarantee that you will find a new appreciation for them at the least.
• I will add into the blog elements of fashion, design and the typical life of the eras that my jewelry reflects.  Those of you who follow my blog will know that I am simply in love with the years between 1880's and 1946.  To me, it is the most interesting eras ever seen.  The Victorians, the Edwardians, Art Deco and the Flappers, and I cannot forget the greatest generation...the World War II era.  To me, any era after this is a bad Twilight Zone episode (although I do adore the old B&W Twilight Zone shows!)
• I plan on having much more giveaways and features.  I can only tell you so much, but to see for yourself is a whole other animal.
• Finally, I want my readers to know what I create, why I create it and what I hope to gain or share by creating it.  Sure, there will be snippets of family and fun, but I believe focus to be paramount.

So, buckle up.  You are in for a ride!

Custom Orders...

Sometimes, custom orders are my favorite orders.  I love working interactively with customers and it sometimes gives me new spins and new directions!

Here is a gallery of some of the custom orders I have been working on this month!

A gorgeous brass filigree charm bracelet.  The customer's buttons were wrapped in brass filigree:

A couple bead woven bracelets:

One of my customers drew upon my love for millinery.  She requested these pieces with her buttons:

And then I just finished up a ring that a gentleman wanted for his wife for Christmas.  He sent me the button not knowing if it would really work or not.  The button was pretty dirty with age, so I spent an afternoon restoring it (except the original tint...I felt there was enough of that left on the button that to mess with it would depreciate the value).  It just went out in the mail today:

I am still busy finishing up a few more orders.  I am creating a custom 14 foot (yes, I said 14 foot!) garland for a customer similar to this one:

I also have three bookmarks and a bunch of tatted tree ornaments. 
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So, if you have been wondering exactly where I ran off to, just look in my studio!  Remember the mess I showed you a few posts back?  Now you know why!

Business Card Swap for the Holidays - Anyone Game?

Yesterday, I received an order of promo stickers I placed with a seller on Etsy.  She did such a fabulous job, by the way!  Anyway, inside my package was a little package of business cards from other Etsy sellers (ie, a business card swap).  I really liked the idea of this, sifting through the cards and discovering shops I may have otherwise missed!  Let's face it, there are so many sellers on Etsy, it would be impossible to find all the shops that would interest you if you didn't have tons of time to surf online!

So, I would love to swap cards will fellow Etsy sellers!  I really want to keep the amount of participants small - say 7 to 10 people.  What we would do is exchange mailing addresses and mailing 30-40 cards to each other.  Then, when ever we get a sale, we take one business card from each person, tie them all up with a ribbon and put them in the package we mail out.  This is why I want to keep the amount low so that our shipping doesn't go up too much.

So, if you are interested, send me a convo through my Etsy shop.  Serious inquiries only and I want to limit it to US based businesses (sorry my overseas friends).  Please feel free to comment any reactions either way :)

Where Did She Go?

I'm still here!  I know I have been AWOL for a little while.  Can't seem to get myself back from the ocean!!!  No really...have been super busy.  Still studying millinery, filling some custom and wholesale orders and getting ready for jewelry classes I will be teaching starting in October.  I will be posting the classes online eventually.  I know, Re...a little late! 

With all the sewing I have been doing, I have been accumulating TONS of scraps of fabrics.  They are so yummy, I just can't get myself to toss them.  Some are big, some are small.  So here is the question of the day:

What should I do with my scraps?

What do you do with your scraps?

Please comment below with your advice! 

I Won...I Won!

I don't enter in many giveaways on blogs unless it is something I know I really, really want.  Jennifer of Glass Addictions (a blog I follow) was giving away an art charm book, Making Mixed Media Art Charms and Jewelry, and I simply had to try for it.  Well....I Won!!!

I'm so sorry I will be on my vacation when the book comes in, so I will just have to scour the beach while on Oak Island to find cool things to use with the book when I get back.  I will definitely post a review about the book after I have had some time with it, so stay tuned.

I am coming down to the wire on leaving - whew there is so much to get ready for!  I don't leave on vacation hardly ever, so I forget what it is like to prepare to leave.  The last vacation I took was three days in Cleveland, Ohio to see the Titanic Exhibit with my kids - that was in 2003 I think?  Long time.  Work is almost wrapped up and I'm putting the finishing touches on my dresses.  I plan to photographing them on Saturday, so hopefully I will be able to share them with you!

Okay...back to work before the kids wake up and steal my time!

Introducing....Paige!

She's Finally Here!!!

Just came today. UPS. I have waited almost a week to get this...my Mother's Day present! Mike ordered it two weeks ago so I could get it before last Sunday, but he didn't see the drop-down box where you order the size cover you want in his online cart before he checked out We didn't get a shipping confirmation by last Friday, so Mike called. That's when they said they were waiting to find out what size cover was needed. Hmmmm....if they don't call us to let us know, how do we know they are waiting?! I spoke to them on the phone and ordered the small cover. Will be mailed that day.

Monday comes (the day after Mother's Day) and still no confirmation email. For some reason, it didn't ship Friday as promised, so it will go in the mail that day.

So today, she finally came!

I carefully open the box and peek inside:

There she is in all her stark-white glory!

Mike helped me to settle her name...Paige. I wanted to name her Bettie. I just love Bettie Page (I got BP t-shirts, lunchboxes, stickers, a ring, books, key chain, etc), and I thought it would be so fitting to name her after Bettie Page as Bettie used to make all her own clothes she used to model in. Way cool...my kinda girl! Here is the conversation:

Lisa: I'm going to name her Bettie.

Mike: You can't name her Bettie, you already have a Bettie! You can't have two Betties!

(I named my black Jeep after Bettie years ago...)

Lisa: I can have two Betties! One in the house, one in the garage.

Mike: And are you going to deal with Bettie pouting in the garage when she finds out you named a doll the same name as her?

Me...thinking... *hmmm....good point*

Lisa: Well, then if I can't name her Bettie, I'll name her Page but spell it P-A-I-G-E. Paige is a girl's name.

I put the frame together, got her on it and Mike just had to give her the official welcoming to the family! You don't want to see the other pictures of Mike and Paige....trust me.... Yea, I know, he just couldn't control himself....


I love her and can't wait to alter the cover and start using her, but one thing disturbs me.....

That's quite a rack she has!


How the heck am I gonna jam those......


in this?!


So I waited for Mike to get done with his conference calls so he could help me alter the cover, but he sidetracked me by taking me to Tantalus for dinner:


Yea, it's obviously a cell phone picture! Tantalus is in the heart of East Aurora, NY. It is has an artsy, warehouse feel with jazz fusion and eclectic decor...my kind of place!

What did I blow Paige off for? The most delicious seared duck with fresh strawberries, goat cheese and brown sugar encrusted walnuts over a fresh bed of baby greens served with a brown sugar balsamic dressing. Out of this world! Wish I would have taken a picture of it...it was so pretty:(

So, Paige will have to wait until tomorrow as I couldn't take a normal measurement of myself if I tried right now. I will post another log of the fun I have trying to squeeze that tiny cover on her massive body!

It's Back to Work...

and can I just say how happy I am? I'm still a little sick, lungs are still not to full capacity, and it really took a little talking to with my husband. He refuses to let me do anything until I get better. Believe it or not, but he has been handling dinner and housework. What a lucky girl, huh? I do miss it though. He agreed to let me work as long as I do it on the couch while resting.

So, I headed to the studio this morning and grabbed my beads, wire, findings and string. After dragging them all downstairs, I set to work creating a french country piece quite similar to this piece:

I know the picture isn't much (sun didn't cooperate with me that day), but it truly was a stunning piece. I actually feel like I accomplished something. The kids are gone at their dad's until Friday as they are off on winter break, so I have all week to try to catch up!

Life is good and it's good to be back! Thank you so much for your well-wishing and prayers :)

Learn Something New in 2010!

So every new year, I set a goal to learn a new technique to add to my repertoire. The year before, it was metal working. Last year it was tatting. This year I am really stretching my creative abilities by learning something that takes much more patience than tatting:

The Art of Millinery

Why millinery? Well, for several reasons:

1. Who doesn't simply adore those cute little hats from the 30's and 40's?
2. It satisfies my urge for nit-picky finely detailed sewing.
3. I can incorporate some higher-end buttons on the pieces I create.

I'm not planning to getting into big hats like cloches or brimmed hats, but the cute little half hats and small hats adorned with beads, laces and feathers...with the addition of sweet little buttons! I learned felting a couple years ago and finally have a use for all that wool that I carded sitting in boxes in the basement.

I am in the process right now of sewing a canvas poupee to stretch the felt over for the hat bases. I would love to have a wood hat block, but have you seen the prices on them?! What if this little venture doesn't work out and I'm stuck with a $200 hat block that I will never use again? The best option was to make a poupee. So, we will see what happens. Perhaps it will work enough to warrant purchasing a wood hat block in the future!

So, spill it! What new technique are you planning to learn this year?

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's off to work I go!

Yup, start of a new year, start of a new week. After two weeks vacation and the busiest part of retail life, it's back to work.

To be honest with you, while I enjoyed this time off, I am sort of glad to get back to work. Sure, I need to have my staff meeting so every department is on the same page (even though I am the only staff!), but I am kinda craving getting back into the grind. I actually spent some time over the vacation cleaning my studio. You wouldn't believe how messy it was. I'm thinking of posting the pictures tomorrow, so if you are curious, come back tomorrow to see the destruction!

I need to close my books for 2009 and plan for upcoming pieces. Towards the end of the year, I was reviewing ideas to branch out my market and if you make a visit to my Etsy shop, you will see that my categories changed. Sure, I love to make jewelry, but my interests have been branching out to other areas, too.

So, as you get back into the grind again, is it something you look forward to? What is your most favorite task? Least favorite task?

Busy Holiday Season coming up....

Well, readers, we are in for a super-busy Holiday Season!!! There is so much planned in the next month and half. Here's a little preview:

• Weekly Features of Talented Artisans!
• Weekly Give-Aways....get some free stuff!
• Vote For Your Favorite Piece challenge events!
  
• Business advice, tutorials and how-to's, plus tons of other stuff!
• Lots of Sales announcements!
• Maybe even a few recipes or two....plus whatever crosses my mind....
  

The kick-off begins tomorrow and will go until after Christmas. Yes, you heard me....after Christmas! Everyone who knows me knows that Christmas is my favorite holiday. I usually start decorating right after Halloween and leave it up until Valentine's Day, and then it all doesn't get put away. In every room, I intentionally leave one discreet piece of Christmas tucked away so I can glance at it all year long and still feel Christmas!

So, stay tuned....there is more to come starting tomorrow!

Blog Features Full!

Okay, I took the offer to an Etsy forum and booked up the rest of the year (and then some) in about 5 minutes. I'm sorry if you got here too late...I began promoting this earlier on in the week. Thank you for all who expressed interest and stay tuned over the next month and a half to see who has really cool stuff! Oh, and thank you, Karen, for the testimonial!!!!

Here is the original post from earlier today:
As I wish to begin running your features next week, I have to wrap this offer up. I currently have several openings available. Here's what it basically is: You comment that you want me to do a feature on you and your products, leaving me your etsy shop or email so I can contact you.. I send you the interview questions and other pertinent info. You send back the questions, but with answers, along with a .jpg of an item you want to give-away during your feature run. When the winner is chosen, I send you winners address...you mail winner your item!

Please keep in mind that your give away item doesn't need to be a big whopping deal or pricey, for that matter. Something small that represents your talent and workmanship is quite sufficient.

What have you got to lose? A feature is like free advertising! Comment below with your email or etsy shop so I can contact you. I do not have Outlook, so I can't get you from your Blogger profile.

It's Production Time....

I spent so much time in the studio today that I actually feel like a got a full day of work in. Of course, I didn't as I got elected to babysit....again. However, I did tell mom that I am not her backup babysitter any longer and that I don't care how emergent the emergency is, don't bother asking her father for me to babysit, because the answer is NO! I don't mean to be rude, I really don't. I have custom orders backing up, the big spring show I haven't even started preparing for and, let's see, Christmas around the corner...good enough excuse for me. I said that my boss (me) is an inch from firing me. Can't stand how people treat my business like a hobby. Wish the economy was a little better. I would rent an outside studio and then I could work out of the house to, you know, make it "official".

Anyway, my daughter Tayelor baked these yummy sugar cookies. I only wish the picture turned out better. Ah, the perils of taking photos at night. Too bad we were only allowed to have a couple. The rest followed her to school for her friends and herself. I told her she better watch it or the next time I bake cookies, she can only have a few! They were scrumptious, though. She used lemon extract instead of vanilla extract. She was so proud of herself!


Speaking of Tayelor, here she is (in the white dress). Her friend Cait in red is a rockabilly-chick. Cait is pretty much my second daughter. This works out real well as her mother and I are good friends. This was from their Homecoming dance last month. Sad thing is, I just took them off the camera. They did look great, though.

My toe is starting to feel a little better, as long as I stay off of it. Jacy is still doing good and only has to keep up the nebulizer till the end of the week. This is definitely a good thing as he is getting real sick of having to take it now.

I hope you all have a great, productive week!

Surgery Went Well....

photo credits...

Thursday's surgery went very well. I will be recovering for a few more days being advised to rest for seven days. I can still get around and do things, but I have to favor my left arm taking it real easy on it. I'm still going to try to drop cards over the weekend, but should return on Monday...I hope.

In the mean time....have a great weekend!

Happy Monday!

I am glad to report that my Monday is a very Happy one indeed! Getting orders out, making phone calls, connecting with contacts...what could be sweeter?

This Thursday will be the pilot launch of my Feature Thursdays. You will have a chance to hear from some great artisans in some insightful interviews. You will get a chance to get to know the artisans better as well as maybe learn a trick or two. Who would want to turn that down? You never know what you might learn! My interview questions were designed to offer insight and learning to the beginner artisan just starting out and seasoned artisan looking for fresh ideas. This is not your ordinary Blog Feature, Lucy!

In all fairness, I will be doing an interview on myself on Wednesday as a primer so you know what to expect from these interviews. It's not fair for other artisans to offer advice while I keep my little gems to myself. Some cultures say that karmic debt is a real thing. Don't take a penny unless you are willing to leave one. Well, I'm baring my pennies Wednesday, so don't miss it!

I am also working in another regular posting on Tuesdays...Tip Tuesdays. These tips can range from artistic tips to business tips. Be sure to check it out and not miss it. You may learn a thing or two (or not!), who knows, but don't miss the boat...you'll only get wet!

Incidentally, Jerri did a blog feature on me last week. Great job, Jerri...check it out here!

Okay, not stop reading and get back to work. May your Monday be as swell as mine, just take it easy on the coffee!

New Products in my Shops....

I have been working on some new brooches for my shops. They are constructed of two layers of wool felt with a form-fitting piece of acid-free mat board in between the layers to support the weight of the button. A hand tatted medallion has been appliqued to the felt so that it does not separate and wrinkle all up. Finally, the brooches are topped with a collectible button. The picture above features a large painted wood button and the picture below features a hand painted poppy on antique pearl. The artist is unknown. Last night, I listed a brooch in this line on 1000Markets.com featuring a leaf shaped button encrusted with rhinestones on black tatting and dark green wool felt. I have several made up and will be listing them on Etsy and 1000Markets over the next few days. Feedback is always appreciated!

Alterity Art Gets A Product Shift....

Alterity Art...my other shop on Etsy. Alterity Art was born for several reasons: 1) It is my official legal business name 2) it was originally meant to serve as an art shop 3) it quickly became the shop filled with stuff I made that didn't have anything to do with buttons (like my Alterity shop).

That being said, Alterity Art is going to undergo a shift in product. I want to clear out all the jewelry, all the marine animal plushies, all the CheekyKat Kittie Jewels. I want to specialize the product to be art. Altered art, Aceo's, Paitings, etc. No jewelry, unless it is altered jewelry. So...To help this happen, I am having a Clearance Sale on most items in my shop...60% off! I gotta clear them out, They gotta go. Not only that, but buy in quantity and save more. Here's the sale:

Purchase:
1 or more, get 60% off (reflected in current price)
2 or more, get 60% off AND free shipping
5 or more, get all the above, plus extra 15% off (70% OFF!)
(sale applies only to clearance items)

Some New Things In The Shop....

Emerald Antique Waistcoat Button Ring

Etsy

I have been spending alot of time promoting my fellow-Etsians. I love doing this...kinda like spreading the love. Today I want to show a few things in my shop! Click on the picture to go to the item. Enjoy!
Sunshine Vintage Button Bracelet

Artfire

Blue China Antique Button Earrings

1000Markets

Take Time Out for YOU :]

As many of you know, running a business, taking care of a family, keeping a house and trying to keep the husband happy (as well as the kids...the more the merrier) can be a major feat. However, your determination dictates your success. Now, as can be attested on Etsy, there are many dedicated and determined artisans who are very successful...even with the above responsibilities. The key? Mental Health days.

For myself, I spend all week long working on and off from 8am until 10pm, working family responsibilities into my work schedule. When you own your own business, you are responsible for the production, bookkeeping, managing, mailing, promoting and marketing...all of which can take time (especially the marketing!) However, you will find you can achieve more in your business if you schedule regular mental health days. That's the beauty of running your own business...you dictate what days you have off :]

Now, I am not saying to work for one day and fluff off for the next three. I prefer to work 5 days and then give myself a day off where I do absolutely no work at all. Trust me, it is hard, but it is essential to keep your creativity, brain and stamina sharp.

Sunday is my mental health day. I observe Sunday for religious reasons. I refuse to do anything related to work on this day. So, seeing as though I am one of those people who cannot sit still for anything, what is one to do on that day off? Well, if you can't just veg-out and catch up on movies, why don't you try something selfish? Make something for yourself. Yes, yourself. You spend all week long creating wonderful things for your customers, don't forget about you!!!

In January, I decided to make a laptop bag for myself to keep all my work essentials in one spot - accounting book, cd's, daytimer, scratch pad, pattern book of self-designed patterns, pencils, sharpie marker, camera upload cord, all the things you need to keep business running smoothly. But seeing as though my fingers and hands must always be on the go, just simply making a laptop bag wasn't enough for me. I thought of making a quilted panel, but decided against it as after the hand quilting is done, the thrill will be over. So I decided to create a crazy quilt panel with hand embroidery. Below is the panel (13" x 9") that will be framed by a strip-quilted frame and will serve as the front of my laptop bag. The bag will zip all the way open with pockets on the inside as well as the back. I have only been working on this on Sundays (except this past weekend, I got selfish and worked exclusively on it Saturday and Sunday). The seam embroidery is just about completed and I am adding an embroidered pansy to the center panel. Next, I will be adding a spiderweb, probably a water lilly scene, my initials in victorian lettering, some random scattered embroidery and silk ribbon embroidery, then the final touches of beads and antique buttons. I am anxious for the panel to be completed so I can put this bag together and stop having to hunt for my supplies!

Lower right hand corner of panel...


Upper right hand corner of panel showing the section where the pansy is being embroidered.

Lower left hand of panel showing pansy again...

Upper left hand of panel....

After taking one day a week to do something for me, I feel so refreshed and energized for Monday morning, which I believe, increases my productivity! So...after working so hard making things for others all week long, be sure to take some time out to make something for yourself. Aren't you worth it?

Had To Take An Unvoluntary Leave of Absence

Due to several deaths in my family...one expected, one not. Please continue to look for my featured Etsy shops starting today :)