Meet my little model...

I haven't been able to get around and do much this week but I wanted to post something good for my blog. So I thought I'd give everyone who doesn't already know my beautiful little girl a chance to get to know her a little here.
You all see her modeling a ton of items for me in my shop but lets find out a little more about my sweet little model Rayne.

1. She LOVES spaghetti! Her other favorite foods are cupcakes and mandarin oranges.

2. She's a pageant diva. If you come to our house she will make you look at her trophies, and yes, the majority of them are taller than she is.

3. For a 2 (almost three) year old she has incredible patience with me when the camera is malfunctioning or when the weather is being uncooperative and trying to blow her away.

4. She loves to ham it up on stage!

5. She refuses to leave the house without bows in her hair now, and she thinks everything I make is hers!

She's really a great little girl! Even if she is quite a handful sometimes (I'll tell you several of those trophies from the pageants are for Personality b/c she has a TON of it). She helps me clean, plays with her little brother and is tons of fun to play with. She's a little bit of a tomboy, she is tough, beautiful, and joyful! I love my little girl and all of my kiddos. They are the inspiration for my work and the reason I work so hard.

Fearless! Sort of....

I'm just going to say it...Starting a business where you are your own boss is SCARY! That's right. I said it. Sometimes it is downright terrifying.

There are many reasons it is so frightening. You're success or failure is a reflection on no one other than yourself. You are using your own money to try and get this up and running, not some corporation you have no personal attatchment to. What if no one likes my product? Worse than that...what if no one BUYS my product. Scary, right?

Many people who haven't ventured into the unknown yet and followed their dream of working for themselves let the fears of these things overpower them. They wish they could do what they love, but are stopped by fear.

My advice : There will ALWAYS be fear. There is always a reason not to try something. Trust me, you're not the only one who has those fears! We all do. You just have to overcome them and persevere.

Take that leap you've been afraid to take! (In any aspect of life, not just business) Sure, it can and probably will be scary. But if nothing else...you can say that you DID IT! And won't that feel good?

"We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot."-Eleanor Roosevelt

All in a FRENZY!

I found myself in the most MARVELOUS team on Etsy . The Promotional Frenzy Team is truly one of the best teams I've ever seen. These marvelous Etsians work SUPER hard to help promote each other and I am now blessed to be a part of the team. I'm diving right in and trying to get the hang of things (these team members make it easy by being so helpful).
I created a treasury that included some of these wonderful shops and at the same time gave some inspiration on gifts for Moms that they're sure to love! Check it out.




And show some love to these wonderful Etsians that have included me in their team efforts of promoting our handmade products!

My new Tuesday tradition...

So I thought that I would start a new Monday tradition of browsing Etsy and making at least one treasury a week. Treasuries are fun to make and it gives other people who make wonderful handmade products a chance to shine! I love seeing all of the creativity that people have and their beautiful photography and fun items. Here is the first treasury that I have done for my new tradition....Treasury Tuesday!

Ear cuffs...oh how I missed them

Ear cuffs. I hadn't heard about them in quite some time. Then all of a sudden the other day Craftster had a guest blogger that gave an AMAZINGLY simple tutorial to make them. I don't generally make jewelry but I'm seriously considering this little project. It's been so long since I've seen ear cuffs anywhere, and they were actually a pretty handy and pretty little addition to an outfit.

Check out the awesome tute HERE and make your ears happy :)

Imagine- Dream- Create

I've  always been one to imagine the possibilities. Now, more than ever, I firmly believe that imagining and dreaming are the best parts of creating. Coming up with new and creative ways to do something is one of the bigger joys in life. I am so glad that I was always taught to imagine and dream.

Let those creative thoughts turn into beautiful actions and possibilities!

I know this all seems like pointless drivel, but I am so overly excited that I came up with a design for my newest bows that doesn't involve the "same old" ways of doing things as everyone else out there.

 A lot of people rely on chemical fabric stiffeners to make their bows hold the desired shape. What is the result? If the bow gets damp the stiffener lets go and the bow droops. Also, who wants to put any sort of chemical on their precious child's head?

 By imagining and with a touch of creativity I came up with a way to make beautiful full bows, that don't lose their shape, and don't require the addition of chemical stiffeners.

So, I say to everyone....be creative....imagine....dream...
It does pay off in the end.

What I've done while my insomnia has been kicking my butt...

Yeah....insomnia, boy is it NO fun at all. That's what I thought before....of course now that I've been on a creative spree through this round of sleeplessness, it has actually turned out that my insomnia is rather fun....and oddly productive. Here are a few things I've done while I've been wide eyed all night long for the past week or so.

 I also got a burst of energy earlier today (after I had to renew my drivers license AND take one child to the optometrist) and decided to go outside and get some photos of some of my products on models (i.e. my two year old). Here's a few of those too...

 I also managed to make it to one of the Virtual Labs on Etsy...and get my question answered. I'd say I've been fairly productive for a sleep deprive mom of four. I am developing quite a few new outfits and bows and am even going to go supply shopping tomorrow. Whew....I think I'm more tired writing this post and reading all the things I've done and plans for tomorrow than I have been in the past two weeks! Wish me luck!