I have long thought about selling things I make. I think I would really enjoy making money, even just a little, from something I created. Then my fears step in, my anxieties, my doubt. Am I good enough? Are the things that I make good enough quality to sell people? Is anyone interested? Are there too many people doing the same thing that I am doing. Will I be a total failure, a total flop?
Yes, I have major self doubts, some that are real and some that are probably more in my mind than anything else. Yes, I need to make sure that what ever I make, there is a calling for. I often go to craft fairs for multiple reasons, one of them being to scope out what others are selling. There are so many jewelers out there. There are so many people doing all the things that I like to do. I haven't found my niche yet, and I don't know if I am able to think outside the box enough to create my own little niche.
I have a couple of friends that sell on etsy.com and I am really interested in doing something like this. I just e-mailed a friend that is jsut starting her own shop. She got me interested again instead of just thinking about is a side thought. How nice would it be to actually make money doing something you love? Granted, I am totally aware that what you love may end up being what you despise when it becomes your job, but I really want to do something I love, not just something I like. Is this it? I don't know, but I'm not sure that I should discount that this may be something I would enjoy, maybe just a little side thing to enjoy and make a little money at the same time.
My next goal is to find my little niche. What will it be? I can only hope to figure out! I really need to find something that I will enjoy yet something that is different and something that attracts people to want to buy things.
Amy
Monday, August 22, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Christmas
Yes, I know it's still August and Christmas is far away, but I always put off my Christmas list until the last minute and then I never have any time to make people things like I want to. I am not wishing away summer, but I know how time flies and I know that I need to start planning so that a) I know what I want to make people, b) I can afford it, and c) I have the time to complete all I want to make!
When I started this blog, I had a goal of not going to big department stores, but shopping at smaller local stores and trying to make my own things, from food, to clothing, to gifts, etc. I haven't really been able to really follow through with that goal, but it still remains a goal. One thing I really would like to do, which would essentially be a huge help to meeting the goal of making my own things, is to have a work station where I could leave things set up, like my sewing machine or a jewelry project, or anything else that I was working on. Once my brother in law leaves, which will hopefully be soon (we can all hope), I hope to move some things in the basement and get a work station set up so that I can leave my sewing machine set up, have an area to work on jewelry projects, maybe even scrapbooking/paper crafts, or even my aromatherapy stuff. I have most of my supplies organized, just no place to actually work!
Once I finish this post, I am going to start my Christmas list so that I can hopefully plan out what I want to make people and have goals set to finish projects. My first priority is my husband and my kids. I have been wanting to make a picture quilt for my husband for a long time now. I have bought some material and even the special material to put through a printer to print the pictures on. I think I have even printed some old pictures from before we were married ( I had printed them before we were married, that's how long I have wanted to do this). I also want to make all 3 kids something special from me that I have made. I would like to make this an annual tradition. My absolute favorite gifts/cards are things that my husband has made me and I want my kids to treasure things that are handmade and mean something not just some thing that was bought at a store and made in China. I also want to make special things for special people in my life.
I am really hoping that I can plan things out so that I can get projects completed in time for Christmas. It will really feel good to give handmade special gifts that will hopefully mean more than jsut something I picked out from the store, especially since I really enjoy making things. Hopefully I can also get a spot to work out of so that I can be a little more productive!
Amy
When I started this blog, I had a goal of not going to big department stores, but shopping at smaller local stores and trying to make my own things, from food, to clothing, to gifts, etc. I haven't really been able to really follow through with that goal, but it still remains a goal. One thing I really would like to do, which would essentially be a huge help to meeting the goal of making my own things, is to have a work station where I could leave things set up, like my sewing machine or a jewelry project, or anything else that I was working on. Once my brother in law leaves, which will hopefully be soon (we can all hope), I hope to move some things in the basement and get a work station set up so that I can leave my sewing machine set up, have an area to work on jewelry projects, maybe even scrapbooking/paper crafts, or even my aromatherapy stuff. I have most of my supplies organized, just no place to actually work!
Once I finish this post, I am going to start my Christmas list so that I can hopefully plan out what I want to make people and have goals set to finish projects. My first priority is my husband and my kids. I have been wanting to make a picture quilt for my husband for a long time now. I have bought some material and even the special material to put through a printer to print the pictures on. I think I have even printed some old pictures from before we were married ( I had printed them before we were married, that's how long I have wanted to do this). I also want to make all 3 kids something special from me that I have made. I would like to make this an annual tradition. My absolute favorite gifts/cards are things that my husband has made me and I want my kids to treasure things that are handmade and mean something not just some thing that was bought at a store and made in China. I also want to make special things for special people in my life.
I am really hoping that I can plan things out so that I can get projects completed in time for Christmas. It will really feel good to give handmade special gifts that will hopefully mean more than jsut something I picked out from the store, especially since I really enjoy making things. Hopefully I can also get a spot to work out of so that I can be a little more productive!
Amy
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Organizing
I've been talking a lot about getting myself organized. Well, I finally attempted it today! I feel a little guilty since I spent time cleaning and organizing most of the day letting the kids watch a hefty dose of Caillou. The guilt that I feel about letting the kids watch tv definitely competes with the satisfaction of putting together and organizing my crafts. I still have a ton to do, and a ton to clean out and donate (which I so don't want to do because I love each and every supply that I have bought for the different crafts that I love) since I no longer have any room for everything I now own.
The first thing I started with is organizing my material and my yarn. Holy craft supplies, do I have a ton of yarn and a decent supply of fabric. Right now I have my yarn sorted by fiber content. I have a couple of small boxes of cotton yarn separated between color and neutrals. I have a large and medium size bin of yarns that are mostly synthetic, and a large bin of yarn that is mostly 100% wool with some blends thrown in. All bins have more than one project in the works in them, plus I have a decorative bin in the living room with projects in it Now I can go into each bin and know what I have for yarn in what type of fiber content instead of trying to find it all mixed in together.
My material has been organized by either fabric content, color, fat quarter, or pattern ie holiday, child, etc. I have a decent amount of fabric that has mostly been bought for different potential quilts. I have a couple bins that have material set aside for different possible projects that have been planned, but not started. I have a bin of patterns, plus a bunch of patterns that are in my closet, and a couple by my bed. I have my box of thread and notions all together, but I'm sure that there is more sewing stuff that needs to get organized. I do have a decent bag of material and yarn that I am going to donate. Now that I think about it, I should probably keep a large piece of blue striped fleece and give away the ugly green fleece that I bought for some unknown reason.
I still ahve the rest of my craft supplies to go through. I have a ton of rubber stamps and paper crafting supplies. I loave to make cards and scrapbook, but I just don't have the time. It is going to be really difficult to get rid of some of the things that I will be purging. I may call a friend and see if there is anything that she wants when I decide to get rid of things, if I can bring myself to do it! I also have my jewelry making supplies that I should go through and see if there are any beads that I can't see myself ever using. I doubt it as I am usually pretty picky on what beads I buy. Maybe if I can get my supplies in order, I can start making things again. Maybe if I can get a spot cleared out, I can start a project and leave it up, instead of having to always clean everything up and then having to take the time to take it out again and clean up again!
My goal is to set aside and area of the basement for a small table or desk. I am hoping my brother in law leaves soon since he is staying in our basement and making it more difficult to actually be able to get down there and craft. Even my husband doesn't feel like he can get into his woodshop and do things. I am hoping to move a drop leaf table that we have to another area for folding clothes, I am hoping that it will open up an area to have a desk or table or even a make your own desk out of a countertop and file cabinets to set up my sewing machine, and have space to do my paper crafting and jewelry. maybe then I can also think about selling some of the things that I make if I have a space to set up and do some nice work.
I still have many supplies that I don't have room for, but will not be getting rid of. I have a small kiln, that had bought for glass fusing and other light projects. I have all my wood working supplies including my carving tools and my lathe. I can't believe that I haven't touched any of that since probably before I was in grad school. I am looking forward to have some time to create and if I can get organized, maybe then I will be a little more able to create more often!
I do still have the rest of the house to organize, but this was a huge start and really needed to be done so that I can get to the other areas of the house. I think the next area is going through the kids toys. I have a few that I am getting rid of, but I'm sure that there are more that I can either get rid of or put away and pull out later after I swap out other toys! I also did semi organize the kitchen, but again, I need to do more. I am also going to get better at planning my menu for the week and sticking too it. I have been menu planning , but the problem is I don't always follow it. I am giving myself a pat on the back for starting to get organized, but there is still so much to do and then maintain!
Amy
The first thing I started with is organizing my material and my yarn. Holy craft supplies, do I have a ton of yarn and a decent supply of fabric. Right now I have my yarn sorted by fiber content. I have a couple of small boxes of cotton yarn separated between color and neutrals. I have a large and medium size bin of yarns that are mostly synthetic, and a large bin of yarn that is mostly 100% wool with some blends thrown in. All bins have more than one project in the works in them, plus I have a decorative bin in the living room with projects in it Now I can go into each bin and know what I have for yarn in what type of fiber content instead of trying to find it all mixed in together.
My material has been organized by either fabric content, color, fat quarter, or pattern ie holiday, child, etc. I have a decent amount of fabric that has mostly been bought for different potential quilts. I have a couple bins that have material set aside for different possible projects that have been planned, but not started. I have a bin of patterns, plus a bunch of patterns that are in my closet, and a couple by my bed. I have my box of thread and notions all together, but I'm sure that there is more sewing stuff that needs to get organized. I do have a decent bag of material and yarn that I am going to donate. Now that I think about it, I should probably keep a large piece of blue striped fleece and give away the ugly green fleece that I bought for some unknown reason.
I still ahve the rest of my craft supplies to go through. I have a ton of rubber stamps and paper crafting supplies. I loave to make cards and scrapbook, but I just don't have the time. It is going to be really difficult to get rid of some of the things that I will be purging. I may call a friend and see if there is anything that she wants when I decide to get rid of things, if I can bring myself to do it! I also have my jewelry making supplies that I should go through and see if there are any beads that I can't see myself ever using. I doubt it as I am usually pretty picky on what beads I buy. Maybe if I can get my supplies in order, I can start making things again. Maybe if I can get a spot cleared out, I can start a project and leave it up, instead of having to always clean everything up and then having to take the time to take it out again and clean up again!
My goal is to set aside and area of the basement for a small table or desk. I am hoping my brother in law leaves soon since he is staying in our basement and making it more difficult to actually be able to get down there and craft. Even my husband doesn't feel like he can get into his woodshop and do things. I am hoping to move a drop leaf table that we have to another area for folding clothes, I am hoping that it will open up an area to have a desk or table or even a make your own desk out of a countertop and file cabinets to set up my sewing machine, and have space to do my paper crafting and jewelry. maybe then I can also think about selling some of the things that I make if I have a space to set up and do some nice work.
I still have many supplies that I don't have room for, but will not be getting rid of. I have a small kiln, that had bought for glass fusing and other light projects. I have all my wood working supplies including my carving tools and my lathe. I can't believe that I haven't touched any of that since probably before I was in grad school. I am looking forward to have some time to create and if I can get organized, maybe then I will be a little more able to create more often!
I do still have the rest of the house to organize, but this was a huge start and really needed to be done so that I can get to the other areas of the house. I think the next area is going through the kids toys. I have a few that I am getting rid of, but I'm sure that there are more that I can either get rid of or put away and pull out later after I swap out other toys! I also did semi organize the kitchen, but again, I need to do more. I am also going to get better at planning my menu for the week and sticking too it. I have been menu planning , but the problem is I don't always follow it. I am giving myself a pat on the back for starting to get organized, but there is still so much to do and then maintain!
Amy
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Organizing
I know that there are a lot of times that I tend to repetitively write about the same thing over and over and over, or at least that is how it feels to me. Here I am again writing about organization and my lack there of. I really need to go through my kids' toys and get them organized so that I can feel like my house is not full of toys. On the other hand, I really need to get my craft supplies organized so that I know what I have and figure out if there are things that I either have double of (because I was not organized) or if there are things that I can get rid of. I am really getting tired of feeling stressed because I am so unorganized! Also, maybe, just maybe if things are organized, then I will find time to be creative and enjoy my craft supplies.
The other area that I need to get organized in is meal planning. Actually after I write this post, I am off to plan for the next week. I really need to plan what I am going to eat and what I will eat when I have certain cravings, since I really need and want to get my eating under control. I talked to my husband about some of these things today and we decided that I just need to do it. I can't keep putting it of, rationalizing it, or making excuses. It is hard without a set schedule like we have during the school year, but I guess I just need to put a schedule together for myself and plan my meals and go grocery shopping around the foods that I need to be eating.
If I can get myself organized, I am sure that I will have more time for other things and I am absolutely sure that I will be way less stressed. I am hoping that if I get my eating under control that will help me with some of the procrastination that I am having since I think the foods that I am eating are making me feel less motivated and almost spacey. What I need to do is just do what I know needs to be done and know that I may need to work a lot harder at it than some people who are just naturally organized and neat.
I know what I need to do, how I need to do it, but now I just need to actually follow through and do it!
Amy
The other area that I need to get organized in is meal planning. Actually after I write this post, I am off to plan for the next week. I really need to plan what I am going to eat and what I will eat when I have certain cravings, since I really need and want to get my eating under control. I talked to my husband about some of these things today and we decided that I just need to do it. I can't keep putting it of, rationalizing it, or making excuses. It is hard without a set schedule like we have during the school year, but I guess I just need to put a schedule together for myself and plan my meals and go grocery shopping around the foods that I need to be eating.
If I can get myself organized, I am sure that I will have more time for other things and I am absolutely sure that I will be way less stressed. I am hoping that if I get my eating under control that will help me with some of the procrastination that I am having since I think the foods that I am eating are making me feel less motivated and almost spacey. What I need to do is just do what I know needs to be done and know that I may need to work a lot harder at it than some people who are just naturally organized and neat.
I know what I need to do, how I need to do it, but now I just need to actually follow through and do it!
Amy
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
What Do I Need To Do?
I have all these ideas and thoughts, but the follow through isn't always there. With summer being here and my husband being home and Michael in school for the month of July, we have taken advantage of just having 2 kids to take out for our daily walks and have gone for a 4 mile walk usually about 3-4 days a week. We have also attempted to spend a lot of time with the kids playing outside and maybe even getting some gardening done. What we haven't really had is a set formal schedule other than Michael's school. What this has done for me, is to take away some structure that I had and now I haven't gone and done a normal grocery shopping, made a normal meal plan, cooked dinner, cleaned house, done laundry, made time for creating, gone to any farmer's markets. This means, my goals of being organized, eating healthy, being creative, etc have all gone by the wayside. Also, we have my brother in law staying with us, and as much as it's not his fault, it has really either caused some planning issues or at least given me a way to rationalize (albeit an abnormal rationale) why I am not getting things done.
One of the reasons that I like writing this blog, is that it helps to keep my head a little more clear about what my goals are. I may not always follow through with them, but at least I am thinking and writing and hopefully following some of them. To give myself some credit, I have been exercising. I have made some better meal choices, though not always great. I have started making water kefir and milk kefir, though I am feeling like I am getting behind in that area as well. I have been having some green smoothies, though I really want to have more. I really want to start menu planning again. For some reason, having my husband home has made me lazy in this area. I need to get back on track.
Long and Short Term Goals?:
Amy
One of the reasons that I like writing this blog, is that it helps to keep my head a little more clear about what my goals are. I may not always follow through with them, but at least I am thinking and writing and hopefully following some of them. To give myself some credit, I have been exercising. I have made some better meal choices, though not always great. I have started making water kefir and milk kefir, though I am feeling like I am getting behind in that area as well. I have been having some green smoothies, though I really want to have more. I really want to start menu planning again. For some reason, having my husband home has made me lazy in this area. I need to get back on track.
Long and Short Term Goals?:
- plan my meals for the week
- have a green smoothie every day
- exercise
- be creative
- cook/eat at home versus eating crappy unhealthy food out
- continue to read more about aromatherapy and herbs
- continue to research nutrition and healthy diet
- reasearch and get new recipes
- read and follow "the Body Ecology Diet", and allergy diets
- go grocery shopping
- finish Rebecca's baby shower gift!
Amy
Monday, July 25, 2011
Back To Basics
I'm once again writing about my diet, which is an on going battle. One of my goals, when I go back to work is to maybe work with people with eating issues/disorders. I have never really thought about that realm of social work, but given the struggles I am having, I am thinking it may be an interesting area to learn more about. With that being the goal and add on to that goal getting some nutritional education behind me, I decided that I really need to get myself back in line with healthy eating and healthy living. Along with that, I really need to get back to eating healthy and cooking for my family just to plain old save money.
Enter http://www.healthygirlskitchen.blogspot.com. The author of this blog started some posts about "The Beck Diet Solution". Her posts got me intrigued and I am using this as an opportunity to get back to basics. Day 1 of "The Beck Diet Solution" is basically to put down your goals. The thing is, you have to actually read your goals twice a day. I am going to try that, but we'll see how it works out. Actually you are supposed to write down your reasons for losing weight so here are mine:
Day 3 is to sit while you eat. This is one that I have been attempting to do as a family but am failing miserably, with me being one of the main culprits. I tend to multi task while I eat and as much as I know I shouldn't, I do. I am going to really try to sit and enjoy my food with no distractions, as much as I am able to.
That's we we're at so far. I'll continue to post what new changes/goals I am looking to make and hopfully this time, I'll be moving in the right direction!
Amy
Enter http://www.healthygirlskitchen.blogspot.com. The author of this blog started some posts about "The Beck Diet Solution". Her posts got me intrigued and I am using this as an opportunity to get back to basics. Day 1 of "The Beck Diet Solution" is basically to put down your goals. The thing is, you have to actually read your goals twice a day. I am going to try that, but we'll see how it works out. Actually you are supposed to write down your reasons for losing weight so here are mine:
- to be healthy
- to reduce my cardiac and cancer risk
- to feel better with how I look
- to have more energy
- to feel better about myself in general
- to be a healthy example for my kids
Day 3 is to sit while you eat. This is one that I have been attempting to do as a family but am failing miserably, with me being one of the main culprits. I tend to multi task while I eat and as much as I know I shouldn't, I do. I am going to really try to sit and enjoy my food with no distractions, as much as I am able to.
That's we we're at so far. I'll continue to post what new changes/goals I am looking to make and hopfully this time, I'll be moving in the right direction!
Amy
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Latest Project
My friend T.J. from http://www.any-given-moment.blogspot.com, asked about my latest projects that I plan to make for my newest niece. She was wondering if I am going to use a pattern or make up my own. I guess the answer to that question is both. I plan on using this basic design here at http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/09/ribbon-blanket-and-block.html and then moving on to make it my own. I plan to use 4 monkey wrench blocks since my sister is doing a monkey theme. I figured I would go with some traditional and some very basic blocks so that it is simple yet personalized. I am also planning on trying the ribbon block from that same site also. For the burp cloths, I am just planning on adding a personalized strip down the middle and maybe the bottom of some pre-made cloth diapers. I got some like that for my 3 kids and I love them. I am trying to figure out what to do with them now since I no longer need burp cloths and I would rather not use those for dust rags. Actually, after writing this post, I am thinking I am going to pull out my embroidery attachment to my sewing machine and embroider the squares for the ribbon block as well as personalize it with my nieces name Hannah!
So T.J., when I finish my project, I will post pictures. Maybe I'll even post some in progress pictures. I can't wait to find time to actually make these gifts! I am really looking forward to it!
Amy
So T.J., when I finish my project, I will post pictures. Maybe I'll even post some in progress pictures. I can't wait to find time to actually make these gifts! I am really looking forward to it!
Amy
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