2011

what a year.

what a wonderfully blissful, challenging, frightening, calming, rewarding year.

we welcomed beautiful, bright baby luke.
cheered on jack as he became a proud big brother.
celebrated accomplishments; my husband’s amazing sports marketing campaign. my ebook. magazine features. a natural birth.  first year of preschool.

we weathered a few storms together.
the health of our boys....countless doctor appointments and hours of worry.
gob-smacked by the cancer diagnosis for one of my very best friends.
a fair amount of personal heartache and disappointment.
doubt.

and for it all, i am so thankful.
so instead of the post with quick tips and insights i drafted,
i’d like to just soak in these last moments of what has become a truly magical and inspiring year.

{a thousand thank yous to my friend, dawn, for capturing this moment in time for us}

Appreciation Notes - Free Download Printable Thank You Cards

One of my very favorite parts of the holiday season... thank you card writing!  Something about sitting down and reflecting on all we were given and blessed with makes my heart smile. And now, with little ones, I'd like to instill the habit of handwritten appreciation. The teacher part of me always creates 'scaffolded' notes that my son can expand upon to learn format and sentence structure. Plus, it makes the whole process accessible for an almost four year-old. I created these simple little notes for my son and while I'm not going to be earning any graphic design awards, I thought they're cute enough to share!  

Click the on the notecard or down below to print out your free notecard!  (comes two to a page, just print on card stock & cut in half) 

{download}

my thanks to you:

Happy appreciation writing & letter sending! 

Best of....Posts for Creative Entrepreneurs

In this in-between time of the holiday rush and developing new products (ipad cases & wedding collection coming soon!), I've been enjoying quiet(ish) early mornings writing lots of new businessy posts. Some to keep here and some to share on others blogs and sites...


But with the year drawing to a close, I thought I'd highlight some of my favorite business posts I've written this year.  Even when I re-read them, I learn something new! 


Thinking Like a Buyer: Improve your brand and shop by drawing from the buyer's perspective. 


Busyness vs. Business: Wading through the hustle & bustle of everyday tasks to grow and strengthen your brand


For What It's Worth: Determining worth for small, creative businesses


Holding on & Letting Go - Returning to business after baby. Really shared my soul with this guest post over at Oh My Handmade. This post seems to apply to working through any transition...


The Power of Letting Go - Some dreams are meant to be shelved...or even let go. Realizing what to keep and what to say goodbye to on your creative journey


How about for you? Is there a post somewhere in the blog-o-verse that really resonated with you this year? One so memorable you recall it even now? If so, I'd love to hear about it!

{image credit: The Paper Machines}

Vintage Sewing Box

Looky look at what I found under the Christmas tree...a vintage Strommen Bruk Hamar sewing cabinet! It's just beautiful.  My husband surprised me with this and it's one of the best presents ever- so thoughtful and ready to be loved again by me!

Made in Norway in the 1950's and 60's the little details are just amazing....

 I love imagining the previous lives of vintage furniture...I'm thinking of a very sweet, yet savvy New York seamstress took care of this cabinet. She designed and fitted her own dresses. Enjoyed cozy afternoons at her sewing machine and bright sunny days out & about. 
{who knows! but maybe! wink, wink}

handles, so perfect.

closed....

 open! And ready to be filled!

I am looking forward to spending an afternoon reorganizing my studio and storing my sewing supplies away in this treasure. 


Hope everyone had a lovely holiday! Would love to hear what treasures you found under the tree...or...what  presents you proudly gave :) 

Happy Wishes

Very merry wishes for a happy and joyous Christmas! 

Crafty Goodness

Whew. Taking a break to share some crafty goodness I made this week...I honestly thought I'd have it all completed sooner to offer up some tutorials and inspiration...but, well, you know how it is :)  In fact, I'm still whipping up a few last-minute gifts! 

a mix of photos....

holiday wreath. pretty much the easiest project ever. 

cross stitch ornaments for the boys. every year I make new, handmade ornaments...this year I got to make two! 

a little hand embroidered love

matching chevron stockings with chain-stitched names. Proud of these beauties!

Winter star coasters (used the remaining bits from my wreath...clever, huh :) 

Catnip fishies for Boston Kitty

Work in progress: Banner for Luke. I made one for Jack....and since they share a room I think the two banners will be extra cute!

Tell me, what last-minute projects are you finishing up? {please tell me I'm not the only one stitching & making!}

Things I Love - Fellow Fellow

{paper feather tags}

Taking a brief break from all our merry-making and my last minute gift making (stockings and ornaments and cat toys, oh my!) to share a lovely, lovely shop I found this month. Fellow Fellow is truly a charming little spot in the world...and the owner, Claire, is equally as sweet! Just take a look at these beauties! 

{diy banner - genius!}

{notepads}

{paper butterfly garland}

I Heart Mollie Makes!

Goodness me! Mollie Makes included Rise and Shine, my ebook for creative entrepreneurs, in Issue 9!  This magazine is seriously one of my most favorite- and not just because they had super sweet things to say about my book and handbags or because they included one of my frame purses in the September issue (!) but because this magazine is filled to the brim with awesomeness for makers. Really. 


Now, off to enjoy my celebratory mint hot chocolate! Care to join me?  xo


{update: thanks to my lovely readers for asking more about this awesome magazine- it's a newer, London-based publication available in select US stores...they have a charming blog too! http://molliemakes.themakingspot.com/ }

Gift Tag Lovin'

 Wading waist high in wrapping paper & ribbon over here...thought I'd share some lovely printable gift tags I've found! (and these babies are all free :)

Knit Gift Tag Beauties from Eat, Drink, Chic

More lovelies from Eat Drink Chic 

Wood Type Tags and Holiday Kit from ellinee

Reindeer Tags from Studio 67 via Creature Comforts 

Holiday Gift Tags from Love Vs. Design

Simple Holiday Tags from Little Paper Dog

What's your style for holiday wrapping? Some folks have a theme each year...honestly, this year my approach is reuse & use it up- my Christmas bin has acquired so much miss match- it's been fun putting together color combos and finding new uses for odds & ends. 

{ps. don't forget the woodland recipe & tag set stephanie fizer dreamed up for me...}

Mmm, Sparkle Cookies and My Gift To You

 

Little Man Jack loves to bake. And to give. 

I love him so! 

We've made about 4 dozen of these Sparkle Ginger Cookies this season....and have plans for a whole lot more. These little beauties are vegan - all of our baked yummies are- but they fool even the pickiest of skeptics (granted, most folks aren't too discerning when it comes to cookies.... but these are especially delicious!) 

Next on our to-bake list includes Chocolate Peanut Butter Oaties, Peppermint Bark, & "Something that we can put sprinkles on mama." 

In the spirit of giving, I teamed up with Stephanie Fizer-Coleman and shared my recipe for these Sparkle cookies along with a charming recipe and gift tag set. Hop on over to Oh My Handmade, say hello & print out our little gift to you!  

Printable 2012 Owl Calendar (and it's free!)

Have you seen this beauty?! It's a gorgeous calendar featuring lovely designers...and it's all owls...and it's free! Courtesy of the Owl Barn-- you can print it out month by month, choosing which design you'd prefer (but really, how can you choose?) or just opt for their pre-made version.  Lots of other lovely designs to choose from:

 

Print on thick cardstock, tie with string, a voila!a gorgeous gift....

A Merry Little Sale

Just in time for last minute holiday shopping...or treating yourself to a little something for such an amazing year!  Everything in my shop is ready to be shipped out and loved.  Since I'm upgrading all US Domestic orders to Priority Shipping you could have your lovelies by the end of the week. 


This sweet little deal lasts until just Midnight on Tuesday December 13th....after that I'll be taking a bit of break - stitching up some holiday decorations, enjoying time with my little ones, and planning for the new year! 

Wonderland

Whew. 
It's been a busy/crazy/happy week filled with lots of merry making and cold sunshine....and me sewing my little heart out at ridiculous hours of the day. 


And I love it! 


Today, I'm headed off to Crafty Wonderland, the only craft show I do. After reminding myself of my own craft fair tips from last time and packing it all up, we're on our way! 


The shop is bare (naked!) for now but I'll be reopening tomorrow night for a little last minute shopping (psst: if you're looking for some last minute gifts, sign up to receive my newsletter for a little last minute sales event coming up...)  


And then, I'll be winding down to prepare and enjoy in family festivities....with a 3 year-old and a baby, this year is positively magical!

newness....one of a kind lovelies taking to the show today. 

the before...

card cases - box one of two

poppy production

poppy party!

 packing up....

Look forward to sharing more photos of the show later...and maybe even a few via twitter while I'm there. 

here's a glimpse of the fun - little brother watching big brother, waiting for his turn :) 


Happy weekend!
xo

Guest Post- Noisette Marketing

Hello! Lots of excitement over here...love the hustle & bustle of this time of year and planning big things for 2012.  Making some changes and taking new directions...


Speaking of moving onward, I've shared some thoughts on growing your business- Without your blinders on over at Noisette Marketing today (it's a little bit of tough talk, but trust me, we all need it time and again :) 


A little peek: 

Listen to what your buyers are NOT saying.

Doing it well vs. doing it best. 

Welcome criticism.

Open the door to that monster in your closet.

Come on over, say hello, and tell me how you're moving ahead! 

{Photo credit Abby Try Again}

Business Tips: Lessons from the Postal Service

In case you haven't heard the United States Postal Service is cutting back. Majorly. 


An agency that has long faced difficulties; financial woes and negative public opinion,  it will cut service and increase prices in January.  There is sticky legislation and bureaucracy involved but I think they are making terrible mistakes. 


The same ones many other businesses (like me!) often make. Let's learn from their (ginormous) errors and apply these lessons to our own brands.  

What the USPS (and other brands) should be doing: 

• Tell Your Story: It's what makes us care about you. The USPS has a wonderfully dramatic and nostalgic place in history. It's part of the Constitution for pete's sake. I mean, have you heard it's creed? "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"   Why, oh why are they not sharing this story with us? Images of The Pony Express, WWII era postcards, tiny posts along the Oregon Trail, all these things come to mind as story points to build upon. Other carriers lack this rich history....it's a point of differentiation. Just like other businesses, the USPS should be telling their story. 
• Identify Your Market:  The post office seems unsure of who they're selling to...or that they're actually selling something at all. Identifying your market can be tricky, but consider what value you offer and who benefits. For example, the USPS repeats this line as a reason for their demise, "people just do things online now." Um, hello? This is their market. I mean, I'm pretty sure I order and ship enough stuff to keep my local post office afloat (kidding). But multiple that times a gazillion for all the other business that ship from home...and there's a sizeable market. So why hasn't anyone (not one single postal worker) ever talked to me about their business services? USPS should be honing in on the people who do need and want their services. One way to get to know your market? Start a conversation.
• Embrace Who You Are: Instead of just fighting current trends, embrace who you are as a business. For USPS, this means traditional postal services. There is a steady appreciation for handwritten letters and people still love opening their mailboxes to find something inside (psst, here's another market niche). Remind people of this...make them fall in love with "snail mail" again. In fact, call it something else ('traditional correspondence') or something. Take back the discourse....and make it your own.
• Cut Costs...Meaningfully: Running a successful business means keeping costs to a minimum. Got it. But it doesn't mean just cutting numbers. I see the USPS trimming jobs and processing centers which may very well be necessary. But I subscribe by the 'every little thing counts' rule- cut backs should include cleaning out all those cluttery, inefficient post offices (One look at the mess of post notes and memos strewn about my local office, is it any wonder packages go missing?) This type of trimming may only have a nominal effect on the bottom line, but it can make up for it tenfold in what it says to the customer. We're serious about efficiency. 
• Collaborate: It adds dimension to your brand. Shores up your weaknesses and highlights your strengths. The USPS does a bit of this (e.g. Hallmark and Small Business Administration). But I think they can do more. And when you partner up, make it count....and share what you've created.  

• Actively Define Your Brand (this is a biggie!): Workers should be looked at more than just what tasks they complete but how they define the brand. Hopefully the USPS considers this in all their number crunching. I see it as the biggest failure of the USPS (and many businesses) - people passively representing their brand. I have no idea what type of training the USPS provides it's workers but it sure seems to me that there is a lack of brand loyalty here. What I'd love to see: a) local post offices embracing their space to make it their own b) postal workers sharing their personal stories c) workers seeking out ways to provide & share services rather than the current model of "we're doing you a favor of delivering your packages."
• Focus On What You've Got: Nobody wants to hear what you don't do. Talk of what you can't provide makes your brand insignificant. Instead, focus on what you've got going for you. USPS provides free priority boxes (free, people, free!), they will even walk to your door and pick them up, their website is pretty easy to navigate, and you can print your labels online. I want to hear more talk of this, value being added on. I don't want to hear about what can't be shipped or tracked or completed. Fix it and show me what you've got.

Alright, well that's just a bit on how things would change if I ran the world, er, the post office. But in any case, I really find it effective to analyze business mistakes and successes around us and apply it to our own brands. Hopefully, you found a few takeaways to build upon here. I do offer personal business coaching if you'd like more personalized feedback....that includes you, USPS, if you need some consult ;) 

{image courtesy zswilkinson}

Make It Do Monday - Unsubscribe

A few weeks ago Arianne Faulks from Aeolidia shared a stop-me-in-my-tracks kind of post on Oh My Handmade - "End Each Day With an Empty Inbox."  


My first thought was, "Do some people really have empty inboxes? I want one!"  I didn't care if I only whittled my inbox that runneth over down to half, it had to be better than the virtual mess I had going on. I implemented many of her tips (brilliant they are!) and have since enjoyed a much more focused inbox. I ended up unsubscribing to dozens of newsletters and messages- many of which I honestly don't remember signing up for, but somehow got in the habit of just deleting every morning. 


But the whole process got me thinking....


How many times do I go through life just deleting things; comments, thoughts in my head, memories, images?  Each morning waking up to the same old figurative junk mail that I never pay attention to but waste time "clicking and deleting"?  


So, I've made it sort of a simplifying celebration this month- identifying not just what needs to go, but what should not even be here in the first place. Like the random newsletters, political emails, guilt-inducing animal rights campaigns (still a member, but I just can't look at those photos everyday!), and messages that fall short of inspiring -- I'm unsubscribing to the "junk mail" in my head. 


And it feels sooo good. 

{image credit thriftypyg}