Blog

The Creative MindsetArtists and crafts people love the creative and productive part of their profession. Naturally! There are some who regard the need to sell what they make with disdain. "I'm not a sales person or a business person," they say. "I don't want to be involved with that dirty and demeaning stuff, I'm an artist". If only they had a sales person or a distributor to deal with business, to just magically take over sales, so that they could concentrate their creative energies …

Do the basics consistently, persistently and well – you will stand out as few businesses do.Basics Produce a great product, provide a great service after asking yourself what do I need or want and what do other people want and need Stay very close to customers Ask yourself every day why would anyone buy/commission from me? Have integrity – that’s all you’ve got, keep your word, on deliveries on appointments on payments. With employees and customer and supplie …

Pricing is a Women's IssueThe prices we charge in business often reflect the way we value ourselves. Our prices are too often a measure of our own self esteem and self worth. Pricing is fundamentally a measure of your confidence as a business owner and it's the only validation of the value you provide to your market. There is a tendency for women to undercharge for services and products sold. As if to say, "If I charge a low price you will like me more", "I will not get into unpleasant sc …

The History of Aprons(Inspired by Tina Trivett's poem, Grandma's Apron)The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. The apron has so many usesIt was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.From the chicken …

I am fortunate in that my passion is my work. I live and breath design and art. I feel a bit of a charlatan in that I myself am not an artist, but I do have the privilege and delight to work with such fine and talented people. It is a circle and of joy. When I work in the store and meet people who make purchases and enjoy the products. I know what I was put on the earth to do. Modest as it may be. People often ask where I get ideas from. Travel is a way.I am constantly looking for inspiration. N …