Learning and learning as I go through this adventure I call FibersStudio. The journey has been a long one. One that started in my head when I was studying weaving in grad school during 1995-1997. Once I finished with school I bought my loom and then did a little more dreaming.
Then about 12 years ago when I first thought of starting my business I just thought it was too overwhelming. So instead I bought my first home with my husband, had three kids...and then about 3 years ago I thought...I shouldn't waste anymore time!!!
Now here I am with a my husband, three children, working as a contractor with other companies as a designer and then for myself creating FibersStudio one day at a time. I also have teaching possibilities soon. Now, that would seem overwhelming wouldn't it? It is at times, but honestly if you love something enough it isn't. So, now I just work through it and take things one day, one step at a time.
I am currently in my third year of working out the kinks, through new ideas and my current goals. Learning and learning like I said. I think that this is what I like most. Making the dreams come alive. You know I love process and this is part of the creation of my company. This may only be a one person company, but at least I love it. It makes me feel so much better overall.
So new things are coming.
I finally broke down and bought a postage scale and a way to print my postage so I don't have to keep trekking across town to send packages out. It just kills my time and breaks up my day too much resulting me losing that creative energy along the way. Plus, now with creating smaller items to sell like jewelry I wanted a way to send cheaper than Priority Mail. I will also be able to open my market to international shipping. This I am excited about! It's just taken me time to get to this point.
My new jewelry adventure is working out well. Tatting my lace and then turning it into jewelry is exciting to me. I suppose it is because I am changing up a traditional art a bit. People who know what tatting is always come up to me and say, "Oh my grandmother use to tat. She would make lace for edging on pillow cases, etc." A lot of people are really excited to see me tatting and ask where I learned. Well, I taught myself. It took about a week and a few months of figuring out different things, but a year later I am very comfortable with it and keep returning to it.
I am continuing to knit and weave also, but I may start dropping off the knitting some. I do love it, but it takes so very much time to create the things I am that it seems to be too much. Instead, I am going to weave scarves and cowls. I have some sketches to work through and threading for my loom, but it will bring a new look to those products for my audience and customers.
Something else I continue to work on is the identity for the company. This is hard for me because I am also a graphic designer and I think because of this I put things off a lot. Do I really like my logo? Do I really want my company name to be one word or two words? Do I want to choose a main color for my look? What about custom order sheets? What do they need to look like? Do I need a stamp so I can save time with packaging? Do I want to print out labels instead. Which is more cost effective? What would last longer? What do I want my packaging to be like...bubble mailers, hard cardboard like mailers, etc.? There's a ton to figure out, but as with most things with me it will end up being based on money and how creative I can actually get. It is one step and one day at a time. This is why I gave myself 5 years to really get this figured out. It may take more, but I think I am about there.
I am also starting to do more art fairs/shows. That is a whole new learning curve too. Plus, it costs money which is keeping me in the bluegrass region most of the time. I can not drive hundreds of miles for no to little profit. Seems unreasonable, but really cost wise it usually doesn't work in my favor. If you participate in a show most of the time you have a booth cost. Then some shows you need a 10x10 tent, tables, chairs, cash for change, credit card system (I use Square with my iPhone and it works very well and low cost!), receipts, etc.
That's where I am in this adventure. I have three custom orders to get done before mid-end of August, I am creating jewelry to put online for sale and so much more! Stay tuned and don't miss a thing because I are going into my busiest season! Like I said...it's process I love and I am learning every day.
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