Boredom is so 2009

SUMMER SALE

2010-07-20T18:50:00.003-05:00

Well, the summer season (for clothes at least) is drawing to a close. I just have a small handful of pieces left from my spring/summer collection! They are way too cute to pass up, and there is still enough time to get some wear out of them before fall fashion hits! What does all this mean? A SALE is in order!

Check out the ETSY store to see the new prices...get them while they last!

All headbands are $12
All brooches are $10

Shop away!

vintage finds

2010-07-12T18:43:00.003-05:00

This past week I took some time off and traveled to Colorado. As we passed through Leadville, we stopped for a restroom break and peaked into some local shops. I was delighted to snag these wonderful vintage-style jewelry finds to use in the fall designs! I've been keeping my eye out for things of this nature, which can be hard to come across. This style is all over fall accessories! Check out J. Crew's fall lookbook for a a taste...

I still haven't had time to work on anything yet, but the ideas are brewing!!

bold & beautiful summer rosettes!

2010-07-05T15:46:00.005-05:00

These rosettes hair combs were made from pink, orange, and red fabric and are topped off with a silver-embedded rhinestone. They were the perfect accessory for the bridesmaid's dresses at my sister-in-law's wedding a week ago.

In addition - long time no post! I kind of fell off the wagon when my work schedule increased. Lately I've been just trying to stay a float between work, my husband, traveling, weddings, and other events. There has been little time to craft, although I've done a fair share of custom work over the past few weeks.

Also (and I wish I would have taken a closer picture...hopefully someone else got a good one) I re-purposed a gorgeous brooch as a hair comb for my sister-in-law's do. It turned out WONDERFULLY! She is gorgeous anyway, but it added just the right elegant touch to her already spectacular look!

Yay for weddings and lovely brides!

I'm looking forward to completing 2 other custom wedding orders over the next month.

...and I'm hoping to come back to blogging, crafting, and selling in early September (already dreaming about fall designs)... :-)

one of the joys...

2010-06-02T21:42:00.002-05:00

One of the joys of custom work is getting to hear (and see) how people enjoyed their accessory! With typical ETSY sales, there isn't always a follow up note or picture telling me how it worked out. I was thrilled to take a peak of these lovely gals in headbands all geared up for a wedding...

Thanks for sharing!!!

your style - choosing fabric

2010-05-28T14:47:00.005-05:00

Well, my posting seems to be a bit more scattered lately. I've been so busy with life, my new job, and custom orders that I've hardly had time to think about anything else 'business' related. June 1st will mark the 5th month of this endeavor, and I'm excited to see that it's still moving forward.

On to custom item stuff...a trend in my post topics lately :-)

If you ever wondered how you would be able to order something made 'just for you' and not hate the fabric, here's a little something I do to help you out:

Fabric choices! In the top picture I was able to get some samples from the local fabric store before making a big purchase. In the bottom picture I put together a collection of fabrics I already had available in a particular color. Either way, I would be happy to accommodate your style and preferences!

Or you can just make it easy on me, and say you want it in all white:
:-)

The choice is yours!

selling switch - more custom coming my way

2010-05-21T14:16:00.004-05:00

Thought I would share a couple of the custom pieces I finished this week:

A friend in my small group and her fellow bridesmaid are going to rock these headbands at a wedding coming up next weekend! The colors are black, cream, and lime...super fun! I know they will add just the right touch to their classy black dresses and peep-toe pumps. Yay for fun wedding projects!
This didn't seem to translate in pictures as well as I would have liked, but it is sooo cute in person! It is for my friend Mae who is currently residing in LA (I think she is in design school). Mae looks lovely in bright, fun colors and picked this combo out herself from my fabric swatches. I really enjoyed that experience because it helped me create something that I wouldn't have put together on my own.

It seems like when I first started out I was mostly selling what I had already made...now the bulk of what I do is custom pieces requested by people who have seen my other work and really like it. Interesting how things change!

creating custom

2010-05-17T17:12:00.003-05:00

Tonight I am working on 2 custom headbands...lately most of the work I've been doing is custom, making it feel 'behind-the-scenes'. Custom work is fun because I can creatively personalize design for someone's special occasion or style. However, it can be challenging because there is more pressure to do it 'just how they imagined'. Sometimes I worry that my vision won't align with what my buyer had in mind.

I thought it would be fun to reflect on some of the custom pieces I've made!

Currently, I'm working on some special things for my sister's wedding, blue puff headbands for a wedding in october, a yellow zipper headband for a friend in Cali, and a flower necklace for my mom!

Don't be shy on Etsy! Many sellers are more than happy to create custom work and reserved listings JUST FOR YOU! I'd love to do a headband, necklace, brooch, or accessory for your next special occasion!

evolution of design - em.j headbands

2010-05-15T16:39:00.005-05:00

A comment on my last post caused me to reflect upon where I've come from. My very first headband makes me laugh these days, even though at the time I thought it was a pretty good start. It's embarrassing enough to not include a picture of, although I'm definitely keeping it for encouragement 'look how far I've come' purposes.

Some of my first 'serious' creations include:

A little flower puff that now belongs to one of my sister-in-laws....
A purple singed flower that now belongs to my good friend Abbie...
Some rosette headbands in the hands of a 'friend of a friend' here in town...

These were actually surprisingly good. Sometimes I look back on my original work and feel inspired to go back to my roots. Those rosette headbands are not only some of my favorite, they also became the basis for my 'EISLEY' design now sold on ETSY.

Eventually, I made a 'light box' and my photography improved a bit:

Purple poppies headband that even had a blog feature!
A combo of lemon and lime that has become relatively popular!

Shortly after this phase, I decided to find my stride in design. I now have a few particular designs that come in a variety of colors:

the 'EISLEY' headband - featuring 3 fabric rosettes
the 'EMILINE' headband which is a chiffon puff with adorable embellishments!
the 'ELLA' headband - always a bow :-)
the 'ELIZABETH' headband - a delicate flower bloom

the 'EZRI' headband - 2 satin flowers with singed edges

I think it's been a fun journey thus far, and I look forward to what the business will look like in another 3 months!

new designs - yay for free time!

2010-05-13T13:05:00.002-05:00

Pink Ezri headband
Yellow rosette necklace with vintage cottage white ribbon
Emiline headband
Flower brooch in peach
Creamy white Eisley headband with blue vintage ribbon

Last night I had some free time to make some new stuff! YAY!

Just thought I would share!

getting inspired - bridal :-)

2010-05-10T14:01:00.003-05:00

I know that there is a market I haven't made an effort to tap into...BRIDAL ACCESSORIES! I haven't forgotten what it was like to try finding the perfect hair piece for my dress that fit my style and budget.
I ended up choosing a simple rhinestone headband, but there were soooo many other beautiful pieces out there. Considering I didn't have much time to plan though (and I didn't know about etsy *GASP*, I think this was a great addition to my wedding dress).

It is possible...and I won't go into details just yet...that I'll be officially part of the bridal market soon. There is still much creating to do and many details to be worked out...eek...I hope I can share more soon!

In the meantime, I thought I would get inspired by creating a little 'bridal brooch' treasury. I know that it might be poor marketing to show off your 'competition', but I am continually amazed by the fabulous artistry of many etsy sellers. I hope you enjoy looking at some of the beautiful stuff that's out there, as much as I did!

This is a *mini* sneak peak...check out the rest of my treasury HERE: bridal inspiration by elegantemj

in the meantime...

2010-05-06T13:15:00.004-05:00

Learning to manage business with busy has been very challenging...as evidenced this week by my lack of blogging.

We've had 2 birthdays (yeah, it's pretty fun that my husband and I have back to back b-days), mother's day is coming up (shopping), AND I'm still trying to adjust to my new job watching little ones for half of the day.

Needless to say, we have been BUSY...leaving almost no time for me to craft, post, tweet, facebook, or create *which I love the most*. I hope that life will level out soon and I'll be able to keep enjoying that which is em.j!

In the meantime:

This was featured on the front page of lollishops.com - a cute crafting website I'd never heard of until I checked it out!

AND I am doing a custom order of the same style of headbands for a wedding in October...

They will be for some lovely blue dresses. Can't wait to pick out fabric and get started!

newest addition to the brooch familiy

2010-04-30T16:07:00.003-05:00

I got a little excited yesterday when I brought home some gorgeous flowers and turned them into brooches. Here's my first one...look for more to come!

I think it would look awesome pinned to just about anything, but here I pinned it to a cardigan, and a light pink strand of pearls. Two looks, one lovely accessory!

getting exposure on Etsy

2010-04-28T17:00:00.005-05:00

Promoting yourself is an important part of any business, and I've noticed the impact it's had on my own business...here is some food for thought when it comes to 'getting noticed' on Etsy:

You don't have to be one of a kind, but you do have to make something that people want.
Even if you think you are unique, there are 1,000 other stores that probably sell something similar...how are you different?
People want to buy more than your product, they want to know the story behind it.
Learn the meaning of perceived value, and showcase your item in a way that reflects the value you put on your work.
Photography is *almost* everything. If people don't click on your picture, they are never going to buy your product.
Be present in the community. Spent time on the forums and invest time in making thoughtful and genuine comments. Also, it doesn't hurt to boldly promote yourself in the appropriate threads.
Remember, every connection you make is important. You never know which connection will lead to a sale.

Beyond Etsy, there are a few other things that have been good exposure:

Facebook. Don't be annoying, but post pictures and stay in the back of people's minds!
Twitter. Do be annoying, or at least post as consistently as possible. It's okay to promote yourself, but mix in some personal as well.
Business cards. Carry them, and give as necessary.
Family & friends...you'll be surprised at how much business and exposure you can get by having loved ones who are excited about what you do.
Blogging. Get your story out there!
Have a giveaway...this will get attention and some followers.
Blog features...expose yourself to a new group of readers by grabbing a feature on another blog.
Local media. My dad threw my name out there, but I'm sure with a little reading you could easily find out how to approach the press about your story and what you create.

Things I'd like to try:

Local magazines or trade magazines
Craft fairs....
Meeting with boutique owners
Getting some great photography

What things have helped promote your product or have given you great exposure? SHARE PLEASE!

"old job", meet "new job"

2010-04-26T18:51:00.003-05:00

Today I started a job as a part-time nanny. This is not only great for my husband and I, but it's very conducive to the continuation of 'em.j'. The last few months have been quite the learning experience, and everyday I am discovering what role my business should play in my life. Up until this point, I have been creating, photographing, listing, packing, and mailing mostly during the day. Now, things will shift more towards the evening as my days fill up.

I'm becoming okay with where things are at...with taking my time to get this built up to what I would like it to be. I'm being patient, and realizing that sometimes the sacrifice necessary to push something forward isn't worth the end result. I'm very much enjoying selling and creating...and that's just what I intend to keep doing. If it turns into more...that would be wonderful as well :-).

In other news, I added a lot of new pics to help give a 'visual' to some of my headbands at the etsy store ....AND I listed my 'cupcake' necklace. ENJOY!

this week, it's cupcakes.

2010-04-23T12:05:00.002-05:00

Some weeks I'm inspired by the understated and classic style of J. Crew. Other weeks, I like a floral and feminine style. This week? I don't know what has gotten into me, but everything I make looks kind of like a decoratively iced cupcake. I'm living in the tension of freedom with creativity and the restrictions of a 'brand'.

...for now, I'm enjoying just being ridiculously colorful...must be the nice weather!

new stuff & treasury east

2010-04-21T18:31:00.003-05:00

Just a taste of the new stuff out today at elegantemj! I listed 4 brooches, which are the first in a brand new line of accessories. It has been so refreshing to work on new projects, and re-think the possibilities for the future. I love that the longer this goes on, the more I'm able to refine my style and brand...to understand what I like and what em.j is really about.

I hope you enjoy checking out the new things!

Also, I didn't used to wait around for treasuries to expire, but now that treasury EAST is available at Etsy - I jumped on it!

You can find my first treasury HERE ---- http://www.etsy.com/treasury/6724b47b5166cf4becf6bf00

This picture is just one example of the ruffled, pink, wonderfully feminine collection I put together...enjoy!

Barely Pink by Sarahseven on ETSY

customer appreciation

2010-04-21T11:06:00.004-05:00

There are lots of reasons why I like creating accessories and selling them. Want to know one of my favorite things about it? I love making connections with other women, and being able to give them something that makes them feel extra special.

This week, Claire, who bought a headband from me a while back, sent me this adorable photo of her and her friends...she was showing it off, and doing so in style! It totally made me smile!

...thanks for having fun and blessing me with this adorable picture!

and if YOU have ever bought something from me and want to send me a picture of you wearing your headband/necklace...PLEASE DO! I would love to see it and/or put it on my blog!

went to the post office & left my brain at home

2010-04-19T16:16:00.003-05:00

Do you ever have those moments where you just completely space out and as a result, do something kind of ridiculous? I did...today...

This headband (pictured above) cost a lovely citizen of Canada $16 to purchase...today, I paid $20 to ship it.

(I know, my stomach is lurching more than yours...TRUST ME).

It all started when I *thought* I would save time by just getting a box at our local grocery store (which has a post office at their customer service area). This was good reasoning...I had another package to ship internationally, and I just needed a measily box. They could provide it for me, I could pack it, and I would efficiently complete the afternoon's business tasks.
As I approached the counter, the nice customer service representative helped me pick out the *perfect* sized box for the headband. He even packaged it for me, and meticulously taped all the edges. It was great. He helped me fill out the customs forms, and even volunteered to do the 3rd when we realized one of them was incorrect.

By this point, I had been at the front of the line for 15 min...at least...that's a long wait to anyone else needing assistance.

Finally, the nice employee goes to ring up my products. First package, $2.41....second package, $20.

"WHAT?!!!!! Why is it so much?" I wondered...
"Ma'am, you did want priority shipping right? That's why you got the priority shipping box?"

Future note to self:
Priority and Express are not words that mean 'generic shipping box'...they mean 'expensive shipping'.

I was slightly mortified. I know I could have made him completely scrap the whole thing. I could have driven to Wal-Mart, bought a generic box, re-packaged everything, and then come back to fill out more customs forms...
But I couldn't bring myself to do it.

I paid.
*GASP* *GULP*

To top it all off, I left with my second package in hand...I was so busy thinking about how much I just paid to hand over my package to be mailed. I had to do the walk of shame back into the store to get it in the mail.

The head customer service lady laughed out loud at me when I handed it to her. I smiled...
Guess we all have those days sometimes!

just for fun

2010-04-18T16:20:00.004-05:00

This peach braided headband was inspired by my friend Katherine, who gave me the idea a couple of weeks ago. She said she loves pinks, and thinks that simple braided headbands are adorable. I think so too!

Sometimes to get out of my design funk, I just need to let myself play around and do something different! Today I had the opportunity to work on a custom piece and design some new things.

The blue rosettes are going to become a pin for a cardigan (I think)...it is even topped off with some rhinestones and pearls!

The gray layered fabric flower with the gorgeous sparkly center is going to become a custom hair pin for my friend Alex. I can't wait to finish them off!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend...I know I am!

today's 'wow' moment

2010-04-16T12:28:00.004-05:00

Today I am shipping THIS to France...who would have ever thought someone in FRANCE would want something that I made? Surreal.

That's a global economy for you!

the trough of disillusionment

2010-04-14T15:27:00.003-05:00

(Gartner Hype Cycle - Wiki )

Lately I've been in a business rut....and this chart does a pretty good job of explaining why. Even though I'm not a social networking tool trying to figure out how long until I'm in the trough, I think this is still applicable to all entrepreneurs.

I knew this would happen going into it. Every good vision starts out as an exciting dream, your adrenaline pumps as you pursue it's reality, and eventually you feel slightly disillusioned when things are different than your original vision.

Now I'm in the thick of things. I'm not really designing...I'm making...putting headbands in bubble wrap, writing little notes, re-listing items, responding to emails, reading about how to keep my own books, and it's not as glamorous as I had hoped. (Sounds like most things in life, huh!)

I'm fighting to climb up the slope of enlightenment, and get my business to a place where it can become steady and productive.

Have you experienced this in YOUR life or business journey? What phase of this chart are you on with an important project or vision you cast?

etsy spring finds

2010-04-13T12:37:00.009-05:00

Buy handmade and support etsy in your spring shopping this year! Here are some good places to start:

"Vintage Photograph Necklace" - $15 - by MissyM88

She also featured me on her blog today...check it out - Nautical Necklace

Nautical Stripes Bag - $36 - Peacelovenpolkadots
COQUINE embellished women tank top - $40 - lamarquisedesanges
Vintage Wingtip Yellow Rimmed Sunglasses - $17 - Kakalinarose
Romantic Shoe Clips - $24.99 - RouziliGarden

And I have to include myself...
BLOOM necklace in yellow and cream - $26 - elegantemj

Happy spring shopping!

etsy spring items - your suggestions please :-)

2010-04-12T09:21:00.004-05:00

EISLEY in pink & cream @ elegantemj on ETSY

I think we've had enough warm days in a row to REALLY consider it spring. In fact, most of the trees have gorgeous greenery...

Springtime also means spring and summer shopping. It's fun to add those new pieces to last season's clothing to make it look & feel brand new! Since I sell on etsy, and I would like to advocate buying handmade, I'm looking to feature some stores/items that are practical and affordable additions to this season's spring wardrobe.

Here's one that I am seriously considering purchasing!
Antique Skeleton Key and Pearl Necklace from MissMakesALot

Please leave your links and store/item suggestions so that I can include them in a later post...it can be your store or someone else's....as long as it is from etsy!

goodbye post office...

2010-04-10T14:30:00.003-05:00

Over the last several months, I have gotten to know my local post office locations better than I would like. I've waited in lines and tried to understand when 'traffic' flow appears to be the heaviest. I am so swift at the postage kiosk that I can click through all the stages without hardly looking at the screen. However, multiple trips a week carrying bulky boxes and taking time in line just isn't conducive to efficient business practices. I hit my 38th Etsy sale this week (pretty good for less than 2 months of being open!) and I'm doing more business than ever with friends and family.
It was time to commit to....A SCALE!

It's nothing too exciting or expensive, but it does accurately measure weight in ounces.

Now I can just put my boxes on this thing, and print out my labels from home...something I'm sure you seasoned Etsians have been doing for a long time.

I suppose I can measure food portions on it as well...

OR NOT :-) I think I prefer packages only.

How do you handle package mailing? Do you 'do it yourself' or visit the post office?

taking inventory

2010-04-08T12:07:00.004-05:00

I'm proud to announce that I have officially completed my first step towards an organized business!

Up until yesterday, I had no way of keeping track of :

what products I had
what products were listed
what products had sold
and what products were just 'sitting around'...

There are probably a ton of different ways to keep track of inventory, but this was how I did it...

STEP ONE - Prepare!

I consumed caffeine. You may decide to go for a walk, do some breathing exercises, get a pep talk from a friend, or play with a puppy.

STEP TWO - Figure out what you want to keep track of...

This will differ depending on the size of your business, and the depth of knowledge you want. I decided that my main issues were being able to know 'at a glance' what products I had completed, and which of those products were listed or sold.

STEP THREE - Make a Spreadsheet

I decided to make a template, and fill it in by hand. At some point I can enter this into the computer, but believe it or not, I think writing it down helps me remember everything better.

STEP FOUR - Take Inventory!

I laid all of my products out on the floor and listed each one on my inventory sheet. As I listed, I categorized them into piles so I knew; what needed to be shipped, what was still pending sale, and what I had not yet listed.

Things I learned:

I have 5 products which are finished, but for whatever reason they got lost in the mix and never listed on Etsy. They aren't making me money on the shelf!
Now instead of having to navigate several web pages to see what I've photographed, listed, or shipped, I can just check one page.
I know how many products or 'assets' I have at any given time.

What I haven't completed yet is an inventory of my supplies. That sounds a little more complicated. I think my next project will be to gather all of my receipts, and ATTEMPT to organize them. BUT that is for another day and another post.

incase you were wondering...

2010-04-06T16:22:00.003-05:00

Nope, I haven't started organizing receipts.

I did find time to take pictures of new necklaces which are now up in the store.

...maybe tomorrow....

if I ever get rich...

2010-04-05T21:22:00.004-05:00

Do you ever feel like something is following you around?

Like you want to avoid it, but everywhere you turn there is another circumstance reminding you of your unwelcome new friend?

I'm having that about a little thing called BOOK KEEPING.

Receipts
Expenses
Mileage
Sales
Cash
Invoices
Statements
....SPREADSHEETS....

DUN DUN DUN!!!!

I don't want to dive into the complexities. I dread this part of my business. However, the time of avoidance is coming to an end, and I'm thinking it's time to bite the bullet and admit that this is getting bigger than a simple system.

....I'll let you know if I'm still a happy entrepreneur after this is over....how do you handle it?

it's here!

2010-04-04T21:33:00.003-05:00

I've finally started to post the new spring stuff at the store! You'll notice some changes:

There are only a select number of designs, making the products easier to recognize!
Each headband has a different 'E' name. Make sure to check the product descriptions to read what the names mean and why I chose them.
I haven't updated necklaces yet, but some LOVELY stuff is on it's way...I really can't wait!
There is still one sale headband that doesn't fit into the current model. I hope someone snags it while it's still available!

Go check it out!

em.j on Etsy

em.j - in full bloom?

2010-04-03T18:30:00.004-05:00

It's a gorgeous Saturday, and it definitely looks like spring. Tulips have opened, trees have budded, and even the Easter Lilies on our kitchen table are fragrant and blooming. I have to say, I LOVE IT!

Lately I've been thinking a lot about em.j, and what the 'business' has in store for the future. As I have re-evaluated things, I've come to some interesting realizations. One of my projects for the week was to figure out how much I could make if I worked on my etsy business 'full-time' and operated at maximum success or capacity. The answer was a little bit more discouraging than I had hoped. I couldn't really figure a way where I could made an income comparable to any hourly or salary job I would have in the marketplace without having someone help me turn over more product or be in a position where I 'sold' my designs to a bigger company (long shot).

From an artists perspective, this is alright I suppose. Most artists or designers don't enter into their field thinking they are going to get rich...they just want to survive! From another perspective though, these are my most 'productive' years financially and I have a degree that could earn me twice what etsy would in a year.

Hmmm....

I have committed to this for 6-months, and in the last 3 I have learned a TON. I've gained confidence in my ability to see something and go for it...to learn and finish something I wanted to start. I've also gained confidence in my ability and capacity as a creative-minded person. I'm really very thankful for all of the success I've had, and intend to continue it as a hobby and part- time income generator. However, I think the reality is setting in that I haven't hit a point where I could justify 'not' having a day job to do my etsy business. I also am not sure I'm willing to put in the hours and sweat it would take to 'mass produce' my product and make a reasonable income.

Well, it's not the end of my etsy business or my blog - or anything else for that matter! It's just a new opportunity to find the full potential in a wonderful endeavor I've invested my time and energy into...

Here's to a bright future!

other projects - covering pillows

2010-04-02T08:44:00.003-05:00

Occasionally I need to do other projects in order to keep my craft sanity. Lately I've been making so many headbands, that I've almost been feeling burned out. However, yesterday's trip to the fabric store really helped refresh me and get me excited to do new things!

Here is a little snapshot of what I worked on! For you sewing queens out there, this is really amateur stuff, but I'm a totally newbie at the ole Kenmore. :-)
I used a lemon yellow utility fabric as the back of the pillow to save on cost, and a modern green/white pattern for the front. It's not much, but I'm proud of our updated hand-me-down couch!

i'm still here...

2010-04-01T09:40:00.003-05:00

I've been catching up on blogs today, and I was happy to read I'm not the only one who has been a little inconsistent with the posting lately. I've been so busy creating new stuff and re-visiting my business model that I just haven't gotten around to doing much online. Not to mention the weather has been AMAZING this week, and I've been actively enjoying the fresh air. It's easier to spend time inside blogging when it's winter and freezing.

I hope to catch you all up on the multitude of business things that are going on...but to start you off, here's just a few pictures of what's new and ready to go in the store very soon. I know I haven't listed anything in almost 2 weeks and it's killing me!

help - i'm filling out spreadsheets!

2010-03-28T15:46:00.004-05:00

Guess what?! Non-detail oriented, administratively-challenged ME is sitting in my old bedroom filling out 'business' spreadsheets. For the past 3 months, I've kept track of two things; sales and expenses. That's all I can handle! When I get those two numbers, I take sales minus expenses and BAM, I get my profit! Easy right?

Lucky for me, I have a father who is on his own entrepreneurship journey. He has been taking a 5 week class through a foundation that gives a person all the tools they need to have a business plan. The spreadsheets he has keep track of everything, and project sales, expenses, and a bunch of other stuff I don't understand. They also project sales for the next 2 years...

3 words... My Head Hurts.

Enough blogging, I think I'll go back to listening to my husband and father talk innovation, business, and numbers...can I go back home and just put together cute headbands now please?

:-)

wear it out

2010-03-27T12:17:00.004-05:00

You know, for all the promoting I do for em.j, I don't wear my own product very often! Trust me, this isn't because I don't think it's adorable and totally accessible for the average gal to incorporate into her wardrobe. You want to know the truth? Sometimes I just want a break from them! I buy the fabric, make products, and then photograph the accessories. Then, I tweet about them, blog about them, post them on etsy, and share them on facebook. When I see relatives, I talk about them, describe them, and brainstorm about how they can be better. The reality is...after all of that...sometimes I don't feel like wearing them out! It's like my little break from the business...

However, keeping my products to myself isn't good marketing! This is why today, I'm wearing a headband out as my husband and I run errands. The good news is, past experience tells me that often times people approach me and ask, "where did you get that?". This is an awesome opportunity to share about em.j and hand them a business card.

Don't forget that sometimes YOU are a great marketing tool for what you make!

sneak peak

2010-03-25T19:32:00.003-05:00

You know you've been making a lot when you start your car and notice that hot glue strings are hanging from your keys. How does that stuff end up EVERYWHERE?

While there aren't any NEW listings up at elegantemj, I thought it would be fun to show a few snapshots of what I've been working on this week. There's A LOT more where this came from and I can't wait to makeover the store!

*YAY*

making a ruffle tank

2010-03-25T10:09:00.003-05:00

I saw this amazing tutorial for making a ruffled tank top out of an old white t-shirt HERE and was totally inspired! I've been wanting to get into clothing design since 'em.j' started, but haven't had time to just create. This is the result of my first try...

I'll definitely post a picture of what it looks like with an outfit after today!

Lucky for me, today I found some tank tops on sale and bought 2 to attempt embellishing with flowers. I can't wait to share how it all turns out....they might even end up in the store!

Don't forget that there are headbands on SALE at elegantemj to make room for the new changes coming soon. Go check it out, because they won't be there for long!

informative goodies

2010-03-24T13:44:00.006-05:00

2 quick things - for your information :-)

1) 7 things at em.j 's Etsy store just went on sale....this is big. I'm not a 'put things on sale' a lot person, but I definitely wanted to get some of the original items out. This is all part of the big plan to re-group, re-organize, and have a better brand for the store! Go shopping, because I haven't decided how long this stuff will stay up...might not be long at all!

2) An em.j headband was present at an engagement...I'm so proud. Congrats, and thanks for wearing my headband - you are lovely in it!

Tara was wearing an eggplant & wine colored flower headband with a golden ribbon wrapped band. Check it out...

a multitude of eeeee's

2010-03-23T19:59:00.004-05:00

The overhaul has started! Phase 1: pick several designs and brand them...give them a name...and get some nice pictures taken! So far I've settled on 6 headband designs, and 3 necklace designs. Each particular style will vary in color and fabric, and can still be customized. Want a sneak peak?

1 Style - triple rosette headbands
I've decided to name them "eisley"

Eisley is a variation of the name 'Eisele' which means strong, and hardy. While I don't know a lot of 'buff' women, I do know that I have strong women in my life...women that have gracefully endured life changing, heart breaking, and earth shaking circumstances. That's why I think this headband deserves a name...because women who embody strength are beautiful where it really counts.

What are some of your favorite girl names that begin with an 'e'? Maybe you'll help name my next accessory!

(speaking of awesome women - Sseko Designs is amazing business model for a creative fashion product - and it helps women from Uganda....check it out and be inspired!)

from small start up to polished product

2010-03-22T09:48:00.003-05:00

Left - Joojooland - Dream Berry Earrings
Center - Brianarose - Hair Starfish
Right - Sumikoshop - Charlotte Brooch
(these are shops and products that I think are polished and full of class!)

I am sooo excited on this Monday morning! Getting away for the weekend and having good discussions with someone than my own mind REALLY helped me figure out whats next for em.j! This first month of selling has already been more than I could have hoped for, but I don't want to stop there. It's time to take what I have, and give it a tune-up so that I have room to grow my brand and sell more.

Current business process:

I have no 'set schedule' or 'set designs' - Mostly, I make whatever comes into my mind that day, so I end up with a wide range of designs.
It takes approximately 4 hours to make 2 designs, photograph the new products, list them on etsy, and do some low-key promoting on twitter, facebook, and the etsy forums...that's not very many products for so much time!
I'm constantly playing 'catch-up'...even though I would like to have my store stocked with 30+ items, I can't get over 20 because the second I sell something new, I have to take time to re-stock where I lost. Translation: I'm just keeping up, not getting ahead.
I go to the post office a lot...I pretty much make one trip per order. Currently, I have a 1-2 business day turnaround time from the time of payment until I ship. Usually this means that I also have to run to the store for shipping materials, because I haven't bought a 'bulk' amount of boxes.

As my husband would say (in his engineering lingo) - I need a leaner process! In a small business there is no room for wasted time, money, or resources.

That's why things are changing! Here are some of the changes I'll be pursuing over the next couple of weeks:

Streamlining my products...As of right now I'll be making 6 different headband styles and 3 different necklace styles. My only variation will be in color/materials. Although I will still be taking custom orders, for now I'm going to take the pressure off of myself to keep doing new.
Naming my specific products...I want to give each headband/necklace style a specific name to make them more recognizable. This will help me brand my product and my business...it will also help ME figure out what I do!
I want to work on my product descriptions, and create a template that can be quickly adapted to each product. Since I'm limiting my number of accessory styles, I will save time by not having to re-write my etsy listings from scratch every time.
Photography...this might take longer than 2 weeks, but I think I'm getting to the point where I'm ready to get a 'professional' photographer to take some classy shots of each accessory style. This will help me build a portfolio and hopefully bring my brand up to the next level.

In order to accomplish these tasks, I will not be listing new items for a while. While I will still be accepting sales and doing requested custom work, I'm going to give myself a break from feeling pressure to 'keep up' with new designs. I will be creating, building inventory, and preparing my store for it's little makeover! AND, I'll keep YOU filled in along the way.... :-)

Is there anything you've done for YOUR etsy business that has given it a boost?

back to (blog) basics

2010-03-20T21:07:00.004-05:00

*Two more SOLD! And fun fact...the headband on the left was one of my first, and one of my favorite. I'm glad it's going to a good home :-) *

When I started this journey (almost 3 months ago now...WOW!) the intent was to create a story log of my discoveries, challenges, and triumphs of the process behind starting a business. The idea was to share knowledge, and sprinkle tid-bits of personal touches along the way. Somewhere, sometimes, some-posts have gotten a bit off track. I think I can attribute these deviations to a couple of things:

1 - It's easy to write about myself. I'm an expert on me and my life...and let's face it...most of us spend most of our day thinking about ourselves.
2 - Sometimes I disregard my discoveries. I make business decisions and I learn new things, but for some reason I think it's not worth a blog post. Or I never write it down, so when it's time to blog I can't remember anything new I did that day.

After talking with my sister (in-love) I was reminded that I need to give my readers something. I want this to be 1st, inspirational, and 2nd, informative. She suggested that it might be good to put a little note to myself near my computer that says, "I'm writing about my business!" That way when I'm tempted to dedicate a whole post to my new haircut (oops), it's easy to get back on track. Also, I think I want to begin writing down things that I learn and decide in the course of a day. Even the smallest, most obvious problems are REAL issues in the life of a new entrepreneur.

Here are a few posts that I think are very in line with my mission:

Creative Catch 22
Photography Woes
Top 10 Reasons to Buy Handmade
Oops, Rookie Mistake!

Hope to be bringing more content your way soon...:-)

One Lovely Blog!

2010-03-20T16:08:00.004-05:00

A big thanks to Cheryl at 'Miss Makes-a-Lot' for awarding me with a 'One Lovely Blog' award. You should totally check out her adorable blog and Etsy store. She is a creative graphic designer and also has great crafting skills.

I would like to pass this award on as well to several bloggers who are full of creative ideas, lovely designs, and interesting thoughts. They are in no particular order:

1. Joo Joo
2. Rockstar Diaries
3. Sumiko Handmade Creations
4. Winsome Hollow
5. Craftaholics Anonymous
6. Lovely Clusters
7. The Shabby Chic Cottage
8. Daydream Lily
9. Miss Makes-a-Lot
10. Brown Paper Packages
11. Print and Pattern
12. Mimi Charmante
13. Little Lost Love
14. Stylestance Daily
15. Make it and Love it

Building a network of blogs/bloggers to gain insight and inspiration from has been a huge help along the way.

For the "One Lovely blog" award you need to:
• Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog.
• Copy the award and paste it to your blog.
• Pass this award on to 15 fantastic bloggers you have discovered.
• Contact your nominations and let them know they've won

happy anniversary

2010-03-18T22:23:00.005-05:00

Today I'm celebrating 2 things:
1 - My husband and I have been married for 6 months today...woo hoo! I can't believe how the time is flying by. Life feels more full, and there is something so significantly wonderful about having a companion in all things.
2 - My em.j Etsy store, elegantemj, has been open for 1 month! (that was yesterday, but it's okay!)

I thought this would be a great time to first say THANK YOU to those who read, follow, and join in in this super fun project that has certainly changed my outlook and opened new possibilities to me.

Also, I'd love to reflect on some awesome things that happened in my first month of being open:

I made 20 sales through my store, and 5 sales outside of my store. Hurray! I went into this with very low expectations, and I've been completely blown away at the interest and response. I can only hope the second month does half as well as the first!
I've sold 2 custom works, and have a wedding, an evening event, and other things on the way! I feel so honored to be creating for special outfits and special days in someone else's life.
I was incredibly lucky to have a great article written about the story behind this business in the Kansas City Star. (SEE THIS POST)
I was featured in multiple blogs...wow...how cool is it when your peers recognize your work? (Here, here, here and I can't seem to find my other links at the moment, but these will do!)
I broke even with my start-up costs...something I was expecting to take 2 months or more! (when it happened...)
I'm excited to have been asked to have my work be a part of a great silent purse auction in Kansas City this weekend. Good cause, AND good exposure! (read)

There is more to share, but these are truly the 'highlights'...I share this not only to remind myself that this is REAL and actually appears to be on the road to becoming something legitimate, but hopefully to inspire YOU to pursue something that you love doing! I NEVER thought I could do something like this. The time & financial commitment seemed overwhelming, not to mention the pressure of pending failure and stress of having no prior business know-how. But, with persistence, research, planning, and consistency...it's moving! Only a short time ago I was brainstorming this with those closest to me, and it's already surprised me.

Do you have anything you are striving to do because you love it?

Baking
Sewing
Learning something
Running a 5k - or maybe a marathon?
Investing in that person or friend
Crafting
Painting
Something else.....?
WHAT'S holding you back? Start now!

spring cleaning - tips for being organized

2010-03-18T11:45:00.004-05:00

Ever since I started this business endeavor, my mess has become increasingly more unmanageable. As part of spring cleaning, my husband and I went out and found this tool organizer at Sears ($20). Even though it's not meant for beads and rhinestones, it works great! It holds all of my embellishments, glue, ribbons, and other things I need for crafting. While I am still searching for a good container for fabric, this has significantly cut down on my mess and the clean up needed after I work on projects. I thought today I would share some great organization tips I've learned since we've been married! (thanks to lots of reading, and an organization class we took at Franklin Covey)

Here are some good steps to help with organization:
1) Sort - put everything you have into 'like' piles (could be sorted by item type, or something more creative like 'amount of use')
2) Toss - go through each pile and decide if you really need to keep EVERYTHING you have...throwing things away creates room for new!
3) Map it - look at the space you have available, and decide where each pile needs to go in relation to your work (for example, you might want your frequently used tools in a more accessable place than your old fabric scraps)
4) Contain it! - this is the most fun step, and usually the one we go to first without planning...doing the prior 3 steps will let you know what size & amount of containers you actually need...this way you don't buy too much or too little!

Finally, always remember that your system of organization doesn't have to look like it belongs in a magazine, it just has to be right for you. If you build a system you can't sustain over a long period of time, then you'll be back to your mess in no time. Let your system reflect how you think, and what you use most.

Do you have any good organization tips? Have you contained your craftiness? :-)

stocking up on st. patty's day...

2010-03-17T11:57:00.004-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's day!

While some are at parades, getting together with friends, and sporting their favorite green shirt (that only gets pulled out once a year), I'm at home re-stocking my etsy store inventory! In the last week or two, much of my 'cute' stuff has sold, and I've had little time to make new! Also, last night my friend Abbie came over to take my headband & necklace donations for a purse auction in Kansas City on Saturday. (see other blog post about the auction)

The brunch (at a lovely hotel in downtown KC) will bring about 200 or so women in to auction on designer purses. Each purse will be stuffed with goodies...and two of the purses will be featuring em.j accessories! I am so honored to be a part of a legitimate event, and I am also excited to be able to donate for a good cause. The auction will benefit KIPP which is a school that works to provide excellent education for inner city children in our area. YAY! My business cards went along with her, so hopefully this is good for networking as well!

So...some of my new headbands were in the previous entry, and there are two more pictured with the flowers I picked up at the store yesterday! They are all listed in my ETSY STORE...enjoy!

going dressy

2010-03-16T12:35:00.005-05:00

*new* :-)

For a while now, I've been wanting to create some more 'evening' oriented headbands. Something that a young professional could wear to the office and add it to an outfit for a weekend party. Black, gray, pearls, and blues are year-round colors, which makes these pieces *extra* awesome.

The only frustrating thing? BLACK IS HARD TO PHOTOGRAPH! I find that black in the pictures, especially the chiffon, looks choppy and fuzzy. Not to mention, the details completely get washed out, and I feel like the pictures look much tackier than the true product. When I try to lighten up the pictures in iphoto, then they just get washed out. *Sigh* - I'm definitely not a photographer...or am I aspiring to be one! (plus, I'm still feeling spoiled from last week when I was able to use Becca's nice camera...now, THAT camera probably would have made my black look awesome!)

Do you know any tricks to make photographing black fabric work well?

happy Tuesday!

6-inches closer to a bob.

2010-03-15T15:54:00.003-05:00

It was only morning when I called the salon to schedule the appointment...just part of a day later, I'm 6 inches closer to a Katie Holmes bob. However, my kind hairstylist (Ken...who does a wonderful job on my husbands hair), convinced me to make a modest change instead of going all the way. I think he was right.

Things I'll miss about long hair:

long, voluptuous curls
easy up-do's
...lets face it, long hair is just awesome when it's actually styled!

Things I'm looking forward to:

putting it half-up, half-down (cute)
having a mini-pony tail
enjoying the sleek look of a side part and flat-ironed ends
shortened blow-dry time

Anyway, it's just hair...it will grow back. p.s. headbands still look cute with short hair!

refresh!

2010-03-15T10:04:00.004-05:00

[This is a great book I got this weekend with our Barnes & Noble gift cards from Christmas...it has so much wonderful information and encouragement for crafters. Remember, readers are leaders!...do you have any good 'crafting books' that have helped you along the way?]

For some reason (could have been the 12 hours of sleep I got last night), I am incredibly refreshed today. Occasionally I just need a long rest, and then Monday comes with joy! Not to mention, it's spring break for many schools in our area, which is a great week to coordinate spring cleaning with.

I feel blessed and excited to say that em.j has been moving along very steadily. So much so, that I am selling faster than I've had time to create. For the first time since my store opened, the amount of items sold has surpassed the amount of items I have for sale! It's been quite amazing shipping little lovelies as far as Massachusetts and California! I only hope it continues :-)

p.s. - I 'broke even' with my start up costs this weekend ...this is another reason to SMILE! Now we can stop paying ourselves back, and start saving for the future...it feels good to bring home some bacon!

Things on tap for this week:

Clean - anything and everything...and throw things away!
Try to remember what day is St. Patrick's day
Read (see book above!)
Take some products to my friend Abbie so she can use them to stuff a purse in an upcoming charity auction this weekend!
Make...create...put together...I've got to get my inventory back up!
Give away new business cards :-)

When do YOU plan to do spring cleaning this year?

first friday feature - coffee love

2010-03-12T08:37:00.003-06:00

Since I started blogging, I've not only been involved in other features, but I've enjoyed seeing them on other blogs. The longer I am part of Etsy, the more I appreciate all of the incredible work that is out there, and the more I am inspired by other people's creativity. I thought it was time that I did a feature of my own. Today's theme is inspired by one of my favorite things to enjoy everyday...coffee!

1) Cloth cups by Netamir - These mugs are super cute and come in a range of modern fabrics. How great would they look on your desk packed with pens and pencils?!
2) Breakfast Screenprint by MrPS - I saw some of MrPS's stuff a while back on a blog, and was hooked on their cute printed mugs, wall hangings, and tea towels. Bonus - it's totally affordable!
3) Cafe Earrings by Lazygiraffe - These earrings are the color of a creamy latte...mmm...they are so delicate and feminine...the perfect addition to any outfit!
4) Custom Mugs by BROOKLYNrehab - You can send in a profile of you and your love, and then have it put on a mug! What an awesome gift, or cute way to label his/her's mugs!

Go check out these great stores, and let me/them know what you think! Happy Friday!

blog feature & heading home

2010-03-11T10:13:00.002-06:00

I'm getting ready to leave Iowa and make the drive back to my home. It's been a fun stay, but I am always refreshed and ready to go back to life after short trips. A bit of news...today em.j is featured on a blog called "Bluejulesews"...click here to check out the post:

"Around the World: Kansas City"

Brigita is from a rual town in Slovenia (wow!) and she's doing features on Etsy sellers from all over the world. I hope you enjoy hearing a little bit about where I'm from, and that you like checking out Brigita's sewing skills.

it's still winter in Iowa

2010-03-10T17:18:00.006-06:00

This week I got to take a road trip with my Dad to Iowa (where my in-laws live...but I like to consider them just plain family!) I've been hanging out, discussing em.j business ventures, and enjoying girl talk with my Jensen gals. It is very refreshing to just get away from the norm and be in a new environment (although I miss Mr. Jensen who is holding down the fort).

Fun Moments:

Almost buying a bag of chai tea, but being glad that I didn't after I ordered one that was syrupy sweet!
Having a ladies lunch at Ivy's Tea room...panini's, muffins, and salad...mmmmm!
Walking through a huge antique store on Main Street. There were so many things I wanted to buy, but I couldn't decide fast enough!
Taking new pictures of my products with Becca...we joked that her photography should be bec.j (like em.j....get it?! haha)
Talking entrepreneurship with my Dad & father-in-law.
Learning how to keep up with a business while being out of town...I've had convos and requests but I'm not in town to work...eek!

...I still say the only thing I'm not sure about when it comes to Iowa is the snow...it's winter here, and it's 60 degrees on my home front...*sigh* I can't wait for more spring days!

swamped - but not in a gross 'swamp' kinda way...

2010-03-09T13:26:00.002-06:00

*New necklace I worked on during the oscars!*

Wow...I totally feel like I have fallen off the wagon with blogging and twitter lately. I also haven't even had a chance to put new listings in the store. AND I'm visiting my in-laws this week, so it looks like I'll be away from crafting/computer even longer. PHEW! The store has been pretty busy, and there are even more custom projects on the way. It's all I can do to just get my sales to the post office. I hope to share more with you soon...until then, I feel blessed to be busy in a really great way! Who knew?!

Lesson of the week - life, work, and home balance...this is a full time business!

oops, rookie mistake!

2010-03-06T11:50:00.004-06:00

(In honor of spring, I picked up this shirt from Anthropologie yesterday...I would love for all of my clothes to come from this store...it's just way too cute for me to handle. This is part of my mission to stop purchasing mediocre sales items, just because they are cheap...buying less 'little purchases' means I can have some really amazing big ones!)

...ANYWAY....

I've always been a 'learn as you go' type. I was the kid who started the test before reading the directions, and I am the adult who assembles a bathroom storage shelf before opening the manual. Most of the time things work out okay, but in the event that they don't, I find myself panicked and backtracking. So, when I started my Etsy store, I wanted to curb disaster by at least skimming all of the Etsy policies. I really did...multiple times. But there are just so many rules!

...Fast forward...

This week I had several sales (woot), but almost ALL of my customers had a hard time with paypal. Some of this can be attributed to a person who is new to Etsy...paypal & etsy can be confusing.

Turns out, I *missed* the section of Etsy or paypal that says you need a *premier* or *business* account with paypal to sell...oops. I had never upgraded my account from personal, therefore apparently I wasn't taking credit cards.

Long story short, it is all fixed, and my customer's em.j items are in the mail....but this was such a rookie mistake!

Here are some encouraging quotes to help you (and me) remain courageous and persistent in the midst of our mistakes

“Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes.” - Oscar Wilde
"Anyone who has never made a mistake, has never tried anything new." - Albert Einstein
"All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes." - Winston Churchill

Craft on!

stylestance & my love/hate relationship with picnik

2010-03-04T10:37:00.005-06:00

First things first...today, this flowery fabric necklace was featured on Stylestance. This adorable blog is totally worth reading and exploring. Check out the post and browse away:

"Flowery Stylestance" - March 4th, 2010

Second thing:

PICNIK.com

Have you used this website to edit pictures before?

I use it almost daily to help myself (picture newbie and technology challenged) make pictures into collages, or add style/color.

I'm not going to lie...it does great things. It's free, and there are enhancements I can do with a few clicks that I could never do if I had to go through photoshop.

Example...

BEFORE:

AFTER:

...however...

This is the SLOWEST website I have ever used. No matter what time of day, what size of picture, or what internet I'm using, this site makes my computer stall. It seriously takes me 20 minutes to edit one picture.

I don't know why I found that imperative to share, but it's been bothering me for 2 months now...phew, glad I let it out!

I don't know if it's sunny where you are...but I'm lovin it.

sunny weather makes me think of ocean sailing

2010-03-03T13:54:00.006-06:00

One of my favorite 'trends' this spring (besides muted pastels, floral prints, and amazing fabric floral embellishments) is nautical details. It's been sunny here for the last several days, and the temperature has been in the 40's. Yes, that's still cold, but compared to the winter we've had, it feels like the tropics. The sun is getting me excited for summer, and even being around the water. ..hence the inspiration for the new pieces. This is a little different than my typical pinky/purple flower stuff...

What do you think? Are you going to wear some nautical stuff this spring and summer?

Also, I wanted to share a good comment from the post "Top 10 Reasons to Buy Handmade"...it was made by Kelly:

"I do custom orders, and I work really closely with all of my customers. I think they appreciate my art more because they saw firsthand (well, through email) how much work went into it."

Great point! If you are someone who is wondering about buying something handmade, consider the perk of having an artist create something just for you! They will put love, time, and energy into something that will set you apart.

Have a sunny Wednesday!

perseverance is key

2010-03-02T12:44:00.003-06:00

I am proud to announce that yesterday I had my first exposure in the press. I was lucky enough to have my story featured by a great columnist at the Kansas City Star. For those of you who don't live in Kansas City, that is the primary newspaper for the metro area. On the front page of the FYI (kind of the 'lifestyle' section), Jenee (the writer) told the story behind the blog/business.

If you would like to read the article...here's the link:

Building Marriage, then a Career (Kansas City Star, 3/1/2010)

On a different note, lately I've been asking the question, "now what?" I have accomplished several of my initial business goals...

I created a plan
I practiced with my products
I had a giveaway
I opened my store

...sooo.....???? now I do what????

I want to see myself continually improve and grow. I want to keep creating and getting better. I want to continue learning about marketing and entrepreneurship...but I also need to make sales! It's important for the success of my mini-business that these products are selling, or otherwise it's wasted time and energy from a 'business perspective'. If I love making crafts, then I can do that in my spare time for fun...but if I want this to succeed monetarily, what needs to be my next move?

How can I keep growing and resist the 'plateau' effect? Any tips?

em.j who?

2010-02-28T14:34:00.004-06:00

January - down

February - check
March - marks the beginning of my 3rd month in this project

Many of you are new to following my blog, and might be left wondering, "em.j who?" I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to reflect on where I came from, and how much has happened since the conception of "Boredom is so 2009".

Who is em.j?
It's pronounced "M-J" ...no relation to the king of pop.
Em.j is a shortened version of my married name, Emily Jensen.

Mr. & Mrs. em.j were married on September 19th, 2009 after a whirlwind 11 week engagement.

...he's cute huh! (and he's the best husband a girl could ask for)

So did you always make crafts?

Nope. I graduated in December of 2008 with my B.S. in Special Education. I took a job that January, and taught at the elementary school level. After Mr. em.j swept me off my feet and proposed, we decided that I would take some time off. It was a wonderful season to get settled into married life, do a little decorative nesting, practice my cooking skills, and love my husband to pieces. After a couple of months, it was time to get back into the job market and pursue something part-time (as I was greatly enjoying being a housewife, but needed some 'people time').

Hey, did you all know we are in a recession? I knew this before hand, but it became very real when I experienced the lack of professional opportunities available. For a second I considered retail, but that lasted only a second.

I like being busy...I like being creative...I like being flexible, inventive, and having a vision for the future. Sound like an entrepreneurship brewing?

What was the first thing you made?

One day, while I was folding laundry, I caught Martha Stewart's show. She was featuring a super cute young woman who was making roses out of zippers and putting them on headbands, hair pins, etc. I was hooked! It was so cute, fashionable, and creative. I dropped what I was doing, grabbed a needle/thread, found a ribbon...and got working! After I had created a sad flower, I attached it to a headband. The idea was born!

I get that you like accessories, but what made you 'go professional'?

I'm not the most 'ambitious' when it comes to big projects, and I need a lot of encouragement! Luckily, it seems like a huge portion of my in-laws have entrepeuership running in their veins, and my father was also in the midst of exploring his own business ventures. I also have a sister-in-law that knows quite a bit about branding, social networking, and pr...this was a recipe for success. Over the Christmas season, many of my loving relatives challenged me to take the prospect of 'starting my own business' seriously. I solidified my commitment when I shared my desire to find work to be passionate about in 2010 at the new year's dinner table.

The business was born!

'Boredom is so 2009' is kind of a weird name. Where did it come from?

My sister-in-law suggested I name my blog, 'The Bored Housewife'...funny, but taken.

My husband looked at me and said, 'Boredom is soooooooooo 2009'. Husbands have great ideas.

If you don't have any business experience, how did you get started?

Well, first I cast a vision. I spent time thinking and journaling about what I wanted em.j to be and become. I discussed it with people, and I let myself be as crazy as I wanted with the ideas. After I had a picture of 'the big picture', I was able to write some long-term and short-term goals for myself. I knew that I was giving myself a 6-month timeline to really see if I could get things off the ground, so that gave me a deadline to work back from. I started to consider when I wanted my etsy store to open, what I needed to do before I could open, and how I would structure my time. In addition, I researched the prices of various materials that would be used to create em.j products. With the help of my husband, I put together a 'proposal' of what I thought it might cost to practice my skills and get the etsy business started. Finally, I implemented to those steps to the best of my ability, and even opened my store a week and a half early!

This whole time I was also blogging about my experiences which was important to build a base of people who know me. I read anything I could about blogging, twitter, and cultivating online business. I slowly gathered followers, responded to comments, and put my name out there. Daily, I go onto etsy forums and try to genuinely interact with other buyers and sellers. I have found this part of the process to be the true fuel to my business. Without the base of followers I have from social networking, no one would know that em.j exists!

So where are you now?

Well, my etsy store has been open for under 2 weeks. I've been making sales and creating new products. I can only hope that this business continues to grow in the coming months, and at the 6-month mark proves to be a job and not an expensive hobby!

For more information and good posts, check out the links!:

Top 10 Reasons to Buy Handmade

Em.j on Etsy

The very 1st post

As always, I love your feedback and comments!

feature love zoeycatherine

2010-02-27T17:50:00.006-06:00

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! I am happy to share that the purple poppies headband was featured on a super cute blog - ZoeyCatherine. Check it out and give her props! It is always such an honor to have your work featured!

Also - this powder blue headband was in a treasury. Unfortunately, I haven't figured out why it 'says' I'm featured but the picture isn't showing up yet. Anywho - here it is!

As of Monday - 2 months of my project have passed...I'm looking forward to a little self reflection and a re-cap for my newer followers

...until then, check out the Top 10 reasons to Buy Handmade and tell me why YOU like to buy handmade. I'd still like to feature a quote!

creative 'catch 22'

2010-02-26T12:06:00.004-06:00

I'm excited to share that I was featured in a 'My Lazy Apples' blog post yesterday. If you want to check it out, and see some other cute stuff from Anthropologie...visit!

http://mylazyapples.blogspot.com/2010/02/weekly.html

*NEW*

So, one thing I'm wrestling with as a 'creator' & entrepreneur is my momentum and schedule.

Pro to 'making your own schedule'

Flexibility! If I need to stop and run to the grocery store, I CAN! I have time to do the laundry, vacuum, run errands, pay bills, and do other 'household' oriented projects that my husband and I prefer not to spend our weekends doing. PLUS, I can meet with girlfriends, and attend daytime activities.

Con to 'making your own schedule'

What hours? Unlike a traditional job, when you are done at 4 (or whatever time) and for the most part you aren't still taking care of 'work' things...my job is sitting all over our kitchen table! The etsy store is always up, I make sales at all different times of the day (and night and weekend), and social networking means regularly keeping up with twitter, facebook, and blogging. I don't have really 'defined tasks', so sometimes it's challenging to find a stopping point. There is always one more thing I could do...(but the dishes are calling my name...ugh! what to do?!)

A 'creative' catch 22...

Creativity is inspired. It's passionate, new, exciting, and it's always evolving. This means it can be unpredictable, AND it can shut off. As a creative person trying to make new and interesting things, sometimes I get a little burned out and I can only do a few items before my brain says, "Well, that's all I have for today...want to go do something else now?" This would be fine except...
I need to have inventory! I read in an article that the 'perfect' number of items to have in your etsy store is somewhere between 30-60. Umm...I think I have 15. About the time I make something new and post it, I see that I sold something! This means that I need to work faster than I sell. In addition, making things with your hands takes time, and it's often tedious.
PLUS - what good is staying home and having a flexible schedule if you are having to create ALL the time just to keep up?

I think I still have some time management and business lessons to learn! Right now I'm the owner, the accountant, the manager, the advertiser, the customer service rep, the buyer, and the manufacturing plant...

...and in all reality...I LOVE IT!

top 10 reasons to buy handmade

2010-02-25T13:26:00.004-06:00

Phew...it took me all morning to make and photograph 2 new necklaces. I think I always under-estimate the time it takes to brainstorm, create, document, and market my projects. It starts after breakfast with me going, "I think I'd like to made something out of this pink fabric" and all of the sudden, it's noon! I used to think that certain products on Etsy were 'overpriced' until I realized that people are needing to be compensated for the incredible amount of love and energy it takes to make art from scratch...this is what makes it hard to compete with Target and other bargain stores. Now, I'm not saying we should all quit buying cute things at reasonable prices from places like Target (Forever21, etc.)...but I'm starting to consider the true perks of buying handmade instead of immediately running to the mall.

Top 10 Reasons to buy 'Handmade'

10. You are supporting entrepreneurship!

9. You are making 'the American dream' a reality...don't we live in a great nation? Someone can start a company, and have a shot at success!

8. You are buying something that was made with great love and consideration for your interests. I always ask myself, "would I let my best friend wear this?"

7. Artisans can offer a level of customer service that busy companies often can't re-create!

6. You can have something unique! Admit it...you are always looking for that next accessory or clothing item that will set you apart.

5. You are supporting creativity, passion, and the artistic community!

4. You will get compliments! People notice things that don't look like they came from Target...look forward to many, "Hey, that's beautiful...where did you get that?" type questions!

3. You can build relationships! I enjoy the connections that I make with readers and customers. As a customer, you can enjoy getting to know the person behind the work...which can make wearing it even more enjoyable.

2. You can be inspired! Whenever I shop on Etsy, I always feel excited again about the wardrobe I have, and I get new ideas about how to be true to my style. Also, you might see something that you would like to try making...maybe you'll find a new hobby!

1. You can have something custom made...JUST FOR YOU! Because many artisans offer the option of doing custom work, you can often tell them your favorite colors/styles and get a piece that is perfect for an event. You can't get that at the mall!

Are you an artisan?

Are you someone who buys handmade?

What are some of the perks you've enjoyed?

LEAVE A COMMENT and TELL ME ABOUT IT! I'd love to feature a quote from someone in my next entry.

sarah's cute photography!

2010-02-24T20:07:00.004-06:00

Sarah Holland (the winner of the giveaway) got her free-bee's and has a cute blog post about it! Show her some love and check it out...she is a great photographer! These are some adorable pictures she snapped!!!!

http://blakeandsarahholland.blogspot.com/2010/02/emj.html

Well, we had our hard drive replaced, so I am up and running! Once again, the sad thing is that we have no files :( but...press on!

New listings today!!!

p.s. I think I like the purple in the picture...I think it adds something...the white was getting a little plain for my taste!

*** I have other big news, but I am saving that greatness for it's own post**** (smiles)

...almost march...almost warm?

2010-02-23T22:41:00.003-06:00

I made this after I closed my eyes and thought about how great it feels to wake up to sunshine and know that the air outside is warm...

I wish I had pictures or something interesting to say! Things have kind of been on pause this week after our laptop crashed and our hard drive failed. Unless someone who does data retrieval can pull some files off of our old one, we sadly lost quite a bit of significant information.

Further evidence that LIFE HAPPENS! All we can do is re-group and keep moving! For me that means getting the computer issues cleared up, and hopefully getting back to work soon. It's hard to keep up on promoting and listing without consistent internet access (and to top it off, I haven't felt very inspired lately). *Sigh*...I think a warm day would cure all of this...!!!

should I go into the necklace business?!

2010-02-21T10:12:00.005-06:00

*NEW* Finished last night!!!

Yesterday the two necklaces I listed (seen in previous post) sold by the afternoon. Both of them! That brings my total up to 3 necklaces sold, 1 headband sold (the headband was bought by my mother-in-law so...I don't know if that is reflective of the true market...I love parents cheering me on though!) It seems like my headbands aren't getting as many views either...hmmm...

In response to the recent good news and good sales, I made another necklace last night while watching Harry Potter on ABC (woot! love HP!) It will be listed today and I am VERY interested to see what happens. Maybe I should go into the necklace business?

Have you ever started selling your creations, only to find that your target market liked something unexpected?

p.s. I am looking to start doing some features of other crafters on etsy...would you be interested? comment if you would like more details or email me:
elegantemj[at]gmail.com

smiley saturday

2010-02-20T09:43:00.004-06:00

Reasons to smile this Saturday:

New Creations! Yesterday I finished up a gorgeous silver rosette necklace, and a cream chiffon/satin flower necklace. I also have a headband that would be great for work or a dressy occasion. All of them should be listed on Etsy later today!!!

2. Last night I made my FIRST SALE on Etsy! When my husband and I got home from date night, I opened my email to that wonderful surprise. The realization was followed by slow motion fist pumping in the air while I said 'YESSS!!!'

3. Sad for EMBER :-( who I never reached to claim her giveaway prize, but happy for a new winner:

SARAH HOLLAND, you are the new winner of the giveaway! I'll try to contact you, and you have until Monday night to respond! CONGRATS!

***Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!!***

guest post - laura on em.j

2010-02-19T08:17:00.004-06:00

1. Introduce yourself!

Hi! My name is Laura and I'm 23. I moved from Ames, Iowa to St. Paul, Minnesota about 8 months ago, but will always be an Iowa girl at heart. When I'm not planning my wedding (whahoo!), I like to enjoy a hot latte, good books and any activity that involves the outdoors.

2. Can you describe your personal style?

I like to describe my style as classic retro. Not sure if that's an "official" style, but I love the T-shirt, jeans and a cardigan look, jazzed up with some sweet retro shoes and bag. My morning routine is pretty minimal, foundation, mascara and I'm out the door.

3. What did you (do you, or will you) wear your em.j accessory with?

I went casual with this one. I whipped out the go-to outfit with a T-shirt, jeans, cardigan and some sweet boots. It added the perfect flirty flair to the outfit.

4. What do you like about your em.j accessory?

So comfortable! I have other headbands I've purchased with establishments on them and at times they've felt big and bulky or heavy and tight on my head. But I forgot I even had em.j's headband on -- it was so light -- I could wear it all day.

5. Did you get any comments or compliments about your em.j accessory?

My fiancee loves it when I wear new things, and he loved my new accessory. What an easy to make an old outfit look new! Even my doctor gave me a compliment on it at an appointment I had today.

************************

Thanks Laura (my lovely sister-in-law who has design skills of her own...she did our wedding invitations and programs). If you have an em.j accessory, or get one...I would LOVE to feature you on the blog!

Finally, EMBER (from the 'painted chair' blog), YOU were the giveaway winner. Please contact me by the end of the day!!!

Giveaway WINNER & GRAND Opening!

2010-02-18T10:35:00.006-06:00

It's time to announce the giveaway winner of this headband and necklace!

Each entry was given a number. There were 177 total entries...WOW! Thanks to everyone who became a follower on the blog, facebook page, and twitter.

Now, what you're waiting for...here was the winning entry number:
Who was #159???
[sorry this isn't more clear...I struggled with the screen shot technology!]

Congrats EMBER! I hope you love your headband and necklace...respond by the end of Friday to claim your prize!!!

Also...

TODAY IS THE GRAND OPENING OF em.j on ETSY!
The store name is elegantemj, and has new listings galore! Please enjoy, and look forward to new designs and listings very soon.

red with excitement

2010-02-17T14:59:00.003-06:00

First of all, I'm replacing the picture in the previous entry with this one:

[My dad informed me of something that I already noticed...that I sort of look like I have a cone head or a 'bump-it' in the last picture with the red flower.]

This is the last day to enter the giveaway for a headband and necklace. Tomorrow...I POST MY FIRST LISTINGS ON ETSY! I couldn't think of a more exciting way to spend my Thursday. Only a couple of months ago I was day dreaming about being creative AND making some money.

Here's what I have to say to my fellow creators, dreamers, entrepreneurs, and anyone with a vision for a better product/process/career/or future:

Have the guts to try. I sometimes struggle to have confidence that anything I try will pan out...if I can find guts, you can!
Have a plan. Being intentional pays off! If you don't know where your money is going, or how your idea can possibly be profitable...you might be in for an expensive oops.
Accept imperfection. All projects/businesses are imperfect and somewhat sloppy in the beginning. The first time you ship something, it might break (yep, happened to me)...your first creations might be a little messy. Keep trying, and let your mistakes motivate you to get better at what you do!
Don't get discouraged. Today I wanted to spend my afternoon cleaning, and getting all the details of my shop completed before tomorrow. You know what happened instead? I spent a valuable portion of the afternoon negotiating with the maintenance man about how to break into our apartment, which I was locked out of. LIFE HAPPENS! So I'm a little behind...oh well :-) guess that just means motivation to get back up and keep working!

Here's to hopeful starts! [giveaway winner tomorrow!]

fabric store tuesday

2010-02-16T14:23:00.004-06:00

I have to laugh at my trips to the fabric store. It usually takes me longer than shopping for groceries to go up and down the aisles, trying to decide if I want to purchase a small portion of the bolt. I typically struggle with specific visions for pieces...it's easier to just pick up fabrics that appeal to me due to their interesting color or texture.

My favorite part of the trip is when it's time to have my fabric cut. I head up to the counter with a cart full of mismatched, odd textured fabrics. The little old lady who uses big shears for a living looks uncomfortably at me...you know, I don't have the typical fleece for a blanket, girly fabric for kid clothes, or gaudy home decor fabrics. Inenevitibly, she asks...
"What are you making?"
I try to explain that I make flowers, headbands, and other accessories. She looks skeptical.
"Well...as long as YOU know what you're doing!" she 'reassures' me.
The other experienced sewers around me also seem annoyed...I'm 'that girl' who is getting 1/4 yard snippets of 13 different bolts of fabric....oops!

The good news is...I have several more colors and textures to work with! I'd like to begin cultivating an evening line (or something a bit more 'special occassion' or 'business casual'). I'd also like to work on some mustard yellow poppies.

Here's what I did after lunch...inspired by my friend Abbie who said she wanted to 'rock' something red with rhinestones. What do you think? (i'll try to post better pics soon!)

product photography...almost ready?

2010-02-15T09:41:00.006-06:00

Just a quick reminder that you can enter the giveaway for an em.j headband and necklace! The winner will be drawn on FEB 18th...the same day my etsy store debuts! Thanks to those who have entered, and have offered their generous encouragement. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy :-)

Okay, so I think I've finished my photography...at least for this first batch of headbands. Using a light box (as suggested by Whitney in a comment...thanks!), has really helped me with with the close-up product shots. I feel like it's more consistent and professional looking...although my husband and I are talking about investing in a tripod, because it's hard to keep the camera still! I'm not super happy with the way the 'model' shots have turned out. I think they look very 'I just took this in my living room-ish'...which I DID by the way! :-)

These will suffice for now, because I don't have the time and resources to completely re-do it by Thursday, but I hope to see vast improvements! As soon as it warms up outside a bit, I'd love to use natural light and have some nature in the background...but spring may never get here, sooo.....hmmmm

If YOU have any feeback, tips, or things that have helped you with product photography...let me know!

new headbands . new designs

2010-02-13T11:27:00.004-06:00

Thanks to everyone who has entered THE GIVEAWAY thus far! The winner will be drawn on FEB 18th, the same day that my store on etsy will have its first listings. If you haven't had a chance to enter, and would like to, scroll down to the previous post for instructions!

[this is a design I finished yesterday during the olympic opening ceremony...I'm enjoying working with chiffon!]

In other news, I received an order of more headbands, swarovski pearls, and ribbons at the end of the week. After having a chance to work on the first batch, I learned a ton and have a better idea of what look, styles, and materials to use.

For instance:

1/2 headbands are okay for some styles, but I have purchased thinner (1/8 inch) headbands this time to try out...they use less ribbon, and give a delicate look!
wrapping headbands with ribbon is really a more consistent and finished technique...when I do cover headbands with fabric, I will use the sewing machine from now on!
neutral and subdued colors are my favorite, but I've had some great feedback about branching out into some reds, blues, and other brights...this might be something incorporate into a summer line
finally, I think it would be great to have a casual line (good for everyday wear), and an evening line...this would include more blacks, charcoals, and metallics....it would also be fun to add rhinestones!

If you ever have any feedback, suggestions, or ideas for new designs...feel free to comment and let me know! Do you like larger or smaller headbands? Vintage touches? Bows or flowers? I'd love to hear about it!

GIVEAWAY!!! to celebrate my etsy store debut on FEBRUARY 18TH

2010-02-10T19:34:00.011-06:00

IT'S TIME FOR A GIVEAWAY!

**********************

This is the first giveaway I've done, and I'm looking forward to creating some buzz in celebration of my etsy store debut. 'Elegant em.j' will have its first listings on FEBRUARY 18TH, 2010...the same day I will draw the winner for my giveaway! At that point, all of my headbands and accessories you've seen throughout the past 6 weeks will be available for purchase.

I'm so excited that I'm to this point after all of the dreaming and planning!!!

Friends, family, and followers:

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT! I truly appreciate it :-)

THIS IS WHAT YOU COULD WIN...a HEADBAND & a NECKLACE!!!!:

This comfortable, 1/2 inch headband is covered in a sandy-colored, soft canvas fabric. On the side, it is embellished with 2 chiffon rolled rosettes. The rosettes are topped off with 4 pearl beads. This headband is perfect for a lunch with your friends, an outing to your favorite local coffee shop, or any casual occasion. It could also be dressed up with your favorite spring dress and cardigan. Either way, it is the perfect addition to your everyday life!

This adorable embellished gold chain is topped off with a zipper and canvas rosette. It also has a mind green satin flower with a vintage style cabochon. Finally, a little leaf adds additional texture. This necklace is a quick and easy way to add an extra unique touch to your favorite outfit!

Okay, here's how the GIVEAWAY works (you get 1 ENTRY for each action):

ENTRY: Leave a comment on my facebook page or blog during the giveaway...
ENTRY: Become a follower of my blog...make sure to tell me you became a follower, or are already a follower in a separate comment!
ENTRY: Become a fan of my facebook page...make sure to tell me you became a fan,or are already a fan in a separate comment!
ENTRY: Become a follower of my twitter page...make sure to tell me you became a follower, or are already a follower in a separate comment!

THAT IS 4 POSSIBLE ENTRIES!

Do you want an additional 4 entries?

FEATURE em.j AND THIS GIVEAWAY POST ON YOUR BLOG or facebook page, AND LEAVE A LINK! [Let me know by leaving a comment with the link to the feature.]

THAT IS 8 POSSIBLE WAYS TO ENTER!

good luck :-)

yep, it's still snowy and I'm still working...

2010-02-10T11:16:00.009-06:00

Happy Wednesday! I am feeling a bit cold and snowed in (like many people in the country)...spring is starting to seem like it will never get here. I'm ready to put away my sweaters and dark colors, and pull out my tank tops and cardigans. I'm looking forward to jeans an flats...*sigh*, can't really do that when its cold and snowy...

In the meantime, I'm working to finish my last couple of headbands and getting my photography done. Hopefully my giveaway will start in the next few days!!! Stay tuned :-)

If you have any tips about successful giveaways, comment and let me know!

guest post - Tara on em.j

2010-02-09T16:01:00.004-06:00

1. Introduce yourself!
My name is Tara and I'm 23, originally from Dallas, TX. I enjoy playing with my new Aussie puppy Midas and volunteering for my sorority. In my free time, I watch comedies, read non-fiction, organize and sleep!
2. Can you describe your personal style?
I live in black skinny jeans, I believe tank tops are the most essential basic in your wardrobe, my hair is always a bit undone and eyeliner is the one thing that always makes me feel put together. My look is fairly classic, with solid-colored pieces and clean lines and not very preppy by anyone's standards.
3. What did you (do you, or will you) wear your em.j accessory with?
I used my em.j headband for a casual look. It goes great with a cardigan and skinny jeans.
4. What do you like about your em.j accessory?
My em.j headband was so comfortable and the purple flower really created an accent to my basic black and white outfit.
5. Did you get any comments or compliments about your em.j accessory?
I got four compliments on my em.j headband the first day I wore it. Three from friends and one from a complete stranger!
6. Optional: Share anything else (thoughts, comments, etc.) about em.j, headbands, trends, ...or whatever you like!
Emily, you are my favorite :)

Thanks for your thoughts Tara! (I have the prettiest friends)

sales saturday . break-time sunday

2010-02-07T15:36:00.004-06:00

Today I'm being a good American...I'm watching the Superbowl with my husband and family, AND I'm eating lots of foods that wouldn't be acceptable on an average day. This also means I'm not working on headbands and crafts :-) ...it's okay to take a break though, because yesterday I had my first sales! I'm very thankful that some of my start up costs have been recouped, and that I have some hope going forward. The thing I'm realizing now is that there is a demand for me to open on etsy soon. Many people have been asking, "When can I buy?" I don't know why I'm stalling, other than to appease my desire to have everything 'together' and 'perfect'....I think sometime this week, it's time to start my giveaway leading up to the store debut. I also need to order business cards and more headbands!

Well, have a great Sunday!

snowed in = photography friday

2010-02-05T14:21:00.003-06:00

Okay, so I didn't get to do what I planned...which is alright...guess it will have to wait until Monday! The sad thing is, half of my supplies are stuck at my parent's house. This meant that I had to work on something else (the thing that is the least fun)...photographing headbands. I think it's getting a little better...I also cleared our memory card :-)....it's amazing what that does to a camera! Clean slate!

Feel free to leave feedback, because I can't really tell if these are pictures that make you want to buy or not :-/

flowers in the winter...i'm still dreaming of them

2010-02-05T08:39:00.002-06:00

Yesterday (along with headbands), I took an old necklace and added a chiffon flower detail with two pearls to finish off the center. I held the two strands together with a vintage golden/yellow ribbon. I'm actually excited about the old jewelry lurking in my closet these days, because it can so easily transform into something modern and cute.

Another thing I did yesterday (evening) was pull out the old sewing machine at my parent's house so that I could sew fabric to cover my headbands. The finish is soooooo much nicer, and I think they look significantly more professional. Too bad I figured the trick out after I'd already finished most of my first batch! Oh well, no use fretting...I think I'll go ahead and sell/giveaway the headbands I've made, and just change my technique for the next batch! I hope I have some crafts to show later this afternoon. I like to have fun with other stuff on Fridays, and I thin I'm going to buy fabric to cover 2 pillows today. It's a great way to practice working on the sewing machine, and practice potential new products for em.j someday!

happy friday.

photography woes

2010-02-04T14:06:00.006-06:00

La ti da...lots on my mind today...
I've got to figure out my photography. I worked on it this afternoon (these pics are not a reflection of what I did), but was displeased. Do people on etsy hire professional photographers or buy really expensive cameras? I don't understand how so many shops look like the photography came out of a magazine.

...this is getting 'really' real

2010-02-03T18:46:00.005-06:00

Exciting news ya'll! I have my first *potential* sale this weekend, thanks to networking done by a great friend! Also, I am contributing headbands to a silent auction benefiting the "Knowledge is Power Program" to help urban education. It's called the "Purse Parade"...many adorable purses will be stuffed with goodies (I'll be providing the goodies for one bag). It's put on by the American Society for Interior Designers. WOW! I'll get to have business cards and information at a table for many fashionable women to see :-) :-)....can't wait!

In the mean time, I'm still working on designs and getting my etsy store up and running!

seeing circles

2010-02-03T11:10:00.003-06:00

This is what I worked on this morning. Very different looks, but the same concept! I would like to recreate the 'tan & white' headband with a peachy/pink color.

The biggest thing on my list for the rest of the week is just getting more done! Sometimes I feel like I run out of inspiration and just get burned out. It's hard to do more than 3 or 4 things a day. Everything starts looking the same to me! However, I think I'm going to try something new this afternoon that was inspired by some gorgeous camellia flowers on Martha Stewart today.

Okay, I think it's time to turn the hot glue gun off and take a lunch break...

the hardest thing about getting started is getting started.

2010-02-02T08:27:00.005-06:00

It's February! That means I am 1 month into my 6 month commitment to seeing where this business leads. In some ways, I've completed more than I thought I would. It is a sweet feeling to know that I've continued to follow through on my project. However, I believe the 'worst' is yet to come. At some point, all businesses, projects, or missions go from an 'idealistic' phase to a point of discouragement. I'm sure I have yet to face rejection, slow sales, and a feeling of doubt. I will press on! So far this has been a very rewarding process that has brought me happiness and an excellent source of challenge. I've enjoyed problem solving, creating, and planning!

So what is on tap for month 2? LOTS! As of right now, I'm looking at a March 1st deadline for my etsy store debut (but it will hopefully happen before that). I still need to complete a few headbands to the quality that I feel comfortable selling, complete/order business cards, have a 'giveaway', figure out photography, write my etsy store/shipping policies, and figure out how I will package my first round of product.

WOW! I guess the hardest thing about getting a business started is ....just getting started! It's easy to plan, but hard to actually pull the trigger...

making meaning & mantra

2010-02-02T08:18:00.004-06:00

Lately, I've been reading a book given to me by a supportive friend called 'The Art of the Start' by Guy Kawasaki. It is basically about starting a business, organization, movement etc., and the process involved. Being that I'm starting a business, I thought this would be a good read!

One thing the book talks about is developing a mantra instead of a mission statement. A mantra is something short and sweet that I can repeat over and over to myself when I am having fun, feeling burned out, or wondering if I should keep going. It is something that can remind me of 'why I'm doing this'.

Speaking of which...why am I doing this? Is "for me" a good enough reason to do anything? Guy Kawasaki challenges his readers to consider the concept that all businesses/organizations/movements should be for the ultimate purpose of changing the world for good (or keeping a particular good from ending).

I'll be thinking about this...do you have a mantra or a meaning in your business/project/hobbies?

do i get snow days or sick days?

2010-01-29T15:26:00.005-06:00

Today I don't feel so hot. I'm not 'sick' sick, just slightly under the weather. Speaking of weather, it's snowing outside (possible contributing factor to sickness). This morning I took the opportunity to nap. This afternoon I ate some soup ('light' soup...yuck), and then decided I should do SOMETHING. When you work from home, it's hard to come up with a good excuse to call in. This is what I did:

I opened my etsy store :-)!!!! Don't get too excited...there is nothing listed, and my logo isn't even centered in my store banner. However, now I can start working on my shop policies, shipping costs, announcements, and so on. My project for the next week or so is to get my store all ready for my first listings!
I researched craft shows. This is something I had never considered, but I think it would be a great experience to do a few and see what happens. I would love to spend a Saturday with my husband setting up, selling, and tearing down. Who knows, I might make enough to break even with what it costs to have a booth (hehe). There are some within a reasonable driving distance in March and April...hmmmm
I worked on one project...it's been on my mind for a while to get into working with clothing. I don't consider myself a seamstress or a designer type (not project runway style at least), but I found that I am capable of taking old and making it new!

Check it out:

First, I crafted the flowers. This was pretty easy, as I am getting used to working with fabrics for my headbands. Then, I grabbed an old t-shirt from Target out of the closet. I have a ton of v-neck t-shirts that didn't cost much and aren't worn very often, so I had no remorseful feelings during my experimentation. Once my flowers were laid out in the order I liked them, I glued them onto a piece of felt. After it dried, I tacked the felt onto the t-shirt with small stitches so that I could take it off later with no damage. Here's my new shirt! I love it, and I'm going to wear it for 'date night' tonight...t-shirt, cardigan, jeans...can't go wrong!

alternative projects!

2010-01-28T13:30:00.003-06:00

Decorative Burlap Tray...for less than $5.00!!!!

This is how I did it:

I bought an unfinished wooden serving tray from hobby lobby (50% off!).
I painted the tray with 'vintage white' acrylic paint (2 coats).
I cut a rectangle of burlap fabric (less than $1's worth), and checked for fit.
I took the tray outside (brrrrr), and used spray adhesive to coat the bottom of the tray.
I placed the burlap over the adhesive glue, and pressed it flat.

DONE! Now I get to find a great use for it :-)...super simple! I'm looking forward to working with more burlap, and might even sell these in my etsy store someday...never know!

Necklace - Possible New Product?

I have all of these old (haha...just a couple of years) necklaces that I purchased when they were in style, and wore very few times. Now they are taking up space...solution? CREATE!

This particular necklace had a big metal round thing hanging from the center of the chain, but I popped it off with some pliers. After that, I created some small flowers, and laid them where I thought they would look cute. I haven't glued anything down yet, but this is an adorable way to re-use old chunky necklaces...even if I don't sell them.

What do you think?

funny faces

2010-01-28T09:29:00.004-06:00

This morning my sister-in-law pointed out the hilarity of my serious faces. I agree! It's probably not weird to people who don't know me, but I'm sure it's funny to those who are close to me. Laugh on because I'm totally laughing with you!!!!

I just have a few things to pick up around the house before I can start plugging away again at headbands. I'm thinking it's time to set up some photography because I'm almost done with my 20. I also need to work on opening the actual store/putting the information up and getting business cards. I think to help with the debut, I'll do a big 'giveaway'. Anywho, here's a pic of something I finished yesterday afternoon...hopefully more to share later!

productive morning

2010-01-27T11:28:00.004-06:00

These were the headbands I finished this morning! This afternoon I'm headed to hobby lobby, among other places, so that I can keep working. After I get about 20 completed (finished to the degree that I feel comfortable selling), I'll arrange for some photography and get the store open. What do you think?

business cards

2010-01-27T09:46:00.003-06:00

Along with all of this crafting, I'm still pursuing the 'business'. In order to help promote my headbands, and give people more information about how to find my creations, I definitely need business cards. I've already been in several situations where someone asks me about it, and I wish I had something to hand them!

Here are some of my thoughts/issues regarding business cards:

COST! Being that I want to keep start-up costs to a minimum, it's important that my business cards don't cost an arm and a leg. What I'm finding is that the cost increases if you don't need like 500. I don't want to start out with 500 because the information might change, etc. Plus, I might just want a new look at some point! Vistaprint.com has some good deals, but that will limit the amount of 'creativity' I can have with the paper and style I use.
Balancing style and practicality...I definitely want to have my logo on my business card. I also want to include my etsy store link, my email, and hopefully the blog/facebook page/twitter page. In order to be cost effective, I think the best thing for now is to make them one-sided. However, I also would love for them to be reflective of my taste and style, and not just be bullet points of information.
Where to go...There are various online stores that offer business cards. As I commented before, this puts some constraints on the cost AND some constraints on the design. My sister-in-law suggested that one way around this is to design my own, and visit a local print shop. This way I could choose the paper, and change them as necessary (without ordering 500).

If you have any thoughts or suggestions regarding business cards, feel free to comment or email me at: elegantemj@gmail.com

fire - the best tool for flower making

2010-01-26T15:33:00.007-06:00

There are very few times in life when I get to play with a bic lighter and burn things. Candles don't offer this opportunity, because they are usually an easy light. Other than that, I don't typically take flame to objects just to see what happens. However, I have been taking flame to various shapes and fabrics, and then happily watch them melt/burn. It's very exciting...you just cut out a blob, light the edges, and marvel at how it transforms into a petal. On a few occasions I've gone 'too far' and my delicate fabric turns into a great fire hazard. This is why I work over an old cookie sheet...so I can drop it quickly and hope it goes out. Any other tips for success? Well, sit away from the fire alarm (sometimes its smokey) and try not to inhale (smells a bit stinky). Other than that...burn away!

Here are some things I worked on today (many of them survived the fire):

Have you ever done anything dangerous in the name of creativity?

busy bee

2010-01-25T13:53:00.004-06:00

I confess, I did have a meeting for a 'real job' today. In the next couple of weeks I'll start substitute teaching part-time. I guess sometimes you have to get a day job in order to have one to quit when your business makes it big ;-). We'll see...

In the meantime, I'm spending the next couple of days getting things put together around the house so that I can move full speed ahead on more headbands. This is coming together more quickly than I thought! Look forward to some giveaways in the next few weeks...the store is coming closer and closer to it's debut!

Thanks to Amber Harra for offering to help with product photography! Also, thanks to my new blog, facebook, and twitter followers! I feel very encouraged by the support :-)

in case you thought i was funny

2010-01-23T15:25:00.005-06:00

I lost my sewing needle...

needless to say, I've gotten nothing done. (I know you didn't realize how hilarious this blog post was going to be)

chow!
[ hopefully a real update is coming soon ]

in the meantime, check out these giveaways...definitely something I'm going to do in the near future!
etsy giveaways

i broke down and created a twitter account

2010-01-21T10:08:00.006-06:00

Exciting news...I now have a facebook page for 'em . j' and a twitter account. After spending weeks looking at sucessful etsy sellers and what online communities they are a part of I've realized that these things are crucial:

etsy store
a blog
facebook
twitter

(I've also seen that many people are on flickr...maybe something to consider for the future)

Currently, I'm working on headbands and getting some 'product' to show on my new sites. If you do want to 'follow me' or become a 'fan' I would love it! [see the right side of my page for links]

by the way; here's some more pics of what I've been creating:

making progress, but feeling emo

2010-01-20T15:12:00.005-06:00

Alright...I am super excited to share the pics of the headbands I finished this afternoon. However, I feel like an emo teenager taking pictures of myself at an angle. I'm looking forward to having a better way to depict the cuteness!

Until then...overlook the drama, enjoy the accessories :-)

I wish I had time to post the rest of the pics, but I get to go pick up my wonderful love from work. Check back for more later!

short and sweet with a side of stewart

2010-01-19T21:58:00.006-06:00

Tonight, my blog got a makeover (thanks shabby blogs!)

Tomorrow I whip out the fabric glue, pearls, and satin...let the headband creation commence!

Check back later this week, because I'll be posting pics along the way!

p.s. I had fun reading Martha Stewart Living tonight (the magazine)...there are tons of cute ideas for valentine's day. CHECK IT OUT!

week 3 goals & logo debut

2010-01-19T07:47:00.004-06:00

Well, yesterday I packed up all of my headbands and fabrics to take across the city for the rest of the week while my husband and I house sit. I haven't been able to work on them the last couple of days because I've been busy with other things, but I'm eager to get creative again.

Here are my goals while we are house-sitting:

Finish 20 headbands!
Blog my progress, and continue gaining exposure in the blog community
Start thinking about photography, business cards, and a facebook page

Finally, I wanted to debut the logo that Laura (awesome sister-in-law ) finished for me. Thoughts and comments?

getting inspired by the golden globes

2010-01-18T08:35:00.012-06:00

It's always fun to see the glamorous dresses, jewels, and hairstyles at the award shows. Here were some dresses that I thought had elements which are inspiring to my [em.j] creations!

I loved the color of Maggie's dress, along with the textured overlay on the right side of her dress. It makes me think of spring!

Emily's dress is a gorgeous soft pink. I also love the lightweight fabric and the flowing ruffles. The bracelets make me want to top everything I do off with rhinestones :-).

January Jones' black dress wasn't my favorite, but I thought the satin ruffle reminded me of something I would put on a headband. The contrast isn't between her colors, but her fabric. Always a good detail option to keep in mind!

Chloe's dress (while again, not my favorite), does have a beautiful color. I really enjoy all the muted tones that were on the red carpet. Also, the fabric and ruffles were so feminine!

Zoe's dress has a lot going on, but it's a good reminder that in the right context, layering can be gorgeous! Once again, I like the concept of mixing fabrics, textures, and throwing in ruffles galore.

Well, I'm about to work on my goals list for this week. Last night I couldn't fall asleep again because I was too wide awake thinking about things I want to design and do with the business :-)!

when friday gets a little 'too' exciting

2010-01-15T23:06:00.004-06:00

Happy Friday! There are a variety of exciting things I'd like to share:

My business logo is done :-) thanks Laura! ya-designs
The headbands I ordered have arrived...and they are going to work wonderfully!
My blog views are 2 away from reaching 100!
My etsy account is created, and I'm on the road to opening my store!

Now, today's setback...
The only goal from this week that I didn't complete...organization.

First of all, I just can't bear spending money that I COULD use for more interesting fabric or embellishments on plastic boxes. Therefore, I'm trying to use things that I already have. For example, chicken salad tubs left over from a wedding reception (cleaned out of course).

Secondly, my husband was kind enough to give me some cool tacks and wire that had been in the garage for some time. When I went to explore it today, I also found that an unfriendly spider was waiting to spoil the fun. He scurried out, I dropped the box, and by the time I came back with a wooden spoon...the spider was no where to be found. Being that I strongly dislike spiders, I decided to leave my fabric mess and wait for my husband to clear the area.

So much for getting organized I guess....maybe next week!

Anyways...have a great weekend!

branching out and making a necklace

2010-01-14T14:31:00.006-06:00

Well, being that I'm still waiting on my shipment of headbands and I want to try jewelry anyway...I decided to make a necklace this afternoon! This was made using eggplant chiffon, black felt, black satin ribbon, and faux pearls. Each flower was hand cut and sewed. This is a 'from scratch' creation and was inspired by a necklace I saw at Macy's! (it looks like 2 different colors but the second was taken in natural light...the first pic is the more accurate depiction!)

when creativity comes at night

2010-01-14T10:33:00.003-06:00

I find that right about the time my eyes want to close and cash out for a solid 8 hours, my creative mind is just getting started. Last night I got in bed before 10, and was still thinking about [em.j] at 12:30. My husband suggested that next time I just get up and write stuff down so I can fall asleep. This is what I toyed around with in the late hours:

Making pillows...I really enjoy some of the fabrics I'm working with, and think they would make beautiful accents in a chair.
Making t-shirts...I think I'd love to take a cream colored boyfriend-t and embellish it with chiffon fabric and pearls. I also would like to do some ruffles...this stuff is all over the stores right now, and it's totally do-able.
Other things I'd like to create: journals, coasters (I know, kinda weird), slouchy canvas tote bags, and jewelry

This is the first time I've ever fallen asleep thinking about a 'job' in a positive way...I really enjoy being energized by creative projects!

hot glue: friend and enemy

2010-01-13T12:35:00.005-06:00

Here are some of the things I've been working on...bows, ruffles, flowers, and sewing beads/buttons/pearls. The hot glue gun is my friend because sometimes you just need to stick fabric down quickly and firmly. The hot glue gun is annoying for the following reasons:

Sometimes the strings from the glue look like little wispy spider webs on me...no bueno.
The hot glue gun doesn't 'stand' on the 'stand' that came with it. I'm always darting my eyes towards the gun, waiting for the moment it falls on the floor (to leave a big glue mess on the carpet) or on the table (leaving a burn and glue mess).
Hot glue dries and chips nail polish.
Hot glue is the only kind of glue that actively leaks when you aren't using it.
There are no second chances...you stick the fabric on right the first time, or start over!

With that said, I need hot glue to get the job done...like I said, friend and enemy.

Speaking of which, I think I'm going to take a dark chocolate break (I just remembered the bag in the freezer).

finding my style

2010-01-13T09:18:00.005-06:00

One of the most challenging things about practicing the last couple of days has been understanding my style. I think it's important that I stay somewhat consistent in my designs so that people can recognize pieces that belong to [em.j] as opposed to another brand. This could be achieved through the color, fabric, or details I choose. While I am experimenting with some deep purples, deep sapphires, and shades of blacks, I think my true style gravitates towards muted shades of khaki, pink, and peach. I'm really just girly...can't get away from it!

chiffon and tulle

2010-01-11T13:41:00.007-06:00

iphone pictures don't do it justice, but this is my first practiced creation! I made it using eggplant colored chiffon and black tulle. It took a while, and didn't turn out as nice as I hoped, but it's a start! Instead of putting it on a headband, I decided to mount it to a bobby pin. I think this would look super cute pinned into a low/messy bun. What do you think?

There's one thing I'm learning from this...I need to step up my photography from iphone to something nicer!

week 2 : goals!

2010-01-11T08:32:00.003-06:00

Last week was more productive than I expected. Hopefully that productivity will continue, and it won't be too long until I am selling headbands!

This week's "things to accomplish":

Buy supplies! There are still a few tools I need to begin any serious practicing...and I need to wait for what's in the mail from etsy.
Practice, practice, practice. While I know I can get there, my attempts to make chiffon flowers, ribbon rosebuds, and other creative embellishments are less than pretty. I need to keep practicing until I can consistently make a great headband.
Organize. I'm starting to see my pile of supplies and tools grow. It's time to get organized so that all of my pieces stay nice!
Move forward on my logo. I can't wait to reveal what Laura has been working on for me. She's sooo creative....hopefully soon I'll have a logo to work with on business cards and on my etsy website!
Start to collect/organize my expenses. Now that I'm buying things for the biz, I want to keep my receipts and document everything.

Happy crafting!

resoursefulness : hitting the jackpot @ mom & dad's

2010-01-10T18:06:00.008-06:00

Sunday afternoon's...a time for lunching with family and raiding mom's spare closet for left over craft supplies. What do you do when you are starting a business, and every penny counts? Well, you get creative!

Luckily, I used to be a competitive dancer, and my mom happens to know how to sew. Therefore, she has rhinestones, fabric, ribbons, thread, buttons, scraps of material, straight pins, and other goodies stashed away unused. I had forgotten about these treasures until my recent adventure. Here are some of my favorite finds:

Pink rhinestones! (along with bags of Austrian crystals)

Common thread colors..(glad I didn't have to buy them!)

A bag of old costume jewelry...(this looks totally junky in a picture, but you never know what it could be used for!)

Anywho, that was my encouraging Sunday. Now I just need to formulate some goals for week 2!