Prep Work

I haven't had a whole lot of time to be freely creative this week. After being away for the holiday weekend, I had much to do to prepare for a home spa party that I'm doing tonight. I had to stock up on some products that I hadn't made in a while and spend a few days doing nothing but producing, making, packaging, etc. I don't mind working like that but I'm feeling a little robotic and I'm craving a little alone time with the new photo imaging software that I just installed on my laptop. Hopefully next week, in between the massive soapmaking that I must do, I can squeeze in some time to get down and dirty creative with something other than product labels!

My trip away was well worth the extra work I had this week. My family and I went out to visit my beloved Grandmother and a couple of my aunts and cousins. We all live all over the world so our get together are few but always wonderful! This weekend was no exception. It always feels so good to be around the strong, beautiful women that I grew up with...to be reminded of who I am and where I came from.

I have to give a great big thanks to my cousins for doting so profusely on my little ones and to my "Granny" and my aunts for proving to them that they are, in fact, princesses. (We all need to be showered with love and attention now and again...even if we're spoiled rotten for a week following).

One of the best parts of my weekend get-away was my disconnection from my computer. No checking emails, no etsy posting, no responding to emails and convos. I really never mind any part of my job but it was nice to disconnect for a while and just be together with my family without any distractions or obligations.

But, we're back in the real world now and back to work! I'm looking forward to the party tonight and must get back to rolling towels for the attendees!

Finding Om

Well, Wednesday means a couple of things in this house: First, My eldest doesn't have pre-school so the little birds will most likely be in their jammies until almost lunch time (it's just a battle I choose not to fight.) Second, I have to work but tomorrow I have off so I can at least see a little light at the end of this day. Third, it's mid-week so all the things that I put off so far saying "well I have the whole week to get this done" are going to need to start getting crossed off the list.

I'm having trouble keeping my motivation and inspiration levels high again this week so I'm thinking that I'm going to have to make some deep rooted changes in my habits and behaviors to help me stay focused, motivated, and creative. I think the biggest challenge will be to ease up on my addiction to TV crime dramas! I firmly believe that watching extended amounts of TV sucks a tremendous amount of energy and creative thinking from our brains. I've seen this first hand with myself and my children yet there I sit, from 9-11pm most nights watching a group of oddly beautiful people solve these intensely disturbing murder mysteries. So not only am I creatively depreciated, I'm also quite tired seeing as how the little birds awake at 6am no matter what time I close my eyes at night.

I also think that I need to be eating more foods that aid in healthy functioning of all organs, including my mind. I recently read an article in Yoga Journal saying that certain foods like onions, meat, garlic, coffee, hot peppers, and salt can "increase dullness or hyperactivity." Looking over my diet the last week, even though I've tried to eat semi-healthfully, has included many of these clarity and focus killing foods and some in mass quantities. On the other side, vegetables, fruit, legumes, and whole grains are said to aid in keeping your "body light and your mind clear." I think the chances of my being able to give up my morning cup of coffee are significantly slim, however, I could definitely make a more concentrated effort to eat consume smaller amounts of coffee and other "tamasic" foods and more "sattvic" ones.

Hopefully these other changes will allow for longer, more peaceful night's sleeps as well which could also contribute significantly to a better focus and more enlightenment. I do have two small children though so a good-night's-sleep is often not up to me!

Lastly, I need to deepen and expand my Yoga practice. I know from experience that I feel my personal best all around when I am devout in my Yoga practice. My mind and body feel more at their optimum, sleep is improved, and my emotions are much more balanced. I recently joined My Yoga Online where I can access a multitude of Yoga classes at various levels and styles at any hour of the day. Having this much opportunity at my fingertips has encouraged me to practice more than I had been but even my devotion to this could use improvement.

I think I will forever be looking for ways to make myself a better person. Inside, outside, my life situation...I've never accepted less than what I thought should be. That would have to be the one thing that I don't ever aspire to change about myself!

Lazy Thursday

I love Thursdays! It's my day off from my other job and the girls and I are free to be whoever, whatever, and whenever we'd like. Some Thursdays we stay in our jammies until well after noon. Some, we hurry up to bustle around running errands and enjoying being out of the house. Today, though, we sauntered along at a very slow pace to the tune of our very own song. The little birds are sleeping peacefully now in their nests and I am using my quiet time to write, reflect, breathe, and be...






Today just so happened to be what we like to call "doughnut Thursday" which coincided quite nicely with Dunkin Doughnuts giving out FREE iced coffee! What a great day! I mean a day off, sprinkled doughnuts, FREE ICED COFFEE, and quiet time...I think I'm the happiest woman alive today. If you hadn't already guessed it, I'm quit addicted to Dunkin Doughnut's iced coffee, free or not.



Also today, I joined the Creative Everyday Challenge! I'd heard about this amazing project before and finally landed on Leah's great blog today and signed myself up. I've really been feeling lately that I've been working, working, working and, even though my Madeline Bea work involves creating, I was lacking in creative energy. This Challenge is perfect for me now. Next month I will be Madeline Bea Full Time and this will hold me accountable to stay fresh, inspired, and true to my artistic self.


So, today, in honor of my first day in the challenge, I've written my monthly newsletter and played around in my recent obsession...photography! I am not a professional by any means but I do love the art. Here are a couple photos that I took and played around with today...























I have no training, have no idea what I'm doing, and am working with an elementary photo editing program that's about ten years old...but I'm creating! And I'm enjoying myself, so there!

Wet World

It's a rainy day here in PA and I don't mind because A) we need the rain, B) my allergies were starting to get a little out of hand, and C) the kidos and I had some inside art projects to tackle for Mother's Day this weedend. So it's been a busy, artsy, crazy, rainy day here at MB headquarters!

Here's some of the things we've been working on today...

♥Mother's Day Art Projects♥

♥Making Madeline Bea special order gift sets♥

♥Aquiring yet another new skill to swim in this business: attaching jumpsprings to these cute heart charms for wedding favors♥

♥Making lavender sachets for favors at a home spa party next weekend♥

It's been a very hands-on, worker bee kind of a day. So, it's good that it's raining!

What a rush!

First, I should say that, although I procrastinated quite a bit, the Spring Fling on Saturday was a huge success. Sales were good and I raised quite a bit for the Ronald McDonald House. Also, a lot of people recognized my products which is a wonderful accomplishment for me! It was a little chilly but the rain held out and there were a ton of shoppers!

I've really scaled back on the amount of craft shows that I do. I got burned a lot last year doing shows that amounted to about nothing. But I did gain a lot of experience and and got a lot of consumer research out of my time. Here are some things that I've learned that may help first timers or those who are having a hard time making good sales despite good crowds...

1) Allow customers to see, touch, smell, taste, try on, and try out your product (all that apply to what you make of course...as I wouldn't recommed tasting soap).

Not only can you show off how amazing your stuff really is, but it also builds trust in your product. If you're willing to prove the quality of your products right there at the show, then customers will feel confident about purchasing. Have samples, testers, mirrors, etc. all available and encourage customers to try them.

2) Have clear pricing and good, descriptive signage.

Do not assume that if a customer has a question, they will ask. You are the expert about your products. Inform your customers. Make clean, professional looking signage giving customers the information you think they need to understand your products and why they would want them. For example, if you sell jewelry, tell them what kinds of metal you use, what type of stones you use, or what technique you use.

3) Greet everyone who comes to your stand and everyone that makes eye contact while walking past your stand.

Just say hello! Make small talk, but please don't be catty, gossipy, or annoying. Be informative, but not boastful. Be friendly, but not pushy. But definately don't ignore your shoppers or make them feel like their potential business is not important to you.



4) Make your displays clean, organized, and thoughtful.

You don't want shoppers to feel overwhelmed when looking at your stand. Separate your items into themes or categories that make sense. Ask yourself how you shop. Look at popular stores that carry items similar to yours and see how their products are grouped and displayed. Figure out how you can apply that to your items. Put complimentary products next to one another. Make it very easy for customers to see what you have and allow your displays to casually suggest other items.



5) Come prepared.


Have plenty of cash and coins for change, tissues, paper towels, tape, scissors, pens, scratch paper, snacks, water, any tools you would need to make on-the-spot simple modifications to your product (if applicable), business cards, promotional coupons or postcards, etc.



These are just some simple basic guidelines that have helped my sales quite a bit. And I'm definately still learning. Experience is very valueable so if you're just getting into craft shows, do a lot of them. You'll find which shows are worth returning to and you'll get lots of very valuable consumer research. You'll also get the opportunity to perfect your display, your technique, and your people skills.






Oh yea, and by the way, I snagged a treasury today! It is my first and I'm very proud of it. It features some amazing Etsy sellers.

It never fails...

Here we are again: It's the day before a craft show and for the last week I have been finding everything else to do besides get ready! Last night I made some (needed buy not pressing) adjustments to my website. Today, I'm blogging, doing laundry, baking. Don't get me wrong, all those things need done and thank goodness for upcoming projects because they really do motivate me...just in slightly wrong directions.

What is it about tackling a project that is so intimidating. I have done many craft shows. I know what I'm doing. I just cannot seem to begin packing. I know that thinking about something is worse than doing it, but still, no progress. Oh well, come 7pm tonight, I will have absolutely no choice and it will get done. I only wish it were done already!

I'm actually extremely excited about tomorrows craft show. I'm doing a fundraiser for our local Ronald McDonald House and donating $1 from every Bath Bar sold. I've sent press releases out and sent notice out to my mailing list subscribers so I'm hoping to have a good day and raise some funds for the RMH! Also, my friend is coming with me to help out which will provide me with some much needed adult conversation.

Wish me luck!