My daughter's dance class is having a Halloween party this week, at the end of class.  The teacher said we could bring treats of our choice as long as we checked out allergies.  I thought about making some sort of really cute Halloween treat but in the end I thought of something much better than sugar.  Wands.  I've been wanting to make wands to offer in my store, for a while, but I like to test out things first.  What better way to test a product than to give it away to a gaggle of little girls?  Tomorrow is the big day --party day.   You can see how they turned out in my gallery.  I'd love pointers on taking better pictures of things like that.  I know that these are full of things that little hands love to pull apart but I've let Rose run around the house for the last week playing with hers (and she took it out yesterday to the trick or treat thing downtown here) and she's yet to destroy it (wish I could say the same thing about the phone book).   I'd love to hear what ya'll think of them!

This has been a very exciting week for me.  To think, just a few weeks ago I was only taking the first steps to plunge into the world of actually selling my creations.  Today I can say that I am a vendor for Created by Mom .  I keep a blog over at blogspot and I'm part of the The Secret is in the Sauce.  Last week they had posted they had a new sponsor, Created by Mom, and that they were maybe looking for vendors.  I emailed the lovely ladies at Created by Mom and, long story short, they loved my tutus and offered me a spot as a vendor.  Needless to say, I'm thrilled.    So, if anyone is interested in taking a look, go see what the gals over at Created by Mom have going on.  Just click on any of the Created by Mom's I've written here and if I've done it right it should take you right over. :)

This week has been a week of firsts.  I started a blog over at blogspot, and today I made my first digital scrapbook layout.  Why have I decided to step out of my comfort zone even further than I already have?  After I decided to sell my tutus I also made the decision to really commit to it, and not just give it "an attempt".  I decided to ask my cousin (who's opinion I value greatly because she's not a sister or mom who is going to encourage me no matter what--she's going to give it to me straight) and she thought they were great but if I really wanted exposure that I should.... she gave me a list of things she thought I should do to help get the word out there and give my product exposure online.  Yep, her first one was to start a blog and then get really involved in a blogging community.  That is a big step for me out of my comfort zone!  Don't get me wrong.  I'm a people person, and I'm an online person, but I'm also a shy person who doesn't like to be pushy and don't really think that anybody has any real interest in what I have to say (or blog about).  None the less, I stepped out of my comfy shelter and did it.    That's what brings me to my second first.  Digital scrap.     So looking at different websites and blogs this week the ones that I like the best have all been done using digital scrapbook kits.  I love them!  They are original and really show off the person's style.  I have been putting off getting to know digital scrapping for a long time because I love paper shopping and I love my big chunky, sensory filled, books.  Why would I want to go digital?  Now I know why.  Tonight I made my very first digital scrapbook page.  It's very basic but I think it's okay.  I'm still completely overwhelmed at the prospect and all the things that go into it, but I think I'm gonna get the hang of it, and someday soon my blog and website will get a really cool facelift that will definately reflect me and hopefully look really nice too.   You can see my first attempt in my gallery!

I think I'm ready for my business to really start.  I mean it's only just a hobby until I actually make money, right?  Last week,  when I took Rose to dance class, I asked if I could post a flyer for the website on the bulletin board.  The owners suggested I start emailing all the dance schools with the website info because they thought I might get some business actually making costumes for recitals.   They also told me they knew several moms that they would definately point the flyer out to.  Well, on Saturday they called and told me that they definately knew some moms would be calling me for orders.  Yay!  So I'm really getting excited.  I can't wait for my first order and to actually be getting these out to other little girls.  I spent the weekend working on my website, revamping a little and adding some content, ect..  My biggest problem, at the moment, seems to be navigating the Paypal situation.  The Paypal situation is that I can't really figure out how to put it on my site and make it do what I want.  So, for the time being I'm going to do confirming and billing process through email.  Apparently you can configure your email for people to click on the paypal and pay it right thru their email.  How nifty is that!  That'll actually be kinda nice--it will give me a good way to keep reciepts in the beginning.  Once I actually really start making money I'm sure I will configure something else--probably a paid Paypal account.  ANYway.....

I was playing around last night and made a new tutu.  It reminds me of a hydrangea.  I think all it needs is a little  boquet of hydrangeas at the waist.  What do you think?

Last week I made a big step for myself.  Something I've dreamt about doing a long time but have been too shy, too nervous, too scared to do.  I decided to start my own business.  Ack!  So here I am, with a product, something I think I'm fairly passionate about but I'm not really sure what to do or how to go about it all.  Like I said, I've thought about doing this, dreamt about doing this, for years.  When I was in highschool and college I was very into beading and made necklaces and earrings for friends and family and sold some sets.   I loved it!  I like making things that are "original" or "one of a kind".  I love customing things to my individual buyers, and very rarely do I like to make the same thing twice (if I can help it).    Later I started playing with wire, heavy wire...you know the great big thick copper wire you find in cable.  I made Christmas ornaments.  Stars entwined with semi-precious stones.  I would make them as gifts for teachers I worked with, or my kids' teachers.  My mother and sister, said I should sell them, that I'd make a fortune.  I just couldn't.  I've just always had a problem making money from something I absolutely love doing.  Just made it feel weird.    Soon after I started scrapbooking.  I'm one of those multi-media scrapbookers- I use everything!  I love making books as gifts, and I love doing all the other papercrafting and media projects.  I absolutely adore using canvases!!!!    So you may ask, after I have gone through all of those things, what kind of business have I started?  Custom made tutus.  Yep.  You heard me right.  A few weeks ago my youngest, my only daughter, started dance class.  She needed a tutu and they just aren't easy to find, and they can be mighty pricey.  So, I started looking around for a tutorial on making my own.  I found it!  I made her a tutu and she went to class and everyone absolutely loved her tutu and "where did you find it?" and "you made that?!" ensued.  So I annouced that I was selling tutus and that was it.  I was officially "in business for myself".  Scary!  I've started a website, but it's very basic and definately "in progress". 

to be continued...