Expecting the Expected

I love to ask for advice, but it's somewhat funny how rarely I actually listen to it.  It's not that I don't value the advice I'm given, it's more that I'm always quite sure that things are going to go differently for me than it did for other people.  Sometimes I think it's more important to me to know the advice is actually out there than it is to follow it.  And, sometimes that pays off, in the form of blazing my own trails, and sometimes it doesn't, in the form of my not actually expecting the expected.

I was definitely told that the Holiday shopping season would mean a lot of time spent working, but for whatever reason, I thought that my beautiful check-off lists and planning my working hours (10 am - 4 pm?  Hah!!) would help me to avoid that kind of drama.

It didn't quite go that way.

A 35-40 hour work week?  Well, that's a joke.  I work almost from the time I wake up (9:15 am) until I go to sleep (1-2 am).  Sure, there are breaks for writing emails to friends, or making cookies, and the occasional Netflix movie.  But more often than not, I'm writing emails while printing orders, making cookies while resin cures, and watching movies while I bend jump rings or put stickers on gift boxes.

But the thing is... I like it.  I love it.  I'm busy, I'm frazzled, I always have too many things to do, and I'm enjoying it!  Sure, there are stressful moments where I might forget I ever typed those words... but they pass eventually, and most of the time I feel really awesome about what I'm doing.

It's a great feeling, to be in charge of my own future, to know that I have a say in how successful I am, that it doesn't only depend on my customers (although I love them, and they are pretty important, hehe), that I have control over it!

When I first started this endeavor, I didn't feel like I was in control.  If I had a slow day, I blamed not having enough views on my Etsy shop, or not understanding SEO, or some other reason... but then I realized that there were days when I would have over $100 in sales with only 75 views, and that I could conquer SEO on my slow sale days.

So yeah, I'm tired and I'm having a difficult time not wearing pajamas (there's no time to put on real clothes!), and I don't often lie on my couch sipping cocoa and doing nothing (holiday traditions) -- but I feel so good.  Just so darn good.

So to my customers, and to everyone who supports tiny businesses, and makers of handmade things -- thank you for making this such an exciting time, not just for me, but for all of us!

Dress Rehearsal

My last day at work is next Friday... of course, I didn't know that before I requested this Monday off, hehe.  Ah well, it's nice to have a long weekend either way.

I worked on the State Charm Necklaces this weekend, and although a few of them still need some polishing, I did list Texas and New York on Etsy.

Pretty cool, huh?  They are, unfortunately, terribly labor intensive... so next Monday I'll throw myself into making them 100%, get a bunch of them done at once so I'm not doing the painful parts of charm-making on a daily basis (threading with the jump rings leaves my fingers blistered and tingling).

I think I'm going to need to create something of a schedule for myself, too, because I've already notice how easy it is for me to slip into laziness, watching too many episodes of Hoarding: Buried Alive with the excuse that it motivates me to clean the house (well, it does).  I've already decided that 12:30 p.m. is "Cuddle Break" with Ike.  That wasn't too difficult to schedule...

I'm going to try to put in 6 hours of solid work each day -- which includes making the charms and pendants, photographing them, listing them, tweaking my keywords and descriptions, updating Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest, and of course writing a little something on here each day.  I'm sure I'll get far more luxurious coffee breaks than I'm used to, as well as eating lunch on my couch with my feet up while reading Anna Karenina, but for the most part, I think it's really important that I treat this like a "real job".  That also means showering, putting on clothes (not pajamas), getting my cup of coffee, and not sleeping until 10 a.m.  All easier said than done, when that cold Chicago wind is rattling my windows, and all I really want to do is drink brandy and cuddle up in a blanket.

If there's anyone out there who has had the blessing and the luxury of running a business at home, however small or large, who has tips for keeping on task, please share them with me!  I'm going to need all of the advice and support I can get!

Hello!

Well hi there, birds & blokes!  Sometimes I miss my blog so much, or more than anything I think I miss the time I used to have to sit down and post pictures of my leisurely breakfasts.  Ah, those were the days.  I find myself at my desk, day dreaming about... well, about something different.

It's going to be a long, hot Summer here in Chicago, that's for sure!  I just hope the fun parts last longer than the not as fun parts.

I want to start working my photographs into my pendants, specifically cool shots I've taken around this lovely city.  What do you think?

As much as I like to complain (mostly privately) about the "environment" at work, there is something to be said for weekends off.

Dave made French toast for breakfast, that was a nice start.

Then I beat his "unbeatable" time trial in MarioKart.  Yeah, I said it.  He has yet to realize it's happened... Sometimes it's the little victories that make the day.

I'm working on a custom order today for a customer, and still putting together some of the photo pendants I wanted to try out.  I don't really know if anyone wants to wear a photo of a cockroach around their neck (other than me, of course, because I'm weird like that) but I guess we'll find out once I list it on Etsy.

I'm going to be a vendor at the Music & Art Meet Culture Fest here in Chicago on May 20th, if you're in the area (or if you feel like visiting Chicago, which you totally should) stop by and say "Hello!"  It's only $10 if you buy a ticket in advance ($15 day-of at the door), and that includes an open bar from 6:15 - 7:15 p.m. -- yes, I said open bar, birds & blokes!  There will also be other crafters, vendors, music, and all kinds of fun stuff, so be there or be square!!  :)

Baseball Season Pendants are Here!

Dave and I whipped up a few of these three days ago, and one of them sold within only hours of being listed on Etsy (with the Etsy site down, no less!), so I think they are going to be a hit.

Game Used Baseball Necklace Pendant -- SOLD!

Game Used Baseball Ring

Game Used Baseball Ring

You can always visit my Etsy shop here: the Big City Bumpkin on Etsy