And some more with some paper that just captured and inspired me, from Bo Bunny
Have a great Monday! Enjoy the week.
Tannis
Showing posts with label journal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label journal. Show all posts
Monday, February 6, 2012
Journals
And some more with some paper that just captured and inspired me, from Bo Bunny
Have a great Monday! Enjoy the week.
Tannis
Monday, January 23, 2012
A Small Mom Business
A friend of mine posted this on Facebook today
I can't help but think how true this really is. Sometimes I wonder... when I was working full time, outside of my home, why didn't I take more vacations? Thinking back now, I had the money. I made good money! Where did I spend it? Did I shop too much, eat out too much, did my girl have better quality clothes? Did I actually buy myself clothes back then? Did I put it away for a rainy day?
I can tell you, many rainy days have come and gone, and I certainly didn't go out spending money I had socked away.
This Facebook post was timely for me. I just had a friend open up her house to me, and we set up some of our "goods", invited some friends over, had some food, sat around chatting. We had a really nice time.
I came home, thankful for this friend and her support of me, and what I do, what I make and what I sell. I was thankful for her friends who bought journals and cards from me, and scrapbooking supplies from a direct sales company that I am associated with, Creative Memories.
I have met many people the last few years, and made friends with some phenomenal men and women who share their love of creativity. Some make soap, woodwork art, some make their own jewellery, some are in direct sales with various companies (and there are many of them out there!). But no matter what they do, which company they are associated with, or if it is their own company, all have one thing in common. They are all passionate about what they do, they are mostly supportive of each other, they all work very hard, and they all appreciate each and every sale, no matter how big or small.
Many of these people who sell the things they make, or sell the product they believe in through a direct sales company, are doing so to allow them to stay home with their kids and raise them. Some do it to pay for a dream vacation they have always wanted to take, some do it as a hobby that they love and that makes them feel good! Some do it, because they are doing what they believe in.
I do it, because I love to work with my hands, I love to be creative. I need to be home right now to provide my daughter with a learning environment that allows her to flourish. I need the brain space to deal with a learning disability of my daughter, that in the past, has crippled me emotionally. I do it because right now it is what I love, and any other job right now does not allow me the freedom to heal what needs to be healed, nor the freedom that I need to figure out the next chapter of my life.
So the next time you are invited to yet another catalogue party, jewelery party, candle or wax party, scrapbooking party or ...you get the idea! Why not go, and take a friend. It doesn't mean you always need to buy something, but maybe your friend will. Maybe she won't, but that is OK. The next time you buy a card at the dollar store, a cheap bar of soap, think of the friends you know that lovingly make their own; and support them. The next time you are invited to a craft sale, go, and buy a gift that is unique and not bought at your local big box store. Alot of work goes into knitting a one of a kind scarf, a hand made quilt, a one of a kind blouse, designed by someone who sketched it while her son played at her feet. Buy that friend or neice or mom, a journal if they are going through a hard time, writing can be theraputic for so many reasons. Buy a photo taken by a local photographer, a painting that is created by a local artist. I challenge you, the next time that you want a new piece of jewlery, hold out, and buy it from someone who makes their own!
I hope that some of you who are reading this, know that I have referenced you, and the things you make or sell, and I encourage you to link your web sites, facebook pages and business links here!
Happy Monday everyone! Have a lovely day!
~Tannis~
I can't help but think how true this really is. Sometimes I wonder... when I was working full time, outside of my home, why didn't I take more vacations? Thinking back now, I had the money. I made good money! Where did I spend it? Did I shop too much, eat out too much, did my girl have better quality clothes? Did I actually buy myself clothes back then? Did I put it away for a rainy day?
I can tell you, many rainy days have come and gone, and I certainly didn't go out spending money I had socked away.
This Facebook post was timely for me. I just had a friend open up her house to me, and we set up some of our "goods", invited some friends over, had some food, sat around chatting. We had a really nice time.
I came home, thankful for this friend and her support of me, and what I do, what I make and what I sell. I was thankful for her friends who bought journals and cards from me, and scrapbooking supplies from a direct sales company that I am associated with, Creative Memories.
I have met many people the last few years, and made friends with some phenomenal men and women who share their love of creativity. Some make soap, woodwork art, some make their own jewellery, some are in direct sales with various companies (and there are many of them out there!). But no matter what they do, which company they are associated with, or if it is their own company, all have one thing in common. They are all passionate about what they do, they are mostly supportive of each other, they all work very hard, and they all appreciate each and every sale, no matter how big or small.
Many of these people who sell the things they make, or sell the product they believe in through a direct sales company, are doing so to allow them to stay home with their kids and raise them. Some do it to pay for a dream vacation they have always wanted to take, some do it as a hobby that they love and that makes them feel good! Some do it, because they are doing what they believe in.
I do it, because I love to work with my hands, I love to be creative. I need to be home right now to provide my daughter with a learning environment that allows her to flourish. I need the brain space to deal with a learning disability of my daughter, that in the past, has crippled me emotionally. I do it because right now it is what I love, and any other job right now does not allow me the freedom to heal what needs to be healed, nor the freedom that I need to figure out the next chapter of my life.
So the next time you are invited to yet another catalogue party, jewelery party, candle or wax party, scrapbooking party or ...you get the idea! Why not go, and take a friend. It doesn't mean you always need to buy something, but maybe your friend will. Maybe she won't, but that is OK. The next time you buy a card at the dollar store, a cheap bar of soap, think of the friends you know that lovingly make their own; and support them. The next time you are invited to a craft sale, go, and buy a gift that is unique and not bought at your local big box store. Alot of work goes into knitting a one of a kind scarf, a hand made quilt, a one of a kind blouse, designed by someone who sketched it while her son played at her feet. Buy that friend or neice or mom, a journal if they are going through a hard time, writing can be theraputic for so many reasons. Buy a photo taken by a local photographer, a painting that is created by a local artist. I challenge you, the next time that you want a new piece of jewlery, hold out, and buy it from someone who makes their own!
I hope that some of you who are reading this, know that I have referenced you, and the things you make or sell, and I encourage you to link your web sites, facebook pages and business links here!
Happy Monday everyone! Have a lovely day!
~Tannis~
Friday, February 11, 2011
Happiness can be found in a new journal
OK, I will admit that lucky things do not usually happen to me. But when they do finally happen, I assure you, I embrace those lucky moments, even if they are few and far between.
One of those lucky things happened to me yesterday! I came across a beautiful book that would allow me to make the most amazing journals! Well, I think so anyway. And here is the lucky part, they were on clearance! So I bought 20. The lady at the store thought I was crazy, but I could not believe it!
So I came home and I made a few journals out of those books! They are a sketch book, with beautiful natural pages, no lines. I have had a few customers request them, so this gave me a chance to make a few. I had my friend Dana in mind when I made this one, I don't know why, the paper just reminded me of her and I think she prefers this kind of book instead on lined paper, and she is very natural. I hope she likes it, but Dana if you are reading this at some point and you don't like the paper, no worries!
This is the one my daughter liked, of course because the flower has glitter on it and she loves anything glitter!
So I loved the quality so much and had all of these ideas of books and journals I would make, that after lunch, I went back and bought all of the rest on the shelf. I think I have enough to make over 50 journals. I just hope I can sell them all! So if you know anyone you would like to gift a journal to, or maybe one for yourself, let me know!
Last Friday, the "Crafty Ladies" met for their scrap booking class. I thought it was fun! We will have a group of six. We have an 11 year old sweetie in our group and a 79 year old sweetie as well, that is our age range, and it makes it very diverse and so great! Unfortunately I didn't get enough pictures, only 2. I will know better for the next class!
And the next day I had my weekend sale at the Assiniboia Downs, a fundraiser for MRDA (Manitoba Riding for the Disabled). It was a very interesting sale! It was more like a flea market, with antiques and collectibles there as well! My husband had a great time walking the floor over and over again. Each time, finding a new treasure. We each bought some things. My two finds were a box full of Martha Stewart magazines for $5. For anyone who knows me, they know magazines are an addiction for me and definitely NOT something I needed to buy. My other find was the first work of fiction written by Deepak Chopra, and it was an advanced copy! I got that for $3!
Anyway, I was also allowed to have a bake table, which I did! It was a great sale, we had fun and met allot of superb people!
Most people were not thinking ahead to the following week and Valentines Day, so I came home with some of my gift packages, but sold almost all my cards. Of course they were hungry too, so I didn't really come home with much baking either!
My most memorable moment would be an elderly man working at a booth across from me, he came and bought one of my jars of salsa, telling me he didn't like the *#@! from the store because of the taste and all the preservatives in it! I assured him mine had no preservative in it and it was good. The next day as I was helping a customer, my husband came up to me and pointed. I looked to find the elderly man eating one of my chocolate caramel pretzels he helped himself to. He wanted to pay me I guess and not my husband. When I walked up to him smiling he said "everyone is walking around eating these things, I just thought I would try one. Do I have to pay for it?" He bought two, and at the end of the day, I gave him two more to take home!
People like him make my long crafting days all worth while!
Take care, have a great weekend! I have an all day scrap booking day planned with some friends on Saturday so I am hoping to get some work done on my albums! Hope you get to do something creative this weekend too!
Tannis
One of those lucky things happened to me yesterday! I came across a beautiful book that would allow me to make the most amazing journals! Well, I think so anyway. And here is the lucky part, they were on clearance! So I bought 20. The lady at the store thought I was crazy, but I could not believe it!
So I came home and I made a few journals out of those books! They are a sketch book, with beautiful natural pages, no lines. I have had a few customers request them, so this gave me a chance to make a few. I had my friend Dana in mind when I made this one, I don't know why, the paper just reminded me of her and I think she prefers this kind of book instead on lined paper, and she is very natural. I hope she likes it, but Dana if you are reading this at some point and you don't like the paper, no worries!
This is the one my daughter liked, of course because the flower has glitter on it and she loves anything glitter!
I love the spine of these books!
Last Friday, the "Crafty Ladies" met for their scrap booking class. I thought it was fun! We will have a group of six. We have an 11 year old sweetie in our group and a 79 year old sweetie as well, that is our age range, and it makes it very diverse and so great! Unfortunately I didn't get enough pictures, only 2. I will know better for the next class!
 |
| Elyse and her daughter Alyssa |
 |
| Tamara |
Anyway, I was also allowed to have a bake table, which I did! It was a great sale, we had fun and met allot of superb people!
My most memorable moment would be an elderly man working at a booth across from me, he came and bought one of my jars of salsa, telling me he didn't like the *#@! from the store because of the taste and all the preservatives in it! I assured him mine had no preservative in it and it was good. The next day as I was helping a customer, my husband came up to me and pointed. I looked to find the elderly man eating one of my chocolate caramel pretzels he helped himself to. He wanted to pay me I guess and not my husband. When I walked up to him smiling he said "everyone is walking around eating these things, I just thought I would try one. Do I have to pay for it?" He bought two, and at the end of the day, I gave him two more to take home!
People like him make my long crafting days all worth while!
Take care, have a great weekend! I have an all day scrap booking day planned with some friends on Saturday so I am hoping to get some work done on my albums! Hope you get to do something creative this weekend too!
Tannis
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