WHAT do I do?

Good question. Have you been able to pin-piont exactly what it is you do? Sure, it's easy to define your work through the process it takes to create the work. Example:

• I paint. Therefore, I'm a painter. I make and sell paintings.
• I string beads. Therefore, I'm a beader. I make and sell beaded items.
• I make clay pots. Therefore, I'm a potter. I make and sell pottery.

Now it is time to really expand the definition of your work. Saying, "I'm a painter" doesn't really SAY anything about your work. (my 3 year old nephew is a painter too!) Take for instance, an art museum. Every wall is sure to be covered in paintings, but each painting is different. Unique. Not just in subject matter, but technique too. Bold, subtle, modern, still life, nonobjective, etc.

Let's take a baby step. "I am an impressionistic painter." This one word adds so much definition to your work. People can almost picture in their minds what it is you do now. Maybe take another step. "I am an impressionistic painter who works in a warm color palette."

Why is this important? Because if you can't define your work, how can anyone else? Defining your work gives you focus, purpose, a direction, a style, meaning, life. Imagine you are being interviewed by your local newspaper as an up-and-coming-artist....what would you say about your work to make people interested in knowing more about YOU and your WORK.

If your having trouble defining your work, ask a friend or relative for some input. Lay out a bunch of your pieces, and ask them to come up with a word or three that describes your work. Watch them carefully. Look for emotion. Read their body language. If they are having a hard time coming up with any words...back to the drawing board for you!

Next: more defining your style...

But it looks so PRETTY...

Yes. It is pretty.

The font you want to use for your business name is very important. Why? Take Coca-Cola or Disney for example. Even if the words Coca-Cola or Disney were written in some foreign language, you would still recognize it because of the unique font they use. Your font, in essence, becomes part of your brand identity.

But, let's back-up a bit. Go find a business card. Any business card will do. What do you notice about the print? Does the color "speak" to you? Is it easy to read? Are the letters too small? Are the letters so swirly and curly (my term!) that you can't distinguish where one word ends and the next word begins?

A little planning goes a long way. Somewhere down the line you may decide to have business cards printed, a banner made, a website, maybe even a custom rubber stamp made with your business name on it. While detail is important, your chosen font must be:

1. Easy to read
2. Fit your business' personality (think funky jewelry = funky font, elegant jewelry = elegant font)
3. Can you live with it for a long time? (when was the last time Coke changed their font?)

Sit down one day at the computer (or with a sketch pad) and play around with your new business name. Try out different fonts and colors. Try out different font sizes. Bold, italic, underscore. Maybe even make an entire page of options and print them out. Hold the paper at arm's length and see how it looks.

Now for a small lesson I learned the hard way. Color.

If you like to match your colors (like I do), be prepared to sacrifice. Say you choose a really light shade of teal for your font and business color. Weeks and months go by. You're getting ready for your first craft show in a few weeks. It's nice to give your customers a little personal touch and give them their purchase in a gift bag. But wait. You search a few local papermarts and online stores for matching light teal shopping bags or tissue paper. Where is it? After all, if my printer can make light teal, why can't my paper supplier?

Short of ordering (very, very) expensive custom colored paper products, consider a coordinating color. Even if the coordinating color is black, white, deep teal, red, etc. You'll save time and money. And headaches!

That's enough to think about for today....

Next: What is your product?

I CAN do it!

OK. So now you've decided that you think you are ready to try your hand at crafting for a living. Well, don't quit you day job, yet!!

One of the first things you'll really need to ponder is your business name. Some artist simply use their name, or a version of their name. For example: Dawn Smith, Dawn Smith Studio, Designs by Dawn, Designs by Dawn Smith, D. Smith Studio, D.S. Studio, etc.

Some points to consider are:

• Is it easy to say? People need to be able to say your business name. When you think of something, say it out loud. Several times. Does it roll off the tongue or is it more of a tongue twister? If customers can't say your name, how will they refer you to friends and family? Think word-of-mouth!
• Is it easy to spell? If you intend on having a website or be listed in the phonebook, you want customers to be able to find you! If they can't spell the name of your business, this task will be very difficult.
• Is it flexible? "Stained Glass by Dawn" might be too specific. It doesn't leave much room for expansion into other forms of art.
• Does it fit your image? Cute name = cute product. Sophisticated name = sophisticated product.
• Is it available? This one is a little tricky. For obvious reasons you do not want to choose a name that has a copyright, trademark, or is otherwise registered. Start by checking the phonebook and doing a search engine check.

Next, we'll cover fonts for your business name.

Happy Easter

A celebration of the rising of Christ, oh and of self-induced chocolate egg coma!

I wonder how the two events ever became entangled with one another. Jesus and Easter bunnies? Hmmm.

Nonetheless, I must banish myself to the kitchen now to begin baking the ham and sweet potatoes......yum!

The Rumor is TRUE

Yep. Be prepared to do what you love! Be prepared to do it a lot less often!

I never realized how much time it takes to RUN a business. Inventory, bookkeeping, designing a portfolio, printing and designing business cards, marketing, making contacts, looking for sales leads, deciding which craft show seems promising, etc, etc, etc. I spend so much more time at the computer and on the phone than I actually spend CREATING that thing I love. Jewelry.

If you think going into business means crafting all day.....think again. Think long and hard. Don't just take my word for it either....next time you visit a craft show, ask one of the vendors what a typical week is like. Ask them how their day has been.

Chances are they woke up way too early, loaded tables and boxes of product into the car or van, ate breakfast on the road, with luck they didn't get lost on the way to the event. Assuming they arrived at the beginning of set-up time, usually between 7am and 8am, they check-in with the promoter(s), find their booth assignment and unload all their tables and product. If the vendor is a bit seasoned, they can probably have everything set-up in their booth in less than two hours. With a little more luck they finish booth set-up with time for a potty break, quick shot of caffeine, and a few minutes to check-out the competition and layout of the area. Now it's 5 minutes before "showtime"....brush your hair, check you breath and teeth, get comfortable, and smile...it's going to be a long day.

Personally, a show day can last 12 or more hours from the time you wake-up to the time you get home and unload the car/van. This of course is not including follow-up and post-event bookkeeping and updating inventory levels. That's a few more hours.

Do you have the time and dedication necessary to be sucessful?

The New Focus

I apologize for taking so long to update the Blog and to announce the "new Focus" but I think most of you will enjoy the new focus.

The new focus will revolve around not just sharing information about my business and the new and wonderful things I create, but now I would also like to add some of the lessons I have learned along the way in building my business. As I reflect on my journey, I realized there is so much that no one tells you about starting your own business. All the trip-ups, slip-ups, stumbles, hurdles, tears, tragedies, joys, loves, surprises, celebrations and an entire gamut of feeling and emotions. Not to mention many of the technical aspects of running a business like organization, taxes, approaching other businesses, consignment, etc.

Again, I hope you will find my new focus helpful, entertaining, and enjoyable!

~Dawn