New Plans for a New Year

     I am actually writing a business post, can you believe it? Remember when I used to write these, all I was learning about actually running a small business? It has been awhile!  When Annie was born (almost a year ago!!!!) the business part of my business took a back seat.  I have still been sewing, lots of bibs and a few new things too.  I did manage to get my sales taxes filed and paid.  I occasionally make appearances here, on FLTs Facebook page and Instagram that having something to do with sewing.  And the business has been cruising along nicely, supporting itself, keeping me busy during naps and after Annie is asleep at night.  And the business part of my business, heck even the creative part of my business, will still (and always) be in the back seat compared to Annie, but I am starting this new year incredibly inspired and full of confidence in my business!  I have Big New Plans (more on that later) and some super exciting things have been happening these days!

    1. My first ever wholesale order, to a children's boutique in Montana, whose owner found me through Etsy, turned into my second ever wholesale order!  Her most recent messages to me included the sentences "I need more bibs!" and "They are selling like hot cakes!" Ah! and omg! This is so exciting to me.  I love getting the second order, I love that they are selling so well, I love that people are finding my bibs!

    2. I was actually able to pay myself for the first time ever!  When I started FLT 1 1/2 years ago, I dedicated a certain (small) amount of money in its own bank account to the business.  Over this time, the account has gone up  and down, well, make that down and up, but we haven't put any of our other personal money into the business.  Finally, even with buying new fabrics and taking new risks by adding new products to my shop (dresses, rompers, bloomers,) the account has more money in it than it started with.  I decided that anytime it is over the starting balance, I will pay that money to myself.  Note to my CPA, accounting, actually business knowledgeable friends: If this is kind of a bad idea, I don't really want to know, but if it is really, really, really a bad idea that will somehow get me into trouble, I guess I reluctantly want to know that.  On the other hand, if it is a good idea, feel free to tell me that so I can feel even better about my businesswoman skills!

    3. This was my horoscope in last Sunday's SF Chronicle Pink Section (the only real horoscope, obviously!)

So obviously, this is a sign that my Big New Plans are perfect!  So what are these Big New Plans, you ask?

     Well, inspired by the success of my bibs at Sprouts in Montana, I want to get my bibs in other children's boutiques!  San Diego is full of some beautiful ones, and I have been wishing for awhile that they were selling my bibs.  Apparently, they do not know what I am wishing, and they are not going to find me, so I am going to approach them!  I have determined my wholesale price.  I have done some researching on approaching stores.  I have a plan!  I have always been scared of doing this.  I still am.  I am maybe the most social person I know, but something about promoting my own products, being a "salesperson" makes me feel yucky.  But I am inspired! And I have confidence! And my horoscope! So I am going to trust in myself, and have confidence in my product! I am going to do it!  Yay! Ahh!

So that is the plan for now!  I will update here once I follow through (that is, if I have time with all the sewing I will be doing to fill those wholesale order!)

And now there is a puppy to cuddle, bibs to cut out and the sounds of a slowly waking baby on the monitor!  

Hope you are all having a wonderful day and are feeling equally inspired and confident in what lies ahead for this new year!  

Christmas, Inspiration and Lists.

     So many things I have been wanting to share, and now I have finally forced a moment to be here and my mind sits blank.  With a list by my side of all the "to dos" and blog posts to write.  Fresh off of yesterday's stress at too many to dos and no time for doing.  Every time that my post inspirations pile up, I lose motivation to write those first few, and I really did have such wonderful things to write and share.  So I will just list them for now (because I love making lists, sometimes even lists of lists to make, they help me calm my mind and feel at least slightly in control of the thoughts and plans, boring and fun "to dos",) and hopefully that will re-inspire me to add the pictures and explain the details.  Even all of this mild complaining now is inspiring me to just quit the procrastinating and start working my way down.  I guesssz getting my fingers moving was the first step to finding that motivation I needed, like so many other things I procrastinate (cleaning, working out, calling strangers on the phone.)  Just start and it will be fine! Do you hear that, self? Ok, enough of that, here is the list!

1. Annie's first Christmas- beautiful and fun and amazing and a whole week spent with family!
2. Christmas present projects!!! A roll-up picnic blanket, napkins, a lap duvet, a reusable lunch bag, a portable truck garage and racetrack, two dresses, a stuffed turtle, a tiny backpack, a hedgehog pincushion and embroidered kitchen towels.  All in 3 weeks! So you see, I really have been busy!
3. New Year's!  The celebrations I have grown up with and held onto.
4. New bibs for the shop (but this first requires that I finish sewing them, and take pictures and write listings, and my sewing machine has been kicked off the desk until later.)
5. New plans for the business in the new year!

     Alright, you know what? I am inspired now, and when I have the time and know where the laptop charger is, I need to take advantage- so I will start at the top!

Christmas!

     The Saturday before until the Sunday after.  Two eight hour car rides, each half in the dark, with a soundly sleeping little girl in the back, and no traffic (I repeat, no traffic, even through LA.)  Eight days filled - 

with early mornings in the kitchen with Nanny,

and with kitties, you can't forget kitties

Working hard in the best drawer ever!

     with sharing strollers and playing at the park with cousins,
   

with hikes in the woods,

"sharing"

No one wants to put pictures of their bum in stretch pants on their blog,
but look how cute those tiny booted feet are! 

with belly boards, legos and cousin hugs

with Great Grandpa sharing snacks with his Sweet Georgia Brown (our Lacey)

with Christmas Eve presents with Cousins Ethan and Addison, Aunt Erin, Uncles Alex and Jayson, Grandma and Poppy and Great Grandpa, 

with waiting for Santa,

with the first stocking Kyle and I got to help Santa put together,

with Santa presents, hard work and new books,

with shaking presents with Grampy,

with Christmas presents with Cousins, Jack, Norah and Shelby, Aunties Em and Lu, Uncle Andy, Nanny and Grampy,

whoops, no pictures, too busy having fun,

except this one, stolen from the Facebook page of the incredibly talented Auntie Lu

with cousins in Christmas dresses wreaking havoc,

with little boys who don't want me to take smiles,

with homemade truffles, lots of cooking, and eating incredible food here,

with laughing and hugs and not enough naps, with swinging and swimming and sore old lady dogs,

with love and love and love,

and so much thankfulness for every minute of it.  

     And now the nap is long over and there are farmer's markets to hit!  I hope your holidays were filled with love and love and love, as well!