Remembering

I was so very honored this weekend to have received tuft's very first order...but not just any order...this was special.

Close friends of ours trusted me with a treasured shirt of their father / father-in-law / grandfather, to have tuft turn it into a pillow. I can't even begin to describe how much it meant to me that they would let me do this.

I'm sorry this will be such a short post, but I really don't have anything else to say except that I am humbled by this honor, grateful for their friendship, and happy that the finished product has the warm, cuddly feel that I wanted.

Friending

"Friending" has only really been a verb for the last few years, since the advent of social media, but it should have been one all along.

Today...I did some "friending." The original plan was to take a few handmade crafts around to some local ladies and do a little relationship marketing...all about drumming up business...shamelessly asking for "likes." But it ended up being more about making me smile on a (really) cold Saturday and connecting with a few folks I don't see often enough.

Met a couple of folks at their work and hope I gave them at least a smile break.

Like!

Met a couple on their way to or from their weekend activities and learned a little more about them in the process.

Like!

Had so much fun chatting with one that I completely missed my next appointment!

Like!

I love social media but also vowing that I will take time throughout the process of creating tuft...to do more "friending" of this variety too.

Overwhelming

Ah yes...the endless list-making, the second- and third- and fourth-guessing, the 2:00 a.m. worry sessions (as I'm writing this, 2:18a.m., to be exact)...THIS is familiar territory. I'm in full-on panic mode.

It all seems very smart and sensible and (dare I say it)...just plain fun...to start a crafts business. Pitch a tent at a show, bring my stuff, meet some nice folks, and make a little weekend profit. Right?

But then come the complications...paperwork and hard deadlines and inventory and insurance and  interest and income...and oh my word, why do so many of these frightening, idea-crushing topics start with "in?"

Indigestion.

2:31 a.m.

It is enough to stop me completely in my tracks. Here I was worried about using a modern sewing machine, a completely unfounded concern by the way; I am truly enjoying that portion of the process now. But THIS...the middle-of-the-night stress...I don't know. This was supposed to be fun and creative but it's a whole new stack in the Stuff I Worry About closet.

2:41 a.m.

Staffing

As a new crafts biz owner, I am quickly learning how critical it is to match the right candidate to the right position in this company.

I got really lucky finding a great Operations Manager. This new hire has already been an excellent sounding board on equipment purchases and workshop layout, and (bonus!) also has prior experience in outdoor craft show booth set up. I have deferred to this person's advice many times in the past couple of months.

In contrast, the new Art Director and I have already butted heads somewhat. Although this employee's initial logo idea really worked for me, we had very different ideas of how the final product should look. Experienced graphic designers that truly "get" you and your business culture are a gold mine though so I'm trying to learn to trust the process more. I really do love my AD's ideas and I think the logo is perfect!

My Chief Information Officer also doubles as a New Media Manager and that is a blessing. We've established that I'm not all that interested in every next, new, tech product and so it's been helpful to be able to leave that realm to someone more into it. To be honest, the CIO / New Media Mgr. is the Hubs.

He is also the AD and the Ops Mgr.

It is hard for me to imagine even considering starting a venture like this without his amazing support. He's the Vice President, head of Logistics, and if there's an immediate need for anything else...a Marketing Director, for example...he'll probably be willing to fill that role too. (I only hope he doesn't aspire to be the Chief Financial Officer, or he'll soon realize how many jobs he's doing for his Tuft salary, which is currently $0.00.) All of this while he finishes a degree and starts his own new career.

I'm guessing a lot of you who craft have a similar supporter. Would love to hear your stories!

Hemming and Hawing

Hemming hospital scrubs on this snazzy new machine is probably a little like calling in Ben Carson to put a band aid on a blister. Definitely overkill but the patient probably feels pretty special. Not to mention that the band aid now has extra cred.


I have to laugh at myself when I think of how long I've been procrastinating at sitting down and learning how to do a simple, straight stitch on this machine. Christmas was...what...16 days ago? I'm very goal-oriented and typically, just knowing there's a deadline keeps me moving forward, but the deadline on these scrubs is tomorrow and I have really been putting it off.


I shouldn't have.


WOW, this thing is super quiet (love that!) and the tension is so perfect. Plus, not pulling out the thread to cut it off...what? (It's a little thang, but a big thang...) And, I've never done any real work on a free arm machine before. It was so easy and fast that I'm wondering what else I've been missing out on...


Cars without hand cranks?
Indoor plumbing?
Books you can download electronically and read on a tiny little screen at night? (Yeah...that one's not a joke...I just got in on that about 16 days ago too.)


I'm just old fashioned. Blame it on my parents who had me late in life. I tend to ponder a new innovation or trend long after others almost consider it passé. I compose lo-o-o-o-o-ong pro / con lists. I do endless research to the point that the new model I'm researching is already three versions behind by the time I make my decision. I. Hate. Buyer's. Remorse.


Happily, the Hubs now has pants for work...their very straight and pucker-free hems were carefully considered for 16 days, completed on a surgeon-quality sewing machine, and laughed about for an hour afterward. Maybe I will try that Crockpot thing one of these days. Did you know you can turn it on and cook a whole meal in it, without actually standing in front of it???

Collecting

I have a problem and I can admit it. I cannot pass a display of any of the following without stopping:

Christmas ornaments
Remnant fabrics/trims
Books
Magazines (especially those big, thick ones that Hubs and I call "mag-a-books")
Puppies
Kittens
Dishes
Cupcakes
Coffee
Special dishes for coffee and / or cupcakes
Purses
SEC Football memorabilia
Oh. My. Gosh. SEC Football PURSES

And if there are awesome clearance prices or otherwise homeless versions of any of the above...Katie-bar-the-door. I think you know where this is going and I'm guessing some of you can relate?

Those remnant fabrics / trims and Christmas ornaments are fighting it out right now in my house and my head. I WANT to put the Christmas ornaments that we used this year away. I really do. In the interest of full disclosure though...I also haven't passed up too many 50-75%  off ornament displays in the last couple of weeks without grabbing at least one (box).

That alone, not so bad. But I also have a new sewing machine to learn and let's just say I've recently fully enjoyed shopping the remnant fabrics and trims at some of our favorite craft-madness-enabler-retailers.

Now, what to do? Get real with the Christmas storage? Buckle down with the new sewing machine? Start cutting into those tempting remnants?

Would love to hear from some of you in how you combat what cannot POSSIBLY be just MY issue?

And notice I didn't title this post "Hoarding."

Down(ton)right Petrifying

Quite seriously, sitting stock still and thinking, "Uh, uh. No way. I have just really messed up and I cannot possibly do this." That's what I'm feeling right now.


Because although I am a fairly confident designer, I am feeling a bit like Carson looking at Mrs. Hughes' new toaster.

Mom's Old Singer

This magical machine is what I've sewn on for most of my life, except for a short stint with a simple 80's-model Singer that I took with me to the dorm and kept until after college. Yes, this 1940's (I think) model still works and no I'm not selling it (sorry). My Mom sewed on it, she taught me to sew on it, and I kept doing so until about three weeks ago. Hubs and Mom even bought me a new Singer 2623 about 15 years ago that barely saw daylight twice. I mean...the old one still worked...so...?


Santa Claus (He's smart, right? He knows what he's doing, right?) brought me a new, slick thing that embroiders and does all manner of other things; heck, for all I know you can cut down trees with it...since the same people who made this beautiful thing also make chainsaws.


And I am scared, stitch-less. It took me half an hour to wind one bobbin and thread the needle. Disclaimer: I am quite sure the problem is me...not the machine. I am not known for being a technology early-adopter. And, I know I have some free lessons that come with the new machine that start some time this month. But, I have to build up inventory to start selling in only a few short weeks!


So...here I sit. Afraid I won't be able to make toast.