Handmade Humpday: Fabulous Finds!!!

There is a lot I love about having a handmade business but lately what I love most about it is my new online community of people that make things for children.  Etsykids!  http://www.etsykids.com/  The talent out there is amazing!  Be sure to go to their web page and check out the summer shopping guide!  But just in case you don't click the link above here are a few fabulous finds from the Etsykids crew.

Talk about amazing and I want one of each!  These chairs and stools are awesome!!!  (Awesome in a yo yo gabba way if you know what I am saying.)  http://www.etsy.com/shop/artompotamus 

Here are a few of my favorite stools.  Be sure to visit the link to see the chairs too!

These dolls are to die for!  Sure to be any little girl's favorite! http://www.etsy.com/shop/MissBakerStitches

About MissBakerStitches:

I am a full-time Art Director for a national magazine. So I sit behind a computer all day long. I love that I can come home and sew. It is just another creative outlet for me that is stress-free. Another reason I love it is that I started sewing for my 18-month-old daughter before she was born. I got so many compliments on her dolls and clothing. One child can only use so much stuff. So now I can enjoy sewing for other people’s children and make some spending money doing what I love.

I am crazy about zebra and if you are too check out this shop!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/ditsybitsy  Here are just a few of her wonders.  (She does a lot more than zebra so be sure to click her link.)

 

 

About DitsyBitsy:

My favorite thing about having a handmade business is that I am able to create unique items for my customers. Things that are not available in stores or anywhere else. It always makes me happy when they tell me that they love my work.

Motherhood, running a home business, and fashion industry trade secrets...

"THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGING", reads my morning coffee mug.  It also has diaper pins all over it.  It is the perfect metaphor for both my life and this post.

These days I am changing more diapers since my swap from corporate America to motherhood.  Still, as all moms will attest to, I am working harder than ever.  Actually for me motherhood comes easy (my husband wrote this in my mother's day card and my eyes welled with tears).  I find myself patient in ways I didn't know I had in me.  I also can function on less sleep than I thought possible. 

With changing times in my career comes challenges to overcome.  The challenges in my life revolve around balancing my home business and motherhood.  Working at home so you can be with your child is living the dream some will say, but it has it's challenges.  Like trying to sew a dress as your toddler keeps stepping on your sewing foot.  Or making a sales call to a local boutique as your child pulls all the rubber duckies off the display and then throws a complete tantrum when you take them away.  At this point you turn back to the shop owner and say, "would you like to place an order?".

Then there are the challenges of navigating the fashion industry.  It is a small tight knit industry and people are all to often ready to share their successes but not any secrets of their success.  I am hoping to change that with this blog.  I have done loads of research and made many mistakes finding my way when it comes to fabric suppliers, finding manufactures, pricing, keeping price down while mfg in the US, line sheets, participating in handmade craft fairs, starting a manufactured line, finding a showroom, the list can go on.  I love this industry and learning my way but I would love it more with a community of people willing to share and learn together. 

So I will leave it at that today...if you are interested in:

- Being the best mom you can be
- Managing a home business with children underfoot
- Running a handmade area of your business
- Starting a manufactured line
- Learning and sharing more about the fashion industry

This blog is for you.  Please follow it for regular posts on these topics, interviews with industry professionals, product spotlights, giveaways, and more!