Purse Pattern Chronicles- The Sequel

It Starts with an Inspiration 
(This post is part of a continuing series focusing on the development of a new handbag pattern from its initial conception to it's release.)

So are you ready for another go at the Purse Pattern Chronicles? I hope so, because I'm ready to 'raise the curtain' just a bit and let you take a peek at my new design. And what better place to start, than by talking a little about the original inspiration for this new bag.

A good example of a balloon valance

And for this bag, curtains... specifically balloon curtains, are an appropriate place to start. Remember back in the 80's when balloon curtains were popular? My Mom made several of these type of valances when they were living in Florida, and it  was the first time I had ever seen any. She stuffed tissue or scott towels or something in the balloon part to make them extra puffy. I found them fascinating. Not enough to make any for my home mind you. I lean toward clean geometric lines in my home decorating. But still, there was something about the puffed edge of those curtains that I found appealing then AND now!.

For a balloon skirt, this is a good example

Not that i like all things 'balloony'. For example- I really never got into the balloon skirt craze (at right). This type of skirt always looked uneven and unfinished to me, and how can a hemline like that look good after you've sat thru supper? Which begs the question..."Do you think the balloon skirt was originally inspired by balloon curtains"? But back to the point...

Well, I had a movie on in the studio a few months ago, and I noticed a beautiful set of balloon curtains in the background of a particular scene, and it hit me... EUREKA!!! Maybe I could find a way to translate this wonderful balloony feature into a bag embellishment? I was totally inspired and set about figuring out how to accomplish it. And when I finally show you the new bag (you KNEW it wouldn't be today, right?), I think you will easily see the balloon curtain inspiration.

So....let's have a little fun. Why not put on YOUR 'designer' hat and see if you can figure out how I might be translating this effect from a curtain to a handbag, or better still... how YOU might can use this inspiration as a special effect in something that YOU are making. Leave your comments below, and stay tuned for more posts in the 'Purse Pattern Chronicles- The Sequel' series for a front row seat as inspiration becomes reality.

Question of the Week #15

Question of the Week #15- What's Your favorite thing about summer?

Summer is not my favorite season. Especially since I've lived here in North Carolina. I've never really gotten used to the one-two punch of heat and humidity. The heat arrived WAY early this year too. As hot as it is now, I can't imagine what it might be like by August.

We'll be visiting Yankee Stadium in July!

Consequently, most of my favorite summertime activities involve being in a cool place... a swimming pool, or the ocean will do, but if not, I'm very happy in an air-conditioned house. And since there's nothing but reruns on TV in the summer, it's no wonder that I'm a baseball fan. As a matter of fact, I don't remember NOT being a baseball fan.

I often had to listen to games on the radio as a kid,(my daughter thinks this is hysterical), but now, thanks to satellite TV, I can see every single Yankee game along with the pre and post-game shows, all in HD, and all without breaking a sweat!

So how about you? What's YOUR favorite summer-time activity?

Working from Home- Is it for You? (Part One)

(This post is part of a continuing series focusing on home-based business startups.)
  
So does the thought of working from home seem like a beautiful dream to you? You're  probably imagining that you'll be able to get up late, dress how you like, take as many breaks as you like, have no boss at all, and most importantly, make plenty of money. In reality, it's unlikely that all of this will be true. As a matter of fact, you may not even be suited to working from home, so it's probably a good idea to think thru the pros and cons first. 

Everyday is 'Bring Your Pet to Work' day in a home office!

Here's a Few of the BEST Advantages 
(in my opinion and in no particular order)

1) No more commuting to and from work-  I really hated driving to work and if you're like me, this is going to be one of your favorite advantages. For me, it was no more driving in the snow, in the rain, on the ice, thru fog, or in bumper to bumper traffic. It's not that I think I'm a bad driver, it's all of those other knuckleheads driving like lunatics out there. I'm so glad I don't have to deal with driving everyday anymore. 

2) You get to work at a job you truly enjoy- Have you heard the saying, "It's only work if there's something you'd rather be doing?" Turning your passion into a profitable business is a great idea, just make sure there's a market for it.

3) You'll save money on lunches & shopping- I remember that one of the biggest expenses I had while working from the office was food. You get tired of packing a lunch after a while and once you start eating out, it's very hard to stop. At home you can be more creative with your lunches, and it never really feels like a 'packed lunch'. So not only do  you save money, but you eat healthier too.

4) You set your own hours-Since you are your own boss, you get to say when you will work. If you want to sleep in, you actually get to sleep in (although I rarely do this). If you want to have lunch with a friend, visit  your family or even sit and watch TV, you can. Just remember though, that if you do too much of these things and don't actually schedule time to work, you may find yourself having to get back out there and work out of the house again.

5) No dress code- You don't have to wear a uniform, a dress, a business suit, shoes or safety glasses (I HATED those). If you want to work in your robe, your pajamas or your oldest comfiest jeans, you can. Once again, YOU ARE THE BOSS.

6) A healthier environment- When I worked in the lab, I would get sick at least twice a year. Colds, flu and the like. In a group setting like that, if one person has a virus, it's almost impossible not to get it. Now that I work from home, I rarely get a cold. This saves on health costs, since I'm not in need of medications or doctor's visits as frequently, and best of all, I just FEEL healthier.

7) Less stress & anxiety- An office setting can bring about a lot of competition, gossip, nit-picking and back-stabbing amongst co-workers. This really took a toll on me both mentally and physically. You don't have to deal with this when working from home.

8) Less negative influences- Every office seems to have at least two or three individuals who take great pleasure in bringing everybody else down. (This is not to be confused with the gossiping competitiveness discussed above.) What I'm talking about here is the office complainers. You know, the ones who feel it is their duty to point out everything that is wrong with the office, the boss, other employees, and life in general. Their negativity affects the psyche of everyone they come in contact with. When you work from home, you don't have to deal with office 'parasites' like this, who can suck out your joy. 

9) A more flexible schedule- When you work in an office, you're pretty much expected to be there during certain hours. But chances are, your schedule from home is much easier to bend. If you have a doctor's appointment, or if you need to do a little shopping, it's much easier to work it in. Need something repaired? It's always convenient to meet the repairman at the house. When they tell you they'll be there between noon and 4 pm, not only is it not a big deal, but you don't lose any time from work waiting for them to arrive, (always late). 

And last, but certainly not least,

10) When you work from home, everyday is 'Bring Your Pets to Work Day'- Having worked away from home for 30 years, I've work with all kinds of people, and for the most part, I'll take my pets over most of them. (There are a few notable exceptions) My pets provide comic relief, they always like my ideas, and they're always ready to engage in conversation or play, yet they're also OK if I don't utter a word all day. 

Working from home has really changed my life. It's not for everyone, but it's definitely for ME! Stay tuned for our next post in this series. We'll do the reverse and take a look at some of the disadvantages of working from home!

Leaving the Nest

We've got baby squirrels! I  LOVE this time of year and I totally dig baby squirrels!

But here's the deal...

Is it their own reflection they're fascinated with?

This is our first Summer in the new studio and I had no idea that the little guys would be so interested in it. Heck, make that totally fascinated with the studio. At one point yesterday, there were THREE of them peeking in at me. (Unfortunately, my camera was not handy at the time.) I'm not totally sure if they can see in, or if they are looking at their own reflection.

Trying to shimmy up the pole to play in the fushia.

And since they're just babies, they don't seem to be afraid of anything yet. I can get right up to the glass, (and so can the cats for that matter) and stare right into their beady little eyes without scaring them a bit. Aren't they the cutest?

Adult squirrels of course are natural acrobats. They're like watching grace in constant motion, but baby squirrels really don't have their muscle control yet. They make LOTS of mistakes in training, although it doesn't seem to embarrass or deter them.

Is this lazy or WHAT???

And here's the best part. There really are very few things that are funny enough to make me laugh out loud all by myself, but these guys are hysterical. And for me, this seems to be just what I needed after the stress of last week. (I know cats can't laugh, but I can tell they find them pretty amusing too!)

Question of the Week #14

Question of the Week #14- Are you doing anything special for Father's Day?

Do you have as much trouble finding a good gift for the men in your life as I do?  Fathers... husbands... brothers.... Whether it's Christmas, birthdays, or Father's Day, it's always hard to find them a cool gift. 

the Gorilla Torch is 'kitty-approved'.

I don't always buy my Dad a gift for Father's Day. Personally, I have a bit of a problem with the business community telling me when it's time to get my Dad a gift. So sometimes I just call or visit or take him out to eat... especially when I can't find him a cool gadget. (I figure he doesn't need another golf shirt.)
 
But not THIS year! I was so excited when I found this cool Gorilla Torch!

It even has magnetized feet!

He's going to flip when he sees what this neat flashlight can do. First, it can stand alone on it's little tripod legs and you can point the light in whatever direction you need it. And if that's not enough, the legs are bendable, so you can wrap it around a pole or a cabinet knob and still have light wherever you need it (like in a tent, or under the sink). And here's the best part... It has little magnets in it's feet, so it can stick to metal and you can STILL have light wherever you need in, (like under the hood of the car).

If your Dad's like mine, he probably says, "Don't buy me a gift this year. I have everything I need." But here's the deal. Dad's love cool gadgets. It's in their DNA. And I get a big kick out of finding one he hasn't found on his own yet. And isn't that a whole lot more fun than another boring golf shirt?

Soooo.... What about you? Got any special plans for Father's Day ?

Feel free to share them below. Because I'm always on the lookout for the next cool gadget!

Building a Network

(This post is part of a continuing series focusing on home-based business startups.)

Ever hear someone described as self-educated or self-made? I'd be willing to bet that if you sat down and talked to those people, you'd find out how many people, institutions and mentors they had in their lives.  Because here's the deal... THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SELF-MADE WOMAN. (or man for that matter!)

Folks who have successfully launched home-based businesses are generally people who are willing to find others on the inside and are willing to develop relationships with them, to build support groups around themselves and to seek out the knowledge and experience of others. 

I've had a lot of help along the way, mentors from a great variety of backgrounds, because here's the deal about starting up a home business... There's no boss any more to turn to for advice or direction. You're flying solo. But you don't have to. Everybody needs a good reliable sounding board, a second opinion, an encouraging word or sometimes, just emotional support in order to be successful. A mentor is simply someone that has already been there and done that. They aren't perfect by any means and they've made their share of mistakes during their time. For this reason, they can drastically collapse your learning curve and if you pay attention, they can reduce the mistakes that you will  make.

So how do you build a relationship with someone who can help you or give you direction? There's really only one key thing you need to do: ASK QUESTIONS! If you don't ask questions you cannot expect to receive any kind of help or guidance. You might be surprised, but most people are actually quite flattered and are more than willing to give you a couple of minutes if they know that you are looking to them for advice, because it indicates that  you respect and look up to them. Successful people enjoy sharing their knowledge. My advice: Seek advice every chance you can- even when you don't think you need it. People love to talk about themselves and their businesses and you never know when you'll be inspired (or kicked back into reality) by a good piece of advice. 

So don't be afraid to reach out for some help and guidance in this crazy working world. I promise you won't regret it! 

Here's a partial list of the brilliant and savvy business women who have advised and encouraged me along the way. Thanks SO much!

• Henrietta Timmons of Henrietta's Handbags
• Penel Jensen of Pattern Peddlers
• Laurie Harsh of The Fabric Shop Network
• Jaime Kalvestran of ScrapBags
• Deb Luttrell of Stitchin Heaven
• Joan Hawley of Lazy Girl Designs
• Linda McGehee of Ghee's Bags

A Silly Green Frog

Did you know that Jeter has a baby? It's green , has a squeeker inside & doesn't look a thing like him. Oh I know it's really a dog toy, but don't tell Jeter, because he thinks it REALLY is his baby. How do I know? 

Here's Jeter with his baby, his little green frog.

Because here's the deal.

This particular toy used to belong to my little dog Jake and for some reason, Jeter took a shine to it. Oh he had plenty of toys of his own, but he seemed to want this little frog.

Ar first I'd find it laying in his favorite sleeping place... Or next to his food dish... Or even snuggled up next to ME in bed.

Odd.

I suspected, but could prove nothing.

Then the yowling started.

Always right after I went to bed. Sometimes waking me up from a dead sleep.It sounded so sad and forlorn.

At first, I'd leap out of bed to check on him. He sounded so pitiful.

But there he'd be, just sitting nonchalantly by the stairs, or the front door, or the couch... just blinking those beautiful yellow eyes... But always, that little green frog was at his feet.

Hmmmmm....

I suspected, but still, could prove nothing.

This went on for months.

After a while I started noticing that every time I came home, there that little frog would be, laying right by the door I had departed from.... Hmmmm

I suspected, but could prove nothing.

Until one night, I got up in the night and quite by accident, I surprised Jeter mid-yowl. I didn't have my glasses on, but I could've sworn I saw that silly frog drop from Jeter's mouth when I turned the corner...

But then again, I couldn't half see, it was dark & Jeter had that indignant "Who ME?" look on his face.

Here's Jeter hugging his 'baby'.

But it happened more & more, and after some stealthy investigating I was eventually able to piece the whole scenario together.

This is how Jeter's little routine goes.
Turns out Jeter HATES it when I leave him for ANY reason, and for ANY amount of time.

Here's Jeter playing with his 'baby'.

If he can't find me, he automatically thinks I've left him (even if I'm really just in the bathroom) and immediately finds that green frog, his baby, and takes his position at the door yowling with it in his mouth. After a while, he drops the baby at the door and goes back to bed. 

And lately, I've noticed that Jeter's gotten less and less shy about me seeing him with his baby.
Why just last week I was working in the studio late at night and I could hear Jeter upstairs starting his yowling routine.

And here's Jeter kicking his 'baby'.

I thought nothing of it until the yowling got louder and lo and behold, there he was, sashaying right up to me. And believe it or not, he dropped that silly green frog right at my feet.

And LOOK what I caught him doing with his baby just last night!!!

Lucky for me I had my camera handy and FINALLY caught him playing with that silly green frog!

Ah HA! At long last, I can prove what I suspected for so long!

Isn't he adorable?

Question of the Week #13

After two very stressful & arduous weeks, we laid my father-in-law to rest yesterday. Thank you so much for the many kind words and prayers said on our behalf. I have appreciated (and needed) every one of them. Now I find myself yearning to get back into the routine of life, and what better way to do that than getting back to our 'Question of the Week' series. I know we usually do this on Sunday, but I haven't really known what day of the week it is for some time anyway, so let's give it a go.         :)

 

The Kate B Reynolds Hospice Home- Winston-Salem, NC

Question of the Week #13-

What have you done over and over this week?

Most of you know that my father-in-law has been fighting a losing battle with Alzheimer's disease. This week he was moved to the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home in Winston-Salem, which means we made MANY trips into Winston-Salem to spend time there.

I've heard so many good things about Kate B Reynolds, and let me tell you, now that I've experienced it for myself, I have to say that it exceeded expectations. It's quiet, clean and the rooms are set up more like bedrooms than hospital rooms. No blinking, beeping monitors. There's reclining chairs and artwork on the walls. You can bring things in... like lamps and pictures,  to make it seem more like home, and the grounds are impeccable. There's plenty of family rooms and private areas where you can get away to talk, or cry or just to think. 

But the thing that really sets Kate B Reynolds apart, is the staff. Everyone is kind and considerate and seems to operate with one goal in mind, and that would be to keep the patient AND the families as comfortable as possible during one of the most stressful times imaginable. Where do they find so many wonderful people to work for them? Several times this week I've wondered what it must take to work there? Isn't it hard to be constantly surrounded by grief and sadness? It must be difficult to see people suffering in the final phases of their lives, especially when the patients are young. 

I'm convinced now, that working in a Hospice Home is really more of a calling than a job, and that there might just be a few angels on the staff at Kate B Reynolds. I could never do their jobs, and I think must be SUPER-humans! It was no surprise that they took good care of Clyde, the surprise was how lovingly they took care of US as well!

So here's to you... the staff of Kate B Reynolds Hospice Home... and to anyone else out there who serves the public good in a Hospice situation. Thank you so much!

So how about you? Is there anything you've been doing over and over this week?

A Bad Deja Vu

It feels like we're living in some kind of weird, sick dream. Wasn't it just yesterday that we were dealing with the death of my mother-in-law? And yet here we are again, on the hospice floor of Forsyth Hospital, watching...waiting...wringing our hands...  

Here's Clyde in happier time, riding kiddy rides at Carolina Beach.

My father-in-law had been in the long steady decline of Alzheimer's Disease for years, but his decline accelerated geometrically when Bub's Mom died in November. He lost his anchor, he couldn't adjust and i think he lost his will to live.

But here's the deal. I don't want to remember him the way he is now, literally a mere shell of his former self. Instead, I choose to remember him the way he was for example, in this picture (with Erica at 22 months). Let me describe him for you...

That's Clyde (aka Evil Kneivel) on left

• He was tall and thin and really quite handsome.
• He was one of those folks you couldn't help but notice when he came into a room. As a matter of fact, at our wedding, everyone said he looked just like Evil Kneivel in his white (a la 70's) tuxedo, and you know what?  He DID!
• He was very athletic. Clyde probably could have been a pro in just about any sport, (OK, maybe not wrestling), and in fact, he became a pro horseshoe pitcher quite late in life.
• He always said what was on his mind, a trait I came to appreciate very much. I always knew what Clyde was thinking. He gave us his opinion, but respected our choices.
• He would always call and thank me personally for a gift, or a home-cooked meal... even if he had already thanked me in person. Isn't that sweet?
• He always seemed oddly amused by me, yet I like to think he genuinely cared for me

All in all, Clyde's been a very good man and a very excellent father-in-law, but life just hasn't been fun for him for a long, long time. He deserves WAY better, and soon he'll be opening his eyes in a WAY better place, but I'll miss him.

(I'll be a little scarce over the next few days, tending to my family and honoring the memory of a true gentleman.)

Self- Focus

Developing a Clear Vision: Self- Focus
(This post is part of a continuing series focusing on home-based business startups.)

So what exactly is Self-Focus? Maybe it's best to start off by describing what it's not.

Being self-focused is NOT the same as being selfish- To be selfish is to care only for oneself. A selfish person might also be described as self-interested, self-centered, even narcissisitic. When we meet a selfish or self-centered person, we can feel it seeping out of their pores. It's not attractive, and it's not at all the same thing as being self-focused.

And that's because a self-focused individual is totally fixated on their VISION, not themselves. And this is an important distinction, because here's the deal. Everyone you know is NOT going to support you in your endeavor. There's going to be MANY people, even some friends and family (sad to say), that are going to feel it's their obligation, even their duty to 'help you' by telling you about their fears, and pointing out every devastating possibility that could occur if you continue down this path toward starting a home-based business. They'll remind you about the tough economy... the stiff competition...the unlikelihood of success... the many distractions. Let's call them the nay-sayers. You know the folks I'm talking about. They start their sentences with phrases like "Can I tell you something as a friend?  or  "Can I play devil's advocate for a minute?"  or  "I'm concerned for you because...."  When you hear these opening lines, RUN!... or least develop hearing loss, because there's a little lecture coming, and it's not going to be positive or uplifting. 

The self-focused individual doesn't expect or seek the support of everyone. Rather, she knows that there will be certain people who will never be supportive of her vision.  Let's face it- the nay-sayers are draining & their negativity is contagious. If you allow yourself to be side-tracked by their doubts & fears, you will lose your focus in no time and be off track.

So what's the remedy? 
1) Spend as little time as possible with those who would undermine your confidence and/or progress. If this means sharing very few details about  your business with certain individuals, then so be it. (If these happen to be close friends or relatives, this is tough, but not impossible.)
2) Seek out like-minded people to support you in the challenges you will face along the way. If would be optimum to seek out the help of a mentor, someone who has trod a similar path as the one you are walking on (but more on this in our next post).

So in closing, guard your vision. Keep the blinders handy. Remember, self-focus is vital to your eventual success and it is totally within YOUR control!