Quit Your Day Job

I love reading the inspiring stories about Etsy sellers who were able to Quit Their Day Job and go it solo. I also love to see the little tips and tricks they use and how they market themselves. I especially found this week's story inspiring. When I read Michelle of Cicada Studio's story, my first thought was: Finally, there's someone out there like me trying the time to be mom, run a business and everything else in between! I also loved this little piece of honesty that Michelle shares in her story:

Mostly, I act on impulse — everything is done when the mood strikes: shipping, designing, sewing, emailing, ordering, marketing, etc. I have from 9:30-2:45 to get as much done as possible. When there's a deadline, I make it, but I'm definitely not one to be done with a comfortable time buffer — I always seem to be working up to the last minute.

Oh, thank goodness I'm not the only one like this! It feels so good to know that I'm not alone, and it's ok to NOT be perfect. I beat myself up because I try so darn hard to compartmentalize everything, as if that's possible with a 16 month old running the show! I recently shared my dilemma with a friend about my desire to find the time to focus dedicated and undisturbed amounts of time on my work, and she said "just integrate." You know, it can actually be that easy. Prep London's lunch.... send a quicky email. Stir the oatmeal....knit a stitch. I find that when I don't think about things too much, or ruminate over how to fit it all in, everything works out perfectly without effort. So maybe it's just time for me to let go of the oars, because all will work out as it should anyway. Every day is different, and there is nothing inherently existent in my day to day business activities. When I finally embrace that reality and learn to roll with it, then all will be blissful in Kara land.

Anyway, you can read Cicada Studio's story here.

I love to spend lots of time on Etsy, and have discovered some of the little tricks to getting others to see your work-- and that is to always list new items. A great example of how true this is- yesterday I posted 3 new items, and I sold 3 items! 1 of them not, even an hour after listing! The green scarf the the left is the piece that was snatched up before I could even review my listing. And get this-- when I post a new item, I share it on Facebook, and wouldn't you know it, one of my friends wanted the scarf too, and when they tried to buy it-- GONE! So guess what? I made another just last night, and fast! I like to call these moments "insansknitting."

I'm feeling a little anxious right now because I haven't posted any items to my shop yet, so I'll do things a little opposite, and share a little preview of what I'm about to post hopefully before I doze off.

This little number to the right, is a short neck "shawl" as I fondly call this scarf because it nicely rests on the neck and keeps you toasty warm and very haute couture. I love using interesting shapes and different combinations of fiber in one design. I'm really into knit-on fringe, and loops so you'll be seeing lots of that in my work these days.

I've really come back "full circle" to my free forming roots to create for the sake of creating. I've learned recently that this way of working only paves the way for more creative and expressive knitting patterns later!

Off to get my Etsy fix!