Saturday, May 16, 2009

Building Sandcastles (or how to turn my craft business around)

I can pinpoint the exact moment that things started to turn around for piddix. I was sitting at my computer in Hawaii (long story) thinking about all of the pros and cons of running my own business. Things were looking pretty bleak. Then something happened: As I was tallying up all the positives of working from home (including being in Hawaii) I decided that this is what I want to do. I committed to piddix. Even if that meant postponing student loans and eating a lot of rice while things got off the ground.

In many ways that moment of commitment was exactly what I needed. That day I taught myself a new graphic design program and started a whole new line of more modern collage sheets. I sent out my then-quarterly newsletter and have continued sending it out every week or two. And I also started doing some advertising--something that, despite my preconceptions, has actually worked pretty well for bringing in new visitors. Oh, and I threw my to-do list out the window and have instead started listening to my gut about how to prioritize each day.

Piddix is far from safe. I feel like I'm building some massive structure out of toothpicks, ice cubes and the occasional sand bag. I keep adding different parts, shoring up others, all while the tide is rising. But for the moment the precarious structure that is piddix is holding off the floodwaters--hopefully for long enough to find a long-term solution to making piddix work.

I'll leave you with a Henry Thoreau quote that was on my office wall for many years and seems especially appropriate at the moment:

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost. There is where they should be. Now put foundations under them."

Monday, May 11, 2009

Help Me Pick Colors and Win 20+ Collage Sheets

I've been having a blast coming up with new color combinations for my digital collage sheets, but some are definitely better than others. If you help me out by sharing your advice on which color combos you like best, you'll be entered to win every single one of my new collage sheets in my "birds and swirls " and "zen birds" lines (a value of more than $60).

Here's how it works:
1. Sign up for my occasional newsletter here. I'll then send you a link to a sample collage sheet with 10 different color combinations and instructions on how to pick your favorites.
2. One winner will be randomly selected and notified by May 31, 2009.
3. Plus, every person who enters will receive one free high-resolution download of the sample sheet as well.

Thanks for your help!