Creating Space - Making Time For Others

media collage print by velvet morningSometimes when we are busy we get so focused on what we are doing that we lose track of other important aspects of our life. Juggling a busy professional life and finding time to spend with others can seem almost impossible. However, if you are like me and know that making time for friends and family is important to your happiness and sanity then I suggest you meet me here every Wednesday for the next couple of months. I am making a promise to myself and to you to explore new ways to make more time and space for those I love. I'll be sharing this experience in our Wednesday Creating Space posts.

Summer for many is a natural time to slow down at work, take vacations and spend some good old healthy time outside. You probably have a few weekends booked already but perhaps you are struggling with the idea of letting go of the workload and relaxing. One of the solutions of course has to do with good old planning and time management, of course.

This can be a good time to really look at a couple months in advance. If you have some big goals for the fall or want to spend the summer also working on your winter line then set up some firm deadlines and work backwards. The big gallery opening is in November. How many additional pieces do you need to have ready? What relationships do you want to foster over the next several months to really help boost interest? Figure out how many hours of work this will entail and try to divide it into how much work needs to be done in a week to achieve your goal. This type of organization can really help with future goals, helping you to keep on track and prevent overwhelm.

So what does that have to do with making time for your family? You schedule in that time too. Scheduling in time for lazy days at the lake with the kids and knowing that you have also scheduled in time for work later can help you remain present. This allows you to reap the benefits of relaxation with those that make you happy.

I don't know very many people, I am happy to say, that don't enjoy spending days away from work and with others. I do know a few, however, that have trouble finding the time. My advice is two fold. One - fostering relationships takes time and energy. You need to understand that you have to put in effort to maintain friendships. Two - get to know what and who makes you happy. Do you feel refreshed after a brunch with your favorite girlfriends? Let them know this and try to make it happen every couple of months. Remember to try and maintain these friendships in between social gatherings too. A simple text asking "how are you?" can make someone feel incredible.

The goal here is for us all to lead more fulfilling and happier lives. Start by making a list of the things that make you happy. Who else is on that list? Keep this list in a place that you can look at it daily if need be. Make a promise to yourself and to others that you will find time to promote healthier, happier lifestyles.

A Work In Progress - Crafty Orange

Pig Cuts Tote Bag by Crafty OrangeI'd like to introduce you all to Crafty Orange, an Etsy shop that our intern Miyuki started last March and as these things go, school kept her busy and a lack of direction and focus kept her from doing much with it.

This summer Miyuki won't be in school and she'll have the extra time to devote to making something of this idea she has for a business. So over the next 3 months we'll be meeting every other week, I'll be giving her lots of homework and we'll do our best to take this idea and turn it into a business that she can continue to grow.

Miyuki has graciously agreed to let me chronicle this experience on the blog. I'm hoping it will be an educational experience for us - reading the process of taking an idea and making it into a business. Everyother week after our meetings I'll post an update on the progess she's making, the stumbling blocks that came up, and the advice that I gave her.

For now Miyuki's homework is to get as clear as she can on what she wants this business to be. I've asked her to write out in as much detail as possible what she imagines this business to be in 2-3 years time if there were no barries. In addition she is also compiling a list of at least 5 other businesses that will serve as inspirations and models for what she's trying to build.

I look forward to seeing what she hopes to build and get a clearer picture of this path that she is embarking on.

Creating Space - A Little Reading

Trying to juggle a lot this week so taking a little break today from writing. Instead, I'll share a few of my favorite recents reads.

How to Avoid Burnout and Take a Digital Break - Tiny Buddha

Dose of Mojo: Why Vulnerability is Good for Business - Miss Modish

The Urge to Purge; How to Burn, Toss, Release, Let Go - Kate Courageous

Talking About Your Business

One of the things many of our clients struggle with is talking about their businesses. It often makes them uncomfortable or they don’t know what to say. I get it, it’s something I still struggle with myself, but people need to know what you do if you’re going to grow your business. And more importantly it doesn’t get easier unless you practice.

Unfortunately, there is no magic formula to suddenly make you feel totally at ease with telling people what you do. Finding the right words to communicate your message clearly and quickly is a challenge. And what if there’s silence or a blank stare when you finish talking? Did they not get it or are they bored?

We all want to sound witty and at ease not unsure and confused, but most of us this isn’t something that comes easy. But you can get better at it simply by doing it. With practice it is possible for the words to roll off your tongue and spark conversations.

Here are a few tips for getting more comfortable talking about what you do:

1)    Have an elevator pitch

You’ve probably heard of an elevator pitch, that 30-second summary of what your business is. It may sound gimmicky, but it’s very important. If you can’t sum what you do in 30-60 seconds it most likely means you’re trying to say too much or you’ve lost your focus. Think of this as your opening sentence to spark a conversation or the movie trailer for your business.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Tell people what’s unique about what you do
• Make it exciting, passionate or catchy
• Remember to keep it simple and short
• Remember you don’t have to say everything
• Test it out on others and refine

2)    Remember why you started doing what you do in the first place

This is a surefire way to give you plenty to talk about. Remember that moment of inception, the day you thought everything was possible and you set out to create this business you now run. If you can remember that passion and carry it through to your words, whoever you’re talking to will listen simply because you’re so excited. 

3)    Have catch phrases and examples ready to go

You don’t have to memorize a script of what to say, but you should be prepared to tell people more about what you do if your elevator pitch gets them asking questions. Can you give a quick example of how you’ve helped a client or describe your work in relation to something most people are familiar with? What are the common questions that people ask? How will you answer them?

4)    Practice...

It does make perfect. Practice on a friend or spouse. Get them to pretend not to know anything about your business and have them ask any questions that come to mind. Once you’ve exhausted all your loved ones, you can say it to yourself in the mirror or even talk to people you don’t care about impressing, like your drycleaner or someone behind you in line at the grocery store.

Then when you’re at that next networking event and you get the chance to talk to the woman who owns that gallery you’d kill to be in, it will all just roll off your calm, confident tongue.

What are the hardest parts of your business to talk about? Is there always one question that makes you stumble?

Getting clear on what you do best and who your ideal customer is also helps to make getting your message across clearer. Enrolling in the Ink Yourself e-course will help you gain the confidence to talk about your business because you'll be clear on what you're offerring and how that benefits your customers. The 5-week course starts May 21st and registration is open now!

Creating Space - Making Room For Change

Change Part Three by Darla WinnI have been thinking a lot about the idea of getting rid of the old, purging from your physical space and the feelings and emotions released and discovered when doing so. As we discussed last week, it's hard. It's difficult when you have to evaluate each item to decide what to keep. Does this particular item in your studio invoke inspiration or are you attached to it due to a not so healthy emotion. Is it possible that simply removing it might allow so much room for happier and more productive thoughts?

Is it more difficult when you are forced to purge due to things out of your control? I just read this beautiful article by JR Hughes posted on the Tiny Buddha blog about her personal purge. After leaving her job and a 10 year relationship, she was also forced to leave her home. She describes her very conscientious process of the letting go of personal belongings, giving them new life by sharing with others and allowing space for change and growth. Due to our apartment building fire in December, I too was recently forced to make some very hard decisions about what was worth paying to clean and what I was just holding onto due to fear and quite possibly desperation. Maybe Hughes and my situation were different but our letting go were surely a response to something emotionally intense. Maybe a purge can be a way to control something when life itself seems so out of your control. Maybe life sends you a storm of chaos and takes things away from you so you are forced to see things in a new light.

Of course, I wish I was given the choice to let go the hundreds of books I have carried from home to home over the last 13 years. Honestly, I haven't yet come to grips with the benefits of letting them go besides the fact that cleaning them was going to cost a ridiculous amount of money and it just didn't make sense. It's a process I must go through.

What I do know is true is that if you have the ability to make the choice to let something go that is seriously holding you back, doing it will definitely open up space for something new. What it will be is part of the journey and isn't the journey the most exciting part?

Pay It Forward, Support Small Businesses

mr-little.comOne of the biggest hot button issues for handmade business owners is price. Pricing is one of the hardest issues for creative business owners. The first obstacle is realizing all that needs to be considered when deciding a price that is appropriate, new business owners almost always under price. Then once you do name a price you need to stand behind it, even if people are telling you it’s too high.

Most can tell you of at least one time they overheard a potential customer say something like, “I could totally make this myself and for much less.” It’s like a stab in the heart because it has some truth, but is also completely beyond the point.

And therein lies the biggest issue, the general public doesn’t really know nor understand what goes into deciding price, they simply see your item in comparison with others they’ve seen, often for much lower. The disconnect is the actual value, what really goes into a product made by hand, one at a time, with care and intention.

I raise this point not get into a discussion on the value of handmade, it’s a worthwhile discussion, but I believe you’re already convinced. I raise this point to remind you of your role in educating people and supporting entrepreneurship whenever you can.

If a customer scoffs at your prices try to explain to them that it includes all the extra love and attention you put into it, instead of being mass-produced by a machine. Explain the design process that leads up to the amazing item they’re holding in their hand. Explain the time you spend sourcing your materials or tweeting and posting on Facebook so that they were even able to find you. Well, maybe you keep that last point to yourself, but it is just as important.

Besides educating we must also support other small creative business owners by spending our hard earned dollars on their products and services. Think of it as good karma. If you spend the money you make selling your handmade goods on other handmade goods, you are completing a circle and making a statement about what’s important. If you take the time to consciously buy from other small businesses it comes back to you, I promise.

Lightbox SF certainly hasn’t made Shelly and I rich, but we make a point of buying from the types of businesses we work with and see as peers, even if that means spending more money. We believe in small, creative, independently owned businesses and if we want to see them exist we need to support them in the way that we hope others will support ours.

Yes, I have an ulterior motive to this post. Right now Shelly and I have one of our biggest products out there hanging in the wind and it needs a little support. The Ink Yourself e-course is open for registration and while we’ve only opened 20 spots, we still have a lot open. We’re going to run this course not matter what, but we’d like to do in a way that actually supports our time investment.

If you’re just hearing of Ink Yourself, it’s a 5-week guided e-course designed to help you realize your strengths, pull together a confident brand story, and make a bold impression on your ideal customer. Not only will we help you find your brand story, we’ll help you refine it into a clear, attention grabbing message that you can boldly put out into the world and be recognized for.

If this is something you’ve been thinking about now is the time to sign up. If it’s just not in your budget, we get it, but you can support us by telling anyone you think would benefit from the course how amazing it is.

Open Doors - In The Studio With Madeline Trait

A common theme is starting to develop with our Open Door series – super talented women with inspiring lives and studios and an ability to juggle several different talents at once. Madeline Trait is no exception. How anyone wouldn’t feel inspired after spending an hour or so with this lovely lady in a studio filled with both fresh and dried flowers – I cannot imagine.  Not only does she create gorgeous bouquets, installations and illustrations, she is a very successful business woman with an endless amount of creative ideas.

Shelly – I am such a fan of the community here at Art Explosion and your studio is so comfortable and inviting. How many hours a week do you get to spend here?

Madeline – I have been busy these days with the Banana Republic Pop-Up so about 8 hours a week. I do have quite a bit of computer work to do outside of the studio to manage the business. I also do a lot of my designs on Illustrator. I really enjoy this space though and am good friends with Molly Meng on the second floor. I haven’t been here for very long but I have had the chance to meet a good amount of the other tenants and it is nice community of people. I have given some of my flowers to a watercolor artist to paint – I like the exchange and inspiration a studio community offers.

Shelly – And the flowers…. Your studio is filled with beautiful fresh flowers and several different displays of dried ones. It’s gorgeous in here!

Madeline – This is where I arrange the flowers and I love exploring how different each one dries. During open studio everyone comments on the ceiling of drying flowers. I am thinking about doing the whole ceiling this way.

Shelly – That would be gorgeous! I also love these shadow boxes. You are sustaining the beauty by reusing – love it!

Madeline - I created several different shadow boxes and have been exploring painting flowers and buds for various different uses. I recycle and reuse whenever I can.

Shelly – Madeline you do so many different things. Could you speak to that for a bit?

Madeline – Well yes! I have the Banana Republic Pop-Up right now that has been keeping me busy and two really great clients have come from the experience. They are also discussing continuing into the holidays which would be great! Think holiday wreaths, etc.  I also work with others in collaboration called Locally Grown Weddings as their head florist. We are hired as a team for weddings. Sadie Waddington is the event planner, Chef Stephanie is the caterer, Aurora Meneghello the photographer, Pei-Yee Woo takes care of desserts and I am the florist and designer. We emphasize green business practices and I only use flowers from local and sustainable farms. As well I work as an interior design consultant and an installation artist.

Shelly – Wow, Madeline you do a lot. Amazing! And Banana is very lucky to have you. I also love the butterfly display from old soda cans that you did for Art in Storefronts. Do you plan on doing more of this type of work?

Madeline – Yes I am trying to expand this part of my business for retail and events and am exploring neighborhoods such as Valencia Street.

Shelly – Speaking of storefronts, do you ever think of having your own?

Madeline – Yes actually, I started looking but it might not be the smartest option for me. The Locally Grown Wedding team just set up space at Activespace for meetings, though everything up to this point has been collaborated together virtually and at local cafes. It will be nice to have an office space to show our work as well as a nice place where our clients can come and meet us.

Shelly – And you started all this as an architect?

Madeline – Yes I did quite a bit of work as an architectual designer and really preferred drawing the organic pieces, the trees and people, to drawing the straight lines of buildings and structures. That drove me to working as an interior designer where I worked for Orlando Diaz-Azcuy (a prominent, high end interior designer). But the economy being what it was or is caused me to be laid off. This pushed me to pursue my other passion – art, flowers and natural objects.

Shelly – I always love that story of how people get to finally work within their true passions, however hard that it may be at the time. And what are these fabulous wood veneer cut outs on your table?

Madeline – These are going to be cake toppers! I draw the floral design on illustrator and then have it laser cut from wood veneer by Pagoda Arts in Bayview.  They will wrap around the cake layers as an eco-friendly way to decorate your cake. I will be selling them on my Etsy store, The Shoppe, very soon.

Shelly –That’s an awesome idea. I would totally use those! How do you come up with all these ideas Madeline? They are endless. And the good old question – where do you find your inspirations?

Madeline – Right now I have two books that are my favorite and a great source of ideas – one is a book I picked up from Paxton Gate, Plants and Thier Application to Ornament by Eugene Grasset on floral illustrations from the 19th century and the other is on the life work of Australian wallpaper artist Florence Broadhurst.

Shelly – You’re a machine Madeline Trait, An inspiring, creative and lovely lady. Thanks for sharing your time and space.

Creating Space - Say It Out Loud!

Letting some of your closest friends and family know about your plans for a new project or adventure can definitely help bring it forward into reality. Next time you have an idea that has been floating around in your head but is stalled by fear or doubt practice this technique by telling one of your closest friends or motivating co-worker. Not only might you find the support and extra boost of confidence you need, you might even find a partner in crime.

This is how Gen and I started Lightbox SF. I was trying to find out what the hell I wanted to do with my life and I couldn't shake the idea of starting a creative collective and studio of sorts. With no idea of how to make this happen and no one in mind to help me develop the idea, I asked my good friend and crafty night partner for advice. I could have never predicted her response but she loved the idea and was all aboard. Our ideas for Lightbox have developed over time but our end goal stayed true - to help promote community and success for creative small business owners. And we both love what we do.

Also the next time fear tries to stop you from doing something new and fantastic, close your eyes and tell it to shut up. I just signed up with some of my favorite people to do the Tahoe Tough Mudder in September. It's fascinating but as I discuss how petrified I am about certain obstacles on the course, I come to realize that everyone on my team is afraid of something different. Not only am I super excited about getting really fit, I look forward to helping each other overcome our fears. Everytime I think about the tunnels and start to panic I try to remember that someone will be there to pull me through. And I try to imagine it filled with amazing flowers and a good looking fireman at the end. Whatever helps!

Ink Yourself Giveaway!!

found on pinterest via thefrenchmouseWe've held back a few spots in Ink Yourself to giveaway over the coming weeks and the first one is going to one of our very own readers. Below you'll see a widget giving you 3 chances to get your name in the drawing. Use all three options or take your chances with just one or two, whatever suits you best.

You'll also see other giveaways leading up to the opening of the course on May 21st. Our lovely friend Sonya will be running one on Kanelstrand Blog on the 9th, Jessika at oh my! handmade goodness will be posting a giveaway on the 11th, and Kerry at Handmade Success will announce hers on the 15th. Each will run for a few days and have different ways of entering, so check out the details, throw your name in the hat and hope for a little luck.

However if you want to know you've definitely got one of those 20 spots, you're always welcome to sign up right now!

And the winner is... Jordan A! Thank you all who entered.

Creating Space - The Purge

Hopefully this week we are all motivated again or still riding that spring cleaning train and ready to really clear out some space. I have some tips on how to make the big studio or office purge a lot less daunting. Summer will be here before we know it and the last thing we all want to be doing is deep cleaning our indoor spaces.

It is a hard thing for many of us to do. I love to hold on to the meaningful yet probably not so useful things and so I am not going to tell throw everything away. What I want you to do is evaluate the extra stuff that is taking up space and then find a proper place for it. You probably don't need it all of course so take the time to think about what you own and make conscious decisions about what should be in your work/creative space.

You don't have to do this alone. Inviting a diplomatic friend over to help to be a voice of reason is a great idea. Try and find the person that sits in a place between compassionate and realistic - someone who isn't going to give you a hard time or who isn't going to be too easy on you.

I also offer my services to Bay Area locals. Having a professional come in that is an outside objector but still is sensitive to the mentality of holding on is another great option. I can guide you through ways of evaluating what is and isn't necessary, help you remove items from your space that can be blocking productivity and creativity and help establish storage systems. In a few hours we can make a big difference in your productivity and well being.

If you want to get started on your own I suggest that you go into your space with 4 boxes each individually labeled with the following: to keep in space, trash (maybe another one for recycle for old papers, etc), donate and relocate. Start in one corner and try to complete that area before moving on. Try and focus on the task at hand. If you already have some storage systems in place, like boxes for power cords or instructions go ahead and place things in their proper places. But for papers and projects I find it easier to put items into the first four boxes first and then go back though and further organize later. It takes less time this way and you will have a better idea of the systems you need to put into place. Also try not to do too much at once. You set yourself up for failure this way making the job much less fun and time consuming then it need be. I suggest no more than two hours at a time.

If this all seems daunting and you live here in SF please contact me  to set up a two hour appointment. After a brief questionnaire and phone call we will set up a time for me to come to your space. During the day of the appointment, we will get ready right away.

My philosophy behind a well organized work/creative space is that the good systems, an inspiring room and a place that correctly represents who you are will lead to a clear head and confidence, more productivity and success.

If you book now until middle of June I am offering two hours in home visit for $125.00. Contact me at shelly@lightboxsf.com to get started.