Monday, June 29, 2009

Etsy store

Okay...I did it! It's now open!! I've openned my Etsy store and posted several items that I've made recently. I still have many more to post though.


Here are a pair of Zebra print flip flops modeled by my daughter!!


Please visit my Etsy store at www.CottageOCrafts.etsy.com
I'm also going strong on the candle business. I encourage anyone who has dreamed of owning there own business (man or woman) to check out my website with Scent-Sations, Inc. This is a fabulous way to start a home business. The support has been amazing. It's fun and something to be proud of too! I'm striving for the $10K per month mark. No kidding, I know people in the business who are making that kind of money after only being in the business 2-3 years.
If you'd like more information, please visit www.Flames4Dreams.info
Now only two more weeks until the next Bay City Texas Market Days. Gotta get movin'!
Bye for now.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Opening my Etsy store

I'm in the process of opening my Etsy store. And, yes, I'm still a distributor for Scent-Sations, Inc. (visit my website at http://www.flames4dreams.info/) So far I've found things to be relatively easy on Etsy. And that really says a lot coming from the MAJOR technologically challenged!! I've made a vow though to improve upon my technical/computer/internet skills. I already have a Paypal account so once I list some of my items I'll add the Paypal account. As soon as I'm fully open, I'll post the link to my store! Here are a couple of items that will be in my store:


I sold this Patriotic Ribbon Wreath last weekend at the Bay City Texas Market Day!
















Here are some other wreaths I've made:

I really like this website...it has lots of projects that are easy to make! www.homemadesimple.com



Monday, June 15, 2009

Another summer day

This morning I reviewed Career Builder and Monster as well as the Houston paper to look for another accounting position....requirements for unemployment. Nothing really turned up this morning in that arena. I should hear back by Wednesday as to whether or not I'll be called back for a second interview at a company that I interviewed with last week. Keeping two things in mind, our family finances and knowing that I won't have to go back forever, are the only two things that get me over the sick feeling of going back to Corporate America.


So, on to happier business. I took the kiddos to the pool for a couple of hours today. The pool will pretty much be our vacation this summer. They're old enough now that I can sit out and read a bit. I'm reading "Thou Shall Prosper" by Rabbi Daniel Lapin. Great book. I recomend it and many of you probably know that it's also recomended by the famous Dave Ramsey. It's motivating for someone who wants to start their own business.


I'll be working on two new wreaths later today and probably tomorrow as well. I'm putting together a Texas A&M and a Univ. of Texas fabric wreaths...well two of each. I've got to finish preparing for the Bay City Market Days taking place Saturday, June 20th. If you're in the area, stop by!! This will be our first time at the Bay City Market Day. I'm sure it will be quite hot. I wonder how many crafters will be there?


Sarah helped me to take several pictures of the wreaths, flip flops and garland earlier today. I'll get those posted by tomorrow's entry.
This is one of our cats, Wolfie.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Welcome to my blog!




Hello out there!


Although I've worked for many years in Corporate America, I've still considered myself "technologically challenged". So starting my own blog is a HUGE step for me.

I have been married now to Rick, my best friend, for twelve years. I am a mother of two beautiful, yet challenging, children. Sarah is 8 and Ricky is 7. I was let go from my Corporate America accounting manager position at the beginning of this year. It's now mid-June and I have still not yet landed a new position. I know that there are many, many folks out there that can relate. Luckily, my husband has had steady work. If it weren't for that, we'd be wiped out. After the initial shock of the whole thing, I began to see the many opportunities that I was given. I've enjoyed taking my kids to school, walking them home, eating dinner and doing homework at reasonable times in the evening, and being Team Mom for my son's baseball team. I've never been able to do any of these things in the past and I absolutely love it.
In an attempt to find ways of earning money from home so that I don't have to spend the rest of my life in the Corporate America rat race, I searched the Internet for home based businesses. After researching and researching some more, I came across a company that teaches people how to open their own candle business - they are the maker of the cleanest burning/best smelling natural wax gourmet candles in the world. I LOVE candles. And this debt free company won me over instantly. There is so much potential to earn more money that I ever thought possible!! So I became a distributor. I've sold my candles to family, friends, neighbors, and I take them to various shows and trade days in the towns around Houston. I'm beginning to take the next step of building my own team of distributors - people like me to truly enjoy being home with their families and living by their own schedule. If you're interested in learning more, my candle website is: http://www.flames4dreams.net/ You can also sign up for a weekly drawing to win a 16oz jar candle!!
Although I love and have fun with my candle business, there's always been something else that I have loved to do and had a knack for...crafting. I've always loved to tinker with projects like homemade gifts. Usually the easy kind, like cross-stitch, or especially the no-sew fabric projects. So over the last couple of months, I've started projects like decorating flip-flops (my daughter loves them!) for kids as well as women. I've had some Oooos and Aaahhhhs and a few buyers. Then my wheels began to turn faster and I started other fabric projects, like Wreaths and Garland. I've also kind of leaned toward the Prim/Americana decor as well, so my projects (the wreaths and garland) reflect this type of taste. I also like the Cottage decor too. The more I think about going back to work, the more I think about how I can take these other interests of mine and make them work for me and my family!! Yes, I am an accountant, but I also have a right side to my brain!! So, I applied for a Sales and Use tax number and sent off for my DBA registration. I was told at the bank that you have to register for a DBA with the county before you can open a business checking account. I'm so excited about this I can't sit still. I'm usually up until very late at night working on my projects after the rest of my family has gone to bed.
The name of my business? The Crafty Cottage!! You'll be the first to know my craft business website as soon as it's available!
I know it will take a while to get off the ground...but I am willing to do whatever it takes to make this happen. My mother tells me that since I've been home, I don't seem as "angry" anymore. I never realized that I was taking out all of my work-related stresses out on my family that much. I owe it to my family and to myself to succeed in my new business. My ultimate dream is to have my own store where I can sell my homemade crafts as well as the Mia Bella candles! I want to give others the joy that I have found in crafting and the opportunity to have their own home based business.
I hope you will join me in my journey and be there with me the day my dream comes true! I'd love to hear from those of you who can relate to my story as well as those who have started or plan to start their own crafting business.
Take care, Lisa