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Passion is Over-rated!

Passion is quite frankly over-rated. I am really down on passion these days. Passion is a flash in the pan, a moment in time never to be attained again in precisely the same way.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/153674550/taylor-hanson-passion-chalkboard

Now that I have your attention I will say that following your passion in business is over-rated. So  are the statements “create what you love and you will do great in your artistic life”, “be true to yourself”,”be who you are”. All of those statements are truthful to a point but the real truth is that  unless you put old fashioned HARD WORK you aren’t going to make it. Hard work is what keeps you making that one item the hundredth time. Hard work will keep you creating when you are tired and worn out. Hard work and not passion is what keeps musicians practicing in tiny rooms for hours at a time. Passion might put them in the room but hard work is what keeps them improving and practicing for long hours with no audience.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/109005760/kevin-durant-basketball-inspirational

“Create what you love and you will do great in your artistic life”. Hmmm, where do you think the term starving artist came from?  If you are doing your art or craft to pay bills, you might have to compromise your vision with what the people will buy. It is a terribly tiny line that you walk between earning money and following your dream. Somewhere between your dream and reality lies the middle line. Your job as an artist is to find a middle point that fulfills you as an artist and provides a living. At least until you have made a name for yourself. I know that there are people that will disagree with this, but if you are going to spend time and money creating, then you need people to buy your items to finance more creating. What do you think?

 

Talk to you later,

Karen

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Google Analytics…help!

Help! I have had Google Analytics for years and have never really understood what I was doing. Here are some websites that should help you understand what it is and what an incredible FREE tool it is!

This list covers a bunch of tutorials, explanations, videos and blog posts about using Google Analytics.

http://blog.kissmetrics.com/50-resources-for-getting-the-most-out-of-google-analytics/

http://www.designsponge.com/2013/03/biz-ladies-how-to-use-google-analytics-data-to-grow-your-business.html

http://www.movements.org/how-to/entry/analytics-tools/

 

I hope that it helps you understand a bit more about Google Analytics. Evidently, I haven’t even scratched the surface  of the information available in Google Analytics much less used any of the tools. I know so little about it. I have just been using it to find out where people are coming from to find my Etsy shop or this blog.

I am going to have to change all of that. This looks like another item to put on my To Do list.

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

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Sweater Frogging…

Sweater frogging not to be confused with hunting frogs or knitting tiny sweaters for frogs, can be a great stress reliever.

When I started frogging sweaters for the yarn. I found Dawn’s blog to be the best description of how to do it. http://dawnprickett.blogspot.com/2008/01/recycling-sweaters-for-yarn.html  She has very clear pictures and great descriptions of what to do. The only things that I changed when frogging my sweaters.

  1.  I do not have a swift to unravel the yarn onto. I use the back of a chair as my swift. It works great and holds my yarn for me as I unravel.
  2. I also did not tie the yarn with a figure eight tie. I wish I had, my yarn was rather tangled after washing.
  3. I used Dawn dish soap to wash the yarn and I frogged 100% cotton sweaters.I wanted the yarn as clean as possible before I start using it.

This is the red and white yarn being rinsed.

The yarn drying out on the clothes line.

 

Here is the yarn in new scarves!

IMG_2928-001

A great way to recycle old sweaters.

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

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Christmas GIfts #2 Toys

I love giving and receiving homemade Christmas gifts. It just seems to add a little more heart to the season. It also means that I don’t have to spend time driving around trying to find the perfect gift.

Here are some wonderful handmade toys!

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/newborn-guinea-pig

https://www.etsy.com/listing/167137792/crochet-pattern-bowling-crochet-toy

https://www.etsy.com/listing/100400839/crochet-toy-pattern-ice-cream-amigurumi

https://www.etsy.com/listing/128879584/amigurumi-pattern-for-crochet-toy-of

These are so cute that no words are needed!

I hope that it inspires you to create something wonderful for the children in your life!

Karen

 

 

 

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DIY Granny Stripe Scarf Pattern!

Here is my newest pattern for the super easy and fun Granny Stripe Scarf! I am having so much fun writing patterns.

Granny Stripe Scarf, Easy crochet pattern for beginners

It is available here at craftsy: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/accessory/granny-stripe-scarf/78677

and here on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/172057966/winter-scarf-pattern-crochet-granny

Make your own in your own favorite color combinations. This pattern is perfect at using up small half skeins of yarn. Here are a few I have made over the years!

Granny Stripe Scarf, Easy beginner crochet pattern

Granny Stripe Scarf, Easy beginner crochet pattern

I had great fun writing this pattern and I hope you have fun crocheting lovely scarves for your family.

The Yarn

People have been asking me what yarn brand I used in these photos. These scarves were all crocheted using Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice. The exceptional bright colors and easy care yarns are perfect for this pattern.

I have included affiliate links in this post and will receive a small percentage of any purchase you might make.

See you later,

Karen

 

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Snowflake Patterns

We are facing the first possibility of snow this year and it puts me in the mood for lacy snowflakes. I made snowflakes as Christmas gifts to my friends when I was a teenager. I will have to see if I can find the pattern. It was one printed in the newspaper but there are many patterns for snowflakes on the internet. Here are a few. I have given credit to the page I found them on and most of them are pinned to my crochet board on pinterest.

http://flowergirlcottage.blogspot.ca/2013/11/easy-crochet-snowflake-pattern.html

http://flowergirlcottage.blogspot.ca/2013/11/easy-crochet-snowflake-pattern.html

http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/crochet-snowflake.html

http://www.michaels.com/Snowflake-Sugar-Cookie-Scarf-(Crochet)/39001,default,pd.html

http://cultofcrochet.wordpress.com/2012/01/08/giant-january-snowflake/

http://www.marthastewart.com/270488/crocheted-snowflakes

http://homelealass.com/2013/12/01/let-it-snow-christmas-ornament-free-crochet-pattern/

http://www.beginner-crochet-patterns.com/snowflake-crochet-pattern.html

There are a few to get you started. I think I will try a few this weekend, unless we get snowed or iced in. I have some errands to run before the storm hits. Have fun! Do you have a favorite snowflake pattern. Please share it in the comments as I would love to make some more for our Christmas tree.

Karen

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Resilient, Robust or Anti-Fragile?

The great thing about having facebook is the links that people post are often interesting. This one really spoke to me, in fact it spoke so much that I have asked for the book for Christmas. It talks about the opposite of being fragile or Antifragile. The book is Antifragile:Things that Gain from Disorder is written Nassim Nicholas Taleb. I am taking my understanding of Taleb’s book from this website; http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/12/03/beyond-sissy-resilience-on-becoming-antifragile/

The article discusses the opposite of fragile. They discuss the fact that the opposite of fragile isn’t robust or resilient. As being Anti-fragile should put you ahead of where you started before the bad time happened. Instead of breaking during stressful personal or business times we should become stronger.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/113298492/inspirational-quote-coastal-art-surf

I have come through a time recently when I felt very fragile and I am continuing to feel fragile. So this concept is very attractive to me from a personal standpoint and as a small business owner.

The article touches on how large often equals fragile due to red tape, an inability to swiftly react to market changes, or icebergs in the case of the Titanic.  It talks about being optimized to make use of every resource. In my case it would be a calendar with no extra time for the daily life occurrences that happen ie a flat tire, a sick child, medical emergencies that all play havoc with our calendar, budget and life.  People try to reduce this randomness in life by planning it out. An example of this in real life are parents that try to keep their children from experiencing small hurts like Johnny doesn’t want to play with Jimmy. The author states that stress strengthens us and removing stresses from our children’s lives weakens them.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/113650600/inspirational-quote-though-she-be-but

Resilience or the ability to bounce back while a great ability to have is useless if you do not grow from your experience. Growing means that you have moved beyond randomness or become anti fragile.

The great news is that Taleb feels that being small is great for being antifragile! Small business are more able to change direction.

You really should read the rest of it and gather some great insight but here are some insights that I gathered from this article.

1. What doesn’t kill your small business should make it stronger. Will you learn from your mistakes? Change your focus if it is needed!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/123845997/i-refuse-to-sink-nautical-anchor-art

2. Have a back up plan! Having more than one critical piece of equipment isn’t a bad thing, for my business this would be to have more than one sewing machine that works well.

3. Add some stress to your life!  You can do this by changing your work schedule, or how you do things. See if there is a new way to do what you have always done. Stress strengthens you as it forces you to change.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/159592978/rough-days-inspirational-quote-print

4. Play it safe and also take risks. In a small retail business this might be continuing to sell your best selling items while you learn a new skill or sell something else just to see how it goes.

5. Don’t take advice from someone that doesn’t also do what you do.Why would you take advice from someone that doesn’t also run a small business?

6. Reduce the negatives. Remove things that are detracting from your business or life. Do you have bad habits or debt? Get rid of the debt and work on the bad habits.

7. Keep your options open. So,keep some money in the bank for the slow times. If your best selling item stops selling then stop making it and move on.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/163272244/custom-inspirational-quote-print-she

I am excited to get to read this book as it reinforces what I have always known; What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger! We just have to decide that we are going to grow from what has happened and move forward or in a completely different direction.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/157913517/typography-art-print-life-is-like-a

This poster just says it all! I’m off to change my focus, add some stress, and finish some things up!

See you later!

Karen

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5 Years!

Chocolate Dog Studio has now been open for five years! It has been a wonderful, exciting, stretching time. I have made many good friends through ChocolateDogStudio and sold many items. The shop has gone from one sale in 2008 to 1369 in 2013. It is time for me to thank the people that have made Chocolate Dog Studio what it is today. So this weekend I am offering Free Shipping on all orders $20 and over, even to the EU! Just use this coupon code 5yrsale  when you  check out. There are no limits to how many times you can use it this weekend.  I am excited with the new direction that the studio is taking and can’t wait for the next years to fly by!

Here are a few of the items I have sold over the years…

5 Years!

A knit and crochet shawl, some gift tags

5 Years!

A set of magnetic clothespins,

5 Years!5 Years!

A knit child’s purse and a crochet blanket…

5 Years!

Thanks so much for your support! I could not have done this without the support and patience of my family and friends.

Karen Stewart

 

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10 Myths About Improving Your Small Business

 

Myth 1. Read about how to improve your business.

Reading is great but simply reading won’t improve your small business. You need to apply what you read. It is pretty simple. Just pick one thing and work on that.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/120895893/miniature-book-kit-and-tutorial-makes

Myth 2. Find someone successful and watch them.

Watching someone successful will simply show you what they did to become successful. It won’t necessarily give you the answers or help you grow your business. Watching someone else might encourage you and give you some ideas or hints of what to do. It might point you in a direction and give you some ideas, but what really matters is are  you working in your business every day!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/122528488/weekly-business-planner-editable

Myth 3. Focus all your energies into one area of your business, good designs, or incredible artwork. None of this will matter if you can’t get your items shipped on time. You can only keep your business afloat by keeping people happy with your product.

Myth 4. Get Awesome Photographs

Good Photographers are just that; GOOD at what they do. They can make us look magazine worthy but make sure that  your product is as awesome as the photographs say. The flip is also worthy of mentioning. Bad photographs can make any product look shabby when it isn’t.

Myth 5. You can add Packaging costs into Shipping!

People aren’t stupid and charging more than it actually costs to ship the item is wrong. Put the packaging costs into the cost of the product.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/152476224/kraft-tissue-paper-25-sheets

Myth 6.  Emails don’t matter.

If someone takes the time to e-mail you about an item do your best to respond in a timely manner. The product happiness meter starts running when they first contact you about the product. You have to follow it all the way through to the end of the transaction- when they leave feedback. It is also just plain good manners.

Myth 7. Using Recycled Packaging is a Great Idea!

It is a great idea if your shop is all about recycling and being good to the environment then by all means recycle the packaging. If your shop isn’t into recycling and you don’t tell folks up front when they are ordering, then you probably shouldn’t recycle packaging. Keep it neat and clean looking. Who is your competition and how do they send items? Bottom Line: You need to tell people that you use recycled packaging!

Myth 8. Write your Listing and Post it Quick!

Write your listing and then wait 24 hours and then read it again, this time checking for inaccuracies. I really need to follow this piece of advice for my own shop. I tend to get in a rush to put up new items and forget to let the listing rest, so I can check my grammar, spelling, and all the tags, titles and measurements. This will get you into trouble and tends to look unprofessional.

Myth 9. Find a Great Idea and Do it Again!

Be yourself and follow your own path! Plain and simple, don’t be a copycat. If you are a seller of handmade goods, then make sure that your items are different from everyone else’s in some way. Make your shop stand out!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/127900872/be-who-you-are-awesome-printable-poster

Myth 10. Claw Your Way to the Top!

If someone goes out of their way to be nice to to you, promote your business, do a blog post about your business, give you pointers or point you in a different direction, Write them a thank  you e-mail, or do something nice.  A little kindness can go a long way and they will remember you later. Simply being a nice person goes a long, long way. At some point rising above the crowd, being a person of your word and being kind will come back to you.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/115664072/chalkboard-thank-you-card-printable

I hope these help you. It sure did help me to write these things down.

 

I am off to work my business.

See you later,

Karen

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Finding Inspiration

Inspiration can be as difficult to find as creativity. I think they are so closely linked that it is impossible to separate the two. What inspires you to do the creating that you do? What lights  your creativity? What do you find inspiring?

Finding Inspiration

Sometimes it is nature or the lack of a jingle in my wallet, sometimes it is a blinding illumination when it seems the angels sing, and sometimes it is just a feeling of contentment that I am on the right track. If I were to pick which flash of inspiration I like best, you and I both know that we prefer the blinding flash and angels in a choir above my head. Occaisionally,the creative work can become to feel like drudge work. So how to keep that flash of inspiration coming? How do you keep your creating fresh and new?

I have to take a break from work and get outside for that inspiration to keep coming. I have to be on the hunt for new ideas and color combinations. Like in my Aunt’s needlework from the 70s. I love the wildly bright colors in it. Keeping my eyes open and off of Pinterest can come closer to guaranteeing  that my work is more original and less  “same song, second verse a little bit louder and little bit worse”.

Finding Inspiration

Sometimes my inspiration comes from something as simple as pulling all the yarn out.

Finding Inspiration

Today is a rest day and I have other things to do…which means that I will be inspired everywhere I turn!

I want to know what keeps you inspired and your creativity flowing?

Karen