Sorry I've been MIA lately.
Lots of stuff going on personally and business-wise.
Hope to be back in the blogging world soon.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
From Creek Bank 2 Cajun Swank....
From Creek Bank…
I grew up on a creek bank in Mississippi. I spent hours swimming, making trails, riding 4wheelers and just plain being a kid in the creek. I drove my daddy’s truck in the pasture while sitting on his lap. I held my momma’s hand while she planted and picked flowers. I picked up limbs and mowed grass. I caught lightning bugs. I made necklaces from the flowers in clover patches. I ate onion grass. I rode horses. I said y’all. I sold candy at the end of the driveway. I said usta could. I made clubhouses out of nothing but sticks and leaves. I had a tire swing. I fished in Granny’s pond with a cane pole. I drank Slush Puppies with my Pawpee. I put peanuts in my bottle of Sunkist. I went to town to get groceries. I sat on the counter and ate biscuit dough while my Granny made homemade biscuits. I ate my momma’s home cooking every night. I said over yonder. I hunted with my daddy. I ate deer, squirrel, rabbit. I said britches. I shopped with my Granny. I rode my bike in the street. I went jugging with my daddy. I played board games with my momma and daddy. I went to craft fairs with Mamaw and Papaw. I had a party line on my telephone. I loved LSU. I anxiously awaited the arrival of the big family across the street for holidays. I was Baptist. I camped out. I said swanky. I ate rice and brown gravy. I shot a slingshot. I loved getting mail. I hunted Easter eggs. I field dressed a deer I had run into. I always had a pet, be it a squirrel, duck, cow, hermit crab, fish, horse, cat, dog or parakeet. I loved roly poly’s. I had the most amazing parents in the world who loved me. I had parents who were still married. I had parents who always knew where I was and who was going to be there. I said please, thank you, yes ma’am and no sir. I said everything with a Mississippi twang.
2 Cajun Swank…
I left the creek bank for the ‘real world’. Twists and turns over the years landed me in the big city of Baton Rouge. It was here that I met a little Cajun on a blind date. Four years, a wedding and a baby later, I’ve landed in the heart of Cajun country – Ville Platte, Louisiana. My Mississippi twang sticks out like a sore thumb amongst the Cajun accent. I hear “where are you from?” at least once a week. Their sentences end with a yes or no confirmation, i.e. “I’m going to the store, yeah.” “She’s not coming to the party, no.” Squirrel season is a local holiday, schools are closed. Seriously. They hang squirrel tails from their truck antennas. They speak a mixture of English and Cajun French. They eat cracklins and boudin for breakfast. They’re mostly Catholic. They eat rice and gravy with nearly every meal. Their gravy is nothing like Mississippi gravy. They pock Easter eggs, they don’t hunt them. Everyone has a nanny and paran. Their “th” is pronounced as a “d”, i.e. dat – that, der – there, de - the. They save the dishes. They put Slap Ya Mama on everything. They call everybody “cher”, pronounced “sha”. They drink beer, lots of beer. Everybody has a nickname. They have drive through daiquiri shops. Their gas stations are also meat markets. They like to talk. Everybody knows everybody. Their Mardi Gras is wearing costumes, riding on horses and chasing chickens. They eat rice dressing. They say ax instead of ask. Their grammar is all out of whack, i.e. “What time it is?” instead of what time is it. They wear rubber knee boots. They’re down to earth.
From my Mississippi roots to Cajun knee boots, there isn’t much common ground. The one thing we have in common - absolutely nothing about me or the Cajun culture could be defined as swank! And that’s just the way I like it cher! C’est bon y’all!
I grew up on a creek bank in Mississippi. I spent hours swimming, making trails, riding 4wheelers and just plain being a kid in the creek. I drove my daddy’s truck in the pasture while sitting on his lap. I held my momma’s hand while she planted and picked flowers. I picked up limbs and mowed grass. I caught lightning bugs. I made necklaces from the flowers in clover patches. I ate onion grass. I rode horses. I said y’all. I sold candy at the end of the driveway. I said usta could. I made clubhouses out of nothing but sticks and leaves. I had a tire swing. I fished in Granny’s pond with a cane pole. I drank Slush Puppies with my Pawpee. I put peanuts in my bottle of Sunkist. I went to town to get groceries. I sat on the counter and ate biscuit dough while my Granny made homemade biscuits. I ate my momma’s home cooking every night. I said over yonder. I hunted with my daddy. I ate deer, squirrel, rabbit. I said britches. I shopped with my Granny. I rode my bike in the street. I went jugging with my daddy. I played board games with my momma and daddy. I went to craft fairs with Mamaw and Papaw. I had a party line on my telephone. I loved LSU. I anxiously awaited the arrival of the big family across the street for holidays. I was Baptist. I camped out. I said swanky. I ate rice and brown gravy. I shot a slingshot. I loved getting mail. I hunted Easter eggs. I field dressed a deer I had run into. I always had a pet, be it a squirrel, duck, cow, hermit crab, fish, horse, cat, dog or parakeet. I loved roly poly’s. I had the most amazing parents in the world who loved me. I had parents who were still married. I had parents who always knew where I was and who was going to be there. I said please, thank you, yes ma’am and no sir. I said everything with a Mississippi twang.
2 Cajun Swank…
I left the creek bank for the ‘real world’. Twists and turns over the years landed me in the big city of Baton Rouge. It was here that I met a little Cajun on a blind date. Four years, a wedding and a baby later, I’ve landed in the heart of Cajun country – Ville Platte, Louisiana. My Mississippi twang sticks out like a sore thumb amongst the Cajun accent. I hear “where are you from?” at least once a week. Their sentences end with a yes or no confirmation, i.e. “I’m going to the store, yeah.” “She’s not coming to the party, no.” Squirrel season is a local holiday, schools are closed. Seriously. They hang squirrel tails from their truck antennas. They speak a mixture of English and Cajun French. They eat cracklins and boudin for breakfast. They’re mostly Catholic. They eat rice and gravy with nearly every meal. Their gravy is nothing like Mississippi gravy. They pock Easter eggs, they don’t hunt them. Everyone has a nanny and paran. Their “th” is pronounced as a “d”, i.e. dat – that, der – there, de - the. They save the dishes. They put Slap Ya Mama on everything. They call everybody “cher”, pronounced “sha”. They drink beer, lots of beer. Everybody has a nickname. They have drive through daiquiri shops. Their gas stations are also meat markets. They like to talk. Everybody knows everybody. Their Mardi Gras is wearing costumes, riding on horses and chasing chickens. They eat rice dressing. They say ax instead of ask. Their grammar is all out of whack, i.e. “What time it is?” instead of what time is it. They wear rubber knee boots. They’re down to earth.
From my Mississippi roots to Cajun knee boots, there isn’t much common ground. The one thing we have in common - absolutely nothing about me or the Cajun culture could be defined as swank! And that’s just the way I like it cher! C’est bon y’all!
Conversations with a 2 year old...
Me: "Abby, be a sweet girl. You don't want to be mean."
Abby: "I am mean."
Abby: "I am mean."
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Cheater
I completely cheated on my website!!!
I paid The Cutest Site on the Block for a pre-made template, installation, etc. So much easier and efficient than me researching and dealing with it! I feel like I've accomplished so much! My checkbook hurts a bit, but I think it will be well worth it. Now I can focus on getting more products added to my store! I mean, really, who has a store that only sells one product??!! Haha.
I paid The Cutest Site on the Block for a pre-made template, installation, etc. So much easier and efficient than me researching and dealing with it! I feel like I've accomplished so much! My checkbook hurts a bit, but I think it will be well worth it. Now I can focus on getting more products added to my store! I mean, really, who has a store that only sells one product??!! Haha.
Website Crisis
I'm all frantic, all because of a website!
I have my own domain name, but it's currently pointed at my Etsy shop.
I signed up with GoDaddy for hosting and the "site builder" so that I could have the website be my store. Well, their templates stink! No real customization that I can find. I want my own header that I've created, but can't find it.
I guess I need to start somewhere though. If I can just get something up and running, it's better than nothing. I don't find it user-friendly though.
If only I had an assistant! :)
I have my own domain name, but it's currently pointed at my Etsy shop.
I signed up with GoDaddy for hosting and the "site builder" so that I could have the website be my store. Well, their templates stink! No real customization that I can find. I want my own header that I've created, but can't find it.
I guess I need to start somewhere though. If I can just get something up and running, it's better than nothing. I don't find it user-friendly though.
If only I had an assistant! :)
Black & Gold Superbowl
I'm not much of an NFL football fan, but as a Louisiana resident, I feel it is my duty to congratulate the New Orleans Saints for making it to Superbowl XLIV!!!
I decided to play around with a little designing tonight and came up with this:
I decided to play around with a little designing tonight and came up with this:
I'm thinking of adding it to my shop as a print!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Which way is up?
My mind has been going 90mph for the past couple of weeks with so many ideas for my "store", that I can't think straight anymore! I've got so many ideas, but no time to execute. How do some of these moms juggle everything? I work from home, part time (and it's been slow lately too!), so that should be a HUGE advantage right there. My 2.5 year old goes to a babysitter 3 days a week, another advantage. Where does all of my time go? Why don't I ever have something physical to show for all the time spent reading, researching, etc? Hmm, I dunno!! Every single day I look at the clock and say "wow, how is it 9pm already?". For a week or so, I was staying up til the wee hours of the morning, but still seemed to be accomplishing nothing but creating more chaos in my brain! I worked a little on the execution part this weekend, only to learn that I'm not as creative as I want to be! :)
Here are a few of the plans that I have in store and need to work on the execution:
~ Own website as opposed to only using Etsy - Etsy is a GREAT site and starting point; problem is that it requires so much time and dedication just to get people to look at your shop, and you're guaranteed no sales. Believe me, I am dedicated, but at this juncture, I can't spend 3-4 hours a day in forums, twittering, facebooking, etc. Not to mention that I find it an inconvenience for my buyers to have to register to purchase something from me. Also, over time, their fees add up, and my buyers will feel the impact of that in my prices. A monthly fee for a website is much less. I've got the domain pointed to my Etsy shop right now until I can get something great up and running myself. I've got the hosting taken care of, just need to work with one of their pre-made templates or learn HTML to create my own. I'm thinking theirs for now!! My creative juices just aren't flowing these last couple of days, so I have no idea what I want it to look like!
~ Painted, personalized lapdesks - learned painting is NOT my strongpoint
~ Painted, personalized wall-hangings - see comment above re painting!
~ Greeting cards/stationery - time consuming
~ Fleur de lis art - hard to explain, but done on computer and still learning the program used to create them
~ Bridal "packages" of the cross prints - I had an order from a bride for some of the prints as wedding party gifts for her bridesmaids - what a wonderful idea!!! My dad mentioned it to a friend of his who owns a bridal store and she said brides are ALWAYS asking for suggestions of things to give the wedding party. I remember when I was a bride, I didn't know what to give. I wanted it to be a unique gift, something they would enjoy, not just the same ol' gifts. So, I want to create the ultimate bridal "package" that will include a framed name cross print for each bridesmaid in a gift bag with tissue paper matching the bride's wedding colors and thank you notes, designed and printed by me. Why stop there - I can also include add-ons such as ringbearer/flowergirl gifts - a personalized lapdesk with crayons and personalized coloring book. I'm stuck on gifts for the groomsmen though - I thought of a framed fleur de lis piece according to their favorite college football team, but not everyone likes college football or would like something to hang on their wall. So I'm still struggling on that idea. Anyway, this shop owner is going to display my work in her store, so I've got to get busy finishing up this "package" and brochures for her to have as well.
~ Brochures including pics, descriptions, prices of products for store - need to create other products first!
~ Postcard "coupons" to include with orders; returning customers to get 10-15% off their next order
~ Displays in local retail shops - want to get other products created to be more appealing, have brochures ready to display with prints as well
~Advertising - I want to advertise in the local paper and a few other places, but need to have all of the above executed before doing so
~ Craft shows - This is at the absolute bottom of my list for now, but something I hope to do towards the end of this year.
As of right now, I believe my part time, work at home job will carry me through June. At that point, my original intentions were to return to school for 6 weeks to obtain a certificate to begin teaching. At the end of the school year and upon passing a few tests, I would receive my official license to teach. Now, I've got my mind geared more toward CB2CS sustaining me the rest of the year, emphasizing more on craft shows near the holidays.
I kind of dove head first into this store thing and realized after I got started just what all I needed to do and kinks that needed to be worked out. I'm slowly working them out as I go. I do feel much better getting all of this out of my head for now though! Break time is over, back to my duties as wife, mom, chef, maid, etc.!
Til next time....
Janna
Here are a few of the plans that I have in store and need to work on the execution:
~ Own website as opposed to only using Etsy - Etsy is a GREAT site and starting point; problem is that it requires so much time and dedication just to get people to look at your shop, and you're guaranteed no sales. Believe me, I am dedicated, but at this juncture, I can't spend 3-4 hours a day in forums, twittering, facebooking, etc. Not to mention that I find it an inconvenience for my buyers to have to register to purchase something from me. Also, over time, their fees add up, and my buyers will feel the impact of that in my prices. A monthly fee for a website is much less. I've got the domain pointed to my Etsy shop right now until I can get something great up and running myself. I've got the hosting taken care of, just need to work with one of their pre-made templates or learn HTML to create my own. I'm thinking theirs for now!! My creative juices just aren't flowing these last couple of days, so I have no idea what I want it to look like!
~ Painted, personalized lapdesks - learned painting is NOT my strongpoint
~ Painted, personalized wall-hangings - see comment above re painting!
~ Greeting cards/stationery - time consuming
~ Fleur de lis art - hard to explain, but done on computer and still learning the program used to create them
~ Bridal "packages" of the cross prints - I had an order from a bride for some of the prints as wedding party gifts for her bridesmaids - what a wonderful idea!!! My dad mentioned it to a friend of his who owns a bridal store and she said brides are ALWAYS asking for suggestions of things to give the wedding party. I remember when I was a bride, I didn't know what to give. I wanted it to be a unique gift, something they would enjoy, not just the same ol' gifts. So, I want to create the ultimate bridal "package" that will include a framed name cross print for each bridesmaid in a gift bag with tissue paper matching the bride's wedding colors and thank you notes, designed and printed by me. Why stop there - I can also include add-ons such as ringbearer/flowergirl gifts - a personalized lapdesk with crayons and personalized coloring book. I'm stuck on gifts for the groomsmen though - I thought of a framed fleur de lis piece according to their favorite college football team, but not everyone likes college football or would like something to hang on their wall. So I'm still struggling on that idea. Anyway, this shop owner is going to display my work in her store, so I've got to get busy finishing up this "package" and brochures for her to have as well.
~ Brochures including pics, descriptions, prices of products for store - need to create other products first!
~ Postcard "coupons" to include with orders; returning customers to get 10-15% off their next order
~ Displays in local retail shops - want to get other products created to be more appealing, have brochures ready to display with prints as well
~Advertising - I want to advertise in the local paper and a few other places, but need to have all of the above executed before doing so
~ Craft shows - This is at the absolute bottom of my list for now, but something I hope to do towards the end of this year.
As of right now, I believe my part time, work at home job will carry me through June. At that point, my original intentions were to return to school for 6 weeks to obtain a certificate to begin teaching. At the end of the school year and upon passing a few tests, I would receive my official license to teach. Now, I've got my mind geared more toward CB2CS sustaining me the rest of the year, emphasizing more on craft shows near the holidays.
I kind of dove head first into this store thing and realized after I got started just what all I needed to do and kinks that needed to be worked out. I'm slowly working them out as I go. I do feel much better getting all of this out of my head for now though! Break time is over, back to my duties as wife, mom, chef, maid, etc.!
Til next time....
Janna
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