The ups and downs that got me there! (How I opened my own bead shop)

Good morning! Wow, when things get moving your personal time is very sparse!  It's OK though, all for the cause!  Meeting with all sorts of people who will help me along the way. I am registering my business name with the State of Ohio!! And will reveal the incredibly awsome title as soon as I get the go ahead from the insurance guy, the lawyer, the state and who ever else wants to give me their blessing.  The most important thing I've learned......Who my real friends are.  It is amazing when your successful you have friends abundantly!  When your struggling to get your dream in motion, or when your dream becomes your worst nightmare "friends" are hard to find.  And may even abandon you completely.  Never to be heard from again.  Rest assured, this time is VERY important.  It is a great thing to find out who will be by your side no matter what.  And you also want to know who you can trust and who you can't depend on.  I have made new friends that I plan on having forever!  And I have lost friends that I feel sorry to say goodbye to.  In the end you have to do what is right for you and what will lift God up and always keep him close to your heart and mind because really he is the ONLY one you can count on to put you in the place you need to be!  Next time we will talk about yucky accounting!

The ups and downs that got me there! (How I opened my own bead shop)

Insurance people!!  Do not open a business without it!  That was the topic of my "Business Plan" meeting tonight.  You could lose every single thing you worked so hard for.  I highly suggest shopping around for a good policy.  And don't skimp either.  Know what your business is worth and also your lively hood.  You could also loose your shorts!

  I don't want to make it sound completely negative.  Lets face it!  Bad things happen when you least expect it.  I am officially one day closer to the big day.  And I have a date set to open!!  I will be revealing that very soon.  I am still getting ducks in a row.  Next time we will talk about registering my business with the State of Ohio! Yea!!

Journey to opening my Bead Shop

Happy Tuesday!  I have a wonderful piece of advice for you today!  Hiring a Graphic Designer to create a Logo for you can be anywhere fron 1000.00 to 5000.00 dollars!  That is huge when your budget is twenty bucks.

 I have a very gifted Graphic Artist in my own family (My Daughter) but getting her to do it is another article for later.  When she was in school her class created a Logo for a local small business as a part of their portfolio and for a grade.  I thought to myself, what a great idea!  I called the Joint Vocational school in my area and asked if that was an option for me.  They were thrilled!  The kids were excited and it was one thing the instructors didn't have to "force" them to do.  The were happy to do it!  And the best part.... It's FREE> I do however plan to award the winner with something.  Whether it be monetary or a gift.  These kids are working for nothing and excited to do it.  I don't want to down play the use of a graphic artist.  They can do so much more for you than create your logo.  And their assistance is invaluable.  If you are on a shoestring budget this idea is perfect!!

The ups and downs that got me there! (How I opened my own bead shop)

This is the first of many installments!  I plan to take you on my journey to opening my own Bead Shop!  You will have a play by play from beginning to end.  And maybe we can all learn from my mistakes and maybe shed a tear or two.

Right now I am writing a business plan.  Can't begin to tell you how painful it really is.  I am working with a mentor from SCORE.  He is guiding me in the right direction and as I write each section of my plan he shoots it down and I have to re-do it.  But, in the end it will all be worth it!  One word of advice......BE PATIENT!  Good things never come over night.  I'd say the most important thing I have learned is to keep your eye on the world around you.  My good friend told me that in order to think like a business woman you have to know current events and what is going on in the world around you.  Not just beads and jewelry, but what is going on in the news.  It ALL will effect your business!  See you next time!  Stay tuned for some more words of wisdom!

My "Use the Muse" entry

Just wanted to give a sneak peek at my entry for the "Use the Muse" contest!  This was the most fun I have had in a long time!!  The kit had such a diverse selection!  The Picasso style roundels were my favorite!  I added a little of my own Beadpunk flair and some polymer clay epherma.All in all I think it turned out just the way I pictured it!

Stop and Smell the Life Passing You By

How many of you hurry and rush 24/7? I know I used to. Why does it take an act of something terrible happening in your life, for you to realize life is so very short?
I find even in my own hobbies I rush to get to the next project. I hurry to finish one just so I can start something new. Oh, the rush it used to bring me. Knowing there were freshly purchased beads, still temporarily strung, and some still in their original packaging, just waiting to be used for something incredible. Something that has been on your mind for the last week or so. You just need to button up the one you are working on now. Why? Who knows. We all sometimes feel compelled to complete our task at hand. That is what we were taught as children right? Finish what you start.

My children have taught me just the opposite. It's OK mom. It is OK to take your time with each passing project. If an idea strikes you, go ahead and get started. Your others will always be there. And you may forget your fresh new idea if you wait too long.

And sometimes, just sometimes, it is OK to walk away completely and play outside!

A New Beginning

Did you know that no where in the Bible does it say to "Celebrate" Christmas? Yet every year, more and more humans spend countless hours and dollars creating the perfect holiday.
The Bible does, however, tell us to Celebrate Easter. It just hit me in my 40th year of life that I have never thought much of it. Yea, I said it. I had no idea what Easter "Really" meant.
Do you? It is a time for a new beginning. Christ died and rose from the dead so that we would know he was the one true Son of God. And everything we learned of him was true! He came to save us from ourselves.
Funny isn't it. Save us from ourselves? As humans we tend to self destruct. One day at a time, whether we plan to or not we do. We can choose to follow Christ and make it a spiritual journey filled with hope and love for one another. Or we can turn away and constantly wonder why our lives are so miserable.
Our new beginning starts with death of a Savior. He took your sin with him to his grave. And when he rose from the dead,gave you a chance to be forgiven.