Moving...

My blog has moved to: http://tiialinartcraftdesign.blogspot.com... This is also doubling as my online spot until I have my full site ready! Thanks for stopping by and I see you there!

Farmer's Market

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?

First and foremost I want it to grow. I don't mind slow growth, as long as it's growing. At this particular time, I am limited as to what I can do to move things forward, but I take every step I can. I have expanded to selling at the local farmer's market here in Ogden. I also expand my line. I have new designs and ideas in my head that can't wait to be tangible. So getting as many of my ideas out and made is a priority for me. I am trying to invest as much into building my dreams as I can.

Name your top five books, movies, musicians, and websites besides Etsy.

I don't have specific books that I like. I am more about genres and authors.

But my top 3 authors are Nora Roberts, Kate Jacobs, and Debbie MaComber. Two of my favorite genres are Crochet and Knitting books (especially stitch dictionaries) and cook books (especially vegetarian ones, or ones with recipes that can be easily adapted to vegetarian)

Movies are hard for me because I am not much of a movie watcher. The ones I do tend to enjoy the most are kids flicks:

1- Cars

2- Up

3- Ice Age

4- Madagascar

5- Harry Potter (all of them)

Music.. this one is hard because I love music. I like stuff all across the board.

In no particular order:

1- Breaking Benjamin

2- Garth Brooks

3- Tool

4- Three Days Grace

5- ATB

Websites I frequent most outside Etsy.com:

1- Facebook

2- Twitter

3- Ravelry

4- The following blogs: mkcarroll, sixoneseven, and novamade

5- ebay

Logo

Introducing my business logo!
Yes, I designed it all on my own, and I made it using the news skills I learned from school.
(c) tiia lin 2010.... If anyone wants a logo designed just let me know.

Walk us through your typical workday.

• I'm awake. What more do you want?
• The normal song and dance of getting ready for the day.
• Get my laptop and check my emails, update my facebook, twitter, usually my blog, play on etsy for a little while. 
• Lunch Break!
• Throughout the day I work on projects, designs, homework, housework, paper work, daydream, think, and what have you.
• Dinner or school or work.
• Before bed I work on something, get on my laptop again, or just rest. 

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

At the present time, I am still working 4 to 5 days a week at a local bar, where I'm an entertainer. I'm also getting my degree in Graphic design. Most importantly is raising my daughter. She is absolutely my number one priority. My day usually entails watching plenty of kid's shows and snuggle time, broken up with internet surfing, and other miscellaneous happenings. I'm love to cook, shop and go for walks. I daydream about traveling. I love the Travel channel, Food Network, and Discovery Channel for my TV time.  For the most part, making things is my favorite thing, so that's what I do every chance I get. I'm really a homebody. I guess I'm pretty much in nesting mode permanently.  I do love to eat out though, love checking out local restaurants. Luckily, I'm active enough to eat what I want. Although, I do eat ridiculously healthy.  My life is pretty simple and not really any different. I forget to put things away. I like to make the mess. I hate to clean up the mess. I brush my teeth. I think all the time. I doodle and ponder. I fiddle with things. I laugh because I think I'm funny. And because my daughter is funny. I lose my keys. I do laundry. I walk into rooms and forget why I walked in there. I eat. I sleep. I dance. I craft. I love.

How did you originally get into the business of making things?

I don't think I ever not made things. I remember always being into something. The flour in the kitchen, my mom's make-up, the recycling, sometimes even the garbage. I firmly believe that idle hands are the devil's play things and arts, creativity, and crafting kept me busy.  My brain is always going. Thinking up new designs and projects. I learned over the years that my creativity is best used in knitting, crochet, fabric, paper, and jewelry. I had to do something with all the stuff I love making. There was so much of it! I found etsy a few years ago when I got back in to crafting after my daughter was born, and loved the ease of use, affordability, and overall vibe of it. Hopefully this will turn full time, especially with my expanding not only my line, but exposure by attending craft shows and the local farmer's market.

A bit about myself.

I am a mom, first and foremost.
I am completely socially inept.
I think I'm hilarious.
I talk fast when I'm excited, angry, nervous, or just cause.
I love to hang out at home.
If it weren't for school, work, and errands, I'd be a hermit.
I make things.
Correction, I love to make things.
I am a Graphic Designer.
I do have OCD and ADD tendencies.
I am stubborn, but compliant when I want to be.
I rock out to the beat of my own drum.
I stand out the most by being myself.
I work more than I play.
I'm a non-conformist who conforms when it suits me.
I love tattoos.
I want to save the world, but only the parts I like.
I love twitter and blogging.
I am starting my own business because I work better WITH people than FOR people.
I prefer my toast dark with cream cheese, peanut butter or butter.
I love vegetables.
I love tofu.

And the story for today is

I don't really know if there is much to tell. I am busy this week. I've had 3 dance practices this week so far, a rehearsal today at 6, with show scheduled for 10pm or 11pm. I'm bartending at a banquet dinner Saturday. And I don't know whether or not there is another practice on Sunday, since we now have 2 shows set for December at the new studio location. Oh, and I need to squeeze in homework that's due Monday. At the moment though I'm sitting at Great Harvest Breads sipping mocha coffee on 25th St with my daughter wandering around in her pumpkin costume. There is random music playing that I've never heard of. I'm sitting at a table shaped like a peach half with high backed wood chairs. It's kind of chilly in here actually. Probably a reflection of the declining temperature outside. I should get going soon, but I don't think I want to yet.

I'm hoping to get some photos posted up here soon, but I need to get a new USB port or burn the photos onto a CD before I can upload them.... maybe get a data port? I know I need a new mouse.  My Mac doesn't have a slot for a compact flash card.

Daring to dream

I'm not greedy, I just want to do everything. I want to own my own businesses... that's right plural. I love variety, and get bored very easily. I'll tell you more as I get them going.....

Where do I go from here?

I've been asking myself this a lot lately. How do I make a living from my hodgepodge loves? I don't do well in any normal 'job'. I want to write more.... but I can't even really formulate the words to say what it is that I'm feeling. I need time to think, but can I afford it? I'm up in Boise again this weekend... leave tomorrow morning-ish.

Ramblings

When did I post last? I don't even know. A few things have changed. I no longer work at Club Wet, and I'm going to Boise to work tomorrow. I actually may end up dancing there more often. It's a drive, but I like the energy up there, plus the place I want to work at down here has crazy scheduling demands that would seriously conflict with what I have going on (or not).

I am part of a brand new Burlesque/Dance group called Taboo. weare based out of Adult Dance and Fitness. I'm so very thrilled by how much we already have done, and what we are working on, but we are looking for fund raising ideas. And other help.

I've started a new store on etsy.... handmadebyrouge.etsy.com it's not stocked yet (go figure), but I also haven't finished everything with it.

Garden

Pictures from my garden: Mind you my hubby does most (all) of the work, but it's still mine.





Hopefully these tomatoes will bear fruit!

Be Brave

Be brave enough to follow your bliss. I'm learning to do this even if it's in secret. Which it very much is at this point. Only 2 people knows really what I'm planning to do. And neither is my husband. I haven't told him because I'm afraid if I tell him I'll chicken out. I'm not going to tell you either. Fear of rejection or going completely unnoticed are very prominent, but the only real ramification is that nothing will change. And that really isn't bad. I could go on just as I am, but if I have the chance to chase down the dawn and realize something... why stand still? I know not everyone is meant for things like fame or money or even a happy ending, but I have to the feeling that I'm meant to do or be a part of something so much bigger than myself. I can't shake it, believe me I've tried. I love my life, but something.... just something.

Sinking in...

It's starting to sink in that I won something (even if it was only second place).

My friend who owns the pole dance studio and regular dance studio that I go to (Megan Burroughs) was recently interviewed by a local newspaper. She explained that women come into her studio looking for the feeling of sexy. This struck me, probably cause I never asked myself if I was looking for the same thing. The answer.... yes, but not so directly. I look for it in knowing I'm what I am capable of.. physical, mentally, emotionally, not from the direct feeling of being desired. I feel sexy after I get tattooed. I feel it when I'm dancing, because I'm in control. And of course when I mak-out with my husband. It's great to know you're desired... putting lustful thoughts in a man, but I don't live off it. I think people who are facsinated by women in the adult industry because it's so uncommon for women in the 'real' world to be open sexually. Women for centuries have been told that we're not supposed to enjoy sex. Or talk about it. Or that our needs aren't paramount. A woman who is comfortable enough with herself to expose that part of herself is a big deal. I'm not saying that I am free of insecurities (believe I'm not) but I accept myself as a whole.... if not all the parts. Sex is healthy. Wanting it, being comfortable with it, expressing it is OK. That's part of the reason why I can do my job. The other part to that is that I am married. You might wonder, "Why would that help?" Because I'm not seeking approval from men, I have a husband who is man enough to let me be myself. That's powerful, and fulfilling. He doesn't hold me back.. he let's me dream my dreams, talk my big talk, plan my sometimes fantastical plans and smiles all the way... or maybe he's laughing at me.... at any rate, he let's me be. I love him more for it. No one else has ever encouraged me like he has. I hope he knows how much that means to be. I don't think any woman should go into any part of the adult industry if you're uncomfortable or highly insecure with yourself. Confidence is the sexiest thing you can have.

School or not to school.

Several of the girls at work are in school and I think I want to go, but then I don't. I question my patience and my discipline to go. I've started and stopped traditional college 3 times. I wonder if an accelerated program would be to my benefit, but can I afford it? (not really) Do I have time? (if I cut out everything else) And of course I must consider what to school in. I what I love, but how do I school in it, in a way theat will get me from start to finish. I love being creative and making things, but I don't know if art school is right for me since I'm not traditional in any real sense. That I don't realy like the idea of some art teacher telling me that I'm do 'it' wrong. Since when was there a 'wrong' in art? I'm not going to argue about it right now, but it is something to wonder about. Back to my original point. I went to the all mighty google and found a semi-local school (it's in Draper) That offer Culinary and Baking/Pastry classes. Baking I can do. But they want such an immediate commitment that it puts me off. Why can't I get the information with out someone wanting me to sign my life over right now. Does anyone know I have things to consider? Other schedules to work around. A life to live that may not let me go another road yet. Interest does not equal a commitment.... anyone whose dated knows that. I just want information to see what I'm up against.
Ok. I've ranted. Now I'm going to ravelry to play.