I finally got my new photography set up together and started taking new picture of some of my dolls. I’ve always wanted to do “in hand” shots to show scale, but I didn’t own a tripod until recently. If you don’t own a tripod, get one! I wish I had gotten one sooner… It makes a huge difference.
I will be re-shooting all the dolls I have in stock over the next couple of weeks.
THIS. This is what I needed all along. I bought this little sketch book three days ago and I’ve drawn in it everyday since. Drawing three days in a row might not sound like a monumental achievement, but it is for me.
I have been in such a rut for over a year. I’ve drawn only a handful of things and I didn’t make any comics at all. I was feeling really self conscious and putting myself down a lot about my work. So instead of just working through it, I stopped drawing. It felt awful, but I didn’t know what to do to get out of it. I tried taking a life drawing class which helped a little, but I still only drew during class and never just for myself.
This sketchbook was the best impulse purchase I have made in a long while. I picked it up and couldn’t put it down. It made so much sense. It doesn’t start on any specific date. It just lists the days: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3… And there’s a little space to write in your own date. The fact that I could start anytime really felt good. I didn’t miss a whole month and a week of drawing this year. I simply started when I bought the book. On the last page it says, “Congratulations! You made one sketch a day for a year! What will you do next?” I’m excited to make it all the way there.
I have tried and failed at numerous “daily endeavors”, but I really feel this one might stick. The book is only 5×7 inches and the spaces to draw is only half that (two drawings per page). Its clean design is inviting and the small spaces seem less intimidating than a blank 8×11 or larger page. I can slip it in my purse giving me no excuse not to bring it with me everywhere. All I need is a pencil (and my trusty eraser!).
I am determined to rediscover the pure, simple joy of drawing for myself again. I’m glad I finally found something that has truly inspired me to do this.
Sorry I missed my Tuesday post again. Art Night was canceled… Again! 
We’re going to get back on it next week! FOR SERIOUS.
Anyhoo, the past couple of days has been fairly productive. I filled some orders yesterday and got my work space more organized. I bought a cheap scrapbook paper storage unit with drawers. My felt fits in it really nicely! I love the way it looks on my desk. I should take a photo of it. 
I’m trying to get all my bookkeeping done for 2010. I really slipped up towards the end of the year and I have a TON of catching up to do. Blaaah! Taxes! You are annoying! Someday when I’m rich and famous, I’m going to hire an accountant…… In the meantime, I bought a little planner for 2011 and I’m writing down all my business transactions in it. Then, once a month, I will use my records and receipts to enter it all into the computer. I can’t let myself get this far behind again.
In other news, I’m thinking about getting a Smartphone to make taking credit cards at shows easier. Right now I use ProPay and call my transactions in. It works fine, but it’s a multi-step process that can take upwards of 5 minutes to complete. It’s hard when I’m at a busy show to do it right. With a Smartphone, I can enter the information into ProPay via their mobile browser which looks like it would be much quicker. Or I MIGHT be able to get a Square card swiper, but I’m not entirely sure it will work with the phone I like. (I’m going to e-mail them.)
In an ideal world, I would get a 3G ready iPad and the Square. But that would set me back close to $800 and my next show is in April……. So unless I sell a ridiculous amount of dolls in the next two months, it’s just not an option. The phone on the other hand would cost me $290 for the phone + 12 months of the data plan. That seems a lot more logical for now considering my limited funds.
I’m still a bit hesitant to do it though. It seems like a waste of money considering I only have two shows planned for this year. Smartphones are cool and all, but the only reason why I want one is to make my life a little easier at shows. I doubt I would use its features for much else. (Considering how little I use my iPod Touch.) I already feel like I’m being robbed by my cell phone provider… Adding $20 a month more to use it’s data plan twice a year seems a bit extreme. The iPad, on the other hand, I would use frequently for several different things. I also like that you only pay $15 a month for data and it’s only when you need it (no subscription required). I just can’t afford one right now…
The final option is to just keep doing what I’ve been doing. If I do as well as I did at MoCCA this year as I did last year, buying an iPad won’t be a problem. So maybe I’ll just suck it up and call in my transactions for one more show!
On Wednesday I met with my local Small Business Adviser. I went in there thinking I would get a few tips about writing a business plan and get some marketing ideas for Nonesuch Garden. I left in a daze with a pile of “homework” to do between now and my next meeting.
GET THIS.
My SBA is an artisan doll enthusiast. She has also made and sold them in the past. She is very knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the industry. I’m absolutely floored! I didn’t just find someone to give me business advise, I found a mentor. I’m meeting with her again on February 1st. I can’t wait!
I’m feeling really good, you guys. 2010 was really awful for me career wise. I put myself down a lot and was really close to giving this whole thing up. But instead, I scheduled this meeting with my SBA and it was just the push I needed.
I’ve been making dolls NON-STOP since Wednesday. I finished a fruit bat last night and I’ll be finishing a humpback whale today. I’m on FIRE! I’m just so pumped and excited that someone who knows the artisan doll industry thinks I have a chance at really making it. I feel really inspired to keep at it!
I always thought comics would be my calling. But I really feel like Nonesuch Garden might become my life work. Don’t get me wrong, comics will always be my first love and I will never stop making them or trying to get my name out into the comic book industry. But I also need to make money. I need to be able to support myself. And I would much rather support myself with my own, home-grown business than working at a day job.
I want to sew and make comics. That’s all I want to do. And now I feel like I really might be able to do it!
