At least it's pretty in my head-Business Life

I took these pictures myself. I'm not the best photographer ( in the bottom photo notice the dolphin background and pale face) but I get the job done while looking cute lol and I keep working at it. My hubby takes the further shots and many face shots but I do alot of my own face shots and all the item closeups.

Since I am the business along with Marcasia I have all the administrative duties as well as still working a day job and balancing time and energy for practicing my arts and crafts and working on our Esty shop. I like to think of myself as a Renaissance woman and jill of all trades and I do enjoy learning and experimenting with new work so this works out pretty well. I have so much fun working for myself but I just felt like pointing out that some of the reality of being a small business owner is having to do most of, if not everything yourself... Can't wait until my work takes off and I can hire minions! Really though, all this personal business taking care of it myself type stuff is great for indulging my control freak side.

Some of the business things I do myself with Nate's photographic and technical support and input and items made by Marcasia :
Photos , Photo styling and Photo Shop
Blogging
Word of mouth aka Networking
Postcards
Facebook
Banner Making
Always wearing product samples to generate customer interest
Product research and development
Advertising: right now I'm also writing drafts of articles/advertisements for our local papers- they offer local artists "tell us about you" print space- Free Press!
Etsy product listing and descriptions and shop maintenance
Business cards
Product samples
Soliciting Wholesale customers
Graphic design
Accounting and business management

I take this all very seriously as a real business venture because I'm past being a part time hobby crafter and I want designing to be my future "real" career.This is a real job!

I do my own marketing for now because I'm a do-it-yourself type on a budget. As part of my marketing scheme I do my own print work and graphic design( see above list) and have started making business cards and postcards and tags at home with print shop deluxe 22 and a home scanner/printer. I don't think it's especially hard to do any of this but it just takes lots of time time and practice and experimentation just like anything else. I personally believe that anyone can learn most skills with perseverance but it's just that we can find ourselves in personal and creative ruts at times.

Cheers!Here's to my work- dedication,marketing, crafting, all of it getting better and to my constantly learning new mad skills. Here's to more sales too! I've been making sales off line but I want my first Etsy sale so badly!!

Cheers! I'm drinking a cape cod aka vodka with cranberry juice and it's midnight and my mutant snuggle bear husband is sleeping next to me. Nate's a mutant because he's 6 foot 3 inches tall . I'm going to watch some shitty tv show and drift away to glorious crafting dream land where everyone is well dressed and perfectly accesorised for once. I'm sure we're all more relaxed than in yesteryear but I'm so very tired of our modern casual trendy no taste titty and love handle baring t- shirt with jeans revamped togas and lingerie 21st century haze.
Thank god I know how to dress everyone lol! When I'm bored anywhere I will often give strangers make overs and what not to wear talks in my imagination. At least it's pretty fucking Beautiful and Fantasy Labyrinth Fairy Land Moon Lite inside my head.
















BTW I've had this David Bowie "thing" since I saw Labyrinth at age 6, see even gorgeous Jennifer Connelly is captivated!

St Patricks Craft

It's sunday and my day off so I am here to talk a bit about my shop. I've been making mini top hats alot lately, and my latest creation is just for St Patrick's Day! I LOVE any holiday that centers around drinking, eating, and conforming( by wearing green)! I always wear green on St Paddy's day, but then again I like dressing up a bit too and mostly wearing drag queen/Ziggy Stardust style sage green eyeshadow up to my eyebrow and plus I'm not really into getting pinched by everyone.

Marcasia is my sister and business partner, and she designed this hat last thursday because she wanted a custom designed party hat for St Patrick's. She is half Irish and so she is thereby qualified to design it,lol. When I made it I decided to post it in my store because it was just to adorable and itty bitty yet perfectly suited for March 17 or any other time you just wanna look like a leprechaun, teehee.I just posted this hat for sale on my etsy shop today and I like it because is by far the tiniest top hat I've ever made, but it's perfect for the holiday and is ready to ship!. So please feel free to visit me and my sister Marcasias' brand new shop at sydandmarc.etsy.com-Syd

Introduction!

Hi, my name is Sydney Hanks and this is my brand new blog. I chose to start one because I'm starting a home Internet fashion business, I like to write, and I'm full of opinions aka b.s. about everything. I need to shamelessly self promote, and since I'm a huge attention whore and future celebrity this works out well for me.I will focus on what it's like to be a artsy business owner but will go into my personal life as well. It's too hard for me to separate it all, so you will hear about my cats, art, husband, frenimies, family, obsessions, music, etc. I really am super duper exited and I totally look forward to "telling it like I see it, Whale Biologist." ( Any Futurama fans out there?) Welcome To The Valley Girl Vampire Freak Freaking Sarcasm Filled Funfest that is my crazy head. At least my life is pretty calm right now. I like stuff, I like to watch people, read, rant, sing, dance, draw, cook, create, cuddle my hubby, be weird and other... stuff. I hope you all will enjoy this, my unyieldingly selfish dive into ME!
-Syd