A Picture is Worth 1000 Words

I was looking for an inspirational picture and this is what I first saw...I am NOT sure how I feel about this, but I know I am not inspired. Hehe *looks over shoulder nervously*

Let It Go- How to take a break and still be productive

Most of you might be wondering- where the heck has Vera been? (I am left wondering the same thing too sometimes) Ok, so here is the low down: I started a class at Brown, had the flu, and made a pretty decent costume. Ok the flu does not count.
The truth is I was swamped with worries, plagued with doubts, and just felt overwhelmed. So I decided to take a break from the business so to speak. I started taking classes from Brown, worked at a BigFoot Military Tires to get a work out, and I took on a commission as a semi-professional seamstress to make a homecoming character gown for the lovely and beautiful Alexis Gilbert.

The whole project of sewing really got me thinking: if I needed a break and didn't do anything productive...what would be the point in taking a break? Small business owners know what I mean. If you don't work, you don't get paid, you don't expand, and you don't get advertised.
It's really tough building a company and your reputation...but it's not unlike building a costume.

1. Visualize you customer basis and the strengths of this basis.

My client was Alexis Gilbert. She loves Frozen, Disney movies in general, has a fun and proud personality. A marvelous dancer and a total smarty pants.

2. Plan what you can offer you client. (In this case I was hired as a spur of the moment but it works just as well) Alexis knew I had made several costumes in the past and had something very specific in mind for her homecoming character.

3.a Understand the client's wishes and know if you can provide excellent service. I had the experience and confidence to make a wonderful costume, however; I would have never dreamed of making a wedding dress, that I would have passed on to another person I know. I knew my limits and strengths.
                  3.b (Know the budget and financial breakdown of your client so that you can always meet their financial and mental expectations, and in finances always go for under budget when possible. Your client is top priority and so are their funds.)

4. Next brain storm and project plan. Know how to personalize your business for you passionate client base. In my costume plan I wanted something that reflected Alexis in every possible aspect. Elegant, graceful, and 'go big or go home' attitude. So I made my list and went shopping (fabrics, thread, contracts fabric, glitter, zippers, bling, and pizzazz) I also considered even the eye color and skin tone of my client when selecting colors of the fabric, no aspect of the client is too superfluous.

(The beginnings of the order)

 

 5. Start from the bottom up. Much like a business a costume has basic pieces it needs and you can solidify a good reputation and plan if you get the basics down first. You cant have a princess dress without a skirt ;)

(Basis skirt model)

6. Step back and reinvent the idea of your project to better streamline the process. I altered the pattern in seven key places because I knew my client and I had wanted excellence (as much as I could)

 

(End of week 1)

7. Quality trumps QUANTITY! Especially in the small business world you have to prove you are different and the quality (not quantity) will prove that to your client. Not only had Alexis already shopped around for a costume, she was not impressed with the price and quality of the gowns. Quality is what brings customers your way. Knowing this I tailored the dress to fit her athletic tastes and bought the performance fabrics for durability, sheen, and feel.

(Photo I sent to Alexis to get approval on the train)

8. Always keep the client up to date on advancements, changes, and further ideas...seriously that's a no brainer. It makes and keeps your business human. Never automate and be a personal as possible. (I added embellishments whenever possible to give regal elegance to the costume but not to over do it and make it itchy or impractical)

 

9. Fit the product to your client and make sure all is well. I had two minor things that I needed to do before the final turn over. Hem and trim the dress per her shoe selection, and add the final touch to the collar. Honestly it was a simple process and I gave the materials for embellishments to her in case she made a last minute choice. Check and double check before you turn the product over. Your name and your reputation are contained within each project. Make it shine.

 

And boy oh boy did it shine! I was so pleased to see this mornings pictures and look forward to many more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember, if its a costume or business, simple, smart steps that are all customer focused will get you further than any amount of convention.

 

Be YOUnique!!!

 

Props to Andrew of A&L Adventures Inc for the gorgeous photos before class at oh dark thirty this morning. He took plenty more and the special effects are beautiful. If you ever need professional, well priced photography with an amazing turnaround you should look his company up. Just another small business trying to make it by.

 

 

 

 

 

Nice Vice

Ever thought about what you're top vice is? I've so many, I lost count years ago. Not to brag, but suffering from chronic perfectionism, OCD (CDO for those of us who understand), mega artist complex, and anxiety they can't live without me. They define that person I like to call my evil twin, and if I stopped feeding them, I wouldn't have an evil twin.
A long time ago someone told me that weaknesses were strengths overdone...well I that didn't help this monstrous ego I am saddle with because out came the snob. "Hahaha so really you're telling me I am too good at everything." (evil monologue laugh.)

(courtesy of google images)

Ok, so that got me thinking and being sick recently has helped me calmly formulate an idea for a post. All writers are artists, and even business persons have a unique creative intellect. We are a special kind of OCD (boy, it hurts to even write that) and have a huge chip on our shoulders. We all have vices, and some of the best ways to change said habits are to realize we have them in the first place. They do affect us negatively, and it is something we can change...so why hide it anymore? Believe me, often times the last person to know about the vice is the person who has it. You won't surprise anyone but yourself with this introspective assignment. 
In an effort to ameliorate our imprisoned souls from the stigma that all artists/business persons are stuck up, I propose we allow a moment of honesty pierce through our ever creative worlds and think of our vice that we most often struggle with. I am actually collecting and making a scrapbook of the neatest takes on vices, so to kick of this new honesty fest here it goes...

Prime Vice: MY OPINIONS
I have the worst, and most embarrassing habit of assuming everyone is entitled to my opinions and not their own. Technically they aren't facts so I shouldn't be so full of myself. No matter how much truth I have use to levy off any rivers of doubt regarding my heavily fortified opinion, that doesn't mean that one day the rivers might swell and overwhelm the dam. I need to become a more appreciative of people's opinions. (Note: this is NOT including morals- we all know what's wrong and no matter the excuses just because you don't like it doesn't make a moral issue an issue of opinion.)

(courtesy of google images)

 

My goal is train my spirit into the ultimate sai-keirei- so far I meet everyone disrespectfully face to face...FAIL

Too long fair world!

I have missed this so much! I'm so behind on updates and emails, and goodness gracious work with my publisher. Since my mental capacities are always stretched I have little energy for any other exercise- hence low immunity, yup, constantly sick. Been laid out with the flu... But it has inspired me to write a new-perspective post. Will post soon :) 

I miss you all!!! 

By the way, anyone remember the contest I started a while back? Here's a hint: Nuna in Korean means what? 

5 o'clock Charlie

Whoever watches MASH knows what I am talking about. It's just something that you depend on from your enemy, that predictable cheap shot that comes at the same time, every time. Well after my encounter today I am actually feeling pretty good.

Life has a way of catching up with those "5 o'clock Charlies" we know and being bitter won't help. And on a lighter note, we often get good news after bad news! Today my good news is about my book! 

The design team is done with Songs of Many Seasons! Yeah Buddy!!! Check out the cover and back view. 

 

Remember don't let others depress you or bring you down. A long, happy life is the best revenge! 

The Folly of Facebook

Weekend update:
1. After weeks of being ignored, my editor came to see me! We were able to make some ridiculous headway in the final revisions of my new novel and map out the content for the sequel!
2. I should have my electronic plate proofs for Songs of Many Seasons by Friday!!
3. I found out some really interesting things about marketing and Facebook pages.

Let's talk about some controversial subjects to get going today. First, what is your personal opinion of what's happening in the NFL, currently? Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice...you should know both, or at least one story well. Here is a cap: Ray Rice knocked his wife out cold after she slapped him repeatedly and spit in his face. Adrian Peterson is accused of beating his child with a wooden switch till it caused lacerations. Now Facebook, Twitter, social media, and sports news stations are going nuts! It's an emotional topic for many people. It matters not where your opinion falls on either side. I am pretty heated too, but let's not get caught up. Take a step back with me and let's explore how issues like this can really affect your small business negatively.

(Peterson and son courtesy of google images)

(Rice and daughter courtesy of google images)

If you are like me you have a business Facebook page. Most people do, the harm that is posed by mega social issues like these above often doesn't hurt big business, but the small ones. Here's why. YOU. The owner, the proprietor of your small business website. You are human, you have opinions, but unless your personal account is distanced effectively from your business account, beware! Google +, Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and all social media sites you own personally can either protect or seriously harm your small business by the content you post.

 For example, I am an Author. Any site I run automatically becomes a business platform to me because my name is on it. I have my image, my fans know who I am, what I discuss, and they are use to me. Your business may not be John Doe's Supplies, but as a small business, your name as the owner/proprietor is inexorably linked to your livelihood. Now listen careful: What YOU post on your PERSONAL accounts will in some way affect your business.

I purposefully avoid heated topics like the NFL's recent trouble. I may talk freely about the case, but I will not publish my opinions because I know that there are people online waiting to get into a dirty, ugly fight on both sides. Also, I don't want an opinion I hold personally to change my business image as an Author. I have tackled so many issues in my novels and poetry its crazy, but I don't want to influence the market in a negative way by openly getting involved in every controversy known to man.

Your business is your baby, protect it with guarded words and thoughtful speech. You won't ever lose business by posting hopeful messages, interesting tips, or stories of achievement on your personal social media sites. You will lose business, however, if you blare your opinions across the world wide web with powerful language while being inconsiderate to those who have an opposing view. You define your business with your personality. It shouldn't matter to a printer if a football player has seven children from two different relationships. It shouldn't matter to a fiction Author if a professional athlete has been married multiple times. We are our business, anything else is a distraction to our viewers and followers from what we do and who we are.

Remember though, there are some issues worth standing on. Moral integrity in business, kindness, love, encouragement, ethics, legal practices, and do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Express your opinions in areas where you can prove you are different than bigger, soulless companies. You care, the little guy matters to you. That is the opinion your viewers and buys care about. Don't waste words on situations to which you are unrelated, and if you are related, all the more reason to keep the matter amongst close family and friends. You would be surprised what such a little change can do to boost your image and help you stay focused in a blurring market of emotional sensationalism.

  

Bob's Your Uncle...Intelectual Property Up For Grabs

The ultimate in colloquial speech. Entomologists are baffled, people have supposed...but no one knows the truth about the funny little phrase: "Bob's your uncle." I would love to survey all 90's babies and see if they heard that phrase for the first time in the animate 101 Dalmatians. Trust me, as a little kid, that was funny stuff. Because I actually had an uncle, named Bob. Except he demanded to be called, "The Great and Wonderful Uncle Bob..." Again, narcissism doesn't run in my family...right.  
So, a little bit of education now. This phase can mean many things, listen up all you internet surfing softies born in the golden age of brutish slang; as opposed to the iconic slang of my time ;-) I digress. The proper use of this 3 word combo is to evoke a sense of mystic ease while doing a chore, job, or explaining steps.
Example: "Look; run in, grab the loot, and bob's your uncle; we're living like kings!" Notice the many pitfalls if the plan are neatly summed up with Bob's Your Uncle?
While everyone is puzzled about the phrase, what I want to know is not who is Bob or who was his nephew or niece...but what impossible circumstance did Uncle Bob overcome? It must have been pretty stinking impressive. Considering it was 1880s time frame possibly earlier I wonder what it could have been? Puzzling, no?
Either way I feel like there could be a book written about the crazy impossible things Uncle Bob did, and no, I am not referring to my Uncle Bob. But it would be a great idea for a children's story book. Do you know how many little boys would laugh if every weird situation in the book was solved by some mysterious power of "Bob's Your Uncle?" How about all the Uncle Bobs that would buy the book and be like, "Yes, I am magical." Its a golden idea right? I should publish the book myself.

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So, now we get to the meat of the article and talk about the BIG mistake I made with this post. Most people worry about their intellectual property when signing contracts to turn over or release their art. It is a valid concern. But few think of their intellectual property before contracts. What does this mean? Well consider this.
If I did want to publish a book for children, using this idea (and trust me the thought crossed my mind) I made a huge mistake by sharing that idea with the world before I developed it further. The intellectual property I own, you own, and everybody owns is idiosyncratic ideas and projections. Once you share your intellectual property freely, people are free to take the ball and run with it as they like.
Continuing the notion that I wanted to publish this book. Telling the world my idea leaves anyone in the world free to write/draw the book and market it as their own. Imagine my dismay as I finish the cute little manuscript, only to find out a book with the same core thought is released. A publisher would be crazy to agree to print my work. And I could say all I wanted: "that's my idea!" But, legally next to nothing could be done because the idea came from my public blog, and the story gendered from a private source.
The moral of this story is that your ideas and future projects should have a certain anonymity to them if you want to receive credit and/or compensation. Your ideas are your property, intellectual property to be exact, but if you spread them someone can take your metaphysical idea, make it physical, and they own it. Not you. Unless it's irrelevant that the public know what you are up to and what you are working on as an artist, please keep in mind that the first two w's in www, stands for world wide. Don't get hurt as an artist and protect your intellectual property in and out of contracts.   

PS: I will not be mad, insulted, or upset if anyone uses this idea to publish a good book for children with little cartoon pictures. All I ask is for you to let me know, because seriously, I would love to do review on that!