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Holiday Sanity

Sanity For your Business and your Life

 

Holiday Sanity is closed for the season.
You can only find it in the Library of the Starship.

Gifts to buy.
Packages to send.

Deadlines to announce for your shop.
New products to launch.

The holiday season isn't JUST busy socially, it's also the busiest time in your business.
Balancing the two can lead to piles of To Do lists or post-it notes all over the house.
And you, in the middle of it all, trying to keep all the balls in the air.

Ditch the craziness.

This is not about having the perfect, Martha Stewart holiday.

This is not about fulfilling all those obligations you think you should do.
And this really is not about becoming another BUY BUY BUY holiday retailer.

 

It IS about paying attention.

Noticing and supporting what you want out of the season.
Building a sustainable business that weathers any holiday storm.
And it's about ending the season knowing that you kept your wits about you, your shop running and you spread a little holiday cheer.

This is Holiday Sanity, and it's a simple system for remembering what you want to do and gently helping you do it. 

 

Holiday Sanity Guide – My crazy-proof plan for getting everything done.
Playbook – 14 worksheets to help you remember, track and document the recipes, gifts, decorations and business-y stuff you want to do this season.
4 week Stay Sane email course – weekly emails to inspire, encourage and make sure everything is staying sane.
Online Holiday Sanity group – daily questions to spark conversation, accountability and ideas.

We'll work together, with the aid of worksheets and exercises and noticings, on first figuring out what we want from the season and then, actually doing it. All for $29.*

 

Holiday Sanity is closed for the season.
You can only find it in the Library of the Starship.

$5 from EVERY sale will still go to My Very Own Blanket to provide handmade blankets to foster children. 

Wanna know more about each part of the Kit?

The Guide

Instead of going on and on about planning, the Guide gets down to the action. The action of looking clear-eyed and honestly about what you want to do this holiday.

For most of us, that starts with a List.
I am Queen of the List, but my planning really needs to go beyond the list.

The Guide has everything you need to deal with big (scary!) to-do lists:

How to figure out what needs to be done.
How to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
How to pace yourself, so you're not scrambling at 3am on December 24th.

All of it explained and then demonstrated with metaphor-rich worksheets:

Page 4 of the Guide
The Playbook

The Playbook is the guts of your sane holiday and can serve as a kind of scrapbook of what your holidays actually look like. From your favorite recipe to your gift-giving list to the stories of your favorite ornaments, the Playbook gives you a space to capture it all, so nothing gets away from you.

A food-focused page from the Playbook


The Stay Sane e-course

The Stay Sane e-course makes sure you actually use  the Guide + Playbook. You'll get a message 2 days after joining, and then every week for a total of 4 weeks of Sanity. You'll learn, not only how to start your Sanity, but how to stay realistic and learn from what works this year. Here's what we'll cover:

Week 1: Exploring.
Get ultra-clear on everything you want/need to do and we'll piece it all together, in a low-stress, no-guilt plan of attack.

Week 2: Play.
Look at how you usually plan/implement and try different ways of focusing/scheduling/planning that may work. You'll experiment with different methods, ditch the ones that don't work and add new ones to your repertoire.

Week 3: Reassess.
Discover what's working and what's not. What can really get done in the remainder of the season? I help you get clear and stay non-judgmental. (It's all about feeling good.)

Week 4: Stay Sane, forever.
Keep the momentum going with a plan for the rest of your season.

 

The online community

Stay sane with our online (private) Facebook Group! You'll get prompts, ideas, and gentle accountability several times a week, along with a chance to talk to the other Sanity-lovers. You can ask for recipe ideas, gift ideas or share your newest handmade goodness! I'll be sharing my projects, my lists, my holiday playlist, my favorite tutorials, and anything else I find that will make your holiday more joyful!

Holiday Sanity is closed for the season.
You can find it in the Library of the Starship.

 

 

Want to spread the Sanity?

Give  Holiday Sanity to your friends + family! Just send me a note (vulcan@taraswiger.com) with your receipt + the email address of the gift recipient, along with any note you want to include. We'll send the Kit directly to the recipient with a clear description and your note!
Wait, is this just for people with established businesses?

Nope! Every thing we're going to talk about can be applied to whatever is on your plate this holiday. Crafting is crafting, whether you're doing it for 15 aunts or 150 customers.
And all of us, whether we have kids, pets, jobs, mortgages or sheep to feed…we all deserve to enjoy the holiday.

 

*Because everyone deserves a great holiday. 

$5 from every Kit sold will go to My Very  Own Blanket, an organization that gives handmade blankets to foster kids.

 

 

Still have questions? Ask me!

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Listastic: Craft Show Prep

I had high hopes of writing insightful posts this week about my process of getting ready for a craft show (2 days till NYC!).

listomatic

But, alas, I'm knee-deep in preparations and my brain is barely functioning beyond single syllabic phrases, such as SPIN, PRINT, and What?

I had to have spell check fix the word preparations, so yeah, it's dire.

But I know that if I wait until after the show, I'll forget everything that goes into it, so I want to write something now.

So, lists. I am surrounded by lists and maybe lists provide the clearest view into the method and/or madness.

Or maybe I just need to go make another list.

Master List

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This is the list that has absolutely EVERY thing that has to be done before I go. Things like driving Jay to pick up the truck he's borrowing while I'm out of town with our only car, baking gluten-free bread (so I can pack myself sammiches for the trip), shipping out the BCB orders, labeling everything, picking the last of the blueberries, etc.

(I just noticed that “paint toenails” is on this list. This is not mere vanity, I always end up taking off my shoes to spin in front of customers….and end up with three year olds saying “Your polish is messed up”. True story.)

The Master List also has a list of everything I need to gather and put in the car, it has a list of the food I want to pack, it has a list of the things I'll need money for.
The master list also has a list for Jay (things like: print X of these labels, clean car, find the screws to go with those shelves), which I assure you thrills him.

Did I mention Jay is not a list-maker? When you consider my deep and abiding love for lists, it's amazing we've lasted nearly 10 years. Shocking, really.


Daily List

daily list

I make one of these around 2 weeks out (but this becomes Super Serious by the last week).

Every day has a list of the things I need to do. In theory, everything from the Master List finds a place on the daily lists. This is the ONLY way I make sure everything from the Master List actually gets done.

When, like yesterday, half of the stuff doesn't get done, it gets moved over to the next day. In theory, I won't end up with everything on the last day…

List of Smartnesses

This is the list of what I read a few weeks before I start getting ready. It gets me in the right mind to do what I gotta do. It's a combination of “remember this” and “think about this” and “what a good idea!” stuff.

Check back in tomorrow for the full List of Smartnesses (with links to everything!)

PS. If this random rambling isn't at all helpful, be comforted by the fact that I thought long and hard (and in multi-syllabic sentences!) when I taught my Rock the Craft Show class.
As the holiday craft show season approaches, it's becoming a bit of resource for crafters  and I'm hearing great things from everyone who is using the checklists.

In which I prove better systems lead to more time on the beach

Why systems?

Because I want a thriving, smooth, full-of-ease business.
And I want a life. A thriving, exciting, space-to-do-my-thing life.

Isle of Palm, SC

Having systems in place, allowed me to take last weekend off and drive 5 hours to the nearest beach (and the adorable Charleston). I didn't have to worry if things were going to ship late or students were going to get their details for the class they bought.  I could go, knowing that the important stuff was done and the immediate (seeming) stuff could wait.

Systems = Containers

Working on my systems  provide me with containers (this is Cairene's word, and I love it). Containers of time, containers of space, containers for doing all the tasks and processes. This (shipping) goes there (Wednesdays). This (spinning) goes there (afternoons).

I like to think of containers as the baskets I keep my yarn in (I probably got this from Cairene too). I can move them around, I can rearrange the contents, but the basket holds what I need it hold until I'm ready to come back from it. And it keeps my studio from becoming a yarn-covered mess.

When something has a container; a start time, an end time or a ritual to usher it in or out; it has a boundary. It isn't a sprawling never-finished mess of muck. It has a space, a time, and a little container to hold it when I'm done.

I need boundaries to start and stop or I would just be an endless loop of doingdoingdoing while nothing feels done. Without boundaries I would answer emails as soon as they come in and never get anything done. Without boundaries around my writing time, I'd let interruptions keep me from finishing a post.

The boundaries, the containers, the systems, they give me confidence.

Confidence that if I move this container over there, it will still get done.
Confidence that if I take this weekend off, everything won't fall apart.
Confidence that emails will get answered, yarn will get made,  posts will get written, orders will ship.

What kind of containers and boundaries do you have in your business?

Tell me in the comments!

Do you need to work on your systems so that you can (one day or NOW) take time off from your biz? Check out my course with Stacey Trock of FreshStitches: Take a Break (without breaking your biz!)

Systems for your Crafty Biz

Warning: This class is no longer available!

Wondering how you're ever going to get it all done?

Or does it just seem like everything takes too long, like everyday stuff should be easier?

You may think you need better time management.
But is it possible you just need better systems?

Wish it were a bit more streamlined, serene or systematized?

Yeah, me too.

Which is why I asked my friend Cairene, super-smart, totally relaxed, systems-evangalist to talk to us.

On July 22, 2010 she's going to answer some of my questions (and yours too!) about building systems for a crafy biz. You can join us for the conversation for $20.

This class is no longer available!

For $20, you'll get:
  • an invitation to the live interview
  • a chance to ask your own questions (via email or right in the interview)
  • a recording of the interview (emailed the next day)
  • a coupon for Cariene's Systems Lab

What systems?

Yeah, that was  first question I asked when I started working on this stuff.
We'll be talking about the systems that support smooth making, listing, shipping, and bookkeeping…but if you think of some areas that need a system, join us and ask about it!

Who?

Cairene MacDonald is a readiness educator who helps independent creative professionals learn how to improve the administration of their businesses, emphasizing right-brain strategies so clients can succeed and still be themselves.

Which is just a fancy-pants way of saying: She helps people stop hatin’ on their admin grunt work.
Because, of course, there’s nothing grunt-y about it. It can liberate you if you let it. And then, what’s there to dislike?

Cairene has been helping arty-types get organized one way or another for more than twenty years, supporting designers and architects, art coaches and gallery owners, writers and teachers, among others. The insights gained from these relationships, along with her own experiences as an artist, are the basis of her current work. She knows first-hand the challenges of trying to streamline one’s muse.

Cairene lives in Portland, Oregon. When she’s not preaching her message of administrative reconciliation to the creative masses, she’s probably hanging out with her husband and her dog. Or making something (because she secretly wants to be like all of you).

I've slept on Cairene's couch and can vouch for her generosity, sense of humor and total lack of judgey-ness when it comes to my own (often lacking) systems. I experienced her ultra-quick organizational prowess when I missed my train and had to rearrange everything about my 2 week trip. This girl is indispensable as a friend and an expert.

How does this work?

When you click “Register”, you’ll be taken to Paypal, where you’ll pay for the class (no need for a Paypal account, you can use a credit card). After you’ve paid, you’ll (immediately!) be emailed the details of the call.

At the appointed hour (July 22, 3pm ET), you’ll call the number and bam! You’re on a call with the other students. Cairene and I will discuss systems for the first 45 minutes or so and then will take your questions.

If you can’t make the call, you can STILL take the class, because all students will receive an mp3 recording of the class!

Is this for me?

Maybe! You'll find this super-useful if:

  • You sell your handmade goodness.
  • You are ready to invite a little smoothness into the process.
  • You are ready for your crafty business to grow in a comfortable way, without scrambling and disorganization.

If you really want to make a commitment to work on your crafty biz, you may want to check out the Crafty Biz (test)Kitchen. Everyone in the Kitchen is getting this class for free.

Can I buy this later?

Sadly, no. After July 22nd at 3pm, this class will NOT be available.
If you can't make the call, that's ok! Sign up and you'll get the recording after the call!

Still have more questions? Email me! taraATtaraswiger.com

Posted in |

Milking Goats, Falling Down and Offering a Hand

An hour ago, I was milking a goat.

This is not a metaphor, like brunching.

I was actually, truly milking a goat.
Here’s proof:

I’m farm-sitting for a friend and that means goat-milking, egg collecting and sheep wrangling.

It also means chasing down runaway kids (young goats, not human children), chasing off errant dogs and trying to convince the goat not to kick the bucket of milk.

Today was my second successful milking and just as I finished up, let Emily off the stand and went to reach for the door of the barn, I slipped.

It was a truly I-Love-Lucy slip with booted feet in the air, back flat on the barn floor and head cracked against the milking stand. We will not go into detail what I was covered with. Let’s just call it “mud”.

I laid there stunned. And promptly started crying.
I was covered in “mud”, hot and sweaty and my head hurt.
I wondered if my husband heard and would come running and help me up.

I laid there for a few moments, snuffling and waiting. Then I realized that I had the milk bucket in my hand and that it had not spilled. I also knew that Jay hadn’t heard me and that I was on my own.

Although I couldn’t stop crying, I could stand up.

I stood slowly up, gathered my breath and stopped crying.

I hadn’t spilt the milk. Nothing was broken. Even “mud” washes off.

As I filtered the milk and cleaned off, I thought about that moment on the barn floor. What was I waiting for? Why the crying?

Did I really think someone was going to swoop in, pick me up and finish my farm chores?

I’m 28. I work for myself, in the business I built.
I clean my house, pay my bills, do my own taxes (shudder).

But sometimes, I still think someone is going to swoop in, clean off the “mud” and make things less messy and more easy.

And this is the point in the story where someone more adult than me would say that we need to stop waiting around for someone to save us and we need to learn to save ourselves.

To pick ourselves up, gather our breath and go wash off.

But that’s not my point. We have enough moments, both real and metaphorical, in our businesses where we pick ourselves up.
Sometimes, it’s nice to have someone else reach out a hand.

I'd rather offer you a hand than tell you to stop yer cryin' and pick yourself up.

The past few weeks I have been enjoying  corresponding with a few crafty business friends. We’ve been providing each other with ideas and reassurances and ideastorming and just…companionship. It’s been lovely.

The ability to ask that one question you’ve been wondering about…or hearing that this isn’t a silly idea…or to get help with the steps to get from here to there;  it’s all this that provides the support you need when you feel like you’ve fallen down in the goat barn.

The conversations have been so invigorating and so inspiring that I want to have more of them. I’d like to have them with you.

What’s going on in your business?
What questions do you have?
What do you just need a sounding board for?

Let’s talk about it.

I’m thinking a few paragraphs via email may be all it takes to get you up out of that barn. What do you think?

If you could use a hand or you've wondered what to do next, fill out this contact form with your question, your concern, your struggle and I’ll reply within a week with suggested resources, ideas or whatever you need.

I know this is…well, completely bizarre.
But there’s no trick. No hook. I’m just wanting to connect with more crafty businesses and to learn how I can best help you.

If you enjoy  tales of farm antics applied to business advice, make sure you subscribe and catch every pratfall.

Contact

If you'd like to work together or ask a question, send a note to vulcanATtaraswiger.com. 

Instagram Direct Messages are the FASTest way to get a hold of me!

Where to find me in the rest of the world

  • Instagram – daily-ish photos of books, flowers, puppies and crafts
  • Goodreads – where I track all my reading and want-to-be-reading.
    YouTube – video lessons for your exploration.
  • Facebook – join the community of people who are Crafting a Business
    Ravelry – my knitting projects

When you can expect a reply

If you are a customer, who has bought something and has a question or concern, you can expect to hear back within 1 business day.

If you are asking something general or just want to connect (yay! thanks!) I answer those emails on Mondays and Thursdays.  If I’m terribly behind, it may take me as much as two weeks to answer your email.

It’s been over 2 weeks and you still haven’t heard back? Let us know at  vulcanATtaraswiger.com.

Although I love chatting with you, most biz questions don’t have a simple answer and a single email won’t be enough. If you really want my focused time and attention on your biz, join the Starship!

 

Posted in |

Happy Birthday, Dyl!

The brothersDarling Pickle,

On this moment (just a minute after midnight), 9 years ago, you came into this world.

I was 350 miles away, in my dorm room, just 2 months into my freshman year.
But I knew you were coming and I couldn't sleep. My (new) friends gathered in the floor of my (tiny) room.

The phone range – you arrived! I hung up the phone, trembling, tears streaming down my face. The room erupted in squeals, hugs, laughing, crying! We were celebrating you, my Dyl, your birth into my life and into our family.

I'm still friends with those girls and we all recall that night with fondness. They can't believe you're as big as you are.

Dylan in chair

But I can. I'm so proud of what you've grown into.
Hardworking. Silly. Smart.  A great snuggler. Awesomesauce.

(and lest you think I'm just here to embarrass you – I'm sitting in Starbucks with tears streaming down my face as I write this!)

To celebrate our friendship, I'm giving away free shipping in my yarn shop, because I don't know how else to include everyone in our celebration. And I really do want EVERY one (in the whole world!) to know how happy I am to have you as my brother.

1043847999_08b6b5d46c

But since I know you don't give a snot about yarn, we'll celebrate today in a way befitting your 9 years: pancakes (with choclate chips + M&Ms), a double feature, video games, making our own pizzas.

So let's get this party started!

All my love,

Sis

PS. If you're not the birthday boy but you want to party in a yarn-y way, snag some yarn and put “Pickle” in the Message to Seller and get free shipping, all weekend.

Target Markets (+ stuff)


Miscellany

  • A (brand new) local knitting group met last Saturday, in Jonesborough (that's us up there, I'm the one on the far right). I considered not posting the photo, but I figured I'm swallowing my self-consciousness and saying Hello! That's me!
  • My Storque article is up: all about defining your Target Market.
  • Come chat about the target marketing in this thread.
  • Sara (of Etsy) has asked me to write an article about the weekly Fiber Friday threads, if you've taken part in the past, leave a comment about why you like it, what you've learned, etc.

Free Yarn

When I started to write this post, I had sold 95 items, now it's 97!
I am so very near 100 items, a number that I want to celebrate! So, to show my appreciation, the 100th item sold will be FREE, with NO shipping!
It doesn't matter how many you buy, if you purchase the 100th, I'll adjust your invoice and the 100th be free and the entire order will have no shipping!

If you want to know if your item will be the 100th, just take a look at the shop, on the far right:

This prize is a big sloppy Thank You! kiss to my wonderfully supportive, slightly yarn-addicted customers! To ensure that you get the free yarn and shipping, leave me a note in the “Message to Seller” part of the transaction.

Have a great Wednesday!
(edited because I had a LOT of exclamation points)

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