On my to-do list:
I can think of a few other things, but honestly....she's a bit distracting. Ah, well.
And thanks for all the lovely comments on MY STORY. I'll be writing more this week. But only after I eat me some good Ella. Have a good one!
xo
sarah
Photo by Katherine Le Cheminant
Next month is Sarah Jane Studios' 3 year anniversary! Now through the end of the month, I will be sharing my personal story of how a simple idea turned into a stay-at-home career in illustration & design
THREE YEARS AGO was an interesting time in my life. I had 2 children, 2 1/2 years old and 1 and 1/2 years old. I was finally sleeping through the night after 2 solid years of nursing and having babies. We were living in a tiny, middle story condo and my husband was in graduate school. Part of me was really tired, and the other part of me was just getting out of the slump of having my babies 12 months apart and I was finding a new energy. I had this incredible urge to start a business from the paintings and the drawings I had been working on that summer. I had recently graduated with a BFA in Musical Theater, and was ready to put my stage life behind. I have always been an artist, and knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life in my art. I had big ideas, big energy and big hopes, but no money, tactics or direction.
But beyond my burning creative energy, I had a strong motivation to start working with my art to support my husband through school. He is a school teacher, and had just recently decided he wanted to get his master's degree. It left him with absolutely no time to get a second job, and left me even more convinced that I needed to step in and help out.
Me and by babies the month I opened the shop.
My faith is a huge part of my life. I can't tell you how many times you'll find me praying in a day. This art journey of mine is no exception and during this time 3 years ago, I was very prayerful about how to start a business at home without it getting in the way of my two infants. I barely had any time! Addie's naps were very short and Ian's were long. They went to bed early so I had some time in the evening, but they were very early risers so it was hard to stay up late. I told God that I needed to start a business to help support my husband through graduate school, but I didn't want to leave my babies. I also had a dream about making a mark in the children's industry, but I told him I didn't know how to even get started. But I started working in that direction, and prayed for a way to make it happen.
One of the first items in my shop 3 years ago
My husband came home from work one night with a clipping from a newspaper he had read that day. He never reads the paper. He prefers the computer. But that day he had read the paper, and saw a clipping about an event specifically for women entrepreneurs who want to start a business. It was the following night and it was only a few miles away. I had no idea in that moment how much I would learn about how to get from the "dream" stage to the "make it happen and really have a business" stage. I was about to embark on a really awesome journey.
The event was perfect. Was it a coincidence that Nancy Cajun spoke on the very topic of "Turning an Idea into a Business?" Was it a coincidence that she was a published author and she spoke about the lifestyle and ropes being an author and illustrator? Was it a coincidence that she talked about protecting your art and holding to copyrights? It was almost too perfect. It was just what I needed to really have the motivation and tools to move forward. But even more than that, I met people that night who could help mentor me, brainstorm, and give me ideas and support.
Goodnight friend: My very first sale.
But from here, I learned things like:"Know where you fit in the market, but don't try to fit in." "Your business needs to fill a need in the market. Identify it, and fill it." "Do your homework and know your competition." Simple business tips like this that allowed me to think beyond my own sketchbook and gave me the motivation to move forward. Someone like me, who had no business training, art education or professional experience in this market, needed to hear these things, and I was so grateful.
I will stop there with my story. There is a lot more to tell. But it's long, and it's not fair to ask you to read it all in one sitting. But what I did want to express this morning is how grateful I am this month for the mentors and support I found 3 years ago which ultimately gave me the boost I needed and the contacts I needed to get Sarah Jane Studios from my head into an LLC. I realized how guided I was then, but I see it even more now as I look back. It's just amazing...all the people and events a long the way that took me, step by step, in the right direction.
Kelly King Anderson, founder of Startup Princess has provided a fantastic network of support, and if you are feeling the need to start a business from your hobby, or if you have already started but need some extra support or inspiration, there is an event next week that will really help you. Sept 23& 24 I'm going to be speaking about building online sales, specifically on ETSY. I'm feeling rather sentimental and hope there are "Sarah Jane's" out there like I was 3 years ago....driven but needing help and ideas. I know how much these events can help, and I hope to see you there! Register here: www.startupprincess.com/touchpoint and enter in 'princess' for $50 off.
I'm going to be writing parts of my story over the next few weeks. It's a special one to me, and I love looking back to see how I have been so led and guided the whole way.
Happy weekend everyone! And thanks for all your support. It's been an amazing journey!
Sandi Henderson is a long time favorite person of mine. Not that I had ever met her...but you know how blogging connects people and you feel like you know them even though you really don't? Well, Sandi has always been one of those people. And when I heard she needed a place to stay while she attended the local creative event, SPARK, it only seemed natural that she should hang out with our crazy family for the weekend. As soon as I offered, and marked it on my calendar, I realized I just invited a celebrity and a stranger to my house for 4 days. Am I crazy? Basically.
Her first line of fabric,
If you don't know Sandi, here's what you need to know. Creative. Seamstress. Fabric Designer. Artist. Mother. Vintage lover. Maker. Doer of good things. Crazy amazing. If you haven't seen her work, you might have seen it on your daughter's skirt. Or on your neighbor's quilt. Or at your local up-scale fabric store. She is one of those people with a really great story too: Mother of 2 starts a business selling her children's clothing line and patterns, and naturally segways into fabric design (teaching herself all through her first line of designs) and now is making quite the name for herself in fabric and design.
See her
Loving it.
And besides all that great stuff...she is a really nice person. Don't you love nice people? She's a fun loving, great mama, beautiful person, and it was so great to spend time with Sandi in person.
Sandi's booth at Quilt Market
We all feel like we know each other from blogging, ya know? We're all just behind a lot of screens, admiring each other's lives from behind a lot of computer monitors...supporting each other and rooting for each other from afar. But to connect in person...that's the ultimate.
Her latest fabric line,
It was so great to have her in our kitchen while we cooked, shared recipes, chatted and ate yummy food. To find out our families are really similar...from the kinds of food we crave and make to our children's quirky tendancies...was really fun to discover too. We had also had lots to talk about in terms of art and fabric too...but I can't talk about that just yet...more on that later...and soon, very soon (wink, wink).
Images and tutorials from her new book
So this is what I'm thinking...all of this blogging love...just needs to happen in person more often. We (my husband that is) will be making a cinnamon apple tart with apricot glaze this weekend, wanna come over?
This weekend, I had the lovely time of having the lovely Katherine photograph my studio. I'm going to be on KSL this morning (11:10 am on KSL news), and I needed to send in some pictures of my work space. And though I haven't finished decorating and designing it, it was fun to shoot anyhow. I've had an array of work spaces over the years, and it's fun to look and see how they have evolved...I've had everything from corner of the dining room table to shared computer desk to bedroom. But if I have learned one thing about what I need in a work space, it's two words: "comfortable" and "inspiring." So that is what I am working on. I'll be sure to show more pictures soon! Like when I put up my half wall bulletin surface, and paint the other wall with chalkboard paint. Stay tuned.
But really, if you are local, tune in. I think it will be a really great panel. I'll be speaking with 2 other women and we'll be sharing tips and realities of starting a business at home. (I could say a lot on this topic!!) And thanks for all your wonderful comments about that topic. I got some really good ideas, and I hope to be addressing those! I'll post the link to the web clip below as soon as I get it.
Thanks so much! See you on T.V.
P.S. I'll be the one who's trying really hard not to look nervous. I haven't been on T.V. since 5th grade morning announcements. This should be about the same thing, right?
EDIT: Here's the link to the video clip. It was fun to do...and not long enough...but I did it. Whew.
Can I just tell you. I have the best job in the world. I wake up to 3 ready-to-explore-the-world-children. I get to spend time in my home all day. I get to read picture books as much as I want. I get to draw for kids. I get to see the world like children do all day. Oh, and there are all the other minor things like laundry, dishes, carpooling, budgeting, lessons, mopping, and working late hours after kids are in bed. But truthfully, I can't think of a better job doing what I love to do, at home.
Tonight I was sketching on the floor while the kids were playing, and Addie asked me to draw her. She had just chopped a good 6 inches of her hair into a darling bob, and wanted to pose for me. She loves to pose. Like most kids love to be in front of mommy's camera, Addie loves to pose while I draw. And most times, she comes and finishes the drawing how she likes it. Tonight, she wanted a crown, a bow, a tutu and added the text on her shirt and some flip flops. And to be honest, it looks better after she touched it.
Juvenile line. I've been thinking a lot about how my children draw, and how it reflects how they see the world. And how what I draw and see is so different than what they draw and see. It's an interesting concept: they see so much more, but draw so much less. And truly, that is the art I hope to re-achieve someday. True art is expressing as much as possible in as little as possible. And that 'juvinile line'...a child's expression which exposes in part how they see their world....makes all the difference.
Some eye candy for your weekend.
I've been loving these pillows for a while. Don't they make you happy?
I love smart people. How awesome is this lego paper cutter? Paper and lego's mixed. Now you can craft with your lego lovin' kids. Endless possibilities. (Sorry, the link is to a Japanese site. Anyone know if you can get these in the USA?)
Fall colors are my favorite. And this outdoors craft idea via Bloessom kids is charming!
And another brilliant craft idea with instructions here. Theses are cardboard horses on stampede. Stunning art!
Happy weekend everyone! Thanks so much for your comments on my art vs. business post. Such great thoughts from you guys! I love it.
And thanks for your well wishes about the T.V. spot. I've been so busy I don't think I'll have time to be nervous! I'll let you know how to watch it as soon as I get the info.
xo
sarah jane
So I'm going to be on T.V. this Monday morning. I know, pretty crazy. I would normally be really shy and nervous, but I get to speak about a topic that I am super passionate about and one that I hope other women and mother's tuning in will benefit from. I'm going to be on my local news station with 2 other women discussing the realities of starting a business from home, as well as tips to get started. I've been wondering what I'm going to say, and I have some ideas...but I'm looking for more.
Starting my business nearly 3 years ago was a really scary thing. But I was so gung-ho and so driven, those fears never really crept in. I was possibly too naive to know what I was getting into, and maybe that was a good thing! But it's interesting, because when you are a business, you have to start thinking of business-y type things. Things like: "Will people even buy this stuff?" " How am I going to market myself?" " How am I going to pay for it all?" And pretty soon, all those creative ideas start to get mixed in with very non-creative realities that very often yank those creative juices and throw them to the ground. Thoughts like, "You can't do that! No one has done anything like that before, and it'll get run over." Or, "That would be too costly or take too much time." Or, "Sure you think it's a good idea, but it has to appeal to lots more people than just you!"
Do any of these voice sound familiar? It's interesting: the banter that goes back and forth in my head now that my art isn't just a creative hobby any more. It's my work! And I don't like to call it that, because I really do love it, and it's better to think of it as play, or I get stressed about it. But let's face it. You love to create! You love getting your hands dirty and just making it is what you do best. And to have a business from that? Heaven. But there is the reality that you are a business...you are ultimately in this to be successful, and you must be concerned about outcome. That is the nature of being self-employed! And if I have learned anything, thinking about outcome always inhibits by ability to create good art. Always. Hands down. But how to purely create without letting the natural worries of being a business creep in, is an art in and of itself. Allowing yourself to truly express without worry or thought is a lot harder to do when there are people on the other side of the table. But, I also have learned, that it can be incredibly motivating and can help you open up to that truly creative place.
My answer is Love. Love (the opposite of fear) will wipe away all those business-y concerns that we all have to think about. Love will create your best art. Love will inspire you to create from that genius place. Love will keep you going when times are hard and your aren't having the successes you need. Love will bring other people to you who will love what you do too.
Love, Love, Love. I hear a song coming:)
But isn't it true? We must "lose the fear of being wrong" and only then will we be truly successful because our work will be wonderful and beautiful and real.
So, I would love to know your thoughts. I am going to be giving some advice about starting an at-home business and also the realities of life as a stay-at-home-mom business owner. I hope to be taking the spin of how to keep that creative spirit alive when you are juggling all the aspects of starting a business.
What advice do you have about balancing the creative side and the business side of things? Does having a business interfere with your natural instinct to just create and not care what other people think? And if you don't have a hobby based business, what questions do you have about how to get started or what to be aware of when you do get started?
Thanks you guys! I can't wait to hear your responses. I have a feeling there is a lot to be said on this topic.
Hey folks:
If you are Utah people, and into art and illustration, you gotta check out this week's events in Provo.
A bunch of my favorite local children's authors and illustrators are opening up their studios and hosting galleries and free demo's.
I went to the openhouse last night, and it was fantastic. Hope to see you there!