What I am up to... business and life

I said I would start blogging more this year and so far it's been a bit challenging for me. Those of you who blog know the time it takes to put a quality post together with exceptional photography and interesting content. Then after all the work to post it to an audience they may not even give a rats... you know. Either way I have to remind myself that this blog is for me personally, to release some inner thoughts and to go over things brewing in my head to see if I am really thinking what I'm thinking... ya know... lol. Ok enough of the nonsense. I thought I would share with you today. What's been going on in my life.


My business has been my #1 concern right now as I am looking for things to switch it up, ways to be more creative and productive. One major thing I have decided to do is to start saying no to other money making opportunities that don't relate to my business. Things I always said yes to to get the chunk of cash I needed to get through the slower months of sales. Instead of draining my creative mind with those types of things I am using that to push myself to increase sales and come up with new ideas. It is a very tough choice but I can see that creating more focus does increase sales... maybe not as much as I was making with the other opportunities but I can see that it will improve.

Another thing I am working on with my business is more behind the scenes. The things that no one sees but overall can effect your business greatly. Things like keeping records, tracking sales, expenses, figuring out routines and creating a expenditure plan. I am all official now and I am excited to see tax time end so I can see how everything works out and figure out how to keep better records for the future. The other thing I am working on is a website which I am excited about. The website will be your go to for all Run 2 the Wild things as well as inspiration, a blog with a group of inspiring writers to motivate you and a shop which will carry not only jewels but limited edition work from some of my favorite artists.

I am also working on upping my wholesale game but this isn't any game for me. I want to be sure that any boutique that carries Run 2 the Wild has specific instructions on displays and up keep of the product. We won't be selling small quantities to boutiques anymore but rather they will be required to purchase packages to show off our brand's unique and professional qualities if they wish to carry our brand. We will be offering a catalog in the future so stay tuned.

Last but not least this time of the year I am working hard building inventory back up which is an insane amount of work after the holidays as well as stocking all our packing supplies back up. We have to prepare for spring festivals that will be here soon as well. Also I am super excited to have one of our most exciting spring collections yet that I am working hard on currently. Last but not least I am looking forward to our first intern that will join us in spring and we are hopeful that when fall rolls around we will be hiring help! Craziness right? Yeah it's got me all fluttered inside but that's a good thing.

I also want to say Thank you to all of the lovelies that write me messages and purchase from the shop. Every single purchase helps my business grow. I can't tell you the last time I bought myself a wardrobe... hense the reason for no wild style posts but it's because lately I have been pouring everything into this. So you all mean everything to me and I consider you all part of this.

Now for life... To be honest I couldn't be happier with my very simple life. Not sure if many of you know but we have 1 vehicle, a Volkswagen yellow bug with daisy rims that we share, we live in a small duplex that we own beside my sister and we have been trying to pinch every penny to save for another vehicle. We both have experienced what it is like to have debt and how it is when you have too many bills coming out and not enough cash coming in. So since moving into our home we decided that we would keep it simple and stay away from debt. It's hard sometimes to be stuck at the house when Justin has to work.  A baby who wants to go somewhere and an energetic husky who cries to get out as well but it is nice to not have to worry if the bills will be paid or if we can afford what we need for Juniper.

I couldn't be more thankful for what we have and everyday it makes me happy to have a safe warm place that I can decorate how I please. Once we get through tax time and we see how it effects me and my business we will hopefully be getting another vehicle that we will pay for in cash. I really need a bigger vehicle to carry around my dog and juniper as well as to carry my huge tent and displays for festivals. So this is really my only life dream at the moment besides getting out and meeting new people.

Tonight I get to spend some time with a group of ladies I don't know, book binding, thanks to a good fairly new friend who invited me. I have been praying for god to bring more people into my life that show me new things and give rather than take. I also just want to keep pushing myself out there to meet new people who are creative.

So that will have to wrap it up for now... since my little one just woke up from her nap. :) I would love to hear what you have been up to... leave me a line or two or 3 or whatever... I'll read it all lol

My Day in a Nutshell

Phew it seems like the days and nights are just blurring into one lately. With it being dark at 5 and still no snow in sight here in Kentucky I just seem to get less and less excited for christmas to get here. However the sales in the shop have kept me busy and I have been getting a couple sweet packages in the mail that keep my spirits high. So I wanted to show you my day in a nutshell.... I will explain along the way.

A couple days ago I ordered a calendar from MessyBedStudio on etsy. She is a blogging bud of mine and a awesome artist as well. She came up with the hand drawn fortune cookie wisdom calendar and I just couldn't help but get it. After all I am obsessed with fortune cookies!

The calendar was packed and printed with perfection. I couldn't have asked for better quality. Each page is a fortune that will uplift and keep you striving for goodness in your life. I really love it! I can't wait to hang it up for the new year and show you all! The first picture is my favorite part of the calendar but to see the rest you will just have to buy it yourself!

Then I received a lovely gift from my cousin who lives in Illinois. Her name is Taylor and she runs a shop on etsy too called Suite Potaytoes. She specializes in painted sugar skull masks... and made me this special one just for my shop! I really love handmade gifts more than anything else!

Now I just have to find a special place to hang it!!



I also got another postcard from the post art exchange today here is a sneak peak! For all of you who are participating don't forget to link your posts on the page and keep your eyes peeled for another special snail mail surprise!

Last but not least I spent nearly all of the sunshine part of the day packing all of this. Goodness!! I still have to pack the other half of all these orders tonight and tomorrow. I was a little embarrassed walking into the post office but I am glad I had Justin to help! Once again I am so thankful!

How has your day been!! P.S support some of these lovely shops this season! Maybe tomorrow I will show you my wannabe Christmas list!

Fabulous Friday: The day has come!

Today at 5:15 I go to the opening of the show my two works have been included in! Why is this such a big deal... because it's the first show/gallery I have ever been in!! I have only tried to get my work accepted one other time during my second year of college for a show held by the art student association. It was disappointing because I wasn't chosen. I actually tried to submit a work that was not finished. I was just so anxious to be in a show that I said on the description that the work wasn't finished. Looking back I can see why it wouldn't have been chosen but it definitely burned out my yearn for being in a show.

I have always had issues with my work. One of them being that I never know when to stop or finish a piece. Many of my professors would tell me that the saying less is more... did not define my work. In my case it was more is more and in a lot of ways it worked well but in some it didn't work at all. My second issue has always been finding consistency and developing from "craft" to "art". I really enjoy doing all forms of art but have not mastered or specialized in just one like most artists do. That's where I feel like my art turns into craft which is something I am not disappointed by but I would like to see it grow into something more.

So today begins a new chapter in my life where I can look at someone and confidently say I am an Artist. That's always been a hard thing to say. I am not just one of those people who thinks that word can be thrown around lightly. I tell the kids at my after school program that they are all artists. The thing is that children need the confidence boost and hope. When your an adult you have to prove your worth. Say what ever you want but no one is going to consider you what you think you are unless you prove it.

So I am so nervous, excited, scared and thrilled. So much that I have not officially invited anyone to come with me tomorrow. I just feel like I need to see it for myself before anyone else does but most likely I will be bringing my little sister if she doesn't end up working.

I am proud to say that I have overcome the feeling of more and I think etsy has helped me achieve that. I am also starting to discover the kind of art I like and need to create... which ties together the idea of craft becoming art. How ironic!?

Remember how I mentioned the other week about life changes throwing my life around... well it looks like those itty bitty changes have given me enough of a confidence boost to feel like I can achieve anything. Still wondering what will be the next thing to try to knock me down but trying at the same time to enjoy this little ride I am on right now in life. It seems to be looking up and the person I have always wanted to be seems to be in reach.