five tips / find your voice and get unstuck

Dear Marta, As a blogger, I get caught in between two schools of thought. On the one hand, I want to only post really great content that I'm super proud of. I want everything I post to be worth sharing and reading (and pinning!). On the other hand, I want to free myself from my perfectionist tendencies and just go ahead and post when something is current and fresh on my mind, even if what I want to share isn't absolutely AMAZING or the photos weren't taken in the ideal light. I have a tendency to over-think things so much that I end up doing nothing. I've heard it called analysis paralysis -- which is a great way to describe how STUCK I feel sometimes! Any tips for getting unstuck?! 


oh dear. i have been there. i sometimes live in the pockets of unsure-ity. it's like taking a bumpy bus ride from insecurity-ville thru rut town all the way to doubtful knob lane. get off that bus, my friend. i hope you've already read my feelings on blogging and jealousy. it's hard not to fall into a trap of comparisons. in life. in blogging. in motherhood. in looking in the mirror every morning. in everything we do. if you're not comparing yourself to someone else than you are perhaps comparing yourself to the person you WISH you were, but aren't yet. you have this ideal of who you'd like to become but can never get there because taking those steps means you have to face facts that you aren't perfect yet. and this is hard reality. so we stew. and never do. and that is the downward spiral of perfectionism. oh, i too, have many a plans and projects that sit undone because i have deemed myself not ready for them. more like, not worthy of them. i don't even want to attempt certain things because i know they will not be all that i make them out to be in my mind. so i sit empty handed instead of feeling accomplished or proud of myself. i know your question is about blogging, but i want to open it up to more than just blogging. here are my five tips to get unstuck and let loose. 


 tip #1. practice. practice. practice. this is boring advice, i know. no one likes to hear that you have to practice something. we all want results and we all want them fast. we want to be a power blogger. right now. we want to be a better writer. right now. we want to be more fashion forward. better with money. less shy and more outgoing. we want so easily and yet, it is so hard to do. but, if i am honest with myself, in everything i do that i am somewhat successful at, it is because i've practiced. and, my husband has downed enough burned cookies to know that i am still practicing my baking skills. this is what i know: the more you do something, the more you understand it, the more you feel comfortable with it, the more you can play and have fun with it, and the less tedious it is, the more natural it becomes. the more you understand how to tango with it, the more confidence comes with all the practice that has naturally evolved. this has been my experience with learning photoshop and illustrator, in learning how to blog in my own voice, in learning how to run my own graphic design business. and learning to let go and just be me in a party full of intimidating and fabulous guests. pick something you want to be better at and practice becoming your favorite self. a little at a time. don't stress about the huge hurdles. you'll find yourself understanding more and more as you keep at it! 


 tip #2. my creative writing teacher used to advise, stop whining and put your head down and write. admittedly practicing is not always so fun. sometimes just the word 'practice' gives me hives. it feels like a chore. if you can fool yourself into practicing, then maybe you'll learn something somewhat by accident! for example; i named my blog martawrites because i crave to be a real writer. i want all those gushy lovely prose to pour out of me. but usually they do not come. usually i am not so bold or creative or thoughtful to think up such amazing pieces of writing. however, i do know that nothing would ever pour out of me if i did not at least TRY. therefore, i've fooled myself into writing practice every day by just blogging. i love that this medium is giving me the excuse to write even without me really noticing it. it doesn't feel so hard to write because i have fallen in love with blogging and blogging doesn't feel like writing. give yourself an assignment like photographing your next door neighbor's newborn and figure out your camera as you are experimenting. you will please a new mama with lovely pictures and you'll have learned new lessons by simply doing what you crave to do. going back to my baking lessons; i always sign up for desserts on our church lists because i need to fool myself into practicing baking them. and thus last month, i figured out how to flip a cake out of the pan without any crumbs sticking. 


 tip #3. sometimes it (whatever it is you're working on) needs a little time to breathe and evolve organically. for awhile and sometimes still, i feel like my blog is way too all over the place. every blog conference i've attended warns that you must have a niche to be a successful blogger. but frankly, i figured out that for me i don't really belong in a niche. my blogging style is crazy and random and off the top of my head and that's the way i spill my words the best. those of you who can hack it have stayed with me. hooray. you have to do what's right for you. you have to be brave enough to let loose and let go of your need for perfectionism. you cannot figure out what you want to blog about if you never blog. you cannot find your voice in blogging if you never allow yourself to get comfortable using it. you can never learn what your readers connect with if you're constantly editing your work and giving yourself negative feedback and pulling back on your original content. you will not get better at something if you never really start with your whole heart. you will never know what the genuine words of your voice are saying if you're gagging your words with a spoon. "slotted spoons don't hold much soup." that is my favorite line from the musical, into the woods. figure out what it means for you. 


 tip #4. do or do not, there is no try, words from yoda. lets review: figure out what it is you want most and figure out a way to do it. practice it. fool yourself into practicing and do not be so hard on yourself. let your rough drafts breathe. allow yourself to be imperfect. some of my favorite pieces from famous artists are the ones that were tossed to the side, the rare peeks at their scribbles. sometimes a masterpiece can come from doodling in the margins. van gogh drew little sketches in his letters to his brother, theo. let yourself be at ease with your art (and yourself). it's okay to let the mistakes show.


tip #5. when faced with a problem, step back and take your own advice. what would you say to a friend who was struggling with a similar problem? think of what you'd tell her and then take your own advice. i like writing these types of blog posts because it reminds me to actually practice what i preach. ease up the pressure; think of your goal and break it down into simple segments. do not focus so much on the outcome of what you want to accomplish (a gorgeous inspirational blog, an incredible six pack, shiny hair that just won't quit), but rather hone in on the journey of it (continuing to figure out what posts you like to write and brushing up on your photography, figuring out the next rockin' playlist that will get you movin, deep conditioning like a maniac). make it a manageable goal rather than something that feels overwhelming. take baby steps and you'll find yourself refining your art. take small bites and overcome your feelings of self doubt and stage fright (and feel proud of every batch you do not burn). you can do this. xo. marta

traditional trail mix and a personal Q&A

a long-standing tradition in my family has been whipping up a giant batch of conference trail mix in honor of the semi-annual LDS general conference (an incredible, two day televised event featuring speakers who discuss topics of faith, family and God). as young kids we'd use the pieces to fill in the squares of conference bingo; as adults we all munch thru cup fulls and give most of the nuts and raisins to my dad. i loved sitting atop the counter as a little girl to help my mom dump in and stir the treats together. every year the mix seemed to feature additional candy options: chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter m&m's, craisins, etc. she liked to make a little twist on the traditional treat. however–ever since i can remember–gumdrops are always an essential. and on goes the tradition in my little family. happy general conference weekend.

side note // today i'm answering some fun questions for a Blogger Q&A over on jodie's fantastic blog. i'm divulging my favorite comfort foods, first movie star crush, bad habits, and much more.

five tips / getting personal with blogging

truth be told, i'm running low on new blogging ideas. i'm designing two wedding invitation suites and am in the midst of two book layouts, so all my creative juices are currently at full capacity elsewhere. but you know i love blogging about blogging. so i had an idea. why not let you in on some personal emails i've been exchanging? lately i've been answering emails from awesome people. (do you have a question for me? shoot it my way.) in this post you'll find my two cents (and then some) on helping a certain someone give more genuine personality to their design-ey / professional blog. 

...now, please know that i really, truly LOVE and adore your blog AS IS. i think it's clean and cohesive and fabulous in every way. your photos are amazing and your work and style really stand out. i can tell you are an amazing designer without knowing what you had for lunch or what is hanging on your walls or if you've branched out to neon skinny jeans.

but still, you asked for getting personal blogging tips and here is my advice for you... and this is somewhat funny coming from me, because i still tend to have plenty of DOUBTS about blogging. i am only affirmed by DOING IT and hearing kind comments from people like you! it's scary to be vulnerable and show REAL photos and tell REAL stories and be a real writer / blogger. it's so much easier to just blog about the fluff stuff; the material goods we're pining over, the foodie shots, to whine about the lady in front of you in the line at target and and say nothing from the heart. (the stuff from the heart takes a lot of time and effort to write!) but i always think i won't truly care about that fluff stuff in eighty years. i WILL care about the REAL stuff. the real feelings and special moments; the routine of my days, the way my house looks, how i feel, what i did as a young mom, what we did as a family, what projects i'm working on, what thoughts are brewing in my mind, etc. so here goes on taking baby steps...

tip #1. you'll have to decide what boundaries you want to create for yourself. how much of yourself and family will you share? will you call them by name? post pictures? it's important to decide what you will and will not share openly on the internet. it's a big deal and you should be careful about what you do and don't post. decide what works for you! my most open-hearted posts are usually read by dan first because i care about his opinion.

tip #2. i think words are golden; even though i love pretty photos of bloggers and their babies in central park and on the subway and foodie instagram shots, i still think readers want to know what's inside your head. it doesn't have to be poetic or perfect, it just has to be in your own words. (i know i'd love to hear more about YOU and what your studio looks like, and hear about the behind the scenes stuff! i'd love to know how you manage your time and what your days look like.. and how you've grown your business.)

tip #3. you have to shut off the voice that says you're being narcissistic. frankly, it's kinda the name of the game in blogging. however i think you can come from a good, humble place and showcase your work / family / home / etc. without being overbearing or all lookey lookey. if your intent comes from a genuine place readers will be able to know you better. a blog is a diary and a diary is personal and being personal has the potential to connect you in new ways to new people. it's incredible the reaching power it has. (would we be emailing each other right now if you hadn't first read my blog!?)

tip #4. you don't have to be an expert in pancakes to post your famous recipe. sharing is caring. and sharing a good recipe or tip is not the same thing as bragging about how rad you are. a lot of blogs get very braggy very quickly. my advice is to post what you want; post what you want to remember, post things that you love, post whatever is meaningful to you in the moment (if you're interested in a certain topic, there is a good chance your readers will be into it too). everyone always wants a good recommendation; whether it's lipstick shades or throw pillows (i know your house decor is amazing). remember, you're not claiming that you're the next NATE BERKUS by giving us a mini tour of your place, you're just telling us what works for you in your home and in your life... and that is great. (personally i love knowing where people get great house stuff, how they're organizing their storage, what their nurseries look like. you're not bragging, you're just giving us good information that we can utilize in our own lives!)

tip #5. seek out inspiration for blogging and make lists! i know you love lists. so when a good idea comes for blogging, make a stockpile of potential posts. this is much harder to do as a personal blogger, but once you start thinking seriously about what kind of posts will matter to you (and are worth your time!), more ideas will grow. and one more thing, do not focus on stats or the total number of comments you get every day. this will absolutely kill your blogging spirit. another source of inspiration is your google reader! check out your favorite blogs and ask yourself specifically what you like about their blogs. what about those blogs keep you coming back for more? see if you can implement some of those elements in your own way to rev up your blog writing.

bonus tip. don't think about it too hard. blogging ought to be fun. whenever a writer dissects their writing–revising and editing it to death–it loses its authentic light. let your words be. let them have the spotlight. especially with blogging. this is an amazing forum where writers get to publish their rough drafts to the world. don't be too critical and try hard not to doubt yourself. confidence only grows when we use it; be bold. 

xo. marta

pen happy / the latest and greatest of the season

here's the skinny. pens are important to me. i'm very particular about them and can't really put my finger on the specifics; but i will tell you this. i don't do well with your regular ballpoint pen. my handwriting sucks with those. my mom writes beautiful cursive (the same cursive she's had since her twenties) with her collection of ballpoint pens, so i believe they work for some people. they've just never done me any favors. i lean toward gel pens and liquid pens, i keep blotting papers at the ready as some can be a bit of a smeary mess. the ones pictured above are more 'marker-y' which is fun for large writing, fast writing and list taking. i make lists in bed (and sometimes at breakfast too). are you bored of hearing about pens yet? i hope not.

here's the line-up of my latest finds.

+ the colored pens are liquid flair, in medium by papermate. i loved them so much, i got a rainbow. they have a look of a fine sharpie, but i like the pen nib (if you can call it that) much better. you can lean it to the side so nicely. it does not smear and the medium size is perfect for jotting letters on smooth (or textured!) surfaces. or writing color-coded lists in bed. haven't done that yet, but plan to.

the black pen is my go-to for pretty much everything. pictured, from top to bottom.

+ pilot p-700, fine. this gel pen has been a longtime favorite of mine. no other pilot pens really live up to this one. and suddenly it is so hard to find. i hunt for it every time i am in an office supply store. i may have to resort to online shopping, which seems like an extreme measure. anyway, i am sucking the life out of the two i have left. i love this pen and am sad if i have to find another everyday black pen.

+ the zig vellum writer. two tips, i prefer the 0.5mm fine tip for letter writing, scrapbooking and other marking needs. it's a christmas card keeper.

+ the liquid flair, in medium by papermate. (see comments above.) these are my latest craze in pen addiction. they are excellent for journal writing too.

+ the pentel sign pen. love this one too. solid felt tip pen. creates a great medium-thick line; also available in awesome colors (seen in first photo). makes a bit thinner line than a fine point sharpie.

+ the fine point sharpie. my fallback for all thick writing. i love scrawling it across envelopes, packages and grocery lists. it's mighty and makes things feel extra important. i love all the colors, but tend to buy them only in red and black.

// now your turn. do you have a favorite pen i should know about?

labels & clear storage containers. / latest excitement.

labeled cords hung inside a closet door.  / clear storage is the name of the game in my studio.

thank you for the nice comments. you guys rock. and i love answering your questions. especially when i think i have the answer! a reader asked to know a few things about home organization. i will be divulging any tips i think are worthwhile and making organization a whole new category here on my blog. yay. i'm all about discreet storage when it comes to boring gizmos, jumbles of toys, personal items or creating a streamlined space, but i must say, clear storage (especially for colorful craft supplies!) is my new favorite thing in the world. four basics to remember...

+ SORT / by size, by type, by color, whatever. sort it the way that makes the most sense to you.

+ GIVE IT A HOME / decide how often you use the item (or hope to use the item) and give it room at the inn. a crowded space is an unhappy space. sometimes dividing your collection is nice too. i have cleaning supplies upstairs and downstairs and in bathrooms, i need all the motivation i can get.

+ LABELS / i used to make fun of my mom for labeling everything. (sorry mom.) now i totally get it. no wonder she ran a tight household of seven children. mother knows best. i like making my labels basic, easy to re-create in a pinch if i switch contents from containers.

+ LOOKS COUNT / i've been trying to choose pretty containers (on a budget) and since i'm so visually inclined (or forgetful), it works for me if the containers are clear. glass is especially nice. a lid is also awesome. but un-lidded is also essential for the must-haves like favorite pens, scissors, rubberbands, thumbtacks, etc.

// resources
corkboard tiles at Target
6-up hanging pouch system at Ikea
binder clips in junk drawer
glass jars inherited from grandmother's basement
small craft containers at Wal-Mart
lidded cookie jars at Wal-Mart or Target 

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Q+A session / managing photos & memorabilia

i would love to know how you organize your memorabilia and keep record. Do you scrapbook, use photo albums, journals (what format), yearly photo books? 

wow. this is a mighty good question. one that motivates me to get back on the saddle, so to speak. it's no secret that i am a firm believer in documenting life. i feel that it's not only therapeutic and fun but necessary for generations to come. my dad is a historian. personal stories keep his business humming. i really love that.

i've kept a diary ever since i could write. since high school i've preferred nicely bound books with blank pages. i also think spiral-bound sketch books are handy to have for letting my thoughts slide recklessly and collaging bits of memorabilia and magazine clippings. i love sketch-books with thick cotton paper (black or white), sturdy enough to get the job done. i have dozens of these sketch books that illustrate my passions from certain eras of my life. in fact, my cousin whitney (her blog, her pins) and i used to create collage books for each other on our birthdays, filled with favorite quotes and inside jokes. they are among my treasured possessions and always inspire me when i need a lift.

however, i must admit that my journal writing ebbs and flows. i've been a very bad diary-writer since last year. i am so grateful i felt the urgency to type out my experience with my miscarriage on this blog as i had no energy whatsoever to write it out in my journal. i regret that i didn't pour myself into writing at that time. though, i can't beat myself up about it now. when you are sad, you are just sad and sometimes that takes precedence over other things. sometimes healing (getting through it, surviving it, moving forward) is more important.

still, i am so glad i have at least one post from the perspective of that event while it was so raw. there is nothing like reading something from the recent moments of a life-altering event. which is why i wrote like a real writer when i got married and later, when i had a baby. i knew i wanted to capture my fresh thoughts up in those special moments. i love that quote that no one likes to write, but everyone loves to have written. i couldn't agree more. i love re-reading diary entries wherein my thoughts are all tumbling around uncertainties and i am tangled up in wondering where my life will lead. it's like a sigh of relief now knowing how some of those issues solved themselves; how those tough spots really were defining events.

and yet i love re-reading the seemingly insignificant entries too. those hold the best gems. my first graphic design job in california (the terrifying, the good, the bad and the ugly), the boys i liked in high school, our family vacations, life when dan was in law school, making ends meet (barely) as a newlywed, oh and all the christmas presents i received from the time i was six to eleven years old (for a period of my life the only thing i ever wrote down was where i went on field trips, who i sat by in class, and what i received for christmas and birthdays... you know, the super important stuff of life).

another confession. i was a big scrapper when i was in high school, when pages were filled with stickers and homemade cut out block letters. i had no fancy machines assisting me; just a pack of markers, photos, scissors, double stick tape and a long dining room table. i loved scrapbooking and am happy all my awesome prom pictures are pasted in for viewing (and ridiculing) for generations to come. later i would work at a scrapbooking store and start to despise the craft. this exposes how narrow minded i can be. once all the options (oh the options) like eyelet setters hit the scene, my love for scrapbooking petered out. i felt like i couldn't keep up. like my style didn't fit in. and when it comes to scrapbooking, if i can't do it right, i'm not going to do it at all. now that i'm older and wiser and over-myself, i am working up the guts to put together a simple scrapbook of benji's life, with narrowed-down favorite photos and memorabilia from his baby-hood.

for now, i keep yearly photo albums. i like the albums with blank space to jot the details in next to the slide-in photo insert. once benji came along the one album a year morphed into two albums a year (with extra photos stashed in my closet). mainly, my goal is simple. get digital pictures printed in small batches. i like keeping my expectations low in this area of life. if it's too complicated, i know i'll give up. i have a folder on my desktop labeled Pics to Print and i throw my favorites into the folder when i am uploading files into my iphoto albums. i upload them to wal-mart or costco's website, order a few extras for grandparents, and feel like i've accomplished something! for special occasions i like to create mini photo albums. (kolo brand has exceptional products.) i'm also delighted that my family started a christmas family scrapbook, wherein every family designs one page (front and back) summing up the bests of their year and sends out copies (with page protectors) to the siblings every christmas. flipping through it is a quick trip down memory lane. i love it and highly recommend it for large families.

when it comes to documenting my two year old, i have a lidded box that i found at michael's. it has rope handles and is decorated with sweet illustrations of tricycles and wagons and is very little boy. i think it's important that you love the album, book or box that you choose, as it will become even more special to you over the years. i put everything meaningful (that i plan on scrapbooking some day) into it. (knowing full well that it may never get put anywhere but the box.) i have saved baby shower cards, hospital bracelets, finger painted masterpieces, his newborn hat, little shoes and more. i love diving into it and knowing these precious items are in a safe place. keeping it on a shelf in his closet (with no stacks, clothes or books leaning on top of it) is the easiest way to preserve his little things. when he was only one month old i created a hard bound album all about waiting for him to come and his birthday from shutterfly and loved the results. (pictured in this post.) i also keep special treasures of mine in a hope chest that my grandma gave to me before she died. smaller items are saved in a music box. and stuff i can't seem to part with (notebooks from college, yearbooks, notes stuffed in high school lockers) are in a box somewhere in someone's basement.

and of course, the blog. i love that the blog is not only good writing practice for me, but is a daily documentation of the thoughts i am thinking, things we are doing, places we are going, roads we have traveled, photos i have taken, things i am making, ways we are living. because of that, blogging (even the most random of posts) is never a waste of time. reading other blogs inspires me in new ways of how to fold together the pages of my life; how to better my documentation. now your turn, i'd love to know, how do you document your life? what methods are you using to bottle up your best moments?

Q+A session / playing favorites

I'd love to know, what are some of your favorite things?

favorite movie of all time: dan in real life, when harry met sally, the power of one, the devil wears prada, pride & prejudice, rear window. 

favorite quote of all time: i have so many favorite quotes but this one always sticks with me. Rise to the divinity within you. - President Gordon B. Hinckley 

favorite dessert: i thoroughly adore mint brownies, peanut butter m&m's and my mom's red velvet cake. lets just say, i rarely turn down dessert.

favorite song of all time: ain't no mountain high enough. i will never tire of that one. or anything counting crows, acoustic. or more recently, her morning elegance by oren lavie (thank you, julia for introducing it to me). coldplay, adele, ingrid, florence + the machine, showtunes, paul simon and taylor swift are always welcome in my car.

favorite restaurant: in salt lake city it would have to be the porcupine, bambara, cafe rio or cucina cafe in the avenues. in idaho falls it would have to be snake bite. in costa mesa california, it would be plum's cafe for their fabulous coconut french toast.

favorite perfume: i love Fresh lemon sugar, Flowerbomb, (and recently re-discovered) Blackberry & Vanilla by Trish McEvoy. am a huge fan of the travel friendly roll-on size. 

favorite magazines: martha stewart weddings, InStyle, O, and real simple.

favorite date night: i love simple dates; roaming barnes and noble, having chinese take-out with a soda pop, watching movies with piles of quilts. i've never been big on bowling or mini golf. though i do love watching dan roller skate. 

favorite summer makeup: laura mercier tinted moisturizer, bobbi brown long wear cream shadow in beach honey and clinique superbalm gloss in raspberry. and peppy nail polish.

favorite tv show: project runway, bethenny, ellen, jimmy kimmel and E news.    

favorite guilty pleasures: browsing an adorably over-stuffed boutique bookshop with someone like my mom, ribbon, reality tv (see above), long hot showers, pinning, laying in the sunshine, snapping pictures out the window on road trips with dan, chatting with my parents about their childhoods, singing songs with benji, baking, tossing out random items from my fridge, staying up late, wrapping gifts in baker's twine, getting my chores done early, collecting pretty sets of stationery, typing long text messages, buying movie snacks at wal-mart and stashing them in a hiding spot, lying in a bed of freshly laundered sheets, sending (or receiving) surprises in the mail.

family camping Q&A

thanks for all the kind words about our yellowstone camping trip. sounds like so many of you have made happy memories there. i wanted to wrap up my vacation posts up by answering your camping questions in a little Q&A session. here goes. if you have any other camping related questions, feel free to ask in the comment section. head over to my formspring page if you have general questions for me.

Q. What do you like to put inside your tinfoil dinners?
A. we like to include the basics; ground beef (or steak), onion soup mix, chopped sweet potatoes or classic idaho potatoes, baby carrots, onions and seasoning. i really enjoyed stephanie's great tutorial about making tinfoil dinners. be sure to fold it up tight and jot your name on it with a permanent marker.

campfire cooking should always be a little bit experimental. we brought along some refrigerated dinner roll dough and wrapped it up in buttered tinfoil and cooked it for 10 minutes on the coals. we've also cored apples and packed kraft caramels, brown sugar and oats inside for an delicious tinfoil apple crisp.

we pack individual instant oatmeal packets in a ziplock with packets of hot chocolate. a breakfast of champions. prepped foods that just need hot water is a perfect quick meal. packets of ramen noodles and easy mac are great for kids.

Q. What type of hiking backpack did you use to carry your toddler in?
A. we borrowed a friend's carrier to use while hiking. (thank you julie!) it was a kelty brand and completely perfect for our needs. dan said it was super comfortable too.

Q. Where did you camp and hike while you were in Montana?
A. we camped out in Hyalite Canyon and hiked Grotto Falls. one of the prettiest places i've been. just driving along the windy woodsy roads was breathtaking.

Q. What are your tips for camping with kids? Do's, don'ts and must haves?
A. like any traveling you do with kids, be prepared! bring along surprise goodies for the road and activities for them to entertain themselves. read my how-to for roadtripping with the family and some of your tips on vacationing with a baby here.

everyone needs their own hat, water bottle, plate / bowl & utensils, warm layers (i loved dressing our son in a warm plaid shirt that had a fuzzy lining inside), sturdy shoes and even a backpack that they can carry. older kids would likely love to snap shots with their own camera!

take along a game of cards, connect four, storybooks, a bottle of bubbles and/or a frisbee. anything that can entertain the kids while waiting for the campfire to get going and water to boil for dinner. this is a good time to get jammies on and go on a walk to meet the neighbors. (we happened to chit chat with a very nice man from holland and see another who slept in a hammock under the stars!) kids love exploring and counting pine cones and spotting squirrels.

be sure to bring their favorite blanket or stuffed animal and some books to make them feel at home. after familiarizing our son with the tent, he went down like a dream. we read him stories, sang a song and tucked him in like we always do.

maintaining an organized living space helps keep me sane while on the road. we separate the smaller camp supplies into three bins. we use a small cooler for ice, juice, milk, butter and anything else that needs to stay cold. a larger cooler holds all other food and snacks (this makes it easy that it's all in one place. i keep cups, dishes and bibs inside too. i keep a small serrated knife–wrapped in a towel–in there for slicing fresh fruit for hungry toddlers.) we also have a medium size clear rubbermaid bin that we call our camping chuck box. it holds our small fold-up camping stove, scissors, an axe, matches, a ziplock of saved up dryer lint for starting fires, spf. and bug spray, tarps, bungee cords, parachute cord, wet wipes, a sharp kitchen knife, a hand towel, a large spoon for stirring, travel size dish soap, and other must-haves for camp outs. after our trip, we clean it out and replace anything that needs replacing and store it away for the next camping trip. half the work is already done! i also keep a list of the contents taped inside the clear container so we know what should be packed inside.

bring along an extra duffle bag to act as a hamper to store all the dirty clothes. prepare to do tons of laundry when you get home! and when you're emptying out the cooler after your trip, put all the leftover perishables away and empty it out. put your camping dishes inside the cooler and take the whole thing to your bathtub. fill up the cooler and wash all the supplies at once with warm water and dishwashing soap. 

Q. What did you do to prepare your Yellowstone camp out itinerary?
A. dan did most of the prep for this trip! he reserved a camp spot online. then he browsed the library and brought home an armful of travel books to plan for yellowstone. these were are three favorite resources:  

Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks by Brian Kevin
The Rangers Guide to Yellowstone by Susan & Phil Frank  
Family Fun in Montana by Chris Boyd  
the PBS National Parks movie with Ken Burns is amazing too.

yellowstone park is so huge, it's like attempting to see the entire Louvre museum in one day! pace yourselves and enjoy all the beautiful surroundings as you go. there are plenty of rangers to tell you about good hikes for your family. bring along some books on cd and enjoy the drive through nature. get some bear spray (and read the directions before you leave)! don't be too nervous about camping at yellowstone. there are plenty of rules set up so there are rarely any troubles with animals coming into the campgrounds. plus, with plenty of campers camping around you, there's a sense of safeness. and if you own a pair of binoculars, be sure to bring them too. most of your animal interaction will be from your own car! you are sure to have a wonderful time together. it's such a perfect excuse to unplug from distractions and enjoy your family's company.

cheers + thanks

dan and i clinking cheers with sparkling apple cider.

thanks for all the niceness about our vacation snapshots.
here are the answers to your questions.

my dress (sadly no longer available) and ruffly swimsuit are from Boden.
the yellow flower in my hair is from j crew. i love it.
anne picked it out, shockingly it matched my dress perfectly.
my plaid shorts and benji's striped tie are from H&M.
benji's beach sandals are from Target.
my toenails, pamplona purple by O.P.I.
and yes, we really do love our Bob running stroller.

i always love q+a sessions. send yours to marta@martawrites.com.
p.s. don't miss the mini diary up for grabs over on mary's blog.

answers: opening an online shop

whenever i receive a general question in my inbox, i like to post it here just in case others may have the same query. two birds, one stone. even though i don't believe in harming any birds with any stones altogether. even still, this question came from a darling blog friend who is hoping to open an etsy shop soon. i tend to collect etsy shop questions and i'm happy to answer them. but i must say, i'm not technically an etsy shopkeeper; my mini mart shop is hosted by big cartel, a small online entity. but in general, i hope i can help with your businessey questions. these sorts of technicalities remind me of when a relative asks dan a lawyer-type question and he gives his best answer but then goes onto say that he is however not licensed in any other state than idaho... it's cute. i love that my lawyer husband loves playing by the rules.

here we go.

Q. How do you calculate shipping charges?

A. this will take a bit of trial and error. there are plenty of places to ship goods (UPS, Fed Ex, USPS). you have to figure out which will work best for your goodies. i'm all about supporting the US Postal Service. so here's my advice. take your goods to the post office and actually mail them off. to your mom or your best friend; it's a trial run. package them up in quality packaging; figure out what type of box or envelope or mailer will fit your items best. calculate the cost of the outer packaging, any bubble wrap or filler you may need, labels, and postage. if you wrap your item in a special glassine bag or cellophane wrap, add those costs in too. the usps priority mail system is awesome; they have a few sizes of boxes. (which are free by the way, i always load up while i'm there. the small box fits my 5 pack of diaries perfectly.) they go anywhere (with any weight) for a flat fee.

for your first few orders, i'd recommend standing in line and talking to a postal worker. (strap your toddler in a stroller and be prepared with fruit snacks.) ask a lot of questions, become best friends with the postal workers. they don't seem so grumpy once you ask for their expertise! ask how long it might take to get to certain places with first class mail, any various shipping methods, cool stamps (my new favorites), shipping boxes and so on. once you get the hang of it, you will know exactly what packaging to use, prep your orders and take them to the automated postal center available 24/7 in many usps locations. so swift, so awesome.

another tip i've recently come to love is paypal shipping options. calculate shipping and simply print the labels on your own printer. a little less personal than handwriting each mailing label, but it saves a lot of time and effort with a whole batch. depending on how large your packages are, it can be a quick drive-by drop for all your shipping needs. if you have lots of orders to fill, congrats, use the "multi-orders label" option in paypal. it's a genius method in dealing with a dozen orders. you'll never look back.

one more thing, be sure you calculate your extra costs and handling services within the fee. international packages are always more work for me. therefore i charge a bit more for the special attention they require. most of my international orders happen to come from australia and i've had return customers, so they seem to be pleased!

Q. Do I need a scale to weigh items for mailing?

A. yes! i highly recommend one, especially if you're using the paypal shipping options. i purchased mine last year and wondered what took me so long. they are around $20 and available at any office supply store. weigh your packaged item and enter the weight into paypal and print out an appropriate label. soon you'll have most of the weights memorized and won't have to weigh each one. for example, i now know that two mini diaries weigh about 6 oz.

Q. Do you have a separate credit card for business type purchases?

A. in fact, i do! i like to keep all my receipts separate, in my business folder. i can look back, see what i've ordered and track what i've spent. keeping all my business purchases separate makes figuring out taxes so much easier. plus, it's so easy peasy to get a paypal debit card and then there is no need to set up another business bank account. for me, it works perfectly. depending on the size of your business, you may want to set up a new checking account for all that dough you're about to reel in!

Q. I am thinking of switching my email, but that prospect makes me nervous, any thoughts on this?

A. i think it's a good idea, especially if you want your email to match your business name. choose an excellent and trustworthy option like gmail. i can't say enough good things about gmail services. like i've said before, it really is the train station to all your comings and goings of your online business. i love that i can archive emails and search for emails with a keyword. i can make a file for my mini diary orders and also search a familiar name and see how many times they've ordered and maybe throw in an extra goodie for being a return customer. while you're setting up shop, you might as well launch a new email as well. be sure to include your signature (blog or shop url address) at the bottom of your email too. it will double as an instant shop advertisement when you email everyone to let them know your email has been switched! good luck opening shop.


send your questions to marta{at}martawrites{dot}com.
psst.. more expert advice found in my blogging & business workbook.

blogging & jealousy

Q: It seems obvious that blogging has brought a lot of good things into your life, but has it brought any challenges? I sometimes think the blogging world breeds jealousy among women? Have you had any issues like these?

A: wow. what a fantastic question. it came to me anonymously via formspring, but i thought this week's workshop was a good time to pull it onto the blog to answer it and gain your insights on the matter too.

yes, blogging is good. as if i haven't mentioned that enough. among other things, i appreciate the friendships made, the clients gained, the outlet of creativity, the exchange of good ideas, the communication with outsiders, and the inspiration from one and all. if i didn't love or believe in blogging i wouldn't pour myself into it as i do.

that being said, like anything, the good and bad go hand in hand. blogging is like taking a dog for a walk in the park. the sun is shining warm rays, you are happy to have a day off to play, your dog is jumping with joy, fetching his frisbee, all is well and dandy. everything about the experience is a delight. yet still the time must come when you have to carry his crap in a little baggie. it's not pleasant in the least. and you don't necessarily love that particular aspect of living with your four legged friend, however you deal with it and life goes on. like blogging, you deal with the crap so you can enjoy the good.

the crappy parts of blogging come in a number of forms; i will name a few. you are fearful about putting yourself out there. you feel greedy; you want what they have. you care too much of what others may think. you don't get any comments. you can't think up anything original to post about. you copy and paste everything onto your own blog. you are inspired by others but feel that you cannot possibly inspire others. you get sucked into everyone else's life. you are green with envy. you have unreal assumptions about bloggers. you start thinking everyone is more successful, talented, and all around better than you are. sound familiar??

if you start down this path, you'll begin to imagine that you are the only blogger who cannot cook, who cannot scrapbook, who cannot modge podge correctly, who cannot write hilarious memoirs, who cannot reupholster, who cannot be fashionable on a dime, who cannot be a fun mom, a darling wife or a super business woman all at once. and you can certainly not attempt to bake those tiny cupcake balls and dip them into little lollipops with sesame street character features that will be recognizable to your one year old at the party that you are throwing him that better be blogable, or else.

why do we do this? why do we become envious and want to become just like this person or that person. and most of them, people we've never even met in real life. we do not know that they are human. they may even have crooked teeth or large feet or a strange birthmark. we think they are, unlike ourselves, perfect in every way.

we should admire these people, but we must resist the urge of wanting to morph into them. for example, i can love miss bakerella and her genius one-of-a-kind idea of molding cake onto a stick and making it so cute you can hardly stand it. i can even applaud her creations with a standing ovation, without needing to be just like her. in an ideal world, we should appreciate what others do without comparing ourselves with them. we can be inspired. we can even attempt to do what another blogger does, but we do not have to hold ourselves up to the impossible standard that we conjure up in our heads. this breeds jealousy and self-doubt and horrible mood swings. i must admit, somedays i ball together all the bloggers i love and all the qualities i admire about them until i've created one giant super mommy monster blogger that looms over me. let me describe her to you.

she is currently traveling the states for her booktour. it just debuted on the new york times bestseller list, naturally. this is only the tip of the iceberg, people. she is on the cutting edge of fashion and music. she has an eye for design. she not only lunches with the rich and famous, but she is a darling mother and wife and cooks dinners from scratch every evening. she is down to earth and drop dead gorgeous. and talented too. she letterpressed her own wedding invitations. her dress was flown in from milan and she had her groom's name embroidered on the hem in tiffany blue to be her something blue. that night everyone went home with a smile and a hand-wrapped box of her famous mint truffles, which had their monograms on them. in coordinating calligraphy to match the menus.

her house is always clean and smells of pine-sol. she hunts consignment shops and flea markets for original vintage wares to fill her home. she found an antique birdcage and sprayed it gold just last week. oh and her baby wears all handsewn dresses. that were made of bamboo eco-friendly material that will never hurt the earth. and her baby has this name that is so graceful and classic, the sweetest name that no one has ever thought of before. and she uses cloth diapers too. she and her little one spend time learning about the world in their backyard butterfly aviary. her 18 month old can repeat the origins of each butterfly species, sing the alphabet, and control her cup so it never spills apple juice down her lacy peter pan collar. the family eats out of her vegetable garden and she bakes bread from organic bananas. she delivers it to neighbors, wrapped with organza silk ribbons, on birthdays.

she has tons of friends, hosts a girl's night every month and seems to be speaking at blogging conventions every season. she has never had an embarrassing moment, a bad hair day or a tacky prom dress. she is funny and sweet and thoughtful. she sends timely thank yous and answers every email in her inbox with flair. her ability to arrange flowers has been featured in magazines across the globe. annie leibovitz will be shooting her in the hamptons next summer. she has already bought (and blogged about) the strappy sandals she'll be wearing for it. she owns all the latest gadgets and has created her own app. she still has time to sing her babies to sleep and cuddle with her husband and keep the laundry folded round the clock. she never has any sort of breakdown about frivolous things like cranberry sauce or pitted black olives. she blogs freely without wasting time, whining about life, criticizing or copying others.

oh and she has a booming photography business on the side. did i mention that? she snaps shots of coordinating-clothed families on the train tracks and pregnant woman with their tanned bare bellies and newborns lying on overstuffed floral anthropologie chairs. speaking of anthropologie, she does the window displays for their santa barbara location. they fly her in on the weekends. afterwards she flies kites at the beach with disabled children and then sells the colorful kites on etsy.

a few weeks ago, she made cupcake pops for her husband's super bowl party. they looked like teeny tiny drew brees helmets. she is always thinking up the best ideas and would never serve something so menial as meatballs from a crockpot.

see, i too get carried away with blog envy! lately i've been dealing with it by reaching out and commenting more often on the blogs i love. even if they have 100+ comments already, i know that every comment counts, so i tell them how awesome i think their blog is, how great their story was or how i am inspired by their projects, etc. i try to be specific and leave a meaningful comment. we should give credit where credit is due and tell them we appreciate the fact that they are sharing a piece of themselves with us. this small tactic helps me stay grounded. if we let ourselves, we can be overwhelmed and overcome with so many fancy famed bloggers that do seemingly everything. talents we wish we had ourselves. why, i ask you, why does it always come back to ourselves? why can we not just be happy for others and leave ourselves out of it?! why are we so competitive?

if we stay true to ourselves, love ourselves, live a balanced life, we can cut the crap and simply enjoy what we do do. we can get real. see things as they are. we can gain joys from our own simple silly lives. no matter how unpicture-perfect they may seem. just do the best you can. be the olympian of your own life. from one imperfect blogger to the next, i beg of you please be happy with who you are, what you have to offer. and blog about that. my lengthy message today boils down to my motto in life. six little words.

u be u. i'll be me.

want to save this post as a resource? a printable version is available in my ebook, The Blogging & Business Workbook. You'll also find expertise from popular bloggers, dozens of great tips on blogging and articles on setting up your own online business.

basic photography tips

welcome to the first photography tell all by yours truly. i do not pretend to be a professional picture taker. i simply snapshot as i go. since you've shown some interest, i will divulge my tried and true tips. and spill my secrets. by no means are they revolutionary or inventive. simply basic. today i won't be getting into the essence of photoshopping photos. sometimes it's nice to hear a reminder that less is more. this is photography as i know it, just the basics. am here to remind you, one does not need a fancy camera, interchangeable lenses or even photoshop software to shoot a captivating photograph.

the equipment. i've received emails inquiring about which fantastic camera i use. nikon or canon? this always makes me smile. my camera is actually a sony brand cybershot digital camera. it's about six years old and boasts of five megapixels. you heard that right. five. your cell phone likely has a better camera inside of it. the sony website has an updated version of this camera that is sleek and super chic with 12.1 megapixels. however i inherited this little beauty from my dad and therefore it is like gold to me. no one forgets their first. and it takes pretty fine photos for it's old age. i am saving up for a new camera. i long for one that goes click click click in rapid succession (new model suggestions?) but for now i love that this one goes everywhere with me and i don't even mind if benji's fingerprints get all over it. so now you know that my camera is a perfectly plain basic digital shooter. listed below are my top tips and tricks for working magic behind the lens. amateur photographers, here we go.

the basics. turn off your flash. photograph everything in good light; dawn and dusk. experiment with focus and where the main subject is within your frame. off center is always an artistic look. try at least three varied angles for every subject.


this is one of my all time favorite pictures of my sweet little sunshine boy. he turned one month old that day and i needed photos for his birth announcements. we are early risers around here, so i began photographing benji during the morning hours. the sun spills in perfectly at 8 am and i rearrange the furniture around my subject to let the light shine in. i prefer to shoot at all angles to ensure i've made the most of the light and shadows.


this is a no-brainer. snapshot your life. all day, every day. it is in the ordinary details that we understand the extraordinary.


if you read this blog then you already know i love to snapshot things through and out of my car windows. drive by shooting is among my favorite methods of capturing the moment. this photo happened to be taken last weekend while i was driving. the scenic view through my icy windshield took my breath away. the picture is two stories; one of what i am looking at and one of what i'm looking through. it adds another dimension to a simple scenic shot. i like to shoot blind (not looking through the viewfinder) - so i can be a cautious safe driver. shooting blind always leads to an interesting and unique photograph. they always seem to be a pleasant surprise once i upload them, which i love.


benji's great-grandmother, bernice is always one to serve a delicious weekend breakfast with a french tablecloth, fruit, juice, pancakes and a special pitcher of warm syrup. she has been doing this since dan was a boy and surely years before that too. she is at ease whipping up a spontaneous meal with cheerful conversation. always ready with a cold dew for danny in the fridge and jam in the freezer as a take home gift. she is the best hostess ever. practice makes perfect. snapshot the people you love doing what they love to do.


close up shots are not to be feared. they are delightfully telling. i love the close up. intricate details and fantastic facial features and even crooked tooth flaws are vulnerable to the lens. close ups help us know that we are indeed different. each special in our own way. even blueberries.


if you are a regular reader of m.writes then you also know i am a lover of the bird's eye view. looking down from above. since i am a short person, i live my life literally looking up. usually on tip toes. i can't see much of anything if i'm in a huddle, at a concert, peering over a fence, etc. therefore when i get to have my cake and eat it too, i choose the grand perspective of glancing at things from above. you get to view whatever it is in all its glory. which is why i love this vantage point. i often scoot a chair (with the help of my little assistant) into place in the morning sunlight and shoot favorite items just for the fun of it.


the greatest thing about photography is that you can bottle up a moment. one that is fleeting. your child blowing out six candles, the dew on rosebuds after a spring thundershower, the walls after little hands have discovered crayons, the sunset over your camping tent. the clouds do it for me. ever constant yet ever changing. their shifting moods and the way they hold light and shadow always leave me in wonder.


thank you for indulging me in this session of photo basics 101.
i'd love to hear your tips for successful photos.

p.s. in the fall of 2010, i splurged on a new camera, the canon G11 point and shoot. it's an amazing piece of equipment if you're looking for something that is easy to tote along and still wonderful to (take off of auto) and play around with (and make movies with)! still, all the tips above can apply. read my personal review on my new camera here.

the four one one.

thank you for all the feedback about my latest endeavors. i so appreciate it. am over the moon excited to receive some interest in my calligraphy services. i've posted some additional envelope samples and a button in my sidebar. i would love to assist in making your invitations stand out on any red carpet amidst boring bills in any mailbox.

onto your questions + the nitty gritty

• the font from my september calendar is called sketch block.

• the book i just finished is called eat pray love. i have a lot to say about this book. and now i need a new book to read, one that can become my friend for the fall. suggestions?

• the babe is almost walking. but is a seasoned pro at wildly tossing his peas underfoot. benji is quite the one year old ham with such a happy disposition. (that is, when he is not in the barber chair. yes, he got his first haircut and looks like a dapper li'l chap.) i like to think he has his papa's sense of humor.

• am loving my mom's blog seminar. i told you, she does not disappoint.

• i made quiche and broccoli salad yesterday. eating my vegetables means i can have a scoop (or in my house, a ramee, short for ramekin) of peanut butter m&m's for dessert. i am not one to feel guilty about eating sweets. i rue the day i turn down dessert due to a diet. however, restraint is necessary to live with a sweet tooth like mine and since self-discipline is my weakness, we rarely ever keep anything irresistible (as in, i could eat the whole bag in one sitting) on hand.

• and for the record, starbursts can sit in my cupboard for months. jolly ranchers too. not that i don't love sweet and fruity. but there is just no competition when it comes to cinnamoney or minty or peanut buttery mixed with chocolatey. vanilla ice cream pays me rent.

• i use 0.7 pilot pens for my most importantest handwriting. when i ask dan to please hand me a good pen, he knows which i'm talking about. oh, to have a man who understands me and doesn't mock my idiosyncrasies. for thicker script, i turn to the ever classic, sharpie.



hope your september has started off kicky.

the little details

thank you, thank you for all the birthday love and good wishes. you are too too kind. benji and i lapped it up, right along with his 3 tier vanilla buttercream cake. thank goodness it turned out. mmm. yes, we've indulged in a lot of sweetness and sugar these past few days. more on the cake-a-thon later. for now i wanted to answer some questions i received about benji's birthday celebration.

• the goldfish jars are small plastic containers from Michael's craft.
• the donuts were from daylight donuts. i will take you there if you visit me.
• the pinwheels can be created with square scrapbook paper, pins & straws. diy.
• the pinwheel vases held raw pinto beans, i love using my food storage.
• a rolled up magazine page works as a great funnel for said beans and goldfish.
• benji's party hat came from a darling girl at little one boutique.


p.s. if you're in the need for silver, black or white pins (like the ones seen here), let me know. i have extras to sell. they would be great for a fancy cork board.

advice for small business owners

since blogging this week is all me, just me and nothing but me, i've decided to ask myself, what do i have to offer these people? what do i know? what can i say that is different than the rest? what pearls of wisdom can i possibly offer? hmmm. it's hard to be objective about this kind of thing. because like i said, i feel like it's all already out there. in neat, bulleted lists probably. like, right now you could easily google the next sentence i write and find something worthwhile to read (but since my blog is sometimes known as an unsolicited advice column, i may as well put my two cents in, while i have you here).

MY ADVICE ON MARKETING YOUR small BUSINESS.
i've been designing and crafting seriously for nine years now. most of those years i did not take myself seriously. i sat on the fence for a long time feeling wishy washy about my craft and selling my items. although i've always had supportive feedback, the little voice in my head often told me that i wasn't good enough, nor savvy enough nor even worth hiring. a few years back my brother (and personal guru) gave me loads of wise advice. first saying, marta, there will always be someone who might steal your ideas... your fears are no good reason to quit your craft. he always reminded me, you have nothing to lose. from that point on, i gave it a go. full steam ahead. and have picked up quite a few lessons while being a proud participant in the small business world. here is my take on it.

and so it begins. you have a passion for making handmade goods. you make them in your home, on your carpet even, while watching So You Think You Can Dance. not having a proper desk or studio space or sewing area does not slow you down. you are in heaven. your husband can't understand why you're so enraptured with these small goods, but is happy to see you so happy.

you start out by humbly giving them away as gifts. it's hard to, of course, because they have become like your children, you love each creation so much. but still, you want to share them, to spread them out, to give them a good life. suddenly and surprisingly, your sister calls and wants ten of them. wow! you write it down as your official first order (you don't know if she's just being nice or really, actually likes them. still you happily oblige). you don't care if you're really making money at this point, you're just having fun. later, you show your craft to your aunt at the reunion (just to make some conversation) and with her ecstatic ooohs and awwws you give her the one you're wearing. little do you realize, she is your new marketing agent. she shows it to her friends at lunch and emails you the next day begging you for a catalogue, promising loads of business from her thursday night Bunco group. now you need to whip up some orders, come up with prices, packaging and a business card to go along. eek! congratulations, you are in business, baby!

01. avoid an identity crisis. as soon as you know you want to sell your goods or services, come up with a name, a brand, a logo. make up some cards and start a blog and get out there. you'll immediately be taken more seriously and therefore you will take yourself more seriously. we are our own worst enemy when it comes to this.

let me guess, you feel bashful when your mom announces at the family party that she's wearing one of your one-of-a-kinds. you crawl into a corner and squirm with embarrassment. what you should do is take the free advertising with a big smile, even if your cheeks are turning pink. if someone comes and asks you about it, tell them the truth; you've started up a small business and you're really excited about it. (there is nothing wrong with being passionate about something! it's actually quite inspiring to see an artiste so involved in their work.) reach into your clutch and give them your new fancy business card or jot your website on a napkin if you have to. if you feel a bit silly, just say, am so glad you asked. i haven't had a chance to give these out yet. you can be humble and excited about your new endeavor.

you do not have to shout it from rooftops or drop hints left and right to everyone you know, but when the opportunity to talk about your new business comes up, jump at the chance! remember to make a good impression. new clients are everywhere. someone in your circle (or your mom's hair stylist's best friend's circle) might just be throwing a party next week and desperately needs forty-five of your originals asap! you're going to save her bacon. and since you came to her rescue, she is going to count on you forever more. believe me, this really happens. like i said, customers are everywhere. and remember, a happy customer is a loyal customer.

02. what price is right? shop around for prices of goods similar to yours. see what fits your items best. pricing your items is difficult but very important. (i promise you, there will always be someone who think you charge waaay too much, while there will always be someone who feels they've struck gold and loves you for it.) you must make it worth your efforts and time. think to yourself, if someone were to order fifty of these, would i still be smiling when tediously tending to the order or would i be feeling resentful at my too low of prices? be smart and cautious when it comes to pricing. be sure to think about how you will present your items (and take that price into consideration). keep in mind, people often pay for quality cuteness. i love buying online, shipping to a friend and knowing the item will arrive as an adorable gift for the recipient.

03. get organized. it pays to stay ahead of the game. when the day arrives that you get hundreds of hits on your shop, you want to be prepared. come up with a strategy for how to handle orders. print each one out or keep a tally with a spreadsheet. do whatever makes sense to you. i have a binder with sections: orders, custom orders, expenses, invoices, and so on. i keep a zippered pencil pouch in my binder and stick every receipt that has to do with keeping shop in it. after the new year, i remove all of last year's stuff and start anew, saving it all in a file for tax day.

04. to market, to market. now that you have a name, some goods, some confidence and a logo... set up shop. there is no stopping you! thankfully, there are infinite ways to sell your goods; host a party, start an Etsy shop or big cartel shop or sign up for a booth at your local farmer's market. whatever way you do, get the word out! it is not enough to just sell things. no one knows about it. no one at the grocery store knows that you are wearing a one-of-a-kind item that they could have too if they just happened to be brave enough to ask you about it. while snapping shots of your li'l precious swinging the monkey bars, no one knows you are actually a real knowledgeable professional. no one knows that you paint pretty pictures if they are all in your basement. get them out, dust them off, have them on display. have your business cards on hand, strike up conversation. be out there, but avoid being obnoxious. potential clients will never know you are the girl who makes the out of this world caramel apples unless you take them to the neighborhood potluck. this is when you have to be bold and invite others to browse your goods. and a tip for those of you who sell edible goods at a boutique or farmers market; samples, samples, samples. we have all tasted a darling yet disgusting baked good. therefore the proof is in the pudding.. or cookie, or cupcake or caramel..it is well worth it to keep them craving more.

you must announce your big coming out in one way or another if you want to receive any attention. send an email (just one, not a thousand) to your friends and family with a link to your new site. and be sure you toot your own horn. tell us your beads are sewn on by hand, that you use organic fabrics, that your goods are vegan friendly, that you make music blindfolded. explain why your goods are so special. if you really want someone to notice your shop (with high hopes they will put your link on their blog) send a personal email to them. be absolutely surely positive to spell their name right. explain why their opinion matters to you. be polite, not demanding or annoying. a li'l buttering up goes a long way. be yourself, be sweet, be genuine. send out a mailer with a coupon. send a freebie to your favorite blogger. attach your website to your email signature. get involved with blog giveaways (there are hundreds of them). put an ad on the web.

be sure to stick with your territory. think of your potential clients, get inside their brains. if you are selling rich chocolate fudge and swirly sprinkled vanilla cupcakes, do not sign up for a booth at the Think Yourself Thin convention. you'll get a lot of disapproving looks and hungry people asking if you use splenda. do yourself a favor and set up a sweets stand right outside the doors of the 2nd Annual Scrapbooking 'til Dawn-a-thon instead. (punch out letters for your banner with a cricut for extra brownie points.) you'll have a steady stream of happy, scrappy customers.


i hope this tidbit of marketing advice motivates you. believe in yourself and your craft. have fun with it. in my opinion, small business is the new big business. spread the word, be brave and get out there. once your product gets noticed, it will speak for itself. still, work hard to make a quality piece that people will appreciate. keep evolving, practicing and promoting. good luck.

if you have more questions, ask away.