Write From The Past
Last evening, I was browsing some old articles I’d written online. I came across an article I’d wrote a few years back.
Bell and I have been butting heads this week, a lot, and work has been like a soap opera, to say the least. So when I read this:
“Sleeping bags are laid out inside and I huddle myself between them. Their eyes droop low before our story book is finished, and when I turn to tuck them in, I am amazed by their creation. A drawing on their castle wall brings tears. My daughter spelled out my name beside a bouquet of daisies.”
it made the day so much better.
You can read the rest of the article here entitled How To Build an Indoor Fort.
I believe Bell was in kindergarten when I wrote this. It’s those sweet moments when our children surprise us with their kind actions that really inspire us and touch our hearts. I was reminded again today, as the security guard at the bus stop told me how much Bell giving her a Valentine Card ment to her. It was the only Valentine Card she’d received.
As I sit here about to go back and revise another chapter of my manuscript, I think about how easy it would be for us to go back in our lives and revise the past. But there is a reason we can’t. And a reason we shouldnt’ regret. God has already written the next chapter, if we go back and revise what he has written, then we change the ending, change His purpose for us, and might miss going back and reading those small, sweet moments, in the past that held meaning to us.
“My daughter wrote out my name beside a bouquet of daisies.”
What little thing has your child done, that you think back upon today and it still touches your heart?
Putting Up Your Shop Banner
Sell Your Craft Online
Week #7
So you’ve dotted all your I’s and crossed your T’s, now it’s time to open up shop. There are three key ingredients that you’ll need, maybe you already have them.
You’ve chosen your name, and by now I’m guessing you’ve signed on with an online crafting community like etsy.com. You may have even decided to open a shop on eBay or another online site, congratulations.
If you haven’t yet, and you’ve done all the other steps of starting to sell your craft online, then this is the time to go for it.
The second ingredient is your product. You don’t have to have a lot, remember quality is better than quantity. You can build up your shop as you go.
Now all you need is your shop banner, the third ingredient, and probably the most important. Yes, even more important than your product. Your shop banner is the sign above the door to your virtual store. It welcomes customers into browse. It’s the first thing they see when they come into your shop. You’re product may lure them there, you’re banner will invite them to explore.
There are two ways to create a shop banner.
1. hire someone else to make it
2. make it yourself.
There are a lot of talented digital designers out there who will, for a price, create a shop banner for you. You can actually find a few by searching etsy.com’s shops or even just by googling for someone. Make sure if you’re hiring someone that you take a look at their work, compare prices, and get feedback from past clients.
Creating a shop banner on your own isn’t as hard as you may think. You can find instructions on Etsy’s blog making a shop banner and also in their forums for making a shop banner by using Microsoft Power Point. Bottom line… you don’t need a fancy program to make a creative and appropriate shop banner.
Take for instance your standard paint program on your computer. Take a favorite photo, cut it to the size of the banner and add some text. Put on your shop name and maybe what you sell – if it’s not obvious by the name of your shop.
Simply done. Or you can also check out the tutorial on blog banners that I did in the Get Your Blog on Series here on my website.
Now you try, or tell us how it’s done. Can’t wait to see them.
Hat-spur-ations
Today was the big derby for Boy. But I’d rather wait until friday and share photos of the big race. But I decided today would be something derby related. Of course the only other derby that came to my mind was Kentucky Derby. And, then I got to thinking about all the things that make up the derby beyond the car, beyond the horse, and it made me think of hats.
Yep hats.
Why hats? because wearing a hat to the Kentucky Derby is a really cool tradition and very creative way to inspire others. That, and it lets you show off your personality.
So today’s “Hat-spur-ation” is a collection of neat hats I found shopping on Etsy this afternoon. All of which I might wear to the Kentucky Derby someday. Want to help me pick?
This one comes from SmyleeBugz shop – Raising Cain. 
This one comes from Makowsky Millinery
Lower Family Update #4
Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve posted a Lower family update. I think we’re on #4, it probably should be more like number seven, but I’ll try to sum up the last few weeks without using sever cold, pink eye, or flu in too many sentences. No really, I’m happy to say that so far we seem to be winning the battle against germs and have fought them off successfully thus far and hopefully they won’t return again soon.
So working backwards to catch up, today, Bug and I visited the Albright Center here in town with her class. The kids all made valentines for the residence and they sang songs. Bug not only gave her valentine to an elderly woman … she gave the woman a hug too. It was a sweet moment.
Bell broke one of my dinner plates two nights ago. When I asked her what happened she said “It was an accident.” I was okay with that, I cleaned it up and would have helped her finish putting away the dishes had she not said to me in an arrogant voice, “Your lucky I caught the other one or they both would have been broke.” Sigh, I guess we’re going to have to go back to using plastic plates along with plastic cups in the house. It seems glass and ceramic aren’t safe in our house around the children. When bug wasnt two yet, she swiped a glass and took off running with it. Of course, the glass broke when she tripped, and she was lucky the cuts across her fingers were treated with liquid band-aid by the local ER. We switched to plastic glasses after that, and no I suppose dinnerware will have to wait until at least middle school now until we can use the ceramic stuff again. And my husband tried to say Corel doesn’t break…
We’ve had a mixture of weather here between snow and rain. It’s eerie and unpredictable at the same time. Although, I’m sure a weatherman somewhere will beg to differ with me.
Thanks to our church, Chad and I were able to enjoy dinner together at a local inn in the next town over for Valentine’s day. I so wish I had thought to bring my camera, so I could share a picture of the peanut-butter pie and chocolate pie we shared for dessert. The stake salad wasn’t bad either.
So now that we’ve some what caught up on life, let’s move to the future. I haven’t mentioned Boy yet. Well, tomorrow is the Pine Wood Derby, remember from my previous family update that it was cancelled and had to be moved to another date. It’s tomorrow. I’ll let you know how he makes out. Please pray we don’t get bad weather and spoil it again. Boy’s been really looking forward to racing his car.
And, tomorrow Girl Scout cookies will be in! Oh yes, lots and lots of cookies!! If you didn’t get a chance to order cookies, don’t sweat it, they’ll be available at cookie booths in front of stores and inside malls for the next month. Next year, Bug will be old enough to be a Daisy, then I’ll have two girl scouts and a cub scout. 
So, I’m off to prepare for the weekend. Work on some revisions, and maybe do something crafty in my studio. Hey, if I remember my camera I’ll share a photo of what my creative space looks like these days. Until then, have a wonderful weekend.
Homespun Words
I’ve finally been getting catch up on my usual blogs that I follow through my google reader, and have begun some revisions on an old title. But you know me, I love books, so when I saw this cute burlap fabric design by the homespun heart, I was inspired.
I hope it inspires you, too. 
Dotting Your I’s and Crossing Your T’s
Sell Your Craft Online
Week # 6
While you all are pausing and taking a break from writing those love notes in appreciation of Valentine’s day, I thought we’d move forward and talk about the next step of selling your craft online. Need to back up, you’ll find last week’s post here.
If you’re just starting to sell your craft online then there are a few forms you’re going to want to fill out in order to get started.
Already got your shop set-up? No problem, it never hurts to go back and make sure you’ve dotted all your I’s and crossed your T’s.
Selling your craft online give you a broader customer base than just putting a sign up in front of your lawn, for sure. However, just like putting up the sign on a new store front, you’ve got to register and file papers like everyone else.
Whether your writing articles for a magazine in Austria or sending post cards to Japan, the IRS doesn’t really care, just as long as you’ve filed the proper paperwork.
The IRS assumes that if an activity is carried on for profit and makes a profit 3 out of 5 years, that it is indeed a business vs a hobby.
So, basically. These are the forms you need to have filled out to keep yourself legit with the IRS.
Fictitious Name This differs by state so the following link will lead you to business.gov where you can choose your state. You only need to do this if you’re going to do business as a name other than your own. 411 – a bank won’t let you open a business bank account without this registration to prove the name change.
EIN An EIN is your business’s identification number. As a sole proprietor you have the option of using your social security number, but with the high rate of identity thief, it’s highly recommended that you get yourself an EIN for you business. Your EIN will establish who you are, type of business (single, partnership, or corp), and set you apart from other businesses. As a sole proprietor, having an EIN is not only more professional, but smart.
Sales and Use Tax. If you’re selling a product that requires the collection of sales tax, you’ll need to register for a sales tax number. Many craft fairs require this if you plan to take your craft to the streets. The quickest way to find this is to do a search for Your State Sales Tax. For example in Pennsylvania, you’d go to the PA DEPT OF REVENUE to apply for a sales and use tax licenses.
Employment Tax Think of this as your social security. When you quit your day job and sell your craft online full time, you’re no longer paying in social security and medicare taxes. This is where Self employment taxes come into play. Pay them and your safe for social security, don’t pay them and when you’re over 65 you’ll wish you had. Simply put.
On a side note, looking into a retirement plan whether you sell your craft full time or work for a company is still a smart idea.
You may also want to stop by the IRS Small Business and Self Employment Site and read Publication 1518 and Publication 4591 for tax calendar and responsibilities.
Then you’ll want to check with your state and city to make sure there are not any additional licenses and taxes that you need to handle. Even though you may not be selling directly out of your home or studio, you still want to tag all your bases. Your local chamber of commence should be able to give you the information you need.
It’s easy to turn your passion and talents into a tangible craft to sell, but first protect yourself by making sure you’ve got all those I’s dotted and T’s crossed.
Friday Update
I’m sorry there won’t be any real post today, or tomorrow, and maybe not even Monday. Apparently getting the flu bug in our house wasn’t enough, as this week we’re battling the common cold. Oh, and Bella got pink eye so she got to stay home from school for two days. She tried to tell me the doctor said she didn’t have to go back to school until “next Wednesday” LOL.. It was a good thing that my nose was stuffed and not my ears or she might have been a little convincing.
So, I wish you all a great weekend and will be back again in a few days and hopefully by then I’ll be able to breath out of my nose again!
Inspire Me Pintrest Style
If you’ve come across it, then you’ve probably fallen in love with it too, or if your just discovering it… it’s so much fun!!
I had heard of several other authors who now use pinterest to help keep their inspiration going when writing a book. I love it! I decided to go on and play a little. So these are the pins I choose for my completed manuscript FORGOTTEN REINS.
What do you think?
Going Solo?
Selling Your Craft Online
Week #5
Wow, we’re now halfway through our 10 week talk on selling your craft online. If you’ve missed any of our previous talks, you can click here to start at Week #1.
Have you ever gone out with a group of friends and gotten this really…really…really awesome idea to go do something? I’m sure you have, or maybe everyone was just sitting around having lunch together and looking for something to do out of boredom. Either way, when you presented your idea or suggestion to the group, nobody but you were interested.
It’s like signing up with three friends for karaoke and then when it’s time to step up on stage, you find yourself all alone.
Well, not exactly. But you get the idea, right?
That’s usually how it is in the craft business.
In most cases, selling your craft involves a one person solo act or a duet partnership. Often you’ll find partnerships between siblings, mother and child, spouses, or best friends. Having an extra hand in keeping up your online shop, selling, and craft creation is has both its pros and cons. Yet, today, we’re just going to approach the subject of going solo, since that is what most artists, writers, and crafters present themselves.
So what does going solo mean?
You’re a one man/ woman show. What you sell is your craft and nobody elses. You alone are the boss of what you do. You handle what goes into your work and what you get out of it.
Financially speaking, going solo puts all the financial risk on you. At the end of the year, you simply file a SCH C for your business on your 1040 with the IRS.
As a sole proprietorship, the IRS treats you as an individual, they recognize your name, they send you tax notices, and they expect you to pay on time.
However, going solo doesn’t mean that you don’t have a support system in place. Perhaps it is your family, friends, or even hired professionals. The two basic things you must accept when going solo is that 1) you can’t do everything yourself and 2) Nobody’s perfect.
You may need to relay on others to help you keep up the financial end of your business. This may require hiring a bookkeeper or having a spouse help you enter invoices and help package product to go out the next day. It could require having someone watch your children for a few hours while you catch up on orders or work to meet a deadline. It could simply be supportive customers casting word of mouth advertising to get you started.
You’re never alone, no matter what craft you choose to sell. It’s okay to step up on the stage alone, just as long as you’ve got your friends standing near by to cheer you on.
Are you flying solo or soaring over the wings of your support system?
A quick and easy white pizza
It’s been a crazy week here in the Lower household. It feels like I just got back from NY and the kids were off school for two days!! And last evening was the Art of Romance show at Pajama Factory. I had an opportunity to move into a new studio and rushed this week to get set up and greet people for the show. It was great, busy, and now I have an awesome window to write by in the afternoons.
In the meantime, I had to try to find some quick and easy meals this week and while floating around on pintrest (yes pintrest, I’ll tell you more about it in a few days.) I came across this mouth-watering Chicken Ranch Pizza recipe by Fake Ginger.
Her picture looks so much better than mine, but it was so yummy I had to make another pizza because the kiddos gobbled it all up! Ranch dressing is a big hit in our house and to put it on pizza… yeah the kiddos were in love at first whiff.
I’m all for quick and delicious recipes, how about you?
Got one you’d like to share?
