I Hemstitch

Ok, today, I need to tell you where I've been all this time. Things have really been a little crazy. This time I do have a valid excuse. I started my own business. Now don't run away scared that I'm selling Pampered Chef or Stampin' Up. I promise not to try to sell to you individually. But it has really been an interesting experience and I wanted to write about it.

When I bought my hemstitching machine, I had no idea if it would even work. I didn't know anything about hemstitching machines. When I got it, I sent it off to a "repairman" for a month who overcharged me and took forever. When I got it back, it worked for about 2 seconds and broke again. So after another repairman who taught us how to work it, the hubby figured out how to fix the thing. And I only get furious at it every other day. I have seriously almost cussed at the thing. But it hasn't got the best of me yet. If you didn't already get this, it's very temperamental. Sometimes it randomly chooses not to work correctly.

So I had the machine and had to do all the legal stuff (e.g. apply for a business license ect.) and I was in business. I decided to sell my products at craft boutiques this fall and set out to find a few inexpensive ones to keep me busy.

These have been crazy! I've done 3 boutiques and each has been unique. I can't figure it out. What makes one so profitable and another so unprofitable? So I'm thinking about whether I want do anymore or if I want to decide that wasn't for me.

Craft fair people are a whole new breed. These people drive up to the place in a truck with a trailer and unload literally a whole store complete with walls and tables. It's crazy! They bring in boxes and boxes of product, tables, linens, hanging baskets, drills to assemble walls and the kitchen sink. I dunno, I guess it's a way of life.

Anyway, I also decided to make my own website and sell my products online. So having very little knowledge of html, I learned enough html to get me in trouble and made a website. It was super super fun! I didn't realize how much I would enjoy designing and making a website work. This has kept me busy in between craft boutiques.

In another aspect, I have to buy fabric, track all my products and account for all money. This part I also very much enjoy. It can be a little stressful though too. Like last week, I ordered $200 in fabric. So I had to process all of it and make sure I had updated my website. I also had to put each piece of fabric into my accounting and account that the money had left. I think this is fun but again stressful.

The part that I do not like the most is the actual manufacturing of the blankets. I have to first lay them out and get them nice and even. Then cut them, sew them, and package them. This part is very tedious and I usually leave it for the last second.

I have learned a lot! I never understood how much time/work people put into running their own business. I've enjoyed every minute of it. I really never thought I would start my own business. I wasn't one of those entrepreneur type people. But I'm enjoying it.