OK it only took me a month longer than I thought it would, but I finally finished the new crafty nara site and webstore. I still have a lot to add to the store, but I wanted to get it up and running and get a little up in the store everyday. I have already signed up for google advertising and next will be facebook advertising. (i get free credit for both with my web design software). Next step is to do some advertising postcards and put them around where people might be interested.
I have also got a spot vending at Rakassah in the fall which is a super big bellydance show, I am spliting the booth with Melanie, so hopefully it won't be hard to make it worth my while since I am only paying for half the booth. Of course I am also excited to be able to spend time with Mel, It will be like the good ol' gypsy days :)
Well got to fold laundry, do some dance practice (I am performing in a few weeks eeeeek!) and then maybe take more pictures for the site.
Go check me out at WWW.craftynara.com
Monday, June 22, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Tenacity or stupidity? and is there a difference?
In the past few months I have been going full steam ahead with the craft business. I feel like I have been making real progress, and have narrowed down my market considerably which makes it much easier to manage and focus on production. I have decided that my number one focus will be belly dance costumes with the emphasis on work out wear as opposed to performance wear. Mostly because I feel that all the hand work I do on performance wear can not be paid for in the long run. My secondary focus will be on custom medieval garb. I still need to figure out how much time things take, but I am good at it, I love making garb, and everyone seems to be pleased with what I make them. I will only do a limited stock for vending at events, mostly mens pants, easy, comfortable turkish coats, and the chemise that go with it. Lastley I will do regular hippie clothes t-shirts, skirts, dresses, baby stuff. I am going to have all of these on my website that I am giving myself the deadline of publishing next friday ready or not.
http://www.craftynara.com/ by the way.
I also have the ability to make some cash with sewing baby doll bodies for Laura's vinyl kits, as well as the possibility of doing boutique type doll clothes for her to sell. I really hope this works out as I would like a more steady income but I am hoping for her and her brother to do the "selling" portion of this venture so I can focus elsewhere.
Here is my dilema....I don't believe in myself enough for all of this. I truly believe in my heart of hearts, that this is the right thing for me to be doing at this time in my life. I feel like everything I have done up till now has lead me here. I just wish I could get rid of the voice telling me to stop chasing the dream.
Last week I was at a workshop in Pittsburg. I took the workshop on Sunday which was veilwork with Eva Cernik. It was fabulous. I would never put myself in the same league as her, she has the stage presence, dance knowledge and showmanship of someone who has been a proffessional dancer most of her life. She was really cool, and it surprised me. I got to see Zafira perform along with some of my other favorite dance troups like Kafif, and Hipnosis. I couldn't help thinking that I could be doing what they are doing. I started dancing about the same time they all did. I used to practice and perform a lot. I know they all have been working much harder than I have at it over the last couple of years, but what would I be like if I practiced every day?
I felt I had to take the safer road as a Chemist, and don't get me wrong I am glad I did. Except the safer road is not availible to me now. Being a proffesional dancer is not really my goal right now, but vending my dance clothes is something I can really get into. But in respect to my dancing, I don't know why I always feel like and inferior dancer. I couldn't believe the words that were coming out of my mouth to Jennifer last weekend. I was telling her why I don't dance at Vlads or at any of the big parties at Pennsic. I told her that I wasn't pretty enough and no one wanted to watch me dance, when there were so many other beautiful dancers there to watch. I don't think I ever said this out loud to anyone before, and it seemed a real dumb reason once it was out there. In my head it has always seemed valid to me.
I realized all this time I was perfectly comfortable dancing in front of "mundanes" but not where actuall dancers or musicians who play for dancers would see. The people who always compliment my dancing are my friends and I have always felt they are just being nice when they compliment my dancing, and maybe they are, but who else has SEEN me dance but them?
I decided after the Belly Jam in April to focus my attention on the belly dance scene, they are my people, I love meeting them all, and I find endless inspiration in the costumes and adornment. I have boldly asked to vend at events where I know only 1 or 2 people. I am dancing at an event in Virginia I have never been too, and I don't know anyone.
I am desperately trying to believe that this business will begin to bring the income we desperately need to be coming in.
I feel like I am on the edge of becoming truly successful, and working at something I utterly enjoy while having time for my family too. I will just have to wait and see. Hopefully I won't be waiting too much longer.
http://www.craftynara.com/ by the way.
I also have the ability to make some cash with sewing baby doll bodies for Laura's vinyl kits, as well as the possibility of doing boutique type doll clothes for her to sell. I really hope this works out as I would like a more steady income but I am hoping for her and her brother to do the "selling" portion of this venture so I can focus elsewhere.
Here is my dilema....I don't believe in myself enough for all of this. I truly believe in my heart of hearts, that this is the right thing for me to be doing at this time in my life. I feel like everything I have done up till now has lead me here. I just wish I could get rid of the voice telling me to stop chasing the dream.
Last week I was at a workshop in Pittsburg. I took the workshop on Sunday which was veilwork with Eva Cernik. It was fabulous. I would never put myself in the same league as her, she has the stage presence, dance knowledge and showmanship of someone who has been a proffessional dancer most of her life. She was really cool, and it surprised me. I got to see Zafira perform along with some of my other favorite dance troups like Kafif, and Hipnosis. I couldn't help thinking that I could be doing what they are doing. I started dancing about the same time they all did. I used to practice and perform a lot. I know they all have been working much harder than I have at it over the last couple of years, but what would I be like if I practiced every day?
I felt I had to take the safer road as a Chemist, and don't get me wrong I am glad I did. Except the safer road is not availible to me now. Being a proffesional dancer is not really my goal right now, but vending my dance clothes is something I can really get into. But in respect to my dancing, I don't know why I always feel like and inferior dancer. I couldn't believe the words that were coming out of my mouth to Jennifer last weekend. I was telling her why I don't dance at Vlads or at any of the big parties at Pennsic. I told her that I wasn't pretty enough and no one wanted to watch me dance, when there were so many other beautiful dancers there to watch. I don't think I ever said this out loud to anyone before, and it seemed a real dumb reason once it was out there. In my head it has always seemed valid to me.
I realized all this time I was perfectly comfortable dancing in front of "mundanes" but not where actuall dancers or musicians who play for dancers would see. The people who always compliment my dancing are my friends and I have always felt they are just being nice when they compliment my dancing, and maybe they are, but who else has SEEN me dance but them?
I decided after the Belly Jam in April to focus my attention on the belly dance scene, they are my people, I love meeting them all, and I find endless inspiration in the costumes and adornment. I have boldly asked to vend at events where I know only 1 or 2 people. I am dancing at an event in Virginia I have never been too, and I don't know anyone.
I am desperately trying to believe that this business will begin to bring the income we desperately need to be coming in.
I feel like I am on the edge of becoming truly successful, and working at something I utterly enjoy while having time for my family too. I will just have to wait and see. Hopefully I won't be waiting too much longer.
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