Blog Archives February 2008

It’s been gray, raw, and dreary in this neck of the woods. The kind of rainy, damp weather that makes you want to curl up after eating a cup of chicken soup and take a nap. To counteract the gray, I’ve been on the hunt for color; color in my wardrobe (I wore a very springy pink and green combo yesterday), color on my scrapbook pages (I created a bunch of layouts over the weekend in vibrant reds), and color in my decorating/everyday life (I actually have been using beach towels in the bathroom, just for the added splash of color). Like many people that go through the change of seasons, I am tired of the drab palette of winter and long for the return and rebirth of spring.

Fortunately, there is hope on the horizon, as I discovered in both my mailbox and my project vault. In my mailbox this week was the lease for the cottage my family and I rented this upcoming summer. I eagerly signed the lease and sent in my deposit, perhaps hoping that the sooner I sent it in, the sooner my vacation would arrive. I also was flipping through my older projects (no doubt looking for memories of warmer and sunnier times) and came across this mini-album I made after our 2006 summer vacation.  Just looking at the pages covered in photos of sunshine, surf, and effervescent hues recharged my sluggish winter disposition.

The album is proof that creating scrapbooks and memory albums is healthy and therapeutic, both in the moment as well as years later. Enjoy the images…I hope they bring some sunshine to your day!

(If you would like any information on how to make the album, or are curious about the products I used, please send me an email.)

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Admittedly, there has been a lull on my blog posts lately. I’m here, but I have been really contemplating this business and which direction I should take it in 2008. Since I have a full time job, and this has been part-time to date, it’s been hard to really create a niche for my marketing and product efforts. I’ve been dabbling in a little of this, and a little of that: home decor, scrapbooking, sewing…I’ve done it all. I can honestly say that I’ve loved every bit of it. But I am making the realization that I can’t do it all, all of the time. I have to pick a specialty, and I have been mulling that over for about a month now. Scrapbooking and teaching classes is my main passion – but I enjoy all of the other trades as well.

Anyone who runs their own business will tell you that you primarily run it for the consumer. You put out a product that you believe the consumer will scoop up, and hopefully you enjoy yourself and make some money along the way. I’ve been fortunate in the sense that I feel like I am getting out of this business what I have put into it. By that, I mean that I don’t have an advertising budget, I am not a maven in the scrapbook industry, I create as I have the time, and I have still been relatively successful. My site is being browsed by people both nationally and internationally, people attend my classes, and I am doing alright.

So, I’ve had a lull because I have been thinking it all over. Trying to answer questions that play over and over in my mind. Is “okay” and “part-time” enough for me anymore? Do I want to try to take this to the next level? Do I have the time, money, and resources to step it up? What products to I want to focus on? What can I do to be unique and different from the next small internet-based business? How can I play up my talents to create an amazing product line for my customers?Do I have the guts to take some really big risks?

As of today, I don’t have any concrete answers, but I am still thinking it over. And, I hope you continue to visit because you can be sure that the Watermelon Rind Designs you view at the end of 2008 will be a lot different from the Watermelon Rind Designs you are looking at today.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!