A Review of Failure

Well, I've been feeling a little blegh lately. I think I've got a case of the Winter Blues. Not to mention, feeling a little discouraged by my lack of sales... is it the season, as so many of my friends suggest, just a slow time for retail everywhere? Is it my costs are too high or my lack of selling history? Is it my designs?? Part of me is afraid to fail (of course) but part of me is also afraid to succeed! I have to admit that there are things I could be doing to help my sales, but I just can't seem to make myself DO them! I have that restless feeling where I know I have things to do, but I have no desire to do them. Partly because I'm afraid of what would happen if it works... it would mean that my business will go from dream to reality (not usually a bad thing), but it also means added responsibilities, being held accountable to others, and  stepping into the unknown. I'm feeling a bit like a failure right now, disappointed in myself, and completely unmotivated.

I miss my other passions in life, mainly cooking and coffee. And I reaaaally miss Summer! I briefly had another blog once upon a time that was dedicated to adventures, getting out of debt, and reviewing NY coffee shops. But I have since abandoned it and I miss that too. Is it possible to have too many passions in life? At one point I was upset at having gained 20 pounds in 2 years! (I blame my boyfriend) and I was determined to loose it. I actually managed to loose about 19 before the holidays hit but I've gained 7 back! I've been trying to loose it again, but so far it's been a half-hearted effort where I see-saw between loosing and gaining the same 2 pounds. Just plain old UN-MOTIVATED!

The good news is I've been spending more time with my friends and I've started reading again! I've also started cooking again (not good for my weight loss lemme tell ya!). I feel like I've been doing good things for my soul. So why do I feel like such a failure?!

Well, they say it's not the failures that define you, but how you deal with them. Just pick yourself back up and keep going! And that's what I plan to do. With a few minor changes...

I've decided to incorporate my coffee shop reviews into the Defiant Designs blog and whatever else tickles my fancy! Stay tuned for a new review and in the meantime I've got some basil ice-cream at home begging to be spun! Look out world!

Mood Fabric Mecca

And a hunting we will go!

I made a trip to the infamous Mood Fabrics store featured on Project Runway!

The store is located on the 3rd floor, although it takes up multiple levels, and is reached by elevator run by a real elevator operator!

They had TONS of ribbons and buttons and trimmings! (Although M&J Trimming is really the true mecca of froufrou, but that will be for another post.)

You may be wondering why I would be here for supplies and not a bead store, but my jewelry and accessories are multi-media based and since my design history is in fashion, I plan to incorporate a lot of fabric into my jewelry.

And I happen to be shopping for the perfect, cozy, Wintry fabric to use for my free hand-warmers! I'm giving away a free set of rice, hand-warmers with every purchase made during the month of December! For those of you who don't know what rice hand-warmers are, they are little fabric pillows filled with rice (or any dry grain) that you can heat in your microwave for a few minutes to enjoy a good 30 minutes of warmth & yummy heat. You can slip them into your pockets, gloves, your boots or even under your blankets to get your bed warm before you settle in for the night! A little way to commemorate my Grand Opening and a nice, little gift from me to you for the holidays! I hope you like them!

For this project I chose a soft navy & grey plaid, wool fabric with a slight menswear vibe to it that I'll embroider with my signature burnt orange thread for a nice pop of color! Perfect for that cold Winter dash to the subway!

Red Tape Goodness!

Success!

I have received my Certificate of Authority to Collect Sales Tax! I wanted to share it with all of you, but I realized that it contains confidential info so I have to settle for shooting the 'Important Info for Business Owners' pamphlet that came with it... laaaaame.

So of course I had to bling it up a bit!

Much better, right?!!

 

Annnnd, on to the creative bit! I said that I would keep everyone in the loop on my design process, so here we go!

These are all my accessory ideas I've been hoarding up all year, minus a few that are only Summer appropriate... about 8 collections, 3-5 pieces each. That row on the far left are the extra special goodies that will probably cost me an arm & a leg to make.

It was promptly whittled down to this...

5 collections, 3 pieces each. (Please pardon my embarrassing sketching skillzzz..)

And it may end up getting cut down to only 2-3 collections, due to budgeting issues. Not to worry though! Whatever I can't do right away, I'll add in later after I get a little more funding. (So excited!!)

And for the finale...... my first business purchase!!

I have named it Gizmo, but it's actually a brass gauge for measuring those pesky internet purchases that use only millimeters. (Sorry, no action shots yet..)

Next step is to break out my rusty Illustrator skills and get to rocking my logo!  Can we say procrastination??Then I can actually get my Facebook page set up and make friendssss! Yay!

Stay tuned for more exciting developments!

Before I Die...

Yay! On the day I registered my business name at the County Clerk's Office (can anyone say racing heart'!?) in Brooklyn, I also opened my shiny new business checking account! And across from my new bank I saw this chalkboard sign that everyone was writing on and I thought it was so appropriate for that moment since I was achieving one of my own dreams that very day!! So, of course, I had to whip out my phone and take a quick pic!

It really made me think about all the things I want to achieve or experiance or see happen before I die. Does anyone have a bucket-list of their own?! If so, what do you have to do to make that list happen?

Mine would include things like:

Seeing Defiant Designs featured in a magazine
Travel the World (sigh)
Run a Marathon
Eat lots of chocolate!! (oh wait- I already do that)
Spend more time with friends & family

hmm pretty short actually... Of course that's not including things like living on my own private island and baking beautiful cakes every day. Dare to dream...