My Big Secret Dream

I wrote this post yesterday, then I found out our internet was out. As I read through it today I didn't have near the excitement and almost didn't want to post it. Enjoy. 

Lately, I have had the 'I can do anything I put my mind to' mindset. This is a great feeling. Have you had it? You think up an idea that is genius and start brainstorming. Too soon your discovering all the road blocks, speed bumps, and hurdles that you will have to go through, over, and around to achieve that brilliant unfailing idea. 

Then you let it fade away. This can be a vicious cycle. I've been through it several times. 

Although there is one idea  that I keep coming back to. The mind game starts again. This could work, this could work, wait THIS COULD WORK?  I figure what the heck lets jot this down on paper  or blog post and see how crazy this idea sounds in a day or two.  

I want to own a little shop. A boutique.  

I think I've wanted this for at least a year and a half, maybe even before I decided to start my wee lil ol' blog here. And I could make this happen. Ah ha there's that mindset I was talking about.  Let me tell you a little about my shop. Cue imagination sound bit.

I'd choose a location that looks something like this.  Old fashioned, but renovated. 

Inside would be a sea of vintage, rustic, and whimsy all in one. There would be old furniture pieces covered with baskets of sewn goodies like cosmetic bags, pouches, purses. There would be shelves with my signs or signs ready to be painted and personalized for you. There will be baby onesies, blankets, diaper cloths ,bibs, etc. This will be the place to get your one of a kind baby shower or wedding gifts.

I would have old apothecary jars with candy and sweets. I would always have fresh coffee,teas, or hot cocoa available, Keurig style. The background music would be Pandora set to the station of Adele. There would be a chalk board wall and play area to occupy the more adventurous children (ones who want to touch everything). 

Then I'd ask several family and friends to help me get this going. In no particular order:

My good friend Renner. Her real name is Stefany but I never call her that. We have teased about opening up a store together called Craft Baked. I'd have the craft side and she would do the baking. I wish she could bring me some mini cupcakes NOW. So it's actually been longer than two years I've talked about it because when we worked together in '09 we emailed about it. Anyway, she wanted to open our store in Manhattan that always freaked me out. Uh.. cha-ching much? She will be there to help with my business plan, I hope. 

My sister. She would hopefully do all of our designing. Business cards, signs, fliers, promotions. She is amazing with that stuff. I want to learn BUT I always love that I can rely on her when I need something like that and then I can be working on other things.  She can help pick out paint colors and do our space planning  along with be a tester for new products aka free stuff.

My mom. Only if she promises NOT to bring the entire basement with her. I would love for her to have a place she can display some of her work. She does custom embroidery so she could also design any shirts for the boutique employees. People would be able to place and pick up orders at the boutique as well.

My friend and old boss. She worked in retail for 16 years and recently decided to leave her job. We also tease about having a boutique for fun accessories, bags, kids and baby things. She would be the one in charge of displays and merchandising and all that fun stuff. It has also been a dream of hers to own her own boutique.. I would need someone to run the place especially since home would be somewhere different during the off season or even the season for that matter. She would be perfect.

My best friend's mom. I've written about her before and she would also be a HUGE help in getting the show room set up. She has such a knack for finding and refinishing a vintage piece and that's the feel I'd be going for. 

Then I have THREE accountant friends I could rely on to help with financial side of this whole project. 

Being in a community online of handmade crafters I would reach out to them to see if they would like to stock items in the boutique. 

It's hard to have a dream of a brick and mortar store when our future location is always so up in the air. I know there will be time after Brandon's career when we won't be traveling and then this might be the time chase that dream full on. Guess I better start board for pinning future store ideas. 

via

Ah well.... A girl can dream for now.

New Job {ish}

Before I moved and became a Mrs. I was nannying those two sweet children. Now that I am in Alabama some days I feel lost. Not lost because I don't love it there but because I don't have an employer that I have to report to each day. I won't say this is how it HAS to be, but if I want to be able to spend any time with  my husband the first year of our marriage, this is how I want it to be. 


As much as this is how I want it to be, it isn't easy. So I decided to start my own small business,again. I feel like I am failing I've tried several times. None the less I start the process again.  I think, and think, and think what I can create for my shop that everyone else isn't. I think about this in the car. I wonder antique shops for ideas. I browse Pinterest. I lay awake at night thinking about it. I wake up thinking about it. I let it own me. GAH GET OUT OF MY HEAD BRAINSTORMING! When I moved and went through all this craft stuff and seen all the things I've created I couldn't help but wonder why can't I build a small business. Talk about depressing.

So..I started (another) Etsy shop {laurendarlings} a week before the wedding. I create hand painted wooden signs. I love making them but I can't hang them all in our home. There is too many.  At this point I haven't made any sales, just created gifts for friends and family.


I'm not trying to become a millionaire - ha, I would've hung it up long ago. The thing I love about creating for people is building relationships, making new friends, and making unique customized products exactly like YOU want them. Not a stock item that there are hundrerds of copies just the same as yours.


Taking the leap of faith is hard. You want people to love your products as much as you love making them. It doesn't work like that though. The internet is SO huge these days and although barriers to entry are low to becoming and Etsy shop owner, its about creating something that people need or want, find affordable, good quality, and stands out from the rest. Need I add that today's economy is not in its greatest form, but don't let that get you down cause thats always an unknown.


So what I was getting at was that  I'm not giving up. No way, I'll do whatever it takes. I finally have the time to create and make things I love and I'm not a quitter. All I wanted to do was document how frustrated it is getting started so I can look back and remember - hey thats where I started. Thats where we all start when we are chasing a dream. For some its easier. Others it takes years and years of work.


What I'm asking from you (pretty please) is what would you like to see go up in my shop? I'm open for ANY and ALL ideas and I'll do my best to create something you'll love. I can do personalized wedding gifts. Gifts and decor for baby nurseries and childrens rooms. Holiday decor. Home decor. You let me know what you want. Please. 

Finally, if you are interested in doing a giveaway on YOUR blog of one custom made sign email me at larn.levy@gmail.com After all it is the season of giving.

1 Peter 4:10 

Each one should use whatever gift he has recieved to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.