In the time since my last post I have been working on something completely new to me...sewing! Not in my wildest dream would I even think I would take this up. In school we never did the whole home ec. thing of 'learning to sew' and I didn't care back in my childhood, just whip the hole-y shirt at moms and she would sew it up and fix the problem. Then I went to college and met my husband and he would fix things for me, but whine at me that I needed to learn. Well my time has come and my mom gave me her old sewing machine and I have slowly been learning how to do so. In our house our old cabinets have fabric fronts on a few so that was my first project--still unfinished. In the past few days I have sewed up a few pillows to sell at Water Tower Festival, it is insane for me to think that come a month-ish from now I am going to be selling these pillow that I sewed together! They are adorable and I wish I could keep them all to myself. That is the hardest part about this kind of business, you want to keep all the awesome things you find or create and trust me a few things I do and just make multiples so I can.
What else has happened since the last post?
I attended at community meeting about reusing the Masonic Lodge space downtown historic Pipestone. The meeting was a room full of people who have lived in Pipestone probably most of their lives, some of that equaling probably 50+ years. Then there was me, 24 years old and living in the town for 2 years. I decided that when the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota (PAM) asked, ' What do you see to be a use for the space, what do you want to see happen?' I would pipe up. Boy did I hear the whole room turn and look at me and listen when I said ' I have a bachelors in interior design and worked for AcV2 architecture, a company who specialize in adaptively reusing and renovating buildings, some being historic, LEED certified, commercial and residential. I told them what I thought would work in the space and listened to the silence of the room besides the sound of my voice shaking. Afterwards I took a huge breathe and said to myself 'Man I am glad that's over, haha!' So afterwards I had PAM approach me asking if I had written down my ideas and gave them my card, which is always a cool feeling. I had so many people approaching me thanking me for my ideas and so glad that I am in the community. The next day I went to my typical part-time job at the retail store and I got a phone call at lunch from the museum saying that PAM wanted them to get into contact with me to meet with the interior finishes consultant and see if I could help them out, catch was I got off at 5:30 and they were going to be gone at 4. So I asked my manager if I could go and I went! I got to see the building and talk about the future hopes of the building. It was mind blowing! I cannot believe that sits in our little town.
Best thing from this. Finding my worth to my little town. I've been here 2 years and have thought some days, 'If I would have known I was moving here I would have changed my degree to fit the the place I live' or that some days I wasted my money on an education I can't even use in the place I live. This meeting showed me people do want to know more, see where I fit in, and how I can help. This all helps to motivate me even more to work my tail off and become the small business I have dreamt to be.
Also it's made me find more reasons why I love being a new, young, small business entrepreneur in a small community.
- Passion -- No one is more passionate about what I do than myself. In order to push that passion and express it more I must be able to speak up and let people know my presence.
- Sincerity -- Nothing makes me more sincere and passionate than sharing my knowledge. Since starting my small business I have discovered that engaging in conversations with other small business owners and potential customers, you never find anyone/yourself more sincere. You love what you make/do and want to be sincere in the success and failure of it. Other people want to see you succeed and want to help you in anyway.
- Caring -- As a up and coming small business I care more than ever about what I do. More about the success and quality of product over if I am going to move up a cooperate ladder or that the big man watching what I am doing every second. If I want a drink, I can have one...but know not to use power tools. ;)
- Hours -- You decide when you want to work and when you don't want to. But you do see the time management importance and you set those deadlines. I don't believe that something is just going to finish itself or someone will do it for me, it is me and my husband, that is it.
- Decisions -- I make those. Design decisions I get to make them and implement them with help or not. Don't have run those ideas or plans by anyone, but myself.
- Community -- This is a big one for me. I have always said since moving here and to the blog audience, I am here because I want to be part of my community. Nothing feels better than being a part of the community, people in your community watching you grow, supporting you, and being your biggest fans. I love going out and people knowing my name and wanting to chat, it is more welcoming than showing up at my door with a hot dish and welcoming me into the neighborhood.
