Finished Reading: The Effect of Living Backwards, by Heidi Julavits

I finished the book earlier in the week and I must admit that it was super confusing to me! I feel like the book had a lot of different levels to it that I didn't quite understand! On the surface, the story is about a pair of dysfunctional sisters who are victims of a "fake" hijacking over Morocco. There is a lot of role-playing done in the story so it's hard to tell what's really happening and what's pretend... and one of the sisters attends a school of terrorism! I would recommend the story to others but I can't say that it's an easy read!

Cheers!

Currently Reading: The Effect of Living Backwards, by Heidi Julavits

Well, really, I just started. I got it from the library a while ago sort of randomly. I think it's interesting so far... I guess we'll see if I stick with it!

The title comes from Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass (and What Alice Found There).

"The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday--but never jam today."

"It must come sometimes to 'jam to-day,'" Alice objected.

"No, it can't," said the Queen. "It's jam every other day: to-day isn't any other day, you know."

"I don't understand you," Alice said. "It's dreadfully confusing!"

"That's the effect of living backwards," the Queen said kindly: "it always makes one a little giddy at first--"

Baby K Update

I realize that I haven't mentioned Baby K much lately. I'm still watching her full-time which is an awesome job! She's about 7 months old, and she's sitting up and moving all over the place. (Well... right now she's in her swing sleeping!) She's cuter than ever and plays and "talks" all day long.

We went to Baby Laptime at the library today, and we sang songs about snow. She had fun listening to the storyteller and looking at all of the other babies. While we were there, I got a Columbus Metropolitan Library card... woohoo! Now I will be able to borrow books and movies from there when we visit! (As soon as I finish the million or so books I still have yet to read at home)

Charley Harper

Just saw this on the Oh Joy blog. I want it for Christmas fo' sho! Putting it on my Amazon wish list today!

Craft Inc.

Chapter 2:
Is about the business side of this whole "turning my creative hobby into a business" process. I took a basic entrepreneurship class in college, but now it's a little more real and a lot more scary. All of the legal, insurance, tax, record-keeping stuff is overwhelming when it's listed out all at once.

I'm starting to get a little nervous but this is good! I just have to keep reminding myself that I can do the business thing. I'm a hard worker and I can make and keep plans.

Right now my plan of action is (Thanks, Craft Inc.!):
Write up rough rough rough draft of business plan.
-this will include a time line
-mission statement / company description
-location of business
-company id (start with a brainstorm)
-target market
-market research (big project in itself... will start with a placeholder and hypotheses)
-line of products and how often they will be released (the fun part!)
-equipment required (seems like basic research)
-production (me)
-selling plans (Etsy at first, then my own website, then a physical store!)
-marketing plan (online, most likely)
-budget and financial plan (this'll be interesting, may need Jacob's help here)
-projections and exit plan

::breathes into a paper bag::

More Books!

I also got the three jewelry making books that I ordered! So far I've looked through them a little, and decided that this whole jewelry thing is soooo exciting!

I tried to register for the jewelry making class today, but the evening beginner classes were all booked... boohoo. It's okay though, because the next set of classes start in November, so it's not like I have to wait for a year. I just didn't know that some of the classes fill up on the first day. I'm thinking that I will start on some projects that require less tools than cloisonné enameling (which is the method I'm really excited to start working on), like making chains. I would need a fair amount of tools to start making my own chain designs, but I wouldn't need my own kiln!

::okay, now I will read::

Got My Craft Inc. Book Today!

Oooohh... this book looks really good! I'm going to read some tonight even though I should sleep.

Chapter 1: Your Creative Mind...

Amazon Order

Books I ordered... so I can refresh myself on jewelry making. I can't wait! I'm also going to take a jewelry making class this fall. That is... if I ever sign up for it!!!!