Friday, October 21, 2011

hello moto

today is turning out to be PRODUCTIVE.  anyone who knows me, knows my LOVE of crossing things off my lists.  i admit i'm kinda a freak about it.  call me crazy but i really love my lists.

the odd thing is i've had a dull migraine since last night that will not go away and i just keep trying to avoid acknowledging it even with the waves of nausea.   i know i'm going to have to lay down soon because i'm getting to the point of no return.  i just took my last imitrex and am trying not to panic about that!  yes, one of my list items was make a doctor appointment.  check, done!  every time i  move i have to find a new doctor just to get this prescription...i wish i could get a lifetime supply.

now that you know my migraine history (had them since the age of 5 by the way...not fun) i will move onto to the important stuff.  CRAFTINESS!!  i disappoint myself often in my lack of crafty motivation when i kill it at my day job.  somehow i struggle with focusing on wearing all the hats of promotion, creation, scheduler, etc.  but it's NEVER gonna happen if i don't so i need to kick my own ass and like Nike says- JUST DO IT!!  laying in bed the nights before i work (2 days a week) and thinking about how much i loathe a certain authority figure lit that fire in me today.  i have a chance here.  a fork in the road if you will.  and i need to freaking seize the day.

i am already planning a relaunch of my biz by having a new name and getting a new logo for all my promotional materials.  i have checked out a bit of the local craft scene.  i don't have my official picture set up or my desktop with all my good pics and i was letting that hold me back from applying to shows.  NOT TODAY.  i decided to apply to 2 shows with my not so perfect pictures today.  results are to be continued!  then i sent some of my not so official pictures with a not very official price list to a local shop here in new orleans.  and BAM, i got a response within the hour to see the samples in person.  i did a happy dance that included fist pumps, i'm not gonna lie.  i also did a running sock slide on the hardwood floor.  that for some odd reason is one of my regular moves i've done since having hardwoods and it just never gets old....i think it's just one of those things that my mother never wanted me to do (not at our house, we had shag carpet) because it was kinda like running with scissors.  knock on wood, i haven't fallen yet.  i hope i didn't just jinx myself!!

i'm not saying this shop will love my stuff or place a very large order or any order at all.  nothing is guaranteed but it's the first step and that's what i needed to do today.  today motivation made an appearance and i kissed it on the mouth.

i also got some holiday ornaments made that i will take pics off when i get the chance.  i am in the middle of sweat-shopping so i better get back to it.  i just needed to share!

p.s. this is my running power song and i feel like it fits for crafty motivation as well.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

jazz it up!

i finally got my fleur de lis fabric!!!  i started making some samples today to try and shop around town.  i have been so distracted, feeling like i have ADD trying to get work done in this little apartment.  did i mention that i can't wait to be settled???  i create a small explosion whenever i try to be crafty.  any surface becomes work space and my socks become swiffers picking up stray scraps and threads.  everything is cut except i ran out of interfacing again.  this is why i usually buy by the bolt.  i tried to get it into my suitcase in Pittsburgh but even with sitting on it, it wouldn't work.  so i chose fabric over interfacing which made complete sense at the time. 
i got coin purses, small and medium pouches and wristlets made.  well, one of each anyways....now to tackle the cut piles!!

in the meantime i have had the chance to do a little more exploring and want to share a few pics.  the first one is a huge painted billboard for Zataran's, which is based here.  we actually drove by the factory when we went to pick up our cars in the middle of what i thought was nowhere! in reality it was on the west bank of the good ole Mississippi.  at the time we had only been here a week and i felt really disorientated.   i see this billboard everyday and for whatever reason it makes me smile.  oh, and a little hungry.
the next pic is from the front of a bank on Poydras St.  it's amazing what you really see when you look up at the old buildings.
and last but not least, we went by our future home!!  it's so freaking cute i can't stand it.
yes, that's a white picket fence!!!  it was never something on my wish list but heck, i'll take it!

this is the name of our street.  most of the streets in the city have these blue and white ceramic tile signs on the corners as identifiers.  i'm not sure what the history of them is but someday i'll take the time to look it up.  i do know the original part of our house was built in 1885.  there's a place in town you can look up all the people that have lived there before you.  how cool is that???  or i guess it could be kinda creepy.

Friday, October 7, 2011

city adventures

as i mentioned in my last post, i'm living in a new city.  i FINALLY took my camera out instead of just my smart phone to capture a few sights!  there are SO many good things to see here in NOLA that i really need to carry my camera EVERYDAY.  i am especially drawn to old original tile floors and have taken some pics, again, only on my phone.  i find them VERY inspirational...print, fabric design, i guess it's all kinda related.
this may seem like just another downtown street lamp but it's one of millions, YES millions, of fleur de lis symbols on EVERYTHING here!!  (p.s.i just ordered a bunch of new fabric to support the local love)
random fish on the side of a building.  no, not an aquarium.  i guess i didn't catch the name or business but i don't think it had anything to do with fish and it made me smile!
Lafeyette Square Park where TONS of festivals are held.

Jackson Square in the French Quarter
i finally went in here!!  i walked to the farmer's market and noticed they had a harvest tent set up outside and decided to venture in.  i've walked by this several times but never stopped in even though my face was glued to the display windows.  beautiful hand blown glass!!  i've always wanted to take print making...a class i regret not taking in college!  maybe some day....

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

new beginnings

New city, new biz name!

When I began my little hobby business I wasn't prepared to love it so much. I really just wanted a change from painting so I began sewing. I didn't realize that it could actually be such a living, breathing thing. From bags to accessories to cards and artwork, jilsy designs began to consume me. My heart has gone into it even if my head hasn't. What I mean by that is I need to approach my business with a business type mind if I really want to make it successful.

I've worked in visual merchandising for so many years. I've been a power house tasker for every company I've worked for so why not be one for myself? It presents challenges. Many I am still trying to figure out. I've moved to New Orleans for my husband's job and now find myself at a very low point in my career. So this is a start of me taking control. It's simply starting with branding....a new business name that I've let marinate and am growing to love so today I am claiming it mine. jilsy designs is now Fighting Spirit.

It's going to be a slow process so please bear with me and stop back often. I am usually much more witty than I am displaying today, I swear.