If you haven't seen it, I wrote a welcome page, complete with a video to introduce myself to you.
Well... I want to meet YOU, too! I want to learn about YOU; what YOU like and what YOU need....
Who are YOU?
Where are YOU from?
What kind of business do YOU have or want to start?
What's YOUR passion?
What's YOUR dream?
And how can I help YOU?
So... I decided to give you a special place here to do that. Take a minute to introduce yourself to the community, tell us about your business... even if you haven't officially started it yet... and anything else you'd like to share.
I also created a "What do YOU Need?" page. Stop over there, too. Let me know what you need help with and what you'd like to see here. It's all about helping YOU so your input, comments and questions all matter. That's the secret to getting what you want here and learning what you want to learn... all you have to do is tell me :)
I'd love it if you'd say hello here so I can personally welcome you to the Awaken Dreams family. Go ahead, don't be shy... write your little heart out in the comments below... I read every single one. Thanx!!
Much success,
Hi Debi,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Kimberly Nicole but everyone calls me "Nikki", and I am the glass artist behind Bastille Bleu Lampwork, where I create handmade lampwork glass beads, custom lampwork and torch-enameled jewelry, and personalized stamped metal jewelry & accessories in my home studio in Milwaukee, WI.
Ive always been artistic by nature and have dabbled in many artforms, watercolor being one of my first loves! I started making glass beads in 2006 because I was drawn to the idea of creating beautifully colored beads and "painting with glass". Initially was making beads for my own enjoyment and giving them away as gifts to friends and family. The process of lampworking is truly bliss for me. But after awhile, others were asking me about my beads, if I sold them and where they could get them.... so I started an Etsy shop. This was in 2008 and the beginning of my glass bead business. Since then Ive added other forms of wearable art to my shop such as hand torched enameled charms and findings, stamped metal items, and unique jewelry using my own beads and handmade findings.
It took about 2-3 years before my business exploded and I really saw a HUGE increase in my sale that I was making a nice profit. I decided it was time to get my own website, www.BastilleBleu.com. Business was really good, and lasted about 1-1/2 years until the economy took an abrupt nose dive, and sadly Ive been struggling (along with everyone else) to make sales and keep my business afloat.
In my spare time (if there is such a thing when running your own business, lol), I love to paint (watercolors!), garden, spend time with my husband of 7 years, our 3 dogs and my two sons (from a previous marriage), and leisurely working on our 100 year old victorian farmhouse.
My goal is to get my business a push start into the mainstream of things (rather than just being online) by having some of my jewelry sold in local shops, participating more in local shows, and to figure out a way to attract potential customers to my website.
My dream is to be able to continue to do what I love doing (glass beads and painting) and making enough money to give me financial security, to have my dream studio/cottage nestled in a garden of flowers and green grass where I can be inspired daily (in a location still "undetermined" as of yet. lol).
Hi Nikki!
DeleteVERY happy to see you here! Thank you for sharing so much about yourself and your dreams! I'm looking forward to watching you make those dreams a reality and honored to share your journey.
If there are any other jewelry designers reading this, you need to check out Nikki's website. She makes absolutely gorgeous beads! I use them all the time in my Designs by Debi work and love them... heck I have a full-fledged BB bead addiction! I can't get enough of them. So, go on over and take a look. She also makes beautiful jewelry and she's a wonderful person.
Thanx again for sharing ♥
Hi Debi:
ReplyDeleteMA resident who was trying to make a go of a home-made dog treat bakery. I had a few sales, but working full-time and baking treats are really time consuming and have been rethinking things. I used to do a lot of sewing and was wondering if there would be an interest in hand-crafted dog coats, collars, leashes and other pet-related items. I have a site, however, ran into a snag and a domain issue. I will be putting it back online, and will be interested to see if I get any business. If I keep the treats, I'm not sure how to go about handling that part of the business. Bake and freeze and have them on hand should an order come in? Let me know what you think. It was interesting to see how you got your business started. I've taken some jewelry classes and have quite a few beads and the tools just sitting here. I was contemplating making pet memorial bracelets, but not sure if there would be an interest with the economy. Just an idea.
Hi Jan,
DeleteWelcome to aWAEHQn dreams! I'm very happy to have you here and honored to share your journey! I will say this... people LOVE their pets! I'm an Eskie Mom myself and right now my baby is sick (a mass in his belly, torn cruciates in his hind legs, a bladder stone and possibly Cushing's Disease... all found in the last 2 weeks) and I'm devastated. I'd move heaven and earth for him and, facing potentially $10,000 in vet bills, I may have to!!
Anyway, my point is, people who love their pets like family REALLY love their pets and they will spend money on them, even in a recession. I take better care of Niko than I do of myself! So I think you can definitely make a go of a pet-related business, even now. Take a look at people who are doing the things you want to do. If just doing treats is too time-consuming, then the addition of other things... making a pet boutique of sorts... is a viable idea that you can start small and build on. Done right, you could very well find that you can build this business to the point of leaving your day job and make a living from your passion if that's something that interests you!
I know there are barkeries that do very well and have both online and offline business. There are many ways to approach this. Take a look at them and see what they do. You can often glean insight of how they run their business (for example answering your fresh/frozen question) by looking at their websites, policies, etc.
I own Designs by Debi and Pet Memorial Bracelets are one of the things I offer, as well as other pet memorial items. They're not all up on my website right now... it's rather a mess because I'm in the middle of doing a big overhaul of the site.
I believe there are MANY options for you if you choose to pursue them. Is your full-time career something that somehow goes along with this or that has given you skills that would help? I'd love to see your business succeed and be a part of that journey so I hope you stick around. There are lots of wonderful things to come here :)
Much success,
Debi
Hi Debi.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Leeanne, but friends call me Lee. I live in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. I started a business/hobby on facebook in 2011 and it's been challenging to say the least. I do not know if it's my designs or just my business ethic that sucks badly lol. I make hand made jewellery and other items mainly for women to own and wear a piece of Magenta's Mystical Gems. I do have a website that I cannot get to 'go', but I cannot afford the advertising that comes with it, I guess that's why it isn't going very well. but I do try.
I am always looking for new ways to get myself up and going, but I do not have the personal drive I guess and I need to pursue my dream and make it a success.
Thank you for having me here, I am sure I will enjoy looking around your website.
Lee
Hi Lee!
DeleteWelcome to aWAEHQn dreams! Very happy to have you here and I hope you're enjoying your look around! I agree FB is proving challenging for everyone with all the changes they've made and needing to now please their investors. There are some articles here that I wrote about FB issues. You can find things easily on the Content Index page.
You do definitely need to be self-motivated to be a successful entrepreneur, especially if you're working from home. Is the lack of drive because you're confused about what to do or because you're not totally happy with what you're doing? Each requires a different solution so it would be worthwhile to think on it.
I wish you much success and hope you stop by often :)
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ReplyDeleteHello my name is Marisa, I live in Quebec, Canada. I am a mom of 4 beautiful kids, my passion is sewing, what I most like to do, are accessories. Throughout these years I have created several bags, I sold it to friends, friends of my friends, also my family through. I had the opportunity to participate in two exhibitions of art and sold some items. All this has led me to the conclusion that I want to start my own business online and thought on Etsy.
ReplyDeleteI just found your site through Linkedin, I just joined the group Hobby Business.
I want to learn all that I can because since my intention is to open an Etsy shop I want to be well prepared and learn from experts.
Actually I have a blog, I decided to create a blog as a hobby although my creations on the blog are mostly about sewing , I love making jewelry and also create with wool. I'll give you my link to the blog, if you want to visit me you will see the kind of creations that I love to do.
New follower here via GFC.
Nice to meet you!!!!
Marisa from
http://passionetcouture.blogspot.ca/
Hi Marisa! Welcome to aWAEHQn dreams. It's great to have you here and very nice to meet you! Thank you for taking the time to introduce yourself. I just stopped by your blog and followed via GFC. Looks like you have a great thing going there... good for you! You're very talented.
DeleteI just wrote a blog post all about Etsy... http://awaehqndreams.blogspot.com/2013/03/having-etsy-shop-does-not-equal-having.html and you'll probably find it very helpful since you're thinking of going the Etsy route.
I hope you'll join the conversation here and on Facebook and stop by often. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help. Best wishes for much success with your business!!
Debi
Hi Debi
ReplyDeleteMy name is Debbie. I am in my late 30s and taking care of my husband Jym of 3 yrs though we have been together for about 8 yrs. I have a website we hope to get settled and running soon. I have most of the behind the scenes programming and my husband did some of the graphics. The business we are getting ready to open is a Photography and crafts business. Our store is located here http://dezertdezinez.com/workspace. I also design simple html webpages on another section of the site http://dkk.dezertdezinez.com which has a blog as well. Our photography business is mostly of my husbands photos at the moment though as I am the worker bee doing the behind the scenes it's just for a start. I also sell my crafts which are plastic canvas and cross stitch pieces starting at $10 and going up from there. We have a facebook page and other social site pages in other venues.
I would like to learn all I can as my husband keeps saying this is my business and since he is much older would like for me to be able to run it and do all the business stuff as well as the photography and other things to keep it going .
thank you
Debbie Wells
Hi Debbie,
DeleteThank you for stopping by and taking the time to introduce yourself! Very nice to meet you. Congratulations on your business and on taking the initiative to learn all you can. I wish you all the success in the world!