Category Archives: Minding My Business

Unexpected Time Management Tool

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A year ago, I had a baby. Hard to believe! And with that little bundle came a tremendous amount of responsibility, necessity, and unfortunately, no extra hours in a day. Still 24.

But the funniest thing has happened. Lately, I’ve had a million gazillion things on my mind, including some pretty intense planning, reorganizing, and repurposing. My brain buzzes constantly and sometimes, it’s all I can do to sit down and make a To Do list. Except when it’s naptime. Funny thing, as I’m rocking Grant to sleep (three times a day, sometimes 30mins at a stretch), my mind slows down and takes a breather. Dark room, rocking chair, classical music, warm little body snuggled in my lap. And my brain stops. I can think clearly, I can prioritize, I can plan. And it feels less like a frantic tornado and more like a conversation with an old friend. Sometimes, I hang out in there a bit past what’s necessary because the inner peace is nearly intoxicating.

I never saw that coming. 30mins?? Do you have any idea what I could accomplish in 30mins? How many patterns are running around in my brain, begging to be drawn? How many phone calls I need to return? How many gaping holes in QuickBooks need to be spackled? But the truth is, if I did sit down for just 30mins, I would probably spend the whole time frantically planning what to do with the 10mins I would have left after my brain slows down.

So give me my little boy, a rocking chair, a dark room, and some sweet music and in about 30mins I will have a solid plan of attack for the rest of my day.

And some snuggles. Everyone needs snuggles. It’s good for the brain.

The Fun Of Starting Something New. And Then Doing It Again.

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I branched the stencils out on their own, seen here: http://www.justatracestencils.com (exciting!). Now, I’m rebranding them and looking into attracting retailers. The rebranding part is fun for my brain, and the attracting retailers part is nothing short of intimidating. I’ve done a little market research, and talked with a business consultant, and evidently, I’m on the right track (yay!). Something I’m having a little trouble with is finding a company to do the packaging. You’d think that would be a piece of cake, but it’s not! If you Google “packaging”, you will find hundreds of companies to pack and ship just about anything, but not anyone to design the part the consumer sees. Oh, I found the marvelously talented folks who do the packaging for groceries and other national brands, but a.) I don’t have the budget to hire them, and b.) I don’t need then design, just production of the physical packaging. So that’s baffled me a bit. Of course I’m completely new to this, so there’s very likely something obvious I’m missing. If you were a packaging printer, where would you be? How would you Google yourself?

And then, I’m learning Quickbooks when I’m not doing that. I’m not going to bore you with details (one of us in tears is quite enough), but I need a hug! This stuff is tricky. I just hope I don’t screw it up!

Android

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Blogging has never been my forte. Let’s just be honest here. If you were physically with me every day, I’d talk your ear off, especially since you, dear reader, are probably either a designer, decorator, or artist. We’d have lots to talk about. But blog it? Sigh.

But looky here. An Android app for blogging. Hot dog! So here’s to hoping I can blog more often because the sound of chirping crickets is starting to annoy the spiders building webs around my header…

Mother’s Day

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Recently, a stencil customer told me a sweet story. She purchased a wall stencil from me, hoping to add some flair to her small apartment. Her parents came to visit soon thereafter, and while they were in town, they helped her stencil a wall in her living room. The time together, working on a project, was a welcome bonding time for the three, who haven’t been able to spend time alone together in quite awhile. After the wall was finished, her mom offered to use the stencil to create coordinating pillows! Now, when she looks at the wall, she not only enjoys the color it added to her apartment, she has a weekend of memories too. I love it!

My mother and I have always had a special bond over doing “stuff” together. It’s how we communicate, how we spend time together, how we have grown closer over the years. The things we have painted, sewn, constructed, sawed, hammered, and glued have bonded us with sweet memories. She’s taught me so much, and I credit her with my tendency to dig in and try new things. I love you, Mom.

In honor of my mom, and in honor of families creating memories through doing “stuff” together, I am offering 25% the purchase of any stencil, now through Mother’s Day (May 8). Click here to go to the store, and use coupon code LUVMOM2011.

Grab your loved ones and do stuff! As always, I’d love to hear about it when you’re finished. I can’t wait to see what you do.

A Poem

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A poem I learned in the 4th grade has been on my mind lately, so I thought I’d share. Maybe it will inspire you too?

It Couldn’t Be Done
by Edgar Guest

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it”;
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.

What We’ve Been Up To Around These Here Parts

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It has been a busy week, here at the LU Graphics fort. My, my, my has it been busy. Here’s what’s new:

There is OH so much more to come. Things that get me so excited, I’ve given up sleep, and things so secretive and delicious, I’ve begun lowering my voice in public. I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am!

Hop on board and take advantage of this very special and limited offer! I cannot WAIT to see what you do.

All the best,

Libby Unwin
Chief Pretty-Maker

GRAND OPENING SALE!

How would you like a 40% rebate on your most recent stencil order?
I thought you might be interested.

Here’s how it works:

Buy a stencil and use it somewhere. Apply for the rebate using the form link below. Tell me about yourself, the stencil you used, and where you used it. Upload a picture (or five) of your work. I’ll send back 40% of your purchase price. No kidding. That’s pretty much it.

Not bad, eh?

A few terms and conditions:

  1. Pictures must be at least 800×600 (bigger is better), and taken with a digital camera, not a cell phone camera.
  2. At least one picture must include the whole project, not just a portion of it. You can upload up to five pictures, so feel free to send different angles and portions of your project, so long as at least one picture is the whole thing.
  3. By taking advantage of this offer, you agree to let me use your name (first name and last initial only), your location (state only) and your review for promotional purposes. If you have a website, I would be more than happy to link back to you.
  4. One rebate per household/business.
  5. Rebates come back to you via PayPal, no exceptions.
  6. This offer applies only to stencils purchased during the month of November, 2010. Photo(s) and information must be submitted before January 31st, 2011.
  7. Rebate will be given only upon approval of submitted photos and information. I reserve the right to refuse this rebate based on unacceptable, unusable, or incomplete images and/or information.
  8. Email confirmation of rebate will be initiated within 10 days of receipt of acceptable photo(s) and information.
  9. Custom stencil orders will receive a 15% rebate.
  10. Does not apply to wholesale orders.

Ready to go? Fill out the form here.

Summer Lovin’

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The lovely and talented Khristian Howell has challenged me/you/us to make a to do list for the summer. My to do list is typically 5 miles long, but I’m going to pluck out a few bits and commit to them this summer.

  1. Finish this tutorial series.
  2. Complete the plan for a new product I’m developing (super secret! super exciting! stay tuned!)
  3. Refine some current patterns; get my sketches up for your viewing pleasure.
  4. My usual end-of-summer task: another copyright book!

She started with 5, but for now I’m starting with 4 (I know, I know…). If When I get these done, I’ll add to the list! Summer 2010, here I come!