Monday, February 10, 2014

January Review... February Goals


January is already OVER! 
It went by so fast!


And since I'm being more intentional about my schedule and my goals, I want to formally review my month with you.


My goals started out with making items to sell in January AND working on my Biggest Month Ever collection for April.  I was feeling really unsure and doubtful if I could do it... simply because I've never done it before.

But getting up earlier in the morning, and doing my work FIRST has made a huge difference!  Even though it really amounts to only about an hour more time a day to work, doing it first has taken a huge load off my shoulders.  I know that my time to work is in the morning, and if I get time in the afternoon, it's bonus time!  Plus knocking out that work first thing is a huge boost in morale and gets me excited to keep plugging along.



Here is what I finished for January!

I met MOST of my goals (the corsets were very uninspired, so I made more dresses instead).  And LOVE how everything turned out!





I have lots more to do for February, and more fun stuff all crammed up in my head, making me twitchy to get it out.  I really do think that getting up and just getting to work inspires me, even when I'm not really 'feeling' it.  Things I had NO IDEA or plans for have popped out of my head and make me almost giddy about what I'm going to sew next!




January goals.  Pretty stinkin' close to DONE, exceeded in some areas, so it cancelled out the unmet areas.
Good enough for me!



And a new post it for Feburary!

YAY!
See ya soon!


Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Big Goals and 2014

At the beginning of December, after working through October and November on filling orders and making fall fashions, I realized I totally missed Christmas.

I completely missed the window to make Christmas fashions and ship in time for customers to enjoy them for the season.

I was pretty bummed, especially because I had some killer fabric to make a few fun pieces.

That got me thinking of when I should be sewing what, and for what season.

Which got me thinking about planning ahead.

Which reminded me of a blog post I read about stretching your goals and planning for a BIGGEST MONTH EVER for your work.

Could I do that?
Could I be so organized and together that I could sew for the seasons, BEFORE the season, AND plan for a Biggest Month Ever?

I don't know.

Which makes me WANT to know.

Which lead to thinking and planning and dreaming.
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So I researched the hottest colors predicted for Spring/Summer 2014 
(I've never done that before)...


Made a fashion color board of the ones I liked best...


and then started WRITING out my plans.
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If I want to make April my Biggest Month Ever,
that means I've got to start NOW, in January, so the complete collection can be made and ready to ship at the first of April.

Which means I really don't have a whole lot of time if I'm going to bring ala carte items and OOAKs during the preceding months.

AND continue to live my life too.

I wrote out my plans, starting with the end.
What did I want to bring to you in April?

How many pieces in the collection?
How many OOAKs?
How many multiples?
What are the prices?

  

Then from there, break it down from the total end goal
into monthly goals...



into weekly goals...

into what I should ideally be doing each day.


Writing out my plans/goals/schedule is the easiest part.
I love lists, I love plans, I love thinking through everything.

Now actually implementing? 
That's the hard part.
That's the discipline part.
The part I stink at.

But, I've got fabric all picked out, and ideas swimming around in my head.



and am excited to see if I can hit my goal
and see what will be.


"Dreams aren't expensive. They only cost two things, TIME and GRIND."
-Jon Acuff

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Monster High and Ellowyne repaints!

 I have two new repaints up for sale!

First is a Monster High Robecca repaint that I just love. 
Such a fun doll.  
She is a complete repaint with hand made BASIX gears dress included.


If interested, please email to
kariandcompany AT comcast DOT net


Robecca
$99

If interested, please email to 
kariandcompany AT comcast DOT net



And next is a gorgeous long brunette Ellowyne (formerly Fatigued). She features glass eyes and a complete repaint.  Because she came out of the box with light staining on the back of her arm, I'm offering her for a deal!




If interested, please email to 
kariandcompany AT comcast DOT net



You can see the light staining on the back of her arm here.

Ellowyne will come nude, in her original box and shipper.

Ellowyne repaint
$185.00

If interested, please email to 
kariandcompany AT comcast DOT net

Friday, June 21, 2013

Summer Enhancement and Repaint Special!


This summer I'm opening up for a VERY limited number of enhancements on your dolls.

I have 5 spots available for July.


Email me at kariandcompany AT comcast DOT net
to reserve your spot.


D E T A I L S 

I have room for 5 customers, each customer can send up to 5 dolls.


You provide and mail the doll(s) of your choice to me (Tonner, Ellowyne, Monster High, BJD).

I will enhance the items you request (see list below).


You approve photos and pay return shipping and enjoy your "new" doll!



E N H A N C E M E N T  M E N U 


Change Eye Color: $50
Includes painting over entire inner eye area and repainting pupil, iris, and shadowing in color of your choice.  
Realistic detail and depth.  
Sealed with quality matte and gloss sealant.

Makeup Enhancement: $30
Removing makeup and painted eyelashes (if doll has 3D lashes, they will not be removed) and repainting in style/color of your choice.  
Sealed with matte finish for a natural and durable finish.

Lip Repaint: $30
Removing current lip color and repainting in color/style of your choice (lip color, natural, gloss, etc).  
Sealed in matte, satin, or gloss sealant.

Freckles:  $20
Liquid Sunshine's own special technique gives realistic freckles that are natural looking and invisibly sealed.  
Includes shading and toning for a soft and realistic look.

Mani/Pedi: $20  
Removal of current nail color and repaint in color of your choice.  Sealed with gloss sealer.

Natural Mani/Pedi: $25
Removal of current nail color and repaint with French tips and natural base. Sealed with gloss sealer.





Email me at kariandcompany AT comcast DOT net
to reserve your spot.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

This week in the studio...

This week in the Studio welcomed the first of a Summer Mix and Match collection
 for Ellowyne, Cami, and others







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And the boys and I had a laugh out loud time creating new Minions to add to squirrel patrol and defense.
This week we added

BRUNO  (said with a heavy Russian accent)
Bruno is the Minion fitness and drill instructor.  


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This week DayGlo also joined the Minion defenses.
DayGlo is the more responsible of Perimeter defense team.  
He works alongside Pylon, who is mostly interested in coffee.


Pylon, who should be on duty, messin with MY coffee.
(Blau does NOT approve)
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Skye joined the team this week too.  Skye is responsible for 
long range aerial defense.
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Minions pop up everywhere around here...
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DayGlo, unofficial spokesminion.
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And the Minions publicly released the first ever picture of the evil squirrels....


with more to come, I'm sure.

Monday, May 27, 2013

A week's review of the Minions


This week a  few of the Minions found sponsors and were reassigned to their new base locations.

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Early morning squirrel patrol with Pylon 
and Ingot (hanging by his deadly ears)...
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Plyon is quite naughty and getting braver about his 
shenanigans as the days go by...
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But he soon suffered the consequences...
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Some sketches...

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at the coffee shop... 

You can sponsor a Minion here:

or 
Read their introductory post here: