Still on what I'm essentially calling maternity leave, I'm in the midst of revamping the CM store. Working on rewrites, recreating the look, working on a better logo, taking things a little more seriously and planning ahead before reopening. It's a slow process while also learning to be a mom and caring for a new little life. And also learning how to care for a whole house instead of just our little apartments that we've been in up till now. But that also means more space to create, actual storage for keeping things in stock, and a better environment in general just to tackle having a shop in the middle of real life being a new mom and wife.
It's a fun refresh, and I'm hoping to plan better this time to keep the store open. And with a more permanent living situation I can research better ways of trying to shop for some things local or at least be able to support fellow Etsy shops for materials for my own creations. Dedicating storage for materials and better storage for finished products is in progress. I've narrowed down a new font style to about 25 options instead of the 40 or so I started with! Haha. And I've begun a spreadsheet and list of supplies needed, time it takes to create, and effort to gauge a better price point for myself and shoppers. You know, all those fun details that go on behind the scenes before I can even really tackle the stuff I really enjoy. Although I have cheated and started some fun lists of different and new things to make and things I eventually want to include in the shop like quilts! But that takes much more time and cost, and so I have to reign it in and take baby steps first. Start by bringing back some of my basics like those paper crafts, fun cards made with love and care, knitted things for everyday life, and a few fun pieces of jewelry. Then once those are back I can take on bigger ideas and more fun things to make available! We're getting there. Slowly but surely.
Finding time to plan is a challenge, but I've got the same 24 hours as anyone. (I keep reminding myself!) It's just that now I'm learning to divide that time with a new sweet little girl that is 5 months old and almost crawling! Whew. Time is going fast and she grows and changes so quickly! It's an interesting and fun balancing act to deal with all these changes at once and try and revamp the store. A refresh is needed, and I still have a passion and love for the products I make and want to eventually bring to Creative Medley. And in a world filled with technology and instant access to things and all the manufactured items that come from who knows where, it's fun to be able to offer some hand made items that take time and care. The love and effort put into the items for my shop and in refreshing the shop itself I hope will be reflected in the gifts you get or the fun little happies you might grab for yourself! And that's what I aim for. A little bit of slowing down, taking time to make, putting in the extra effort and love for something handmade that brings a smile to your face.
Still planning on Spring for a reopening date....That is apt to change though. But is a good starting target! I'll be finishing working on the less than fun stuff for a little while longer, but then I'll try and post fun preview pics as I begin to do the more enjoyable part of this refresh and get in some snapshots of items that will be in stock! Or fun little things in progress. Or maybe just ideas and inspiration of what is to come! So just hang tight, fun little handmade things are coming, and spring isn't too far away!
In the meantime, just so you know, this is where most of my time now goes!!!
