Firstly, Craft Inc. is a good size.  While it won’t slide into your back pocket, it’s an easy book to take along and read on the go.  It’s not an intimidating book and it’s broken up into very user-friendly sections that come in handy when you’ve reached a new plateau in your business and need a refresher.

The book is divided into well organized chapters which are further broken down into even more well organized sections.  Within these pages one is schooled in how to realistically begin, what the business side of things entails, how to decide what you’ll be producing, marketing your business, pricing your creations, the various types of sales you may encounter (craft shows, wholesale, consignment, trade shows…), money matters and more.

Three of my favorite aspects of Craft Inc. are the checklists found throughout the various chapters, the comprehensive list of online resources in the back of the book and the plentiful interviews with successful, creative business owners throughout the entire book.

Note:  Since I first read this book, a revised version has been released.

All in all, I’d say this is a great resource for anyone thinking of starting a creative business or anyone who may have any lingering questions regarding their existing creative business!  It’s never a bad thing to be TOO knowledgeable on a subject.  As G.I. Joe says, “Knowing is half the battle.”  ;)

Here are a few photos to entice you…

While you’re busy visiting us, you might as well stay and see the other 249 artists that have gathered to share their creations!  It’s an impressive collection, that’s for sure.

Here are the Tulsa Makers you’ll see at our booth:

Briana, of  Bifftastica, will be debuting her beautiful vintage fabric shirts and swingplates! Not to mention we’ll be seeing all the things we love of hers like her switchplates.

Kim, of Blue Marble Market is setting up an array of cute baby & children’s clothes! I for one love the tiny vests she makes!

Samantha, of Bohemian Romance, Steampunk Jewelry & accessories–has tons of new earrings, necklaces, and steampunked bow ties! Just in time for all of your fancy occasions–weddings, graduations, lavish getaway vacations…

Busted Trumpet‘s Renee is showcasing their lovely earrings & cufflinks! There are lots of new summer & spring colors and designs to choose from!

Byrd, formerly known as The Knit Owl, will be debuting their re-design and their new jewelry & knitted products! We are super excited!

Crochet by Sherri Lee has some gorgeous new crocheted pieces–perfect for these chill evenings we’re enjoying still.

A MakeTulsa booth would not be the same without Hollyrocks! Her global love necklaces and guitar pick earrings make great gifts. And her magic garden kits & seed bombs are a great way to spruce up your garden!

Minnie Marie, also known as Life Design Studio, will have some fun new products made just for this weekend. We’ll also have SomerKnits‘s famous dryer balls, Weather& Noise‘s cute linen tea towels and pocket bottle cap openers, and teething jewelry made by Ashley, of Tulsa Teethers.

  There is something for everyone! So come on by, say hello, and enjoy the festival! And for the brides-to-be out there stop by our booth and show us your engagement ring and win 2 free tickets to Marry Me Indie, Tulsa’s first indie wedding show!

Fabric Covered Binder from BananaCircles on Etsy!

Here’s what I use: binder; folder; dividers with tabs (one for each shop); pen/marker; and post-it notes

1. Devote each fiscal year to a binder. Once that year is completed (i.e. you’ve paid taxes on it) retire that binder to your records (which you should keep somewhere safe).
2. Each shop your product is carried in gets its own separate divider. Write the shop name on the divider tab. On the front of the divider write  information that you need to easily reference: shop owner’s name, shop manager, contact information, email addresses, store hours & location, store mailing address, and web address).
3. In each divider section file your consignment contract or wholesale agreement followed by your updated inventory sheets (in chronological order). (On a side note, you should always send, or bring, two inventory sheets–one for the shop and one for you, signed, for your records. You may need this some day if you have to prove loss of inventory, or in case the shop goes bankrupt in order to get your product back).
4. On a post-it note write down your shop codes for quick reference. If you are consigning your products, write down the next code to start with on the post-it. Stick the post-it to the inside of your divider for easy & quick access.
5. Last, photocopy (or list on a piece of paper) the checks you receive from that shop. Be sure to include check date, check number, and amount.
   

   Binder Dividers from CrownBindery on Etsy!

This system will help you stay organized for tax season as well as allow you to see trends in your sales (which months you sell higher volumes of your product vs. slower months).

Keeping organized will  aid you in the event that you have issues or problems with a shop over payment. You will have records to help you resolve this issues quickly rather than scrambling for them when & if a problem arises.

What are some ways you keep your business organized?

Materials & Tools Needed:

• Canvas fabric (cut into triangles)
• Buttons (pearl, clear & white)
• Lace
• Bakers Twine
• Needle  & Thread; Embroidery Needle
• Scissors
• Sharpie Marker (optional)

Steps:

1. Cut out your triangles from your canvas fabric.
2. Next cut out your lace (or if you’re using lace scraps, size your pieces down to fit your banner piece). Place your lace in different directions for variety–diagonally, horizontally, along the edge of your canvas fabric, etc. Cut off any lace that hangs over the edge of your banner piece.
3. Sew your lace onto your canvas banner piece with needle & thread. Be sure to tie a sturdy knot. Repeat for the rest of your banner pieces.
4. Next place your buttons in arrangements on your canvas banner pieces. I like to cluster mine and vary the types of buttons that I use (pearl, clear, four button holed & two button holed, etc.).
5. Once you’re happy with the arrangement of your buttons, sew them in place with needle & thread. Be sure to tie sturdy knots.
6. Last, measure your Bakers Twine. It should be the length that you want your banner to be & remember to allow yourself at least a 1/4 inch of space between each banner piece and at least an inch on each end (and 2 inches if you are tying a cute bow or loop). A helpful tip–lay out your banner pieces on a flat surface (with the distance you’d like them apart) and measure by rolling out your Bakers Twine.
7. Thread your Bakers Twine onto your embroidery needle and sew a large stitch into each banner piece. Remember to leave space in between each banner piece as you sew.
8. Once all of your pieces are on your Bakers Twine–tie a loop or a decorative bow on each end.
9. Hang with pride! Your house now has a little shabby chic elegance!

Don’t throw out your scraps! You can use them to make mini banners. Also, canvas fabric is perfect for writing on with a Sharpie marker. Write yourself an inspirational lyric or message & hang it someplace you see every morning. I hung mine on my back door window so that every time I leave my house for work I’m greeted with the sentiment: “All the sounds of the Earth are like music”–it’s a great start to my day!

As always, Happy Crafting!

Besides the obvious benefit–selling more of your awesome handmade product–it can strengthen your brand recognition in your area. Here are a few helpful tips if you find yourself shooting a TV segment or DIY.

Familiarize yourself with the tv show. Watch a couple of previous DIY segments on the station that you’re appearing on in order to get a feeling for the following:

• The anchors’ personalities (and the correct pronunciation of their names)
• The camera angles typically used during their DIY segments (do they shoot straight on–indicating that they shoot using one camera–or do they cut to other angles–indicating that they shoot with 2-3 cameras?). This is important in understanding how to stage your DIY
• The timing (how long are their DIY segments? Is there one similar to yours and if so, how long was it?)
• The Season (Is it Christmas time? Spring? Mother’s Day?) DIYs are most successful when they are tied in to the time of year & with that station’s story trends

Plan. Here are some things to consider before planning & practicing your DIY:

• Time. How much time are you allotted for your segment/DIY. If you are limited on time, create your craft in stages to save valuable time. For instance, Heather from Audrey Eclectic demonstrated how to make painted silhouette ornaments. In her DIY she already had painted a background on a wooden plaque so that she could skip a simple step in order to explain how to paint a silhouette.
• Space. What do you need in order to successfully demonstrate your DIY? A table? Do you need protective covering or gear (in case of painting, gluing, or drilling)? Do you need electricity? Perhaps you’re using a glue gun or a sewing machine. Do you need to be sitting or standing? Express these needs beforehand so that the news station can be ready for you.

To use Heather as an example again, you’ll notice that everything is staged well and clearly. Off to the right is an     artfully set up suitcase of her paintings as well as several examples of the finished craft project. The vision of sight is clear for the camera in front of her and the anchor and there is nothing to obstruct the camera from zooming in for close ups.

Click on the photo for a link to Heather from Audrey Eclectic’s video DIY

• Audience. The audience for news stations is general. The viewers are most likely new to crafting or not as well seasoned or versed as you so make sure you explain any “lingo” or terminology to them as well as offer tricks to your craft. Keep that in mind when you are creating the steps to your DIY.

Heather demonstrates an awareness of a general audience well–in explaining what kind of photograph you can use to trace your silhouette she says that your picture “doesn’t have to be professional” and that you can use one on your phone if you wanted. Also in this instance, Heather does something else that is important–she shows a little of herself to the viewer. The photo she chose for her DIY was of her daughter Audrey. This small detail personalizes not only the project but Audrey Eclectic Folk Art. Suddenly this random crafty person is more likeable & personable–she’s a mom with a kid going off to school for the first time! When viewers establish a personal connection to you they are more likely to check out your Etsy shop or website or maybe even stop by a show to see you.

Practice. The most important piece of advice  is to practice–both your DIY and what you’re going to say. When you are making the project explain it out loud (or demonstrate it for your spouse, partner, or friends). Oftentimes you will remember steps you had forgotten to include in the written instructions or a tool or supply that you forgot you used.

• Once you have finished practicing, pack up everything so that you do not forget to bring any tools or supplies.
• News Stations have requirements and suggestions for going on air, make sure to adhere to these requirements and read through any instructions/literature they provide before going on their show. For example, some news stations have “guest sheets” for you to fill out prior to shooting your segment. Guest sheets will ask for 1. your name (and it’s a good idea to provide a phonetic breakdown of your name if it’s difficult to pronounce), 2. business name, 3. website address, and 4. the title of the DIY you’re demonstrating with a supply & tool list included along with your DIY’s instructions.

News Stations use this information to provide their viewers with links to your business as well as posting your DIY online in a print friendly format to accompany video. Make sure that the information that you provide is accurate (proofread it very carefully) and that the DIY instructions are easy for a general audience to understand.

• Have a Finished Project to show (when you are practicing your DIY, make your example or examples)
  

  Like for instance, this craft made by Holly, Hollyrocks

• Anticipate questions you’ll likely be asked and think of good & meaningful answers.

For example, in my last DIY (making Steampunk Home Decor–Candlesticks & Candle holders out of recycled materials) I was asked to explain what steampunk was and “where can people find these supplies?” I could anticipate these questions because I get asked what steampunk is all the time. As for the other question, my DIY involved odd supplies like automotive light bulbs and clock gears which are not easy to find for a general audience so I was prepared to answer that.

Here are some questions you should be prepared to answer (but may or may not be asked)

• Where can viewers find/purchase your work locally?
• Where can viewers find these supplies & tools?
• How much does your craft cost to make?
• Is your craft kid-friendly?
• How long does your craft take to make? (or how long do individual steps take–for example, how long should you let glue dry or patina to set?)
  

  Click on the photo of Sam, Bohemian Romance to watch her DIY video

Primp. Personally, I use TV segments as an excuse to pamper my body a little bit. (Which I highly recommend if you are anxious about public speaking at all). Here are a couple of tips to help you look your best on the day:

• Pick out your outfit and accessories the day before. Try to choose colorful clothing–those show up best on camera. Also, know how you’re going to style your hair. Try to avoid styles where your hair is in your face so you don’t spend most of your time sweeping your hair out of your eyes during your segment.
• Go a little heavier on your make up. Camera lights wash out your skin so use a heavier hand when applying foundation and blush. You want to be in between everyday makeup (too little) and theater makeup (too far).
• Your Appearance should be coherent with your brand. You yourself are an extension of your brand. For instance, if like me you make jewelry–deck yourself out in it! Or if you don’t have a wearable art or product, maybe wear colors that are recognizable with your brand. For example, when I think of weather&noise, I picture mustard yellow, linen, and slate blue.
• Don’t neglect those hands! During DIY segments the camera will zoom in on what you’re doing–and thereby include close ups of your hands–so make sure your nails are neat, filed, and clean. (I’d recommend nude nails–no hideous chipping to worry about). 
• Get a good night’s sleep. Above all, it’s important to be well rested.

Perform. On the day of your DIY TV segement here are a couple of steps that will enhance all of your careful preparations:

• Avoid foods & beverages that cause gas. The last thing that you want to worry about is holding in a belch or fart when you’re on television. Also use the restroom before your segment.
• Be Early, or at least On Time. Get directions to the station beforehand and calculate how long it will take you to get  there. You don’t want to get lost and run late. For one thing–you don’t want to get all sweaty running into the building trying to make it for your segment or worry/anger the anchors or station manager (the whole point of this is to get asked back). By running late or missing your call time, you risk  missing out on shooting “teasers” of your DIY as well as the opportunity to set up your DIY early, meet the anchors/cameramen beforehand, and do a walk through of your segment with the station manager. You rob yourself of valuable time if you’re late.
• Be aware of the cameras. When you are demonstrating your DIY don’t just explain it, remember to show steps/techniques to the camera. Be aware of any obstructions the camera might have.
• Speak Clearly & Smile. Have fun and be yourself. Unless you are someone who swears like a sailor–keep it clean!
• Keep it Simple. Don’t ramble, babble, or go off topic.
• Be Thankful. (Both on and off camera) Thank everyone–from the cameramen, station manager, to the anchors for giving you this opportunity. Gratitude will get you everywhere and it will more than likely get you asked back.

Here are a few Make Tulsa Members who are great on camera:

Holly, of Hollyrocks

Click on the photo of Holly, Hollyrocks to watch her DIY video

Renee, of GreenerMe, Busted Trumpet, & MarryMeIndie

Click on the photo of Renee, Busted Trumpet & GreenerMe to watch her DIY video

Ultimately your preparation will pay off. You will be calmer and more composed if you’ve practiced. Remember that the anchor is really good at filling in dead-air and prompting you if you are suddenly seized with stage fright or stumble over your words. Above all, have fun and be your wonderful, crafty self!

The Elote Luchador Run was last weekend and Make:Tulsa had a blast. Each year the runners must hurdle over obstacles set up by local businesses & groups. If you ran past us–by the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame downtown–then you were painted all kinds of  bright colors and given a very colorful high-five!

Last Tuesday, we partnered up with BookSmart Tulsa, Tulsa Public Library, and the University of Tulsa for a very special lecture on reducing your carbon footprint by eliminating plastic in your life. The lecture was given by blogger & author Beth Terry. To accompany her talk, we set up 4 different projects to reuse recyclable materials. Attendees could make plastic bottlecap pincushions, plastic milk carton tupperware, newspaper gift bags, and junk mail earrings! In case you missed the fun on that particualrly stormy Tuesday evening–click on a project to find an online link to the DIY.

As always, check our facebook page for updates on Make:Tulsa events & classes! Lots of fun events coming up & you don’t want to miss all the fun!

A few years ago I worked as a reporter (photographer, editor, secretary, Girl Friday…) at my local daily paper. My official ‘beat’ was business and education stories, but when you work in a newsroom that consists of 5 people for the entire staff, you get to do a little bit of everything. My ‘little bit of everything’ that I loved best was doing feature stories on creative people, because I loved getting to talk with people who were pursuing their passions and using their talents to make a name for themselves. And while I thought those were the best stories, I also had an ulterior motive– to learn the secret of their success.

As a new mom with very little free time and not much money, it was hard for me to grasp how I could make my dream of being a real artist come true. I assumed that I should have gone to art school, or that I needed to be independently wealthy. I was always intrigued when normal people– people who worked in offices, worked cattle, or taught school could suddenly one day be an artist, a writer, a designer, or a master craftsman. So with each interview I would get out my little notebook and pen and sit poised in my chair— anxious to hear their secret. And when I did, I was struck by how utterly simple it was.

“I just decided one day I was going to do it, and I did,” was usually what I got.

“I started the novel and I finished it.”

“I bought some paints and I began painting.”

I was utterly confused by how simple and frankly, easy, they all made it sound.

But as I turned over the words of all those people I interviewed for the newspaper, a theme started to emerge. They were people who were not waiting for the perfect time, the perfect space, lots of extra money, or an outside opportunity to make their creative dreams come true. They made it happen for themselves. They just….started. And they kept at it.

So I began my plotting.

My husband and I crunched some numbers and discovered that we wouldn’t exactly starve to death if I quit my job to be at home with our daughter full time. We arranged for she and I to get independent health coverage (one of my main reasons for clinging to my low-paying paper work was that it did offer good benefits). I put in my notice. And ironically, a week before I was to leave, a new group of people came sweeping in, announcing they’d just bought the newspaper, and they didn’t offer employee benefits. You can’t imagine my relief in knowing that my escape plan was already in place.

And so in the autumn of 2007, I began my tentative steps into doing what I loved. Sure, it was only feasible during my baby’s nap times. And it took a few months– yes MONTHS– for my first etsy sale. I was not one of those Cinderella stories that you read on craft blogs where I put five paintings online and by the next day they were all sold out and I was the toast of etsy. No…it’s been slow and steady, all the way.

But the next autumn I got up the bravery to enter my first craft show– Indie Emporium. And there I met so many wonderful new crafty friends, who are now life-long friends. I won the art gallery portion of the show and got my first gallery solo show out of it. Slowly but surely, one thing has led to another. And now I am proud to say that I am on the road to where I longed to be not so very long ago. One of those lucky people who can say they are doing what they love.

And the secret is? It’s nothing fancy, honestly. Just do it.

Thom and Christine are one of Tulsa’s dynamic creative couples and certainly people to watch as they are always finding new ways to foster creativity in their community.

Not only are they fantastically crafty individuals (both separate and when considered as a whole), but Thom and Christine are kind, funny, genuine souls that enrich the lives of those around them (this interviewer included). I was so excited to meet with them over coffee at one of their many local spots to pepper them both with questions.

Q: I think of you as the momma & poppa of make:Tulsa. Tell me more about how the group started.

“make:Tulsa came out of a need we saw here,” said Thom. Christine quickly added that Oklahoma City had its own craft community and she found herself wishing for “crafty fun”–like she had seen in OKC and elsewhere. Out of this need for a collective group, make:Tulsa was born.

Q: What do you envision for make:Tulsa for the future?

Immediately Christine said, “A national presence.” Thom further added that he wanted others to look at make:Tulsa like other successful, well-known indie craft groups & communities like Etsy Rain or the Austin Craft Mafia. Thom also expressed an interest in seeing “make” communities in more cities across the U.S.

As far as Tulsa is concerned, the Crowes envision more community events and helping more people find or hone their craft.

Q: Indie Emporium was a huge success. What was going through your mind when Juliette Lewis walked through the door?

Thom: “Oh crap, there’s Juliette Lewis!”

Christine: I wanted a picture of her.

Juliette Lewis’s appearance at Indie Emporium certainly caused Facebook and Twitter storms with hashtags & tagging–nearly every status of those in attendance mentioned Lewis. Lewis attending Indie Emporium highlighted another mission of this creative duo–to show off Tulsa as the same kind of creative community that you find in other cities and Hollywood. A fact certainly affirmed in a recent interview with Portlandia‘s Carrie Brownstein.

Q: You’re both organizers of Indie Emporium (& the very new, Marry Me Indie), what is the best piece of advice you have to offer artists who are thinking of applying to indie craft shows?

Christine: Come to our Applying to Shows class! (offered through make:Tulsa annually & the date for this year is TBA)

And if you can’t come to our class–here’s Thom’s bit of advice:

Thom: Always remember that the show organizers only see what you send them. It is important to have good quality pictures of your product and for your product descriptions to be well-worded.

Q: Christine, you’ve just opened up the second location of Made;the Indie Emporium Shop in December 2012. Congratulations! For a lot of artist-shop owners it can be difficult to manage a shop and still find time to make their own work. What’s one trick that helps you get into your studio?

Her advice is simple–setting aside time. Christine has days off  to work  on creating new weather&noise products. Also, in the cozy office behind her counter at Made there is a tiny studio space where she can make some of her smaller products that don’t involve screen printing–like her bookmarks, jewelry, pocket mirrors, and keychain bottle openers.

Q: Christine, how did you come up with weather&noise as the name for your handmade business?

Christine admits that she obsessed over coming up with the perfect name for her business. It took her 2 months! And what a great name it is! The name derives from a Counting Crow’s song–”American Girls“: “Girls are weather and noise.”

Q: Christine, I know that you’re working on your degree in Interior Architecture & Design. Does your knowledge of architecture and interior design inform your work?

Christine smiled. “Yes, absolutely!” And as a matter of fact her Etsy shop introduces her lovely home wares & accessories with a quotation from William Morris: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” From her pocket mirrors to her linen tea towels–all of Christine’s creations do not relinquish style for function but rather, marry the two. This same quotation sits over Christine’s studio desk and inspires the things she makes.

Her schooling informs her work by introducing Christine to new arts–like her current bookbinding class and screen printing which she first took as an elective in college and has now blossomed into much more.

Q: What’s your favorite crafty mistake?

Christine: “How I actually started screen printing.” Before her screen printing days Christine made candles. It wasn’t until the National Trust for Historic Preservation asked her to screen print 2, 500 tote bags that she found her craft. Christine, without ever having screen printed before, made her own screen printing press and finished 2,500 tote bags! It is amazing what creativity and determination can do!

Q: Thom, you are an excellent cook. It’s one of your many creative outlets. There’s a saying in Italian–”Anche L’occhio vuole la sua parte”–meaning “The eye also wants to take part.” Food is not only delicious & nutritive but beautiful to look at. What is the most artful meal you’ve ever prepared?

Thom: Chicken Marsala on a bed of lemon-caper risotto. Or my chicken curry (to which Christine nodded enthusiastically).

Q: Thom, you’re very active in reaching out to the community, what is one craft/art program that you’d love to see here in Tulsa?

Thom’s dream is that art could end poverty. It’s a beautiful dream. One that we can all aspire to. On a more practical level Thom would like to see more Gorilla Art, for kids to find a creative way to express themselves, and more varied programs and opportunities for children despite budget cuts to art programs.

Q: Thom, you’ve appeared on television on numerous occasions to promote Indie Emporium and make:Tulsa events & classes. You are always so calm, composed, and personable. What’s some advice you’d give to artists who find themselves waiting in the green room.

For Thom, public speaking comes very easy (he started acting when he was only 8!). But for those who don’t find public speaking as natural as Thom, he suggests the following: Remember why you are there and what your purpose is and not to lose sight of it while you are speaking; Don’t babble; Don’t cuss (advice he directed sarcastically at this potty-mouthed interviewer); and finally, that your interviewers want you to succeed.

Q: What are some of your favorite blogs, tools, materials to work with, & magazines?

Here are a few of their favorite things: For Christine, her tool of choice is a Dremel. Blogs she loves are a ton of interior design blogs, like Apartment Therapy and DesignSponge.  Linen, of coarse, is her material of choice and numbered among her coffee table literature are the magazines Anthology and MollieMakes (in which she was featured–check out Issue 19!).

For Thom, his favorite tool is a saw. A blog he loves is The Kitchn. Among his favorite mags is The New Yorker (which this former New Yorker was happy to hear). Thom’s material of choice is silk chiffon…just kidding.

Q: What’s  the first handmade gift you ever made for each other?

Hers was “cheesy and unfinished”–which sounds like the best kind of gift in my opinion! When they were dating Christine would keep mementos of their time together–ticket stubs, flowers, & pictures which she then compiled into a book for their first Christmas together. She added poetic & flowery excerpts from her diary on each page of the book. And though it is unfinished, it was a work of love.

Thom learned to knit so that he could make scarves for Christine. He finally stopped when he’d made 30–and when Christine admitted that she had enough scarves for one woman.

Q: Describe your perfect crafty date.

Christine has a fond memory of one of their crafty dates. In front of their roaring fireplace, they ate a sumptuous dinner that Thom had made. After which they crafted Christmas ornaments for a Holiday Ornament Swap. Thom added that this date was very special since it combines their two loves: Christmas and crafting.

They also learned calligraphy together–very romantic! And in readying the new shop in the Pearl District, they spent many hours collaborating and creating a beautiful space together.

Q: How do you challenge & encourage one another to be creative?

Christine: “I tend to get a lot of ideas and Thom asks ‘What are we going to do to make this happen?’” From new tea towel designs to creating new events–like Marry Me Indie–Thom provides support.

They are each other’s sincere “sounding board” delivering criticism when needed in order to grow.

Christine: “Like my craft school bus idea”

Thom: “That’s terrible.” They both laugh, it is terrible. But as we all know, it is important to always be creating–good or bad.

Q: Last question. What does the handmade movement mean to you?

For Christine, it means taking the things she learned from her grandmothers (sewing, baking, and entrepreneurial work) and making a livelihood from them.  For Thom, the handmade movement is about empowerment. It offers people the freedom, or choice, to leave the traditional workplace. It’s “mindful consumerism” according to Christine. It’s buying local and connecting with the people who make things and getting to know them. It’s all about the stories behind the objects made and I have certainly enjoyed hearing some of Thom & Christine’s stories.

For more on Christine’s work click on the following links: Etsy Shop, Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Instagram, and Pinterest!

“Testing!  Testing!  Ahem!  Is this thing on?”  [TAPPING ON THE MICROPHONE.]  Uh, now that I am on stage, what the heck do I say?  Oh no, what if the crowd does not understand my song?  What can I do to help them see my unique vision as an artist?  It could be a tough crowd.  I am going to need some help getting this party rolling.  Who can I call on for support, advice, and inspiration?

“It’s the same old scene

It’s the company you keep…”

Thankfully, Okie Crowe has lots of friends, family, fans, and cheerleaders!  With all of these great folks backing me each day, starting my own business is rewarding, but more work than I could have imagined.  There are momentous adventures, disappointing episodes, and times when the rewards overflow.  There are thankless days and nights worrying how to keep the pace and tears of strife to push Okie Crowe out of her nest to finally spread her wings to fly.  To soar, this bird has been helped with a nudge.  Networking, getting involved in organizations, and supporting other local businesses have all helped this fledgling get her start.

“…It’s a backstage drag

It’s too late, it’s too bad

It’s funny how the time has changed

Like a sea sick fool

With nothing to lose

And little to gain

Just a hat full of rain

To hold my tears of love for this song…”

By surrounding myself with creative and knowledgeable resources, my business is strengthened daily.  The people backstage really help make a difference.  I met a super sweet couple at one of the first few craft shows Okie Crowe ever did.  I ended up selling my items in their store, which has now become Made: The Indie Emporium Stores.  That same duo, Christine and Thom, also introduced me to the wonders of make: Tulsa and Indie Emporium.  Thank goodness for crafty folks in the community reaching out to other businesses to help them do the same!

Being new to business, I have tried to observe other successful businesses and business owners to learn from them.  Even if the businesses differ from mine, watching how they operate offers inspiration, advice, and potential insight to what it takes to be successful in my own business.  I noticed that in-state customers really love buying products made in Oklahoma.  A successful business I admired displayed the Made in Oklahoma logo at events, in their store, and on products.  I researched the Made in Oklahoma organization and soon became a member as well.  Identifying groups of interest can be a great benefit to a business.  Made in Oklahoma provides me with useful information and special member rates for events, access to special products, helps me sport my Okie pride, and promotes Okie Crowe at Made in Oklahoma. 

As a member of American Homebrewers Association, I have expanded my beer brewing knowledge and resources with super sweet Member Deals and other perks.

What organizations do you belong to for assistance with your creative process, personal fulfillment, or educational pursuit?  How do you make a difference?  What do you do to get involved?  Who is backstage at your show?