I don't usually use this blog to babble on about my random thoughts but that's basically what this post is going to be doing. First off, I have some news that is exciting for me but most likely a disappointment to you, my faithful blog readers...I'm going to start selling my designs. I'm not sure in which manner I will go about doing that as I have some options but I will be doing it somehow...I think :) Here's where the random thoughts start. First of all, when I started this blog and put up my Felty dog kit, I never thought this blog would turn into what it has or that I would create more kits and give out all this free stuff and meet wonderful people so It was a pleasant surprise and I've enjoyed myself to no end. Well, over the past month, I've been contacted by 4 different sights inviting me to sell my designs (You can imagine how wonderful that makes me feel!) I turned down the first 2 offers because of reasons I will explain later but then I started thinking about it and thought maybe I should start selling my designs to help pay for the 3 subscription sites I belong to that have helped me to create the things I do (phew, run-on sentence!) There are 2 sites I'm considering selling at. I may choose one or both or I've even played with the idea of opening my own store eventually (like when I speed up my designing skills because you all know how slow I am, LOL). But here's the thing that makes my decision difficult. I already spend too much time on the computer and once I commit to selling my designs, I fear I will be compelled to be on even more as I will have deadlines and such. I don't want to miss my boys growing up because it passed me by while I was on the computer. I've also decided to homeschool my boys and will start that this fall as my oldest will be starting kindergarten (I really have no idea what kind of time commitment that will take since I'm new to that world, too). My biggest deterrent to selling stems from that fact that several years ago (about 10) I had a quilting obsession, not unlike my current digi obsession. Well, I had this wonderful idea to turn it into a business from the basement of my house. I did that for 5 years while working part time as a Dental Hygienist. I worked many hours quilting, made very little money and it was very uncreative work...basically felt like I was running a quilting sweatshop, turn 'em and burn 'em, know what I mean. In 2002, when I was pregnant with my first boy, I closed down my business and sold my quilting machine. I haven't made a quilt since, nor do I read quilting magazines or go to quilt shops...nothing! I vowed never to turn a hobby into a business again! So, here I am, at a crossroad, wondering which way do I go?
I may be absent for a bit because I don't have any new products created right now so while I do some designing, I'll make my decision of which road to take. If I do start selling, I will, of course, continue to give out freebies to promote my products but I think the days of the free mega kits have ended. Thank you all for helping to make this a very exciting time in my life with all your wonderful, supportive and inspiring comments, I wouldn't be where I am without you!
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22 comments:
Thanks so much for what you have shared with us. I am sure you will make the right decision. Not sure how you will accomplish all you have on your hands. Every job you mentioned can take your whole life up. Especially raising children with addition of homeschooling. Good luck.
I've enjoyed looking at the great kits you create.......but how exciting that you are contemplating a new experience...I know this will be a difficult decision process and wish you luck and success with whatever you decide.
I say...GO FOR IT! Your designs are incredible and as much as I will miss the free mega kits, you'd be crazy not to make some money for your hard work. Shop around for the right store to sell your products. Some have less demanding requirements (as far as how many kits per month, etc). With the right store, you should be able to juggle the designing and home schooling aspects of your life (and still have some time for camping and such). Here's a great big GOOD LUCK to you.
I have so much to say, but I'll keep it as short as possible. All you are going through is so very much and you will be in my prayers along w/your family. As a Christian, woman, mother, hard worker,ex-home schooler,own business,etc. I was overwhelmed-until I let God have it all, soon it was evident that all was possible but at intervals and on His time & terms.Although your beautiful creations will be missed dearly~ they can be made up.*Missed childhoods cannot-memories cannot. So, enjoy your children and work at your own pace~SMILE because someone is praying for you.Now- go take those cuties to the park~~~:) But please keep in touch by your blog once in a while.THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE MADE AND GIVEN SO FREELY~ I will certainly miss you.God bless~
I will miss getting your wonderful kits! But hey, if you can manage to have your own business or sell on another site, that's great. I hope all will go well for you. We appreciate your talent and being able to have the things you have shared with us. Thanks!!
I knew this was going to happen as soon as some store found out how great your designs are. Good luck with your decision and thank you for all that you have shared with us!
Thanks for the lovely designs I have received from you in this short period. I wish you success & based upon past experiences that it will be a hard decision for you. With your home schooling you will have to decided how much you can give to your designing after your homeschooling activities. The advantage of home schooling is that you can rotate your school hours @ will to the best advatageous time for you & your sweeties. Either way, you are supported.
Now, okay. I knew that photo was so familiar when I came to your page & saw that quilt. So that is your darling that is in our Newsletter & template. I have not involved myself in the templates because of their square sizing, I do lettersize. I had planned to adjust the template, but I have too many photos to scrap for our family affairs. I will now have a secret smile when I look at my magazine during the month of July. So cute indeed. Have you made a kit for her newsletter yet? Just asking. This month she made the Premier kit instead of a guest designer. So, I wish you the best with my prayers, regardless of your decision. HUGS!!!
chris, you have nothing to lose. no big money investment, no training period to get through. if it doesn't work out, you will be no worse off. but if you don't try, you'll always wonder if you could've done it. so why not give it a try? if it gets tedious, or takes up too much time, you can stop. just find the right shop - it will make all the difference!
:) M
Thank you so much for all that you have shared. While I will definitely miss your free big kits, I don't mind paying for a kit I really like one bit. I think you should be compensated for all the hard work you put into a kit. You do awesome work, by the way. I wish you luck with your decision, and whatever decision that may be, will be the right one for you! :)
Jen
Chris, it's sucha big decision to make and you want to keep loving doing what you're doing, because that's why your kits are so brilliant, it's clear to see how much love and pride has gone into them. I just know you will make the right decision that just fits your life and that of your family (and your adoring public, because trust me, you DO have an adoring public!!).
Maybe if you do think about going it alone, you could pair up with a like designer to sell together, someone who also is at this cross roads like yourself, wanting to jump, but not quite sure.
Having said all that I'm again surprised (or I shouldn't be really) just how many ex-quilters are digi scrappers. Amazing.
Sorry I don't have any sage advice, just an opinion... you have great talent and I am thrilled to have gotten your kits before you were "discovered"! Thank you for your generosity , your sharing was appreciated by many I am sure. As far as home schooling goes, the best of luck to you, it's something I never could have done! Don't let your past quilting business keep you from this new venture. The other posters are right, digiscrap could be a LOT more flexible for you! Hugs and support to you :)
I have to agree that we all really appreciate the freebies you've given out. However, we won't be upset if you want to start charging!
I completely see both sides of what you're saying, and I feel the same way about turning a hobby into a business although I am always SO tempted to do so. Also with not knowing how much time homeschooling will take up, it's hard to commit.
I would honestly say that if you want to sell, try to sell with someone who doesn't want to put a constraint on you like give us 2 kits a month or anything like that. It would have to be someone who will take whatever you make, WHEN you make it, and sell it.
Obviously selling them independently would be the best way to do that because you can just do it when you want to. I hear it is pretty easy to set something like that up with paypal now. A lot of scrapping sites only take paypal, and anyone can set up a paypal based store.
No one can tell you the right or wrong thing to do here, it has to be your decision, but that's my two cents. I CERTAINLY think you are talented enough, and I agree that you don't want to feel confined or obligated, so that's what I think!
I wish you ALL THE BEST with whatever you decide :)
congrats! Your designs are amazing and I appreciate the wonderful kits you have shared with us!
Thank you so much for all that you have shared with us. We can not expect everyone to always give us such great gifts all the time. Your family is and should be the most important thing and what ever you decide is great. You need only to answer to yourself and your family. We are only the lucky onces who have benefited from your generousity. If we never see a freebie from you, we should always be grateful for what you have given us and we should buy some of your kits because they are truely wonderful and you should be compensated for it.
Chris - I have so enjoyed your blog, you are very creative and have a wonderful design style. That is why the shops are after you. Remembering that we only go around once, don't make a commitment to anyone unless they have a heart that takes into consideration "life happening". Kids get sick, parents have needs, etc. You have to call the shots all the time. You really are that good that you CAN make this part of the agreement with any shop!
My only concern for you is that you will be with little people and your computer all day/night! When you do have time for R&R and chatting with other Moms/wifes/digiscrappers? Build in some time for YOU!! If you don't take care of YOU, You won't be able to take care of anyone else! Very important! Now, good luck and make sure you tell us where you will be selling, we will be buying! Hugs........
I dont understand why everyone has these demands on designers in their stores. I am soon having a store and it will be a store where anyone can sell anything and no one has any kind of rules on how much they NEED to do of anything LOL. Everyone is welcome. Vicky
I can't wait to see your kits in a store! You have the talent to be there. Thank you for sharing with us and I wish you so much luck with your decision. I will be watching for your final decision. Congrats on being appreciated by the PTB, we knew you wouldn't stay off the radar for long.
Christine, Looks like you have a hard decision ahead of you! I wish you all the luck in the world and I know when you start selling, you will be a big success! Thanks for all you have shared with us on your blog and I will look for you in the future!!
Christine,
I've enjoyed the kits you've shared here on your blog. I also had sense enough to know that someday, you would want to do start selling in a store or on your own.
There are lots of designers out there that have the paypal stores set up, and sell the kits off their blogs. No muss or fuss with forums and challenges and mega kit contributions and deadlines. This option would be easier for you to keep all the things you love. If you get tired of designing, all ya gotta do is say bye-bye, it's been fun, and close down the blog and store.
With your family and homeschooling, you think about your family first. Like Tami said in her post, you cannot make up missing childhoods or memories.
I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to do.
Wow!
I'm for the first time on your blog, you are very talented!
I wish you all the best with your hobby! Whatever you decide, let it be the best choice for you!
You have precious boys!
I loved your plaiful plaid kit!
I would like to download it, thanks for sharing!
I'm too excited! LOL
{{{hugs}}}
Love,
Maria.
Best wishes go out to you with whatever you decide to do. I have loved receiving your freebies, and I will totally pay for them if that is the route you decide to go. I have been in your shoes before and it took all the fun out of my hobby when it got too demanding. Take care and I know everything will work out for you! :)
HOws the homeschooling coming?
I let my 5 and 7 year old boys scrapbook homeschool themes. You can see their pages on my blog under an Unplanned Delight Directed Day.
I just posted a blog entry with homeschool student sample pages mashing digiScrapping with homeschooling!
Come and tell me what you think. I have a lot of kits semi-ready (i.e haven't gotten them uploaded yet-- I need MORE time!) If you are interested maybe we can do something together.
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