Running a little business is a little like a delicately balanced stack of lampshade frames. Phew, I think I made it past the crazy spring, summer and fall. It has been wicked busy since the publication of my Lampshade Lady Book. I've had a few events the past months, a few workshops and lots of custom work as well as keeping ahead of wholesale orders. Yes, it truly is a balancing act. Blogging, Twitter, etc have mostly gone by the wayside, but now I've got a chance to catch my breath and get a 2nd wind.
All I've learned in a year....where do I start. Originally I thought it would be interesting to do a book on running a little business like mine instead of a how-to book, but those in the know thought otherwise. To think of all the hard knock lessons I have learned. I've heard from many of you wondering if you could really make a living at making lampshades. Yes you can, but gosh it's taken me 20 years to draw a paycheck and at certain times of the year that is debatable, BUT, I'm the boss. Inventory control, CEO, Head Shopper for the best vintage fabrics, head ebay shopper for lamps that need alot of love, head gardener, trash girl, shipping girl,president of pr and marketing, accounts payable to name a few of the day to day skills learned over time, usually doing them wrong the first time. Running my own business is hugely rewarding and I thank the thankyou gods everyday that I was lucky enough to stumble into my shop and start my little niche.
I usually say that I can teach you to make a lampshade in a day, but the rest takes years to figure out. But, heck- it would be no fun if you knew how to do everything. One student emailed that she hadn't sold any lampshades yet. Humm, so Yupp, that's pretty discouraging but not the end of the world. It is sort of good you don't sell out the first time... or maybe that would be good???? I didn't sell any shades at my first outting. And only a handful the next. As a matter of fact, I only sold a handful at my last outting. But, what did I learn? I remembered how much I loved my shop and that it is so much easier selling shades here on School ST than off at a show without electricity in windy weather, but it was great advertising and will bring old customers back to my shop this fall/winter. 
Skier Girl. Sold. Love this shade. So glad my friend got this one. Thanks Maxine.
More lessons for me.... I just had a wonderful 2 day workshop. A few glitches I think I have learned. I enjoy teaching but at times students sign up and change their minds..... or their schedules change....or health issues which is understandable and then the weather even in Oct. can be an issue. I will have to be stricter in the future because this last one almost was my last. I was lucky there was so much interest, but my workspace is very small and can only accommodate 7-8 students with a squeeze.
deep breath, I will post a workshop schedule for 2011 in the next few days.
My best advise is if you want to start a business. Get busy and Do it! A fellow craftsperson in my town has said to me many times how much she looks up to me and blah, blah, blah, and talks and talks and talks. Just dig in, get started and learn along the way. I know she'll have a great business, because she's super talented. It takes time to get CONFIDENCE AND BE BRAVE.
The only way I finished my book was to not look too far ahead, ask questions when your stuck, do it, figure it out and work hard. Stay positive. If you only knew how many negative comments I deleted and never sent to the book folks. In the beginning of my book progress I got an email from my then editor if I could have my manuscript done by June 30th (it had been due Sept 30th.....sh....t! xoxoxoxok what was she thinkingxixixik! delete, delete and I said let me see, sure okay, we can do it!) only to wait for the next crazy email, Judy, do you think you could have the how-to photos done by then, too? (also, not due till Sept 30th) sure, let me check. You can only imagine what my thoughts were. HOW the HELL will we do that?? so I email off, LET me Check with the photographer. And I return the email, Sure, I think we can make it happen. Lastly, one me querry from her, Can you also get the beauty shots done sooner, too. The last straw. Let me see. She got them 2 months sooner than originally requested. Summer was nonexistent that summer.