Books to Read: The "Inc. Books" by Chronicle Books

The first book in the Inc. series was Craft, Inc. back in 2007. It has since been updated in 2011 with all-new sections on opening an online shop, using social media strategically and new interviews. (I own the first edition- but I am guessing the new Revised Edition is mind-blowing!)

When I first got my hands on Craft, Inc. I really enjoyed what Meg Mateo Ilasco and Joy Deangdeelert Cho put together. They are able to illustrate clearly the steps you should take to turn your passions into what you do for income. Taking the transition from hobbyist to being a professional crafter is all spelled out in the pages of this helpful book.

Another hatch in the pro column - The books are published by Chronicle Books, a publishing house that has an indie feel with a lot of books and stationery from artists I really respond with. I feel like the books they put out are really creative and have stellar graphics too!

Like I said above, diving into the Inc. book series all started by me purchasing Craft Inc. by Meg Mateo Ilasco. Craft Inc. Turn Your Creative Hobby Into a Business was so influential and helpful in the early stages of me mapping out my dreams of Make. Shop. Live.! There are sections on products, production, and  pricing that will help you flesh out all the details that you know are helpful but seem to put off. And, the book includes a section on craft fair tips with a helpful check list as well as info for trade shows too!

I was so overjoyed by the book that when I saw the companion Business Planner for Craft Inc. I had to have it! I was super impressed when a companion Business Planner for Craft Inc. It has helpful worksheets and planning pages that you can work off of to have all the details you need for your creative business.


Wanna get hooked even harder? This promo video for the book is flipping AH-MAZING!

Of course I had to devour the Creative, Inc. book after loving the Craft Inc. set so much! This book is super helpful if you do more design and freelance work and I was totally enthralled with the confidence transferred just from opening up the pages. Seriously, I think these books could be endless reads - at every transitional point in your creative endeavor you can re-read them and get advice that just feels transcendent on your situation. All the books in the Inc. Series includes real-life advice from craft, freelance, and blogging superstars who give a helpful account of what they learned along the way and what has worked for them.


Each video gets me as inspired as the books do! I hope that if I ever have a book one day our promos will be half as engaging. Seriously rad-
I have been really impressed at how helpful the entire Inc. Series is! (There is also a Mom Inc. which I look forward to devouring along with mommy to-be books when the time comes)

With that being said, when I saw the video last week for the Blog Inc. book, I immediately purchased it with no hesitation!

Since I just purchased my copy of Blog Inc. I have not finished the whole thing. I'm very excited to get to read it and I am guessing I will read it at least twice. What's in store in the book? Helpful tips and personal accounts covering - blogging for passion, profit, and to create community. Being that I really enjoy this blog and the elements it brings within my artistic passion and discovery, this book feels like it was written just for me! The chance to curate a good blog has always been a dream of mine and I am really glad to have this book as a resource.

I strongly encourage picking up the series, but you won't go wrong picking up just one if you feel the topic is something you would like to work on in your business. These would also make a great Christmas gift to add to your list, or to gift to someone you know starting out (or maintaining) a creative business of their own. You can purchase Craft, Inc., Craft Inc. Business Planner, Creative, Inc., Mom Inc., and the new Blog Inc. from the links here. I get no revenue from you purchasing these books from any affiliates - I purchased all the books myself and found them to be invaluable.

We'd love to hear if the books were a big help to you too! Feel free to leave us comments if you are a fan as well.

XOXO, KC

Books to Bounce Back Creativity

Even after school is over for us adults this time of the year still pulls us into the quest for knowledge, learning, and exploration. Now that summer is almost over the demand for refocusing what is working for you while searching for inspiration to push you to that next level is kicking in. If you feel pulled towards a creative surge and need some help getting things going here are some great books to bounce back your creativity.

The Crafter's Guide to Taking Great Photos by Heidi Adnum

I just received this book for my birthday and I am in awe of the possibilities it holds. It has product spotlights from other artists, tips on using your camera and photo equipment, and helpful insights to capture the perfect product shots of your work. Each picture has camera information such as what type of camera used, the lens, the exposure and f-stop info so you can get a handle on taking photos that way too.  Everyone says the key to selling online is how great your pictures are and with this book even a camera novice has a chance to beef up their skills.

The Right-Brain Business Plan by Jennifer Lee 

This book is a wonderful way for creative types to define your business vision and flesh out your long-term strategies.  With tips, check lists, exercises and success stories this book is a wonderful way to get a creative boost while working on the tough elements that any business need to succeed.  Just trying out one or two of the exercises in this book could be the key to mapping out your business for the next step. Double bonus for this book making the hard work fun!!!

If you have any tips on books you like feel free to drop a comment so that others can read them too :)

XOXO, KC

Upcycled Necktie Banner

I worked with Alison Zeno to create a unique twist on the red ribbon at the grand opening of CRAFTED. We decided old red neckties would make a visually impactful banner that would be both visible from most angles and photograph well. It was simple to make, and I am thinking of making a second one in all grey ties for a Fifty Shades of Grey book party ;) wouldn't that be fun!

First things first, tie all your ties like you would wear them. I only know one way to tie a necktie to begin with. There are all kinds of ways to initially tie the neckties - tie each tie like you are going to wear it with whatever knotting method you choose. I used small tacking stitches to secure the tail of the tie in the back as well as at the neck to get it to lie flat. The main trick to turn the neckties into a banner is to get the neck hole to lie flat by tacking it. To get it flat you smooth the fabric up from the knot and fold one of the sides over at the top slightly almost like making a dart. This step is optional since it is reinforced when you attach the ties together I just thought I would note it in case yours isn't coming out fully flat. Attaching the tip of one of the ties to the next one is shown in the picture above. Place the angled tip of one tie inside where the neck touches together of the second tie and make some small stitches attaching both of them together.  It really is that simple!

For this banner I used 12 ties.  There was a 13th but the material was different from the others and it twisted and didn't lie flat with the other ties.  I decided to take it out and thankfully it was plenty long without using it.  Depending on the area you want to hang your banner up I would say 8-14 ties would be plenty to make a statement banner.

We would love to see if you try one for yourself :) Feel free to post pictures to our Facebook of what you come up with.

XOXO, KC

CAFAM Etsy Craft Night- Lisa Occhipinti

Tonight I went to my first Etsy Craft Night at the Craft and Folk Art Museum. It was led by Lisa Occhipinti who wrote the fabulous book The Repurposed Library. This Kindle Keeper project is one of the many projects featured in her book and was super fun making with everyone!

Valerie, Lisa, and Myself at CAFAM's Etsy Night 4/5/12

I got my copy of the book signed and got to pick Lisa's brain a bit about the behind the scenes of making a book about making things out of books (hehehe.) 

Plus, I met a new friend  Alicia who makes awesome Vinyl Record Bowls.

Inside View: My Kindle Keeper Made at the Craft Night

Now that I have Instagram (Cheers and streamers fall from the ceiling!) I can post each step of things & inspiration as I go! SO clever!!! Step by step pictures of my Kindle Keeper Project here and pictures +  details of the event are here on Facebook.
Well, off to bed! XOXO, KC

What are your 2012 Goals?

One of my many goals is to read at least 1 book per month. 

 (I already surpassed my quota for January by getting sucked into the Hunger Games Trilogy. Soooo Good!)

A new year and a new set of goals is always invigorating.  I like the promise of all the wonderful goals to pump some life juice into my veins and give me that kick start into the year. So I ask you- Have you thought about things and goals you want for 2012?  What kind of things make the top of your list this year?

I have come up with a lose structure for my 2012 Goals and I am really looking forward to this year being the year I make do with my resolutions. At least sincerely try- lol. Here is a loose structure I am planning our business goals around, maybe they will be helpful for you too.

*New product goals- How many products do you want to release? When will they launch/ come out?

**Monetary goals- This one is hard, but having yearly goals as well as monthly goals are very important. What is realistic and what is your dream big scenario?

***Social media goals- Goals for fans/followers in 3-month goals on social media sites. 3-moths sound digestible. What are your thoughts, does 3-months sound doable?

*Marketing goals- I have been naive to neglect that people send out pitches to blogs and magazines every month. This needs to be at the top of my "scary but must-do" list of things to conquer. Maybe you can conquer this with me if it is on your list too ;)

**Wholesale goals- How many shops can I wholesale too and if more is needed how many stores shall we pitch to?

***Then a  BIG, The Sky is the Limit Goal for 2012!! What's your goal going to be? Ours is super exciting and a little nerve wracking, but we just got word that we are accepted into the Crafted at the port of Los Angeles Craft Market Place!!!

We are super elated about the market place and I am glad that my big goal for the year is something I am both excited for and confident in. Having a tangible "sky is the limit goal" to achieve is getting me hella pumped for 2012  :)
I would love to share details for you to make it a goal for yourself- shoot me an email and I can fully express why you should jump on board this great opportunity. OR or check out their Facebook for even more details.

Well, good luck on all your goals this 2012! More soon.

XOXO, KC

All items should be listed! Stop byproducts and contaminants in our beuty items!!

Companies need to be forced to list byproducts and contaminants in products!!!

While NYC, my Eco Crusader friend Alisa Bayes, turned me onto a book No More Dirty Looks by Sibhan O'Connor & Alexandra Spunt.  This book should be on everyone's (especially ladies) must list!!! It is all about the hidden dangers and bad items in many of today's beauty products and what to chose for safe and clean cosmetic/beauty products.

THINGS WE LIKE TO READ

 I just finished reading my Copy of The Handmade Marketplace: How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally, and On-Line by Kari Chapin and it is f'ing AWESOME!  Everyone in any creative stage of making things should pick this book up and give it a read.  It has a mix of quotes and helpful insights from the pros we wanna be some day, as well as some step by step instructions to start an avenue for your business.  The Artists involved are awesome! The resource list and added info is awesome!  For the price vs. it's awesomeness, you're basically missing out to not buy it-

It has a great section about getting your work into blogs and press which will be the new (scary) endeavor on my to-do list.  This book has given me more confidence now in creating my online/ digital press kit and submitting to blogs somethings we are getting involved in.

When you buy it, get Craft, Inc.: Turn Your Creative Hobby into a Business by Meg Mateo Ilasco too.  It was my ABSOLUTE go to book when I was 1st planning everything. It is so informative and had different artists I covet include hints and tips as well.

 

Book Shopping

Yesterday, while writing my post on Debbie Stoller's new Yarn by Red Heart, I engaged in my favorite guilty activity.  I have some thoughts on compulsively impulse shopping on Amazon... but I made up my mind for the new way of on-line shopping I am now promising to embark on.


I decided that I was going to buy all my books second hand (which is one of my pro-issues on Amazon) AND I was going to pick which books I bought based on the seller's location to cut down the foot-print of it getting to me.  I may not have saved as much as clicking on the lowest used-price book, but walking the walk is more costly upfront.  I am trying to not let price be the object that rewards destructive products and marketplace behavior to dominate the market. Our consumer votes are in the power of our dollar and we need to spend each one towards the outcome we would like.


I look forward to sharing my up coming thoughts on the following books when they come:
***1st Up: my NEED FOR NYC!***
***Then, the new Men's book by Debbie Stoller*** 
***GOT GREAT REVIEWS!!!***

























AND, a few more to tell you about once they arrive :)