need to rant

I am feeling really pissed off, I have made a Mei tai carrier to sell, I have called it a Palmsupial... that's not the problem,. the problem is that a woman I went to school with saw them on my business page, made one and is now selling them too...

I don't know whether to approach her about it, or to just leave it, anyway it makes me unhappy and I have been careful not to sell/make things that my friends are making, I have tried to keep away from that as I feel its unethical.

I am able to make most things I see yet I don't as I respect the creators rights on it. I understand that most clothing ideas come from someone else etc, nothing is new, its just frustrating me as I am making these to sell and shes copied my idea and doing it too....

facebook page

I have made a Facebook page for my business, please go "like" it, I have also started a shop at felt, which will be up and running in a few days time, I am looking at Etsy too as another option, but I am also thinking about getting a friend to design a site for me too. I have made up some flyers which I will print later today, and I have got my business cards now too....

D

Sling sales/marketing

OK, I need some help people... I have made a flyer which I am going to distribute around town, but I need some other ideas on how to launch this wee business of mine. I have tried Trademe with little success, I have wondered about using Felt

Any ideas would be much appreciated....
love D

a proper post today

my last two posts have been little and not very substantial, so this morning I will endeavor to write something a bit better.

I am thinking about my sling business, I am not very sure what to do next, I am having issues with my sewing machine and will need to upgrade but at what cost, do I buy a machine that will be ok, but is second hand or do I get a brand new one that will last for ages? its also a question of cost, I might be able to get something secondhand but most of the good ones I have seen are still 10years or older and over $1000, or do I get a new one at a cost of $2-3000 that will last me for a good 20 years if I look after it. It is falling into the too hard basket at the moment though.

I have sent the four I made to Nelson to Ecomoon and am looking forward to seeing how they go. I am wondering about either selling some through Felt, as I have found Trademe is not as successful for it as I would have liked.

I am quite nervous about the whole thing, its a bit like having a baby you start something and you do not really know where it will take you, I am enjoying the adventure though and the thought of being able to do this and still be at home with my children.

D

making like mad

I have spent the last two days sewing.... and the end is in sight, I have three slings nearly completed with a fourth not much behind it.... yay.

I am really nervous about it and hope that I have chosen nice colour combination's. I have added a pic above so any comments would be great. All four slings are made from easy wearing fabrics, they are all either cotton or linen mixes. The first one is orange stripe lining and a retro floral and spot cotton, the second is navy spot with magenta ribbon and rings with a denim coloured lining, the third is blue linen and a contrasting stripe lining with grey ribbon, and the fourth is green and cream linen stripe with a chocolate lining and green ribbon

love D

Black Bow design is off the ground

I have launched myself into a new world.... I have created a facebook page for my business..... and its all go, I am also making slings to be stocked at Ecomoon in Nelson.

wow, its all exciting and very new to me, but I am doing it yay

Black bow designs

I have started creating things for other people, I am unsure whether I want to go far with this and am trying to work out the tax implications of having my own wee business making baby slings and other baby/mummy related stuff.

I have made two baby slings this week, and the new owners love them, one is a ring sling the other a pouch sling, both were relatively easy to make and I enjoyed it, I also made a new ring one for Miss N and I to use, we love it.

I also made myself a dress that is breastfeeding friendly, I absolutely love it, its warm (merino) and stylish and I can easily and discreetly feed our wee girl wearing it.

So what do I do, continue with this and set up a wee business that's all legitimate, or do the under the table thing and hope that I don't get caught, I am leaning towards keeping all my receipts and running a receipt book and keeping 20% of my income aside for tax purposes just in case.

D