Women Take Wing!

Happy Valentine's Day 2011

2011-02-14T11:16:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to you! Today I encourage you to give the heart closest to you some special attention. Yes, be your own Valentine. Whether you are spending time with loved ones, or not, carve out a little time to be sweet to yourself. Take a walk, read something inspiring or write in your journal, indulge in a small treat (maybe one of those cupcakes), or simply take a short break and relax.

You are special, you are unique, you are one-of-a-kind, so treat yourself with a little loving care. You are worth it!

Pearls of Wisdom

2011-02-09T16:40:00.000-08:00

Happiness that the world cannot take away

only flourishes in the secret garden of our souls.

~ Sarah Ban Breathnach

A Little Freshening Up

2011-02-02T12:59:00.000-08:00

Hello, hello! I am over here doing a bit of sweeping, dusting and redecorating..... Let me pour you a cup of tea...

It has been quite a while, and yes, there have been changes. Women Take Wing is no long the membership group it once was. All three of the original founders, including me, stepped away in order to attend to their businesses, and/or to care for family and personal needs. I closed my little shop last May, and moved my business home. Now that I've finally settled into my new studio and workspace, I find myself with a little extra time and I think this is the perfect place to spend some of it.

The focus is going to be a little different. It isn't going to be all about business, as it once was, but more about crafting a good life, maybe with a little business in it. We'll talk more about finding joy, a little less about the money. Personally, I want to fit a little business into a happy, healthier life, not shoehorn a little life into my business. I think many of us are trying to do the same thing. It's a crazy world out there, people! As a dear friend said "...we have to find and make our own light, and help others find theirs."

Thank you for stopping by!

There's still time to shop for the perfect gift!

2009-12-10T16:49:00.000-08:00

Are you finished with your holiday shopping and preparations? I'm sure not! If you are still looking for just the right gift for someone special our Women Take Wing! members maybe able to help you. Below are just a few of the lovely gifts available at member's online boutiques.

Fringe Studio Candles

Fringe Studio is known for luxurious candles encased in printed glass. The imagery is unique, artistic and reminiscent of mixed media artwork. You will find a selection of Fringe Studio candles at Soul of the Rose Gifts. ($18.50 to $40.00)

Tokyo Milk Petit Parfum Solide

Delightfully fragranced travel sized pots of solid perfume packaged in a beautifully hand glittered slide box with several mini note cards for a special treat! We love little art!! Also available at Soul of the Rose Gifts for $18.00

Soul of the Rose Gifts is also offering free ground shipping on all orders over $40 through 12/16/09!

Large Versailles Architectural Grey Metal Crown

Large Grey Zinc colored Metal Crown, perfect to mix in with your shabby chic or more elegant French Decor. Seen all over Europe with candles and religious statues, on outdoor table vignettes in the garden, on Ivy Urns by front doors and nestled in garden plantings. Measures 9-3/4" x 11-1/4". ($38.00) Available at French Garden House.

Ivory Cream Feather Holiday Tree

Exquisite Cream Feather Tree to make all your Holiday dreams come true! Perfect to showcase all your special ornaments, tree is planted in an Ivory Urn. Measures 19" high. ($49.00) Also available at French Garden House.

Happy shopping!

Kim Sharifi - Soul of the Rose Gifts

2009-11-17T08:27:00.000-08:00

At Women Take Wing! we celebrate each and every member's successes. Each woman has a unique story to tell and via our Member Features we enjoy sharing their inspiring stories with you!

Kim Sharifi of Soul of the Rose Gifts has been a member of our community for many years. This busy woman juggles family life with a full time day job, family business needs, and still manages to find time to nurture and grow her own on-line boutique!

Q. What gave you the courage to take the leap into your own business?

A. It was not so much courage but rather a feeling of passion that lead me to start my business. I studied retail buying in college and I have many years of varied retail management experience working for large name corporations, but I needed a place to channel my creative side. I originally began my business in a rented booth space in the local antique mall selling all sorts of vintage pretties about 5 years ago. I then transitioned to a small boutique in the downtown village and now I am the proprietor of an on-line boutique. In the beginning I remember feeling that if I did not get this business started that I would simply bust! I was very determined but remained open to the evolving pathway that my business took. I have always known that I had a eye for creatively bringing about a distinctive assortment of goods from many different artists/designers that present as indulgent gifts and contribute to what I call a "soulful experience."

Q. Name one person who has inspired you, and how.

A. I would have to say it was the queen of inspiration herself, Miss Amy Powers, who inspired me to go after the on-line boutique. I had already been in business for a few years when I stumbled upon her website. I remember one afternoon in my shop e-mailing six quick business questions about e-commerce to her through her website, I thought she looked friendly and might answer my message someday. She got back to me in ten minutes! Over the course of a few years Amy has served as a wonderful support for me. I could not have done what I have with my online boutique with out Amy’s help. She is a very giving person that consistently thinks of others. It is the mark of a fine person when you see them mentioned often by others as a source of inspiration. I owe her a lot of praise and heartfelt thanks.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your business

A. Every aspect of Soul of the Rose is rewarding for me but what makes Soul of the Rose really meaningful to me is the ability to dedicate a percentage of the business to charity. For me personally I was looking for a way to make a difference and add some dimension to retail that I felt was missing. It was not enough to just find nice things, mark them up, sell them and hopefully make a profit. With the Soulful Giving program I am able to make a contribution to organizations that make an impact in our world, country and my community. That is rewarding to me and I think it is meaningful to my customers as well.

Q. What is the most ‘bothersome” part of your business? How do you get through it?

A. Like most entrepreneurs I wear many hats and I have diversified business interests. I have a busy day job with a large construction firm as a construction coordinator/administrator that I love and I am not ready to leave yet. My husband and I also own flooring and home improvements stores. It is fair to say that I am busy but organized. The only thing that could be thought of as perhaps bothersome would be the fact that Soul of the Rose is a part time business. Life is a journey and while it seems like the destination is where it is at – in reality it is the journey itself. As I try to nurture that idea in my business I know that the time will come when Soul of the Rose will be the full time career that I transition to from my present career when the time is right.

Q. If you could start another business what would it be?

A. Soul of the Rose Gifts is the perfect business for me and I cannot really envision another that fits so perfectly with my life and family at this time. I have the opportunity to conduct the on-line boutique in addition to my present day career simultaneously as the e-commerce activity continues to build. I judge it this way - if money were no object and I could do what ever I wanted I would probably be doing just what I am doing. I think that is a good sign that I am on the right track!

Soul of the Rose Gifts offers a unique mix of treasures for women, children and the home that is truly soulful and indulgent. In addition to Kim's unique gift selection, we are proud to say she is also a dedicated giving boutique, donating a full 10% of sales to charitable organizations that support families at risk facing poverty, abuse or medical crisis.

Waning Seasons Find Us All Busy Busy!

2009-11-08T15:54:00.000-08:00

(photo courtesy of Ruth Cox)

Here in the Pacific Northwest, Summer is a fleeting memory and Autumn is nearly out the door too! So busy has the season been, that we have sorely neglected our blog. While we haven't posted our comings and goings, ALL of our members are busily preparing for the holidays. They are tending to their shelves, their sites and their customers with all of the attention to detail we have come to love and anticipate. See our newest Member Features (to the left) and be sure to visit each our member sites to see what new offerings they have for your holiday shopping.

Vote for Terry Grahl and help make a difference!

2009-09-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

Terry Grahl is the Founder and President of Enchanted Makeovers, an internationally recognized non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization that transforms shelters for women and children into places of peace and possibilities—not just where basic needs are met, but spiritual needs for hope and beauty also. Enchanted Makeovers relies on donations of time, talent and funding from individuals, businesses and corporations to transform shelters into lovely, nurturing places where women and their children can start new, happy and healthy lives from.

You have the opportunity to make a difference and contribute to Terry's efforts simply by casting a vote! Terry was one of 10 women featured on Martha Stewart's Dreamers into Doer's blog and each woman has been entered in a contest for Favorite Doer of the Week. The winner will win $2,500 for her business. Poll voting is now underway and votes may be cast until 5 pm ET on October 2.

Each woman featured is inspiring and deserving, but we are so deeply touched by what Terry and her team are doing for other women. Just think what $2,500 could do, and the difference it WILL make! Please go to Dreamers into Doers, right now, and vote for Terry Grahl.

For more information on Enchanted Makeovers and/or to contribute to their efforts, please visit their website or blog.

Big Changes Coming for All Online Credit Card Processors

2009-08-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

How many of you open and read all the notices that come from your credit card processing companies? You know, those additional pieces of paper that come each month with writing so small that you need a magnifying glass to read? Well, if you process credit card sales with a computer in any way, shape or form, change is coming. In 2010 any merchant who uses a computer to process sales must meet strict security guidelines against hackers. This means absolutely everyone. This change is not just a compliance rule for processors, but you too. Your computer should be tested to ensure that in cannot be hacked. Do not assume that your online processing "has this covered." We are encouraging our members and our readers to contact your credit card processing company now to find out what steps need to be taken to protect yourself and your company. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Taking A Long Hard Look At Holiday Debt

2009-08-04T20:15:00.000-07:00

It's summer! The sun is shining (in most areas), beaches and vacations beckon and the long cold days of winter are the last thing on our minds...unless you are a retailer. For every retailer, this is crunch time. Bring on the Christmas, the Hanukkah, the snowmen and the fa la la. Orders are placed, terms are being negotiated, themed window displays are being built or planned. In a few short weeks, those boxes marked "sell by Christmas" will be tucked in back rooms, basements, under checkout stations, broom closets and wherever else they can be stashed...if they're not already being put out onto shop floors. Even for this long ago retailer, my heart races at the memories of the holiday ordering rush.

But this holiday season, before you reach for the trusted credit card with the promo rate of 3.99% through February or negotiate your awesome 90 day terms, stop for just a moment and do a little simple math. How much inventory are you holding now? How much debt is your business carrying today? How long will you have to maintain current sales to pay that debt off? Calculate how much you are buying on credit today and try like crazy to purchase as close to what you can sell before the end of the year. So often, we get a little punch drunk at the shows and over the great offers. But we forget to project actual sales against actual expenses and then we end up carrying debt and extra inventory far into next year. Let me put it this way, every dollar you charge is taking a dollar out of your till tomorrow before you've even opened turned on your lights. So take a few moments to add up your orders and simply ask yourself, "Can I sell it all by Christmas?" If the answer is not a definitive yes, then consider stepping away from the punch bowl and making merry with less...it might bring more to your bottom line come Dec. 31st.

Can There Ever Be Too Much Of A Good Thing?

2009-07-17T08:07:00.000-07:00

In this volatile economy this post might seem strange to some, but I've had to ask myself recently, "is there too much work?" My answer was a clear, resounding, "YES". I am a service provider (a bookkeeper) and in January my phone began to ring and it has not stopped. I live in a small community where word of mouth means more than a two page write up with color pictures. The people calling me all know me well or are connected to someone I know well. I NEVER like to say no to anyone who needs me, it's one of the reasons I love what I do. People need me. I suspect many of us are like this.

In recent months friends and family have told me I seem too busy but I thought I was coping...until last week. Not one, but two clients, kindly and gently, told me I had dropped the ball for them. Nothing catastrophic, the IRS won't come knocking, checks didn't bounce, but certainly out of character for a hyper-organized Virgo like myself. When I shared my conversations with my friend/mentor and my family later in the week, they were rallying to my defense - as all loved ones would do, of course. But I didn't meet the words of my clients with defensive posturing. Instead, I took out last year's daily calendar and compared it to this year's. Wow, what a difference a year can make. I am over booked and double booked and there is no way that one woman can fulfill the needs of this new calendar. I got busy calling and emailing clients to re-schedule this week and next. This week has gone well and next week I will even be able to meet a friend for lunch.

The point I am trying to share is that for a "pleaser" like myself and especially in this economy, saying no to people and the work they offer, is very difficult. But in order to be successful - truly successful - we must create good, healthy boundaries in order to preserve the quality of what we wish to offer the world.

Emailing Marketing Refreshers

2009-07-10T09:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I attended a webinar hosted by Vertical Response about email marketing. While the much of the information seems "basic" I found it to be a good refresher. Here are a few of the tidbits that stood out:

Stay consistent with your from label
Keep it focused: who, what, why
You should have a "sign up for our newsletter" on every page of your site
39% of email users have their images turned off so using alt text tags is a good practice
Emails should be 80% content and only 20% images
Include a "forward this to a friend" button
Put the opt out at the bottom of the email - many people put it on top
Including an address is required by law (that was new information for this non-retailer)

Like I said, basics but it never hurts to be reminded!

For Seattle Area Readers: A Dialogue With Gloria Steinem

2009-06-30T21:23:00.000-07:00

(Photo by Tom Marks, 2008)

Sometimes there are events so extrodinary that we would be remiss not to share them, regardless of their connection to Women Take Wing! For Seattle area readers, we have one such event taking place next week...it is so special we just couldn't keep it to ourselves.

Hedgebrook - a writer's retreat like no other...a place reserved only for women...women authoring change - invites you to join the iconic Gloria Steinem in a dialogue investigating how visionary women writers have revolutionalized our world with their stories and ideas. Readings and conversations will examine how women's voices have shaped our culture across generations, and continue to impact our world in an era of change. If you live in the Seattle area, join us at Town Hall on Friday, June 10th from 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased directly through the Hedgebrook website. Dori and I will be there and hope you can join us!

~Steph

It's Hard To Keep Good Women Down

2009-06-14T22:58:00.000-07:00

The economy has been struggling for many months now. Several friends of WTW and members have felt the pains of “economic slow down”. And yet, they keep on keeping on. They haven’t given up, they have adjusted. They haven’t shuttered their doors but they’ve re-evaluated what is working and what is not. Some have streamlined. Others have expanded their offerings. Privately, in Our Gathering Space, in the cold months of January we wrote to one another that our collective goal for 2009 was to all still be standing in 2010. Half way through this historic year, most of our members have had to shift their visions, retool their trades but all in all, they are still holding their own and doing it on their terms. We continue to cheer them on and celebrate their undying sense of independence. It's hard to keep good women down and we see that every day, here, in the fabulous women who make up our membership!

"Opportunity is missed by most because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
~Thomas Alva Edison

Sightings: What Some of Our Members Are Up To

2009-06-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

Our own Tabetha Sullens was recently voted "Best of the Best" costume jewelry in McMinnville in the Southern Standard! Tabetha’s unique and very personal jewelry designs are wonderful. The award is well deserved.

Saratoga Community Housing, currently our only non-profit member of Women Take Wing!, is launching a membership and volunteer drive. SCH and other land trust organizations around the country work to create affordable housing for the communities they serve. If you live on Whidbey Island, learn more about SCH or click here to learn more about land trusts around the country.

For those readers located in or around Spokane, WA this weekend, don’t miss one of our favorite events The Farm Chicks. Debi Ward Kennedy is there and we just know her booth will be over the top fabulous. We’ve heard rumors Sara Duckett of Sadie Olive will be there too. It should be a fun party…err, I mean sale.

Pay attention to the details!

2009-05-27T08:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, when I opened what I thought was my credit card statement from Advanta Bank Corp. I found instead a letter informing me that my account would be closed effective May 30. Here is an excerpt from the letter:

"Your Advanta Business Card account is funded by an independent trust which owns the balances you owe on your account and provides funding for new transactions. We expect the trust to stop funding activity on our accounts. The trust also restricts our flexibility to fund activity on your account. Unfortunately, as a result, effective May 30th all Advanta Business Credit Card accounts, including your account, will be closed.

This means that you will not be able to use your card or account for new transactions, including purchases, checks and balance transfers beginning on May 30th. We understand that you may have written checks on your account before May 30th and we will make every effort to honor those checks that are presented to us for payment by June 3rd. If you use your Advanta card to make automatic recurring bill payments, you will need to make alternative arrangements for those payments promptly."

Advanta is the 11th largest credit card issuer in the United States. Nearly one million small businesses will be affected by this action. If you are an Advanta customer, please do not delay opening and reading recent mail! If you have automatic recurring bill payments, you have less than one week to make alternative arrangements.

Our third winner is.....

2009-05-20T13:08:00.001-07:00

Winner of our third and final giveaway, the pretty paisley journal, is....Nancy from Long Island, NY!

Nancy, when you have a moment please email your mailing address to: membership@womentakewing.com.

Congratulations! It really is a lovely journal! I have one on my desk now, too!

Thank you all for playing!

Help for Small Businesses from the SBA

2009-05-19T07:16:00.000-07:00

From our friends at Mohave Community College in Arizona (nepotism is a good thing!), we learned of a new loan program being offered by the SBA called ARC loans. Part of the 2009 Recovery Act it provides qualified businesses up to up to $35,000. This is first come, first served program. When the money is gone, it's gone. So if you think you qualify or are in need of a little cash flow assistance, follow the link above to find out more details and please, share this information with others! The economy you save may be your own.
~Steph

If You Could Do Anything...

2009-05-18T19:24:00.000-07:00

If you could do anything...I mean anything just for yourself, what would it be? Would you go on vacation? Would you soak in a tub? Would you read a good book? Take a day off? Clean out closets? Work on craft projects? Spend the day with friends and family? Thinking about one day is easy for most of us but now consider giving yourself a whole year. In the Gather Place we continue to read, "The Gift of A Year" and have begun the process of identifying what it is each of us would like to gift to ourselves. It is such an interesting thing to contemplate! So, how about it? If you had an entire year to do something just for yourself, what would it be?

Anniversary Giveaway No. 3

2009-05-14T11:16:00.000-07:00

Our third and final giveaway is a pretty journal from Legacy Publishing Group. The paisley design coordinates with their Vintage Rose desk collection. Items from the desk collection were featured in our previous giveaway.

The New Legacy Lined Journal is both useful and beautifully made. The Journal has 208 lined pages housed inside a sturdy, fully designed cover. Legacy even added in a pen so you can bring your lined journal with you anywhere. Journal measures 5 3/4" x 8 1/4".

If you are new to journaling, or are writing challenged, we'll tuck in some hints on journaling that will help spur you on!

Winner will be drawn and announced next Wednesday, May 20. Good luck to you!

Our second winner is.....

2009-05-13T07:40:00.000-07:00

The winner of the pretty set of stationery and desk accessories is...... Peggy! We'll try and connect with you today, Peggy. Congratulations!

Gentle readers, Peggy has two delightful blogs that you may enjoy visiting, Button Floozies and Peg's Life in the Button Jar. Being a "button floozy" myself, I am quite delighted to find a kindred spirit!

Creating Space Is More Than Walls

2009-05-11T07:03:00.000-07:00

We've talked about creating beautiful physical spaces for us to work in and how to organize it and decorate it. What we haven't touched upon is emotional space...and that is so important to the busy woman entrepreneur.

In Our Gather Place (the private forum) we have begun a book club. Our first reading is "The Gift of A Year" by Mira Kirshenbaum. In sum, one of the purposes of the book is to help women come to a place of creating space and time for something uniquely their own. It brings up an interesting dilemma - creating emotional spaces in our lives that are healthy, productive and move us forward.

Let me put this another way, if you have a beautiful office or work space but never have time to be in it or are constantly interrupted or can't seem to shut off the rest of the world while you occupy it, then what's the point? The external disruptions are a symptom of our own lack of emotional commitment to our spaces. When we are in our spaces we need to be in our spaces. Kids can be babysat, dinner can be picked up later, laundry can wait. If you run more than one business, pick one at a time to work on. If your space is a home office, try to have two phone lines or at least caller ID and let the calls go to voicemail. If your space is a creative studio, don't store bills in there. Before the first project can begin, the first book can be written, the first client/vendor/customer file or email can be opened, we must give ourselves permission to use and occupy the room of our own. Until we do that, all the pretty decorations in the world won't matter.

Anniversary Giveaway No. 2

2009-05-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

New pretty desk accessories are always such a delight and a quick way to freshen up your office! For our second giveaway we've selected a number of items from the Vintage Roses desk set produced by Legacy Group Publications. The soft colors in this grouping are just lovely, soft blue, cream and taupe, and shades of rose pink.

The winner of this weeks contest will receive a set of 6 file folders, a small Flip Box with 150 sheets of memo paper, a Compact Pad (just the right size for your purse or tote) and 2 pretty little coasters, one for you and one for a guest.

Winner will be drawn and announced next Wednesday, May 13. Good luck!

Our first winner is....

2009-05-06T16:22:00.000-07:00

Lesley, you won the sweet little art charm! How perfect! It is going to such a good home.

Let me know if we should send your little package straightaway. :-)

Tomorrow, we'll post the second giveaway. So, please stop back by!

How Will YOU Feather Your Nest?

2009-05-04T21:49:00.000-07:00

Spring is here! Our Bleeding Hearts are blooming! Hummingbirds are holding tea parties in our rhodies! And there are nests being feathered amidst the trees and at tops of tall poles (one of the Bald Eagles’ favorite places). It is a time for renewing, rebuilding and refreshing. What are you doing in your nest? As busy entrepreneurs, it’s important that our work spaces reflect our creativity, our passion, and perhaps a chance to daydream.

-Take a look around your work space as if you are seeing it for the first time. Does it still put a smile on your face, or does it need one something special to make it, and you, feel refreshed.

-Are you taking a new direction this year, yet your workspace reflects some things you have said “goodbye” to for new dreams and goals? Take a few minutes and think of a few simple things that will make your heart sing. Or, maybe re-gift the things you no longer love or need. It may be just the thing someone else is looking for to enrich their life and workspace.

-Have you taken the time to create the “you” in your workspace? Or are you just making do with what you have? What a great time to gift yourself the time to rearrange your space. Commit to yourself that there will be a single flower or a simple bouquet on your desk throughout the Spring and Summer. Wouldn’t this be a great time to add beautiful file folders, a note pad or a lovely journal to your desk?

How will you refresh your workspace and your creativity this Spring?

(Office photos courtesy of House to Home. Vintage Roses desk set photo courtesy Legacy Publishing Group.)

Anniversary Giveaway No. 1

2009-04-30T07:39:00.000-07:00

Women Take Wing! was launched in the spring of 2007. Our organization is now two years old! The past two years have been a wonderful time of learning, stretching and growing and as we enter our third year we feel a celebration is in order!

For the next three weeks we will doing a weekly giveaway here on our blog. Each week, post a comment to be entered in that weeks giveaway. Post a link on your blog back to Women Take Wing's blog, and we will enter you twice! A random number generator will be used to select the winner. The name of our first giveaway winner will be drawn and posted here next Wednesday, May 6.

This week's giveaway is a sweet little art charm created for us by Christine Halbfoerster of Bella Colle.

The front of this silver framed charm features a swallow image taken from a vintage postcard, and on the back is our group's name. The words "women take wing" are very meaningful to us, and we hope the winner of this charm will catch the spirit of the message and "take wing" and fly with her dreams!

While working on this project, we enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about Christine. She has always enjoyed making collages and unique creation and did not discover soldering until 2006. Since then this art form has been an ever changing and growing part of her business. She told us she finds inspiration everywhere and looks forward to incorporating beads, buttons and found objects into future works.

We invite you to visit Christine's webshop, Bella Colle, to see more of her work and offerings. She does enjoy doing custom work, and would welcome your email to discuss your needs and her schedule.

Good luck on the giveaway!

We're Now On Facebook...What does that mean?

2009-04-22T11:17:00.000-07:00

Women Take Wing! is now on Facebook...for a trial run. We've had long conversations in the office about whether or not this is for us. Social networking is kinda what we do but not so much. We strive to create in our private forum a close, trusted community of like minded women. Our first commonality is that we all own or run businesses. From there, the connections are vast but strong. Some of us have been connected via online communities for more than 10 years. Facebook is in some ways, counter intuitive to the Women Take Wing! mission...a little too public, a little too fleeting in content. But we're giving it a go in the hopes of raising the awareness as to our existence in the hopes that when it all becomes too much, Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, women have a quieter place to come, share and connect.

How To Squeeze It All In A Day

2009-04-11T08:12:00.000-07:00

My, oh my! We're supposed to excercise, eat right, buy local, run households, be good partners, be good parents, give back to our communities AND run successful companies?! How to squeeze it all in to a week, let alone a DAY, is the universal challenge for many entrepenuers...and somehow we make it work. We're a funny breed to be sure!

The WTW team has recently resolved to a minimum of thirty minutes of daily activity to help keep our bodies limber and let's be honest here, to stave off the aches and pains of getting older. All the hours on our feet and in front of the computer do take their toll! So far we must admit that on the days that we don't stretch or walk or do a little yoga, we don't feel as productive. So the experts must be right in their advice. But here's the clincher - in our daily routine of activity we have found that we get our excercise, we get our "me" time and on the few days we can do it together we get our "girlfriend" time. Three items checked off all in one fell swoop!

Not a bad use of 1,800 seconds. Still not convinced you have enough time? Check out the links above for a few stretching moves you can do right in front of your computer! We promise, you'll feel better.

Renew/Refresh/Rebuild: Organize Yourself!

2009-04-02T13:56:00.000-07:00

The calendar says that spring is here and while snowflakes still make what seems like a weekly appearance, they can’t last forever. In the spirit of spring we are launching our Refresh/Renew /Rebuild theme. It seems we are not alone in our thinking either as evidenced by a recent MCC SBDC newsletter. Shake off the winter blues and roll up your sleeves. As small business owners, we wear many many hats and staying organized is key to not just our sanity, but to our bottom lines. Sites like Jennifer Ford Berry (author of the book pictured here), Flylady and Wikihow offer great online articles and tools to keep you on track but here at Women Take Wing! We have a few favorites:

For five minutes each day, go through your office and simply put things away. File those papers, recycle and empty the trash. The goal is to clear your desk.
Consolidate your sticky notes. We’re all guilty of having a thousand post it notes everywhere. Commit each day to either putting that information where it belongs (i.e. your address book, cell phones, etc.) or if it’s To Do items, put them on a yellow pad of paper so they can be crossed off as completed.
Don’t hide it in an “In box”, prioritize your tasks. Lumping stuff into a central box is fine for general clean up but to stay on top of things, commit to emptying that box and create a system that works for you. Some here at WTW have folders labeled “Today” “Tomorrow” or “Next Week” and simply sort those items by their due dates. Whatever system you create, make it work for you.

We invite you to share your organization techniques. Hit the comment button and let us know what works for you!

You are invited to Gabriela Delworth's Partie Royal!

2009-04-02T12:35:00.000-07:00

From April 1 to 5, Gabriela Delworth is having a party to celebrate the launching of the Stampington & Company “Marie Antoinette” magazine where her art work is featured and the Queen of France herself, Marie Antoinette. Join Gabriela for five days of Art, History and Fashion French style!

Each day Gabriela will have a brand new post for her guests, and there will be a surprise giveaway unveiled sometime during the event!

Inspired to Soar! - New Weekly Blog Roll

2009-03-26T08:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome to "Inspired to Soar!" a new weekly feature on the Women Take Wing! blog. Early each week, in our forum, our members have the opportunity to post a hyperlink to their blogs with a snippet of information about what they are doing or talking about.

Wednesday evening or Thursday morning we will gather these links all together and post them here. Members will also be posting the links on their own blogs. So, it will be easy for you to zip from blog to blog and find out what our busy, inspiring members are up to!

This weeks participants are:

Sparkles from Beach Haus Designs- Exciting things are happening from becoming an Ambassador for Crystallized Swarovski Elements to new design techniques. Check out what is happening at the beach!

Keeper of the Pennies talks about averting disaster as a single employee when life hands you unexpected changes.

Raised In Cotton Blog - Carol is headed to the beautiful Texas Hill Country to shop the wonderful antique shows taking place!

Island Tea Bits Dori announces Island Tea Company's Spring Fling sale and shares photos of her building's completed exterior re-do.

(WTW members, remember to stop by the forum early each week to post your blog and news bit!)

Spring Sale at Beach Haus Designs!

2009-03-16T13:09:00.000-07:00

June Beach of Beach Haus Designs has just announced her Spring Sale! At checkout, simply enter "spring09" to receive 50% off your purchase. Add some sparkle and shine to your spring wardrobe, or find something special for a loved one's Easter Basket or for Mother's Day gift giving!

Many of June's jewelry designs are one-of-a-kinds or available in limited quantity. Shop now! This sale is only on through this coming Thursday, March 19th!

Tax Day is Right Around the Corner...Ready or Not.

2009-03-10T20:33:00.000-07:00

April 15th is just over a month away. If you haven't gotten your taxes done yet, make an appointment this weekend...first with yourself to get your paperwork together and then with your tax preparer. If you are one of the millions of people who plan on filing their own return using software, don't wait until April 13th to buy it and load it. Last year, Turbo Tax had a site crash on tax day for people who were trying to e-file. In my small community, the local office supply stores run out of Turbo Tax early causing many a half day trip "into town". My point is, don't procrastinate. The sooner you start the sooner you'll be done. Besides, if you are due a refund, don't you want it sooner rather than later?

Check Out Our New Member Marketplace!

2009-02-26T15:03:00.000-08:00

If you haven't seen the newest Women Take Wing! feature, pop right over to the website and click the Shop button! A recently added membership benefit may also be your link to that something fabulous you've been looking for!

Gabriela Delworth - Member Update

2009-02-21T14:47:00.000-08:00

Have you visited the website of Toronto based Gabriela Delworth recently? If you haven't, you should! Gabriela has combined her website and blog into one glorious website and it is a feast for the eyes!

A successful designer, this year Gabriela is concentrating her creative skills on the design of projects and kits for publications, on classes and tutorials, and licensing efforts. She has contributed many articles and craft projects to major publications. Most recently you can find one of her crown projects featured in the September 2008 issue of CK Media's Jewelry Creations, and in the October 2008 issue of Retail News she gave tips on gift wrapping in their "Ask a Pro" column.

Gabriela will be featured in a number of publications this spring and summer. Her handmade paper cards and article will be published in Canadian Gardening magazine in March, her art work will be featured in April on the new "Marie Antoinette" magazine from Stampington & Company, and her work and blog will be published in the Summer edition of "Artful Blogging" also from Stampington & Company. Gabriela is also a regular contributor on Scrapbooking.com Magazine, where she is a member of the designer team.

One facet of her business that Gabriela particularly enjoys is teaching classes and tutorials. If I was withing within driving distance of Toronto, I would be signing up for one of her Paper and Card Making classes! This series of classes (in May and June) will be taught at the Toronto Botanical Garden and is all about recycling a variety of different papers and using pressed flowers and leaves to design stationery. It's a class for those who love gardening, the outdoors and natural things. You can have a peek here.

Gabriela has other classes scheduled as well in the greater Toronto area and is a guest instructor at the incredible Tinsel Trading Company, in New York City, from time to time. If traveling to the east coast isn't an option for you, instructions for many craft projects can be found on her website, and links to videos of her guest appearances on a number of television and cable shows, as well. Speaking of guest appearance, Gabriela will be featured March 2 on HGTV Canada, where she will be giving some fabulous gift wrapping tips.

For more information on Gabriela, please visit http://www.gabrieladelworth.com

Envision Your Future - A Workshop

2009-02-18T11:04:00.000-08:00

Do you find yourself looking at the economy, reading the newspapers, watching the news and being fearful that you can't make a success of your business or accomplish a business objective? Perhaps this is the perfect time for you to find a renewed vision of yourself with regard to your work.

In these times of economic uncertainties, it is more important than ever for customers and clients to feel your enthusiasm and excitement about what you do and how they are served by you.

Carolyn Tamler, Marketing Professional and Women Take Wing! member, is partnering with Alina Frank, EFT Practioner and Trainer and Dr. Craig Weinston, owner of The Chiropractic Zone in Freeland and a networking guru to present, "Envision Your Future and How to Get There." This all day workshop, Saturday, February 28, will help you develop a vision for your business, identify what you have and what you need to get where you're going, review basic marketing concepts including networking, and look at emotional blocks that may be interfering with getting what you want. Cost is just $149 and includes a delicious lunch catered by Maggie Korvin of Ovations Catering. The workshop will be held in Maggie's Whidbey Island home.

For more information, visit: www.tapyourpower.net/EYF

New Member Introductions

2009-02-16T08:29:00.000-08:00

We are delighted to introduce you to our newest members, a talented threesome, who have joined us this first quarter of 2009.

Teresa Adkins was the first new member of 2009 in the door. Teresa is a Certified Interior Decorator and an Interior Redesign Specialist. She provides color and decorating consultations, one-day redesign services, staging and retail merchandising assistance to clients throughout Whidbey Island, Washington. We invite you to visit Teresa's blog to see more of her work. Watch for her "Two Tip Tuesday" posts!

Gabrielle Krake, owner of Shop Wise Bags based in Idaho, also joined us in early January. Gabrielle and her team of family and friends have developed a line of environmentally friendly, reusable products. At her website http://www.shopwisebags.com you will not only find colorful, oilcloth shopping bags but many other great products such as muslin produce bags. 10% of all profits made from Shop Wise Bags will be sent to Heaven’s Gate, a home in India for children with AIDS.

Kasey Buick, of Illinois, is our newest member. Kasey operates a lovely online shop, Lola B's Boutique. Her tag line "....where city girl meets urban girl, chic meets country, and old meets new" describes her shop perfectly. Kasey's product mix is a fresh and contemporary take on the French Cottage style she loves. Recently Kasey branched out and began offering styling and design services, too. Please visit http://www.lolabboutique.com for details.

Visit Women Take Wing!'s member directory for additional information on our members and links to their websites and blogs! For information on joining us, please click here.

New Guidance Released on CPSIA

2009-02-10T07:16:00.000-08:00

Guidance on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) for Small Businesses, Resellers, Crafters, and Charities was released on Feb. 8 and has already been somewhat revised. (http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/smbus/sbguide.pdf)

The 13 page document addresses some, but certainly not all, of the more frequently asked questions that many small manufacturers, shop owners and consignment/thrift store owners have asked about the CPSIA.

Please be aware, per this statement at the bottom of page 1: "This information was prepared by CPSC staff, has not been reviewed or approved by, and many not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. It may be subject to change based on Commission action." There will be, we are sure, many changes, updates and clarifications, yet to come. Continue to make your concerns known.

New information is coming out frequently, so sign up today to receive e‐mail updates from the CPSC.

CPSIA: Stay of Enforcement (notes on)

2009-02-02T16:32:00.000-08:00

I spent quite a few hours yesterday reading statements, opinions, commentaries, etc. on the CPSIA enforcement stay. Both CPSC commissioners issued statements that are recommended reading for anyone involved in anyway with children's goods. I particularly appreciated Thomas Moore's statement. It sounds a tad condescending perhaps, but is written in plain, old English.

Acting CPSC Chairman Nancy Nord's statement can be found here.
Commissioner Thomas Moore's is here.

In both statements the commissioners acknowledge the chaos and panic the CPSIA has caused to small businesses. They do specifically mention home-based businesses and crafters. The many petitions, letters, phone calls and emails from businesses, organization, associations, bloggers and concerned citizens had a huge impact. Everyone who participated in the effort should be proud, but clearly there is a lot of work to be done.

In a summary published by Kenneth Ross, Attorney at Law, he comments:

"Two important limitations on the stay: it only stays certain portions of the testing and certification requirements and the CPSC makes it clear that only testing and certification are stayed, and not the need to comply with the rules, regulations, etc. This is similar to what they did to the thrift shops/resellers. Commissioner Nord said that the CPSC cannot stay or modify the need for everyone still to comply.

Congress needs to do it. Therefore, there is still a risk of penalties. And you need to consider whether you or your suppliers need to do testing, at least on certain non-exempted items that could have lead or phthalates."

Here are some key points to keep in mind:

* If you are confident that your products are safe, continue on with caution.

* Do look for and demand that the components you buy are certified as not containing lead or banned phthalates. Your demands will help bring the component market into compliance.

* Be particularly cautious with any component made of, or any product containing, metal or plastic.

* Congress must amend the CPSIA and dollar rich consumer groups will put pressure on Congress to keep the law as written. Therefore, we must continue to put pressure on Congress to amend the CPSIA.

It is going to be an interesting 12 months.

Some additional reading:

Washington Post, “Officials Delay New Toy-Testing Standards“
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, “Small businesses get reprieve on children’s lead law"
Bloomberg, “US Panel Delays Requirement That Toys Be Tested for Lead“

Bookkeeping 101: 1099's, The Clock is Ticking

2009-01-29T07:18:00.001-08:00

So many of us wade through a myriad of details for our businesses and it's easy to miss a few things. Everyone who has payroll is required to give and file W-2 and W-3 returns respectively. Most of us know that. But one of the most overlooked tax documents is the 1099. The guideline for the IRS says that people should have them in hand by January 31st (or the next business day). For people in my job, knowing that most will be hand delivered or mailed here in town, tomorrow is my deadline...I'll be printing them today and running them around town and to the post office tonight. When do you file? Why do you file? Is it a big deal if you don't file? How do you file?

The IRS website is a great resource...really. A general rule is if you pay someone over $600 in a fiscal year for a service (cleaning, repairs, accounting, etc.) they need a 1099. If that person's business is incorporated (L.L.C are not corporations), then they do not need to receive a 1099. Lawyers, regardless of amount, should receive one as well. Not sure? CALL the IRS and ask. They really do want to help.

(Hint: if you get an agent who seems to be having a bad day - as we have from time to time - politely finish the conversation and call back. The calls get routed all over the country.)
HOW do you file? Staples and Office Depot, along with many other office supply stores carry the tax forms in packets of 10, 25 and 50 (You really don't need the envelopes). Most packets will come with a dedicated software that you load up, enter the employee information into, and hit print. So, bookkeeping software is not required.

As a bookkeeper one of my main tasks is to keep clients compliant and "audit able" - meaning, if the IRS or state agencies come knocking, you'll withstand their scrutiny. The single item that gets flagged most often is failure to file 1099's. Be proactive and learn about this necessary tax document. It doesn't have to be hard and it's the right thing to do.

Repeal or Reform CSPIA HR4040

2009-01-18T09:54:00.000-08:00

If you manufacture, wholesale, retail, sell or buy products, either new or used, for use by children you will be impacted by The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CSPIA), the first stage of which will go into effect Feb. 10. The law, aimed at keeping lead containing merchandise away from children, mandates that all products sold for those age 12 and younger -- including but not limited to clothing, toys, books, sporting equipment, bikes, etc. -- be tested for lead and phthalates, which are chemicals used to make plastics more pliable. Those that haven't been tested will be considered hazardous, regardless of whether they actually contain lead.

Makers of children's goods cannot rely on materials known to be safe, even if the manufacturer of materials and supplies has already tested and certified them as being lead free. Instead they must put a sample from each lot of goods (each model, each size, each color....) through testing after complete assembly, and the testing must be applied to each component. Testing is costly and for each component could cost upwards of $100.00. For items comprised of many components the tab for testing could easily reach into the thousands of dollars.

This law will certainly affect large manufacturers, but small businesses and micro businesses less able to absorb the costs of testing, will be even harder hit. Many small producers who have prided themselves on providing safe products for children fear for their business survival and in many cases their very livelihood.

In recent weeks protests have begun to mount, alarms have been raised at hundreds of blogs, forums and within business groups, including ours, Women Take Wing! We urge you to educate yourself about the CSPIA, and hope you will join us in a call to our elected officials to repeal or at the least reform this poorly written and broad reaching piece of legislation.

To date, few major media sources have picked up this story. One of the best was written by Walter Olson and published on January 16 by Forbes.com . Please write and/or email your local television stations asking for them to give airtime to this issue. Email your congressperson and submit your comments to the Consumer Product Safety Commission which is charged with enforcing the CSPIA. Take the time to sign one of the many online petitions. Together we can make a difference.

For additional information:
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/legislation.html
http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6627969.html
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/safety/2009/01/cpsia-concerns.html
or just do an internet search on "CSPIA" to find many articles and blog entries.

Online petitions (a few):
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.html
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/reform-cpsia-hr4040/sign.html
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/handmadetoys/

Class Action Lawsuit:
http://reformcpsia.org/2009/01/class-action-lawsuit/

To submit a question to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, click here.
To submit comments regarding mandatory third-party testing, click here.

Some Great Advice for Cash Management

2009-01-11T16:35:00.000-08:00

Crunching numbers for small business runs in the family. My mom owned her own business and when retirement was too quiet she went back to work as an accounting specialist for a California community college. I, too, owned my own retail business and now am a self employed bookkeeper. And not to be out done, my sister works at her local community college in the Small Business Development Center and helps my fabulous brother in law with his business too. As you might imagine, it doesn't take long for family dinner talk to turn to profit margins and marketing plans.

In the recent edition of the Mohave Community College SBDC's newsletter, the stellar staff (a little nepotism never hurt anyone) have outlined some fundamental steps for the handling of cash and finances within your businesses. If you have anyone in your business that touches cash or your books other than you, take just a minute to read this reminder. While none of us ever want to think those closest to us would ever hurt us intentionally, a pinch of precaution can prevent a pound of pain.
~Steph

Goals Require A Beginning, Middle and End

2009-01-06T22:03:00.000-08:00

Now that we're a week into the New Year and we've broken all or most of the resolutions made seven days ago, can we talk about goal setting and what that really means?

Websters defines a goal as: "an end that one strives to attain". Well that sounds like there might be a little work involved. In order to know what end we're striving for, we must define our current location, where it is we actually want to go and the path by which we would like to travel. If it sounds overwhelming, let's break it down, shall we? Trust me, this might even be fun.

Try to see your shop, office or website like a new customer. Be brutally honest. What works? What doesn't? Look at the big stuff and the small details, too. If money were no object and you had all the time and well trained staff in the world, what would your business look like? Really work to answer these questions this week. Get out sketch pads or story boards or note pads...whatever it is that works for your process and define the ground on which you stand and how you dream of it in the future...pretend the lottery commissioner just showed up. When you define the things you love and things you'd change, then you have a starting point (the where you are standing) and a finishing point (the where you want to end up). See two steps down, one to go! (Which we'll discuss next week.)

I'd love it if some of you would share what you discover and I know the reader's would too!

Every Light Brings Joy

2008-12-24T09:56:00.000-08:00

Women Take Wing! is more than a website or a blog or even a business. It is a community of women who have come together to support, nurture, share and grow together in both our business endeavors and our lives. This year we have collectively problem solved and brain stormed all manner of decisions on behalf of our companies. We've been inspired and celebrated successes and recognitions of our friends. And, with heavy hearts, we've held the hands of those in our community who have suffered loss and grief this year, be it personal of professional. We have done this together. These candles represent to us the light each member brings to this place - without each one of them our community would be a little dimmer. We wish everyone, our members and our readers alike, a safe and joyful Holiday. Thank you for the light you bring.
~Stephanie, Dori, Danette and Sandra

Connecting the Sales Dots

2008-12-18T10:40:00.000-08:00

I walked into a local shop last week, and the owner, a friend, was visibly perturbed. Apparently, the man I had passed coming in had insisted she didn't have enough "stuff on sale" and went as far as to imply that she must not "need" his money. This shopkeeper works hard to manage her branding and to offer quality merchandise at reasonable prices so this exchange felt personal, I am sure. As I later pondered that event, coupled with the interesting exchange on last week's blog (To Sale or Not To Sale), I can see the point being made by my friends in retail about the slippery slope that accompanies the little "sale" signs placed in windows around towns and malls.
While I do advocate the moving of stale merchandise to free up capital, there are many ways to arrive at that destination. A sale is not always the answer. Perhaps instead of marking things down, they are bundled into a gift package with an attractive overall price or maybe using them for marketing giveaways to create a deductible expense where there once was an inventory item? As I said, many roads to one destination.

But what I would have said to that man, and what I am saying to you as a consumer is: be careful what you wish for because you might get more than you bargained for, literally. The hold out and wait until the price gets lower theory is a very dangerous teeter-totter and if it tips too far the other way, we'll all pay the price in the end. While I am a fiscally conservative soul at heart, I also know that this economy is healthiest when everyone plays nice. If merchants don't make a profit, they can't spend their profits on things like more merchandise, payroll, taxes, etc. If I am an employee and my hours get cut because my boss can't pay me, I have less to spend. The cycle continues downward. A recent article said that a local business returns more than $2 for every $1 spent within its walls to the local economy. Why would you want to eliminate that capital source to only save a few pennies now when it has the potential to cost so much more later?

Food for thought!
~Steph

To Sale or Not To Sale

2008-12-09T07:39:00.000-08:00

Most of our members are reporting that this holiday season is holding its own for them. They all came into it with realistic expectations and because most of them are micro businesses they saw the handwriting on the wall in Autumn and adjusted their seasonal buying accordingly. But with a couple of shopping weeks left many retailers and e-tailers are asking themselves if they should begin their after Christmas mark downs now. While I am only one voice and I tend to lean to the fiscally conservative side of things, being a bookkeeper, I have some thoughts for the shopkeeper to ponder.

If you purchased your product with cash, that money is gone now and you can't buy more product or pay for overhead expenses in January until you move it off your shelf. Price it to move it and free up the capital. If you purchased your product with credit then you will continue to pay for it via finance fees. Price it to move it, pay off the credit card and lower your overhead expenses so January is less stressful. Are you seeing a trend here in my thinking... good. Your job is to be open and viable this time next year. So if you don't have your January overhead in the bank today, consider getting out your red pens or sending out emails to your customer base to announce discounts now. As one client put it last week, "My (profit) margins may stink but I'll still have the lights on in March."
~Steph

Getting Back To Basics

2008-12-01T07:41:00.000-08:00

This weekend I had not one, not two but three rather in depth conversations with friends who are either starting or refocusing their businesses. These friends are not connected to one another in any way and all three conversations happened differently...one online, one on the phone and one over tea...but they all lead to the same place. I asked each one of these friends to dig deep and find their strengths, their passions and their visions before making another step forward. It wasn't a conversation about branding or marketing, it was more fundamental than that...who were each of these women at their cores? What got them out of bed each day? What thing did they believe in so strongly that they could work at it every single day?

You see, even if you have owned a successful business for years or are just starting out, getting back to basics and to the core vision is key. Depending on the type of business you have, that question can be intensely personal. One of my friends literally had to ask themselves, "who am I in this world?" and does this business path make sense for me. Another was clear on who she was as a person but needed to focus the vision so that her goals were broken down into attainable steps.

Before you go forward today doing what you did yesterday, stop for just a second and be sure that it is with a purpose that is clearly stated. What is your "elevator speech"? Does it continue to reflect you, your values or your long term vision? And is what you are going to do today in line with that vision? Getting back to basics can be empowering and productive. Ultimately a market economy is about trust. Customers trust you and/or the products you deliver beause they trust you will stand behind it.

Sightings: Our Members Flourish in Romantic Homes This Christmas!

2008-11-18T18:51:00.000-08:00

If you do not currently subscribe to Romantic Homes magazine, we suggest that you run out and get a copy right now. It's chock-full of Women Take Wing! members who are kicking off the holiday season with a bang!

Our own Cathy Scalise of Treasured Heirlooms is the cover girl for this month's Romantic Homes. We get a sneak peek into the lovely cottage home Cathy has created, sharing fun stories of her family and proving Christmas can come in other colors besides red and green.

We also want to give a shout out for our own Lidy Baars and Lori Janiszewski. French Garden House's canvas shopping bag was selected by Senior Editor, Jickie Torres, and Lori of Ellenay Designs has her exclusively designed for Sweet Necessi-Tea's Blue Willow/Song charm bracelet featured as one of Contributing Editor Hillary Black's wish list picks for the holiday season!

And of course, don't miss the fabulous marketing examples set by Belle Colle, Sadie Olive and Soul of the Rose, who all prove that beautiful and well placed advertising is priceless! Hats off to all of these members and to the editors of Romantic Homes for knowing good things when they see them!

~Steph

The Details Shine Through

2008-11-13T08:09:00.000-08:00

Lidy Baars of French Garden House (see our Magazine Section for our feature) is one of the many members of Women Take Wing who shares her entrepreneurial talents in the world of retail. I spent some time last week shopping her site French Garden House and found a few treasures with my name of them...the antique bell above being one of them. My package arrived in our small town post office so I stood in line with my little yellow notice that my package was being held in the back. When my postal clerk came round the corner with my box two clerks came with her from the back sorting area. "What's in this box?" they asked wondrously (which is better than suspiciously). "Holiday gifts," I replied. "It smells so yummy!" said one of the clerks while the other nodded. As my package was passed over to my hands, I understood. The softest, "yummiest" aroma came from the box. Not overwhelming or over the top, just a subtle scent.

Later when I was home I marveled at how lovely everything was contained in my rather modest purchase. Beautiful tissue, a lovely sachet (which is what smelled so great), soft ribbons, a hand written card and each item was individually wrapped...a ready to go gift if I had wanted it to be. The personalized monogram card that tied my own bell just blew me away. No detail was spared and I promise, this was not a large purchase.

What Lidy creates is an experience for her customer. So many of our members practice this level of customer care and this is not the first fabulous package to arrive from a member business. But it's a reminder -especially now- that the small things shine through. Whether you are shipping items or wrapping them for carry out, pay attention to the details. Give your customers their own treat (like my monogrammed card and sachet) that says they matter to you. As owners we have the luxury of driving our branding and public image and no opportunity should be lost to make a great impression.
~Steph

Launching in Economic Uncertainty

2008-11-03T09:27:00.000-08:00

For those who still dream of starting their own business but think that now is not the "right time" to launch, I would encourage you to re-think that philosophy. If you have done your homework, laid out a solid plan based on research as well as instinct and you go in eyes wide open with pragmatism and optimism, you can succeed. Perhaps you scale back a launch or re-design the business model to grow slowly. Maybe you don't leap into it as much as you wade slowly, with a financial safety net. Can you begin the business part time or without overhead? Can you launch single products instead of whole lines?

Economically difficult times don't need to bring your dreams to a halt. They can merely cause us to be more creative, more passionate and if done well, how is that ever a bad thing for any business?

In Michingan: Beach Haus Designs Holiday Events

2008-10-30T08:20:00.001-07:00

Our own June of Beach Haus Designs http://www.beachhausdesigns.com/ is a busy woman to keep up with! Her new holiday jewelry line is amazing and she's got designs to suit just about every taste and style imaginable.

For all of our readers in Michigan, Beach Haus Designs will be at the following gift and holiday shows. We encourage you to stop in and see for yourself.

November 1, 2008 Elmer Knopf Learning Center, Flint,MI
November 7 & 8 Salt Box, Clawson, MI
November 8, 2008 Christmas in Clawson, Clawson, MI (tentative)November 15, 2008 Hand & Eye, Troy, MI
November 20, 2008 Community House, Birmingham, MI
November 28, 2008 Elf Shelf, Troy, MI (tentative)
December 6 & 7,2008 MSU Holiday Art Fair, Lansing, MI (tentative)

Metro Home Style Holiday Event!

2008-10-22T07:55:00.000-07:00

For our blog readers the Syracuse, NY area please join Metro Home Style on Saturday, November 1st from 6:30 pm to 9:30 p.m. Be the first to see newly arrived holiday treasures and put some sparkle in your holidays during an evening of food, fun, prizes and special sales!

Special guest Home Stylist Kristie Bairdwill be on hand to help solve your holiday decorating dilemmas, so bring your paint chips, photos, ideas and your questions with you! Complimentary gift wrapping will be available, so you can take your gifts home wrapped and ready to give! Visit

http://www.metrohomestyle.net/ for directions or more information!

Sightings: What Our Members Are Up To

2008-10-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

We are fortunate to have an amazingly dynamic group of women here at Women Take Wing! It makes the job of telling their stories both easy (because they're all so awesome) and difficult (because they're a busy bunch to keep up with)! A new blog feature will be "Sightings" - a quick low down with links on the doings of some of our members. Check back often to keep track of these inspiring women!

Heather Bullard of Present Past Collection http://www.thepresentpast.com/ is hosting A Parisian Holiday Soiree. At the historic Mission Inn Hotel, the event takes place on Sunday, November 2, 2008 from 2-5pm.

Gabriela Delworth spends her time not just creating, but teaching as well. This blogland Wonder Woman has TV appearances that you can view from her webpage http://gabrieladelworth-tv-appearances.blogspot.com/

For those of you in the Port Townsend, WA area Oct.24th, meet our own Tammy Gilley of Tammy Gilley Studios (http://www.tammygilley.com/index.html) at Artfiberfest Marketplace at 7 p.m. Learn more about Artfiberfest or the Marketplace at http://www.teeshamoore.com/

From our own Debi Ward Kennedy (http://decodivadebi.blogspot.com) who is the maven of all things marketing comes online videotaped interviews of Heather Bullard, Tammy Gilley and Bari J. at this summer's Farm Chicks. Follow this link to see the interviews.

http://www.giftandhomechannel.com/channel/vod/324/

Debi Mattingly - Yaya Chique

2008-10-06T08:18:00.001-07:00

Here at Women Take Wing! we celebrate each and every member's successes. They all bring a special energy and perspective to our community. Several times each month we publish a Member Feature, so that the rest of the world can share in the richness of our community.

As a professional artist, Debi Mattingly traveled across the country with fellow artists showcasing their art and teaching of their culture. In 1995 Debi turned her significant talents to the world of fashion accessory design and turned her art into a more “functional” creation. It was then that she received her private trademark label (debi lynn designs®). Debi has sold her designs across the world to private collectors and boutiques. Her designs can not only be spotted on TV, but she also has a long list of celebrities under her belt.

At the age of 50, instead of thinking of retirement, Debi decided to open a new boutique in Houston where her customers enter into the mysterious world that can only be found along the beautiful and sensuous bayous of Louisiana. As a tribute to her colorful Cajun heritage, she has designed a boutique that inspires the “yaya spirit” in everyone. Debi and her “yaya sistas” search for that “rustic elegance” to inspire her customer’s own spirit. Recently, through her blog, Debi has shared about her experience transitioning from a working studio to a retail boutique. After 30 years of being an entrepreneur….she feels that her life, at the age of 50, is now truly beginning!

Q. What gave you the courage to take the leap into your own business?

A. I’ve never thought of myself of being “courageous” by having my own business; if I had not taken the “leap”, that would have been a lack of courage and failure in my eyes.
True courage comes in being able to keep your passion and dream alive on a day-to-day basis!

Q. Name one person who has inspired you, and how?

A. Having been a professional artist/designer for over 30 years now---there are many people that have influenced me in many ways----from family to friends, to my customers, and to other artists. Being raised in my cultures (Cajun/Native American)….I was taught that everyone that crosses my path is there to influence me in some form or another. I just need to remember to always be open to their lessons.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your business?

A. All the aspects of my company are rewarding, but the most rewarding is being able to call my customers my friends.

Q. As a shop owner and designer you become a part of your customer’s life. You are asked to help with major decisions about special events, from an anniversary, to birthdays, to being a new grandmother. As a designer, you feel honored to be asked into their homes to help with creating the family’s “haven” from the outside world.

A. When your customer tells you that “it feels good in here (the shop)” or “I am having a bad day, and needed my yaya fix” or “I truly love what you have done for our family with your designs” you know that all your efforts have been rewarded----

Because it is your customer that is the “real reward” of any successful business!

Q. What is the most bothersome part of your business? How do you get through it?

A. I wouldn’t call it bothersome ---- but I hate paperwork. I take Mondays off from the shop and tie myself to the desk---with a smile---knowing that the rest of the week is free for me to create and play!

Q. If you could start another business, what would it be?

A. I am already in the beginning stages of this one! I am planning on having “yaya retreats”---by, for and about women! A place where women come together for relaxation, fun and laughter. The plans are still in the making….so, keep me in your thoughts as I take another “leap of courage”!

Visit Debi's website Yaya Chique for a tantalizing peek into her Houston shop. At her blog, The Junkin' Yaya, you can follow the adventures of Debi and her yaya sistas!

(Special Note: On September 13th, Hurricane Ike blew ashore and Debi was one of the many gulf residents affected by the storm's wrath. Power was knocked out to the business area in which her shop is located. We delayed publishing Debi's feature while we waited to hear from her that she was safe, and her business back up and running.

On September 23 the power came back on earlier than anticipated. Debi considers herself quite fortunate, but she and we feel the recent happenings in the financial world and on the political scene have distracted the nation from the grief and misery which continue along the gulf coast. If you have not yet donated to the relief efforts, and if you have the means to do so, there are many who could benefit from your generosity. Thank you. ~WTW)

Staying Strong in Financially Hard Times

2008-10-01T21:03:00.000-07:00

How do you keep a small business afloat in difficult economic times? There's no magic bullet to keeping the doors to your business open but there are some tried and true measures to making sure you're still standing...and standing apart, when all is said and done.

First, remember that even in the worst of times, someone, somewhere is doing business. Make sure your customer service is impeccable, that your store or site is fresh and welcoming and of course, scale back if you need to...trim the proverbial fat.

Second, take a hard look at your business and ask yourself the hard questions. Do you offer enough product (or services) that people REQUIRE. Frivolity is the first line item cut from every budget. Make sure you are meeting the day to day needs of your customers. What are you offering that customers MUST buy regardless of their budgets. If you are a service provider, rethink your pricing strategies or types of services offered. If you are a retailer, really make your product practical as well as beautiful.

Third, if you've been operating your business with a lot of credit card usage or a line of credit, stop now. Get out in front of that debt as soon as you can. Keep a very close eye on your payment cycles and make your payments early if possible. It's not uncommon in times like these for companies to change your due dates or terms unexpectedly and then your rate goes through the roof. In my first retail partnership we actually had it in our contract that the business could never owe more on debt than it had in the bank. That allowed for cash flow management but always kept us restrained.

Finally, don't panic. The way you've been running your business may need to change but if you come at the challenge head on, with the same energy and creativity that caused you to open your doors to begin with, than you'll become your strongest and best asset.
~Steph

A Fall Cotillion: Calling All Vendors

2008-09-28T15:35:00.001-07:00

Our very own Tracey Buxton (of A Cottage Industry) http://www.acottageindustry.com/ is hosting another fabulous Tumbleweed Cotillion on November 1st. Not only is this the premier sales event for The Biggest Little Town (Reno, NV) for those of you shoppers out there, it's an awesome opportunity for retail vendors to kick off the holiday season. Learn more about being vendor (or a shopper) at http://www.tumbleweedcotillion.com/

Dear Writers....

2008-09-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

Do you write? Do you know a woman who writes? There is still time to apply for a 2009 Hedgebrook residency, but the deadline is fast approaching! Applications must be postmarked by this coming Thursday, September 25th.

"Hedgebrook is on Whidbey Island, about thirty-five miles northwest of Seattle. Situated on 48-acres of forest and meadow facing Puget Sound, the retreat hosts women writers from all over the world for residencies of two weeks to two months, at no cost to the writer. Residents are housed in six handcrafted cottages, where they spend their days in solitude – writing, reading, taking walks in the woods on the property, on nearby Double Bluff beach or trails around the island. In the evenings, they gather in the farmhouse kitchen to share a home-cooked gourmet meal, their work, their process and their stories. The women who come to Hedgebrook are writing in all genres, and are of all ages, ethnicities, backgrounds and levels of writing experience." (Hedgebrook-About Us)

I have had the opportunity over the years to meet many writers who have been hosted at Hedgebrook. Without exception, they say it is a wonderful experience. The application is simple, and is available online at Hedgebrook's website, www.hedgebrook.org.

You Are Invited To A Special Soiree

2008-09-10T17:50:00.000-07:00

Here at Women Take Wing! our members are always coming up with innovative ways to share their talents with the rest of the world. Our own Gabriela Delworth is no exception. She has asked us to spread the word about her "Soiree Party Crowns Gallery Tour and Give Away," on September 15th. In her own unique way, Gabriela has used her blog to share her artistry with all types of people, be they customers, students or friends. Everyone can find inspiration in her work. Follow this link to her site for more information.

~Steph

Time To Come In

2008-09-05T16:10:00.000-07:00

Summer is quickly dwindling in the Pacific Northwest (headquarters to WTW) and as we begin to ready ourselves for the dark days of winter, I can hear in our member's posts, the lamenting of the passing summer. But I welcome the Fall. It is a time of change and of re-grounding ourselves. Just as when we were children and Mom's would open screen doors and call us in for supper, away from our play, away from our summer freedom, so Fall calls us back to our shops and to our offices to roll up our sleeves.

When I used to be in retail, September was the month that I could take a little breath, tidy the stock room, wash the windows, pack away the novelty items of summer and bring down the new "every day" wares that had been chosen nearly six months before. Just as kids had to wait to wear their new school clothes, I had to wait to bring in new product.

Now in finance, Fall isn't much different. It's my clean up season where I make sure that any loose ends are tidy, any lingering projects get done...just like in retail it is my hurry up and wait season. It's 4:15 p.m. and the sun that used to drive me out of my office last month is tucked safely below the treeline. The tea kettle signals my end of the day today instead of the sounds of kids playing ball in the street and barbeque's being lit around the neighborhood. I really do enjoy the Fall.
~Steph

Is Multi Tasking Really Healthy?

2008-08-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

Lately, inside the Forum we have been discussing the reality of running businesses, families and lives and finding time to do it all. Let's just say it, we're all a little tired as summer winds down and fall is hot on our heels. Many of our members are rattling off to do lists that really seem daunting. If I know these ladies as I think I do, they'll get it done because they always do and beautifully to boot. However, this seasonal frenzy seems to be the norm and not the exception with most of us and it begs a question: Is multitasking really effective or even healthy...for our businesses and for our lives?

The expression goes: "Jack (or Jill in this case) of all trades, master of none" and I'm only asking is that the way we want to run our businesses? Don't we want to be the masters of our industries? Should we be trying to do absolutely everything or should we try to do the core things that define our businesses and our brands exceptionally well? I don't necessarily have the answers but it's at least worth exploring.

The WTW team has been reading Dr. Steven Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" which addresses this issue and it's an interesting concept to consider. What would your day look like if you could spend a concentrated hour on just one task with no distractions or balls to juggle? How would you feel if you could walk away from a task after just one hour and know that it was complete and well laid out? It's an interesting concept and one that goes against the grain of what we, as women, have been taught but perhaps it's worth giving it a try.
~Steph

Wendy Troupe - Le Bourdon Home & Garden

2008-08-14T13:27:00.000-07:00

Here at Women Take Wing! we celebrate each and every member's successes. They all bring a special energy and perspective to our community. Several times each month we publish a Member Feature, so that the rest of the world can share in the richness of our community.

Wendy Troupe is a self-taught web developer, interior designer and vintage textile enthusiast. A corporate web strategist and developer by day, her creative outlet and stress buster was to moonlight as an interior designer and collect antiques and textiles from her travels to France. Wendy has always needed a creative outlet and decided one day to put her good business knowledge of the web to work for her own aspirations.

Launching Wendy Troupe Designs 5 years ago, has allowed Wendy the opportunity to design many French inspired homes using her vintage French textiles and unusual antiques. With the French appreciation of the aesthetic as her inner driving force, her sense of style has expanded into creating home and personal accessories embellished with buttons, passementerie and jewelry. Wendy Troupe Designs blends the quality of the past with the freshness of the present. Wendy's goal is to create vintage inspired pieces for modern women - in their homes and hearts. Her signature look is considered "old world French" which uses muted colors, texture and architectural details. “Ever since I can remember, I've always been drawn to beautiful things and aware of the space around me. I wanted nothing more than to express my creativity and have a space where people could also experience it. I set out to find a historic home that was in need of restoration and could accommodate a home-based business and garden. My journey has placed me in Newburyport, Massachusetts, a historic seaside town filled with period architecture and a community that has embraced it's past and encouraged entrepreneurship and individual expression.”

Her shop is laden with photos of her historical home in Newburyport and images from her trips to France in hopes that that French feeling can inspire others. “I've always been inspired by French design. My decorating and personal style is driven by my need to express who I am. Throughout my travels in France and England, I've found that this approach to life has been embraced for centuries! My eclectic design approach has always resulted in a love of what's uniquely New England and classically European.” The "old world" French look has been cherished for centuries and blends texture, natural colors and ornate trims. When it is incorporated into your home and individual style, it creates a look that is timeless and confident.

Q. What gave you the courage to take the leap into your own business?

A. A need to express my creative side and love of decorating – feeding the soul is important for all of us!

Q. Name one person who has inspired you, and how?

A. Martha Stewart has inspired me from the beginning. I always admired her business acumen and how she was able to cultivate it using technology. She was a leader in that arena. Having spent my career building technology, it was validating to hear that someone had the vision so early on to cultivate design in that way.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your business?

A. Although I find great inspiration when other people find my creations as beautiful as I see them, I’m also very enthusiastic about learning how people respond to online sales vs. a brick-and-mortar style of direct selling.

Q. What is the most 'bothersome' part of your business? How do you get through it?

A. It can be very time consuming uploading new product on my web site. Because most of my product line are custom creations, I go to great lengths to create the most informative descriptions and representative photographs. When someone purchases it, it is gone in one click!

Q. If you could start another business, what would it be?

A. I still very much like the idea of web technology and how it is evolving for businesses. I’d like to develop new business models that compliment technology and create products for various industries. Although I have a love for design in the realm of French textiles, I also have a career in technology that needs to be fed. If I could create a company that creates and designs products, that would also fulfill a dream of mine. Ultimately, anything that allows me to have flexibility with my family and home life, control over my work environment, and helps me to be creative, I’m for wholeheartedly!

Wendy regularly travels to France and to find the many one-of-a-kind fabulous treasures featured at her shop, Le Bourdon Home & Garden. While scouring the flea markets of Paris and Provence she will happily keep an eye out for that special item you've been searching for. Contact her for more information on this service, and don't miss her blog where you can find out what's new!

Catherine Scalise - Treasured Heirlooms

2008-08-08T07:27:00.001-07:00

Here at Women Take Wing! we celebrate each and every member's successes. They all bring a special energy and perspective to our community. Several times each month we publish a Member Feature, so that the rest of the world can share in the richness of our community.

Ever since she was a small child and Santa brought her that first giant box of Crayola's "48 Colors" crayons ~ Cathy Scalise knew her coloring books were going to change drastically! When she saw those amazing new choices of "hot pinks", "periwinkle blue", "lavender" and "baby pink", she was in awe. There was no doubt in her mind that she was destined to live a life of creativity.

Growing up, every changing season and each new holiday at her home brought new ideas to explore and create. Her mother taught her the joy of baking, cooking, gardening, candy-making and decorating a home. Her grandmother taught her the meticulous art of sewing. Her grandfather was a carpenter by trade, but was always in the garage twisting and weaving cane and rush for chairs he wove by hand. She used to sit and watch him for hours on end. She felt extremely lucky to live in a very talented family environment. There was never a waking moment she wasn't thinking of new creations she would design in her free time.

Cathy’s lifetime goal was to have the ability to give others the pleasure of enjoying her beautifully created treasures in their own homes. After many years of selling in a neighborhood antiques and consignment shop, she decided to open her own eboutique called "Treasured Heirlooms. A strong marketer for her business, Scalise has created a business that encompasses her passions and fulfills the dreams of many customers. Treasured Heirloom customers know they no longer have to drive from store to store in search of the perfect item. They can find it online in the comfort of their own homes. The results have been extremely rewarding. Her garden and her website have been featured in several home decorating magazines, such as: "Romantic Country", "Country Victorian", "Country Decorating", "Flower Gardens" and "Small Room Decorating Magazines". While the media attention is nice for any entrepreneur, it is the letters from around the world that pour in daily from women who have been inspired to "follow their dreams". Treasured Heirlooms is a place to stop and smell the flowers, browse, shop or just be inspired to "follow your dreams".

As you read Cathy’s interview below, you’ll see that sometimes the drive to do what you love brings wealth, inspiration and rewards on many levels.

Q. What gave you the courage to take the leap into your own business?

A. I have been creating artwork and selling at Craft Fairs, Consignment and Antique shops for over 30 years. I moved on to eBay when they first began and thoroughly enjoyed the aspect of the Auction idea. From eBay I began selling directly from an antique shop in my town. When it closed two years ago I had no idea where I was going to go from there. I decided to sell off all my large pieces of hand painted furniture through Craigs List, then one day while reading a Romantic Decor magazine I realized from all the beautiful website ads in the back of the magazine that this was possibly the new wave of selling. I researched having a website built and "Treasured Heirlooms" became my new online web boutique. It has been all uphill from there.

Q. Name one person who has inspired you, and how?

A. Nine years ago it became apparent that due to a chronic illness I could not work full-time any longer. After 30 years of full-time trade-show manager and a marketing career, I had to invest my time in finding a team of doctors that could help me manage my illness and hopefully put it in remission so I could live somewhat of a normal life. This endeavor took fours years during which time I was extremely ill and bedridden. While I was trying to rest my mind and body to ease some of the pain, I would watch Oprah every day. I was inspired by her guests and what challenges that had overcome. I was inspired by the "giving" of heart and soul that so many people could do even under the most extreme disasters. Oprah seemed to bring out the best in people during the worst of times. Her kindness, caring and generosity seemed endless to me. I was deeply inspired and changed forever. I had very little support growing up and had survived on my own as a single women since I was 21. I vowed that if I were to ever get my illness in remission and I could be creative and prosperous in mind, body and soul, that I would "give to those less fortunate than myself". I now donate to many charities, including "Oprahs Angel Network". It is my small way of giving hope to someone out there who needs it, just as I did.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your business?

A. The absolutely, positively most rewarding part of my business is the daily emails I receive from women all over the world who have stopped by my website or blog and have been changed for life. I do believe that I have inspiration to offer and I do so by giving hope to women who need to believe in themselves and their talents. My testimonials page is packed with wonderful emails. However, I have many personal emails which I keep in a private folder and read often to remind myself of the impact I have on so many lives. My goal has always been to inspire and that is why I do what I do.

Q. The most bothersome part of your business?

A. I find that sometimes packing large shipments can be cumbersome and quite exhausting. Packing, weighing, measuring and delivering the large parcels to the Drop-Off stops can be very difficult. I get through it by asking my husband for help. Luckily he does it so willingly.

Q. If you could start another business, what would it be?

A. I am perfectly content with the business I am doing. The current economy is such that opening a brick and mortar shop is at best, a risk. And with my health not always being what it could be that dream is not possible. My only dream currently is to expand my online business and reach more potential customers. This is a daily marketing effort on my part and hopefully I will have the opportunity of reaching millions of people as opposed to thousands.

A visit to Cathy's website Treasured Heirlooms, or to her blog, will make the romantic heart sigh! While you browse her feminine offerings, lovely music will enhance your experience. If you love her little Pink Fairy Cottage, but you don't have space for a tiny cottage of your own, you can purchase photo cards of Cathy's here.

Tabetha Sullens - Reminisce Heirlooms

2008-07-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

A New Adventure for Our Own Amy Smith

2008-07-22T08:05:00.000-07:00

Two weekends ago I had the pleasure of visiting Portland, Oregon to see family and attend a very large antiques show. We had been tipped off by several Oregonian members that this show was a must see and they were not wrong! There amongst the hundreds of booths I spied our own Amy Smith of Goosey Press http://www.gooseypress.com/ launching a new candy line called Candy Winkle. Her creativity, festive decor and fabulous product line was a hit!

To be an entrepreneur takes an energy and a tenacity that is unique. But continuing to find the edge and pushing yourself into new and exciting markets...well, that's a spirit that inspires even the most dedicated of entrepreneurs. We celebrate Amy's new venture and hope you enjoy the photos.

~ Steph

Gabriela Delworth

2008-07-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day!

2008-07-03T09:07:00.000-07:00

"When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. "

Women Take Wing! wishes you and your family a glorious day pursuing life, liberty and happiness.

Charitable Giving - Part I: Advice Wanted

2008-06-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you but when I owned a retail shop and now as a service professional, I am constantly asked to contribute to every charitable event or group in my community. In retail I was literally the smallest shop on the block. As a service professional I am a one woman show and what I make is what I live on. It's such a fine line, when to give and when not to give. There are guidelines to follow, creative ways to contribute without breaking the bank and then there are times when you just have to be strong and say, "so sorry, not right now". Over the next few weeks we will be discussing this issue here on the blog but we are curious to hear what you have to offer on this topic. Do you have a protocol when asked for donations? If so, please use the comment feature and share your advice.
~ Steph

Tammy Gilley - Tammy Gilley Studios

2008-06-22T12:02:00.000-07:00

Tammy Gilley Studios is the formalization of that woman’s work into a woman’s business. After Tammy’s mother passed away, Tammy took up many of her mother’s unfinished projects and her distinct style became evident. Where her mother’s quilts were more traditional, Tammy’s style is funky, more free-spirited, a riot of color. As Tammy likes to say, she does few things quietly and quilting is no exception. Her designs are a fresh take on a craft of generations. With every quilt and now, with the addition of fun collage work, Tammy feels the women who have gone before her.

Q. What gave you the courage to take the leap into your own business?

A. Courage? I liken it more to a leap of faith, than a courageous act. I’ve watched women I admire create their enterprises. I’ve always known in my heart, that I would do the same thing someday. And, now I find myself in “someday”, “over the rainbow”, ready to take the leap, so here I am. The final nudge was working with my mom’s quilt designs. When she passed away last year, I literally moved her sewing room into my studio, and began making quilts from her original designs. It was a way for me to connect with her. In not too very long, I began creating my own quilt designs, and had one of those “a-ha” moments. “Aha! So this is what ‘it’ is! This is the enterprise I am meant to create.”

Q. Name one person who has inspired you, and how?

A. Meredith Gilley, my sweet mama. I’m trying to remember exactly when she taught me to sew, and I think it was with those cardboard sewing cards and the colored shoelaces. Do you remember those? I was probably 3 or 4 years old. I loved those things! As it is for many young girls, I learned to sew by making doll clothes. Mom sewed all the time, and had quite a fabric stash. I would spend hours in her sewing room, gathering up her fabric scraps. I’d cut out squares and make quilts for my dolls. It was always a sewing festival at our house. So, sewing really was just second nature to me. In recent years, my quilting led me to a brief foray in paper collage, which I likened to paper-quilting. I’m happy to have come full circle, back to traditional quilting, with my riotous palette.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your business?

A. Well, the most rewarding part will be when it starts to turn a profit! Until then, I’m amply rewarded working all day long with fabric…what a joy! I love working with color and pattern, and putting them together to create these wild and crazy palettes, and turning those into quilts. It’s so gratifying, too, to show a completed quilt to other quilters, and hear them say, “I love the quirk you gave that traditional block,”, or “I NEVER would have put red with turquoise and lime green, but look what you’ve done! And it works!!” I’m rewarded everyday working at something I love, building a business I believe in, and carrying on a legacy that has been so important to me.

Q. What is the most 'bothersome' part of your business? How do you get through it?

A. Ironically, the hardest part of my business is writing directions for a quilt pattern that are clear and concise. I’m a wordy girl. To stick to “just the facts, ma’am” is not easy for me. So, my greatest challenge, and the thing I find to be most bothersome, is to write the patterns themselves. But, since that’s the basis of my business, there’s no getting around it! The best way for me to get through it is to sit down with the completed quilt, and the notes I took during the design and assembly process. Then sit down, and truly, “purge on the page”. I write those directions with all the words I want! Then, I put it away. When I come back to it in the next few days, I create a second quilt from that tome of instructions, editing the superfluous words and phrases as I go. Once I’ve done that, I send the pattern to a few quilting friends to test the directions and give their edits. From there, it’s a matter of final edits. After that, I consider it finished. It’s sort of a long process, but well worth it, and it works for me.

Q. If you could start another business, what would it be?

A. I’d organize tours for quilters. Little getaways, where we spend part of our time scouting quilt shops in a wonderful town, part of our time sitting together and working on our current quilting projects, in a lovely old inn. Hmm…could there be a spin-off business here?

We invite you to learn more about Tammy. At her blog, cheerful writing and colorful photos of studio vignettes and quilts will brighten any day! And watch Tammy's website for the advent of her new patterns and kits! You can find a complimentary pattern for her Tequila Sunrise Pillow right here!

The Farm Chicks Show!

2008-06-09T15:58:00.000-07:00

This weekend in Spokane, WA several of our WTW members set up shop at The Farm Chicks. Despite the rainy weather, crowds were plentiful and a good time was had by all!

Here are our Fab Four, all in a row at 10:15 a.m.

The same row at 12:15 p.m. and they were still letting people through the doors!

Our Wonder Woman of Purses and Accessories, Ms. Bari J!

We spotted many of these belts around the show!

Heather Bullard of The Present Past Collection takes a quick break with a girlfriend!

This booth was stunningly beautiful and drew a steady crowd all day! Well done, Heather!

Our own Tammy Gilley and Debi Ward Kennedy!

Tammy Gilley Studios had quite an array of fabulous creations, we're pretty sure these necklaces were hot sellers!

...some of Tammy's patchwork hearts with sayings....

Kennedy/Kennedy Design: Debi Ward Kennedy and Bob The Wonder Husband!

So many fabulous things, they could hardly keep the booth stocked!

It really was a great time! We can't wait for next year! The planning has already begun!

Sara Duckett - Sadie Olive

2008-06-02T07:49:00.000-07:00

Here at Women Take Wing! we celebrate each and every member's successes. They all bring a special energy and perspective to our community. Several times each month we publish a Member Feature, so that the rest of the world can share in the richness of our community.

Sadie Olive began as a dream and became a journey of self discovery, healing and empowerment. Like most entrepreneurs, as Sara Duckett’s business grew, so did she.

When Sara Duckett and her husband purchased and began renovating their first home in 2002, she discovered a passion for decorating. Four years and two renovated homes later, Sara decided to put her passion for shopping and interest in interior design to work for her. Encouraged by the many compliments of friend and family who came to visit, Sara gained the confidence she needed to pursue her dream of store ownership.

Not having the financial resources or business knowledge to start a physical store on her own, she used her self-taught computer skills to design and create an online boutique. Although the store has been open for less than a year, Sara’s eye for detail and flair for finding unique décor launched her online store and quickly made it into the “favorites” of many online shoppers.

While Sara may find inspiration in others, she inspires many as well. Sara’s feel for French furnishings, antique accessories and country chic contrivances makes decorating your own home effortless, and affordable. She has grown her once petite store into a blossoming boutique for specialty shopping of all kinds. Whether you prefer hand-crafted journals, fabulous flea market finds, or archetypal accoutrements, you are bound to find something you can’t resist at Sadie Olive.

Q. What gave you the courage to take the leap into your own business?

A. I was reading Country Living magazine one evening and was inspired by their feature on Women Entrepreneurs. I read a few stories about women who just took the leap without being totally prepared and was amazed by their success. It was also at a time in my life when I was very affected by the disappointments from our infertility struggle. I wanted and needed an escape from the feelings of failure that consumed our daily thoughts. I actually put down the magazine and went straight to my computer to print out the forms for my business license. The excitement and challenge of starting a new business was exactly what I needed to start the healing process.

Q. Name one person who has inspired you, and how?

A. Amy at Inspire Company has been an inspiration of mine since before I started my business. I admire her sense of style, her creative spirit, and her business savvy. When researching where I wanted to host my site, start my blog, and even design my logo, Amy’s site was always my first point of reference. I had often checked her blog for inspiration and was enamored by her embellished photos and large following. Amy was also the reason I joined Women Take Wing as I wanted to learn from her stories and grow from her shared experiences. I am inspired by her still, and admire her in so many ways.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your business?

A. I would have to say the comments I have received from my customers and blog readers. Since starting my blog and website, I have had compliments, design questions, and even an artist-on-call position offered to me from a beautiful magazine. I never dreamed of being the inspiration to other people when I started this venture, and it really amazes and humbles me how accepting and kind people can be. I still giggle to my husband to think that another woman out there wants my advice on what color to paint her kitchen.

Q. What is the most 'bothersome' part of your business? How do you get through it?

A. Honestly, the hardest part has been not being able to walk away from the business. I am a very high strung, anally organized person. I don’t know how to walk away (or even sleep) when I have a to do list running through my mind. I work more than eight hours five days a week and even work a few hours on Saturday and Sunday most of the time.

The only thing that has gotten me through it, has been utilizing my Outlook Calendar and Task List. I write down all of the tasks I have to get done daily and check them off as I go. I also have started allowing myself more time between design clients so that I can rest my brain when needed. (Although most of the time I still get them done before they are even scheduled). I also email my design customers to let them know when not to expect design work over the weekend. I really need those days to myself to recoup and regain some creative insight.

Q. If you could start another business, what would it be?

A. I think I would like to try my hand at interior design or even furniture design someday. But for now, I simply take baby steps, like the postcards I started designing for the shop, and the custom line of charms I helped create.

Sara's new postcards and charms are exquisite, with pretty embellishments that perfectly enhance the soft, vintage feel of her photography. Both Sara's shop, Sadie Olive, and her blog are visual treats, filled with beautiful gifts and images! We hope you visit soon!

Cindy Houot - Angel Heart Designs

2008-05-27T08:25:00.000-07:00

Here at Women Take Wing! we celebrate each and every member's successes. They all bring a special energy and perspective to our community. Several times each month we publish a Member Feature, so that the rest of the world can share in the richness of our community.

Cindy Houot has always been creative. Her first experience was in the 3rd grade, painting landscapes. She thought her talent was not as good as the others. Wanting to quit, her art teacher Mrs. Burns, told her all art is beautiful, never give up, always dream, and gave the tearful Cindy a big hug! She went on to study sculpture and metal arts fabrication in high school, and attended the California College of Arts & Crafts in Berkeley, CA. Wanting to travel, she also attended The Aegean School of Fine Arts on the Greek island of Paros for three years.

After returning to the states, Cindy thought she had found her dream job, designing jewelry and sculpture for a company in Los Angeles. Wanting to try something new, more art from the heart...she studied and taught Tole Painting for 10 years. Again, searching for a new medium, she took a ceramics class and fell in love with clay. Cindy had finally found a way to sculpt and paint her favorite things, hand building flowers and creating inspirational art, all with clay. Her pottery style is not traditional, but is more feminine, cottagy or shabby-chic in feel. Her work is often pastel in color, and sometimes carries a message.

In 2003, Cindy was chosen by the Northwest Orca Conservancy, to design and make an Orca clock for the fundraiser “Reunite Luna.” Luna was the Northwest Orca whale who had become separated from its family pod. She sells her ceramics on her website, on other websites featuring hand made items, wholesales to stores, and sells at local art shows throughout the year. Cindy is currently a featured northwest artist at a gallery for fine art in Bothell, WA. Her ceramics have also been featured in Romantic Homes Magazine.

In love with the Northwest and its beauty, Cindy is active in the fight against global warming. She has started Green Planet Artists, encouraging artists to use more recycled products in their pieces and to share an environmental message through their art. She recycles most of the clay she pours with molds, and uses recycled vintage beading in many of her pieces. Cindy lives just outside of Seattle, Washington, with her husband, children, goats, chickens, and dogs, and works and teaches ceramics for people of all ages in her sunny studio.

Q. What gave you the courage to take the leap into your own business?

A. I’ve always been an entrepreneur of sorts; never afraid of taking chances and being my own boss, but more afraid of my disappointment of not trying. I began my first business at age 15 making ceramic beads, then creating necklaces and selling at stores. Angel Heart Designs evolved from taking chances and leaps and experimenting with different businesses and mediums. It actually began in 1985, I was a Tole painter, painting on children’s furniture and creating wall art. My business has changed with the times.

Q. Name one person who has inspired you, and how?

A. This is hard, because there are many, but I must say OPRAH and her show. The reason is, she has had so many wonderful, inspirational people on her show, and I’ve been a fan since her show’s start over 20 years ago. I always learn something from her, and am constantly inspired by her guests and her shows.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your business?

A. To be able to create artistically, products that people enjoy and can use, and to hopefully inspire people. I hope to make a change in a positive way with some of my art, one piece at a time.

Q. What is the most 'bothersome' part of your business? How do you get through it?

A. I wish I had more hands! I’m an artist, and love to create. I don’t care for the office end of my job, but I’ve learned to set aside specific times for office work. It’s just as important and needs to be done. For me, each day is dessert, a piece of pie! I love to divide it into several slices, office work, marketing, networking, creating, and time for me. I love to keep things simple and fun, and laugh a lot!

Q. If you could start another business, what would it be?

A. I do have other businesses. I’ve started “Green Planet Artists” which is an online store featuring artists to sell art made from recycled products, and am very excited about watching it grow. I also have a greeting card business that allows me to market my other businesses.

Please enjoy visiting Cindy’s web shop, Angel Heart Designs, and her blog. Both are filled with her lovely work, and both will bring sunshine and smiles to your day!

Website: www.angelheartdesigns.com
Blog: www.angelheartdesigns.blogspot.com

Remembering

2008-05-26T07:07:00.001-07:00

Today, before the rush to sales or before you light the BBQ, take a moment to remember those brave men and women who answered the call to serve our country and the sacrifices made. Thank you to every member of the military, the reserves and the National Guard - both past and present, their families and loved ones. We will not forget.

Sharon Wollman - C'est Chouette

2008-05-15T20:15:00.000-07:00

Sharon Wollman, owner and designer of C’est Chouette ~ The Vintage Needlepoint Pillow Boutique, embodies the balancing act of most women entrepreneurs today, wearing many hats. As a new mom she was inspired to think outside the box for creative outlet and financial benefit. By tapping into her talent for sewing, she has the honor of working in a medium that others have made beautiful: vintage needlepoint. Her long time love of vintage needlepoint, luxurious silks, and wonderful fringes, tassels and cords has naturally progressed to the creation of one of a kind needlepoint pillows that she lovingly calls tuffets. We think you’ll find her story to be as inspiring as her work is unique and beautiful.

Q. What gave you the courage to take the leap into your own business?

A. I don’t consider what I did as very courageous~ I was a soon-to-be mother and wanted to be home to raise my Little Baby. Baby Number Two came quickly thereafter and I never considered entering the workforce again. God blessed me with the talent to sew ~ so sew I did.

Q. Name one person who has inspired you, and how?

A. My mother was my inspiration. She always told me there was nothing I couldn’t do. Even at times when I took on more than I should or something I didn’t really know how to do she would say, “Learn to do it, now”. She was always impressed with my abilities and told me so.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your business?

A. Very early one morning, during a thunderstorm, I decided to open a website to sell my tuffets. I emailed a friend to tell her and she literally fell over laughing. She had been the one who would drive to my house to open my email for me. I had coerced her into publishing the PTA e-letter that was my responsibility, she literally taught me ‘copy and paste’ –step by step! But she kicked into gear and helped me in any way she could and made sure I never lost sight of my goal. With the help of another friend whom I lovingly call “the tuffet king” we built a website from scratch. I now speak ‘HTML’ fluently and my friend comes to me for computer help. I love that! To be able to sell tuffets from my little corner of South Dakota to the whole world via my website is very rewarding.

Q. What is the most 'bothersome' part of your business? How do you get through it?

A. I love the hunt and gather part of my business, but I have noticed more and more antique stores closing their doors, so now the hunt has become increasingly more difficult and time consuming, that does bother me a bit. It seems time is at a premium when running a business, time to dream, time to create, time to photograph, time to maintain a site and time to be a mother and wife. I love it all and would not give up any part of it; I just wish I had 8 days to a week.

Q. If you could start another business, what would it be?

A. I would love to open an tiny little shop to sell all things vintage needlepoint; chairs with needlepoint seats, pillows, home furnishing, office accessories, bedding…. the list goes on and on. I may redefine myself soon, as both of my daughters (my reasons for starting my business) will be in college in the fall.

Sharon is rather modest when it comes to her achievements. Her sweet pillows have been featured in a number of magazines! Please stop by Sharon's blog, Pillow Talk, or visit her online shop, C'est Chouette. You may just find the perfect tuffet to call your own!

Lidy Baars - French Garden House

2008-05-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

As a little girl growing up in Europe, Lidy Baars developed a love for antiques with patina and charm, at the home of her grandparents. Her passion for antique and vintage treasures led to a career selling antiques. In 2007, she opened French Garden House, a virtual shop specializing in Romantic Decor with a French flair, with antique, vintage as well as new finds. She loves to find beautiful objects that give a home that lived-in look that's still relaxed and casual, so that it is a warm and welcoming haven for family and friends.

While opening French Garden House is the fulfillment of a dream that started at such a young age, it is the people she meets along the way that are the real treasures for Lidy. When not working in her California home office, packaging orders in her little "garden house", sharing her experiences on her wildly popular blog or traveling far and near to flea markets and antique fairs to gather new heartwarming finds, you can find her creating. We asked Lidy to share some of her journey to being a woman entrepreneur.

Q. What gave you the courage to take the leap into your own business?

A. It really just sort of grew. I have always had a little business since I was young. I have always been so in love with making things, that my first few businesses involved designing one of a kind home accessories, decorations, floral designs etc. for design shops. Growing up in the stately home with my grandparents in Europe gave me a love for antiques at an early age. I love the hunt of treasures, and can spot a find from quite a distance away!

Q. Name one person who has inspired you, and how?

A. My Grandmother. She raised six children in war-torn Europe, and was a strong, determined lady! She always encouraged me to do whatever I wanted, to try new things, and to do something that mattered every day.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your business?

A. Most people think the answer to this would be finding the beautiful things I sell. They are of a quality that is not too often found anymore, they are so beautiful, and they whisper stories of their (our) past. But the most rewarding part of my business is really the customers that I am blessed with. They are what matters. The friendships that I have with them, the stories they share. That's the most rewarding part of my business, helping people remember or create new memories with loved ones through the antiques I sell.

Q. What is the most 'bothersome' part of your business? How do you get through it?

A. That would have to be the accounting part. I am much more the creative person, not the number cruncher. It's not my favorite part of my business, but I will admit that it's not as hard as it used to be. Sometimes I think the fear of it is much worse than the reality.

Q. If you could start another business, what would it be?

A. Ahhh, I've already had so many businesses. I think they would be mainly artsy businesses. I would love to paint. I recently had the honor of attending a birthday party for a fabulous woman who just celebrated her 101st birthday. This inspiring, creative woman began painting in her late 50’s and still teaches art and painting today. She assured me “you have plenty of time to do anything you want.”

We have no doubt Lidy will continue creating, seeking and sharing beauty with her family, friends and customers for years to come! Please visit Lidy’s treasure filled shop, French Garden House, or her inviting blog, Little French Garden House. Both are a visual delight!

Bari Ackerman - Bari J.

2008-05-02T09:13:00.001-07:00

A theatre major in college and a self taught textile artist and designer, Bari Ackerman has always had a hand in something creative. From 2001 to 2005 Bari made jewelry and collage art for local boutiques. But after creating a handbag for herself in 2005, her business, Bari J, was born.

Bari's goal is to create vintage inspired pieces for modern women. Her handmade fabric handbags are created to have a look and feel that evoke a sense of memory and history while remaining luxurious, durable and convenient for today's women. Busy preparing for summer shows, Bari took time to share some sage advice with us. Be sure and visit her website and don’t forget to check out her custom design feature, we’re sure you’ll find a bag you just can’t live without.

Q. What gave you the courage to take the leap into your own business?

A. Blind faith. I just really woke up one day and said, “If someone else can do it, so can I.” I started moving on it and just didn’t stop.

Q. Name one person who has inspired you, and how?

A. Oh, there were so many! I can’t give you just one. The first person that leaps to my mind is Alicia Paulson (Rosy Little Things/Posy Gets Cozy). I saw her on HGTV making a handbag. It looked like fun, and I needed one for an event I was going to, so I made one which sparked the whole idea for Bari J. Another is Amy Powers of Inspire Company fame. I think I discovered her right about the time I started Bari J. and fell in love immediately with the Inspire Co way of life. I also have to mention my favorite fabric designers, Tricia Guild and Amy Butler. When I first saw Amy Butler’s fabric about three years ago, I nearly fell off my chair. I’d never seen anything like it. Then while in London I discovered Tricia Guild and oh my goodness! All of these women have shown me what’s possible. And believe me, I could go on and on about each of them.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your business?

A. Without a doubt, the process of designing.

Q. What is the most 'bothersome' part of your business?

A. Ugh. Accounting!

Q. How do you get through it?

A. I finally got myself good software, Quickbooks, and have a system now for keeping track of everything… I just set a day every month that I am going to take care of it, and I muddle through.

Q. If you could start another business, what would it be?

A. That’s hard to answer because I plan on expanding Bari J. to include some of those dreams. I would eventually like to have a full line of home goods, my own fabric and paper lines, a national catalog, and possibly brick and mortar stores. I say, “If you are going to dream… why not dream big?” My husband jokes that I plan on creating a Bari J. empire. This makes me laugh and it’s a big joke around here, but not so secretly I think, “Maybe”.

Enjoy browsing through Bari's website or visit her blog to see what this talented designer is working on!

Working Your Brand

2008-04-30T06:57:00.000-07:00

In the Forum this week we will be sharing different techniques we all use to work our brand. A common theme we hear from other successful entrepreneurs is that committing daily energy to our brand and branding is necessary to stay on track for success.
~Steph

Amy Smith - Goosey Press

2008-04-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

Here at Women Take Wing! we celebrate each and every member’s successes. They all bring a special energy and perspective to our community. Every few weeks we’ll bring Member Features out to our blog so that the rest of world can share in richness of our community.

Amy Smith has been an entrepreneur since childhood. Her mother encouraged the development of backyard carnivals, neighborhood bake sales, and custom doll clothes to market from treasures gathered from flea markets and tag sales. It became evident that producing and selling goods or services was a natural priority.

Amy’s first entrepreneurial endeavor was owning a high-tech marketing agency for almost a decade. In 2006, at an outdoor antique fair during a vacation in New England, Amy was sifting through a basket of vintage children's books when she discovered something special — a turn-of-the-century, torn, tattered and extremely well-loved copy of the Original Mother Goose nursery rhymes. Honed by years of marketing and branding expertise, Amy's creative instincts kicked in. By the end of the trip, she had the vision for a new line of greeting cards, invitations, and coordinating gift wrap. Goosey Press was born bringing a nostalgic, warm and sophisticated modern stamp on beloved childhood classics.

As a busy woman entrepreneur, recently featured in the February edition of Romantic Homes Magazine, we asked Amy to share some of what brought her to where she is today.

Q. What gave you the courage to take the leap into your own business?
A. This is my second entrepreneurial birth - so it was much easier -however - I was clear that you need to create a business you love and remain focused on what brings you energy and joy.

Q. Name one person who has inspired you, and how?
A. My mother, Lois, was and continues to be my biggest inspiration - her memory nudges my creativity on a daily basis and I am so grateful that she encouraged me from an early age.

(Amy is in the process of writing a book, entitled “Gratitude & Faith”, about the relationship she had with her mother. ~D)

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your business?
A. The most rewarding part of the business is meeting and chatting with new retailers or individuals who share a common appreciation for vintage inspired products. As well as donating the products for non-profit organizations and school auctions – I love to share!

Q. What is the most 'bothersome' part of your business? How do you get through it?
A. Bothersome? Not being able to print new styles every month - I have so many ideas that I am yearning to develop - but I need to take a deep breath and take it one step at a time!

Q. If you could start another business, what would it be?
A. I would like to professionally consult for specialty events! I have been involved with numerous beautiful weddings and unique parties for friends and family. I truly enjoy developing the detailed planning from the invitation to the perfect take-away favor – then watching the entire vision unfold as the guests arrive - pinch me! Currently - I am offering custom baby shower or birthday party packages designed around the Goosey Press product line - and it scratches that itch a bit for now!

We encourage you to visit Amy at www.gooseypress.com to learn more about her and her fresh collection of greeting cards, invitations and gift wrap.

Staying Ahead Means Staying On Top

2008-04-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

For most business owners the "business" side of business isn't what drew us to our chosen pursuits. I'm sure very few of us stopped and thought: "Oh, I will LOVE the paperwork that comes along with owning my own business! I can't wait to learn to be a file clerk, bookkeeper, supply manager, office manager, HR manager, inventory specialist, vendor relations manager and marketing guru!" Nope, I'm pretty sure THAT thought wasn't at the forefront when you were dreaming up a business plan. But tend our businesses we must.

In the forum this week our members are sharing their experiences with how to stay on top of the paperwork, how to manage all the hats they need to wear. Hopefully, through their sharing, we can discover new ways or perspectives to staying ahead so our business continues to thrive.
~Steph

Jerusalem Greer - Storia di Vita Design

2008-04-11T07:58:00.000-07:00

Here at Women Take Wing! we celebrate each and every member’s successes. They all bring a special energy and perspective to our community. Every few weeks we’ll bring Member Features out to our blog so that the rest of world can share in richness of our community.

Jerusalem Greer began Storia di Vita Design with the idea that all design is just another form of storytelling. And in fact that is where the name came from – Storia di Vita roughly means “Story of Life” in Italian. From unique and personal interiors, to beautiful custom boutique websites, to vintage inspired holiday decorations and home accessories, Jerusalem helps bring the stories and dreams of her clients to light through the design process. Nothing is more fun to her than creating beautiful spaces.

Whether it is through a glittered paper banner, a website that conveys the true heart of a small business, or simply helping a client pick out a paint color that brings a smile to their face, Jerusalem loves to help make the world a little lovelier for her clients each chance she gets.

When we asked Jerusalem to answer a few questions about her experience as a woman entrepreneur she revealed a bit of her own story for us and the designs of her life.

Q. What gave you the courage to take the leap into your own business?
A. Honestly, there just didn’t seem to be any other good option to both work creatively and be home as much as possible with my small children… As hard has having my own business is, it is still a job I can do in my pajamas, home with sick kids when needed.

Q. Name one person who has inspired you, and how?
A. My grandmother, Ethelee Beverly, because she had the courage to go back to school when she was 50 years old and start her career as a Librarian, even getting her Masters Degree. Also, she is where all the women in my family get their creativity from. She is the original Nest Fluffer. She is 85 years old and she still rearranges the furniture in her house.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your business?
A. Seeing my designs go from my head, to something you can hold, to something someone besides me wants to buy. I LOVE when someone else is as excited about a product as I am.

Q. What is the most 'bothersome' part of your business? How do you get through it?
A. It would have to be all the legal and financial aspects. I am incorporated which is good for legal reasons, but makes all the financial and tax issues so much more complicated. And honestly I have not figured out a good way to “get through it” yet. That is still a learning process for me.

Q. If you could start another business, what would it be?
A. I don’t think I could start another business (my business now covers 3 areas – Craft design, Web Design and Interior Design Consulting.) I would love to have a Lifestyle Brand or Craft Design Line through another company who could handle all the financial, legal and promotional end of things. As much as I love creating my own products, I find that I have more ideas than I have time, ability or finances to produce, and I would love to have a larger mechanism behind me.

We encourage you to visit Jerusalem at her website or read her delightful blog, My Little Life, to discover more about her love of all things beautiful.

Website: http://www.storiadivita.com
blog: http://miastoriadivita.blogspot.com

Some Practical Advice Often Overlooked

2008-04-06T20:32:00.000-07:00

I received a call this week from one of my oldest friends who is about to endeavor into the world of self employment. He (yep, I actually have these conversations with members of the opposite sex too) will be in the service industry and just didn't know where to begin the very rudimentary steps of being self employed. I ran down the short list of things to ponder first...business type (sole proprietorship, LLC, Corporation), basic finance structuring (separate checking account for business) and then I started in on licensing. When my friend queried as to some good resources my first suggestion (which is always my first suggestion) was to go to his state's website and find the section on "Doing Business" or "Starting A Business". He said what most everyone says, "I hadn't thought of that."

We are always so shocked to think a government agency would actually a) have good advice and b) make it easy to find and easy to understand. Well, when you own a business you pay taxes and hopefully grow it so well that you employ people besides yourself. Generally, you move the economy forward so of course, they want to make that part easy. By simply entering the name of your state followed by .gov you can get to almost every state website. From that point forward, you will begin to learn the basics of your state's business structuring, what types of businesses your state allows, taxes, licensing and other resources. Spend a little time today learning how businesses get started in your state and don't be afraid to pick up the phone either. In this situation, they really do often, want to be as helpful as possible.

Ann Rea - The California Painter

2008-03-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

Here at Women Take Wing! we celebrate each and every member's successes. They all bring a special energy and perspective to our community. Every few weeks we will bring Member Features out to our blog so that the rest of world can share in the richness of our community.

San Francisco-based artist Ann Rea, has a rapidly growing national artistic reputation, and the collectible status of her work is quickly rising. Standing in the afternoon light, Ann paints in the vineyards as they change with the seasons, creating truly authentic and timeless pieces that reflect the unique beauty of the wine country. Rea's work and inspiring personal story has been gaining increasing local and national exposure, most recently on The Fine Living Network and in Fortune and The Wine Enthusiast magazines.

When we posed a few questions to Ann about her journey as a woman entrepreneur, her answers prove that no ones journey is straight forward and encouragement and inspiration can come from a variety of places.

Q. What gave you the courage to take the leap into your own business?
A. "I worked with two women with stage four breast cancer not far from my age and I realized, if not now, then when?"

Q. Name one person who has inspired you, and how?
A. "There is certainly no single person who has inspired me, but Wayne Thiebaud's encouragement gave me a Teflon coating against criticism. As an artist you constantly confronted with the fact that everyone is a critic.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your business?
A. "Freedom to chart my own course."

Q. What is the most 'bothersome' part of your business? How do you get through it?
A. "Wearing all of the hats required to keep a business going. I get through it by delegating more and more and by staying organized.

Q. If you could start another business, what would it be?
A. "Real estate investing."

We encourage you to visit annrea.com. View exquisite wine country fine art prints, originals & accessories and learn more about this amazing artist who brings beauty to the world with each new work.

Website: http://www.annrea.com

Strengthening your brand.

2008-03-24T12:39:00.000-07:00

In the forums this month we have spent a lot of time thinking about our business brand, and the image we want to project. We've identified our business qualifiers, a few words which sum up our image and philosophy. Words like: innovative, distinctive, indulgent, luxurious, fresh, and romantic. These words may not even be in your tagline, but they are the very core essence of what you and your business are all about. You may sell a product, perhaps a bar of hand-crafted soap, but you also sell a feeling, maybe romance. When a customer buys that beautiful bar of fragrant soap, and you wrap it in pretty tissue and tuck it in a lovely bag, and send them out the door with a sincere "Thank you"....you are selling a lot more than a bar of soap! You need to identify those intangibles and work them!

However you may define success, be it big or small, building a strong brand is crucial to your success. Every decision you make for your business should be made with an eye to strengthening your brand. What you sell, how you sell it, where you sell it, how you promote it, present it, package it, embellish it or send it out your door, everything you do can strengthen or weaken your brand. With every decision you face, take the time to ask yourself if you are staying true to your brand. Keep those qualifiers close at hand. They'll be a great tool. Don't be afraid to say "No" if something doesn't feel right. Know yourself, know your brand, stay true to your image and your core values.

In A Word

2008-03-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

In the WTW forum we've been discussing branding and our identies a lot this week. So, for the general public, let me throw out this question:
Can you sum up your company in a single word? Or two? Or three? This isn't your tag line or your elevator speech, this is the intangible thing that makes what you offer unique. Give it some thought and let us know what you come up with!
~Steph

You'll Know When You Are Ready

2008-03-06T08:20:00.000-08:00

Many women who dream about opening their own business immediately come up with twenty five reasons it will not work. From a practical stand point, I encourage my clients to come up with at least fifty reasons an idea may not work and then problem solve through them. Take a proactive approach to all things negative so that nothing can surprise you. But for women still dreaming these mental road blocks are the first tests to your entrepreneurial spirit. How you respond to the test may tell you whether or not you are ready to pursue your dream.

I remember the first phone call to my mother, a self employed business owner herself, telling her that I was making plans to open a retail shop. There was a long silence and then a litany of questions about my rationale, my mental and emotional well being (read: ARE YOU CRAZY?), my financial state of affairs (read: YOU’LL GO BROKE). Like a tennis match, she’d send it sharp and straight over the net and I’d lob it back to her. My mother was a no nonsense kind of woman, who had no desire to bail out- financially or otherwise- her youngest child after a foray into entrepreneurial retail. She didn’t pull a single punch or hold anything back. After forty five minutes, a definitive rise in blood pressure (on both sides), again, there was silence. “Well?” I asked. “It sounds like you’ve planned for as much as you can plan for, keep me posted.”

When you start to dream outside the box, even the most loving, well meaning people in your life will barrage you with all the reasons you should stop, turn on your heels and run, back to the safety and security of the known and familiar. When you are ready to really move forward, this type of reaction will not wound you, phase you, anger you or dissuade you. When you are ready, nothing will be able to hold you back any longer…you will soar.
~Steph

Putting Your Best Foot Forward Takes Focus

2008-03-04T05:10:00.000-08:00

Each week in our Member Forum we will be posting topics or questions or "thinkables" for our members to help them move forward in their marketing and growth strategies. For those readers who have not yet joined us, we thought we'd share some of those tidbits here on the blog.

Quick! In twenty seconds or less, what does your business do? Why is your business different than the one down the road offering similar services or products? The 'elevator' speech as it is sometimes known is crucial. Sometimes when you are networking or even when you are out and about and do not even intend to be networking (you know, in the grocery store in sweats) a perfect opportunity to toot your own horn will emerge. Are you ready? If you have your 'elevator' speech memorized, have you heard it with fresh ears lately? Be critical of it, has your business changed? Does it continue to reflect your mission? Are you saying ENOUGH about your business or are you being too vague?

Today, if you don't have a short, at the ready "schpeel" than work on one. Define your business in a few short sentences. Keep it focused, unique and by all means, as fabulous as your business.
~Steph

How Do You Begin?

2008-02-25T19:37:00.000-08:00

Are you still dreaming of owning your own business? Every member of Women Take Wing! and it’s staff know how you feel. We’ve walked in your shoes, spending long nights tossing and turning, dreaming, scheming and hoping for a sign. While membership is currently open only to those who operate licensed businesses, we want to offer you a place to find inspiration and encouragement. We invite you to read our weekly selection of articles and postings from our members, visit the links we think you’ll find helpful and know that when you are ready to take the leap, we are here to provide you with support and encouragement. May you soar.

How Do You Begin?
We are in an amazing time in our modern history. Women can have it all if they want it. Marriage, children, a career, full time motherhood athletics, politics, whatever it is, you have permission to go and get it. That isn’t a new revelation, we’ve come a long way, baby for a while now. No, what I am talking about is the newer phenomenon of finding out what makes us happy, finding our bliss. Today’s generation of women have more choice than any before when it comes to defining their roles, their paths, their indeliable mark on this world…which is great but it also comes with its own pressures.

For those women who spend quiet early mornings or lay awake in the wee hours with the far away whisper deep inside of them that says, “What if I could start my own business doing (fill in the blank)?” once that question comes to the surface, most find that it becomes a driving quest, more than a question. So how do you begin? Where do you start? Experts will tell you to read, research, create a business plan, talk to others in the field you are interested in, become an expert, get good financing in place, never use a credit card to fund a business, hire professionals…I could go on, really, the list is mind boggling. And that is all excellent, sage advice and in no way am I discounting it.

But for women especially, the question, where do I begin is so much more rudimentary. Often what they mean is, “Can I really do this?” “Am I crazy to think that I can make this work?” “How do I support myself?” “What will my family and friends say?” For all of our liberation, we still sometimes succumb to the box the society or culture has prescribed for us and to think, to dream, that there is life bigger and bolder outside of that box is often the biggest hurdle of them all.

When women ask me how did I begin my life as an entrepreneur, I never begin by telling them the steps that it took, or the planning involved. I begin by telling them that I listened to that voice deep inside me, honored it and knew that if I followed it, I would never regret it. Once a fledgling entrepreneur sees the world outside the box, there is no going back. Begin by honoring the dream and knowing that you are strong enough to make the journey.
~Steph

Happy Valentine's Day!

2008-02-14T08:48:00.001-08:00

May chocolate arrive at your door. May flowers adorn your steps. And may the housecleaning fairies come and do your laundry today!
~Steph

Stepping Back to Forge Ahead

2008-02-09T11:19:00.000-08:00

Here at Women Take Wing! we are like every other business out there working each day to deliver the best product for our customers. Sometimes, to achieve that goal, you need to step back temporarily from certain tasks to attend to others. As you've noticed, our blog has been untouched for a number of weeks but it's not because we've lost interest. We're working behind the scenes on other aspects of the business to bring new features, information and resources to our members and our readers. Thank you for your patience and we look forward to returning in the next week or so with informative, thoughtful and, hopefully, entertaining blogs...including all new Member Features!
~ Steph and Dori

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2008-01-16T07:21:00.000-08:00

As we watch the economic news it is hard not to worry just a bit about the times ahead. And yet, from our members we have indications that the forecast is not all dark clouds and rain. They are cautiously optimistic, prudent in their decisions and constantly thinking outside the box about their businesses to keep them vibrant. So, I ask you, what steps are you taking to forge ahead in uncertain times? What marketing plans for 2008 do you have in place? Has your 2008 growth projection changed? What goals do you have for the coming year and what keeps you accountable to those goals? How does your garden grow when the treat of foul weather looms in the horizon?

Women Take Wing! will be launching a series of blog topics and private forum discussions throughout the year that will assist our members in goal setting, marketing strategies, and media networking throughout the year. For those of you still dreaming of launching your own business, Women Take Wing! will be creating blog topics and offering resources for you as well. We encourage you to visit often, join us if you are not already a member and please, tell your friends.
With a little careful tending, 2008 will bring fresh blossoms to all of our gardens! We can't wait to see what grows!
~Steph

Hit The Ground Running?

2008-01-04T08:50:00.000-08:00

January is traditionally a time of resolutions and taking stock and I think that is a good practice for every woman who owns her own business. Stop, survey, BREATHE and assess and then make a plan. Each year I take a day in January off. I mean really really off. I don't turn on the computer, answer the phone (personal or business), cook, clean, run errands, make plans...nothing. Sometimes I don't even get out of my pajamas. This is the day I go through the piles of magazines, articles, stacks of ideas that accumulate over the year. I sift, sort, read, journal, jot notes, look through the twelve months of possibility that lay ahead, ponder the previous twelve months to see what worked and what didn't. I eat junk food and large quantities of milky, sugary tea and then I get out my new calendar and a yellow pad and plan. My goals and inspirations get taped to my calendar months. I use a Sharpe pen to block out sacred days off during the year. But most importantly I am processing my business, my life and what my real and true goals are for the year ahead. Do I want my business to grow? (Because the answer isn't always yes.) Or just be better and stronger at what it does now? Are there changes that need to happen? What worked well this year? What went wrong this year? Is there a pattern of activity or slow down that I haven't seen before? And don't forget to ask yourself the vital question of "do I still love my business?"
If you don't take time after a busy year end to stand back and gain perspective on the previous year, you fail to have a clear and focused picture for the year ahead. So make time and don't get distracted or pulled away from the task at hand. Your business depends on you and your vision so keep it strong and focused.
~Steph

A New Year Resolution

2007-12-29T21:42:00.000-08:00

Resolve to tend your business, your family, your friends and yourself each and every day this year. In twelve short months you will be richer in spirit and in wealth.

Happy New Year!

Women Take Wing! Inc.

Good Wishes To You This Holiday!

2007-12-22T20:44:00.001-08:00

From all of us at Women Take Wing! we send you glad tidings and blessings this holiday season. We will be enjoying time with our families and look forward to seeing you all in the New Year!
Be well,
Steph, Dori & Deb
Your Mod Squad

Seven Days and Counting...

2007-12-19T08:31:00.000-08:00

Fluff, fold, wrap, egg nog.
Greet, meet, reply, egg nog.
Shop, talk, gather, egg nog.
Phones, file, deliver, egg nog.
Bake, take, hugs, egg nog.
Candles, bath, soak, heck with egg nog!
Where's the wine?

Remember to breathe this week.
~Steph

Countdown to January: Wrapping Up

2007-12-11T19:16:00.000-08:00

What more can I say about heading into January? The books, the inventory, the reflection...ahhh, and now the planning. Take a few moments to dream about your business again. What are your goals, your resolutions, your big ideas? Jot them down and keep them where you can see them. I write my in the beginning of my calendar so they're always there. When I was in retail, I'd list a monthly goal on the top of each month (and then really tiny so only I could see, I'd put my sales goal too!) Whatever you do, be ahead of the curve. Whether you do all of these things now or late on December 31st before the ball drops in Times Square, don't put it off. This is your business and the details matter.
Carpi 365 Diem's!
~Steph

Countdown to January: Part 3

2007-12-05T08:04:00.001-08:00

Your inventory is prepped, your bookkeeping items are gathered and now is an ideal time to survey the landscape of 2007. Look back through your calendar or day planner or wherever it is you jot down notes and ponder the year. How did it go? What plans did you have that never got executed? Which marketing campaigns worked for you and which didn't? When you open the door to your shop or work space today try to see it as if you've never been there before. How can you make it better, more efficient or welcoming or fresh? And then write it down. If you are not a "planner" then brainstorm and jot stuff down or make a collage. If you are a hyper-planner, think about having a mini retreat (yes, I KNOW it's December, but even a few hours on a Sunday) and rewriting or reviewing your business plan. However you do it, just like when you do a budget, take everything out throw it in the middle of the room and take a long hard look at it. Be honest about it. Are there aspects of your business you don't really love? Or avoid? If so, address them or re-think them.

So many of us get the running of our businesses down to a science or just handle them moment to moment that we don't allow ourselves perspective. Take time to take in the view of all you have created and empower yourself to create something even better for 2008.
~Steph

Countdown to January: Part 2

2007-11-29T09:02:00.001-08:00

Now that you've all located and accounted for those inventory items tucked into the nooks and crannies of storage areas (be they stock rooms or laundry rooms), let's move on to the dreaded math portion of our tidy up. I hear you all groaning, but TRUST ME, this won't be painful. If you are a avoider of all things bookkeeping (and you know who you are) just do one simple task. Take a page from Martha (mis en place) and assemble it all in one place. Grab a pretty basket, or in some cases laundry basket, and as you go through your day, put all of the bookkeeping items in one place. I'd really love to encourage you to file them, but I won't push my luck! Bank statement, credit card statements, invoices, receipts and paid bills (and remember to pay the bill before you bury it in the basket! LOL!) At least when you do get ready to roll up your sleeves and tackle this project, everything is centrally located. One last suggestion...in quiet moments (oh, stop laughing, they happen!) grab your basket and begin to organize further, maybe file or enter in to the software a few things each day. Make an overwhelming task more manageable by breaking it down into small pieces over a longer period of time. And if you are part of the lucky few that hire a bookkeeper, I know they will appreciate that everything is organized and ready to go.

Countdown to January: Part 1

2007-11-27T07:09:00.000-08:00

Every few days I will post a helpful hint to help us all get ready for January...a month traditionally used for business year end clean up, re-evaluation and planning for the year to come.

Most every business will experience a rush to madness in a few weeks' time. No, not December 24th shoppers in search of the lovely last minute gift...but the mad dash to the January 31st deadlines for 1099's, W-2's, K-1's, 1096's along with the standard payroll filings and year end book balancing. However, one simple and yet, sometimes overwhelming chore, usually gets done first, even before the New Year's glasses are put away. I-N-V-E-N-T-O-R-Y. When I worked right out of high school in corporate retail, missing any of the three nights dedicated to this task were grounds for immediate dismissal without a note from the head of cardiac surgery, delivered in person with gloves and masks still donned...preferably still smudged with your blood. It's a necessary evil in retail.

Save yourself some time now by taking just a few moments each day to clean out those back shelves -or if you are like I was in my retail business -the attic of your house, the garage and basement too! You know you have cost of goods items stashed anywhere they will fit. So, assemble them NOW. I used to keep the Easter/Summer stuff in the attic by Fall and got into the habit of creating inventory sheets and taped them to the tops before they went up. Then, in January, I'd just collect them. Even if you have a POS system, a hand reconciliation really should be done. An added bonus for your work may be that you uncover that one fabulous item that someone will take home and wrap up on Christmas Eve!
~ Steph

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-21T17:02:00.000-08:00

May your turkey be moist,
the gravy without lumps
May the men do the dishes,
and heck, the cooking too!
Laugh loud, laugh long
and hold those you love close.
And no matter where you are
or what you eat or with whom,
Know that all of us here say
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
~ Steph

Black Friday? Don't You Mean Holiday Cheer?

2007-11-20T20:45:00.000-08:00

So, if I know many of our members well enough, I suspect that along with cleaning the house from stem to stern, baking pies and changing linens on the guest room beds, they are also, many of them, still at their shops tonight and tomorrow, stocking, fluffing, dusting and marking product. But I've never understood why we hang on to the phrase Black Friday. Yes, yes, I'm a bookkeeper and don't need a lesson in the financial terminology. But for the larger corporate structure to have hung a phrase like that on what should be the beginning of a festive season is precisely why so many of us have challenged the conventional wisdom and hung out our shingles. We love our businesses like our own children and while we work hard (darn hard!) to make a profit, we don't sacrifice so much merely for the bottom line...but because we LOVE what we do. So, as CNN and MSNBC wax on about retailer's projections, Friday morning when you tuck into your shops and greet the first customers, remember to stand back for just a moment, survey the landscape that is your passion and remind yourself, YOU are the Queen of this castle, that was built on love and a dream. I wish you all a good first day of the holiday season!
~Steph

Mentors

2007-11-14T17:26:00.000-08:00

Someone asked me today, "who was your best mentor?" I paused and considered all the amazing people in my life, past and present...professors, teachers, colleagues and bosses, friends, Soroptimists...the list could potentially get pretty long. (What can I say, I'm blessed!) But then, it came to me, a simple thought, an obvious thought...the woman who trained me first - and were she still here I'm convinced she'd say "and trained me right" - my mom. She was a woman with no formal education beyond high school and yet she worked her way up the ladder to be part owner of an insurance company all while raising a family. From typing to filing to customer service to work ethics and family values, she was my first and most powerful mentor.
While this, I'm sure to some seem to be a Hallmark posting, the point I make is that mentors need not be big and bold, fancy or educated. Anyone who inspires you to be better each day, to stretch yourself or your business or is able - knowingly or not - to teach you something, can be considered a mentor. Look around your world today and identify those people who mentor you...and while you're at it, turn around and sneak a peek at the person who looks to you for their inspiration too.
~ Steph

Salute Those Who Serve

2007-11-11T21:15:00.000-08:00

On the north end of the island where I live is perched one of the nations busy air naval stations. Last week, sadly, one of the young men who answered the call to serve, was killed in Iraq. He leaves behind a young child and a wife. While we all appreciate a day off, if we are lucky enough to get one, or the added discounts retailers seem happy to provide, take a moment to thank those who serve today, who have served in the past and especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
~ Steph