Okinokiyo ♥ Life of a hats maker ♥

Spam and Im sorry

2012-01-16T19:59:00.003+08:00

I woke up this morning and saw I got DMs on my business & personal twitter accounts. I was so curious to see this message and made me click the link.

Come on, when you have a business, all you want to do is to have a good reputation. I believe in word of mouth marketing, so when I got this message, I, without searching, click.

And yes, it was spam! Argh! In few minutes, the spam, auto spamming my followers and I got few notifications and messages from my followers whether I have sent them DM or not. I was driving that time and the notification alert really disturbing because I know I already spamming others.

So, what you should do, when you got a DM or read a timeline with a suspicious link, DO NOT click. Just ignore and notify the person about the spam and she can change her password after that. That was what I did after I know I already spam others :S

Thank you for those who informed me this morning!! Really appreciate that.

Gonna work a lil bit and pop here more often! Till then, xoxo

Welcoming the 2012

2011-12-31T22:11:00.008+08:00

Tomorrow comes the new year, so here are the goals for Okinokiyo.

1. No boundaries
2. To grow
3. Better service
4. Hats only and only hats, no other than hats, for the 2012 at least.
5. Donate with arts and crafts

I am happy with my 2011, a lot of things I learnt/experienced which I ended up as a career woman and now juggling time as last 2 years. This, has been elaborated in previous posts..

Anyways, we (my husband and I) figured out the solution for late postage, time scheduling and hope the arrangement goes as planned.

2011 made me go public, as I planned/wished - The Sun, Wanita Hari Ini, Crafty Market and yesterday, the editor of Womens' Weekly Malaysia said, my hats were featured there! Only that, until now, I couldnt find the magazine in any news stand around my house. She emailed me the soft copy though..

Its a page of A-Z survival guides for parents. BUUUUUUUT, there is a typo at OKINOKIYO, it is stated there OkinokOyo. Oh Em Gee :p

Anyhow, I already highlighted this and hope if they couldnt find okinokoyo, they will try to google the name, and yeah, Okinokiyo will come out. :D I am so happpy actually because, you know why, I am a WW collector! I never miss a month of it and when the editor contacted me, I was over the moon :D And indeed, her email is a very happy news for me to start my 2012 :). *Thank you Rina, I feel like to hug you now, its a dream comes true*

I just hope that all the mission and goal is achieved and if not, what is learned along the way, will make me more experience in this line - business and kids fashion.

I have a new fabric suppliers and guess what, I am coming out with new label for it. What I mean here, is, my current woven label, the pink font label almost finish and I just realized and now is so clumsy to draft a new one! Im coming out with the new label with a new look but still the same brand name :D

New fabric suppliers, new label, what else?

Err, I dont think its challenging to reveal all of it here. Follow this blog, my FB page and you will know and you will see, what Im coming out with this new year.

Happy New Year to all my readers. I truly LOVE you all.

Books

2011-12-29T21:47:00.004+08:00

I started my 2012 with these 2 books. How about you?

The craft book is a boost actually for me as I already know the tips and tricks but sometimes I think, I need a book just to remind me...So yeah, bought that book in Kinokuniya. Actually my husband bought it for me. :D

Dale Carnegie's book, well, see if I can use that book in marketing my hats, nope actually thats for me to read if Im lacking in public speaking, coz I need to chair few meetings next year (work-wise) and I can count how many times I chair a meeting *butterfly in the stomach*..

And since today is last working day in 2011, I wish you all for the best year ahead, work hard and good luck!!

Instagram marketing

2011-12-27T23:31:00.005+08:00

I registered Instagram long long long time ago, but 5 months back, I realized that Im already an Insta-addict.

First I only upload my day to day photos, then I was thinking why not upload my hats. Then I learnt to use the # tags and how to enjoy others photos. It is fun actually because for me Instagram is for people who wanted to show their interest in what they see, they do and they like.

I am amazed on how some people can creatively edit their photos because people like me, spend like few minutes admiring them and reading comments.

So I decided to make hashtag for Okinokiyo so that I will have the virtual directory to view my hats. FYI I snapped the photos usually right after I sew them. And edit the lighting and exposure so that the color is almost match the real color using Snapseed. I was lucky becoz I bought that snapseed for free! And now is at USD4.99.

And after that, I realized that some of my customers are the one who view the hats from Instagram itself and some of the existing customers snap their kids photos and publish them in Instagram. You guys should know how happy I am actually seeing them wearing Okinokiyo hats!

Ok now, guess what Im doing? Till the next post :D These are part of my 2012 to-do list ;)

Happy Wednesday!

What's next?

2011-12-26T23:42:00.004+08:00

Sometimes I just think that I need my husband to help me organize myself. :p

2012 is coming. We look back what have we done in 2011, what to improve and what to be done in the coming year. Since I have started working, I need to add in my commitment to work into my plan, and since my husband still in his current company he can help me a LOT because he got the time that I don't have.

I am a bit haywire, postage is late, and cant accept all orders unlike last time. We figure out the solution just now when discussing with the 2012 plan.

You can do it too, not necessarily you have a business to run, but in your daily life too. Start as simple as this:

List all 5 must do in 2012
List all 5 not going to do in 2012
List all 5 maybe doing in 2012

Then you elaborate and go deep into the topic. If you have more than 5, then list them all. Then do the timeline on when you want to achieve them, by dividing them into 4 quarter of the year.

Some people said, no need to do any resolution since you will not follow it, but for me, I always do it, and then I look back, what have I done, because I want to make sure I will spend a worth one whole year, not by doing nothing :)

Im going to list down mine by new year eve :)

Happy Tuesday to all!

Communication

2011-12-25T12:19:00.002+08:00

Oh no! When was the last update??
Let me take this short time I have to write something.

I found out that if you dont ask, you dont get the answer. And no question is a dumb question. Its dumb when you not asking and pretend to know.

I met an uncle who is a successful entrepreneur - with his own label & product few weeks back. My husband was the one who asked him questions on how to grow. He shared it with us. With his layman words. Until now, the advise is right in my mind and me waiting time, to make it happen.

In crafty, I met another seller - Jenny who shares tips and tricks selling things on Etsy.

In work, I met my boss, who is younger than me, lady and a malay who I think the most intelligent person I met in my whole life working in the corporate world. She shares anything she knows with me and I am so amazed until now, how can she absorb so many information and if the calculation time is right, I am working longer than her.

Answer to all those above on how they get the answers is : experience & answer questions & dig the information.

Im going to share with you later, when I have the time all the information - craft-business-sales related when I got the time, ok? I practice some of them and most of them are totally new information for myself.

****

To you who are celebrating Xmas, Merry Christmas! Wish you to have a happy celebration with your loved ones and happy new year to all of you!

Saturday - The final Crafty Market in 2011

2011-12-15T06:57:00.003+08:00

What to expect on Saturday?
Hats in variety colors, especially Rorry hat.

Im making a lot of choices, for girls and boys, in terms of colors and sizes. Hopefully I can cater for every one, insyaAllah.

The new product, MasyaAllah, I am so frustrated, half of it, fail my QC. But nevermind, I'll see if I can still make it. And I maybe a little bit late on Saturday, so I will be staying until 7 or after Maghrib, to cover my time. So if any of you want to come late, you may, but I cant guarantee that the choice of hats are still there yeah?

And Batu Seremban will be there too! Im making around 8-10 sets. So grab it fast. Flat RM5, all going to Rumah Aman.

So, plan your time, allocate the budget ;) and see you there!!

Place : JayaOne, PJ
When : 17 December 2011
Time : 10am-6pm (I will stay until Maghrib)
Booth Number : 1

Please click to enlarge

You know that I am working now, so this is the only time I can make to meet customers, and the only time you can buy the hats without the waiting period and you got to test them all....

Do come... :) See you there.!!

Drive

2011-12-12T10:53:00.005+08:00

I actually enjoy my working life so much only that the morning part is a bit sleepy and slow. But after that, life feels so fast and energetic.

The colleagues I have now have this drive that Ive been looking for for quite sometime. The drive to move forward, achieve success and always hungry to learn something new and more than what they have. I love that kind of spirit actually.

I sadly, found this kind of spirit only in few people in the business lines. Sadly, more of them are taking things for granted. Maybe because business is only for fun, and not for passion and life. I, am the type that always looking forward, what have I achieved by the end of the day. I have only few hours of making things. If I can blog, FB (business-wise chat), exchange info, sew, cut apart from doing the house chores, that is A BIG achievement.

Don't you think that it is a must for us to achieve something to move forward, and by that, you have to do something at least?

I am really happy to be part of the company because I need that energy to move forward. I did few mini steps by un-following the negative energy from my twitter. Im sorry, but I just have to :)

Happy Monday to you all! Yes, Im on public holidays, but the business routines is as usual :)

Bubblegums

2011-12-08T12:25:00.001+08:00

Dont you think the colors here like candy/bubblegums?

{Blogging from my phone}

2011-12-07T09:33:00.001+08:00

I did this last nite

And many more actually.... So are you coming to the final Crafty Market??

{Blogging from my phone}

New colors la la lah...

2011-11-28T22:54:00.002+08:00

Yesterday, I managed to spend few hours buying new colors for Rorry hat. Yayy to me! All are new colors except the maroon one coz I have one like that in my stocks already and actually the the color is a bit darker.

They have pink in stock but the material is almost suede so I already told them to get the quality that I want.

As of now, these are the new colors, I wont be stocking new colors until these are running low. I bought lots of meters of these already. So, dont ask me for "do you have new colors?" :p

Have nice Tuesday! :)

Ec Festival

2011-11-20T22:53:00.005+08:00

Phew, Im back at home, need to chiao a little bit earlier so that I can sleep early tonite for tomorrow. If only la, I do it full time, will stay till late coz Yuna & Hujan performing :p. Feel bad leaving Tini alone there...

Happy kiddo 1

Happy kiddo 2

Hot booth!

So far, it was fun, Nasya was having fun. Alhamdulillah not much damage done to the pocket. I was eyeing for Zara blazer, the front seller sell, but I was thinking, laterlah, until it rains :S.

Anyways, thanks to those coming, meet me next at Crafty Market, 17 December 2011!! The final bazaar of 2011 with new product coming in!

Everything is a cost

2011-11-17T12:26:00.002+08:00

When doing a business as a part time, you tend to splurge almost every extra penny you have on the business. But when you own a business and solely use the business as an income, this is when every cents counts.

Those who agrees with the statement above I believe is people who knows business inside out, i might say.

When I was workign last time, I didnt do much tracking on how much I spent for this month for fabrics. But when I SIT on the business itself, I know I must do budgets. You dont want to overbudget buying fabric, buying unnecessary things... because at the end of the day, you want your accounts to balance.

Imagine, you have 200, to spend in a month for a business, if the business card itself cost 100, another 100 to buy stocks, promote, to pay domain name, do you think it is enough? So, balance is important.

Now as Im back at work, I almost went to my previous ME. I am now a contract staff. I dont get parking. So I have to park at the open parking. First day I come to work, I paid RM3 for the parking when I noticed that, it only up to 4.30pm. I went back at 6, felt so lega that the Majlis Bandaran didnt tow my car. 2nd day, I paid RM3.50 and its up to 6pm. 3rd day I thought of, ahh, I just paid for the monthly pass lah! Then it hit my mind, why, the other ppl, wanted to queue to that machine, not choosing the monthly parking pass?

Then I do the calculation. The parking paying system starts at 9-5 pm, weekdays only. The monthly parking cost RM60 per month. Divided by 20 working days, average is RM3 per day. A day parking from 9-5pm cost RM3.30. You can see, that you save RM0.30 per day, times 20 days, is like RM6 days a month.

But you dont see, is how many working days you are working for that month. As for November, there are 2 days of public holidays. And as for the company I work with, we have the flexiblity of working from home. Since you can plan ahead, why do we need to pay RM60 for a month, when I can save RM1 a month. Yes, just a little only, but as I mentioned to my husband, you will not have a thousand if u less a ringgit. This morning when I was queueing, a lady told me that the machine didnt detect a 10sen, so there, lose some more.

So, every cents counts.

I do calculate cost for business card, promotion, rental of booth, cost of envelopes, manpower, electricity bill, glue, celephone tapes, phone calls that are business related. That are cost they you need to add, minus, times and divides when you run your business.

Tell me IM right!! :D

Adapting to a new life

2011-11-16T23:38:00.005+08:00

Now, I sleep early. That is my only ME time before it starts again at 6am next morning. But I am surprised that I am happy even though my connection is SO BAD in the office, I managed to live without my FB, twitter and blog for a while. Speaking of connection, I need to go to change to the new provider this weekend.

Anyways, the new job requires me to work long hours, but the portfolio Im having is so interesting that in between readings *the documentations and such* I have lots of ideas flowing in. Long hours but still balance, but you know when you have to deal with a I-cant-sleep kid at nite and I-am-sleepy kid in the morning, it really testing my patients. Last time we used to just carry her and let the nursery do everything, now, it is different. Yeah. God is testing us, managing time, business, personal things at one go.

Husband is really helping, when I have a teleconference late evening, he will rush pick up Nasya so that I can focus on my work. Alhamdulillah. Food is always ready at home. I made a home cooked food every Sunday and frozen it. So some of them will be pack for Nasya to her kindy, since she said, she still hungry and some of them for dinner and some of them is for me. Can you imagined how many I cook every Sunday? You cannot even imagine. Macam kenduri! From soups to asam pedas to masak kurma to sambal. Phew....

Business wise, I will come with a new products, complementing the hats, in December. Hopefully, all is well, running smoothly. Now Im still configuring, how, when, who, all are jumbling in my mind. Sometimes Im thinking of hiring a FB/Twitter admin just to help me tweet and update my FB status, and at the same time, helping me running to the post office to post orders since I go to office early and didnt use that post office route. See, things super micro like that, but really gives impact, big impact to this small business actually.

I've read some of the emails, really and some still unread. Forgive me ok? and I will make sure reading all of them, and reply them one by one. Sometimes, I feel like, and I know, Allah shows me this way, to lead me to another way, and to bring out my best to benefit others.

Now, lets sleep and dream where can I find that extra time??

AND.....

Dont forget, do come to the EC : Everyone Connects:

Sunday
2pm-10pm
PUBLIKA Solaris Dutamas

See you there!

Rumah Aman

2011-11-12T10:55:00.005+08:00

My husband asked me, why I choose Rumah Aman. Because I can read about it from the website. I mean, I know where your money goes. Even if it so little, but I know, I have a share there.

This is for Rumah Aman 2, where they are going to shelter 30 girls and 50 boys. You can read more here.

Thanks Kak Aziah, and I know, I know few more customers are waiting for their Batu Seremban :) . Thank you to you all out there too who place order and patiently waiting.

Yesterday and today

2011-11-10T21:38:00.001+08:00

Everyday is wearing mommy made clothing day... 😊

{Blogging from my phone}

Brand new day

2011-11-08T09:16:00.001+08:00

Today is a history. Im making a comeback to my career life where I need to work in the corporate world again, leaving my business life for a while.

Why? My husband's company has a problem where anytime he might not getting his monthly pay. So I sacrifice my comfortable seat and office at home, to work in this 9-5 job, for a while. Its a contract post and Im hoping that in the time being, he will get a better job.

I on the other side burst into tears when he first asked me IF i can go back. Who wants to work 9-5 and face the terrible traffic etc but when i sit down and think, I dont want to use all my profits and $ for business to pay all the household expenses. I will kill my own business, I cannot buy stocks, do R&D and working is a best solution.

Business, on the other side, is GOOD which I mentioned in ealier post "my schedule went haywire" because lots of orders coming in and I need to be fast in organizing things and time.

I love sewing so much, and I started to love the company Im working with. The enviroment is new, but the friends there is always in my heart. The company is actually my previous company, before we got outsourced..

Everybody is cooperating, Nasya is doing well at school, I got my freedom back, drive here and there with my car, but my time is so limited.

Today is the first day and Im hoping I will get the rhythm and still complete the orders within time. And surprisingly, I have lots of ideas this morning and now, and I cant wait to jot down and plan it.

Maybe what my husband said is right, I need to sit ON the business to think out of the box not IN the business to make it grow.

Wish me luck in this new chapter of life yeah?!

Xoxo

{Blogging from my phone}

Collage

2011-11-07T16:01:00.002+08:00

You know the day we went to Putrajaya, I took few photos of Nasya. And since I am an instagram addict, I did this collage when I was about to sleep.

She is into her Rorry hat that much and I cant say no...So you guys just have to bear with it. :)

Schooling

2011-11-05T10:01:00.002+08:00

Finally Nasya started her school on 1st November, and that makes me my schedule went haywire so as she.

See, her small eyes? Too sleepy from late sleep last nite but so excited to go to school. Since she started her school at the end of semester, teacher said no need to buy her uniform since they will change to new uniform by next year. So, yes, every day is "wearing mommy made clothes" day.

She stays until 6, and with nap at school, so I put her on long sleeve clothes to avoid her from cold and cough since the school is a fully air-conditioned school. Morning is skirts or dresses and afternoon is pants and shirt.

I dont know why I didnt take her picture on the first day, but I will start from next week then. :D

Happy holidays and Selamat Hari Raya Haji to all who celebrating.

Putrajaya

2011-11-02T10:34:00.001+08:00

You know Putrajaya has beautiful buildings? Im imagining of taking lots of photos of Nasya wearing hats there. InsyaAllah one fine day.Yesterday we were there to meet Mye.

To make sure Nasya was not bored, I asked her to get out of the car and I snapped few photos. Will definitely come back to have a proper photo shoot there.

That is Istana Kehakiman - Palace of Justice at the back.

Hat : Okinokiyo

Shirt : Mothercare

Pants : Okinokiyo

Crafty Market 10 and Rorry Hat

2011-10-31T10:06:00.004+08:00

Those who already followed me on Instagram and Twitter have already seen all these photos. Im now in love with this Rorry hat. Now Im thinking of some new styles to style this hat. But soon, I need to do some trial and error first and it involves of lots of waste ;p. We crafters love to waste (NOT!)

So that hat Nasya's wearing was meant for sale when she decided that she wanted that one. But it is actually my fav too!

That nite, I made another one and mix and match it with 2 different tone of browns. The inner is a brown toolbox fabric. Its not listed in the FB album as I forgot who is the designer. Will stock up more soon.

Still available tho. Size 1T.

This is from my husband's phone after I edited a bit. She was so into the hat heheh. Happy me!

I made her wear the pants made from the crossword puzzle fabric bought from Tini. Was meant to make a bag when I realized she got too many bags already. She loves the pants and when Im a bit free, I will snap total of that pants she has :p

About Crafty, I will only make an appearance during Crafty or any bazaar I joined. Why, coz my time other than that will be at home. If Im going for our weekly outing, I usually didnt bring the hats. So to those who really wants to touch and feel and try, please make your time during the bazaar. Doesnt mean you have to buy, you can custom when your size is not available there, but you will know how it looks like on your kids, which hats you like and etc. And usually you will get a discount when you buy at the bazaar (when you buy more like brooches/pins etc)

So, next bazaar will be on 17th December, Im coming out with new items. Please head over, to JayaOne again ok!!

Happy Monday to all of you!

Layout for Crafty Market this Saturday @JayaOne

2011-10-27T08:25:00.004+08:00

Morning!

Here are the layout for this coming Crafty. I, as usual will share a booth with Tini from SnazzynSuch. Lucky we got a table at the corner, which is next to the lift! So we can accommodate our rails and hopefully it is not raining!

Our booth is at number 14, and at the G/B1 floor. Hints & tips. Find 7E and Nandos. We are behind 7E & Nandos. If you're going to park at the first level of the basement you enter, just go thru the lift near the Surau, you can see all of us, the crafty people :D

This is one of the Rorry hats for Crafty Market. My personal favourite... :)

Oh yes, there will be Batu Seremban sets too! Come get it and the $ goes to charity. :)

See you there!

Personal sewing, own satisfaction

2011-10-26T10:29:00.005+08:00

Sometimes, when the order is a lot, I usually get tense. Tense if I couldn't make it to the dateline, not tense of not wanting to sew. So what I do is, I take a break and I sew something for myself, or for Nasya. It makes me relax and I can unwind, and then, work will start again..

This time around, I sew pillowcases for us. First I sew our pillowcases. Since I am famous with the "fabric is not enough" phrase, what I did is to mismatched it. Purposely actually.

Fabric is from Kamdar.

Then, somebody got jealous, so I sew one for her too. Actually Nasya already has lots of custom pillowcases I made for her. Fabric is from Ikea.

Picture says a thousand words eh?

My sister got married, and her husband's side was here in Putrajaya. I was down with bad flu, I decided not to sew for the two girls, but, when I was lying in sick, I felt awkward of not doing anything. So I asked Nasya to grab the fabric, and I start sewing, the simplest thing I can make fast is either an A line skirt or a ruffle pants.

But since the wedding was at nite, I sew ruffle pants. With aircond and whatnot, pants were the best. :) They matched it with a plain white shirt. The photos below was before the event, I put them in a casual shirt before they got dirty and wet in sweat.

Oh yes, I made them a lollipop clip as a hair accessories. Simple and sweet.

Thanks to my nephew, Syafiq for the photos. ;)

Crafty is back!

2011-10-25T08:00:00.002+08:00

Yes, it is this weekend! Are you ready??

I was busy last nite cutting some fabric, and all of them are Rorry hat. This time around, it will be lots of Rorry hat compared to other hats. But lots of dresses and skirts as well.

And, you will get it at best price for all the items I will be selling this Saturday. How to get the best price, best deal? Just drop a comment here, and share this entry in your facebook, twitter, blog post, you will stand a chance...

But they are only for the items that are selling that day. So, why wait, share! Sharing is caring and see you there!!!!

Under

2011-10-17T09:21:00.002+08:00

...the weather...

All of us, yes. Including me who is hardly sick, so when I got it, I got it BADDDly. So the kcwc is a bit delay. But still I managed to sew one dress for Nasya. A repeat pattern but experimenting an old school technique that I love so much - Tie & Dye.

Few hats to sew to sponsor Kak Zubye of EyesOfGrace and probably dresses to sew this coming Saturday for the 2 girls for my sister's wedding. Still contemplating. Im still on running nose mode.

:(