The Boho Chick - Designer at Pretty Charmed

Brand Yourself, Your Products & Your Business

2012-03-29T17:29:00.001-04:00

Okay, you have decided to take your idea or hobby and make it into a business that will make you some money. Now what? You have an idea (unique website or shop that caters to a specific clientele) or your hobby (sewing, jewelery, soap making or one of dozens more) and find a way to make money doing it. How do you start? Where do you start? I think one of the FIRST things (before a business plan, before stock or inventory) is to decide on your branding. No matter how good your idea or craft is, branding is what will sell your business. Every successful small business has their branding, packaging, logos, etc. unified and ready to go. It can change and evolve (just a bit) but it should start out very close to the image you want your company (even if "your company" is operated from your kitchen table or your living room sofa) to project to the world and all your friends. So what do you do? Where do you start? Well, I have a few ideas I want to pass along to you.

Matilda Jane

I have dabbled in several slightly for profit craft businesses. Gift baskets, jewelery, coffee, and most recently bath & body. The one thing that has always stayed the same is my product presentation...my packaging was so similar throughout all these businesses and I didn't even realize it. Why? Because I have my own individual and creative style. I gravitate to certain colors and certain themes. Probably you do too? Mid-century modern, shabby chic, rustic natural, retro groovy, industrial chic, bohemian gypsy, Paris modern and the list can go on. Look around you. What style are your clothes? What style are your furnishings and accessories? No matter what your style is you can create a branding package for your business that will make it stand out among the competition and help your business become successful (i.e. making money, lol) and win you new and repeat customers, the life blood of a good business. People often buy products because the branding appeals to them (they have the same taste as you) but they will only return if your product is really good and does whatever you say it will do. So, where do you start? That will be the subject of my next article...specific ways to build your brand. Keep making products or researching your idea and tomorrow we will start going over questions to help you narrow down your style and figure out what your FIRST direction will be. Yes, I said first. I will give you the info you need to start your branding, and you will have homework!!

How Pinterest has influenced me....

2012-03-26T11:11:00.003-04:00

Well. Another thing I have discovered about myself is what color palettes I really like (through pinterest.) Not what I THOUGHT I liked, but what I REALLY like. For years I have bought things in the palettes that I thought I liked. Never knew why I was always slightly dissatisfied....I know, weird, right? But now I really know. I don't like too many colors mixed together...I don't like lots of brights. (Hippie colors.) I also don't like all white rooms and decor and heavy vintage florals. (Shabby chic.) Period. I do, however, like creams, tans, and greys. Mixed with natural materials like brick, wood and metals. And of course, brown and black. Then throw in some muted dusty jewel tones (sparingly) and some vintage french and advertising posters and you have found my colors!! But I do like battenburg lace, linen ruffles and lots of ribbon. Whitewashed wood. And any color of sea glass, especially aqua and lavender.

Fall video of our ride down the Pisgah Mountain

2011-12-14T08:56:00.002-05:00

Here is a really cool video I took from the back of our motorcycle down the Pisgah Mountain during our fall leaf change. It almost feels like you are riding too....I just love it! It's long and a little grainy because of course my camera battery went dead so I had to use my phone. But it is priceless anyway....

Me and You and a Dog Named Boo

2011-11-08T10:24:00.006-05:00

Well, sad news. Still breaking my heart....but it hasn't been a week yet. It will be a week tomorrow at 7am that my little dog (my boy) was killed by a car. Within steps of the house...this was a heart breaking soul wrenching loss. He was beautiful, a perfect Chihuahua specimen, and he knew it. Disliked everybody except his family...his Daddy, Tony....his Mommy, me....his sissy, Caity...and his bestest buds of all...Binx (my Shiz Shu, inside with him and slept in the same crate every single night) Hank (my part wolf) and Sophia (my part Doberman.) We were a good family that took care of each other and loved each other without boundaries. We all miss him. We were lucky to have been graced with his sweet funny independent personality and we will carry him with us forever. I mean FOREVER. I cried so hard I couldn't work that day...I am a switchboard operator (part time) and almost completely lost my voice. It's still a little raspy...and his Daddy was just as bad. To say we are heart broken is a complete understatement. It feels worse than that...so here a few pictures so you can see how magnificent he was...you will love him too!

My Fall Etsy Treasury

2011-10-18T22:55:00.004-04:00

Look at my collection of boho items for the fall. I just love all these things...they are different and the colors are soothing and inspiring. I wish I could buy all of the them! Hop on over to Etsy and look for the things you want....handmade crafts and lots of artsy pieces. Best prices around, too...and no bidding like on eBay. Just find it and buy it. It's like a playground for adults....have fun!

I wanna....from Anthropologie

2011-10-17T20:22:00.001-04:00

Anthropologie just has some of the coolest, just can't get ANYWHERE else stuff. And it's the little things that count...and I can look at their website for great ideas any time of the year. It's like a boho take on Better Homes and Gardens. They are always an inspiration and I guarantee you will find an idea that will spark another one in you.

This little journal is just a must have for me. It would make a great gift (hint hint) and certainly is in the price range of a gift. Better than a $20 bill or gift card. Check it out and add it to your Christmas gift list for somebody special...they will be in awe of your great shopping skills and thoughtful intent.

This is on the Anthropologie website and it's called "Write Everyday Agenda" and here is the description:

DETAILS
A little family of birds told us you could use a hand staying organized. Full of checklists, address pages and myriad pages for jotting, this comprehensive pocket notebook keeps you thoroughly prepared instead of living on a wing. Paper, cardstock, elastic - 5.75"H, 4.5"W - 192 pages and the price is $18. I recommend doing an internet search for "anthropologie code" and see if you can find a discount code. I almost always find one for everything I order online. Sweet book, sweet price making you a sweet friend!

Riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway

2011-10-16T19:41:00.002-04:00

It was a beautiful day here in North Carolina! We rode the Harley up Pisgah Mountain and over to the Blue Ridge Parkway. We took some subs from Subway and had a picnic at the top of the mountain on a grassy knoll. There were sooooo many people there. I know who would have thought, right? People coming from all over the nation to see the trees changing colors....but almost none of them got to see what we saw. We went up Highway 151 which is a curvy mountain road that leads right on to the Parkway but the views are spectacular. On the Parkway you can see clear views of the mountains for miles and miles, but on this highway you can almost touch the leaves as you ride by. They even form a canopy over your head, like you are riding in a tunnel. We were lucky enough to have such a beautiful day fall on a Sunday when we were off from work and could go. That doesn't always happen....sometimes it rains off all the leaves and blows off all the leaves before we have a free day. Here are a few pictures, I have more that I haven't downloaded yet, I'll get them tomorrow. These were shot with my LG Ally Android and they are pretty dumb good. Hopefully the ones taken with my Casio digital will be even better!

And the handsome man in the pictures is my darling husband, Tony. You can see my helmet on the back of the bike with the roses on it. We had fun and I hope we get to go again before winter. As always, Asheville is a fun place to be!

Taste of Fall Pumpkin Bread

2011-10-15T16:57:00.012-04:00

Well, here it is. This is the pumpkin bread recipe that I always make and is loved by one and all. I make so much of this in the fall I usally don't make it again until the next fall! This recipe is perfect. It actually halves well too, so you can make just one loaf. (One loaf you use two eggs, everything else just half.) But it takes as much time and power to make two.....so, I have a good excuse, right? And if you can't eat it all you can give it away. I'm sure and elderly or shut in person around you would love it. Heck, even an overworked mother! Look everywhere....you will not find a better, easier and yummier recipe!

Some like to add chocolate chips. That is always easy...and a cup or so. Some like to add nuts....pecans or walnuts. About a cup also. Any dried fruit, coconut and other additives can be added for variety. But after you do, I think you will find the plain simple recipe as it is will be your favorite! I also have a wonderful Cranberry Bread that you will also love. That recipe will be posted very soon, be sure to subscribe to my blog and you will know as soon as it is posted.

Tip: Save some of the icing to use on individual slices. You can store it in a bowl in the fridge and when you want a slice of bread just pop it in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds and then put a dab of icing on top. Another tip: you can use half the batter to make into 12 muffins! Then you can take those to work....shhhhh, don't tell anybody or they will be gone, lol! And....they will be done in 30 or 35 minutes so you get to eat them quicker....they usally go too fast to get to save any, though!

Pumpkin Bread, 2 loaves

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

3 cups sugar

3 eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves

1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

1 (16 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs; mix well. Combine dry ingredients; stir into creamed mixture just until moistened. Stir in pumpkin. Pour into two greased 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until bread tests done.

Cream Cheese Icing

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar. Store in the refrigerator after use. Makes about 3 cups of icing, enough for two loaves and then some.

Enjoy and remember....pumpkin is good for you so a slice is okay, right?

Amazingly Easy Pumpkin Pancakes

2011-10-14T23:06:00.006-04:00

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year simply because pumpkin pancakes are in all the restaurants. So yummy and so different and such a treat to really make it feel like fall. Well, at home I ALWAYS make my pancakes with Bisquick. No boxed mix can come close....my electric griddle (which doesn't even need grease) and a plate full of pancakes appear in record time. This is the easiest and BEST recipe....better I think than the completely from scratch ones. Another tip: I always use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to make them all uniform and to they cook at the same rate. Plus, they look so pretty stacked on the plate. Go ahead, try them. You know you want to! You can use the excuse it's fall. Be sure to make someone special either the "Mickey Mouse" or the "Teddy Bear" by adding a couple of spoons of batter to make some ears. Even my teen daughter just loved that special touch!

Here's the recipe for about six servings:

2 1/3 cups Original Bisquick mix

1/3 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

1 1/4 cups milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

2 eggs, slightly beaten

Heat griddle or skillet over medium heat or to 375°F. Grease griddle with vegetable oil if necessary. In medium bowl, stir all pancake ingredients until well blended. For each pancake, pour slightly less than 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle. Tip: Batter will be thick, just spread slightly with the back of the measuring cup. If you thin the batter they lose some of their flavor. Also, if you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, you can use 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon each of ground nutmeg and ground ginger instead.

Serve with warm maple syrup and a few pecans or just a dallop of whipped cream (may save some carbs if you use the sugar free) and that's good too. Make these for a Saturday morning and you can work them off raking leaves or going for a walk to see all the beautiful fall colors! Great fall treat that will make you look forward to the season every year. You can also save the leftover pancakes for a quick breakfast next week, just store in a covered dish in the refrigerator and heat just until warm (don't overheat, they will get tough) in the microwave. Will keep for about a week in the refrigerator. Yum!

P.S. Save the rest of the can of pumpkin to make some pumpkin bread to take to work next week. Recipe coming tomorrow!

Handmade Samsung Galaxy Tab Case

2011-10-13T11:32:00.005-04:00

I made a sweet little case for my new Samsung Galaxy Tab which I got for $90. I bought a refurbished one off the Verizon website for $129 and found a coupon online (RetailMeNot) for $39 and it worked! WooHoo!! I am so loving it....but it needed a case. Didn't like any I saw, plus some were pricey. Look what I made instead:

Made out of two sheets of felt, two layers front and back. Then more bits for the owl, some 6 strand embroidery thread and the good old blanket stitch. I put a piece of cardboard between the back layers to make it a little more sturdy. I really love it, it fits perfectly and doesn't slide out. I plan on making a Christmas one next! Total cost: about $1. Really, ain't that just cool?

P.S. This could easily fit a Kindle or Nook Color. Probably most eReaders....they are all about the same size. And any 7" tablet.

First post on this blog!

2011-08-01T10:54:00.001-04:00

I am excited to start a new blog. I have lots of ideas....just stay tuned and see what I come up with!