A Business Plan for the Spreadsheet-o-phobic? Sign me up!

Writing a business plan? Ugh. I've started several variations. I've made notes. But in the end, it never gets written. Someone recommended the book the Right Brain Business Plan by Jennifer Lee a couple years ago. 

I bought it. Then it sat in my office collecting dust. Because it's really going to be helpful in there. Right? HA! I picked it up, dusted it off, and started reading it this week. I haven't gotten very far into it. I haven't even done any of the exercises. So I really can't give a recommendation-good or bad at this point. 

I hope I love it and it helps me to tackle that task which I've put off for about 6 years now. Because honestly, I'd rather make beads and/or jewelry than write about making stuff....it's kind of up there with doing taxes. 

My first thought after reading a few chapters is that you will not be able to walk into a bank asking for a loan, or a meeting with an accountant with a business plan that looks like a 3rd grader cut up magazines and pasted the pictures into a collage....but Lee mentions that she will cover that later in the book. I am looking forward to it. 

One of the things I've learned so far is this is NOT a one size fits all business plan. Some of the ideas for building the plan: An accordion style booklet

A mobile made with paper plates (while I have no idea what I will try, I guarantee it will NOT be a mobile...)

Even a leather cuff

While that might seem the most obvious direction for me to go, I'm pretty sure I won't make jewelry containing my business plan. 

There are many more ideas for how to build the business plan...a box, scrapbook, index cards on a ribbon, etc. I am not sure which method is for me yet. Maybe it will make more sense as I get further into the book. Maybe not. All I know is it's time to see the big picture in black and white.

Do you have a business plan? What helped you most in the process of writing it? Would you be interested in me sharing the process and if this particular book helped me? Leave a comment below. 

Lee has a website with a couple "free" downloads for the cost of your email address. You can find the link at the very top of the page.  

-Jen Cameron

Glass Addictions

Process - Flowers

I started making these flowers on my bent mandrels because 1) I can't throw them away, that would be wrong, and 2) I have lots of short rods of glass that I can't throw away either.  This solves both problems!

So on Friday, I decided to have a play day, and I made some more, but I added some dots of color to the petals and feel that they are waaaaaay cuter and more interesting with the dots.

Here's a closeup of one of the them.  When I took them out of the kiln, I took a photo and posted it on facebook.  I got a lot of "likes" for them, and one question about whether they were going to show up in my store.  I don't know if anyone would be interested in them, I may sell them on my blog, they will make great plant pokes, but it got me thinking.  What else could I make in this style?

Buttons...for use as clasps or just plain old buttons, or dangles, or whatever!  So I made one to see how it would turn out.  I kind of like it.  I'm not thrilled with it, it needs to be more sophisticated, but I do like the general idea.

Then I made a lentil-shaped bead as well.  I don't like this as much.  To me there's too much space at the top and bottom where the bead hole is.  Although if you were going to string it you would use another bead or a bead cap anyways, so maybe the space doesn't matter as much as I think it does... what do you think?  This one turned out a bit wonky anyways and don't like the dot placement - in fact, I would probably put a heart or a twisted flower in the middle of these beads instead of dots.  Or I'd wear my glasses under my didys *lampwork glasses* (if they fit) so I could see better and place the dots better!!!!

Hope you enjoyed the process!

Mismatched Monday: Citrus Surprise

I THOUGHT my mismatched mojo had finally returned but I'm not so sure...  These earrings caused me great frustration the other day.  They didn't turn out how I had envisioned and I'm not certain I'm 100% happy with them.  Are the balanced enough?  I like each earring on its own but I'm not sure I like them as a mismatched pair.

They do contain some fabulous art beads though.

Materials
Porcelain beads: Suburban Girl Studio LLC
Lampwork glass headpin: Genea Beads
Painted acrylic charm: MyElements By Yvonne
Crystals and brass findings: Fusion Beads

So my question is, would you change these?  If so, what would change about them?

Diana P.
Suburban Girl Studio LLC

Earring Challenge Reveal 4 (weeks 7-8/52)

Welcome back to another edition of show and tell from the AJE Earring Challenge Pinterest board from the last two weeks. Each person pinning their creations on the Pinterest board must use at least one quality handmade component in their earring design and state who made that component. While it is really difficult to pick just a few favorites from two whole weeks of earrings, here are the ones I decided to highlight:

Earrings by Kym Hunter using lampwork by Ellen Dooley.

Earrings by Janel Goolsby using her own polymer clay headpins.

Earrings by Silja Stoevring with etched, fire patinated, forged copper.

Earrings by Tari Kahrs, lampwork by Radiant mind, ceramic tubes by Scorched Earth.

Earrings and lampwork beads by Susan Kennedy, ceramic hearts by Marla James.

That's all the eye candy for this week! Keep creating those earrings. All pins added after the below button will be considered for reveal 5, happening March 17.

Show us the earrings you made using handmade art components the last two weeks by linking up below.

-Jen Cameron
Glass Addictions