In the wee hours of the morning on March 17, 2009, a dream became a reality. I opened my store on Etsy.com, bespkecarddesigns.etsy.com!!!! There is a link to the store just above the slideshow.
My initial offerings have the central theme of the Adinkra symbol. These symbols originated from the Akan people of Ghana. The modern day use of the symbols reflects the philosophy, social values, religious beliefs and political history of the Akan people.
I used my computer, digitizing software, my embroidery machine and my hands to create these cards. I am very pleased with the final product.
What a whirlwind journey this has been but here I am...at the end of this journey and getting ready for the next...developing my business. I feel like the little train that could.
This could not have happened without God's grace and the support of family and friends. That is why the first card I posted was Gye Nyame, the symbol of the omnipotence, omnipresence and immortality of God.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Picking Up the Pace
Okay so construction is underway for the cards I plan to sell on Etsy! I went to the Board of Equalization on Wednesday and left with my Sellers Permit. It all seems so official now I will be responsible for taxes. I have written my bio for the store in the profile,you can read it online at, bespokecarddesigns.etsy.com. I also registered for my PayPal shopping cart. Next, calculating shipping and my store policies. It's a lot of items to check of the list but I want to do this right the first time. I'm excited that this plan is coming ot fruition.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Still Inspired
Where does the time go? I'm still working towards opening my online story at Etsy.com. I had planned to open the store with Valentine cards but, the creative juices were not flowing. Rather than force the issue I decided to relax, and, the ideas started to flow. The picture of the book "The Adinkra Dictionary: A Visual Primer on the Language of Adinkra" has a lot to do with the first cards that will on sale at bespokecarddesigns.etsy.com!!!
As a side note you never know who is looking at your blog. A business acquaintance of my brother had seen my blog and mentioned it to my sister-in-law, when she told him my brother was picking me up from the airport. He asked if it was his sister who made cards. Why is this worth mentioning? First of all I do not know this gentleman and secondly, all of this happened in London!!
As a side note you never know who is looking at your blog. A business acquaintance of my brother had seen my blog and mentioned it to my sister-in-law, when she told him my brother was picking me up from the airport. He asked if it was his sister who made cards. Why is this worth mentioning? First of all I do not know this gentleman and secondly, all of this happened in London!!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
One Theme , A Variety of Techniques
Where does the time go? I have been doing my best to stay on track. I have opened my business bank account, my new business cards are en route and my PO Box (business mailing address) is up and running. In the works are my Paypal business account and my Sellers Permit. Bespokecarddesigns.etsy.com draws closer!!!
I wanted to showcase a variety of my work on this blog. This week romance is the theme...more to the point weddings. Looking back through pictures of my cards I realised I have made a lot of wedding cards. I am a romantic so I welcome the opportunity to celebrate when a couple plans to say "I Do". My very first one was for my friends Ayanna and Wayne. They will be celebrating their 5th anniversary next month!
My most ambitious project was the Omowale wedding. Deborah and Olu thank you for entrusting me with the very important job of making your wedding invitations. Thank you for letting me guide with the colors. It was my first foray into working with a client in my studio. The only thing they knew for sure was they wanted to incorporate the adinkra symbol for "love never loses its way home". Each invitation and response card were individually cut by me. Lesson learned, in the future I will ask for help :-). I had the stamp made for them and ordered samples of envelopes, giving them choices. It was a lesson for me in time management, "what is my time worth" and what I am capable of. It was a labor of love. Deborah also asked me to cover the mini books they gave as favors. It was a strange thing receiving one of the invitations in the mail. The most important thing was the clients loved the end result.
In this week that we celebrated Thanksgiving I say thank you Lord for the gift of creativity. I also want to say thank you to my friends for not only appreciating my work but your willingness to buy it.
I wanted to showcase a variety of my work on this blog. This week romance is the theme...more to the point weddings. Looking back through pictures of my cards I realised I have made a lot of wedding cards. I am a romantic so I welcome the opportunity to celebrate when a couple plans to say "I Do". My very first one was for my friends Ayanna and Wayne. They will be celebrating their 5th anniversary next month!
My most ambitious project was the Omowale wedding. Deborah and Olu thank you for entrusting me with the very important job of making your wedding invitations. Thank you for letting me guide with the colors. It was my first foray into working with a client in my studio. The only thing they knew for sure was they wanted to incorporate the adinkra symbol for "love never loses its way home". Each invitation and response card were individually cut by me. Lesson learned, in the future I will ask for help :-). I had the stamp made for them and ordered samples of envelopes, giving them choices. It was a lesson for me in time management, "what is my time worth" and what I am capable of. It was a labor of love. Deborah also asked me to cover the mini books they gave as favors. It was a strange thing receiving one of the invitations in the mail. The most important thing was the clients loved the end result.
In this week that we celebrated Thanksgiving I say thank you Lord for the gift of creativity. I also want to say thank you to my friends for not only appreciating my work but your willingness to buy it.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
The Push I Needed...
Last night, November 14, I attended a 2 hour workshop " How to Start Your Own Crafty Business". The instructor was Nicole Vasbinder and it was held at the store, Stone Mountain, in Berkeley, CA.
It was just what I needed to start moving towards my dream of being a small business owner. This blog is a direct result of attending the class. I had already gone through the legal process for naming my business and have a studio to create my product. I plan to upgrade my business cards to reflect the the quality of my company.
Most exciting of all, I opened my storefront on Etsy.com, www.bespokecarddesigns.etsy.com. The store is empty right now...but not for long.
It was just what I needed to start moving towards my dream of being a small business owner. This blog is a direct result of attending the class. I had already gone through the legal process for naming my business and have a studio to create my product. I plan to upgrade my business cards to reflect the the quality of my company.
Most exciting of all, I opened my storefront on Etsy.com, www.bespokecarddesigns.etsy.com. The store is empty right now...but not for long.
The Creation of Bespoke Card Designs
About 5 years ago I went to a half day card making class with the women's ministry from my church. I made a few cards that day and was pleased with the results. However, I was even more surprised by people's response's to them. The instructor told me I had a gift. Prior to the class I had never used a rubber stamp, ink, paper and my imagination to create a piece of art.
Well, I caught the bug that day and became a card making fool. I went from no art supplies to a rolling cart, plus a couple more carts and now.... a studio. I discovered local craft supply stores beyond the chains and the world of rubber stamps online.
I have a talented brother who named my company and designed my logo, his company's website is www.faiththeagency.com. "Bespoke (pronounced bee-SPOHK) is a term used in the United Kingdom and elsewhere for an individually- or custom-made product or service. I hope the giver shares this with the recipient.
Well, I caught the bug that day and became a card making fool. I went from no art supplies to a rolling cart, plus a couple more carts and now.... a studio. I discovered local craft supply stores beyond the chains and the world of rubber stamps online.
I have a talented brother who named my company and designed my logo, his company's website is www.faiththeagency.com. "Bespoke (pronounced bee-SPOHK) is a term used in the United Kingdom and elsewhere for an individually- or custom-made product or service. I hope the giver shares this with the recipient.
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