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Posted on November 10, 2016 by Cari
Categories:
in THE CITY, in THE STUDIO
If you've kept track of us this year, you've probably noticed a huge change....
We closed our Etsy shop.
The shop had a wonderful run of seven years. I was blessed to have created stationery for a vast amount of brides (over 1600 Etsy clients, if I recall correctly?). I still can't believe that all of those brides selected my custom designs to grace their wedding day.
And to think it all started with a little Etsy shop of gift tags and notecards.
Here's the thing, though. In the world of small businesses, so much is constantly moving & evolving. For me, there were two factors in the decision to close our Etsy shop. This year brought on a few business "epiphanies" and led me to create a plan to change our overall business model by year's end (more on that in a blog post next week). The second factor had to do with many changes on the Etsy platform, and I felt it simply did not fit this little business' needs any longer.
With that said, we are anticipating a "new and improved" online shopping experience to launch this month. Good heavens, I'm super antsy and excited to share it with you!! I've been working on it for quite some time now, with many long nights and tons of research put into it. The shop's offerings will be expanded and the shopping experience itself will be simplified - something I feel is integral in growing this business.
(There's also a brick-and-mortar location in the works, so you can soon browse all of the goodies in-person!)
Here's the biggest kicker of this new year to come...
I'm also going to scale back on the custom work for a while. Don't get me wrong...I absolutely LOVE creating custom pieces for wedding clients. It's what drives me and inspires me to keep my creativity on point. I always feel so honored to help clients personalize their day with my custom designs.
But I'm going to be honest with you - this season of life has been the hardest for me yet. Time, parenthood, responsibilities, and life in general haven't yielded me the most ideal work environment to offer unlimited edits & extravagant products in a timely or efficient manner. It's time to scale back, reevaluate processes, and take a small breather.
Don't count me out of the wedding stationery game, though. I'll still be carrying a few stationery albums (some of my signature designs + other wedding lines), through which you'll be able to browse & select paperie that's just as pretty & perfect for your big day.
Stay tuned for our new shop unveiling...
We hope you'll stick around, as I'll be unveiling the new shop structure VERY soon! With the holidays coming up, I think you're going to love what you see. It will be worth the wait, even if it's just a few more days! =)
Best,
Posted on April 6, 2015 by Cari
Categories:
in MOTHERHOOD, in THE CITY
After the birth of our daughter on New Year's Day, along with my surgery in Februrary, we've pretty much been on a self-imposed quarantine for the last 3 months. With the risk of the flu (and now measles?! What the heck? Vaccinate your children, please.)...we didn't want to take any chances. It probably goes without saying that we've been getting a TAD restless.
Thanks to Spring's timely arrival, we are finally ready to bust out of this joint for a weekly outing or two. In addition to our usual spots (local libraries, parks, and the Hendricks County YMCA, I've been keeping a growing list of "to do" items, mainly places to visit with the kiddos. Some spots we love + a few new spots I want to try out this year are....
SkyZone - This place is just down the road from us. Hooray! I have high hopes that it'll turn out to be the perfect place for a toddler who can't. sit. still.
Children's Museum - Need I say more? Multiple floors of endless, interactive exhibits. I anticipate that naptime may arrive earlier than usual after a visit here.
Rhythm Discovery Center - There are musical instruments, and children are allowed to play them to their hearts content. Yeah, I think this will be a toddler favorite!
Indianapolis Zoo - We are only a short drive from downtown, so we always purchase an annual membership. After my son's first dolphin show, he wouldn't stop talking about it for days! The new orangutan exhibit is pretty neat (as long as the crowds aren't bad) and we love watching people feed the giraffes in the "Plains" area. Plus, there's a wonderful playground just outside the dolphin aquarium, as well as near the Birds observation area.
The Urban Chalkboard - This past Friday, we finally had the chance to visit this adorable play spot! I have nothing but good things to say about this place. There were lots of play areas & options, including an enclosed baby play area. They also have a classroom, where they host a variety of interactive activities throughout the day. (TIP: Watch their Facebook page for activity dates/times.)
Holliday Park - This is one of my favorites. It's a bit of a drive from the westside (about 25 minutes), but is SO worth the trip. I personally love making a stop in here after running errands on the northside of Indy - it's the perfect cure for Restless Toddler Syndrome, which my son seems to contract every time we visit a mall.
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Stay-at-home moms, what are your go-to activities? Do you have any recommendations of other places to take a restless toddler (that's also baby -OR- baby-wearing friendly)? I'd love to hear what keeps you and your tots sane during the Spring & Summer months. =)
Best,
Posted on March 22, 2013 by Cari
Categories:
in THE CITY
Who doesn’t love luscious florals, colorful linens & pretty paper? Add in a good cause & put it all together in a fabulous venue, and you have a perfect Sunday afternoon! Or, as we like to call it here in Indianapolis, Art of the Table.
Art of the Table is an annual event hosted by our local chapter of Association of Bridal Consultants, and took place this year in the lovely NCAA Hall of Champions. Part of the proceeds go toward the American Cancer Society, in honor of a dear member to the local ABC family.
This year, I was invited by my über-talented sister, Lori from Boldly Chic Events, to contribute to her table entry. Her concept was “Fancy Elegance,” and was centered around a soft color palette & subtle, elegant accents. For my portion, I contributed printed pieces on fabric (dressed up with a little bling), along with gold laser-cut monograms & table number.
The gorgeous cascading florals were created by our gal pal, Stacy, from Design Group. This girl never ceases to amaze me with her creativity. It’s always such a pleasure working with her!
Many thanks to those who attended, as we were voted “People’s Choice” for the 2nd year in a row! We also earned the honor of “Best Wedding Table” from the ABC judging panel. I have to tell you though, there were SO many amazing table entries. The competition was fierce, to say the least!
Thanks also to Jessica Strickland for capturing these stunning photos of the Boldly Chic Events table entry…
If you’re in the Indy area, we hope to see you at next year’s event! Keep an eye on our Facebook page later this year for the 2014 event date & details…
I’m a country girl, small business owner, wife, mother of three, and a proud alumna of Purdue University (Boiler Up!).
Wondering what life is like for a busy mom with a graphic design & laser cutting business? My days are filled with pretty paper, blissful brides, half-finished sketchbooks, half-eaten lunches, and lots of cuddling with my little ones. I look forward to sharing with you all of life's fun happenings (both in & out of the studio) here on the blog!
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