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A big ‘Thank You’ to my customers.

sarahlcowan

Customers! The lifeblood of any business. And what customers I have. I want to take the opportunity to say a BIG thank you to you all for the year you’ve made it. 

My last blog was way back in April. April! Surely that was just a couple of months ago?! A lot, and I mean A LOT has happened since then. Where should I start? First of all, I was lucky enough to be in a position to be able to leave my part-time job working within the Prison Service, that was back in June and I feel like my feet haven’t hit the floor since. I’ve had lots of quirky orders for pebble pictures and bespoke creations which kept me ticking along nicely over the summer months, and gave me great pleasure to make. Then, operation Christmas! This year I already had numerous fairs booked, with what I would class a ‘biggies’; Sunderland Glass Centre, Chester-Le-Street Riverside and Walworth Castle. To get me into the swing of things, I started with a relatively small one; Wolsingham Christmas Market. Oh my word, some of the things I made literally flew off the table. Time to think about how to prepare for the next one. Again, the next fair saw some of my things in high demand. Ah, another learning exercise for the next one, my first 2 day fair. To cut short what is a very long story, after each day at either my 2 day or 3 day fairs it saw me working until the early hours in order to replace stock for the following day. Whilst at the time it seemed absolutely crazy, I’ve now had the time to reflect on it all and can have a chuckle about it, but more importantly take on board how much more prepared I can be for next year. I sold some of my biggest pieces (which nearly had me cry with joy), took a multitude of orders for bespoke pieces, received the most incredible compliments on my work, my stall, and just how unique the mustard button creations are. I frequently received the compliment that my pieces were like nothing people had seen before, that in itself speaks volumes and literally brings music to my ears. As well as the craft fairs, I’ve managed to fulfill so many orders (at one point I didn’t think I’d manage to get them all done), from bespoke Christmas wording, pebble pictures to include Durham Cathedral and embellished reed diffusers! The list has been endless but I’ve loved every single minute and have given it my all. With that, I’m switching off the glue gun, putting the wool, ribbon and jewels to bed until the New Year. I thank each and everyone of you for the support, the purchases, the incredible compliments and the opportunity for you to take something totally unique into your homes or proudly pass on as a gift. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Back in the game

sarahlcowan

“Go as far as you can see. When you get there, you’ll be able to see further”

Thomas Carlyle

Steps. This past few months I’ve taken some. Not as many as I would have liked, but I’ve taken a few, and learned a lot along the way. I’ve also got a great many people to thank (see my last blog) for supporting me so far on my journey.

I’m not going to lie, I lost my way a bit after Christmas having enjoyed the hype of doing my first craft fairs to receiving orders for Christmas decorations, wreaths & cards alike. But what was I going to do without my Christmas focus? I hadn’t really given anything other than Christmas crafts a thought.

Pebble pictures came out of the blue with a work colleague asking if I’d have a go at one. I did it, it was well received, and it took off from there, from making and selling 1, to making and selling a massive 22! The pebble empire continues to grow making personalized cards, more pictures and I’m even attempting ‘art’!

So, the pebbles got me back into making things, and my spark started to return and I was on the hunt for jewellery again. What could I make that would be fitting to sell during the year and not just for Christmas, but still had the glitz and sparkle I love to work with? After a few experiments, I’ve turned my hand to making more contemporary pictures, cards and gifts using my jewellery again and the feedback I’ve received so far has been really positive and given me the boost I needed.

So, Spring is here, and with 2 Spring Craft fairs booked, and my Christmas ones already in place, I’m on it. The passion has returned. The creative juices are following again. Time to take some more steps along the road. My head is bursting with ideas. Back in my happy place and more importantly; ‘Back in the Game’. A passion is for life, not just for Christmas!

If you want to come and see me, I’ll be at Wolsingham Craft Fair on Saturday, April 27th

Love Sarah

P.S I promise to learn how to update my website and update my social media more often!

A Heartfelt Thank you!

sarahlcowan

“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks” 

James Allen

thanks

Wise words indeed above from a guy who lived over a hundred years ago, and they couldn’t capture better how I feel after the first couple of weeks of my new venture.

I’ve had amazing (and I mean amazing) support from my friends & family (and from everyone who has come to see me!)  since the Mustard Button launched, and I have an overwhelming need to express my gratitude.

I’ve always found it quite hard to accept praise, and I don’t think I do anything particularly special, but I just want everyone to know it’s meant a great deal to me to hear your kind words, and if I haven’t said thank you properly before, I’m saying it now in the best way I know.

It’s been truly humbling to hear your feedback and comments, and to see many of you at my first two craft fairs. I have been taken aback by the orders I’ve received and the interest shown.  To know that what I’ve created has brought a simple smile to a few faces, is all I could have really wanted.

Confidence has always been an issue for me, but what you have given me is enough for me to know that this is what I want to do. While I don’t expect the road ahead to be plain sailing, these early days have given me that little boost I needed to take the next step, and believe in myself. For that I will always be grateful no mater what comes my way.

I’ll keep this blog post short, but thank you again, and I’ll see you all soon.

x

 

Putting my first foot forward…

sarahlcowan

Thanks for joining me. I intend to share the occasional blog here on my website during the journey of The Mustard Button. I hope you enjoy.

What if I fall? Oh, but my darling what if you fly? – Erin Hanson

I have this quote up on the wall of my workshop (well a converted box bedroom!), and it means a great deal to me. My Sister-in-law shared it with me, and it embodies the conflicting emotions you feel when starting out on any new venture or challenge. I’m not blessed with natural confidence, and I often find that I look at the negatives, convincing myself I can’t do something, before I’ve even tried.

But this spoke to me. It gave me the courage to try. It also gave me the courage to fail. And that’s the key.

I’m sure I’ll look back on these words in the future with a little embarrassment, but I know wont look back on starting The Mustard Button with anything like that feeling. I gave it a go. I’m giving it a go! And if I fail, so what? I will have learned a lot, (I’ve learned so much already), and I will have tried my hand at something I am passionate about. I’ve made a few people happy so far and if that’s where it ends, what’s the problem?  And what if it works…?

The Mustard Button was started as a form of therapy. I was in a bad place a few months back, and I found comfort in the retreat of making things from some bits and bobs I had around, as a form of distraction. I found that part easy(ish), as I’ve always been quite creative, but I didn’t start out with the notion of starting a business. But then the idea came.

There’s loads of stuff on the internet, and lots of books on starting a business, as well as a tonne of self help material. “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway” is one such title I can recall, but whose words I don’t, as most of the stuff I’ve read has never really been that applicable to me, or the advice in them never really rang true. I’m not an academic either, and when I tried to research ‘Starting a Business’ there was loads of high-brow stuff about ‘Defining Goals’, Evaluating Yourself’, ‘Writing a Business Plan’ or securing Finance. I was scared by it if I’m brutally honest. More reasons to say no. More excuses I could make.

Instead, I’ve looked to the quote above for my inspiration. ‘Why the hell not?’ is what I take from it mostly.  In putting my first foot forward, I’ve also learned there are 5 other things that really matter

  • Find and do something you are passionate about. Give some stuff a go. Life is to short to do something you tolerate, or at worst hate.
  • Take the first step. The next one is just one more.
  • Ignore self limiting thoughts & negative people. Enough said.
  • Seek Feedback. Even Usain Bolt gets (got!) feedback from his coach. The customer is always right.
  • Be honest with yourself. What’s the point in kidding yourself?

Whether I should have read the books to be successful I guess time will tell, but I can honestly say I’m proud of what I’ve done so far. It hasn’t been expensive and I’ve had a lot of fun doing it. My first step down the runway has been taken. Maybe someday I’ll fly.

Thanks for reading,

Sarah