Balancing Motherhood & Etsy

Balancing Motherhood & Etsy

Original Artwork by: georgia sakura

I have pondered just how many of these beautifully curated etsy shops, have a small little people crew behind their pretty banner, and as it turns out quite a few...many of the great items you often see here are being cultivated in a garden full of love and hard work with plenty of little feet running about, with devoted etsy moms balancing it all very well, benefiting the world with not only their wonderful creations but with the upbringing of the next generation of artists and entrepreneurs.
Having children changed their craft..for the better
"These boys are my inspiration for so many things I create. And without them, I wouldn't have the drive to create without looking back. Before I had the boys, and didn't have to provide for them, I would illustrate, create, all of it, but I wouldn't always finish every project.I'd let it sit for months(or years) and it didn't really bother me. Now I absolutely have to finish each project, because our financial well being depends entirely on it."~The Mayberry Sparrow
No matter what your situation, whether you are a full time stay at home momma with a supportive spouse or a single momma who is working hard to make ends meet. Having the ability to combine the two biggest loves of our lives at once is a real gift.The extra income from selling on Etsy has allowed many of us to contribute to our families needs and in some cases is the main source of income, which equates to serious business, So while it is a pleasure to have the little ones always with us while we work, Its not without its challenges,"It is difficult to manage it all, but my daughter's activities always come first. It is amazing how busy their little lives become when they turn 5."~Rural Abandon


Rural Abandon's Studio RuralAbandon

"Finding a balance is challenging..the balance between being a devoted, caring mother and fulfilling enough of my own personal needs to be a happy woman, independent from my role as a mother. That, and finding time to sleep.On some days you feel like you’re pulled in so many different directions that you’re not doing anything very well. But I find that this challenges me to find creative ways to keep the kids occupied – in a good way!"~Pink Posies

While a majority of our work tends to be done while they are asleep at night, It is possible to work along with them successfully. Setting up a designated area for them to safely create away from your business helps.

Anniepoo Soaps'Studio Anniepoo

Anniepoo Soaps has a little team of helpers;"They each have jobs...Bella helps cut up the soap, AnnieClaire is my mixer and Lilly...well...she thinks she's helping :)We usually create everything in the kitchen and they pull up chairs all around me...we package things in our school room....they have a little table that we made where they put things in bags for me and I tie everything up and get it ready to ship."~Anniepoo's Her family, like us and many others, also homeschool our children. Which allows for many daily learning opportunities and great time flexibility.


gSakura's Home-School/Sewing Area - gSakura

Keeping them busy Giving little ones small jobs related to your shop, like stamping tags, cutting lengths of string, ect. & the bigger they get, the more detailed work they can handle, learning to use a sewing machine and html have been a successful part of our curriculum. For us the key is inclusion, because they are involved, they respect the time needed for me to get work done and they all pitch in to help out where it is needed, also by involving them, they are getting a first hand lesson at being entrepreneurs. This is paving a way for a strong work ethic and proof that you can follow your dreams and really do what you love for a living.These everyday lessons are apparent in many of our children already being very creative themselves, appreciating the work that goes into a hand made object and actually living a hand made life.
For all of these reasons, it is more than worth any sacrifices that are made.I try and savor the precious moments that I am allowed to be in their presence, teaching them, laughing with them. It will not last forever...these years will fly by, I tell myself."Keep your children your priority, and remind yourself daily of how blessed you are to have them, even when they're making your day difficult."~The Mayberry Sparrow So the next time you find yourself being whisked away from your work, take a moment to pause and look into their little faces,remembering why you are working so hard & Enjoy time they are here with you.

Reported, Researched and Stressed About by:
Georgia Sakura



Resources:
http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/artforchildren.html
Children & Art Resources for the Budding Child Artist
City Guide for Parentshttp://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com/choose-a-city/
http://blessingsforlife.com/crafts/homemade_art_supplies.htm20 Homemade Art supplies
the Switchboards Forumhttp://www.theswitchboards.com/forum/


Post-Script:
You may view this article in its rightful home over at the very Fine, Etsy's own
Storque:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/thisHandmadeLife/article/handmade-kids-balancing-motherhood-and-etsy/2209/

Personal Note:
I would love to give a very big THANKS,
to all of you wonderful d sweet etsy moms, that kindly participated in the interviewing, and general inspiration for this piece, I dedicate it to everyone of you,
Each of your stories are incredible and utterly heartwarming examples of the true definition of the Balancing Act, of Motherhood and Etsy.
And a very special thank you goes out to the sweet Michelle & the team over at the Storque, for giving me this awesome opportunity to do this article, and especially Michelle for all your great tips and wonderful editing expertise~
Merci Beaucoup
xoxo
georgia sakura
>^_^<

good evening dearies,
oh how i have missed rambling off here....as you might have noticed of late
i have gone missing from these pages...hmmm the mystery...the intrigue...
the house full of sick children that need me...

Yes we have been fighting the good fight against

Flunomicus Grandiousis.
and yes i made that up.
i have officially determined that i have found the hardest part about being a mother.
the pit in your stomach and worried mind you have when they aren't well..sigh.. :(
(they are slowly recovering abet not without raspy coughs,

runny noses and an ear infection or two.) but we carry on...

lets see, where did i leave off?
oh i know there was that little article i was consumed with for two weeks...
and it turned out just grand,
you may read it in its rightful home amongst all the other labored after lovely Storque articles here:Balancing Motherhood and Etsy

(incidentally i will be posting it next in its entirety)
The only thing that has made me sad, has been the fact that i literally could only fit in the article, so many of the absolutely wonderful quotes from the many,many etsy moms
interviews i received. I feel so bad and the only way i can make it up to them all
is to start another blog, devoted to the subject
where i will be asking for volunteers to republish their interviews, as well as feature them and hopefully persuade them to do a week of guest blogging...
I am excited about the idea, now i just need to find the time to actually set it up.

You see i am writing this amid a rather
urned upside down house/studio/businesses headquarters,
that's what missing 2-3 solid weeks from work will do to you,
handling Sushi & Japanese Markets' back-orders alone has been something of a feat for me. Patience, is all i ask of everyone..things will smooth out over here soon(i hope).

During all this whirlwind of tissues, cough syrup, cuddles and calming...I did manage the exciting expansion of the shop into Three...yes you heard right folks, now you can find the most lovingly made, delicate curio & feminine trappings in three different etsy shops!
I am so very happy i decided to go through with the move,
for now i am as motivated as a jet engine,

my sketch books are overfull with new designs,
so without further ado i give you ~

the Sparrows Nest

here you will find all of my little adornments, romantic and delicate fare, needlework and some nature inspired art

Georgia Griego Fine Art

all of my Original Art; paintings, drawings and soon pottery

and my old faithful, Sakura, which is now
Sakura Originals

where i am featuring all of my purses, purselets, pouches, and original designed bags.

Do take a moment and visit us there, I would just adore you to offer any feedback, i am all about improvement! and for your trouble and because you visit me here and listen to me go on about fabric and flowers...you can enjoy either free shipping or 10% off your order total, just mention the blog in the comments section at check out, and i'll hook you up!

I wasn't able due to some unusual circumstances to give you that sneak peek I promised, but I do still want to share my favorite sweetlings that now happily reside in their respective shops:

~ The Sparrows Nest ~

~ Sakura Originals ~

~ Georgia Griego Fine Art ~

Thank You so much for stopping in here once and a awhile,

I really appreciate your time and hope you stick around, maybe even leave a comment or two...

I would love to hear from you and make a new friend!

Well now that i am getting back into the swing of things, i won't be such a stranger here anymore...promise.

Take Care all you little Nester's...

xoxo

georgia

>^_^<

Hello and greetings from one busy
bee...I hope you have been good and
enjoyed your fourth of July
celebrations...I am in the final
stage of the Etsy's Storque article
I am writing about Balancing
Motherhood and Etsy.

This whole proccess has been a HUGE inspiration to me,

not only in the area of getting to meet some truly amazing and wonderfully talented
etsy moms, but it has rekindled the spark I had in high school to write
professionally, I wrote for the school newspaper and seriously contemplated a life in journalism
for a little while...I soon discovered I am far to wildly creative for that world and my
writing took a turn toward poetry, but it has seemed to come full circle with this assignment,

I have found a way to write about something
I am so very passionate about.I know that this is only a beginning
of this type of work for me, I will happily, actively purse this type of work from here on out.
~

In other great etsy news,the original pen & ink drawing

Pretty Little Flower

has been so sweetly chosen to reside
in the most lovely of treasuries all
about flowers, it has been
wonderfully curated by lahua, who obviously loves flowers as much
as I do..Thank You lahua ..You can via the treasury here:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=55253

~
Well, after this wild ride of the article is settled, I will be turning my attention back to the
unveiling of two new Etsy shops,which will be debuting with the many many

carefully hand made sweetlings I have blogged about all last month..I really can't wait to
show them all to you, and because you are so sweet, I will choose some of my absolute favorites and offer them here on the blog before I go live with the shop opening...allowing you to acquire
these limited editions before they are even introduced to the etsy world.There are no reproductions in this line, every piece I have created is
a True One Of A Kind Gem-----

I will be offering a sneak peek throughout the weekend.

~

Here is a project that I told you about some time ago, I decided to take my time and show you each step of the way until its done...So for now you have the first parts of an original Hand Embroidered Drawing of a Sakura Tree

Well I'm off to format the article for submission tomorrow, if all goes well, Friday if it doesn't.:)Happy Wednesday Evening~

xoxo

georgia

Prairie Barn ~ Original Oil Painting Georgia Sakura circa 2001

Happy Saturday my friends~
I wanted to pop in and say a big 'ol
THANK YOU
to all the amazing responses I had for the call to interview for the Storque.
I was completely astounded at the quantity of people that have graciously shared their personal thoughts and comments with me.It is so very inspiring.
I am still going over all of the interviews & I continue to write the article, I am just starting to work on the layout, as I have had some really wonderful pictures submitted already!
I think this article will give the world a peek inside of a very special type of way of living.
I am so excited & I never imagined it would be this fun, only because I have had a chance to get to know so many wonderfully talented etsy moms along the way.



Mesmerized and utterly zoned out at the fabric shop last night...
I have acquired some very unique and beautiful fabrics and trimmings, as well as some tools and embroidery threads of the most subtle and sorbet like pallet, I simply can not wait to get started making things with them, I seriously have a problem, I have way too many ideas and not enough time in the day to get to creating them.SIGH.



One more obsession...
I recently realized whilst getting an order ready for a recent sale I had on etsy..
(Thank You k...I am much obliged) that I get way too into creating these special hand made gift packages for every order, It usually takes me the remainder of the night to make all the little extras I've been including with their purchases, I just love surprising people with pretty things...
I am way to sentimental sometimes.



Latest Mission...
I have been on the lookout for a really great cleanser, moisterizer and serum or ridiculously heavy cream. something wonky is happening with my skin lately, and it has given me an excuse to switch my products up ,so I would love to try something handmade, problem is I just don't know which one to choose!So do any of you have a favorite (preferably natural based) skin care products that you are using, that you love..that also came from someone indi or that sells on etsy? I would like to support small craftsmen/women with as many of my purchases as possible.
I would really appreciate any suggestions that help me wade through the oh soo may choices out there. ? . :)


Well its back to the article, and sewing and embroidering, and maybe some pen & ink later??
we'll see....
Take Care and take a moment to say hi,
it really makes my day to hear from you, really.
Have a great weekend
xoxo
georgia
>^_^<

Hi there, I have been meaning to come in and update you on all the exciting happenings here at Studio Sakura, and I finally managed a few moments to do so...

Well the best and biggest news by far is that the Michelle & Lovely Ladies of the Storque, contacted me on Friday, with the awesome opportunity to write an article that I pitched a few months ago, about managing running a etsy business while raising our children.

I had started a forum thread in May about the subject and there were some really wonderful posts, you can view the thread here.

Soo I am busy working on the said article, and still managing to sew up some of the cute and totally functional Lil felted pouches, I will have a nice bakers dozen ready at shop update time, which, because of my new and latest mission will be pushed back a wee bit. I need all my brain power focused on this article, as it is so very important to me, not only because it is a wonderful opportunity, but because it is a issue near and dear to my heart.

Call for Interviews~ all you devoted etsy moms

I would love to hear from you, if you would like to contribute any comments and or maybe be available to give a short interview about the subject, please contact me if your interested, either by leaving a comment below or through etsy convo, or via email, and I will be in touch with you soon.

The article will be running in the next issue of the Storque in Mid July.

The other thing that was really cool...I attended the 2008 Cave Creek Film & Arts Festival Poetry Reading on Sunday, and read my original poem, in front of a packed room/coffee shop. It was a wonderful event, and there were so many talented writers present. The really great thing that happened was when it was my turn, and Carol Perry creative writing chair~ called my name, my two children followed me up on stage, unbeknownst to me, I was tipped off when I passed her and she said "oh there's three of you", I turned and there my two oldest stood on stage with me!, I went to them and told them that "I think I have to do this alone sweeties, go on and sit back down.."

Everyone laughed which actually helped me break my nervousness..so I read me poem under the glaring bright lights and after the applause made my way back to sit down with two very embarrassed little kids, I gave them a hug and kiss and told them it was alright. My husband and the two little ones were hanging out in the front room of the coffee shop, and occasionally we could hear the baby and his loud baby talk and shrieks during a few readings..The only thing I would have done differently was not drink a double espresso and a double iced latte before my reading, I was so wired I almost bounced off the stage, and I really don't recall the actual reading except for my trying to not read too fast!All and all it was a fabulous experience for me and the kids,One I will always cherish..

This is the poem I read:

Untitled~
You saw me in peachy shade and chased me from tree to tree

Later, when our families went back to picking, you found a good one

And hid it in our trouser pocket

You tossed it gracefully into the air

Telling me a funny story

Looking straight at me

Peachy fiddling

You made me wonder if you’ve meant that peach for me

“Might that be for me?” I coyly ask

Its sweet nectar shine on my chin

It’s juices gathering at the bottom of my warm sticky lips

The sun must have glistened through the leaves

On that warm day

And made me shimmer for your hungry eyes

Cause you leaned in

Warm peachy breath

And kissed me

I swelled inside

Like the peaches

Bulging on the trees

~ georgia sakura

I hope your summer is starting off to be a wonderful one, I am doubly excited to launch my new etsy shops and to unveil all of the unique and pretty hand made sweetlings that I have been working so hard on for the past month... If I find some time in the next few days, I will give you a sneek peek~

Until then, I encourage you to get in touch with me if you would like to be a part of the article, I will only be conducting interviews for the next few days here.

Otherwise leave a comment just to say hi !

xoxo

georgia

^_^