Friday, October 22, 2010
Fort Worth Botanical Gardens
A couple of weekends ago a couple very dear friends of mine got married and I photographed the wedding for them. Since I am still using a film camera (Canon AE-1) I borrowed the groom's digital camera to shoot the wedding and a few days before he and I spend the early part of the evening at the Forth Worth Botanical Gardens (the free part, not the Japanese Gardens) so I could get some practice using his camera. One of the things I love most about photography is when you are lucky enough to get a shot that takes your breath away. Here are some of what I got.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Oklahoma Photos
The area we're building at in Oklahoma is part of the Ouachita (Wash-i-tah) Mountains. I'm fascinated by geography, geology, and history, so I've been reading all kinds of information about the area. The Ouachita Mountains (as well as the Ozarks) are an ancient mountain range that used to be as tall or taller than the Rockies, but since they are primarily sandstone, they have eroded over time and are now technically hills.
Here is a view when approaching the cluster of mountains we are building on.
Our land is in a cluster of mountains known as the Sans Bois Mountains. The view from our place overlooks the Kiamichi Mountains to the south.
Here is a view on one of the rock shelves on our property, looking up from the pad.
A small cave on the property. It's no higher than a couple of feet tall.
Another rock shelf.
View from the pad overlooking the pond we dug for the dogs.
Our little camp site while building.
Looking up to the top of the hill from the pad. It can be walked up and down, but a 4x4 is needed to drive up and down.
Here is a view when approaching the cluster of mountains we are building on.
Our land is in a cluster of mountains known as the Sans Bois Mountains. The view from our place overlooks the Kiamichi Mountains to the south.
Here is a view on one of the rock shelves on our property, looking up from the pad.
A small cave on the property. It's no higher than a couple of feet tall.
Another rock shelf.
View from the pad overlooking the pond we dug for the dogs.
Our little camp site while building.
Looking up to the top of the hill from the pad. It can be walked up and down, but a 4x4 is needed to drive up and down.
We're finally building!
Things have been crazy lately. After buying land in Oklahoma almost 2 years ago we are finally starting to build a small 624 sq ft cabin. The cabin itself is 20'x28' which is 560 sq ft, then we are building an 8'x8' mud room/laundry room on the front porch to help keep cooling costs down in the summer.
In April of last year we had a pad flattened and a pond dug, and aside from laying grass seed we hadn't done any more work until last weekend (Oct. 2 & 3). We got about half of the posts set and this weekend (Oct. 9 & 10), Tony got the remainder of the posts set. He's been receiving help from his best friend Quinton and Quinton's two oldest sons, Bubba (Quinton, Jr.) and Nick.
Here are some photos I took when I was up there the weekend of the 2nd & 3rd:
Here are Quinton and Tony measuring out and marking where to set the posts.
Tony, Quinton and Bubba are using a post auger to drill the holes for the posts. The auger cost $30/day to rent.
Completed set post.
Half the posts set. In this photo, north is at the top, south at the bottom, east on the right and west on the left. Tony this weekend added another row of posts on the east side to extend the cabin out another 4 feet and added the 8'x8' section for the laundry room on the south (west) side. The posts are set 4' apart. The kitchenette will be on the SW wall, living room SE corner, bedroom NE corner and bathroom NW corner.
In April of last year we had a pad flattened and a pond dug, and aside from laying grass seed we hadn't done any more work until last weekend (Oct. 2 & 3). We got about half of the posts set and this weekend (Oct. 9 & 10), Tony got the remainder of the posts set. He's been receiving help from his best friend Quinton and Quinton's two oldest sons, Bubba (Quinton, Jr.) and Nick.
Here are some photos I took when I was up there the weekend of the 2nd & 3rd:
Here are Quinton and Tony measuring out and marking where to set the posts.
Tony, Quinton and Bubba are using a post auger to drill the holes for the posts. The auger cost $30/day to rent.
Completed hole.
Completed set post.
Half the posts set. In this photo, north is at the top, south at the bottom, east on the right and west on the left. Tony this weekend added another row of posts on the east side to extend the cabin out another 4 feet and added the 8'x8' section for the laundry room on the south (west) side. The posts are set 4' apart. The kitchenette will be on the SW wall, living room SE corner, bedroom NE corner and bathroom NW corner.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Writing Knitting Patterns
I have several knitting and crochet patterns that I've written over the years, a lot more ideas in my head, and when I googled "how to write a knitting pattern" all I wanted was a list of the elements the pattern needed to contain, and so after dissecting patterns on several sites here's the list I compiled:
1. Photo
2. Title
3. Size
4. Corrections
5. Materials
6. Gauge
7. Stitches Used
8. Pattern
9. Finishing
1. Photo
2. Title
3. Size
4. Corrections
5. Materials
6. Gauge
7. Stitches Used
8. Pattern
9. Finishing
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Customers
One of the things I have struggled with this week is customers. Not a lack of them, but figuring out who is my customer. Last weekend I was so frustrated with the majority of people who shop our local farmers market that I took a weekend off. Instead I focused on developing my Etsy shop. I returned to the market yesterday morning and for the first four hours I only made $6 from selling some soft set jam as syrup at cost. I planned on leaving at 11am because of the heat, but I decided to wait until noon like I have in the past and I am glad I did. I didn't sell a lot, but I did sell more syrup, half my dog biscuits and a bag. In addition I got orders for a couple more bags to have ready next weekend and a couple of Texas Longhorn knit hand towels I designed.
From 7am to 11am, locals walked by my table. They would either glance at me and walk quickly by, not even look at the table and make excuses not to stop, or they would stop and balk at my prices (which I have been informed by many outside the county that I have my items priced too low). There were several people who came out with their dogs and I met them with one of my homemade peanut butter dog biscuits. The dogs were so overwhelmed by all the people around them that they didn't instantly take the biscuit, but after a moment would devour it and start looking for more. The dog owners though were quick to dismiss me and tell me their dogs don't like my product. One lady told me her dog is spoiled by Ol' Roy brand (I fought laughter) and another walked away and threw the biscuit in the garbage. By 11am I was fighting tears. I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong.
I realize now that I'm not doing anything wrong. My products just aren't for everyone. The chapter I read tonight in "The Boss of You" discussed identifying your customer. My customer is going to be someone who cares about and values quality. They are going to care about handmade, made in the USA with quality USA originated materials. They want to support their local economy and help promote local jobs. They don't want something knit or crochet that was made by an exploited child in a third world country. If they buy from a third world country they will prefer that it be something sustainable and fair trade. My customer is going to care about what kind of food they give their pets and appreciate the high quality ingredients I use in my dog biscuits, not something that could potentially be poisonous from China.
So when people walk by my table and criticize me I will simply know that they don't appreciate taste and quality and aren't the kind of person who would take care of something I make. I want my items to be cherished, not tossed aside because it was cheap and disposable. They are not my customer.
From 7am to 11am, locals walked by my table. They would either glance at me and walk quickly by, not even look at the table and make excuses not to stop, or they would stop and balk at my prices (which I have been informed by many outside the county that I have my items priced too low). There were several people who came out with their dogs and I met them with one of my homemade peanut butter dog biscuits. The dogs were so overwhelmed by all the people around them that they didn't instantly take the biscuit, but after a moment would devour it and start looking for more. The dog owners though were quick to dismiss me and tell me their dogs don't like my product. One lady told me her dog is spoiled by Ol' Roy brand (I fought laughter) and another walked away and threw the biscuit in the garbage. By 11am I was fighting tears. I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong.
I realize now that I'm not doing anything wrong. My products just aren't for everyone. The chapter I read tonight in "The Boss of You" discussed identifying your customer. My customer is going to be someone who cares about and values quality. They are going to care about handmade, made in the USA with quality USA originated materials. They want to support their local economy and help promote local jobs. They don't want something knit or crochet that was made by an exploited child in a third world country. If they buy from a third world country they will prefer that it be something sustainable and fair trade. My customer is going to care about what kind of food they give their pets and appreciate the high quality ingredients I use in my dog biscuits, not something that could potentially be poisonous from China.
So when people walk by my table and criticize me I will simply know that they don't appreciate taste and quality and aren't the kind of person who would take care of something I make. I want my items to be cherished, not tossed aside because it was cheap and disposable. They are not my customer.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
New Directions and Goals
In May I was asked if I would be interested in creating items for a local farmers market that was starting the first weekend of June. I figured I could whip up some shopping bags and see what happened. Since then I have been selling some local produce, crochet shopping bags, homemade jam, trail mix, and dog biscuits. I've posted updates on Facebook for my family and friends as well as photos of what I have been creating. I've received several orders just through Facebook and after being told by several people that they were disappointed that I didn't have anything posted in my Etsy store, today I posted my first item - All Natural Peanut Butter Dog Biscuts - and I pulled out a book, "The Boss of You" by Lauren Bacon and Emira Mears, that has been sitting on my bookshelf for probably the past year.
This evening I started reading and one of the first things I am to do is a little writing and I thought I would include that here.
The first exercise is to write out my business goals. I'll be honest, I'm not 100% sure what I want out of it yet, but I do have a few ideas in mind.
1. I'd like to save up enough money to buy a digital SLR camera so I can do more photography work.
2. I'd like to save up money to travel and see friends and family I haven't seen in many years.
3. I'd like to add to our savings account.
4. I'd like to make enough money to help supplement our income when Tony's hours are slow at his job.
5. I'd like to make enough to pay for medical insurance.
6. I'd like to build greenhouses to grow herbs and other vegetables to sell and make products from.
7. I'd like to be able to do more for the dogs and cats we rescue like paying for extra medical treatments other than just providing them with shelter, food and vaccinations.
I've also had the idea recently of teaching others how to be more self-sufficient and not rely on others, especially the government, to provide for them. It's a journey I'm on to learn for myself and I want to share it as I learn various lessons.
Some of the goals I have for personal measures of success are:
1. The day I can buy the digital camera.
2. When I can buy a plane ticket to Pittsburgh in August, New York at Christmas, or Los Angeles to see family.
3. When I can pay all the bills and not delay paying anything on the months when Tony doesn't have many hours at work.
4. When we can get stuff accomplished on our cabin in Oklahoma.
5. When I have my first greenhouse (and each subsequent greenhouse) built.
6. When I reach certain goals in our savings account.
7. When I can get all our animals on flea and tick treatments.
As for my strengths and weaknesses:
1. I love coming up with new product ideas.
2. I need to work on developing the confidence and self-discipline to execute all the ideas.
3. I generally have a good eye for detail and like to add small touches to make things special.
4. Overcoming anxiety and pushing through to show myself I can do anything I set my mind to.
5. I create high quality items that are worthy of being charged what they are worth.
6. I need to learn more about budgeting and taxes as well as marketing.
7. I can do anything I put my mind to!!!
This evening I started reading and one of the first things I am to do is a little writing and I thought I would include that here.
The first exercise is to write out my business goals. I'll be honest, I'm not 100% sure what I want out of it yet, but I do have a few ideas in mind.
1. I'd like to save up enough money to buy a digital SLR camera so I can do more photography work.
2. I'd like to save up money to travel and see friends and family I haven't seen in many years.
3. I'd like to add to our savings account.
4. I'd like to make enough money to help supplement our income when Tony's hours are slow at his job.
5. I'd like to make enough to pay for medical insurance.
6. I'd like to build greenhouses to grow herbs and other vegetables to sell and make products from.
7. I'd like to be able to do more for the dogs and cats we rescue like paying for extra medical treatments other than just providing them with shelter, food and vaccinations.
I've also had the idea recently of teaching others how to be more self-sufficient and not rely on others, especially the government, to provide for them. It's a journey I'm on to learn for myself and I want to share it as I learn various lessons.
Some of the goals I have for personal measures of success are:
1. The day I can buy the digital camera.
2. When I can buy a plane ticket to Pittsburgh in August, New York at Christmas, or Los Angeles to see family.
3. When I can pay all the bills and not delay paying anything on the months when Tony doesn't have many hours at work.
4. When we can get stuff accomplished on our cabin in Oklahoma.
5. When I have my first greenhouse (and each subsequent greenhouse) built.
6. When I reach certain goals in our savings account.
7. When I can get all our animals on flea and tick treatments.
As for my strengths and weaknesses:
1. I love coming up with new product ideas.
2. I need to work on developing the confidence and self-discipline to execute all the ideas.
3. I generally have a good eye for detail and like to add small touches to make things special.
4. Overcoming anxiety and pushing through to show myself I can do anything I set my mind to.
5. I create high quality items that are worthy of being charged what they are worth.
6. I need to learn more about budgeting and taxes as well as marketing.
7. I can do anything I put my mind to!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)