Not Back with a Vengeance

Oi, well it's been a LOOONG however-many-months since I last wrote a post.  I realized I would much rather read someone else's very awesome post than try to come up with witty verbage all on my own.  I'm infamous for dumb one-liners, so trying to write an entire post usually comes up with little success.  Hence the various unfinished rough drafts. 

I'm checking back in mainly for my own sanity.  The blanket business has more than taken off and I'm overwhelmed, to say the LEAST.  See, way back in June, during my last post, things were good.  Hubby started his new position in the company and I was making a little bit of extra money with my Etsy shop.  Then, we took a look at our bank statement and realized my husband was set to make about $10 grand less in his new position than his previous one.  Um, wha?  Then my blankets started flying off the sewing machine and now I'm an entrepreneur to make up for the lost income.  Not only do I work my day away as a chemist, but I also slave my nights away as a seamstress. 

I know I shouldn't complain about success, but I never intended for this to take off as an actual business. I am beyond grateful that the blankets are doing well. Just in November and December alone, I made more money in actual profit than I did at my day job.  Now, listen, we don't live extravagantly.  We do have a house and two cars and cable and a flat screen TV.  But I don't go shopping every weekend and we seriously cannot afford (nor do I want to with two kids that can't stay in their seats) to eat out more than once every three weeks.  When the kids want to play or do something fun, we do crafts around the house or go over to see the kids next door.  Alex and I haven't had a date since my birthday in December.  It doesn't feel like we're living beyond our means, but we were constantly struggling with finances before the blankets took off.  And now with our third kid on the way due in July, we have a few more financial things to worry about.  Help me, Jesus.

So, yes, in that regard, I am very pleased that my business has allowed us to not worry about our finances and to save money for a larger house in the near future.  But I would like one day that I don't have to answer 20 e-mails and conversations with people that are interested in a $15 blanket.  One day where I can finally catch up on laundry and not have 8 loads hanging over my head to be put away.  One day where I don't have to schedule my love life around the amount of time I need to finish these last 4 blankets before I go to bed.  It's exhausting, but in order for us to survive, it has to be done. 

My sister has been a huge help the past week.  She's volunteered (if I pay her with home cooked food) to help out with cutting the blankets, trimming, and organizing material.   It's fantastic.  Once we get into a better rhythm, I'll finally be able to go to bed before midnight.   

I'm complaining about the lack of sleep and overbearing laundry, but I'm hoping that with enough saving and motivation, I'll be able to stay at home with the new baby for longer than 8 weeks and just start working part-time. 

And no, I don't have any New Year's resolutions.  I just want to have a healthy baby and not get too many stretch marks.  The stretch marks are definitely pushing it, I know.

Going Crazy

I'm having a hard time being the jack of all trades and master of none.  It's starting to wear on me.

Obviously, working full-time and raising two young kids is no easy feat.  Waking up at 6 a.m., getting ready for work, working nine hours, picking up the kids, making dinner, getting them ready for bed and trying to get some housework done is beyond exhausting.  My oldest, Xander, is even starting to use the word 'Exhausted'.  I suppose I say this too much to him, because, yes, his nearly 3-year-old energy (on top of everything else) is exhausting. 

And it's almost his birthday, so I have to clean my house (that's going to take a week), make his birthday presents, and figure out some fun games to play.  Oh, and the dinosaur cake!  That's going to be awesome!  Last year, I made cow and pig cupcakes and a huge farm complete with barn and silo.  This year will be stegosaurus and T-Rex.  I have to figure out some dinosaur cupcakes.  Any ideas?

To add to everything, my business is actually doing pretty well.  At the end of January, I started  my own on-line business SewChem on Etsy.  It's awesome and I get to do everything that I love, but holy Jesus.  I have a hard time keeping up with the orders, messages, and custom requests that my customers want.  I made a nearly impossible deadline for each blanket, three to seven days, especially if I have more than two orders. 

My husband also believes that I'm not selling my blankets for enough.  The hours and care that I put into each item is considerably more than what I sell it for. The materials aren't inferior, the skills aren't inferior, it's just what I think people will agree with and buy from me.  I agree with him, but everytime I try and change the prices, I give myself sticker shock.  My mind reels when I come up with these numbers and I say to myself, "There is no way I would buy this blanket for this price! If I wouldn't, who else would?"

In all reality, someone else would.  It's just finding those people and marketing to them.  But, if I market to them, I feel like I'm leaving out the people that just want something really nice for a reasonable price.  People like me. 

I take three hours out of my day to size, embroider, hem, and sew the perfect blanket.  And I sell it like I'm some Asian sweat-shop child (although my new hair cut makes me look like a 12-year-old and it's not exactly cool in my sewing studio).  I did analyze my motivations behind my prices and it wasn't that difficult to figure out, although I'll never tell my husband - I think I sell for what I do because I want to keep sewing.  I don't want to have to stop and clean my house constantly, like before.  I want to have a hobby that is all mine and know that I can contribute to the baby shower which happens frequently in my large Catholic family. 

So, the prices are staying where they are.  I like what I'm doing even if it only brings in enough money to pay for the electricity to run my four sewing machines.  (I know, I know.  But I use each one!)

It's difficult finding a balance between an affordable price and the RIGHT price.  Just like it's difficult balancing work, kids, husband, and sleep. 

Whoa!  Sleep?  What is that?