March Check-up

I haven't written one of these in a long time! So let's see... what am I up to?

Do I plan to sell the stuff I make?
On HOLD. Miss Greta is getting a little dusty, but I'm sure it won't be for long. I really want to learn how make simple dresses (not to sell), so I think that'll be my next sewing project.

Am I any closer to owning my own shop or starting a business?
On HOLD

Updates since last check-up:
Everything is on hold because I just launched my second blog - Heart Handmade. Trying to sell my own handmade goods really opened my eyes to a whole new world and I wanted a place where I could, in my own way, help garner the attention that Handmade deserves. Plus I want LIFEFLIX to be more of a reflection of my "domestic" life.

Do I plan to look for a "traditional" job? still NO. I think I got lucky again and fell into something (blogging) that not only I enjoy but comes quite naturally. I never thought it would be something that I would enjoy doing but it obviously is. Right now, I'm fully committed to further developing Heart Handmade and maintaining the dialogue we have here at LIFEFLIX. So I guess the only thing for me to do is figure out how to get paid doing what I love. Do what you love and the rest will fall into place (is what I tell myself almost everyday)!

January check-up

I didn't have a chance to do a December check-in, but I guess that's ok since the holidays pretty much took over last month and I didn't really do much soul searching.



I always have my eye on new openings AND the unfortunate closings. I've noticed a handful of small businesses shutting down just within a 10-block radius from my apartment. It's not looking so good out there!

Do I plan to sell the stuff I make?
I have! As some of you know, the stars finally aligned and I was able to open up my etsy shop (which will be updated by the end of this month with new products) a couple of weeks ago. My store is the ultimate work-in-progress - a place that reflects not only my personality, but also my constantly evolving ideas and passions. Most things will be one-of-a-kind items. My goal (albeit naive) is to allow my heart and hands to control the inventory. I hear so many handmakers complaining about getting stuck making the same old thing over and over again. How many stuffed mushrooms can you possibly make before you're driven to eat poisonous shrooms to snap you out of the misery. But then again, if it's your way of living - how can you not make what makes money?? Hmmm - I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there!

I'm currently feverishly working on a new line (not scarves), hoping to catch a deadline to be part of an online market. Sorry to be so miss mysterio about it, I just don't want to jinx myself.

Am I any closer to owning my own shop?
Unfortunately, this idea is indefinitely on hold. I've been thinking about this A LOT and I've decided that now is definitely not the the time for me to invest everything in a shop. Especially not in New York City. Yes, the market is definitely here - but so is the competition. It's not only the unpredictable economy that's got me back-tracking. I think the novelty factor of owning/running a shop, the magic dust, has finally settled. The dust has been replaced by the not so magical reality of running a 24/7 business and everything that comes with it. There's so much more I want to accomplish - traveling, cooking, spending time with my best friends and family, making things for the sake of enjoying the process. All those things would be compromised and that's just not something I'm prepared to do, at least not right now.

Updates since last check-up:
I'm currently looking into incorporating. After the DBA fiasco, I will more than likely do this on my own!

Do I plan to look for a "traditional" job? still NO

November check-up

Last month I decided to do monthly check ups, to sort of help me keep myself in check. I can't believe I actually remembered to do it this month, that in itself is an accomplishment.

Do I plan to sell the stuff I make?
Last week and the week before that I was really excited about the possibility of starting a craft-related business. This week, I'm not feeling as confident about it. I had a couple of ideas storming around in my head but then thoughts of "not good enough" began to infest my mind. I'm mostly frustrated with the fact that all of the things that I enjoy making seem to take a very long time to finish. Either I live with that fact and decide to make one off items at premium prices (which I don't think I'm particularly good enough to do) or come up with a better production process and compromise some of the designs. I haven't given up on the idea, but to be perfectly honest - I'm a little less hopeful about the whole thing this week.

It's insane, but I seem to be having schedule/timing issues with crafting. I have tons of ideas floating in my head and I'm having issues prioritizing. I really want to make Christmas ornaments for my own tree but that idea totally conflicts with the need to finish the calendar (one more month to go). You would think that I have all the time in the world, but the clock ticks at an insane pace when your mind is full of I want to make... ideas!

Am I any closer to owning my own shop?
I'm happy to report that this dream is still very much alive. There are so many shops both online and brick & mortar that inspire me on a daily basis. Hillsy and I have been discussing whether starting an online shop would be a better option at this stage.

Unfortunately the concept of the shop is still evolving. I'm slowly moving away from my original idea and hoping to do something closer to my heart.

Updates since last check-up:
I have filed for a DBA and waiting to see whether NYC approves it. I'm told that it should take approx 20 business days so I should know by end of the month. If I had to do it over again, I probably would've filed the DBA on my own rather than going through legalzoom.com.

Do I plan to look for a "traditional" job? still NO

October check-up

I should probably do a monthly check-up (or at least every other month) on where I'm at in my temporary retirement. Just because I don't talk about it, doesn't mean that I don't think about it. Communicating it here will help me put things on "paper" and although I do feel that it makes me somewhat more accountable, I don't really like to think of it in those terms. Let's just say it's simply documenting a process that will no doubt have its constant shifts, loops, bends and breaks.

Do I plan to sell the stuff I make? Both friends and family have been really supportive and have been asking whether or not I would be interested in selling what I make. It's a possibility, but I'm not sure that I have the capacity to do this (yet). I do enjoy the feeling I get when I... think of a new project, complete a project, figure out how to do something even better than the 3rd time around, make something special for someone and they know that my heart was in it... the list goes on and on. My number one fear is losing the joy I get from making things. It's really a meditative activity for me, no matter how frustrating it gets sometimes, as a whole it's really something that I look forward to. It allows me to be so "me", I can switch projects and do something completely different hour to hour. I guess it's just like cooking - one day you can be in Italy, the next day in the Philippines. I could never get bored. But once you attach a "must" or a "deadline" factor then it can turn into an entirely different beast.

My other concern is that I'm just not ready yet - meaning, I don't feel that I've been doing it long enough. I feel like I'm making a bunch of different things but haven't quite found my niche yet. However, at the rate I'm going, I am confident that it won't be long until I figure this out (fingers crossed).

Am I any closer to owning my own shop? Well, this one is a though one because there are so many factors to consider. Like, will I end up staying in NYC? It's sort of like asking are you any closer to having a baby? To me, it's not like taking a job and then deciding 5 months later it's not right for me. I've seen businesses open and close in a matter of months and that's definitely NOT something that I'm open to. It's a huge lifestyle change and I guess I'm having issues with pin pointing whether or not I'm ready for it. How do you know if you're ready for something like this? Is it one of those you just know moments like love or when you decide to start a family? Like many things in my life, the shop idea is always evolving - the concept manages to tweak itself every now and then. Right now, since I'm so into making things I'm dreaming of a shop that's fully committed to hand-crafted goods, but will people be willing to pay more for hand-made products that they can easily buy a cheaper mass-produced knock-off version from Urban Outfitters? I'm not so sure.

Do I plan to look for a "traditional" job? NO

We'll see how much of this changes next month!

Storefront image of Church Street Apothecary, SF