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Let’s be honest… turning your creativity into

Let’s be honest…

turning your creativity into a business and sustaining it in the long-term isn’t for the faint of heart.

You have muster up all of your courage and keep going when the going gets beyond tough.

I’ve been hungry. I’ve slept in a car and on a bean bag bed. I’ve put my business ahead of my health. I’ve cried myself to sleep at night. I’ve written 1.2 million words in my journals second guessing myself.

Do I regret some of it? At times, yes. Other times, I feel it’s all grist for the mill. But in the end, I stayed true to myself and learned how to have a creative business AND a rich personal life.

I learned so many things the hard way. It doesn’t have to be that way for you.

You can make a living from your creativity and also have some balance. Maybe not right away but it should be your goal. Busyness shouldn’t be glorified. Delegation, smart growth and intentional panning should be.

I want to help other creatives have less of an uphill battle than I did which is why we created Dear Handmade Life: The Club.

👩🏾‍💼👩🏻‍🎤👨🏾‍🎤👨‍🎨👩🏽‍💻The Club is a members-only community for creatives and passionate small business owners to get the tools, mindset, accountability, and support to take your next big leap.

🗝 We only open membership a few times a year! Wanna join the waiting list? Send me a DM that says “I’m in The Club” and I’ll hook you up.

Wondering if The Club is right for you? Send me a DM and I’ll give you my honest two cents.

#artbusiness #artbusinesstips #craftbusiness #craftbusinesshelp #smallbiztips #smallbusinessowner #smallbusinesssupport #mentoring #mastermindgroup

🎶📻 As much as I love having almost every son

🎶📻 As much as I love having almost every song ever recorded at my fingertips on my phone, there’s something about pulling a record from its sleeve, putting it on the turntable, gently setting the needle down, and listening to worn vinyl on my record player. 🎵

It’s not just music. When it comes to making, I love analog creating in my sketchbook with gouache as much as I love drawing on my iPad. 🎨✏️ It’s not an either/or, it’s about the methods being in harmony. 🤝 That’s what inspired this two-part DIY that Nik AKA @wastingthyme created for you!

Thanks to @quartobooksus #AD, who sent us Drawing Digital, the new book from Craftcation alum @lisabardot and Share Your Joy: Mixed Media Shareable Art from @juicy.s.art where we found the projects that were the jumping off point for these cards that Nik created.

In true Nicole (I’m a Libra) fashion, I can’t decide which project I love more. 🤷‍♀️

What about you? Tell me in the comments and we’ll pick one person who comments to win a copy of BOTH books! 📚🎉

BTW: Thanks to @replicasurfaces for the amazing surfaces we used as the background for this.

Rules:

Leave a comment below letting us know if you love digital, analog or both!
Winner will be picked at random on 12.13 and notified via Instagram DM on 12.18. 📅🎁
*Open to everyone 18 or older in the US.
*This is not affiliated with Instagram in any way.
*By entering you release Instagram of any liability regarding this giveaway.

Guess who is always knocking on the door when you’re pushing yourself out of your comfort zone?

Yep, it’s your inner critic.
She takes on many forms...
• Perfectionism
• Impostor syndrome &
• Procrastination, just to name a few...

Before you start hating on her, remember, she’s only trying to protect you from getting hurt.

When she shows up, open the door, acknowledge her presence and then, let her know that you’ve got this. Then, when she steps aside, guess who’s waiting around the corner to step in?

That’s right, it’s your inner badass. She’s there to answer the door from a place of love, esteem and courage (if you let her).

Maybe your risk is about making a commitment to yourself to live more intentionally or to be more creative or to finally start the business that’s been on your mind or to take the business you have and make it what you know it could be.

Do I have to tell you everything that your inner critic would say to the what-if’s that show up as you’re about to leap?

Nope, because you know that voice and what she says by heart. You’ve been listening to her for so long that her judgments feel like facts.

They’re NOT facts. They’re fiction.

The fact is that you are enough. You deserve to create a life that makes you come alive. Everything you need to create the business of your dreams is there for you. You deserve to take the time to explore your creative impulses.

And the only one standing between where you are now and where you want to be is you. I know you have a laundry list of reasons (ahem, excuses) of why this isn’t the right time or you don’t have the resources you need etc. But, that right time is whenever you want it to be. You are the one who molds what could be just another groundhog day into that day that you take the first step towards what you want.

If your dreams life includes creativity, community or building a profession from passion, click the link in our bio and check out Craftcation Conference.

What’s Craftcation? It’s [con’t in comments👇👇]

Did you catch this eye-opening fact? 💰 If eve

Did you catch this eye-opening fact?

💰 If every US family dropped just $10 a month at local businesses, we’d be looking at a whopping $9.3 billion boost for our economy! 🌐💼

Let’s turn those dollars into change for creatives and small businesses at our @thepatchworkshow market this season 12.10 in 🛳 San Pedro at @craftedportla.

You can shop handmade and local goods from 100+ makers as well as get crafty with our free craft activities at CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles AKA the coolest permanent weekend market featuring the work of LA’s best artisans and craftspeople. You can also grab craft brews🍻 and food 🍔+ catch live music 🎶 next door at @brouwerijwest.

As always, Patchwork Show is FREE to attend, family-friendly, and pet friendly! 🐕❤️🐩

PLUS get a FREE limited edition tote bag featuring original art by Nicole!

Thanks to our friends at @MakerPlacebyMichaels the first 100 guests at our @thepatchworkshow in San Pedro who stop by our info booth will get one of these awesome totes. #MakerPlacebyMichaels #AD

🧵🎨What’s MakerPlace?
If you’re a lover of creativity, it’s where you can discover artisan treasures, live online classes, and how-to’s all in one place.

If you’re a creator, it’s where you can Sell your handmade items or seats to live online classes and share how-to’s with commission-earning supply lists.

#holidayshopping #shopsmall #shopsmallbusiness #sanpedro #southbay #craftshow #giftidea

Ever wondered what a Craftcation feels like? 📷

Ever wondered what a Craftcation feels like? 📷 Picture this: Five life-changing days packed with 200+ craft classes, business workshops, social parties & gatherings, and wellness activities (🧘‍♀️yoga and meditation on the beach anyone?) all at the sunny California beach! ☀️✨

If this sounds like your kind of party, discounted early bird registration is now OPEN! 🎉

📣 PSST: We’re not bluffing; we sell out every year. Don’t hit snooze on this!

In search of your people? Look no further! Finding folks who embrace the quirks, cherish creative chaos, and are fueled by the desire to share their craft with the world can be a challenge. But fear not, we’ve made it a breeze. These are the kindred spirits who flock to our Craftcation Conference each year.

Craftcation isn’t just about honing your creative skills; it’s about discovering a community that gets you, celebrates your uniqueness, and pushes you to showcase your creations to the world. 🌈✨

Ready to dive into a sea of inspiration, laughter, and salty air? We can’t wait to welcome you to our community! 🌊🎨

#communityovercompetition #craftcation #venturabeach #smallbizowner #smallcraftbusiness #craftshowprep #arttherapy

NEW Tustin show date! Applications are open! The

NEW Tustin show date! Applications are open!

The moment we have all been waiting for is here!

The reschedule of our Tustin show has been finalized and we will be back in Orange County, December 16th from 11am - 5pm.

Want to know what’s even better?

We will have more spots for vendors! So join us in @oldtowntustin surrounded by historic buildings and great local shops and restaurants.

If you haven’t applied yet, join the vendor waitlist!

If you were a vendor for Tustin be sure to check your email for what to do next, if you already submitted an application or waiting list application, DON’T fill out a new application, just email spaulding@dearhandmadelife.com and let her know what size booth you want. Have questions? Send us a DM and we will help you out!

#tustin #orangecounty #holidaygifts #holidayshopping #shopsmall #craftshow

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