Behind The Scenes Of My Business Blog Tag.

Today, I am going to take you on a behind the scenes visit here at Domesticraft!  I know, I'm so excited too! ;)  As you know, things here at Domesticraft have been changing, . . . and so have I. 

So I thought I would take this opportunity to share a bit and give you a peek at me and my biz.  In the comment section, I would L♡VE your feedback! I'd really like to know what you think and any ideas you may have!  Thanks!

Okay . . . I'm a little nervous,  (there are 15 questions) but I am putting myself out there!  So, let's do this! ♡

I was tagged by the sweet and inspiring Cara Vincens from Cesť la Vie (ours anyway) and The Hooting Pirate along with the fabulously talented Tricia Bertrand from Jewels by Trish with another blog tag from April Bowles of Blacksburg Belle.  April is one of my favorite creative business mentors (and it's a short list in which I must mention Mayi Carles as well.  I followed Mayi long before she hooked up with April as a biz partner, a very good match indeed!)

 Here goes!

Question 1: What’s your two to three sentence bio? (You know, what the heck do you do?)  
(Two or three sentences, me? lol) I am a craft activist, which means I love to share my "craft happy" and spread it in any way I can.  I am in the process of redefining Domesticraft, and by default, redefining myself. So what I want to be when I grow up, is a "Craft Coach". Actually I want to be the cheerleader too! I would like to help and encourage other creatives to find out what works best for them.  Coupled with lots of ooooohs & ahhhhhhhs, sound & doable advice with plentiful tips and tricks that I've learned along the way!  What do you think of that HUGE idea? Be gently brutal with me, I'd love to hear your ideas on my BIG PLAN!  I will continue to make stuff (of course) and teach individuals & small workshops. (gotta)  I'm planning to do some online workshops too! EEK!  I'm truly going to be going all out, cause you know what?  If not now . . . when?!  And lastly, I'll have a little online shop where I'll sell some of my favorite crafty creations. (See Question #5)

Question 2: What’s your favorite part of your job?   That would be hands down,the different people I get to meet both off and online and all the new friends that I've made!  I get such a high . . . crafting and chatting and teaching and learning. I can't imagine doing anything else, ever!

Question 3: What’s your least favorite part of your job? 
Truth, I can't think of a least favorite part!  I love the opportunity to learn new things all the time.  Well, maybe it's when I have to quit doing my creative work cause I'm forced to clean the bathroom or do laundry.  Blecch! Yep, that's it for sure! I wish I had some wind up cuties like these that would do my bidding!  Yes, I would like to have some minions. Please and thank you :)

Question 4: What are the top three tools you use the most in your work?  I would say my Samsung Galaxy5 cell phone is on the list for keeps! FOREVER!  I just got my first smartphone about 4 months ago and don't know what I would do without it now!  I still suck at texting so I got a little keyboard to go with it . . . now I am a speed maniac!  I also LOVE the quality of the photos it takes.  I have to give 90 percent of the credit of my photos to my cell! :) Plus with all the amazing apps for photography with two of my favorite being Rhonna Designs and A Beautiful Mess. ♡  Another fave go-to are my sewing machines, vintage of course with one of them being my Mom's  Singer Slant 401 from the 60's.  I LOVE using it, makes me so happy! And, lastly, it is a 3 way tie between washi tape, a tiny attacher (the most awesome stapler in the world!) and scissors, all of them. 

Question 5: What business goal would you love to reach before the end of the year?   The business goal that I am going to work my banoonies off to reach by year end is a complete overhaul and relaunch of Domesticraft!  I am so excited for this opportunity and I so hope you guys will hang out and be my beta testers.  Let me know the how I'm doing, the good and not so good . . . you know, keep me from getting to big for my britches. ;) (see question #1)

Question 6: Who are three creatives that inspire you?

Michele Wooderson of Mish Mash - I've admired Michelle's work for years and can always count on her for inspiration.  She is super talented, shoots lovely photographs and just seems like such a nice person!  She also takes gorgeous photos, oh did mention that already?!  I Love her work! 

Cori McCabe of Trail and Compass - Cori has a unique style and a wonderful business!  She is a full-time adventurer, an awesome creative, a parks advocate, and a cat lady on an eternal roadtrip across the USA with her hubs.  I actually met her through a course we both took on Creativelive.com and I started following her on Instagram.  Her blog and Instagram feed are full of the most incredible photography of US National Parks and so many other beautiful shots.  She's got "the eye".  Cori and I are working on a collaboration that I'll soon share with you.  You are going to LOVE it!

Carol Houser of The Jewel Lady - Carol is AMAZING and not just cause she's my sister! ;)  I plan to go visit her for a month on October 25th and I am over the moon excited!  She's just the break I need from all my downsizing work and she is my other half when it comes to anything crafty.  It's like I'm going to Brainstorm Craft Camp!  Oh, and she just happens to create stunning custom hand-crafted jewelry using silver and gold, with Swarovski crystals and Cat’s Eye beads.  Check out her Etsy shop, you'll totally want to buy something! ;)

Question 7: What do you listen to (if anything) while you work?   Mostly, I listen to Creativelive.com workshops, (I am a learning addict!) or creative and marketing podcasts or YouTube craft tutorials as well as some inspiring Islamic lectures, which help me with my positive attitude. :)

Question 8: Morning person or night owl?   Both.  Some days I'm up early and some days I go to bed super late, it depends.  But you know I think I would like to have more of a regular schedule, a routine.  I think that's exactly what I need.  

Question 9: How many employees do you have and what are the main things they do for you?   I am my own best boss and my own worst employee at times.  My husband, David is my chief benefactor and biggest supporter!  Although his eyes start to wander and he looks for the nearest escape route, when I have exceeded the 42 seconds of the attention span that he can devote to "craft talk", he truly has my back with every crafty step I make, always has.  He is such a keeper!

Question 10: What’s your favorite social media platform?  It's another tie! Pinterest, for it's amazing visual "me in a craft store" appeal.  Instagram, again for the awesome visual yumminess, but with more people engagement.  Facebook is brilliant for really getting to meet and connect with such an amazing global audience.  All of these platforms blow me away with the potential that I've not even begun to tap!  Oh yeah, look out YouTube in 2015! :)

Question 11: What’s your least favorite social media platform? That would be Twitter!  Mostly due to ignorance, but I figure that is for the best cause I really don't think I could manage another platform.  I'm quite content with what I've got on my plate now, thank you though.

Question 12: What works best when it comes to marketing your business?  Word of mouth, whether it's online or off.  Talking up my business has become a habit now and hopefully not in an annoying way.  Putting myself out in the public has not always been easy, but now it's a piece of cake . . . mostly.  I love meeting new people and listening to their ideas and thoughts and sharing mine.  It is so flippen fun! Just keep your business fresh and appealing and be consistent. If you mess up, NO BIGGIE!  Learn from it and keep going.  Enjoy it!

Question 13: What’s one thing about your business that your blog readers probably don’t know? That I couldn't do it without them, yes . . . I mean YOU! You keep me grounded and boost my creativity ten fold! And if I haven't told you lately, THANK YOU! 

Question 14: If your business were a fashion accessory, what would it be?   I would be a doily.  Yep, a doily.  The fashion would be a world wide apron comeback and my business would be an old-fashioned style apron with big roomy pockets and lovely accents of vintage doilies, buttons, seam binding and lace.  Here's an exclusive!  I'm only telling you. . . I am designing just such one of a kind aprons and plan to launch this limited edition collection in the spring of 2015, In sha Allah. Shhhhhhhh :)

Question 15: What’s your top tip for someone who wants to do something similar to you for a career?  Below is my top tip.  Be you.  Be the best you that you can be!  Don't be a Negative Nelly to yourself.  Don't sweat what other people are thinking about you, because you know what?  They are not thinking about you!  They are sweating their own stuff!  If someones says something that bothers you and makes you mad or upset or unproductive, blah, blah, blah, realize it's not them that makes you feel like that, it's how YOU choose to react to it!  You are in charge of how you feel! You make your own happy.  I guess I'm trying to say, GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY! Now, go set the world on fire, girl!!

Okay, so now it's my turn to tag!  These creative bloggers are tops in my book!  I would encourage you all take a peek at their blogs and let them know I sent you!  I heart them all to pieces! :)

Julie of       Juliechats.com

Dana of       Dapoppins

Brandy of   AuntieB's Baby Boutique

Jenny of     Hi Jenny Brown!

  and
YOU! 

No problem if you can't participate, but if you do (yes, please) let me know in the comments, okay? You can use the post title Behind the Scenes of My Business Blog Tag and the hashtag #MyBizBlogTag so we can all find your post.

Here are the questions that you can copy and paste:

Question 1: What’s your two to three sentence bio? (You know, what the heck do you do?)

Question 2: What’s your favorite part of your job?

Question 3: What’s your least favorite part of your job?

Question 4: What are the top three tools you use the most in your work?

Question 5: What business goal would you love to reach before the end of the year?

Question 6: Who are three creatives that inspire you?

Question 7: What do you listen to (if anything) while you work?

Question 8: Morning person or night owl?

Question 9: How many employees do you have and what are the main things they do for you?

Question 10: What’s your favorite social media platform?

Question 11: What’s your least favorite social media platform?

Question 12: What works best when it comes to marketing your business?

Question 13: What’s one thing about your business that your blog readers probably don’t know?

Question 14: If your business were a fashion accessory, what would it be?

Question 15: What’s your top tip for someone who wants to do something similar to you for a career?

This blog post is a part of the ‘Behind the Scenes of My Business’ Blog Tag started by April of Blacksburg Belle. She began this blog tag experiment to build community among creatives, help us bloggers to connect more and get to know each other better. This month’s topic is all about sharing the behind the scenes stuff of our businesses. If you’d like to participate or want more info, check out this post right here.

Thank you for taking the time to read this rather lengthy post! I hope to hear from you in the comments and Instagram and Facebook and Pinterest too! 

BIG LOVE
xoxoxo
Nancy