2015! I've been waiting for this year! It's a new year with new possibilities.
I spent a lot of 2014 revising, re-doing, and treading water. Sometimes growth isn't sexy. It's a lot of hard work as in literal gross, stinky sweat. Euphemeral Designs Studio had highs and lows, plus lots happy and content periods of enjoying the ride and being kind of stupefied at how far we've come, if I'm honest. There's nothing that beats the satisfaction that comes from building something and sharing it with the world.
I have to say, as I continue with my third year in retail, retail is NOT for wimps. It really isn't. I think 99 percent of people are not cut out for doing this long term because it is entirely too easy to succumb to the stress of day-to-dayness. You can't be a dreamer and an idea person only, you have to be a do-er and a keep-doing-it-er.
I also found 2014 was year of observation- observing myself in this business and watching others, quietly, with compassion and admiration. I'm fortunate to have friends in this business who are not only crazy talented and innately gifted, but generous and kind human beings. They teach me all the time how to be a better person. I'm grateful to them. Plus it's kind of nice to have folks who "get it." It's been fun to see them hit their stride.
The longer I do this, truthfully, the less I have to say and the more I have to do. So blogging has absolutely gone by the wayside. I suspect this will continue. I'm as passionate as ever, but I find I have to channel my energy into production and the needs of the store. It doesn't leave me much time to blog about it. Long gone are the days where I can spend hours hunting for a single piece, painting it, staging it, taking photos, and writing blog posts. I mean I could but then my children would be naked, unfed, and I'd pretty much never be home. Ha. That's the main difference between being a painter and a store owner -your responsibilities are multiplied a hundred-fold. Still, it's nice to connect and share, I've missed that.
This year I have put myself to the task of improving, stretching, trying new things, expanding beyond my comfort zone (and how!)... and really pushing myself to hone my vision. We all have a unique voice and a unique vision to offer the world, and I really want to do this more fully. I feel ready this year to re-articulate my vision for the store.
I want to get back to basics, to really focus on my brand, and to return to our mission- to bring handcrafted luxuries, quality goods by local artistians, curiosities and notions, and premium paints to our customers. So we will be working towards that end: evoking the extraordinary with everything we do.
Kevin and I spent all day re-arranging the store recently, closing the second floor to make room for a new painting studio for me (yay for efficiency), while keeping the classroom available for our monthly classes. We relocated the counter. We opened up a back room that had been closed for a few months (after we sold it out in one week! I have to admit it took me forever to recover from that). Now we're focused on wrapping up 2014 with the dreaded paperwork and all that it entails: taxes, book keeping, and renewals- oh my! But it's not all grunt work and drudgery- we also sat down and penned out plans for our new lines, the direction we are taking the store in, and the steps we need to get there.
Exciting times ahead my friends! I'm so lucky to have a platform to do what I love and share it with those I love.
Thanks for sticking around with me while I continue this journey. I wouldn't be here without you all!
xo,
Crys
