I'm Baaaacccckkkk!

After more than a month of not posting, I'm back! I'm sorry that it has been a bit quiet on the blog recently. For the past six weeks or so, I've been preparing for my craft fair at work. I've been preparing merchandise, designing logos and stationary...basically creating the foundation of my business. I figured that this was probably the best time to get things off the ground. So, I've decided that for my business I'm going to start small...word of mouth orders, as well as an Etsy store. Hopefully by the end of the year, I will be able to participate in a craft show or two. I've still got a lot of work to do though before I get to that point. 

Anyway, the craft fair went really well. I made a couple hundred dollars and 25% of my profits benefitted the Tulsa MS Walk, which made things even better! Here is a picture of a portion of my craft fair booth...

Also, here is a closer look at the items that I created. 

8"x24" Signs:

Family Established Signs: 

Initial Coaster Set: 

Personalized Notecards:

Forget-Me-Not Notecard Series: These are great to have at home or in your work desk drawer for emergencies. 

The set contains the following messages: Hi, Happy Birthday, Congratulations, Get Well Soon and Thinking of You. 

This set contains the following messages: Howdy, Happy Birthday, Congratulations, Get Well Soon and Thinking of You. 

Around the World Series: The set contains the following messages: Thank You, Merci, Gracias and Grazie. 

Modern Version of the Around the World Series: 

Thank You Notes: 

Personalized Stationary:

Magnets:

Then this past weekend, I made and fulfilled all of the orders that I received from my craft fair. Here are some pictures of the items that I created for my customers. 

Family Established Tile and Initial Coaster Sets: 

Family Established Sign:

Customized Tile: 

So, what do you think? As you can see, I've been a busy bee, but I 'm back now. All of the items that I listed above are available for you to purchase. If you have any questions about prices, etc., feel free to e-mail me at nicky@stylemarkdesigns.com. Remember, everything can be customized :). 

-N

P.S. We purchased the URL for www.stylemarkdesigns.com. So, it's official. If you go to www.stylemarkdesigns.com, .net, .biz, .org, .us and .info you will get my website. Now I just have to design a website.

I Need Some More Help

Over the past few months, I have really been thinking about starting a small business on the side for my crafts. I'm not thinking anything big. My vision is to sell my creations on Etsy.com (the Ebay of the craft world) and eventually do a few craft fairs. I would sell my signs, vinyl letters for the wall, magnets and personalized stationary. Here are just a few examples of what I would be selling...

An opportunity has become available for me to sell my creations at a craft fair at work to raise money for the MS Walk. So, I figured that now is better a time than ever to start my business. So, I need your help with choosing a name, as well as a "look and feel" for the business. 

Around Christmas, I was brainstorming some different business names and the only name that continues to stay around is "Stylemark Designs." I'm looking for a name that is generic, so I'm not restricted on the items that I can sell. What do you think of "Stylemark Designs?" Do you have any other ideas for a business name?

Also, I need to decide on a look and feel for my new business endeavor. So, I've been looking for someone to design me a logo on a limited budget. Unless I want to spend a few hundred dollars, I haven't had much luck. This past weekend though, I looked at Etsy and found a talented designer that is very inexpensive and I really like her work. Now, this is where you come in. Erin, the designer, already has a few pre-made designs that I really like, but I need your help narrowing it down. Keep in mind that the images below are really just potential "look and feels" for my business. As for the "look and feel," I'm looking for something that is chic and contemporary, but is cheerful at the same time and represents me. Once I have decided on a "look and feel," then I would work with Erin to create a logo. Here are my top three design choices so far. 

Hydrangeas:

Potential business card ideas, but in the same colors as above. 

Blue Posies:

Potential business card. 

Simplistic Dots:

What do you think?? Do you have a favorite? Feel free to give me your honest feedback. 

-N

Help Needed!

Many of you know that I ordered a black dress from Alfred Angelo for an upcoming wedding. Well, my search for colored shoes and accessories has been unsuccessful. I never really found anything that caught my eye. Anyway, I found these shoes that I liked from Nine West, but they are black and white. So, I wanted to get everyone's opinion on the outfit. 

Here are the shoes. 

Here is the dress, but in black.

I was thinking about purchasing this necklace, earring and bracelet set as well. 

Instead of brightening up the outfit with colorful accessories, it looks like I will be doing the black and white look instead. 

What do you think? Do you think this is suitable for a wedding?

-N

We Have An Oreo!

This week was a pretty big week for Andrew and I. We ended up buying a new car on Tuesday. No, we didn't get rid of the Porsche or the Audi, but instead got a third vehicle. I know, I know...what were we thinking? Well, even though I'm still getting used to the third car payment, this was actually the best decision for us. Currently, we have a 45,000 mile lease with Audi and there is over 20,000 miles on the car (it's just had it's one year anniversary in January).  So, we got the car to help lower the mileage that's being put on my Audi. The new car is going to be the everyday car, as well as the vehicle we use on long trips and on the weekends, etc. 

We received a really great deal on the car (we got a new car for a price of a used car) that we just couldn't resist. So, on Tuesday afternoon, we went to seal the deal and picked up our 2009 Pontiac G8. 

Here are some pictures of the new car in the garage. As you can see, we now have an "oreo" (two black cars and a white car). 

-N

Hump Day Dinner #45: White Owl Pub

White Owl Pub

1325 E. 15th Street

Tulsa, OK

On Wednesday, we ate at the White Owl Pub. This new restaurant/bar is located on 15th Street, across from Camille's and next door to the Little Black Dress. I was really surprised at this restaurant. It's an industrial/contemporary decorated bar that is fairly long and spacious. At first, I was disappointed in the selection of food, but ended up being pleasantly shocked. Since, we were going to a bar, I figured there would serve burgers, chicken strips, etc. Instead though, there offer pizzas, tacos, fish and chips, macaroni and cheese, etc. It's a melting pot of foods. Andrew and I ended up ordering fish and chips (I know, I tried something new!) and it was really good. Andrew thought it was the best place he has had fish and chips in Tulsa. Even though the pieces of fish were small, the dish was reasonable priced at $13. We would definitely eat at this hot spot again, but only if we were in the area. If you have a chance to try it out, I would recommend you doing so. Try their homemade potato chips...they are amazing!

-N

Hump Day Dinner #44: Bogey's Hamburgers

Bogey's Hamburgers

11115 E. 41st Street

Tulsa, OK  74146

Last week, we ate at Bogey's Hamburgers, Mark's Dad's restaurant, for our Wednesday night dinner and the food was delicious. It's a little hole in the wall hamburger joint at 41st and Garnett, right across the road from QuikTrip. We had excellent service and the food is really good value for money. For a hamburger, curly fries and a drink, it was about $5. Not a bad deal, right? I had a grilled chicken sandwich and Andrew had a bacon hamburger. Andrew thought the burgers were just as good as Ron's, which is saying a LOT for Andrew because Ron's is one of his favorite restaurants. We will definitely be visiting Bogey's again, especially since it's so close to work. You never know, we might become regulars, since it's an ideal spot for lunch. If you are ever visiting the 41st and Garnett area, give Bogey's a try...you won't be disappointed.

-N 

42. Read a new book every month and 44. Read five nonfiction books

I've been able to contribute to my 101 list this month. I have just finished reading "Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make that Sabotage their Careers." It's actually a very helpful book. At the beginning of the book you take a questionnaire that identifies your weaknesses in the workplace and then you read the sections of the book that apply to you. I just need to write down all of things that I need to work on and keep the list handy at work, so I can make my weaknesses into strengths. 

For my next book, I'm reading Sleeping Arrangements by Madeleine Wickham (AKA: Sophie Kinsella). 

-N