Am I Unique?

I was playing around in the etsy forums the other day, and I came across this thread, and I thought it was really inspiring and thought provoking. The thread is entitled "How to Be Unique (or Weird)"


So many on Etsy have found their passion and are thriving, but don't necessarily know (or can't explain) how they did it. And others may be sort of floundering here because they know they want to make, say... knitted gloves... but haven't figured out how to make knitted gloves really theirs, truly unique, and absolutely special. Least, not beyond "I use quality fabrics or yarns" and "I find unusual materials".

Here are a few questions to ask yourself to get started. Hopefully, this can help some of you tap into your own uniqueness. And everyone else, please add your own questions and ideas.


1. What's your medium? Is it attached to what you did and loved as a child?

As I've said before, I started out in jewelry. As a child, I was never into jewelry. I was into writing (ridiculous) spy novels.

Once I applied that favorite pastime to this hobby-oriented business, it took off. Using other skills I learned along the way (branding, design) I was somehow able to tap into my inner weirdo to bring forth a product that was strange and that worked.

List 5 things you loved (or loved to play with) as a child. How can you integrate them into your business?


2. When do people raise their eyebrows at you?

I once told my mother you should be able to keep a child in a dog crate if you want to go shopping. (Chill out, it was a joke.) I got that raised eyebrow thing then. I have a nasty habit of being fundamentally unable to stop the throughts in my head from spilling out of my mouth. Sometimes people think those thoughts are funny. As such, combining that childhood passion with my inner strangeness (that I choose to interpret as humor) helps make this business more unique.

When do people look at you funny? Make a list of at least 6 times. Even if it embarrasses you (which it shouldn't), how can you connect the funny looks to this business?


3. When do you lose time?

When writing an articles, I typically disappear in the subject matter and the act of writing about it. I can stay up until the wee hours working on a writing or design project. Both subjects are that compelling to me.

Ask yourself when you last forgot to eat. When you looked at the clock and were shocked to learn it was well after midnight. Make a list. And make sure that when you're doing this craft, time and food are getting away from you.


4. If you were the only person in the world you knew (and you had plenty of cash), how would you spend your time?

I call this "killing my family and friends". They're all great, but sometimes I think I can get unduly influenced by their beliefs, judgements, and habits. So I pretend they don't exist.

So pretend you're alone in the world. Are you doing this hobby? Are you taking some chances with it that have popped into your head but were to afraid to act on it? Are you mixing materials that aren't commonly mixed? Are you buying supplies that are really odd? Jot down a few things you might do if it was just you you had to think about.


Isn't is great? I thought is was a fresh way to look my business and me as a person. Here is my result:


1. What's your medium? Were you attached to it when you were a child?
I loved paper, writing, cross-stitch, drawing, painting, and music (more specifically, singing).


2. When do people raise their eyebrows at you?
I still have to think about that one. I haven't really thought much about it - I'll probably have to also ask Jeffery; he's good at knowing things like that. Jeff says that he raises his eyebrows at me when I say something silly. That's really helpful, isn't it? lol


3. When do you lose time?
That was an easy one. I lose time when I'm creating. When I make my journals, paper creations, and also when I write. There are many times when I'm busy making something, and I look up and it's almost 2:00 a.m. bad Shirley.


4. If you were the only person in the world you knew (and had plenty of cash), how would you spend your time?
I would be doing exactly what I am doing now - creating. I am more at peace with myself when I create. I feel like I'm doing what I should be doing, you know? It's becoming more and more an important part of who I am.


So, in conclusion, I think I'll never really be able to be "weird", but at least I'll be doing what I love to do! :)


-Shirley

A Hospital Visitor

The big news from this past week: my sister Anne, who is about 29 weeks pregnant with twins, was admitted to the hospital last Thursday evening with what could be intrahepatic cholestasis. That means that her liver might not be processing the mucous in her body the way it should, and there could be a build-up of bile. The main symptom is itchiness. Anne's liver levels were going up every day, and that was worrisome to her obstetrician, so she was admitted so they could keep an eye on the levels - it's also much quicker to get test results when you're in the hospital.

Initially, the doctors were worried that if her liver numbers were too high, the babies would have to be taken out early (like sometime in the next week or so!). But after speaking with a specialist from McMaster Hospital, there was no reason to believe that Anne cannot carry these babies to term, even with the high liver numbers. If there was something else, there would be cause for concern; but there isn't anything else, thankfully.

There is a higher chance that she may develop preeclampsia, which is pretty scary, but now that they know, everyone is keeping an eye out for the symptoms, and it seems that they will be able to stay on top of it. I was able to visit with Anne for about an hour on Sunday afternoon while Jeffery watched the kids. It was nice to be able to sit and have a chat with her. Anne was discharged from the hospital on Monday, I believe.

On Saturday, Tracey came over and watched our kids for us, while Jeffery and I went out to dinner. We have gift certificates from Zum Linzer, a German and Austrian restaurant in Hamilton. HUGE portions! I didn't need to order an appetizer, even though the breaded mushrooms were really delicious. Jeffery's starter was goulash - I think it's his new favourite word.

I think Isabel needs a helmet. She is so determined to stand up and get back down, and stand up and get back down, even though she falls so often and bangs her head on the floor. She cries, I soothe her, she crawls to another part of the living room or dining room where she can get up to stand and do it all over again!

Alexander is getting better at keeping certain things away from her. For example, she loves getting at his Cheerios, and at first, he would watch her grab the container they are in, then whine to me that she has them. But I've been trying to get it across to him that he has to keep them away from her where she can't reach them.

I do believe that Isabel is finally beginning to teethe. There is the beginning of two little bumps on her lower gums, and she's drooling a lot more now, if that were even possible! It also takes a bit more to get her to settle down to sleep for the night. It would be easier if I was still breast-feeding her - and I am, but I'm weaning her off the boob. It's so much easier to just whip it out than get a bottle ready, warm it up, then give it to her (especially in the middle of the night). I don't breast-feed her before bed, and today I added baby food for lunch to her diet. So she's getting less and less breast milk. I've been a bit worried about a return of the constipation, but everything is okay with that so far.

Speaking of poop, I've been trying to get Alexander more aware of when he poops, since I would like to start him on toilet training before he gets to high school. So I had been telling him that when he has a poop in his diaper, he has to say, "Mommy, poop!", then I will change his diaper. And he's been telling me every time he poops for the last few days! - even when it's in the middle of the night! On Monday and Tuesday nights (well, technically morning), he's come up the stairs to tell me he had a poop in his diaper. It's awesome! I love progress!

That's all for this week, folks!

-Shirley

"Who is there a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy." Micah 7:18

You Are My Sunshine

I didn't make this treasury, but I love the colours so much, I just had to share with you!

You can go here to see this treasury online.

Enjoy!