allora handmade blog: bring it on indie biz 3.0

Monday, February 28, 2011

bring it on indie biz 3.0

are you participating in indie biz 3.0 ? i can't wait for class to start tomorrow!!

saturday morning gussy asked me if we had to have a notebook of some sort. i didn't remember seeing anything about that, so when i opened up and saw this fabulous creation that Leigh-Ann had made...

i wanted to cry.

it was beautiful.

it was custom.

it had heart.

and i knew i couldn't do it.

{heart beating faster}

i don't like to think i am competitive, but with an assignment like this, i was sure to go into meltdown/compare-myself-for-no-reason mode.

but, you see, i don't have time for that.

nor do i have the energy for that.

at first i was intent on making it the most fabulous notebook ever known to man.

it was going to be bright and happy and rosy and just plain awesome.

i had dreams of papercrafting the weekend away and "showing up" to my first day of class with my gleaming new notebook in hand and ready to say "oh, this little thing? it's just something i whipped up..."

why are we like this?

why do we make ourselves crazy?

am i alone in the crazy?

LUCKILY, the crazy only lasted long enough for me to realize i just can't.

i have a family to care for.

i have a business to run.

i have my sanity to attend to.

and a silly notebook is not worth all of that.

i get the purpose of the assignment. i know the intention was to make something that is "me" that will make me want to go back to it, and keep me inspired, etc. etc. BUT, if i wasn't able to do all that without shipping myself off to the looney bin? POINTLESS.

so, right there in office depot, i made the choice to pass on my portion of crazy for the day.

i bought a notebook that was already cute without my interference.

{gasp!}

i gave up my dreams of painting anything on the cover and finding the perfect pretty papers.

i went with what i had.

some bright paper that did just fine.

some fun stickers that served their purpose.

and while it is not the masterpiece i had dreamed of, it still makes me really happy.

especially since i didn't have to have a meltdown to get there.

did i pass the first test indie biz?

what do you to cut out the crazy?

AND are you participating in indie biz? let me know! i'd love to connect!

40 Comments:

At February 28, 2011 at 8:51 AM , sweetjeanette said...: Well, it looks great.... and makes me happy too. I'm not participating, but wanted to (does that count?) Hopefully, you'll keep us all updated on your progress, or at least glimpses of your slant on it. Thanks for sharing your human-ness!
At February 28, 2011 at 8:53 AM , Megan said...: lol. I LOVE this post!!!
It seems like there have been about a million birthdays/parties/celebrations/ect that I must make a present for or a card for and I start getting paranoid that people will know if I make the same card for two people. Or if I only spent about 2.3 minute whipping up a little something for them. Or some ridiculous something!!!
Sometimes I have to remember it's the thought that counts, and as long as it is made with love:: it's perfect!!!

I LOVE your binder, because you chose keep it real and simple instead of taking the long, tiring and crafty road the you wanted to take. Sometimes we must chose our sanity over making something super duper crafty!! :)
xo
At February 28, 2011 at 8:55 AM , Anonymous said...: WOW. you know what? i was going to stay up late on my birthday tonight just to do my notebook. but you're right. i have a biz, a blog, 22 giveaways, a family, and most importantly, my birthday going on right now. my notebook will be cute, but i'm not going to stay up till 3 AM stressing out & trying to compete. cause in reality, thats what I would be doing it for. for them. not for me.

In other news? YAY SCHOOL!
At February 28, 2011 at 9:12 AM , Jenna said...: i did the same thing last year for the indie biz 2.0 class. stressed about the binder and other minor projects. yours looks awesome and fun and stress free. :) i really wanted to join again and hear Lisa Leonards biz story and ideas. have fun!
At February 28, 2011 at 9:43 AM , Bonhomie said...: it's perfect. and what makes it perfect is the lack of stress - yay, you!

i'm not participating. i don't think. i was going to sign up but changed my mind. but now i'm not sure. i feel like all the cool kids are going to a party that i should be going to. hmmm...is it too late to sign up?

(now THERE'S some crazy for ya!)
At February 28, 2011 at 9:48 AM , Charity said...: I went through the same thing over the notebook. So glad I am not alone, thank you for your honesty. I used what we had because that is what made sense in my world right now, it will nott win awards but it is cute and makes me smile. I hope that it is enough, I hope I am enough--because really isn't that what we are questioning.? I can't wait for this class and to get to know you and others more.

Hope you have a great day,
Cha Cha
At February 28, 2011 at 9:50 AM , The Rogers Life said...: I think your binder looks great. I'm So glad that someone else feels the same way. I am also taking Indie Biz 3.0. After reading the assignment Saturday I was so intimidated. After many hours of fretting over it I just used what time I could to come up with something. I find that it is always that hardest to design something for yourself...maybe because we are harder on ourselves than any client would be.
At February 28, 2011 at 9:57 AM , Emmy said...: I'm trying to remind myself that this class is supposed to help me... not add to my stress. So even I am going low-key with the notebook {and notebooks are kind of my biz... go figure}. So excited to start this journey, and glad that I have some friends to encourage me along!
At February 28, 2011 at 9:57 AM , Jessi said...: Hey Jess, it's Jess.. I signed up for this class about a month ago and am so excited for it to start. Time to put all my ideas into ACTION!!! Hopefully I will be a vendor soon @ Queen Bee Market, wink wink! See you in class!!

xoxo
At February 28, 2011 at 10:20 AM , Unknown said...: yep! i'm participating! love it so far! had a blast making my binder yesterday. cut out the crazy? what? that would be everything! just kidding. i am trying to manage my time more wisely tho ;)
At February 28, 2011 at 10:30 AM , Anonymous said...: I love your binder and think it's perfect! I'm participating in the class too and so excited,,amazed you are in it too because to me you've already got it going on business wise and I strive to be like you! I was out of town all weekend and today is my birthday, so I panicked a bit when I saw we needed to make a fancy dancy binder. I'm going to take a cue from you and go the store-bought cute/add some embellishments route! Thank you for saving my sanity!
At February 28, 2011 at 11:38 AM , Anonymous said...: I'm right there with you. I didn't even notice that the project booklet was up on the site until the post about the binder came out... and at this point I haven't even finished printing the pages, so the fancy pants binder is being pushed to the side. I've decided not to let myself get too caught up on the details and instead just take from the class what I can with the limited time I have to devote to it. It would be counterproductive to let my actual indie business workload slip because of time devoted to the class :)
That said, I'm beyond excited to complete as much of the workshop as possible. Honestly, just making connection with my fellow students has been worth signing up already!
At February 28, 2011 at 12:00 PM , Dondrea said...: I'm in Indie Business 3.0 also! I have not done the binder yet; however, I have printed the pages. I feel like that's the most important thing anyway - having the actual workbook and adding what you learn to it. Hey, the saying is "don't judge a book by its cover," so we will NOT judge your cover whatsoever. Lol! Plus, one day when you have ooodles of time on your hands (NOT!), you could change it. As it stands, I think your binder is carefree, simple, and snazzy. I wouldn't change a thing! :)
At February 28, 2011 at 12:13 PM , Unknown said...: I'm in Indie Biz 3.0 too!

And, I love your binder! It's perfect and I'm all about using what you have... I purchased a binder, and am working on getting it together tonight.

But, I know that competitive streak can get out of control, I have it too. I just keep reminding myself that 'camaraderie is the new competition'. It helps, mostly... :)

See you in class!

Stacy
At February 28, 2011 at 3:49 PM , thetwistedruffle said...: i'm in the class too, and i think yours turned out really cute! i also went with the pre-cutsified binder and embellished it like you did. some people are just really talented at paper art crafts, so they can make their binders look like a masterpiece! i'm not one of them so...
At February 28, 2011 at 4:22 PM , Melissa Stover said...: cuteness! i'm not a type a kind of person. this is the kind of short cuts i take all the time to make my life easier. my mind is constantly thinking, how can i do this easier?
At February 28, 2011 at 5:29 PM , Ruthanne said...: My binder is white. With no stickers. At all.

BUT I'm taking the class.

::happily dances around the room::

xoxoxo
At February 28, 2011 at 5:35 PM , Rhonda D. Designs said...: I'm taking the class too and I am super excited to learn and grow along side you fabulous ladies. I have not yet put together my binder, but plan to use items I already have on hand. I think yours looks fantasic!
At February 28, 2011 at 6:03 PM , Skippin' Rope said...: I'm all signed up for Indie Biz! I'm so excited about!

Thrilled to know you are in it too! Looking forward to connecting and getting to know you over the next few weeks!!!
At February 28, 2011 at 6:03 PM , HeartsmilesBoutique said...: I'm taking the class and I am so excited!!! I look forward to chatting with you more:) and I am more simplistic with notebooks:) But hers is soo cute and you made an adorable one yourself!
At February 28, 2011 at 6:13 PM , Anonymous said...: I understand how you feel! I worked with what I had and didn't go out and buy a thing. I wanted to make it look ridiculously cute, but I needed to do what I could and get EXCITED about the class, rather than stress out.
I can't wait for INDIE BIZ to start! It's going to be so wonderful :)
At February 28, 2011 at 7:31 PM , Heidi said...: I'm glad I'm not alone! I tend to OVERthink and OVERworry about things...usually the silly things. :) As for the binder---beautiful! And perfectly functional. As a kid in my class would say...you got this!
At February 28, 2011 at 7:32 PM , Unknown said...: Awww your notebook looks super cute! I'm really looking forward to starting tomorrow too. Looks like we're in good company! =D
At February 28, 2011 at 7:46 PM , Angie said...: I'm in the class! And I just put my notebook together tonight and said to my husband (in a panicked voice)..."I am creative! I am going to rock this dang notebook!" And then proceeded to have a meltdown. Awesome. :)
At February 28, 2011 at 8:27 PM , thechattymommy said...: i love your binder.
i was thinking of joining the class, but I keep purchasing things for a business I don't have yer and I have to stop somewhere- I have promised myself I will take it next time!
Enjoy and let us know any details you can share.
At February 28, 2011 at 9:12 PM , Annie @ Wattlebird said...: I just signed up for Indie Biz so I don't have any of the info yet. I feel so behind already! (tough for a past high-school-overachiever)
At February 28, 2011 at 9:40 PM , Beth said...: I think yours is super cute! I totally went the same route! i wanted to make something so pretty and me, and then when I went to the store (today) to get supplies i was totally overwhelmed! i didnt want to have to buy paper packs and stamps and everything! So i started with a cute looking binder that had tabs, and added a felt unting to the front in my fav colors. Wha-la! i am super eager to get started!
At March 1, 2011 at 4:29 AM , Lish said...: I think your folder is great - don't know what you were worrying about!

I found you through Indie Biz (I'm a fellow student) - I hope we can be blog pals :)
At March 1, 2011 at 8:57 AM , Amy said...: What a great folder! Another project to add to my list (:
At March 1, 2011 at 9:07 AM , Pam said...: Ha thanks for the post. I totally missed the notebook post so thanks :)

I will be following your same route. Your binder is cute totally cute. Although, I'm going for just white to fit in with my other binders. Okay I'll add something simple to it-see ya' there-
At March 1, 2011 at 9:24 AM , Heather Mullin said...: AMAZING! I am so glad that I am following your blog now. Everything you do is absolutely amazing and I am so excited. I am also excited to shop in your shop because I truly love everything! So great to meet you!
Heather
At March 1, 2011 at 9:28 AM , Jamie said...: What a lovely post! I'm your newest follower and am truly thrilled about reading your goings-on!

Jamie
At March 1, 2011 at 7:27 PM , Bonita Rose said...: Hi there Jess, I'm in Indie Biz with you.. and your binder is still beautiful.. don't sweat the small stuff right?? xo love your website everything.. u are uber talented and u are already miles ahead of some of us in the class! u go girl! xo
At March 1, 2011 at 7:58 PM , Gina Thomas said...: you are my hero. you just made me feel like i wasn't such a bad person because i haven't even DONE my notebook yet. bah!

I am insanely busy and I don't have a family. I leave the house at 6am and commute 1.5 hours to work work all day and commute another 1.5 hours to get home from work, arrive home at 7pm and make dinner and go to bed. If I had a week to prepare I could have made a fun fancy pants notebook, but 2 days in advance isn't going to work for me. I guess I get 10 points off for being late today.

I have a vision of what I want my notebook to be and have all the supplies. I will complete it this weekend; tardy points and all:)

HUGS to you!
:)gina
At March 2, 2011 at 7:09 AM , Celeste said...: Love this! I need to cute-binder-up my life!
At March 2, 2011 at 3:05 PM , Chicky said...: Hi Jess!!

I just got my notebook at staples, and went with a pre-prettified one. I just signed up yesterday - I had meant to a week ago, but totally blanked - thank goodness Ruthanne favorited this post!

xoDeanna
At March 2, 2011 at 4:33 PM , Anonymous said...: Hi there, I'm another one of your classmates! Just wanted to say I love your binder! xo
At March 2, 2011 at 11:09 PM , Heather @ Glitter and Gloss said...: Um....shut it down, that notebook is awesome!
At March 3, 2011 at 9:59 AM , Erika @ rouge + whimsy said...: love it. love it. i'm doing the same thing.

i've avoided the flickr group because I can't stand everyone's creativity that I don't have time for.

<3 indie biz classmate
At March 3, 2011 at 3:38 PM , Anonymous said...: um, your notebook is gorgeous and still so completely you. fresh. and fun!

i'm participating as well! had a chance to whip up my notebook, but that's about it so far. hoping to catch up on "classes" this weekend. it's tough having a full-time job, part-time business and keeping up with the kiddos!

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Monday, February 28, 2011

bring it on indie biz 3.0

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