Get to Know Kim Grisham of KT Naturals

Kim Grisham is the owner of KT Naturals, an all-natural mineral makeup company. Her products have been receiving rave reviews from many who have tried them. Kim took on the company from its creator and has built up a reputation as a great business owner with a quality product. Her enthusiasm and warmth are combined with a great product will carry her far. We are proud to introduce you to her and are excited to continue to see her grow!

Hometown: Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Current Residence: Salt Lake City, Utah

Education: Associate’s degree in Business Graphics.

Professional Background: I was in school for most of my life before becoming a stay-at-home mom and entrepreneur. I went to a community college for graphic design, and online school for medical transcription. I also worked in a classroom with severe mentally and physically disabled children, which I loved.

What you wanted to be when you grew up: A wife, mommy, nurse, teacher, web designer, and entrepreneur.

What you are: A wife, mommy, and entrepreneur.

Brief Summary of your Start Up: I have spent a lot of time with various projects and ideas that would bring in extra income while allowing me to stay home with my child. A few months ago, I came across a woman who had started a business but did not have time to continue with it. I loved her passion for all natural makeup products and the direction she was headed with her business. I was really amazed when I learned that it was possible to create, mix, and sell mineral makeup from your own home! I was blessed to be chosen to own and manage KT Naturals.

Company Website? www.ktnaturals.com

What inspired you? My son. I have always dreamed of being a stay-at-home mom. When we needed extra income, KT Naturals dropped in my lap. I believe there is a reason for everything!

How long have you been in business? KT Naturals was created by Katie McCartney of Maumee, Ohio in 2007. I have been blessed to own the business since June of 2009.

How did you fund it? Purely with sales of the products!

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? I consider Kelly King Anderson and all those involved with StartupPrincess.com great inspirations and mentors, though I have not received any one-on-one guidance.

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? Twitter, Facebook, CreatedByMom.com, among others.

Current Business Challenge? Balancing time among business, family, and housework.

What are you doing about it? Less housework and spending time with family! Business time just falls into place. Who needs a clean house, anyway?!

Favorite motivational quote: “Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.”

Family? I have been married to my best friend, Hank, for 2 years this October 11^th. We have one boy, Eli, who just turned 1!

If so, how do you balance family and business? Nap time for baby is essential to keep up with my business! My husband is very supportive and helps whenever and however he can.

Favorite book? October Sky, a very inspirational story. I love reading memoirs!

What do you do to relax? Spend time with family, watch movies, web design.

What do you want to change most about your world? I want to push for greater acceptance of organic and natural products and remedies. There are too many harsh chemicals and ingredients in things we use and consume. Natural is better for us and our world!

What are you most proud of? First, my son. Second, I am proud to help support my family while watching my son grow and learn each day. I never wanted to miss out on those special moments, and now I don’t have to!

What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses? If you want something, go for it! Never give up! And always, always allow time for yourself! You deserve it!

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? StartupPrincess.com. I am so glad that I came across Startup Princess. I don’t feel alone anymore! It has led me to bigger and better things for my business. I have loved connecting with women I met through Startup Princess.

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Diamonds! Not only is it my birthstone, but they are “a girl’s best friend” after all!

The Power of Negotiating: for those who feel a little timid…

Negotiating can feel like a daunting, necessary evil of doing business. Something you might feel ill equipped and intimated by… the truth is, you do it every day. Have you ever had to talk your husband into coming home early so you could work late or go out with friends? How about getting your child to eat a dinner he thinks is “yucky?” How about rounding up a committee to put together a carnival at the school or dinner at your church? Really, we negotiate for what we want all the time; and whether its with a 5-year old or a manufacturing CEO the same skills apply.

1. Know Your Story

You need to know who you are and what you want. Why would someone want to work or partner with you? Can you articulate your goals for this project and the big picture? Have someone you trust ask you these questions and practice “fleshing out” the answers until you’re comfortable saying them and they roll right off your tongue.

2. Know Their WIIFM

We’ve all heard of the radio station WIIFM (What’s In It For Me?). Going into a negotiation understanding everyone asks that question will help you feel more prepared and not take offense if they actually ask the question out loud. Take time and make an effort before your meetings/conversations to understand why what you’re proposing works for the other side. It’s impossible to present a Win-Win if you don’t know what they consider a Win.

3. Know the Rules

Be willing to get in the game. Most people expect the negotiation process to include offers and counter-offers and more often than not, several meetings. Be prepared with several layers of compromise and expect that they are too. I’ve often found that as a part of this process, synergy takes over, and a better idea than either of you on your own could have created, is the result.

4. Know Your Walkaway

If you don’t have a walk away the situation is more likely a sales pitch, rather than a negotiation. Your walk-away is the point where you would rather not do the deal than accept what they are offering. If you don’t know that point, or have one going into your conversation, then you may as well just hand it over. You will feel more empowered in the process if you have in the back of your mind a Plan B and you know there’s a point you can walk away from this negotiation to pursue it, or at least go away to sleep on it and come back to it later.

Just a few more tips…

“ Formalizing a positive conversation with a Letter of Intent is usually a good idea. It gives both parties a chance to see in writing the points of agreement and review the next steps. An LOI gives you something tangible to work from without the complications that often arise when you begin drafting the formal agreement.

“ If you’re uncomfortable in a negotiation, trust your gut. It’s been my experience that people who resort to bullying, pressuring and ruthless behavior do so because they lack the skills or integrity to do business any other way. Working with people like that is seldom worth it. Trust yourself to step back, take some time, think about it and bring others into the process, if necessary. Legitimate, integral people won’t want to deny you that – so don’t give it up.

“ Get good at a pregnant pause. Too often we rush to fill up quiet space. That’s most often when we ramble or say things we wish we could take back. There’s nothing wrong with silence to let people process their thoughts and think about what to say next. Be disciplined in giving people that space and time. If you tend to talk too much try sitting in silence while you continue the conversation in your head, silently sing the ABC’s or recite a favorite quote or poem. Just a couple of minutes will give everyone the chance to think before they talk.

In fact, whether negotiating or just moving through the day, here’s one of my favorite quotes that always helps.

We become more adept at rising to the occasion each time we see ourselves doing it. Every time we cope well with whatever real life throws our way, it’s another deposit of confidence, creativity, and courage in our self-esteem account… When you need to rise to the occasion, do it with style. Do it with a knowing smile. Confound them. Astound yourself. Make it look easy, and it will become so.

Carol Rice is the creator and owner of CherishBound, a party-plan company that allows people to make and publish their own stories using their own photographs. Carol started and grew the company on a bootstrap budget, is an expert at teaching other entrepreneurs how to do the same. She is also an expert in home party sales and direct sales. She can be found on Twitter @carolrice.

My Own Schedule Makeover Part I

When I started my first business in 2005, I had a completely haphazard schedule and would answer e-mails after going out with friends and stay up until 2 a.m. finishing projects.  This led to almost constant feelings of stress when working and guilt when not working.

Something had to change. Read more

Introducing Allison Czarnecki of Petit Elefant and Social Luxe Lounge

I met clever mom, visionary, fashionista, event planner and professional blogger  Allison Czarnecki of Petit Elefant early January 2009 via email.  When decided to meet up for lunch we realized that we lived in the same neighborhood! How fun is that? Quite a rarity to find a cool blogging chick in your backyard.  I’ve enjoyed reading Allison’s blog this past year and getting to know her better. Here’s a few of my favorite recent posts by Allison: her post after Touchpoint about Heather Bailey and running for Blogteam President, her tribute to her Grandpa, eyeshadow post on Design Mom, and about meeting “Nie Nie” Stephanie Nielson.

When I met Allison she impressed me with her ambition to take things up a notch in 2009 and it’s been a joy to see her  over the past year do just that!  This year has been a whirlwind for Allison– lots of conferences, traveling, blogging events (Mom 2.0, Blogher, and TJMaxx event…to name a few).  She spent 3 weeks on the road with her family this Summer sampling wonderful hotels, excursions, restaurants, and more and sharing them with her readers at Petit Elefant and if that weren’t enough she also was one of the masterminds behind the highly successful Social Luxe Lounge at Blogher where they had over 700 attend and attracted top sponsors such as Swiffer, Kodak, Lego and more.  Allison has boundless energy, vision, determination, and is inspiring to watch.  She is super talented forming partnerships with key individuals and companies to make her wishes come true. -Kelly King Anderson, Startup Princess Founder

Enjoy getting to know Allison!

Hometown: Orem, Utah

Current Residence: Spanish Fork, Utah

Education: Bachelors of Science, Behavioral Science/Psychology

Professional Background: Copy writer, odd essayist here and there. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for the past 10 years.

What you wanted to be when you grew up: a marine biologist, or a photographer for National Geographic. It was sevens.

What you are: a writer, editor, fashionista, mama

Brief Summary of your Startup: I’m the founder and editor of an online family lifestyle magazine, which basically means I get to stay home with my kids while I write. I focus a lot on travel, home and garden, crafts & recipes, and style. It’s so much fun it should be illegal.

Company Website? http://www.petitelefant.com (also check out her blogher mega-event  Social Luxe Lounge)

What inspired you? I’ve always wanted to write for a magazine, and this way I get to stay at home and do it in my pajamas. Oh, and I’m the boss.

How long have you been in business? Two years.

How did you fund it? It was free. Started out as just a simple blog, now it’s a business.

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? Nope.

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? Not technically, no, but I attend a lot of networking events including Startup Princess, and travel to blogging conferences where I meet a lot of other people who are successful at writing professionally.

Current Business Challenge? Having enough time in the day to follow all my ideas to fruition.

What are you doing about it? Sleeping less.

Favorite motivational quote: This too shall pass.

Family? Married to the love of my life, two kids, a boy and girl.

If so, how do you balance family and business? I think balance is a farce, I feel like I’m on a flying trapeze at all times.

Favorite book? A separate peace.

What do you do to relax? Take hot baths, go running, listen to great music, get together with girlfriends, read a book, watch a good movie.

What do you want to change most about your world? My world? I’d like to change the perception of stay-at-home moms. If people only knew!

What are you most proud of? Being a parent while managing a successful business; it’s no small task.

What advice would you like to offer other Startup Princesses? Have a very clear mental vision of what you’d like to accomplish with what you’re doing, and hold on tight when things get hard. Oh and get a good lawyer.

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? Other women in business. Priceless advice.

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Sapphires, they’re my birthstone.

Thanks Allison, you’re an inspiring Startup Princess!

Craft a Killer Press Release + Win a Free Press Release Book

Janet Meiners Thaler of NewspaperGirl and a Startup Princess Fairy Godmother has just published her first book on press releases and is giving us a chance to win one here!

I often assume that everyone knows what a press release is. Yet I’m surprised how often people don’t. Most of all, they fail to think of a press release as a marketing tool for their business.

A press release is an announcement to the media that is interesting enough to merit attention. Or, put another way, it’s announcing something new about your business.

But on the Internet a press release is more than that. Read more

Meet Alexandra Tornek of So Smart! Productions

Alexandra Tornek of So Smart! Productions is a great example of using your education and passion to create your own business. Her company, which makes educational products for children ages birth to Pre-K, reflects her years of working with infants along with her passion in artistry. Alexandra shows that when you combine your passion with a keen eye for seeing an opportunity, you will find great success. We are pleased to introduce you to her!

Hometown: Miami, FL

Current Residence: West Chester, PA

Education: BS, University of Pennsylvania; MS and doctoral work, University of Miami

Professional Background: I worked for many years as an infancy researcher at the Mailman Center for Early Childhood Development, and the Touch Research Institute, which pioneered studies on massage and infants. I am also an artist, and come from a family of professional artists. After working as an infancy researcher, I co-founded So Smart! Productions, which develops early educational products for ages birth to Pre-K. It combined my skills as a fine artist, graphic artist and research work with infants.

What you wanted to be when you grew up:

A scientist.

What you are: The Co-Founder and CEO of So Smart! Productions

Brief Summary of your Start Up: So Smart! Productions started in 1997. Parents began to discover that their young children were attracted to the television, but there were no appropriate programs available for this age group. We created a company at the time called The Baby School Company (now So Smart! Productions), and produced an animated video titled So Smart! Sights & Sounds. It won a number of national parenting awards and gained quick distribution into top toy store chains, and it was a big hit with young families, as well as educators and caregivers. Young children loved it, and parents loved it too, because it was so engaging and interactive and such a unique platform for discovering new things.

Company Website?

www.SoSmart.com

What inspired you?

Working as an infancy researcher, I saw how babies were naturally attracted to the television, which we used in many of our studies to gauge babies’ preferences. I spent a lot of time listening to parents and their experience at home with their children around the television, who many times were watching programs that were not appropriate for their age, and so I thought, what a great opportunity to provide something useful with this medium.

How long have you been in business?

We founded So Smart! Productions in 1997.

How did you fund it?

With our savings.

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)?

My mom. She worked as a sculptor and was a single mom. I learned from her the art of balancing work and family.

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups?

We have a large network of contacts from being in the industry for so many years, and are involved with Penn, where my husband and I went to school.

Current Business Challenge?

We are launching a new series, So Smart! Baby’s First Word Stories. Our challenge will be to get people to try it. Based on the focus groups we have tested so far, we know that once they watch this new series, they will love it. We’ve always benefited by tremendous word of mouth.

What are you doing about it?

We have joined forces with the largest independent DVD distributor in North America, Echo Bridge Home Entertainment. This will give us a level of distribution and marketing reach well beyond what we have ever had before. It is exciting for us to move to this next level, and reach parents in such larger numbers.

Favorite motivational quote:

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

Family?

My husband and business partner, Scott, and I have two wonderful children, Matthew age 10, and Kaely age 5.

If so, how do you balance family and business?

It’s a challenge. We make sure that we set aside ample time for family, and flex our schedule in certain areas to accomplish this. For instance, we have dinner at home as a family most days of the week, and after the kids are in bed, many times we go back to the computer to finish projects.

Favorite book?

As a mother who works in children’s media as a profession, I have to say the “Frog and Toad” series by Arnold Lobel. He writes sweet, clever stories that make you laugh.

What do you do to relax?

Work on my garden.

What do you want to change most about your world?

More time in the day!

What are you most proud of?

The testimonials we receive from parents and grandparents telling us how much their children love our products.

What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses?

To find something that you are passionate about, and have a skill. If you can find that combination, then the rest is perseverance, and believing in yourself.

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)?

Adobe Illustrator.

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use?

Cherries, raisins and M&M’s.

Would you be interested in being a Fairy Godmother and writing articles or speaking at Startup Princess events?

Absolutely.

What business subjects would you feel comfortable mentoring in?

Most aspects of creativity-based businesses.

How to Pitch a Reporter

Today we are lucky to have several sources for free media leads:

• www.helpareporter.com
• www.reportersource.com
• www.pitchrate.com 

As more and more people become aware of these sources of free leads, there is more competition when pitching your story.

Here are some tips to help you stand out from the pack:

1. Always follow the media contact’s specific requests. So, if you are told to put “Jane Doe Story” in the Subject Line, do that. Why? Because the reporter might have a filter that sends all of those queries to a specific e-mail folder. Otherwise, those replies might get lost.

2. Don’t pitch unless you are truly a good candidate for the story. If you make fat-free dog biscuits, and that’s what the reporter is looking for, then by all means reply. But if you make great-tasting ones and want to prove that yours are just as great as the fat-free ones, don’t bother. You’ll just annoy the reporter, making it unlikely that that person will consider you for a future piece that would be a perfect fit for you.

3. Include all of your contact information in your e-mail pitch. That includes your full name, business name, title, day, night and weekend telephone numbers, location (for time zone purposes and in case the reporter is looking for a specific geography) and e-mail address. Including your Web site is also good – it shows credibility and can provide additional info that the reporter might use.

4. Do not send attachments, unless they are specifically asked for. E-mail filters sometimes delete e-mails with attachments automatically. If a picture if requested, send a link to a .jpg on your Web site.

5. Put the title of the query in the Subject Line, along with your company name, if no specific title is given by the reporter. Something like “Source and Information for Credit Crunch – John Doe” should work. This allows the reporter to find your information through a search if s/he doesn’t remember where to find it.

6. Give ‘em some information. If a reporter is looking for ways employers are helping employees with high gas prices, don’t just say that you have the answers, and can be contacted any time. Give a couple of bullet points with your ideas. Enough to whet a reporter’s appetite, without writing the entire piece.

7. Always respond immediately to a reporter query, even if the deadline is far away. Why? Because the reporter has also asked other people for sources, and if they get responses from other sources quickly, they may stop considering other sources.

8. If you are submitting a product for consideration, include a link to a photo, the price, listing of colors available and a description of the product.

Hope this helps. Good pitching!

Margie Zable Fisher is the president of Zable Fisher Public Relations, and the publisher of WBO Digest. You can get Margie’s award-winning free P.R. tips at www.zfpr.com, and free tips for Women Business Owners at www.wbodigest.com.

Joy Formula – Keys to Living an Authentically Happy Life

Fairy Godmother Tara McCausland of My Joy Quest writes: Joy isn’t a word we hear very often nor is it something we feel as often as I believe we’re intended to. Joy is more than satisfaction or pleasure which are often dictated by circumstances out of our control. Joy is a conscience, daily choice to see the good in ourselves and the world around us meaning that we and we alone are ultimately responsible for whether or not we have joy now. Read more

How to Get Your Product to Stand Out: What’s Your Point of Difference?

The following post is by Fairy Godmother Heather Allard, The Mogul Mom:

Today, my brother Sean emailed me to ask what I thought about a new business he’s considering–baking & selling all-natural dog biscuits.

He loves dogs, has worked with dogs, and last year, purchased a dog biscuit recipe book and began experimenting with different ingredients & focusing on all-natural biscuits inspired by his own dog Aidan’s food sensitivities & skin troubles.

So I Googled “all natural dog biscuits” and came up with 303,000 results. Clearly, there are already a lot of all natural dog biscuits on the market.

Does this mean Sean shouldn’t give it a try?

No, it just means that he’ll have to go into the venture knowing exactly what his point of difference will be. In a nutshell, point of difference is the way in which your product differs from a competitive product.

Wikipedia says that “because of an overwhelming variety of products and services on the market, those that stand out in some manner are better noticed by consumers. There are various (positive and negative) ways of being different compared to competitors in the same market. Differentiation is the term given to the positive way in which a company’s product differs from its competitors. Points of difference (PODs) describe the individual factors of differentiation.”

Point of difference is an important consideration if you sell a product that has serious competition, as in my brother’s case. Some points of difference that Sean can weigh are:

• Price
• Variety
• Features (all natural, exotic ingredients)
• Benefits (eases indigestion, aides weight loss)
• Availability (number of stores that sell his biscuits)
• Convenience (free shipping, auto replenishment)
• Customer service (assistance in purchasing, gift wrapping)

This afternoon, I received an order from Sephora and there were a few samples that I’d selected included with the items I purchased. One of the samples was a product called “No Frizz” (Frizz) made by a company called Living Proof. I opened up the sample packet and read the story behind No Frizz and was immediately struck by how clearly they defined their point of difference. Here’s what it said:

No Frizz is a collection breakthrough, anti-frizz products invented by Living Proof scientists. Formulas that contain the first new frizz control technology in over 30 years! With more than 1,000 frizz fighting products on the market today, just about every one of them tackles frizz the same way–Silicone. The problem is it’s ineffective at addressing the causes of frizz. Silicone coats hair with oil, allowing humidity to penetrate — leaving your hair limp, greasy and full of frizz.

Living Proof scientists set out to cross frizz off the list once and for all. They developed a new molecule that creates an extremely thin barrier on hair and eliminates the two causes of frizz. Water vapor is prevented from penetrating the hair shaft and friction between hair fibers is significantly reduced — resulting in a truly effective anti-frizz action.

So what’s No Frizz’s point of difference? Innovation–they’re the first company in over 30 years to come up with a new way to tackle frizz. They even developed a new molecule to do it, giving No Frizz major “cool” factor. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to bust open my sample and try it.

Here are some other companies that I think do a great job of establishing their point of difference:

• Wal-Mart–lowest price
• K9 Cuisine–organic dog food and fast, friendly, free service
• Zappos–massive selection and free shipping & returns
• Mom4Life–only mom-made products & free shipping

Well, what’s your point of difference? Let me know.

Heather Allard is a mother of three and a “Renaissance mom entrepreneur” who has developed products, offered a service and built a blog since 2001. She blogs at http://www.TheMogulMom.com and offers email coaching for mom entrepreneurs. Heather’s products have been seen on Access Hollywood & Pregnancy Magazine and are a best-seller in One Step Ahead. She’s been featured in Working Mother, Entrepreneur and The Well-Fed Writer: Back for Seconds. Contact her via Twitter: @themogulmom or through her site.

Introducing Heather Bailey Touchpoint Keynote Speaker and Owner of Heather Bailey Designs

We are delighted to introduce Heather Bailey of Heather Bailey Designs. Heather is one of our three keynote speakers this year at Touchpoint, and will be speaking on Creativity in Life and Business. With her own abundant creativity, she is the perfect choice for this topic. Enjoy getting to know her, and we can’t wait to see you and Heather at Touchpoint!

How did you start sewing/ crafting? What other craft do you do?

My prime hobby is learning new things, so I’ve collected quite a list
of interests over the years. My first craft obsession was paper. At four-years-old, I filled my bottom dresser drawer with heaps of paper: white paper, lined paper, construction paper – any paper I could get my hands on. With a stapler, scissors and glue, I built intricate 3D objects: robots, elephants, and even shoes. It wasn’t long before I learned to crochet, outfitting my dolls and Barbies in a rainbow of wild duds. Quilting and knitting soon followed. By the time I was seventeen, my preoccupation with all things handmade picked up serious speed and I soon learned my way around many new arts: spinning, weaving, stained glass, upholstery, ceramics, bead-making, faux-finishing, silver-smithing, painting and illustration.

Today, I enjoy the artistic freedom that comes from a broad base of
experience. And, with the tools and supplies I’ve collected throughout my explorations, my studio is a virtual craftstore. Soldering iron? Got it.
Spinning wheel? Got it. Wood-burner? Got it. Yarn, fabric, ribbon, paper, clay? I’ve got those too.

What’s your background, is it design based?

I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Clothing and Textiles with an
emphasis in Apparel Design. At the university, I gained a strong technical education and won several scholarships and awards for clothing construction and design. After graduating, I started a children’s hat company, which later metamorphosed into a women’s accessory business with the invention of my patented Trash Ties™ hair accessories (TrashTies.com). While waiting for the patent on Trash Ties, I discovered my love for painting and soon began my career creating artwork for fabric, scrapbook supplies, stationery, and so on. Now I run two businesses, Heather Bailey, LLC, through which my artwork is licensed and lifestyle products and patterns are produced, and Trash Ties, LLC, our exciting hair accessory business.

Do you use a sketchpad or anything to hand (napkins/receipts etc)?

I take a sketchbook with me everywhere I go, not only to capture an idea as it whispers by, but also to prevent getting stuck somewhere with nothing to do. Napkins and receipts only come into the picture on the rare occasion I’ve left my sketchbook behind.

What is your favourite item to make / design?

My favorite project tends to be the one I’m designing at the moment. This can vary from fabric artwork to sewing patterns to embroidery designs to a sticky batch of sugar cookies with my kids.

What part of the design process do you enjoy the most?

I love to sketch, dream, and brainstorm whenever and wherever I can. Idea origination is always more fun that the execution of an idea, but not terribly much more. I’ve built a business around my favorite activities and I love most stages of the design process – except perhaps the final wrap-up, which I more tolerate than love.

What is next on the cards for you?

Speaking of cards, we’re in the early stages of planning a stationery debut for 2010. I’m also adding to my sewing pattern collection with Summer and Fall 2009 releases, featuring a fresh mix of designs: children’s toys, pincushions, handbags, quilts, etc. This year will also bring my debut collection of designer, hand-embroidery patterns which I can’t wait to share – birds, paisleys, florals, quilt labels and more. And then there’s my upcoming Nicey Jane fabric collection, full of playful florals, groovy geometrics and a smart mix of accent prints – in two drool-worthy color palettes.

Even more exciting is that all of these new collections are designed to integrate. I’m bouncing in my seat to show how the embroidery designs harmonize with the fabrics and in turn can be used to enhance projects made from my new sewing patterns. There will be a lot of sewing and stitching around the studio this Summer!

Do you have a favourite designer?

To me, it’s important to keep a unique and fresh perspective. As such, I don’t follow the work of other designers much. I’m more intrigued by past designers’ personal histories and journeys. For instance, I’m currently reading Florence Broadhurst: Her Secret & Extraordinary Lives by Helen O’Neill. I’m floored by the mystery surrounding this unforgettable print designer. I picked up her biography with no idea what an amazing story her life been.

How much has the Internet influenced the path your career has taken/the choices you have made?

The Internet has provided a fun flourish of interactivity to my business. I love the connection I have to my fans and friends through my website, blog, Twitter page, Facebook fan page, Flickr groups, and so on. Beyond the rapid-spread of excitement for my artwork, the Internet has sure made the day-to-day running of two businesses much more fun and meaningful and has brought me many fantastic friendships and opportunities. Beyond my blog and other social networking pages, we currently run a brand store at HeatherBaileyStore.com where people with limited local access to designer collections can shop my entire collection of products, across all categories. Moving forward, we plan to incorporate a variety of fun video tutorials at TrashTies.com and to further nurture the blossoming online community of sewers and crafters alike through a variety of future projects.

Your blog is full of how-to’s and tips – what’s your best sewing tip?

At my blog, HELLOmynameisHeather.com, I’ve posted a tutorial called My Favorite Knot. In it, I show how to form a simple knot for hand-
sewing that literally brings a smile to my face every time I use it. The method I had first learned for knotting thread always resulted in an unattractive and impractical wadded mass. My Favorite Knot is quick, easy, and turns out a perfect knot every time – definitely one of my best sewing tips.

What do you love best about your job?

I love that my fabrics and designs excite people to get creative. I receive several emails a week from women who have newly-discovered my work and have subsequently decided to learn sewing, scrapbooking, painting, etc. Additionally, I love to see what people make from my fabrics and patterns. I run several photo-sharing groups at Flickr.com where crafters can upload pictures of projects they have made from my fabrics and designs. I’m the proud mother hen when I browse through these photos. It’s such a thrill to see my artwork wrapped onto another’s sewing project.

What inspires you?

In art, I’m inspired by happy and unique color combinations, by imperfections in nature, and by the whimsical and unexpected. My art is in successfully juxtaposing competing forms and colors for a fresh take on nature.

In life, I’m inspired by my children’s soft hugs and squishy kisses, by last-minute lunch dates with friends, and by quiet time to think and reflect. I love making gifts too.

What draws you to buying fabric? What kinds of things do you buy most often?

While I have an extensive collection of assorted fabrics, which I love, I mostly sew with my own fabrics. I’m drawn to prints with unique color combinations, and interesting, playful forms. These are my main points of focus when designing a collection. I do collect other solid-reading fabrics that will reinforce a color palette I’m exploring in my projects. As a print’s design is equally as important as its color, these prints can be tricky to find. Taking a cue from my own search for such fabrics, I’m now mid-way through designing a collection of ‘almost-solids’ to solve this need for all of us.

A fabric’s quality and hand is also important to me. I value my time to sew and only want to work with quality fabrics. My own fabric collections are printed on the highest quality quilter’s cotton and are an
absolute dream to sew with.

Do you stash fabrics or just buy them to use straight away?

I’m a fabric-stasher for sure. I figure if a length of fabric or bit of ribbon makes me giddy or inspires me to get creative – even if it doesn’t get used in the project I make – then it has served a good purpose. I have no guilt about collecting supplies. Having great fabric, ribbon, buttons, and other supplies on hand makes me very happy.

Can you tell us three things no one else knows about you?

1. I take my own photographs. My husband is an amazing, professional photographer, so most people assume that he is snapping the photos for my blog. While I’m entirely flattered by this impression, I have yet to dispel the misconception. Perhaps one day I’ll convince him yet to follow me around and do my bidding, but for now I take my own blog photos.

2. In my early twenties, I was an extra in a few Hollywood movies. You can catch a clear glimpse of me with short hair in the opening sequence of The Mod Squad with Claire Danes and in several scenes throughout Drew Barrymore’s Never Been Kissed. I brought a picnic basket full of jewelry supplies with me to set everyday to keep busy and ended up supplying the entire Hair & Make-Up Department with one-of-a- kind pieces for their kits. It was a fun adventure and the relationships I formed with the hairdressers played a pivotal role in the later development of my Trash Ties hair accessories.

3. I’m never still. As a result, I don’t get to read much – and I don’t watch too many movies with subtitles either. However, I’ve re-discovered my love of reading with the recent advent of the iPod. Now I can devour the words of Jane Austen, Alexander Dumas and J.R.R. Tolkien without having to keep my hands affixed to a book. I can sew, knit, stitch, sketch, and read, all at once. I love it.

BIO

Heather Bailey

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be?”
–Marianne Williamson

Heather Bailey gets chills every time she reads this quote. If she could accomplish one thing, it would be to encourage women to discover their fabulousness and find joy in creative expression.

Heather Bailey is a playful and inventive designer of all things happy. With a B.A. in Apparel Design and a knack for style, Heather has run successful businesses in both children’s and women’s accessories. Her designs were eagerly snatched up by celebrities and were offered by many of the world’s most exclusive stores including Fred Segal, Henri Bendel, and Bloomingdales, as well as high-end boutiques in Japan, Hong Kong, and Paris.

Fresh and imaginative, Heather’s designs have been featured in top fashion magazines, such as InStyle, Glamour, Seventeen, and Mademoiselle. Her work has also been showcased by the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA), in recognition of her artistry and superior construction techniques.

Creative expression is one of the great joys of Heather’s life and her hands are never still. Sewing and crocheting by the age of eight, and quilting by eleven, Heather has a long-standing love for traditional women’s handicrafts. Over the years, her interests have grown to include knitting, spinning, weaving, stained glass, upholstery, ceramics, bead making, faux finishing, silver smithing, painting and children’s illustration. Designing for different mediums, Heather has honed a smart and lively aesthetic that infuses every aspect of her art.

Through all her adventures, sewing has remained Heather’s grand passion. This passion and Heather’s flair for art and color, have now happily married in fabric design. Freshcut™, Heather’s all-original debut collection for Free Spirit, demonstrates Heather’s talent for modern design, as well as her love for vintage nostalgia.

Heather is a busy young mother of two. Her children come first, but when they’re content, Heather is busily sketching fabric designs, dreaming up new projects and patterns, and recording it all on her weblog.

To Heather, “Handicrafts foster a feeling of sisterhood among women.
From quilting bees to craft blogs, I’m thrilled to be a part of the growing
movement toward creative community.”

Discover more about Heather’s fabric designs, sewing pattern line, and
scrapbooking supplies at HeatherBaileyDesign.com, or for free project
patterns and sewing tips visit her blog at HELLOmynameisHeather.com.

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