Busy.

So things are very busy all up in here.

I'm currently working on several big (and little) projects simultaneously - so thought I would share some behind the scenes shots of my life that is suddenly very full with "things".

In preparation for the Blogcademy which I'll be attending in London next month - I have decided to get on it and start jotting some ideas down for business plans and models, the structure of indieBerries as a brand and company, my personal and professional objectives and various other little bits and pieces so that by the time I go the Blogcademy I already have a clear direction of where I want to be - so that the Blogcademy Gals can show me the steps I need to take to get there.

I feel that if I rock up at the Blogcademy with no clear direction of where I want to be and what I want to achieve, I will be overwhelmed with inspiration and bombarded with ALL the new exciting things I could do that I will get caught up in an "I-MUST-DO-ALL-THE-THINGS" and my head will explode.

which would be an AWFUL shame, because I had so many things planned for September.

So anyway I have been working on formulating some business plans and goals lately - 

(coffee || essential)

My life has really been hindered by the fact that I am a perfectionist. You see this "business plan" mind map that you see above? Yeah. I nearly had to re-do the whole thing because I decided after I started that I didn't like the red pen I used at the beginning. And it's just a mind map.

I recently read on Gala's blog that 

"Perfection is procrastination"

Which is exactly true and exactly my problem. 

I'm working on it.

(read: looking those two red paragraphs in the eye and cringing, but resisting the urge to start the whole thing over again)

 
I am also currently working on designing the new indieBerries website, which I am hoping to launch soon - although there is a still a bunch of work which needs to be done. (If all goes to plan - there will be an awesome new website/design indieBerries partnership that you can look forward to hearing about soon.)




I have been working on some freelance stuff - some different logo and corporate identity designs as well as wedding stationery and an exciting kids book illustration project.

(above: Muku & Ishi - they're twins - can you tell?)

Apart from that I am also in progress with some personal projects (which are, of course, the first things to slide off the table when other stuff comes in). I have a whole host of personal projects including a quirky published "date-book", fun stationery and other random things that are currently on the go. As well as this, I need to get some indieBerries business cards and postcards designed and printed before the Blogcademy and i am also trying to keep indieBerries blog from trailing off under the mountain of these other things.

Oh yes,

I also have a husband and a life.

So basically - I am feeling rather "duck on the water" it's when you see those quirky quackers just gliding along the water as if everything is hunky dory but they are swimming like crazy below the surface just to keep going - that's kinda me right now 

except I'd say I'm more of the elegant-swan-furiously-scratching-rat-legs variety.

     

That was a weak attempt at a haha

I think I lost my humour somewhere around 2am last night.

lol

ANYWAY

If you are interested in seeing some of the material I have been using to formulate some of the more "businessy" things - you can check out the Etsy Guide to "Writing a creative business plan in under an hour" - Caroline Cummings suggests you look at your business plan as if it has the restraints of twitter - sum up your objectives and purpose in 140 characters or less. Basically, the elevator pitch.

This workshop on the Key Person of Influence offers different workshops and books on becoming the key figure in your field. The success stories are really inspiring - the first guy is a South African gym instructor who reworked his pitch from being "a gym instructor" to being a "12 week life transformation" coach and has completely re-defined his business.

And Jess Lively talks here about managing big projects that are running concurrently and how to keep yourself sane whilst doing it. She does have a full time project manager to keep her on track (yeah, I'd like one of those - will be paid in brownies {shop bought}) Jess mentions something which she calls the 'heartbeat' method for keeping things running smoothly. Def worth a read for most freelancers.

That's all I have time for on indieBerries for today

and yes,

I am still in my pyjamas.

{DIY} Makeshift Business Cards

I was invited to a Blogger's Bingo Picnic in Hyde Park last night - (more on that to come). Now, as you may have read, I am in the process of moving indieBerries to it's own domain and re-branding/re-launching/opening shop etc etc etc. ( #EXCITEMENT) - as such, I have held off on printing 'proper' business cards until the new site is up and I'm happy with the look and feel of everything. However, one cannot attend a "blogger's meet up" without any form of calling-card, so I decided to quickly whack up a few very-quick-and-easy makeshift contact cards -


I started by laying out all my NB details on an A4 page - I mocked this up in inDesign because I have da skillz and da program -  but it really is nothing fancy and I am pretty sure you can achieve something similar in Word or even powerpoint.

I printed out the A4 page into thick card and then cut out all of the business cards -


I left a space on the information side of the card for me to hand write the "indieBerries" title - mainly because I wanted something handwritten to break up all the text and also to give it a hand-crafted feel. If you don't feel so comfortable handwriting your business cards, you could use alphabet stamps, stickers or print out the whole thing. For me, these are very temporary and fun-makeshift cards - so it really doesn't matter. Your business cards should also reflect your style of business - so if you are an independent crafter/artisan then the handwritten look would be perfect for you. If you do decide to write on them make sure you choose an ink that won't smudge and that the cards are fully dry before you attempt to letter them.


I then turned the business cards over and started washi-taping the back of them - covering the entire card in different coloured strips. It was loads of fun to do and very quick and easy.


What's nice about this method is that you can change the look from card to card if you want and you can build up a variety of different colours for clients/bloggers/people to choose from. I would suggest keeping each business card to a specific colour hue - but heck if you wanted to be crazy and smash in all the PURPLES/PINKS/BLUES/GREENS/BLACK/YELLOW/ORANGES into one card.... go right ahead!


I personally love this business card technique because it gives you an excuse to BUY ALL THE WASHI TAPE. Of course, you could always just marry Warren Dyer and let him give you the BEST. WEDDING. GIFT. EVERRRR.

Just kidding gurrrls, he's already married. 

You can also see my lovely nails - that's some Shellac from my last manicure that I've half scratched off. Should probably change my business cards to:

indieBerries

"definitely not a beauty blog"

  

Any lovely ideas you've seen for business cards lately?

I love these whimsical business cards from Happiness is...