New York, New York

Well, I'm back from another trip, though this one was just up to New York for a long weekend.  Didn't make it to a yarn store, though I saw a crocheted hat in Henri Bendel's -- it was $495!  I was going to take a picture of it, but the sales girl was hovering a little too closely.  Heck, I could copy that sucker, and I'd only charge half that amount ;-)

Anyway, I also thought about blogging from the train, the Acela Express has free wifi, but I got a little too comfortable and read some magazines instead.  I'm realizing how fast I've been trying to run on the gerbil wheel and how much I really needed to get off.  Even though I did a lot of walking in NYC, I got a chance to get some R&R too.

So, now that I'm back and trying to do laundry, etc., let's see what thought I can leave you with tonight to hold you over until I get a chance to do a proper blog post.  How about record keeping?  If you've decided to give your business "Rhinestone Widgets" a try, it's important to keep good records of all business-related transactions.  Aside from needing good records when it comes time to file taxes, you'll need them for other federal and state filings too.  Plus, you'll need to think about the legal structure for your business.  I know it sounds scary and overwhelming, but there are a lot of resources out there to help you, many of which are low-cost or free.  Here's a great book to get you started:

Amazon Affiliates

Mmmm, ok, so Amazon and Blogger are now in partnership.  I had set up an Amazon Affiliates account a while back so that, when I recommend crochet pattern books, etc., I could provide an easy link for you (and frankly get a cut!), but now, they've made it so easy to do, so I guess I'd better give it a try!

Actually, I am in the process of reading this great little guide to starting a crafts business, but the advice Meg Ilasco  gives is great for anyone just trying to get organized and motivated to explore new things in their lives.  The author interviews a number of people who now run successful design and craft businesses, and she sprinkles in her own wisdom and tips throughout.  For example, I really appreciated her debunking of "Craft Mythology," such as "All the great ideas have already been done and someone else can do it better than I ever could."

Anyway, check it out if you would like, but stay tuned for crochet book recommendations.

And, DeAnn, if you're reading this (and I know you are!), I will show you how to set it up, it's so cool!  I love techie talk :-)