Year End

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How beautiful! I've never seen anything like this.

I put a mention on my Facebook page the other day that I hit 69% of my 2008 goal and in this economy, I was pleased. My 2008 goal was ridiculously high, but isn't that the point of goals? It was 35% higher than my 2007 goal - and I hadn't reached that. But I had smashed my 2006 goal so it was go big or go home so my 2008 goal was double my 2006 goal.

Yesterday I finally got my Pine Tree Designs paperwork caught up and bank accounts reconciled. Now . . . what to do with all this money? ;-)

First thing, I figured out my sales tax return, which is due February 20 so I could set that money aside. In doing that I discovered a discrepancy in one of the month's sales records - so it turns out I hit 72% of my sales goal, which puts me solidly in the category of ecstatic. I made a full $1000 more than last year but I worked harder for it - did 15 craft shows as opposed to 2007's 10 craft shows. Oddly, I owe about the same amount of sales tax, which tells me that the wholesale accounts made all the difference in my sales. Note to self on that.

Not to break my arm patting myself on the back, but I sold a whole lot of $3.00-$6.00 pieces of paper art!

So I . . .

I placed an order with Staples. (I never go to the store anymore because I always order enough to get free shipping and my order is generally delivered the next day. Can't beat that.)

I ordered 1000 more business cards. Mom graciously stitches my logo on these for me so I can keep busy on the art for sale. I last ordered cards in July 2007 so I have given out an average of 62 cards/month. With that actual stitching, these are a real attention getter. Do I know if it actually brings me more business? I dunno, but it's a great deal at 4 cents/each. (Good thing Mom works for free, I probably couldn't afford her real rates!) (Thanks Mom, you rock. A lot.)

And I renewed both of my domains, stefanitadio.com and pinetreedesigns.com - for 10 years each, the longest period and best rate available. I have no idea if technology will change in a way that makes this a bad idea, but if something like that happens, there are going to be a gazillion people in the same boat so I'm not worried. I'm in this for the long haul.

Which brings me to something I wasn't planning on writing but I feel it spilling out. And that is a big fat thank you to my family, my friends, online and otherwise and to my customers. Your friendship and support mean the world to me. These words snuck into my brain sometime mid-2008. This is what I was meant to do. I get to do what I love. Life is good.

(Another thought popped into my head during a craft show that cracked me up. Thank goodness people want to buy my art because otherwise, I'd be sitting in my studio watching Law & Order reruns, cranking it out, just the same.)

After catching up that paperwork, I feel fully charged and ready to hit the ground running for 2009. Even though I kept stitching since my last order and show, it was at a more relaxed pace. I feel like I've been on a well-deserved hiatus, but now it's time to get moving. Feels good.

Not to mention, starting Saturday night, I'm sleeping well again, for the first time in a couple of weeks. That makes all the difference. Still have a little cough, but nothing to keep me awake at night. Whew!

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And to start 2009, I have my eye on a new piece of equipment that will blow your mind. (Thanks to my new best friends Darcy and Sandy.) Stay tuned.

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