I'm not a small business owner, I'm a Micro Business owner. It's JUST me!
I'm very sad I'm not busy talking to people about their summer travel plans, or how great their vacation was. Very. VERY sad. It's one of my favorite things to talk about! Especially in this strange era of all things contentious, talking about our future travel plans (or past adventures!) should be high on everyone's lists! How fun to reminisce about the bucket list! ps: let's do that, call me & let's talk about where you want to go next year!!
I'm very sad about the entirety of the travel industry right now and most days it's very hard for me to wrap my head around all of it. I'm not just a small business owner, I'm a MICRO business owner! It's just me here! It's slightly less stressful knowing I didn't have to lay off any employees...but like most other adults I need to go to work every day and pay the bills, put food on the table, and new clothes/shoes/braces on the kids. I haven't been able to work since March. I don't see that changing in the near future. Sad face.
However, it's not all doom and gloom! Happy face! With the amazing help, guidance, and ideas from the North Dakota small business development center I was able to come up with a business pivot idea fairy early in the pandemic situation. I can sew! Thanks to the tireless efforts of my mother, and 4-H, I am actually able to do a tiny bit more than hand stitch a button back on a heavily used winter coat! Being able to pivot my business a bit, will not only help me stay IN business but will also help all of you! Super happy face!
As I mentioned back on an early February blog post I think yes, traveling will be possible with a few easy precautionary tasks. Fast forward 6 months and the things I mentioned on that blog post are now second nature to most of us. Keep your area cleaned, keep your hands clean, don't leave if you're feeling crappy....and yes, the infamous mask.
The facial covering.
The 'but I can't breathe/talk/smile very well in this stupid thing', mask.
Yes, THAT mask. We all should have a favorite one by now, and just begrudgingly wear it. My young kids have been wearing them for several months and don't even give it a second thought. We made a mask for the cat, we made one for a doll, we even made one for the gnome that sits out front. Ok, the cat hates it but everyone else is fine! Wear the mask. The mask is ok. You'll need a mask for traveling and I'm happy to give you some options!
I found a pattern I liked. It's generous around the mouth and chin area, it doesn't fall down your nose when you're talking and it's breathable. I was concerned about how I was going to do this whole mask-wearing thing as I don't like the feeling of confinement so I needed to figure something out that would work for me! Early on I didn't care for the ear loops, they were tight and irritating...I found I could sew straps using satin ribbon, or just fashion ear loops out of the same material. However, the elastic straps are the handiest. I wasn't over the moon about the basic blue hospital free mask. Unless you forgot your favorite mask at home, we don't need to be so boring with our masks! Let's have some fun! I'm a colorful person and could never fathom just going with the basic blue option. I was happy to find a pattern that essentially makes them reversible! Here's a couple of pictures of my favorite mask model!
I'm happy to be busy again, even if it's not with the travel industry right now. I've been busy. So busy in fact, I had to order a new sewing machine as my original one is in the shop being fixed! I can honestly say I never thought in a million years I'd ever need a heavy-duty sewing machine to keep up with the volume of sewing I'm doing. Somewhere in heaven, my mother is smiling down at all of this...her dreams of an effortless sewing daughter have finally come true! Thank you for your patience while I was waiting for my new machine to arrive.
Please visit my online design studio, the TT Shop and pick out your fave, let me know if you need elastic or the ribbon ties. Let me know if there is anything customizable I can do for you! Let's have some fun with all this mask-wearing stuff! I'm here for you.
Thank YOU for supporting my teeny tiny small business. I am determined to ride out this pandemic storm and find the calm rainbow on the other side. This is only possible because of the amazing support from customers!! Enjoy this while I get back to sewing!