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Showing posts with label Small Business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Small Business. Show all posts

Friday, March 17, 2017

Small Business Spotlight :: Daisy al'Ahmad Daisymade Paper Arts


“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” Romans 5:3-5


Daisy (47),  is a Wichita-native artisan paper-crafter, who has the unique ability to turn her interests into income!  Since she was a teenager, Daisy has been constantly running some sort of business.  Her Christian faith has become an integral part of who she is, and how she runs her business. 

“Because I have suffered from chronic pain and illness for the last fifteen years, I have not been able to take on a more traditional working role.  So the ability to work from home and set my own hours is a huge blessing.”


I believe that God has given me a real gift.  He knew that I would struggle with my health problems, and that I would need to have a home-based business, not just for income, but for my sanity.  I can be overwhelming, even depressing, to deal with chronic illness and pain.  I don’t think that I would have been able to cope with any of it without the Lord’s provision.  The artistic and motivational gifts that He has given me have empowered me to overcome the adversity that lie has thrown at me, and have turned tragedy into beautiful and significant gems of accomplishment, both artistically and financially.”

Even with a strong sense of purpose, things have not always been easy for Daisy.  She has had to sacrifice time spent with her family & ministry- but she feels strongly that she can use that trial as an opportunity to share her positivity. 

I’ve surprised myself in my ability to adapt my product to suit the current market and still be effectively doing what I love.  I focus on constantly trying to improve my craft and my knowledge of business.”


Daisy hopes to eventually include more faith-based items in her shop- and eventually help her daughters to get involved, or mentor others who would like to work for themselves.  First she’s working on organization.  As a one-woman-show, she needs to be able to create products in a timely manner and organization will make that easier!

I love what I do. Putting my art out there is an opportunity to reach out to the world instead of receding into myself.  I put a lot of love into each piece of art that I make.  I can actually be a very spiritual experience, as I focus on detail work, listening to praise and worship music, I feel like I’m sharing a part of who God made me with others.  I stick with it because I feel ‘called’ to.  It’s just one of the many ways I can reach out in love to a loveless world, one piece of art at a time.”


When Daisy isn’t working, on her business, she is thinking about her business!  She and her husband have been married for 23 years.  Together they have two daughters, Alice (21) who is married to Justin, and Sophia (140, who is a high school freshman and home schooled!  Daisy also co-parents three furbabies Mabel (a beagle), Savanah aka “Savvie” (a Jack Russell Terrior), and Achaelus (a Border Collie Mix).  She enjoys playing Candy Crush, reading, and writing.

“I’m extremely creative and imaginative, so it doesn’t take much for me to find an excuse to express those gifts in one form or another.  My mind and emotions need to be constantly in action.”

 

Daisy’s husband, Nasser,  is one of her greatest sources of inspiration.  Nasser converted to Christianity from Islam, and together they work to educated & equip their church to reach out in love to their Muslim neighbors, and to others who are different from them, without fear. 

“I’m deeply inspired by my husband, Nasser.  He is my biggest fan and that is a real encouragement to me.  He is the one that encourages me to pursue my heart’s dreams regardless of my physical circumstances.  He supports my decisions, ‘Ooohs’ and ‘awwws’ over my art, and never complains when I want or need to work in y studio for hours at a time.”

You can shop Daisy's current products, or contact her for custom pieces through her Etsy shop Daisymade Paper Arts!



Saturday, March 11, 2017

Small Business Spotlight :: Norwex with Kimberly Higdon


In October of 2013, Kimberly Higdon (33), received some product samples that changed everything about the way she cleans her house.

In an age of “green-living”, Kimberly believes chemicals are responsible for a large amount of bodily harm, and has a strong desire to educate others of those harmful effects and provide healthy alternatives. The discovery of Norwex has sub-sequentially launched her on a journey to begin her own business & share what she has learned with those around her.


“I believe our bodies are temples and what we do to them or put on them effects our health.”

Norwex is a brand of household products with a "chemical-free" mission.  Their products consist largely of a special kind of micro-fiber cloth that requires only water to clean!  Silver in some of the cloths has anti-bacterial properties to give users peace of mind on even the yuckiest of surfaces. 

As a Science teacher, teaching comes second-nature to Kim. “I am an educator to the soul, whether it’s my full time day job or my night and weekend job.”  She shares her information in person through in-home Norwex “parties” where hostesses can earn free products, and through her Facebook Group Higdon Norwex Fanatics where customers can ask questions, share experiences, and purchase products.

Kimberly with her mom- who sent her first Norwex samples!

Kimberly aspires to eventually move-up to the next level of being a leader and have other consultants under her.  This would mean more teaching opportunities, in addition to potentially providing the necessary income to pay for daycare as she and her husband expand their family some day in the future.


Her next step is to develop a stronger system for communicating with past customers & develop strong relationships that leaves them feeling confident to use their new products & explore new ways to reduce chemical-use in their day to day living.

A few months ago- Kimberly was given a challenge to call or message 100 people about her business & Norwex products.  “The point was for us to get used to hearing the word no. After a while, hearing no didn’t seem too bad.”  As a consultant in the world of direct-sales marketing, Kimberly has a genuine love for her business and Norwex products that sets her apart.

Kimberly with her husband Brandon

“I don’t have one particular person that inspires me, but strong-willed people tend to inspire me.  They make me push past any moments of weakness I may have and continue to push me.”

When Kimberly isn’t working on her business, she enjoys working out, playing with her dog, cooking great meals, being crafty, and basking at the beach.


Kimberly with her fur-baby Diamond

If you are interested in learning more about Norwex- you can join her Facebook group here!
Mention this blog post to receive FREE shipping on your next order! 

If you aren't ready to shop, but you're still feeling inspired to make a change- you can visit Norwex Movement to earn points and help charitable causes!

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Small Business Spotlight :: DragonflyWoodWrights


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Four hours. That's how long Rhode Island resident Margery (49), spends commuting each day to her workshop- two hours each way.  It's there that she spends her days teaching math to fifth graders through hands-on experiences in a boat-building class in the Boston Public school system.  She hates the commute, but she loves her job.  “There’s nothing more pleasing to my eyes than a child holding up their finished product and squealing with delight!” And when she's not helping little eyes see the beauty behind the numbers, from first cut to last sanding, she's still working. 

Margery working in her shop
"After work, I spend quality time with my family and head off to my home studio where planks of wood and power tools come out to play! I love this time of day... when my mind is at peace and the only sound that cuts the silence is the buzzing of my table saw."

Margery attributes her handmade journey to her mother.  
“When I was a child, my mother took great pains to keep me busy creating handmade works of art. She was never the type of mother to insist up on cleaning my room or tidying up my bed.  Instead she taught me all about love and discipline through the process of creating handmade goods with my own hands.  We often sat at the kitchen table, where she would give me wood to stain or maybe even some cake batter to whip.  I cherish those memories.  And through the experience, she taught me so many of life’s lessons including- patience, perseverance, and courage to forge my own path.  As an adult, I naturally gravitated towards a job that would allow me to create.  I became a boat builder and cherished every day on the job creating seaworthy vessels that would sail the high seas as I happily waved goodbye from the shore.”

Since then, Margery has always made gifts for family and friends.  “A few years ago, I gave a cutting board to a friend and she said I should open an Etsy shop.  So I did!”

One of Margery's cutting board designs

The journey has not always been easy.  Margery first opened her Etsy shop DragonflyWoodWrights creating wooden kitchen accessories in 2010, but had to put a halt on her creations after a move left her without a workshop.  In 2013 she started her current job as a boatbuilding instructor.  “With the love and support of my children, I decided to merge the better of the only two worlds I ever knew- boat-building and parenting.  So it was only natural that I would become a teacher!”

While teaching has been rewarding, Margery knew it was time to take her love for wood crafting to the next step.  So in 2016, DragonflyWoodWrights was reborn!  Even now, there are late many late nights.  “I really want to make it work.  I love working in the shop creating and would really love to be able to do it full time and make a living while doing it.  This year my New Year’s resolution was to put everything I have into DragonflyWoodWrights and make it work.  I really would like to quit my day job and do this full time.”

Currently, Margery is doing at least two “big shows” a month, advertising wherever possible, and even looking into potentially doing home parties.  She believes strongly that, “If you really want something you can achieve it with hard work and dedication.”



Her Etsy shop has truly become a “labor of love” and is constantly being updated with new products.  While cutting boards are a main feature, napkin rings, coasters, lazy Susans and more can all be found amidst the inventory!  Margery also enjoys the opportunity to create custom orders, and being a part of her customers’ special moments.


One of Margery’s biggest sources of inspiration comes from her sons, particularly her youngest son Xavier (13).  “He is an amazing young man who suffers from severe social anxiety. He is also dyslexic which has caused lots of learning disabilities in school, but he gets up every day, and goes and does everything that is asked of him- even if it is terrifying for him. […] He takes care of me, he always makes sure I eat when I’ve worked all day at my day job and then come home to work on DragonflyWoodWrights.  He will sit up late at night with me and help me pack orders, sand boards, [or] run to the post office to ship orders. […] He truly is the light of my life. I don’t know how I got so lucky to be his mom.”

And then there's her oldest son Zack (26), who actually inspired the name DragonfyWoodWrights.  After watching Dragonfly, a movie about the bond between a mother and child, Zack has always given his mother gifts of dragonflies.  “I love my boys with all my heart, they are my world.” 

Margery's sons Zackerie and Xavier

When Margery isn't working on her business, she is spending time with her boys, her fur-babies (boxers) Clash & Izzabella (the problem child), or catching the rare opportunity for sleep.

“I am just a kid at heart and I love to create.  My happy place is in my workshop ripping wood on the table saw or routing something with the router.”

  

If you'd like to support Margery's business you can browse her shop here!  Please contact Margery through Etsy if you would be interested in ordering a custom order!


https://www.etsy.com/shop/dragonflywoodwright

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