Mini July Rewind

I feel like I've been just so forgetful lately.  First off let me be the first to admit that I haven't been keeping up with the blog as much as I truly wanted to.  I originally planned on writing here every day and having these awesome, and amazing pictures to use, but sadly this is not the case.  As much as I love to fool around with my camera, I feel like I never have the chance or the wit to think, "hey, I should wipe out my camera right now."  I've just always been someone who lives in the moment, that meaning I'd rather just enjoy a good moment for what it is, rather than trying to make a photo opp out of it.  That being said though, I promise to try to whip out that camera of mine on a more frequent basis.

But seeing as how July is already on its way out (I can't believe it), and August is on its way in, I thought I'd share some of best moments/days, through the few picture I do have, of the month of July.

 

Went to Zoo earlier this month a realized Orana is basically my spirit animal.  I mean our birthdays are only off by a day.  Coincidence? I think not.

XO,
Ensley

Anniversary Goal

So I've been thinking a lot about what my next goal should be for Fanciful Faron. My first goal was pretty small, and it was to make 10-15 sales by Christmas- I've met that goal, then some.  Thank you to everyone has purchased one of my cards and kept my dream a live.  Now its time to come up with new goal, cause without one, what am I really working towards?   But I don't think I want to make this next goal something that can be simply checked off the list, I want it to really symbolize the growth and expansion of dream.  For some reason, in my head, it donned on me, my goal should mark my shop's first one year anniversary.  Don't know why I choose one year, but it just feels right to me.  I'm both happy and terrified to announce that in one year I will aim to do my first Craft Fair!

I'm super nervous already but it seems so fitting!  A couple weeks ago I came across a particular show I'm interested in participating in next year called the Renegade Craft Fair.  It seems like a lot of people and good vibes I would love to be around.  Whether or not I'm able to get into this particular craft fair or craft fair at all next year, the purpose of this goal is to get my business in a place where I am proud to display it in front of thousands of people.  This means I continue to work on my brand, connecting through social media, and of course- most important- creating cards and product that I am genuinely proud of.

The timing of this goal is perfect, it'll be around the one year anniversary of my shop, but since it's in the mid-late summer, it gives me plenty of time to really work and focus on getting when I get home from school.  In between now and a year from now I have so much I feel needs to get done, which means plenty of mini goals.  Just to name a couple:

1. Grow social media following on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

2. Design business cards

3. Keep blog alive and well

4. Start getting people signed up for newsletter

5. Continue to grow in sales... DUH

6. Work on continuing to develop a killer brand

7. Continue to design and love what I'm doing

This is just a couple things that I see myself needing to work on and develop.  For me a year seems like such a long way away.  But I know that year will be on me before I know it and when it is, I'll be ready when it is.  I hope a lot of you who reading this and buying my cards will be along with me in the journey.  As much as I try, I know I can't do everything myself :)

XO,
Ensley

First Sales Goal Met!!!

Literally just minutes ago I received a notification the I sold my 15th sale since my shops opening day just over a month ago!  This is just so exciting!  When I first opened I told myself that my first goal would be to make 10-15 sales by Christmas, and today, just a little over 6 weeks later, I've met it!  I've been working so hard at this shop for the past couple weeks and I really hope it is something that can stick with me for a very long time.  By luck 15th sale was made on purchase for nine of Thank You Bridesmaid cards.   

 

Nine of these little babies are on their way to Colorado to make someone very happy. :)

I'm so happy that people are wanting to use my cards to celebrate what is supposed to be one of the happiest days of their life.  Gives me all kind of warm fuzzy feelings.  I'm not really sure what my next goal is, whether it will be another sale milestone, or something more internal like making a solid brand for my bitty card shop, but whatever I choose, believe you all will find out!  If I hadn't said it a hundred times, thank you to everyone who has been supporting me and this business I've grown to love so much. 

xo 

Ensley

New Newsletter!

The time is here!  And just after having a successful first month it just seems oh-so fitting.  I'm happy to say that Fanciful Faron Newsletter has finally arrived!  Starting a newsletter has been something I've been thinking about almost since the beginning, ever since I decided to really put my full effort into making my Etsy shop into something I'm really proud of.  So here it is!  First letter get sent out

August 1st, and consecutively the 1st of every month after.  The newsletter will keep you up to date on things you may have missed that month, as well as a sneak preview into new card designs, and the maker's process, not to mention exclusive discounts and giveaways only available to newsletter subscribers.  I know we all don't like to pine over and read through paragraphs of information, so I promise the newsletters will always be quick and to the point- pinky promise.  Go ahead and sign up!  I have a badge available to click right beneath the Instagram feed; it'll bring you straight to the sign up form.  There's also a sign up form available on our Facebook page where you can sign up via your Facebook email.  So Many Options!  Signing up would mean the world to me, so thank you a head of time :)

xo Ensley

Happy One Month

Fanciful Faron is officially is one month old today and I think her first month has been terrific!  As of today she has had over 3,200 views, 150 favorites, and over 5 orders, not to mentions having a tiny following on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram; and I a lot of it I have to thank my family and friends for supporting me, but also all of you who continue to be interested in what I'm putting out.  This is way more than I could have every imagine :)  Even today we had our first "first".  For the first time we got multiple orders in a single day which made today even better.  I know it's not much but it's definitely something.  Can't help but smile when I think about little shop and everything I wanna do for it!  Clearly there is still a long way to go as far as getting everything right and perfect but for the first month, this was far from shabby.  Just wanna say thank you to all of those who have taken a genuine interest in our little operation this early on.  It really means a lot!

xo Ensley

Shop Face Lift + New Camera

As many of you know, I'm always talking about messing with my shop and trying to bring it to its full potential, whether its trying multiple idea for a single card concept, or reworking my storefront to make sure it's buyer friendly.  So in the latest news of my shop's face lift, I'm happy to say that I finally have a quality camera that I will be putting to great use.  I'll be retaking photos in an effort to really enhance them and help my cards look their best.  The camera got is a Cannon Rebel T3 (to be specific), and I love it so far!  If your following my Instagram and Facebook page, you'd also know that I recently bought some colorful and corky stage props to use in these new product photos.  The new camera + staging props should really give my shop a more of whimsical vibe I've really been aiming for.  It'll take some time, probably a 2 weeks, to reshoot all the products in the store, but I think it's well worth it.   

I'm kinda anxious to just get them all up at once, but with everything else I have planned this week and my own gold-fish-like attention span, there's no way I could get everything done in, say, two days.  But, I give you my word that everything will be Cinderella-transformed by July 22nd- girl scouts honor.  

Plus with the new face lift of the store will come the release of the first round of holiday cards! YAY! You're gonna wanna stick around :) 

I'm realizing that getting things just right takes time, and the slower I take things the, better my overall outcome will be.  I care about this itty bitty shop too much to try to rush things and not be 100% happy with what I'm putting out in the world.  

Here's to giving 200%, 100% of the time. 

xo Ensley

If At First You Don't Succeed, Try Again on Monday

This afternoon, Kjia and I put on our running shoes, filled our backpacks with water bottles, and decided to head over to the Lake Poway/ Mount Woodson Trail.  I've never done it before, and thought it would be a great challenge.  I hear that the hike really kicks your butt, Kjia did it on her birthday last year and said it was definitely nothing to laugh at.

Chalk it up to our summertime laziness, but this hike just did not go as planned.  First mistake was decided to get up at 10:30am and not leaving the house until 11.  By the time we got there it was already 84 degrees outside, and in Poway that might as well by 90.  Kjia had left out the fact that the last time she did the hike she was forced to wake up at 8 in morning by her friends, so by the time it started to get really hot like it was today, they were already on their way down the mountain.  We only last on the trail for about an hour or hour and a half, and Kjia so keenly forgotten to eat breakfast, leaving her nauseous and dizzy with still another hour and half to go.  The view from atop Mount Woodson at Potato Chip Rock is supposed to be really amazing, but we were still able to take in some good sights.  We're gonna try again on Monday, and this time get up bright n' early before the heat catches us.


xo Ensley

Rome Wasn't Built in 2 and Half Weeks

This has been a good past couple of days for Fanciful Faron.  Last week on Thursday I got approached on my Goodsmith's account to create a custom card!! I was over the moon!  The card was for a woman named Kim who has her own shop on Etsy.  After alerting her to fact I too have a shop on Etsy we decided to carry out the rest of the order there.  I was so nervous.  This was the first custom made card that someone was going to pay me to make for them.  It was for her soon-to-be daughter-in-law which meant it was a family present, even more important.  When I came up with the initial design I was shitting bricks over what she would think.  What if she hated?  That would have been a serious downer, but thank little baby Jesus she loved it.  I made a few changes and had it printed before leaving on the family trip to Disneyland.

Then yesterday on the second day of our Disneyland extravaganza, while walking to the park, my phone alerted me to the fact payment had just been put into my Paypal for yet another card order (over on my Goodsmith's account).  That makes two... count em'... TWO sales this week!!! 

This morning when I woke, I packaged and listed the custom card, got the files ready to print the other card ordered as well as some new designs for cards I made to list in my shop.  I also had to whip together a card for my Sarah and Stephanie's dad's birthday.  I told Sarah I'd make a card she could give him and she loved it!  I did too actually so I'll be listing it in the near future, with my next batch of listings. 

My Steve's birthday card.  It'll be available in the shop within the next week and half.

After I packaged all the cards, I printed my precious Etsy Shipping Labels and out they went.  Out to their new homes for their owners to give away.  It's quite beautiful if you think about it.  

I also took some time today to update my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages with new photos of behind the scenes work and some shots of my kickass weekend.  Not to mention, the time to sit down and write this blog post. Tonight I've still got to sit down and work out a lot of logistical functions of Fanciful Faron and make sure everything is on the up and up.  I ain't tryin' to deal with no poe-poe. I've been quite busy today, but its all work that I love.  I'm so happy to see things might be gradually picking up a little.  I'm a big dreamer and already have some awesome plans for when things start to get really moving.  With the start of July coming tomorrow, I have to think about some goals I'd like to accomplish, and while I'd love to see this thing of mine grow over night into something huge, I'll just settle with slowly making a few sales at a time. 

 

Today's tiny production.  Cards package and sealed, Mr. Steve's card ready to hand over to Sarah, and my newly designed cards ready to be photographed tomorrow. 

Things are happening slowly over here, but their happening.  I'm so happy I've decided to share this journey :) 

Til Next Time 

xo Ensley

Me, Myself, and I

I've recently made a promise to myself to do things for the benefit of me.  I have a tendency to do things to either wanna prove someone wrong or because I feel like it's something I should do, but very rarely do I do things out of my pure interest for them.  I find myself always compromising on my own desires and ambitions to make other people feel more comfortable.  Maybe thats why it's important to me that I'm starting my own business doing things that I honestly love.  While I do enjoy trying to help other people when I can, I've decided I need to keep in mind that I'm my no.1 person.  In honor of doing things for me, and my slightly impending birthday, I've made a list of things I'd like to accomplish by this time next year.  In my last year as a teenager I'd like to:

1) Take on more creative challenges
2) Observe life around me
3) Become a healthier human (Run my first 10K)
4) Take more risks
5) Put myself first

These are all things I'll be working towards in the next year and I'll be coming here to update on my progress.  I already have plans of how to kick off number 4 with a big bang :)

xo Ensley

Hello There!

Hi! Ensley here!  I thought I'd take a moment to introduce who I am, what I'm about, so we can be  properly acquainted.  Seeing as how it's the middle of the summer, I'm currently in the transition from being a college Freshman to a college Sophomore at Syracuse University, in the exciting state of New York.  I'm a honor student in the Communication Design program and I'm hoping to pursue a minor - in what? I'm not exactly too sure yet...

When I'm not at school I'm back home in my hometown of San Diego.  I have to admit, no matter how much I want to travel and experience all the world's treasures, San Diego will always be my heart.  There's just too much family, friends, and love here for it to be any way else.

I started this blog for a myriad of reasons.  One- I've always loved writing, and I think I'm quite good at it... at times.  Two- I can tell from this point on in my life there is going to be a lot of changes (call it a gut feeling).  I have a lot of personal goals and dreams, and I want to be able to share them, along with the little moments of my life that I just can't replace.  And third and finally-  to talk about my new adventures trying to become a (VERY) small business owner.  Within the last two weeks I've started my own shop on Etsy called Fanciful Faron where I sell funny and unique greeting cards.  It's formation stemmed out of my two passions- to earn my own buck and to design and create.  If your wondering where I came up with the name "Fanciful Faron" well... Faron is my middle name, pretty straightforward there, and Fanciful is another word for whimsical which has consistently been one of my favorite words.  To me it means being different, spunky, unique, and a little childish.  All qualities I think describe me two a tee.

I'm hoping this blog challenges me to step outside my comfort zone, to craft more, to do new things, and to become more organized (God knows I need to haha).  I hope to share all my loves- my family, my friends, my hobbies, my travels, and now my new (and still infantile) business.  There's a lot going on and I hope you're down for the ride.

xo Ensley