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Hi there.
Speaker:It's Sue.
Speaker:And thanks for joining me for tips and talk day.
Speaker:These are bite-sized topics that I pull from community questions and
Speaker:things that I'm observing in the world of handmade small business.
Speaker:If you'd like to submit a topic,
Speaker:DME over on Instagram at gift biz,
Speaker:unwrapped January is a big deal here at gift biz unwrapped,
Speaker:because this is the month of national bakers,
Speaker:crafters makers day.
Speaker:I created this nationally recognized day last year to uplift and
Speaker:highlight handmade creators worldwide last week on tips and talk,
Speaker:I talked about the development of this year's theme and the
Speaker:steps I took with the committee and a professional designer for
Speaker:our logo development.
Speaker:Today. I want to take a step back and explain why
Speaker:I created the day in the first place and its significance
Speaker:for more than 15 years now,
Speaker:I've been involved in the world of handmade products on the
Speaker:business side.
Speaker:But even before that,
Speaker:I've always been involved in handmaid as a hobby from sewing
Speaker:my own clothes as a little girl,
Speaker:even clothes for my Barbies to knitting and embroidering with my
Speaker:mom and then even quilting in my thirties.
Speaker:Then, as you may know,
Speaker:after I left corporate,
Speaker:I started a gift basket business,
Speaker:which led to the ribbon print company.
Speaker:And now also gift biz unwrapped at each and every juncture
Speaker:I've experienced the art of making and observed others within the
Speaker:handmaid industry too.
Speaker:Here's what I've seen as a hobby.
Speaker:Creating handmade items has a meditative and therapeutic overlay.
Speaker:I know,
Speaker:you know what I mean when you're involved in creation and
Speaker:can just let your mind flow.
Speaker:These are point in creation time that you can let go
Speaker:and reflect or daydream even while keeping on task with your
Speaker:project. There's also pride attached to learning a new skill that
Speaker:brings your painting glass bead making or leather in Boston to
Speaker:a whole new level.
Speaker:Not to mention the compliment you get from your friends.
Speaker:When you share one of your creations,
Speaker:it's soul enriching.
Speaker:And this is one of the things I love the most
Speaker:about handmade.
Speaker:And we can also add in here the social element,
Speaker:maybe you have regularly scheduled time set aside.
Speaker:So you can gather together with your quilting friends and work
Speaker:on your individual projects,
Speaker:or you take a pottery or ceramic class just for fun.
Speaker:It's a great way to make new friends and add so
Speaker:much to the quality of your life.
Speaker:Overall being in the presence of others and sharing a common
Speaker:experience is uplifting after class coffee dates and even lasting friendships
Speaker:can form from these activities.
Speaker:And then a portion of handmade creators decide to monetize their
Speaker:craft by starting a small business for supplemental income or to
Speaker:replace a nine to five job.
Speaker:One of the reasons I chose January as the month for
Speaker:our national day is because it's this group of handmade creators
Speaker:who are the ones right now,
Speaker:recovering from the holiday rush.
Speaker:I've been through this myself at basket time and witness it
Speaker:every year from within our community.
Speaker:And also with my coaching clients,
Speaker:the personal sacrifice made by handmade small business owners to get
Speaker:sales, first of all,
Speaker:and then make and ship out orders in time for gift
Speaker:giving the sacrifice is significant.
Speaker:I am not exaggerating when I tell you that I know
Speaker:people who put up their Christmas trees right after Halloween,
Speaker:or it's not going to happen and they don't wrap their
Speaker:gifts either because they simply run out of time some years,
Speaker:maybe this is even you.
Speaker:National bakers crafters maker's day is to thank you for your
Speaker:efforts and support you during this time of rejuvenation.
Speaker:These are the valuable things that handmade brings to us today.
Speaker:Now let's think back even a little further handmade was a
Speaker:necessity. When we,
Speaker:as a human race started to socialize.
Speaker:Let's not go back as far as cave men,
Speaker:but what about when our ancestors colonized,
Speaker:they depended on each other's skills and specialties for survival.
Speaker:New settlements had a blacksmith,
Speaker:woodworker and cobbler for the necessities.
Speaker:There was also a baker,
Speaker:a milliner Hatter,
Speaker:even a toy maker,
Speaker:and all these products upgraded the quality of their lives.
Speaker:This act of dependence on each other's specialties,
Speaker:evolved into the small business structures that we have today.
Speaker:Kind of incredible to think about that.
Speaker:Isn't it.
Speaker:And you as a handmade product maker are part of all
Speaker:of this.
Speaker:That is why I created national bakers crafters maker's day to
Speaker:celebrate the history of making and to highlight you,
Speaker:making handmade products comes from the soul.
Speaker:It's an investment of time and energy.
Speaker:The results of what you make are one of a kind
Speaker:and enrich our lives by surrounding us with beauty and individuality,
Speaker:they provide happiness for both the creator that you and your
Speaker:products, recipient.
Speaker:Happiness is something our world needs and continually seeks,
Speaker:which is what led to our theme this year,
Speaker:handmade heals the world.
Speaker:So what do I have in store for this month?
Speaker:Well, it's already begun,
Speaker:but if this is the first time you're hearing about it,
Speaker:you are not late to the game.
Speaker:National bakers crafters maker's day is formally recognized in the national
Speaker:archives as being celebrated on January 21st.
Speaker:But we're doing some fun things right now to see the
Speaker:full rundown head over to handmade heals the world.com
Speaker:the link in case you don't catch it here,
Speaker:we'll be in the show notes too.
Speaker:Of course,
Speaker:I will be talking specifically about what's happening on January 21st
Speaker:in the next tips and talk episode.
Speaker:But right now,
Speaker:here are a few things you can do first off,
Speaker:download my free gift to you.
Speaker:It's an affirmation poster that you can print and have displayed
Speaker:where you can see it every day,
Speaker:or add it as a background to your phone for daily
Speaker:reminders of how special you are.
Speaker:You can also share a handmade memory with us and read
Speaker:about memories from others.
Speaker:It's a total feel good experience as you go through other's
Speaker:memories and reflect on the special moments that they conjure up
Speaker:for you,
Speaker:that you can see also at the same link,
Speaker:handmade, heals the world.com.
Speaker:You can view other's memories and you can submit your own
Speaker:right there.
Speaker:There's also a section for adding your special giving activities that
Speaker:have been prompted by handmade products,
Speaker:whether you have a business or not.
Speaker:Now, that may not make sense.
Speaker:So let me explain a little bit better in the last
Speaker:six months,
Speaker:have you donated things that you've made to a local shelter
Speaker:or do you raise money for a certain cause that's dear
Speaker:to your heart,
Speaker:maybe you ran a workshop as a fundraiser,
Speaker:or you've designated a certain products proceeds to go to a
Speaker:specific cause let's share that activity with people that gets more
Speaker:attention to your cause or charity too,
Speaker:again, over@handmadehealstheworld.com.
Speaker:You'll see right under 0.2,
Speaker:how you can submit your information here.
Speaker:We call it dollars donated.
Speaker:If there's a financial overlay or gifts of kindness.
Speaker:If you've done some type of a charity project and brought
Speaker:it to an orphanage,
Speaker:a senior center or another local charity,
Speaker:it just takes a couple of seconds to submit your information.
Speaker:And again,
Speaker:we want to publicize the good that you put out into
Speaker:the world.
Speaker:As someone with a passion for handmade.
Speaker:I want you to stand proud behind your creations,
Speaker:whether for a hobby or as a business,
Speaker:what you bring to our lives is so incredibly special and
Speaker:it's worth celebrating.
Speaker:That's a wrap.
Speaker:I'm a get to the point kind of girl.
Speaker:And this is what you can expect from these quick midweek
Speaker:sessions. Now it's your turn go out and fulfill that dream
Speaker:of yours.
Speaker:Share your handmade products with us.
Speaker:We want them,
