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Back to Work! My plans, need your help!
6 years ago
Donations/Support on my Ko-Fi / Shop Atelier Sweetsushi / Site 🐘 www.sweetsushi.nl ✉ commission[at]sweetsushi.nl
Hey guys!
Soooo I have been thinking and thinking and I really want to get back to my projects. I have been poked and getting requests for projects too, so in that way it makes me really happy there is still interest in my work. However finding the time and energy has been really challenging with a 1 year boy in your life, especially with my health condition. But nevertheless I think I have a solution! I really like to get creative again and I also really want to make you guys happy too with my creations that has been requested. There are a few projects I have in mind to work on and to keep things focused I also have a goal in mind in how many hours I can manage in a week. I really need to stick to this maximum hour limit, otherwise I am afraid I might be overdoing it (again). I think it's realistic to have 5 hours a week in mind! So that means I can work 1 hour a day which is perfect, because I can work while my little boy sleeps. As a 1 year old he still needs all my attention when he's awake, or at least I can't work on commissions that needs my full attention. I think it's pretty realistic to work 5 hours (productive hours, so actual sewing/drawing) a week, especially considering I was able to make my own wedding dress in just 2 months’ time (but tbh I was going over my limits). So second thought is what can I do in such a short (but still challenging) amount of time?
Before I get into the projects I have in mind, I like to point out that I will first finish what I still owe. For now that's a few hats, few art pieces and a few onesies. I also agreed to refund a few projects to some clients, so I can start fresh sooner and lessen the workload (depending on how fast things go, I might refund more or less). The hats and art pieces shouldn't be a problem to finish soon. The onesies on the other hand take allot more time, so I think I will try to work on that on the side while I setup my new work. The sooner I can set things up, the better I can be prepared for the future and work on new refreshing projects again.
So what projects do I have in mind?
Well there are a few things I have in mind. I am having allot of demand on my onesies. Problem is just these cost allot of time. If I like I can fill a whole year and more with just onesie projects! And yes I really appreciate the demand, but wow! They really take a toll eventually and I really like to do more than just onesies. I used to be able to make 1 or 2 onesies a month and work on other projects on the side like hats and art. With just 5 hours a week available that’s become unrealistic. So my thoughts would be I can either work on 1 onesie a month and NOTHING else or make it really exclusive (I don’t think not doing them at all is an option). I think the first thing is not going to be very fun neither profitable. I like to work on fresh things and also feel like I achieved something in a shorter time period. Also beside wanting to be creative I also need to make a living with my projects. At least to pay for my groceries and other necessities. So that also means the price of one onesie is going to be really expensive too and that’s not fun either. What are your thoughts in this?
Other projects I have in mind is plushies. I have been wanting to make those since forever and I also have some demand for them. I think plushies might give me a fresh new look in my work and with the experience that I already have it’s nice to invest in a new product. Just with my onesies I like to offer customs (based on your fursona), but I will probably also come up with my own designs that you can adopt. I already have a design in mind I want to make a prototype of. These will still be time consuming, but not as much as onesies so I can plan these better in my work schedule. In able to make quality looking plushies I like to invest in an embroidery machine, that’s really a must when it comes to plushie making.
More smaller sewing projects means I can make more people happy and I can keep working on refreshing new things (I won’t be art blocked). Beside hats, these are really just a small thing on a side I like to offer more clothing items. My ideas are capes! Hooded ones. Really cute customized capes based on fictional characters. And maybe onesies for kids/babies. I am not sure if there is demand in these, but it would be really cool to make smaller onesies. These won’t take as much time as the adult onesies, so allot cheaper too. Oh and I almost forgot, I would love to make animal bags too, either tote bags and/or backpacks, custom ones would be really cool too ♥
I don’t think I will include art in my new goals. I will continue to make art, but I will most likely work on more personal art or maybe something exclusive once in a while. More like something extra on the side! I also have way more demand in my sewing projects then my art, so this will work out better anyway. Art is also very time consuming for me. Art commissions will be available not just as much and more exclusive to keep things focused! I really lack FOCUS, so yeah that’s a thing!
Last but not least I really like to eventually invest in some merchandising. This is really more of a follow up of focusing more on sewing products and keeping art exclusive. If I do find the time and inspiration to make an awesome art piece I like to turn them into stickers, cards, buttons, pins and all that stuff! I have been wanting to make my own merch since I was in school for over 12 years ago but somewhere on the road I got drifted. (I blame the popularity of my onesies and splatoon hats :P) If people are excited to see this happen, I can try to schedule these in my work week. But for now I think my 5 hours will be quickly filled with sewing projects. So that’s something I can figure out later after I know what the new demand on sewing projects actually is.
Plenty of ideas as you can see. Yeah 5 hours really isn’t enough…ah to be a parent :P But I think with the right amount of focus and support I can do it. EVENTUALLY when my little boy is a bit older, like in school! I will be able to make more hours anyway, 10 hours would be nice! But for now I will do what I can do! It would be nice to pick things up very soon so I have an idea in mind: Patreon!
To keep things focused (that thing that is sooo important!) I like to start a Patreon. It’s been something I have been having in mind for a long time. But due to the past few years with my burn out and a baby I thought it wouldn’t be fair to start one. I think I am in a good place now to set things up now! It might also help to work on projects that you guys want to see. You can help and choose what comes next. It keeps things focused for me and to have a goal every month and to see if I meet my financial goals too. I can also add exclusive things there! And do giveaways and such. But most importantly I can keep creating and keep offering you art/products that you asked for in return. You guys are happy, I am happy, everybody is happy! With new projects also comes new investments, so I also need new equipment and I hope Patreon will help with that too. It’s really important that I have a steady support/income by the end of this year! So I like to set it up very soon and hope to achieve my first goals along the road in 2020. I will also work on branding, so business cards, website and all that stuff.
In short that's getting back to work for 5 hours a week as soon as possible, finish backlog, set up a patreon, branding and work on projects like hats, capes, plushies, bags and exlcusive things like onesies and eventually also merch. Oh and just I have all these projects in mind, doesn't mean I will do them all at the same time (that's just too much). I will see where the roads gets me and try to find my way into these different projects.
So what do you think? Do you like the new projects, my goals? Would you support me on Patreon? What tiers should I add? Do you have some advice for me and last but not least are you excited to see these new projects coming to life? (Idk how visible this journal will be, so I hope you guys won’t miss this update O_O) I really hope I can find the support I need and that I can make you guys happy with awesome projects in the progress.
Soooo I have been thinking and thinking and I really want to get back to my projects. I have been poked and getting requests for projects too, so in that way it makes me really happy there is still interest in my work. However finding the time and energy has been really challenging with a 1 year boy in your life, especially with my health condition. But nevertheless I think I have a solution! I really like to get creative again and I also really want to make you guys happy too with my creations that has been requested. There are a few projects I have in mind to work on and to keep things focused I also have a goal in mind in how many hours I can manage in a week. I really need to stick to this maximum hour limit, otherwise I am afraid I might be overdoing it (again). I think it's realistic to have 5 hours a week in mind! So that means I can work 1 hour a day which is perfect, because I can work while my little boy sleeps. As a 1 year old he still needs all my attention when he's awake, or at least I can't work on commissions that needs my full attention. I think it's pretty realistic to work 5 hours (productive hours, so actual sewing/drawing) a week, especially considering I was able to make my own wedding dress in just 2 months’ time (but tbh I was going over my limits). So second thought is what can I do in such a short (but still challenging) amount of time?
Before I get into the projects I have in mind, I like to point out that I will first finish what I still owe. For now that's a few hats, few art pieces and a few onesies. I also agreed to refund a few projects to some clients, so I can start fresh sooner and lessen the workload (depending on how fast things go, I might refund more or less). The hats and art pieces shouldn't be a problem to finish soon. The onesies on the other hand take allot more time, so I think I will try to work on that on the side while I setup my new work. The sooner I can set things up, the better I can be prepared for the future and work on new refreshing projects again.
So what projects do I have in mind?
Well there are a few things I have in mind. I am having allot of demand on my onesies. Problem is just these cost allot of time. If I like I can fill a whole year and more with just onesie projects! And yes I really appreciate the demand, but wow! They really take a toll eventually and I really like to do more than just onesies. I used to be able to make 1 or 2 onesies a month and work on other projects on the side like hats and art. With just 5 hours a week available that’s become unrealistic. So my thoughts would be I can either work on 1 onesie a month and NOTHING else or make it really exclusive (I don’t think not doing them at all is an option). I think the first thing is not going to be very fun neither profitable. I like to work on fresh things and also feel like I achieved something in a shorter time period. Also beside wanting to be creative I also need to make a living with my projects. At least to pay for my groceries and other necessities. So that also means the price of one onesie is going to be really expensive too and that’s not fun either. What are your thoughts in this?
Other projects I have in mind is plushies. I have been wanting to make those since forever and I also have some demand for them. I think plushies might give me a fresh new look in my work and with the experience that I already have it’s nice to invest in a new product. Just with my onesies I like to offer customs (based on your fursona), but I will probably also come up with my own designs that you can adopt. I already have a design in mind I want to make a prototype of. These will still be time consuming, but not as much as onesies so I can plan these better in my work schedule. In able to make quality looking plushies I like to invest in an embroidery machine, that’s really a must when it comes to plushie making.
More smaller sewing projects means I can make more people happy and I can keep working on refreshing new things (I won’t be art blocked). Beside hats, these are really just a small thing on a side I like to offer more clothing items. My ideas are capes! Hooded ones. Really cute customized capes based on fictional characters. And maybe onesies for kids/babies. I am not sure if there is demand in these, but it would be really cool to make smaller onesies. These won’t take as much time as the adult onesies, so allot cheaper too. Oh and I almost forgot, I would love to make animal bags too, either tote bags and/or backpacks, custom ones would be really cool too ♥
I don’t think I will include art in my new goals. I will continue to make art, but I will most likely work on more personal art or maybe something exclusive once in a while. More like something extra on the side! I also have way more demand in my sewing projects then my art, so this will work out better anyway. Art is also very time consuming for me. Art commissions will be available not just as much and more exclusive to keep things focused! I really lack FOCUS, so yeah that’s a thing!
Last but not least I really like to eventually invest in some merchandising. This is really more of a follow up of focusing more on sewing products and keeping art exclusive. If I do find the time and inspiration to make an awesome art piece I like to turn them into stickers, cards, buttons, pins and all that stuff! I have been wanting to make my own merch since I was in school for over 12 years ago but somewhere on the road I got drifted. (I blame the popularity of my onesies and splatoon hats :P) If people are excited to see this happen, I can try to schedule these in my work week. But for now I think my 5 hours will be quickly filled with sewing projects. So that’s something I can figure out later after I know what the new demand on sewing projects actually is.
Plenty of ideas as you can see. Yeah 5 hours really isn’t enough…ah to be a parent :P But I think with the right amount of focus and support I can do it. EVENTUALLY when my little boy is a bit older, like in school! I will be able to make more hours anyway, 10 hours would be nice! But for now I will do what I can do! It would be nice to pick things up very soon so I have an idea in mind: Patreon!
To keep things focused (that thing that is sooo important!) I like to start a Patreon. It’s been something I have been having in mind for a long time. But due to the past few years with my burn out and a baby I thought it wouldn’t be fair to start one. I think I am in a good place now to set things up now! It might also help to work on projects that you guys want to see. You can help and choose what comes next. It keeps things focused for me and to have a goal every month and to see if I meet my financial goals too. I can also add exclusive things there! And do giveaways and such. But most importantly I can keep creating and keep offering you art/products that you asked for in return. You guys are happy, I am happy, everybody is happy! With new projects also comes new investments, so I also need new equipment and I hope Patreon will help with that too. It’s really important that I have a steady support/income by the end of this year! So I like to set it up very soon and hope to achieve my first goals along the road in 2020. I will also work on branding, so business cards, website and all that stuff.
In short that's getting back to work for 5 hours a week as soon as possible, finish backlog, set up a patreon, branding and work on projects like hats, capes, plushies, bags and exlcusive things like onesies and eventually also merch. Oh and just I have all these projects in mind, doesn't mean I will do them all at the same time (that's just too much). I will see where the roads gets me and try to find my way into these different projects.
So what do you think? Do you like the new projects, my goals? Would you support me on Patreon? What tiers should I add? Do you have some advice for me and last but not least are you excited to see these new projects coming to life? (Idk how visible this journal will be, so I hope you guys won’t miss this update O_O) I really hope I can find the support I need and that I can make you guys happy with awesome projects in the progress.
Dank je wel!
Btw I received your note, I will reply to you in private on your questions about this request :)