Emily Is Almost Here

There is so much that I am preparing for: the arrival of our daughter Emily, the online classes I hope to begin launching before the arrival of our daughter Emily, and the lingerie design school and fabric shop I will be opening early next year.

First thing is first. The arrival of our daughter Emily.

The nursery is mostly completed except for the dressers to put all her stuff in. I’m using the old bedroom set I grew up with and trying to refinish them to match her crib, changing table and glider. I say the words “I’m trying to refinish,” very loosely. David has had to take over the refinishing because of the fumes and my energy level.

I swear, I am going to do something awesome for that husband of mine someday. Other than that, I think I’m prepared, or as prepared as I’m going to be. There are still a few things on our registry I should purchase before we bring her home, but I’m not too worried about that. The mothers (mine and David’s) plan on being here right after she is born, so I’m sure they can help us figure out what we are missing.

Secondly, the first online class is being built.

I’ve been in front of the camera before so I don’t know why I’m getting so nervous about being filmed. I filmed most of the tutorials already, which are focused on the machine, my hands and the sample itself. I will have to do a voice over for those, but I’m not on camera for those and can read from a script. The hardest part is the personalized teaching I’ll be doing in front of the camera.

I’ve thought about just writing the text in the lesson, but we all know its sometimes easier to listen to someone than read. So, I’ll be including both in the class- to accommodate the readers and the watchers. I gave myself the goal to have class 1 complete by October 31st.

Lastly is preparing for the school and store.

The classes are already outlined and just need a little refining which I’ll handle in the new year. Its the prep for the supplies I’ve been working on that seems to never end. I’ve been slowly buying display fixtures, sewing machines and other supplies. I currently have 7 of the 10 machines I need, although they all need servicing to work in tip top shape.

I’ve also been investing in fabrics and more trims, although the trims are selling just as fast as I’m buying them.  I’ve decided that I want to offer corset supplies in the shop since the Ren Fair is such a big deal here in the Inland Empire. Now that is a whole other expense I wasn’t anticipating on including, but I’m figuring it out.

I’ve decided to launch a crowd funding campaign to help raise the money for the rent and security deposit and miscellaneous things I still haven’t figured I need yet. I plan on launching that as soon as my first class is available online. I’ll be offering gift certificates and other goodies, so stay tuned.

So much to do and so little energy to do it in. Miss Emily is due in about 5 weeks. My last day at work is Wednesday, so that means I need to get cracking on my preparations for everything.

Prenatal Insomnia

I never thought I’d be suffering from insomnia. This is yet another side effect of pregnancy that I hate. I have about 7 weeks left and I wake up in the middle of the night with some weird thought in my head and can’t get it out. A couple days ago it was Ayn Rand, and that was all it was. The name Ayn Rand. Got it stuck in my head and couldn’t fall back to sleep because it kept echoing in my heard.

This morning it is the echoing of the “No on 37” ad I saw last night by a doctor recommending we shouldn’t know what is in our food. I think it made me mad, I really think this is an important measure that needs to be voted Yes on. I have this urge to strangle the doctor in the ad and report her to some medical board. Yea, slightly irrational thoughts, but that’s insomnia and pregnancy for you.

I’m getting more and more nervous about having my baby and trying to contribute to supporting the family by opening my own store/school. Thank God my husband is fully supportive and the most wonderful man I’ve ever known. I could not be doing this without him.

I’m off to check Facebook and hopefully get tired enough to fall back to sleep, if not, well, I wanted to start writing a small book on how to write and self publish a non fiction book.

Business Preparations are Coming along

I have been so busy with the planning of my future store and school. I’ve decided on a name and have begun to update my website with all the new information.

In March 2013, I will be opening Porcelynne’s Design Institute and Fabric Boutique. Sounds like a nice place right? I’ve decided to take over the Porcelynne Lingerie website since I’m not really doing anything with it these days.

I’ve scheduled classes for March and April already and spaces are available to be signed up for. I have created the course material for all the classes already and I’m working on creating the classes in an online setting as well. I just have to get the video setup so I can start recording the lessons.

I’ve been building my inventory as well. Its currently all listed on LA Fashion Resource, but I’ll be transferring everything over to Porcelynne to remain more consistent. I will keep LA Fashion Resource as the publishing site only.

I’m also working on putting together a little IndieGoGo campaign so I can help raise the funds for the rent of the new space.

I’ve been busy, right? And all that with a 7 1/2 month belly and a stubborn kid inside that keeps punching the crap out of me.

We’ve also been working on trying to get our house ready for baby to come home. I really wish money was unlimited sometimes. I would have us finish our remodel yesterday. At the rate we are going, it may be by this time next year or later before we can even get to the bathrooms. I’m hoping for a great 2013 with our new adventures in parenthood and in business ownership. Stay tuned for more coming soon.