Thoughts on recent Decor8 post “DIY is not Duplicate It Yourself!”

Posted on 13. Mar, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

Today Decor8 posted a very thought-provoking article written by Erika Firm, president and designer at Delphine Fine Stationery and Design about the noticeable increase in “duplicate it yourself” projects in design industries–especially among brides, wedding blogs, and the wedding industry as a whole. This issue is particularly touchy for me and there is a great discussion going on in the comments. I felt moved to post on my own website with my impressions. Peppered throughout are some photos of my most amazingly original customers who inspire and motivate me every day.

Photo of Alex and Kim by Calla Evans Photography

These are the main thoughts that came to my mind after reading the article:

1. Trust your vendors. We know that you want your big wedding day to be special, unique, memorable, and in this day and age, blog-worthy! You hired us in the first place because that is what we are experts at producing.  As Amanda from Ruffled said, trusting your vendors is important because “…creative vendors, such as stationery designers, photographers, event designers etc. have the talent to use the unknown to create something completely unique.”
2. You are creative! Jessica from Sweet Eventide wrote, “I have many friends who say point blank, ‘I am not creative’ and I just don’t believe it. I think every single person has an ability to be creative but it takes effort to learn about yourself.” Projects like making an inspiration board and identifying what kind of design moves you is the first step toward claiming you own creative voice. use those photos and clippings as a jumping-off point and try to figure out what it is that draws you to that style. Is it something about the texture in the photos, the soft lighting, or a common detail like eyelet lace or natural wood? Use that knowledge to branch out of what has inspired you and think of other things you could incorporate and claim as your own.
3. There is a real person behind every design (a point also emphasized by Erika, the original post author.) My business supports my family, enables me to hire employees and support their families, represents my true passion, and was built with years of hard work. Copying the work of a designer is not only potentially harmful to their bottom line (So what to you, right? You’re on a budget, right?), it’s also emotionally painful. Our ideas are our capital and copying it results in lost revenue, lost jobs, and missed opportunities whether the copier’s intentions are good or not.
4. Open an honest dialogue with a designer if you find that the cost of their work is prohibitive to you. Every friend I have in graphic and textile design is happy to do this, so don’t be afraid that you are offending them. We often have other options, we can substitute materials, we can help you visualize a lower cost option. What is offensive is asking a designer for a price quote, then telling them you’d rather do try to make it yourself for less.
5. If you copy a designer, they will find out! We see you!

Photo of Mariam practicing a dance for the reception by Christine Chang

I have felt very strongly about this issue–”duplicate it yourself”–for years. The first time I found that I was being copied by someone trying to make a profit–and I’m talking cut for cut, stitch for stitch–I became so depressed. It was in 2007. I lost days of productivity and just kept wondering and worrying. What if I can’t ever make a living doing this? How many customers have I lost? How many people have seen this embarrassing second-rate workmanship and associated it with me? What if I lose all my customers because this person charges less money? I was in the ethical “right,” yet I felt embarassed and ashamed and thought it would be unprofessional to say something publicly, let alone confront the copier.

Phil and Amy’s UK wedding photographed by Pete & Sue Hanysz

And it IS hard to know what to do. I wish that we designers had more knowledge and resources to learn how to deal with copiers. What is the best way to communicate disappointment and maintain professionalism? If legal action is appropriate, what do you do then? With the internet, it’s easy to feel like a small fish hiding in a big sea but we always do find out.

Sara Jane and Meg’s wedding photographed by Sarah Maren

Like I briefly mentioned in my most recent Questions From You post, I used to get extremely privately bent when I found someone on Etsy or elsewhere copying my work and my concept. Now I feel better because I feel like I have had enough mainstream exposure to establish myself as the authority on my designs. But, I admit that I see it as a “race to Martha.” Whoever gets on that show first with the embroidered felt flower bouquet and button boutonnieres will win in my mind. And that includes you, Martha–don’t you dare show your audience how to make one of my projects without me standing next to you sweating and stumbling!

Heather and Kevin’s DIY scrapbooking wedding photographed by guests!

The question posed by Erika on Decor8’s post is, “How do we, as a creative community, get others who might not see the difference to understand why copying is wrong (and get them to stop asking us to do it and get them to stop doing it themselves).”

What do you think?

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list love: creative connection event, model casting, and what’s going on with me.

Posted on 08. Mar, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

I know I have a lot of crafty and creative readers, so I wanted to let you know about an upcoming conference and market event called The Creative Connection! This is the inaugural year of the event created by Nancy Soriano and Jo Packham of Where Women Create magazine for women and women entrepreneurs.

(more…)

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weekend work.

Posted on 08. Feb, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

Thinking about buying…
…another desktop computer.
…a crib done!
…a changing table. They are all so ugly to me. I really have my heart set on this one that fits over my crib, but isn’t it just paying $210 for a tray??
…those cute wrap boots from Toms Shoes. My mom thinks they are horrifying but I will refer you to her shoe preferences.

But thinking about saving for…
…Omaha Fashion Week costs.
…the family vacation of my dreams–three weeks in Berlin with side trips to Copenhagen, Moscow, and Amsterdam.
…private school.

Proud of…
…my speech kids who had awesome success this weekend at their tournament. Most of the kids went on to finals and although we didn’t have any first place finishers, I think they are starting to notice their hard work paying off.
…myself for shoveling our LONG-ASS sidewalk and driveway. It was an awesome workout and I got so sweaty I laid in the snow.
…my friend Steve who is an amazing freelance design hustler speaking at conferences and writing books. I wish he got more credit for his work here in Omaha–what an awesome resource and asset he is to our community.

Looking forward to…
…getting a pair of Toms Shoes today to decorate for a fundraiser at the YP Summit. Not sure what I’m going to do yet…can’t do felt flowers because felt on your shoes is gross. Maybe some faux bois embroidery.
…seeing my (totally pregnant) photoshoot and interview in the next issue of Omaha magazine. I think it comes out this week!
…being interviewed by Leo Biga for another local publication on Wednesday.

Reading…
…Nine easy Valentine’s Day projects on Brides.com.
…The thickness of napkins–a blog post from Contrast.ie about the importance of maintaining quality in all the little details.
…Jean Paul Gaultier comes to Target–I love how Target has changed the mainstream retail marketing and merchandising game.

What’s the best thing that happened to you this weekend?
xo

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video tutorial: valentine’s day folder craft project and a GIVEAWAY!

Posted on 17. Jan, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

Hey babes and dudes! Ready for a Valentine’s Day project and giveaway?

I made a video tutorial showing how to make an easy folder to store all of your valentines in! There are lots of variations on the basic project I will show you which I outline in the video. I think these folders will make great gifts for your friends, or you can sit down with your kids and make a bunch of little ones for their classmates! Plus there is a bonus appearance from my dog, Scout.

If you like this project, leave a comment and give me some feedback, and if you want to try it out, I have re-written the list of materials you need below. So many of us have these materials around the house already and it’s such a fun easy project!

Materials Needed:
…three 10×6” pieces of decorative paper or cardstock (two-sided is best)
…five 10×3” pieces of decorative paper (one-sided is fine)
…Zip Dry paper glue from Beacon Adhesives (you can get this at most craft stores)
…your own favorite embellishments and decorative elements (I used Japanese masking tapes, butcher’s twine, and markers for most of mine)
…a hole punch and some twine OR a sewing machine (to bind the folder)

I put together a sweet little package of everything you need to make the Valentine’s Day folder, including a brand new bottle Zip Dry. I really do love this glue and it’s all I’ve been using for paper for about four years.

I’m also going to throw in a few extra special fun destash-y surprises for the winner.

To win, leave a comment below and tell me something I wanna hear. I’ll let the random number generator pick a winner this Friday. This is open to international readers, so go for it!
xo
meg

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a few studio pics

Posted on 08. Jan, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

I moved upstairs to be closer to the baby’s room and the sunshine. I LOVE it. There’s still a lot of stuff to move up–it’s probably 1/5th of the way done–but now I have enough to do work. It’s so wonderful.

This desk is a door on top of two sets of drawers.

Japanese masking tape, labels, and packaging tape

My favorite Stabilo Fineliner pens–I got a whole bunch of them from my grandma for Christmas!

A sneak peek at a new project for a video tutorial coming this month…

Good night. xo

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questions from you no. 16

Posted on 29. Dec, 2009 by Princess Lasertron.

Here are some of the questions I’ve received in my inbox in the last few weeks. Feel free to contact me any time through e-mail at meg@princesslasertron.com, twitter @lasertron (which is easiest for me), or by leaving a comment here!

Q: What advantages do you see in running your business through online channels? Disadvantages? (From Carrie)
A: Running a business from home, using web-based marketing strategies, and reaching clients through a blog is a fantasy of mine come true, but it comes with unique challenges. It is a different reality than a lot of people imagine. I love the mobility of my work—I can do it anywhere. I love to stay up late, have afternoons free for meetings and inspiration-gathering trips to my favorite shops, and I love to set my own hours. But sometimes people don’t realize that for most small business owners who are serious about profit and success, that means ALL hours. I have never worked so endlessly and passionately in my life.

There is also a challenge in the computer-mediated communication that comes with running a web-based business. I get so much correspondence that it can be hard to discern which clients will be the most reliable and fun to work with, who will be the best fit for me. Sometimes I am sent communication from so many different channels from the same person–Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, web comments, etc–that small details about their orders can be lost. Sometimes people can’t spell or explain clearly what they need. These are all challenges that come when no face-to-face meetings are held. There is also a lot of pressure to maintain an active presence online—continually posting original content on my blog, for example.

Q: As I build my supply stash for crafting, I wonder how you find time to hunt down such a wonderful assortment of buttons — and where? (From Pamela Jane)
A: Most of my button hunting these days is done by my mom, Mary Beth. I think she has a lot of fun with it and she understands my aesthetic and price points really well, so she finds the best ones. Here in the midwest we are saturated with antique stores, and she visits shops all over to find the best materials. There are a few stores in Iowa that are her favorite up near Spirit Lake. We also get some of them from eBay–but don’t bid on my auctions!

Q: What would your first question for Martha be if you could interview her? (From Paula)
A: Can we really have it all? What have you given up for success? What is the biggest misconception about you? Who was your greatest mentor in your early years? What is the last thing you do before you head to bed for the night?

Q: Have you ever felt so completely overwhelmed with how much work you need to get done by a deadline, and if so, what in the world do you do about it?! (From Laura Emily)
A: This happens probably every 4-5 weeks, but I will never never NEVER forget May 2009–the month of 24 brides. Twenty-four. Twenty-four special individuals with their own special needs and problems and visions and inspirations. I do not know how I kept them all straight and got through the month. My employee Hollie helped me a lot and my mom helped me a lot and Professor Lasertron helped me a lot. I think I slept two hours a night. What got me through it, what gets me through all times like that, is knowing that there’s an end in sight. I know I can push my body through it and meet the physical and emotional demands as long as I see a light at the end of the tunnel. If you go 30 days without a weekend, I think you’re entitled to a nice dinner and few days off! And after the customers receive their orders, their feedback always motivates me so much that I can’t wait to get back to work!

Q: Could social media work for all businesses? (From C. R.)
A: The game has changed. Any business owner would be foolish to ignore the growing influence of the Internet in their marketing strategy. I mean, this is seriously an unprecedented chance to engage our clients and broadcast our messages that generations before us have never had. Many people are unwilling to accept that social media is changing the business world—and our whole society—because they are uncomfortable learning new things, or think they are “too old” to understand it, or think they can get by doing things as they have always done. Embracing that truth might be the difference between “making a living” and “living your passion.”

Q: How do you get your pictures to look like that? (From Jenny, Steffany, and Melanie)
A: Well I am not a photographer. I don’t enjoy it, I don’t want to be one, and I don’t spend a lot of time learning about it. I have a really nice new Rebel that takes great pictures and a nice lens, and I just let it do the work for me. I edit the pictures in photoshop and Picnik. If you haven’t done it before, play around in Picnik–there are a lot of fun effects and tools you can use for free!

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cyber monday sale is on!

Posted on 30. Nov, 2009 by Princess Lasertron.

Free shipping on all items purchased before 11pm on Tuesday.

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black friday (and cyber monday deals for you)…

Posted on 29. Nov, 2009 by Princess Lasertron.

Tonight at midnight CST I will open up the Princess Lasertron store with free shipping on all items until the night of Tuesday, December 1 at 11pm CST. One customer will also get a copy of the current issue of Where Women Create magazine.

I’m selling all of my leftovers from Silver Bella, so if you couldn’t make it that weekend (or if you couldn’t find my booth, which several people mentioned!), now is your chance to buy some gifts (for you or others!) and save money, too.

Meanwhile…did you go Black Friday shopping? What did you get?
I found the perfect gift for my mother-in-law on Etsy…and a few perfect things for myself, too. I bought a ton of clothes from Tulle (and their site-wide 50% off sale is still active!), a set of beautiful yellow and grey calling cards from Modern Emotive, and a whole bunch of magazine subscriptions.

This year I am trying to commit to buying all of my gifts either handmade or local. It’s a fun challenge and when I accomplish it, I think I’ll feel really good.

It’s going to be either a late night or an early morning to catch enough sunlight to take pictures for my Cyber Monday sale tomorrow. I’m telling myself that posting about this makes it true because I gotta get this stuff out of my house!

xo

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just some pictures and a hello.

Posted on 22. Nov, 2009 by Princess Lasertron.

Hello! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I have been working on a huge beautiful pastel project for a spring issue of a national magazine coming up next year. They photograph these things really early so I have to get it finished in the next two days and sent to them!

Today I dyed a whole bunch of silk and wool. I love doing this, and it’s easier than ever in our new kitchen because I don’t have to worry about getting dye on the stainless steel.

Here is the rest of what I have completed so far…not much. Just playing around with some options.

I did order a whole bunch of this cute masking tape from Present and Correct. When I received it, I was pleased to find out it is much thinner than regular household masking tape, making it perfect to use as a floral tape. I am eager to use it in lots of projects this year.

Earlier tonight we had a little pre-Thanksgiving family dinner at my grandpa’s house.

Other things we did this weekend…
…saw a movie at our new fancy sit-down dinner theater. I found out my glasses broke and Dave said, “it’s okay, they’re much more ‘Gaga’ now.” The bathrooms also had the coolest wood-grain cinderblock things. I want my whole house made out of them.

…a little antiquing. This is my new favorite secret source for well-priced vintage furniture in town…I want this little grey couch so bad for my huge gross basement studio! With the yellow walls it would be perfect.

…a little putzing around

…and I’m 17 weeks now! On Wednesday we find out if we’re having a David Junior or a Megan Junior. I can’t wait and yes I will blab it to the world.

xo

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my projects from silver bella

Posted on 17. Nov, 2009 by Princess Lasertron.

This is how I started my weekend. This is the first thing I was greeted by.
Max the Cat made by Jennifer Murphy sat on my table during her snowman clip ornament class. I am so in love! Look at his sweet face. I wanted to take him home, but someone else beat me to it!

This is me with Jennifer after her class. This is also me awake at 9am. For maybe the 3rd time in my adult life.

Pam Garrison’s Holly Days Countdown wreath class was fun–she spread out ALL these vintage materials and supplies on a front table for us to run our hands over and pick through. It felt like kindergarten.

Pam also passed around two of her inspiration journals and each page was so awe-inspiring. This was my favorite so I snapped a little photo…I felt like a little thief there shyly snapping one photo of this page and then dropping my camera in my bag. I wish I could draw like that.

In my last class of the event on Saturday afternoon, I was with Jennifer again making a little pom pom bird in a shadowbox. Here are all of the projects from our work table…

I sat next to Meg Duerksen

Things I don’t have photos of because I figured I’d just nab some off Flickr later:
…Jo Packham’s keynote speech that brought me to tears. I wish it could have been about 30 minutes longer and I wish we could have had time to ask questions.
…Kaari Meng’s expert jewelrymaking class
…All of the bella swaps, where the ladies created handmade items ranging from charms to books to aprons to share with their friends
…The opening class hosted by Fiskars
…The generous swag bags made of vintage fabric and stuffed with amazing goodies!

Finally, here are some final pictures of the projects I made:

xo

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I don’t know where to begin with a post about Silver Bella 2009

Posted on 15. Nov, 2009 by Princess Lasertron.

Last night I slept for 15 hours.
I woke up and Professor Lasertron made me pancakes while we watched Tabatha on Bravo. (Love her!!!)
Two nights ago I think I felt the baby kick two different times. It felt like bubbles popping.
I am trying to take one day off before I get back to bridal orders–then things will get very busy again, but I will be back in my normal routine.

I wanted to get those current thoughts out of my head before I go into the spectacle of last weekend that was Silver Bella.

For three days out of every year, I spend time with over 200 inspiring, wonderful, hardworking, creative women and learn about each other, share our lives and passions, while working on projects designed by some of the industry’s top crafting professionals. That is Silver Bella.

I loved all of the classes I took this year–I’ll talk more about those in another post because I want to take some better photos of what I made. What I really enjoyed about the projects this year was that they were very customizable. Everyone has different aesthetic preferences–some people are really into white/pink, some are into neutrals, some are into shabby chic, some like the Todd Oldham/Orla Kiely look–and this year’s projects let everyone express their own tastes. I came away from the event with lots of handmade things that I am excited and eager to actually use in my life–a shadowbox that looks great in my baby’s room, a beautiful charm bracelet that looks like it was made by a professional, and a pretty wreath in my favorite colors and motifs.

I also learned many new techniques that I am sure to utilize in my own business. Jennifer Murphy gave me some tips about controlling the thickness of felted wool and hand-dying, and I learned that I’ve been handling jump rings all wrong from Kaari Meng (a big duh to me on that one).

This year brought a lot of new emotional and social challenges for me–I don’t know if it’s pregnancy hormones (it’s easy to blame everything on that, but who really knows what’s ever going on with my brain chemistry) or just the overwhelming amount of new people to meet, but I did not do my best. If I attend next year, I will also have a six-month-old, so I will probably stay at the hotel rather than driving home each night. That might make it easier for me next time. I truly was excited though to meet everybody and I hope that if you spoke to me and I seemed distant or tired, you don’t think I hated you. Everybody really was great to me.

Okay. I want to show you my vendor night booth!

Inspiration didn’t come to me quickly for the booth concept this year. I bought three school desks at an estate sale and I knew I wanted to incorporate them, which evoked a “schoolhouse” theme, but the rest of the booth design never really came to me. We ended up doing a chalkboard and desks and that’s about it.

We set up the new website so everyone could browse through, too.

Event coordinator and Silver Bella founder Teresa McFayden’s son A.J., (a “bella fella”–how cute!) walked around with a Fujimax taking pictures. He was such a sweetheart. I want 10 just like him.

Customers could use the computer to pay quickly with PayPal, which was easy and convenient.

My longtime blog crush Meg Duerksen hung out for a while and bought some cute stuff. She even brought me a huge jar of buttons she found antiquing in her hometown–I am so incredibly grateful! I gotta make her something cute.

Jo Packham, editor of Where Women Create also came by. I want to be just like Jo when I grow up. She is so freaking real. Know what I mean? When she tells you something, it is not bullshit. When she does something, it’s because her heart is telling her it is right and it is her passion and she believes in it. Her integrity and loving personality puts me in awe.

And my most loved and favorite helpers and lifetime supporters, who make it possible and give me the emotional fortitude to handle everything…

It was a very long night.

Thank you to everyone who came to see me in that dark back corner. Thank you to everyone who talked to my mom and my husband–they felt so appreciated. Next post, less talk and more rock!

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