Archive for 'FAQ'
questions from you no. 18
Posted on 07. Mar, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.
It’s been a LONG time since I did one of these posts, and the questions from you have been piling up. I have enough for a ton of posts, I just gotta sit down and work through them! Feel free to leave a question for me any time–you can contact me by clicking on the “connect” tab up top.
Q: I know you shared you wanted to take Alice to Berlin in the future, but I was curious about your plans to teach her German. Do you intend to? If so, have you thought about how you’ll teach her? Will you just speak to her or buy kids books? (from Karli)
A: Dave and I are both committed to exposing Alice to different countries and cultures. My parents did that with me and I think those experiences deeply affected my character–I later went on to major in German and Intercultural Communication, and had a “plan b” (Princess Lasertron was plan a) to be an English teacher in Berlin…then life happened, etc. This has always been a priority in my family–I have several multilingual cousins as well which makes the holidays exciting!
My German professor was a role model to me for how to teach a language. Her philosophy included immersion, starting with easy root words, and giving plenty of context clues. I realize that teaching a baby is so different from teaching a classroom of adults, but I learned from my professor that speaking and leading by example is the quickest way to learn. I speak German and Dave is moderately conversational–he is taking classes this fall. I plan to read her lots of books and we have always integrated German media in our house, watching movies, news, tv shows, having books, etc. I say all this now–who knows what kind of a learner Alice will be–but the bottom line is that it’s more important to me that she be able to travel and experience other kinds of people than speak a foreign language.
Q: What are your favorite magazines? (via Formspring)
A: Everyday Food, Real Simple, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Teen Vogue, Lula, and W.
Q: What beauty products do you swear by? (via Formspring)
A: Everyone loves their own mascara, and I am pretty loyal to Maybelline Lash Discovery. It has the teeniest tiniest brush to get every lash. I wear Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick in Kiss Me Coral–really into corals lately–and I always top it with a coat of shiny Oiseau lip balm, sold at Anthropologie. As for scents, I use Satsuma shower gel from The Body Shop because it’s smells just like peeling an orange. And I’ve forever been a Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb lover–I rub the lotion on my tummy every day!
What are your favorite products?
Q: Are you afraid people will steal your ideas? Are you protected by copyrights? (from Christine)
A: Well, there’s a huge difference between inspiring others to make similar things and people who copy designs exactly and try to pass them off as their own and make a profit. I think we are all smart enough to know the difference. It’s a real shame that some people take advantage of designers who are still trying to develop a name and solidify the image of their design aesthetic. I do have copyrights and trademarks on the names of my products, but there is not much I can do to protect the actual design because all a copier has to do is change one thing, and I pretty much lose my legal recourse.
I don’t think about it much. I don’t search for people out there trying to make a profit off my designs because it depresses me. (Honestly, you guys do that for me–I always get an e-mail from one of you when that happens!) I think it’s more productive to keep hustling, promoting, thinking of new ideas, and staying one step ahead. It used to be harder for me but now I have so many irons in the fire, I’m definitely not worried!
Q: What is your main goal right now for Princess Lasertron? (from Chad)
A: My main goal forever and ever is to teach a segment on the Martha Stewart show and give a kit to everyone in the audience. If that ever happened, I’m not sure I’d know what to do next.
Q: What is the best mail you received lately? (from Marina)
A: I got a very special delivery today:
Continue Reading
this and that…mishmashmosh
Posted on 26. Jan, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.
I love this way of storing tights–it is the easiest way I have found to keep them all organized and untangled in my drawer. I stuff the waist of each pair inside a toilet paper tube (or you can use a cut-up wrapping paper tube left over from Christmas!) and then wrap the legs around the outside.
A few sweet questions from you…
How do you and Dave keep your relationship strong when you work opposite schedules?
I have gotten this question a few times. I actually feel like we spend more time together than most couples who both work 8-5. I often sleep while he’s at work (which is three minutes away) anyway, so it’s not like we’re missing out on time together then. When he gets home I’m awake and we relax and spend the rest of the evening together, and then I go back to bed early in the morning. Sometimes we meet for lunch. We talk online all day. Usually we are also together all weekend too. We have always just been best friends.
How long will you stop working (if at all) when Alice is born?
Well, I haven’t really cleared any time for this year, but for May and June I am only taking five brides per month instead of fifteen. Hopefully I can finish those orders long before my due date and have several weeks to relax–right now I still have energy so I am just hustling to do about twice as much as usual.Then that will pay off after Alice is born and I will be all caught up. Right now I’m still ahead of schedule! It is SO nice that I work at home.
Between now and my due date, I am also planning with three of my friends to bring something really big and awesome to the Omaha creative community that will take up a lot of time and energy for us–but luckily, there are four of us to divide the labor (and the spoils!). I can’t wait until I can talk more about that…probably by the end of February?
Post more pictures of Dave’s outfits!
Okay. This is him at lunch yesterday–pretty much all he ever wears is a button-up shirt, a sweater vest, and Diesel jeans. Add or subtract a tie, add or subtract a jacket. This shirt and vest are both Ben Sherman. I should have HIM make outfit posts!
Working on my application for Omaha Fashion Week today…I have to make a Powerpoint Presentation. Welcome to the 90s!
Continue Reading
questions from you no. 17
Posted on 12. Jan, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.
Q: What was your favorite Christmas gift this year? (From Susannah)
A: I got a lot of really thoughtful stuff this year. My grandma got me an adorable Shinzi Katoh poster I wanted for Alice’s room, and my mom got us a sweet front door mat that says “Lasertron”–I thought that was funny. My in-laws sent us a digital picture frame that was pre-loaded with lots of old family pictures from Dave’s side that I hadn’t seen before. And my cousin Katie in Florida (who made that wrapping paper in the photo above–amazing, right?!) picked out a little box full of buttons for me. I’ll have to send her something!
Q: What’s your favorite pen or marker?
A: I only use Stabilo Fineliners or Pen 68s. They are the prettiest pens, I’ve found that they last a long time, and they come in EVERY color. Before that I was a Sharpie person, but I like Stabilo better! Und auch cool, sind sie in Deutschland hergestellt.
Q: What are some things that a lot of blogs do “wrong,” in your opinion? What are some good rules of thumb for those of us who want more traffic and reader participation? (from Christine)
A: Well, I’m not the expert on increasing website traffic and I don’t purport to receive more than the average blog, but here are a few things that come to mind:
…If you want your readers to engage with you more through comments or other communication channels, I think they respond better when there is an incentive. You don’t have to be giving something away–it could just be a moment of your professional expertise, a response to a comment, or an opportunity to talk about themselves. Open yourself to reader suggestions. Ask for advice. Reader surveys are also a great tool to gauge reader participation and find out what your fans like, dislike, and want more of!
…And since I mentioned giveaways, keep them simple. Readers do not want to jump through hoops to receive a giveaway item. A recent trend I am noticing is bloggers asking entrants to retweet something, become a facebook fan, leave a specific type of comment, or sign up for some kind of newsletter in order to be entered into the drawing–and sometimes all of the above! There are so many websites doing simple, easy-to-enter giveaways, that you aren’t creating any meaningful publicity by making it hard to enter. You just end up annoying the people you’re trying to hook.
…Finally, from reading a lot of comments and a lot of forums, I think many bloggers put too much pressure on themselves to become the next big thing. To become the next celebrity blogger with a book deal and advertisers banging down your door. Readers like honesty and sincerity. Just write. Just share.
Q: What’s the best part about living in omaha? (From Michele)
A: There is actually a cute website, I Live in Omaha, where people from the area can submit reasons why they love living here. One of my favorite answers was, “I live in Omaha because I like being in the middle of things–namely, this country.”
Right now I love Omaha because of this sign, placed at the busy intersection of 72nd and Dodge by design company Secret Penguin:
Q: Do you ever think about traveling and teaching craft courses? (From MerryWA)
A: Yes! I would love to! That’s the kind of thing that, at this moment, I know nothing about. I need to take a weekend sometime and learn about how other artists do that.
Q: What are you reading? (from Annabella)
A: Right now, Lula Magazine. It’s a beautiful magazine with few ads and lots of fashion, photoshoots, creative typography, and gorgeous layouts. Karen Elson is on the cover of this issue and now I’m convinced that I want to dye my hair red.
I’m totally afraid to dye my hair! I wish I was brave–it’s only hair. But I like my hair color now. Do you dye your hair? What color?
xo
Continue Reading
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!
Continue Reading
questions from you number 15!
Posted on 23. Oct, 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 are your favorite tools? (From Dirsta Paola)
A: I love using decorative fabric scissors–Fiskars makes some pretty good ones. When I work I also always use a felt needle book made by Jenn Maruska–it holds my needles, scissors, and threads and it’s perfect for traveling while I work. (I have to say, I wish I thought of these first! The little embroidered pictures are to DIE for!)
I also love pom pom makers for stress relief, the awesome camera tripod I got from my grandma, and my iPod Touch (totally replaced the phone for me).
Q: Why the move away from Etsy? (From LeeAnne)
A: I don’t like playing by their rules and the lack of shop customizability no longer works with my business plan. I also find Etsy culture to be extremely competitive, high-pressure, and overly fanatic.
I love shopping on Etsy, but I am phasing out selling there. I might use it just for side projects and hobby crafts.
Q: What do you usually have for breakfast? (From Sarah)
A: I usually wake up after lunchtime, so I eat whatever. Sometimes if I have a lunch meeting, I eat lunchy or dinnery food. If I’m at home I usually eat Multigrain Cheerios or I just wait for Dave to get home from work so we can eat together. If I am in the mood I will walk to the pastry shop in our neighborhood. And sometimes I am just not hungry–especially with morning sickness, I usually like to wait a few hours before eating my first meal.
Q: What is your favorite brand of purse? (From Susan)
A: I am not a purse person, I am a shoe person. I only carry a wallet and lipstick in my coat pocket–or Dave’s coat pocket–usually.
Q: Where do you draw the line between someone who is clearly inspired by your work vs someone who is clearly copying (and selling?) your ideas? How do you deal with that? (From Sandy)
A: Well I know that I did not invent the idea to make a bouquet of felt flowers. I am inspired and amazed by other textile artists who find ways to make fabric do things that I have never seen or imagined before. But I think that there is a clear difference to most people between an original idea and a copy of something somebody else has already made. I do own the copyright and patent to my main bouquet design which gives me some protection if I ever really needed it, but the best way to deal with knockoffs is to ignore them. Starting a war over it just feeds the problem and ignoring it puts it to an end.
A few years ago I would lose DAYS of work fretting about seeing copycats. It would ruin my week. I would lay awake at night thinking “What if I never make another dime? What if I’m unable to sustain my job?” But that line of thinking is self-damaging and unrealistic. The truth is, no matter what industry you’re in, if you were the first to design something or think of something, you have the advantage. You are always one step ahead.
It’s okay to be inspired by someone and try to make something yourself that you have seen in a store or on another website or in a book. That is what’s so fun about our crafting and creating community. But we have to be honest with ourselves and respectful of each other too. Most people know that.
Q: If someone wanted what you would consider to be a really horrible color combination for a bouquet, would you just take the order and make it for them to make them happy, or would you kindly suggest other colors? Has this ever happened? (From Stacy G.)
A: Hahaha! That has happened. If I find colors challenging, I usually work with an inspiration or mood board to visualize the different tones of a customer’s palette. Usually I can find a way to make it work, and then I have to be careful to use the perfect shades of fabric, buttons, thread, and other notions. A lot also has to do with the color balance–maybe a color combo looks totally gross with more brown, and much better with more purple, or something.
I communicate with the customers about my opinion and I ultimately create what they ask.
Continue Reading
thank you thank you thank you!
Posted on 13. Oct, 2009 by admin.
Photo source: I forgot
Thanks so much for all of your kind words and positive thoughts! I knew it would feel more “real” once we announced that we were expecting, and it’s really fun to not have to keep it a secret anymore. I’ve been bursting at the seams to talk about paint colors for the baby’s room, furniture, the cute stuff I scored at Ikea, as well as the nausea and complete exhaustion. My mom said she could tell I was bursting…she thought I was leaving lots of hints here on my blog. Maaaybe.
Continue Reading
questions from you
Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by admin.
As usual, I’m answering your questions every week. 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: Where did your friend Sarah get her beautiful frothy pink dress that she wore in her engagement photos? (From EVERYBODY)
A: She got her vintage dress from Second Chance Antiques in downtown Omaha. It’s a total gem and one-of-a-kind as far as my ebay and google-fu can tell.
Q: Since you have your degree in German I’ve been wanting to ask if you have any pointers or things that really helped you. (From Karli)
A: Besides taking classes, it really helped me to expose myself to as much German pop culture as possible. I watched lots of German tv (Germany’s Next Topmodel was my favorite), listened to German music, news, and podcasts, and read tons of German fashion magazines. I love industrial dance and ebm music which often has German lyrics even if the band members aren’t Deutsch…I love Covenant, Melotron, Front 242, VNV Nation, Haujobb, and Icon of Coil.
Q: When you were a kid, what did you make believe you were? A model? Astronaut? (From Alison)
A: Usually a teacher or a mommy.
Q: When will you load up your Etsy shop with all of the fun new things you are making? (From Karen)
A: First, I’m thinking about moving away from Etsy. But for now that thought is on the back burner.
Second, I plan to start pushing inventory pretty heavily after Silver Bella which is November 12-14. Then I will upload a ton of things in time for Christmas shopping.
Until then, I have to work too hard making things for Silver Bella, filling a few new wholesale orders, and keeping up with the 52 brides I have between now and the end of the year. B-A-N-A-N-A-S!
Q: My question is about the dress line – will it be one of a kind pieces (meaning there’s only one of each dress to purchase) or will you be offering them each in many size options? (From Jenny Mick)
A: Each dress will be made-to-order couture for every individual customer by designer Joi Mahon and me. I believe (could be wrong) that the turnaround time will be around a month, I am trying to keep each dress in the $300-500 range which is an amazing deal considering the amount of design, the fabric quality, and the uniqueness of each garment. I can’t wait to share more about this line with everyone in the coming months!
Q: Have you considered producing a instruction/pattern book so people could recreate your flowers themselves? I would love one! (From Jennifer)
A: A very cute handmade booklet with detailed instructions are included with every felt flower bouquet kit.
Q: I love your outfit posts…Do you usually shop to shop, or do you just end up finding all of these gems?? Just tell me about your shopping style in general? (From Jen B)
A: I usually shop when I want to get out of my studio, or when I am looking for motivation. I know this is the most cliche answer ever, but my first stop is usually Anthropologie. My aesthetic is about very tailored pieces in solid colors, polka dots, or bold stripes which Anthro doesn’t always offer–this season they seem to be all about flowing fashion in flowery prints–but their window displays and home decor always make me so happy.
Other than that, I mostly shop online. The mall and other boutiques in Omaha seem to be so trend-focused and it’s hard to find high-quality fashion in styles that I like. And when I do (like at Von Maur–they think they have the market on style completely cornered in Omaha, it’s ridiculous) it’s marked up so much. I usually shop with something in mind, like a dress for an event or a replacement wardrobe staple like a white button-down shirt or tweed shorts.
Continue Reading
questions from you
Posted on 19. Aug, 2009 by admin.
my first day of school
As usual, I’m answering your questions every week. 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 were your favorite school supplies? (From Mindy E)
A: The day we got new school supplies was the best day of the year, and my mom KNEW it and always made it a really special experience. I loved notebooks. MARKERS. I always had colored glue. I always had a pencil box, not a bag or pouch. I come from the Lisa Frank generation but I loved my notebooks to be in solid colors so I could draw on the covers. Also I will say that I always drew in my textbooks but NEVER ONCE got busted for it. I always secretly hoped that whoever got my textbook the next year would appreciate my stylistic contributions.
Q: You have such a clearly defined style. How did it evolve and become a point of view? I seem to vacillate all over the place with my style. (From Kara H)
A: In high school I was one of those kids who was always saying “Guess how much I paid for these jeans? TWO DOLLARS!” as the jeans were sagging in the ass and had horrifying bleached whiskering down the legs. Or “I found this shirt on clearance for $1.50. Can you believe it?” Yeah, you could believe it, when you saw that it was made out of two cents of fabric and probably designed to fit a dachshund. Living that way, I amassed LOTS and LOTS of clothing. Clothes that were cheap. Clothes that didn’t fit me or look good on me. One day in high school I realized how much money I had wasted when I thought I was saving it.
Style and fashion are not the same thing to me. You can buy fashion. Style comes from the confidence and attitude that is a result of knowing who you want to be and how you want everyone in the world to see you–not from wanting to be someone else. So although others may be inspiring, when you have the confidence to dress like “you” rather than “them,” that is what makes heads turn. As Coco Chanel said, “Fashion fades, style is eternal.” Be your own style muse.
Exploring your personal style is something you owe to yourself to do, so it’s okay to be “all over the place” and experiment with it a lot. One thing that I am always doing with my own clothes is editing. If you can live without it, don’t keep it in your closet and you shouldn’t have bought it in the first place. Samesies if it doesn’t fit you or doesn’t look good on you. Invest in things you will wear the most. Own tons of shoes. And buy dramatic things that will become signature pieces for you. First impressions do matter. And you do deserve to love how you look.
I have always loved looking through catalogs…I grew up in a house that had 3 or 4 coming in the mail every day, and Longaberger baskets scattered around the living room filled with stacks of saved catalogs. I didn’t read magazines, but I learned so much seeing the differences in styling between brands like Coldwater Creek and Delias and Anthropologie. My mom also helped me a lot late in high school to define my style by funding my new fashion preferences…I think back now to all of the opportunities I was able to seize just because I could finally dress the part. I had suits for speech competitions and college interviews, beautiful dresses for community events, and sweet blouses for going out with my friends. That was when I finally started having fun with it.
Q: Do you have a wait list on your bouquets? (From Lauren)
A: I do everything I can to fulfill all the orders that come through my inbox, but sometimes I know that my employees and I just can’t handle one more client–usually I try to keep it between 20-25 brides per month. If I don’t have time to complete a customer’s order, I am upfront about it and ask them if they’d like to be placed on a wait list. Sometimes the client chooses to take a different direction or order a kit to make their own flowers, and sometimes they do ask to be waitlisted. As of right now, I still have some availability for early and late 2010, but the spring and summer of next year is almost full.
I always say that as soon as you decide you want to work with me on your flowers is the time to contact us to reserve the date! We do sell kits and create simpler designs for last-minute brides, but I’d rather give you my full attention and create something custom for you.
Q: Your life seems “quirky” -which is a DEFINITE compliment- were you a quirky child? Teenager? Or did the artsy-ness take over as an adult?? (From Miz Cindy)
A: Quirky? That can mean so many things!
Ummm, yeah, I was a wacky kid.
And an EXTREMELY troubled teen.
My parents deserve more thanks than I can ever give them.
I should have my mom write a post answering your question.
Q: What are your other goals for 2009? I remember squinting at your poster when you posted it, but I couldn’t make them all out. (From Jessie)
A: Sell 50 kits in 2009.
Get on Martha. (Almost!)
Submit book proposal. (I’m 8 pages into that…I work on it in my downtime.)
Website redesign. (Next week possibly?)
2010 fashion week. (Well, 17 dresses are happening, but fashion week submissions aren’t due yet.)
Q: How do you decide what will get more attention for a time (eg, the bouquets) before switching to developing another idea? (From yoyosma)
A: Oh man, I am super frenetic. My first priority every day is to stay on schedule with the orders I already have because my top commitment is to my customers and their needs. When I get spare time, I work on the ideas that bounce around my head throughout the day like notebook covers, dresses, bags, website redesign, the style notebook, gift baskets for local charity fundraisers, making gifts for friends, designing new styles of flowers, screen printing new fabrics, designing new products for brides, working on my book proposal, participating in local entrepreneur events, talking to other designers about collaboration possibilities…whatever. I try to do it all at once and I am crazy. My mom, my husband, and my employee Hollie Nicole do an awesome job keeping up and keeping the screws on my head tight.
Q: What are some of the other jobs you’ve worked at before you started your own business? (From Stacy G.)
A: Jobs I’ve had…
…restaurant cook (cried every day)
…reporter (awesome, but super high-pressure)
…hot air balloon chaser (so fun!)
…radio producer at KFAB (met so many awesome people)
…deli clerk (for four days…and I cried every day)
…record store clerk (fave job ever…it was just like the movie high fidelity–such an insane lack of responsibility)
…personal assistant (well, to my dad)
…assistant speech coach (still doing that super part-time now!)
Good luck to everyone going back to school this week! Who all is going back to school this semester? What are you studying? What are you most excited about? What school supplies did you get?
Continue Reading
a little fyi and quick-fire questions
Posted on 05. Aug, 2009 by admin.
First, and most amazingly, there will be TWO giveaways in the next week thanks to my awesome sponsors and I’ll just tell you what so you can stop wondering: There will be drawings for a full felt flower bouquet kit and a new one-of-a-kind felt-covered composition notebook.
I’ve been selling about five kits per week in the last month–they took a little while to catch on after the launch. And the felt-covered notebooks are a new thing I am doing, great time of year for them, and also good for women who are not in the market for wedding accoutrements.
Soooo it would really be great for me if you stuck around here and paid attention, told all of your friends, bought billboards and huge neon signs, and spread the word that these giveaways are going to be awesome!
Also, I always ask for your questions every week through e-mail or twitter, and you guys have been so awesome about giving me feedback. Many of the questions I receive merit long responses, but some can be answered easily with just a few sentences. Those questions and my answers are as follows, for your skimming pleasure.
Q: What is your favorite color combination to use for your flowers? (from Amanda)
A: It’s still too early, but I’m feeling fallish. Probably from working on so many autumn weddings right now.
Q: What is your ultimate “belt it out” song that puts you in a good mood no matter what? (from Brooke)
A: Anything by Britney–I really like Stronger, and my brother and I have been known to videotape ourselves singing Circus. We’re like performers, the dance floor is our stage.
Really though, my constant favorite songs are German dance pop and electro, and then on the side I cycle through whatever top 40 pop is happening at the moment. So right now I’m into Britney, GaGa, etc.
Q: Why is being on the Martha Stewart Show one of your goals? (from Rachel)
A: It represents a tier of exposure and success that I have held as ideal for years. Martha is the most respected expert in the field of entertaining, homekeeping, and the Martha Stewart Weddings magazine had a never-before-seen impact on wedding culture after its launch in 1994 by changing the way brides visualize and execute the plans for their weddings. I belong on her show because I understand her aesthetic, I have designed a craft that lots of people like, and I want to teach it to everyone. Besides being completely in awe of Martha in particular, I would love to extend my reach to more people so I can connect with them and learn from them.
Q: Where do you find all your rhinestone buttons? I have quite a few vintage buttons, but the rhinestone ones seem impossible to find. (from Judy)
A: Hint: look for vintage rhinestone jewelry
Q: Do you have your outfit picked out if you get to go on Martha? (from Sarah)
A: If I make it to Martha, couture designer Joi Mahon will make a dress for me.
Q: Where do you get so much energy??? (from Kimke)
A: I have a job that gives me genuine pleasure. I am motivated 24 hours a day to write, design, pound pavement, stitch. My love for what I do serves as fuel to give me the motivation and momentum to work so much.
Q: What Etsy shop did you get your Lasertron necklace from? It’s adorable! (from Amanda)
A: Cupcakes and Mace!
Q: I’ve noticed in your outfit posts you have a different handbag everytime – do you change bags daily? weekly? whenever necessary? (from Jenn)
A: I mostly rotate through my yellow Ted Baker bow bag and a big black leather BCBG frame bag that I can’t find anywhere on the internet.
Q: Welches Geschäft kannst du in Berlin besonders empfehlen? (von Anja)
A: Ich liebe Calypso fur schuhe–es ist in Mitte. Auch O.F.T. fur bekleidung–auf Chausseestrasse! Die Wahrheit ist ich mich hauptsachlich auf Kudamm einkaufen weil mein lieblings Hotel sind hier. Und ja mein Deutsch ist schlecht. Kein hassen.
Q: If you have to choose one project to show on Martha (fingers crossed) would you rather do a bouquet or boutonniere? (from Kari)
A: From my experience watching the show, the bouquet segment would probably be a little rushed. I’d like to demonstrate a boutonniere and give a bouquet kit away to everyone in the audience. Unless Martha’s handlers told me that was too confusing, which I’ve decided is probable.
Q: How old is Professor Lasertron? (from bellkiss)
A: He turned 32 on Sunday! Though he is satisfyingly more aged than me, he is still my sweet little baby bee.
Photo from Martha Stewart Weddings
Continue Reading
a question from you: how I proposed to my husband
Posted on 22. Jul, 2009 by admin.
One of the most popular questions I receive through e-mail and on twitter is “How did you and Professor Lasertron get engaged?” It’s a great story (although I’m biased), a common question, and I can easily write a long post about it!
One February night in 2007, I was up late at my apartment working on button flower orders. I was thinking about my boyfriend and I thought “this is the man I want to marry.”
Always impatient and not one for sitting around, I decided that I ought to go after it and propose to Dave.
First, I began looking for an engagement ring. I found jeweler Kathryn Reichert through Etsy. We had previously purchased matching posey rings from her that said “Megan loves David/David loves Megan” on the inside of the band that we wore. We absolutely love them, so Kathryn was the obvious choice for David’s engagement ring. She worked closely with me to create a custom piece that was perfect for him. Here they are in their unwashed glory.
I also created a little book that told the story of how we met. I illustrated each page with drawings of us.
Finally, I planned a trip to Chicago to see one of our favorite bands, VNV Nation, where I planned to pop the question. That is where I hit a snag–the trip was during David’s Organic Chemistry final, and he really wanted to cancel the trip. I finally insisted and convinced him to go because I am selfish, hoping that he would be able to study on the plane and at the hotel to make up for lost time.
When we got to Chicago that April for our trip, it was so cold outside. We hadn’t packed enough warm clothes and it rained every day–so miserable. I had planned to propose to him in Millennium Park, but I couldn’t bear to go outside for a long walk and ended up asking him at The Chicago Diner, our favorite vegetarian restaurant.
We cried. We got free cake. Then we went to the concert. Then we came home. Then he took the Organic Chemistry final. Then he passed. Then we got married.
I hear more and more stories about women proposing to their significant others and I think it is great. Hinting around to your boyfriend about your ring size or leaving wedding magazines on the coffee table, longingly wishing that he’d get the message and propose already–that may be a dominant cultural image but it doesn’t have to be your expectation in a relationship. I don’t see it as an issue of feminism as much as an issue of logic–If you want something, make it happen. If you know that you and your partner are both ready for the commitment of marriage, ask already!
I was definitely scared when I asked Dave to marry me. I thought he might say no, he might hesitate, but I never thought that he’d be upset that I had asked him instead of the other way around. It’s not for every couple–some people are more traditional and some men really would prefer to do the asking. But you know your partner best and I knew that Dave would be comfortable with me taking that role.
xo
What’s your engagement story?
Make your own post about it on your blog, or leave a comment here!
Continue Reading
questions from you
Posted on 15. Jul, 2009 by admin.
As usual, I’m answering your questions every week. 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 do you and Professor Lasertron have planned for this summer? (From Stephanie)
A: We took inspiration from Meg Duerksen and her family’s summer fun list and made a list of our own. We both add things to the list as we think of them.
We have a few more things to cross off since I took this picture.
Q: When you’re finished making one of your products (not for a custom order) what is the process it goes through until it is sold, ie: do you label it first, then store it in a specific place, do you have a designated storage space for all your product…. (From Cristina)
A: At this point, pretty much everything I am making is custom work, and I rarely need to find a way to store product because it moves so fast. However, for the upcoming Silver Bella event in November, I will have to create a lot of new products to keep in stock until SB Vendor Night (yes, new products! new products!). In that case, I mostly just record them in my inventory program–the time spent on each design, how many I have, and their values–and store them in a Sterilite container on the floor of my studio. For the really pretty things–charms, hairpieces, bouquets–I keep them mostly on top of my table just for some decoration.
Q: Have you always known this was what you were meant to do with your life? (From GGG)
A: I always knew that I didn’t want a conventional job so I never expected to have one or resigned myself to a fate other than the one I wanted as an artist. To some, that might sound unrealistic, but I think people should be proud to defy expectations and I disagree with our cultural bias against people who choose unconventional career paths. I have worked 8-5 desk jobs, but I wasn’t discouraged because I only saw them as the means to an end: Gaining enough capital to start my own full-time venture.
Q: What are you studying right now? You are a grad student, right? What was your first degree in? (From Becky)
A: My first degrees were from Dana College in Blair, Nebraska in German and Intercultural Communication. I’m in grad school at the University of Nebraska-Omaha School of Communications for Public/Political Communication. It is for fun–I am a lover of school, essays, tests, research. At this time I don’t plan to pursue a career in that field.
Q: how did you not become discouraged when you started your business? (From Judy)
A: I guess that at every stumble, I knew it wasn’t over–even if there are stones in your way, it doesn’t mean the path has ended. I also try hard not to grow too fast which I think is financially wise. Entrepreneurs and especially creative people should never be discouraged–we get to do something that many people never have the guts to even try. If you have confidence in your idea, discouragement will not take it away from you.
Q: Are the tips of your fingers super sore? Any remedies?? (From Jen)
A: The Sport Strips made by Band-Aid are amazing because they are sort of cushioned. I cut those into squares and put them on my fingertips when I am sewing instead of using a thimble. When working with sharp wire, I wear thin work gloves by Atlas.
Q: I love all of your packaging, where do you find those simple white boxes? (From Beth)
A: I get all of my packaging from PaperMart.com! They are the best and I have been using them since 2005.
Q: Do you feel selling kits will make your hand made bouquets less appealing? (From Julie)
A: I launched the kits because I didn’t have enough time–even with help from employees–to accept all clients. Princess Lasertron Felt Flower Bouquet Kits are a great option for brides who want to save money, are a little craftier, and are fun to put together with your mother or bridesmaids. Projects like these are better when they are shared, not guarded.
