formspring quickfire – questions from you no. 24

Posted on 12. Aug, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

I feel chatty today. Feeling like oversharing a little. All of these questions were asked by you via Formspring!

Q: Any tips on how to get unstuck? I just graduated and right now none of the job postings appeal to me. I’m sorta stuck.

A: Here’s a dirty secret: Many employers, including me, don’t hire from job listings. For employers they can be expensive, and it is a clerical hassle to formally begin a search for a new employee. What is often more convenient for employers is asking their industry peers if they can recommend anybody. You can get into this inner circle of opportunity by attending local networking events, volunteering in your community, and getting to know people who work for companies you would like to be a part of.

If you aren’t interested in a traditional job at all, it’s totally possibly to “make your own way”–especially in this economic environment. What are you good at, what do you love? If you aren’t sure, take a part time job and use your time to test your own small business idea or dabble in a few different things you would love to try.

I know it’s easier said than done. In lots of towns there are just no jobs to be had and Omaha luckily hasn’t been hit as hard by the depression. But just start something, or become a part of something, ask someone how you can help. The experience is always worth it for the relationships you create.

Q: You mentioned that you eat the same thing every day–what is your relationship with food?

A: I am not an adventurous eater. Trying new foods has been extremely upsetting to me my whole life. I do eat the same thing every day. I used to desperately want to change and “fix” it, but now I am comfortable with it and the thought of trying to get over my picky eating is just too stressful to really address right now. Owning my business gives me more control of my life and social situations, and I no longer have to worry about dating, so I deal with it just fine.

Q: I’m in the process of learning German and am trying to find some good German bands. So far, there aren’t many that I actually like. Do you have any recommendations?

A: I listen to a lot of industrial/goth (I know), and most of the bands from Germany don’t even sing in German most of the time. I really love Melotron, Girls Under Glass, Front 242, Seabound, S:I:T:D, and And One. Anyway, here’s a playlist of some of my favorite songs auf deutsch–just click the arrows on the sides to scroll between songs. So you might not like this either, but it’s what I love.

Q: What annoys you most?

A: When people act insecure. People who want me to believe the same things they believe. Traffic.

Q: What gives you “instant happy?”

A: Smiles from Alice. Having meetings with my friends at CAMP. Visiting my parents. Grocery shopping with Dave. Coming home to see all the glorious reality tv shows on my DVR. Napping with Alice during the day.

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making it work as a working mom

Posted on 29. Jul, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

I received a thoughtful question in a past post.

“I am amazed that you can get work done with a newborn around. How do you still make progress with caring for Alice at the same time? I have a home business too, but it’s hard finding time for work AND the baby…does Dave watch Alice so you can work? Please send me an email with some tips if you have time…I’m getting frustrated and afraid I might have to close shop until baby is older!” -T. Bride

Planning and luck.
Tuning into baby.
Leaving my schedule for hers.

I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom since I was little. Maybe it’s only because that’s the example I was raised with. Throughout high school and college I never saw myself becoming anything other than a mother. That’s not to say that I rushed into motherhood or spent those years looking for a husband or didn’t cultivate my own interests and passions–I mean look at me now, I’ve been a workaholic for five years. Although the dream of being a mama never went away, I sort of subconsciously reframed my goals in the context of the reality of my life.

It is unrealistic to expect that anyone can go from a busy career–especially as a businessowner–to doing nothing but mothering. I know now that that’s not how I’m built. I like to juggle too many things at once. I don’t have any example to look to of a mother who doesn’t really stay at home, doesn’t really work at home, but is somewhere in the middle. So it’s easier to make it up as I go. If there were no commitments, no customers, no meetings, but just me and my daughter and my work which I love, how would I fit it all together? That is what I asked myself.

Growing up I saw my mother’s devotion to her family and love for homemaking and I interpreted that as who she was. She made lunches, she built forts, she brought us on all of the family errands, she watched my plays and read my stories and helped me hold an art show in my bedroom. Her life as I knew it revolved around us. But now that I have a child, I can better appreciate all of the dimensions to my mom, to any mother.

She is a volunteer in several organizations, she is a very talented writer and photographer, she is sort of a foodie and loves to travel. She didn’t abandon her passions when she became a mother, she made them work within her life as it changed and evolved.

So that is what I have done. I am continuing to live my own life and, at this point, Alice is along for the ride. I hope that she will look back and see that I was an encouraging, inspiring representation of A Woman Who Has Many Roles and that she can remember the point when she herself veered away from me onto her own path.

So.

I am lucky that she is an easy baby. Very predictable and easy to communicate with.
I am lucky that my parents and grandparents are nearby and supportive. I often work at their house where they help me by making me dinner and entertaining Alice.
I am lucky that I was able to move my studio out of my house and form the coworking space. It was perfect timing as I now have a place to bring her when I work at night.
I am lucky to have the flexibility to adapt to Alice’s schedule instead of forcing her to live within mine.
I am lucky to have an assistant who can lessen my workload.
I am lucky to have a husband who does the cooking and cleaning and laundry.

Generally I am just lucky. I can’t rationalize it.

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questions from you no. 23

Posted on 30. Jun, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

Q: What is Hustling? (sent via Twitter)
A: It basically just means “hard work.” “Making money.” A lot of people I know don’t like to use the phrase “hard work” to describe what they do all day, maybe because they think it connotes strife, oppression, unhappiness, and the lack of control that sometimes comes from a traditional 8-5 job. When I spend all day driving to meetings, choosing paint colors, writing blog posts, shipping packages, organizing photoshoots and branding for the dress line, sending quotes to customers, meeting friends for late night work sessions, you could call that “hustling” because it doesn’t feel like work to me.

And yeah, my mom took a picture of me at this meeting. (I wish I had more pictures from meetings that involve liquor and french fries, etc.)

Q: How did/do you cope with the stresses involved in embarking on such a big project? The highs must be wonderful, but the lows (if there were any) must be awful – how do you mentally overcome it and get back on track? (From Nelle)
A: I am one of those people who can’t not work–which is made 1000x worse because of the fact that I love what I do. I was just talking to my friend Eric the other day about it–why do I feel the need to go a million miles an hour all the time? My husband Dave gets home from work every day at 5 and just enjoys watching tv and cooking and going for walks. Eight hours of work is enough for him every day. For me, it has to be at least like 14. Then I lay down and night and just worry about everything I didn’t do.

I look at it not as work, but as my life. As my lifestyle, my choice. And I’m either at 100% or 0%–I work 12 hours a day for 3 months straight and then when I take a break, it’s in the form of like a one-week vacation completely unplugged from the world. Its never like an hour-long tv show or sitting down to read a magazine like a normal person–I’m either at 0 or 100.

I don’t see what I do as overtly stressful. Intense, but not stressful. I have never faced a problem big enough that I felt it would never be over or that I couldn’t face it–there is always an end in sight to the struggles.

However I regretfully confess that I don’t really enjoy the “wonderful” highs either. It feels like it’s always on to the next thing. Now that I realize that I want to try harder to appreciate them and take time to celebrate accomplishments. But I love every day–it feels like I’m always celebrating a little because I never go to bed sad, you know?

Q: How did you come up with the name CAMP? What does it stand for? (via Formspring)
A: Well, the name CAMP was first mentioned by my mom because she always wanted to open up a retail store called Camp. I always liked the name, and the more I thought about it the more I realized that CAMP totally connotes everything we want the workspace to stand for and represent–a welcoming place for friends to gather and work, relax, play, etc. A casual place. I love the shape of the word and that it’s four letters. It doesn’t stand for anything. We joke that it’s capitalized because you’re supposed to yell it.

Q: You said you weren’t always a baby person. Did you always know you wanted kids or was it something you came to over time? (via Formspring)
A: I always knew I wanted kids–I just never felt like I loved any baby until I met my own. Before I gave birth, I wasn’t sure I would love mine either–I didn’t feel the “bonding” feeling in pregnancy. But the disconnected feeling from my fetus went away and I’ve continued to bond intensely with Alice. I lovey lovey lovey wuv wuv my little pancake so much. I am trying hard as a parent not to be the annoying mom who needs everyone’s world to revolve around my child. I’m still basically only interested in my own kid so I understand how they feel.

Q: We are looking to use cloth diapers and we don’t even know where to begin. What type of diapers do you use? How do you wash them? How often do you do laundry? How do you store the soiled ones until you do laundry? How many diapers did you buy in the beginning if you don’t mind sharing? Are there any tips that you would share for a first time cloth diapering mom? (From Melissa)
A: We use a cloth diapering service which is really convenient because I don’t have to do any laundry–we get a bag of 70 clean diapers every week, and put the dirty ones out to be picked up. I searched the web for videos of people folding the diapers to learn–we use the angel wing fold–and cover each cloth diaper with a washable cover. Some people invest in pocket diapers or all-in-one diapers, which are made of absorbent fabric and are just worn once before they are washed by you at home. We have about six of those and put them on Alice when we want her to go a little longer without a changing, like on a car ride or overnight.

Honestly, breastfed babies’ diapers don’t really smell. They have a smell, but it’s not repugnant. We store the used ones in a pail lined with a zip-up bag that was given to us by the diaper service, but I have left our pocket diapers in a laundry basket to be washed before too. Just do a load at least every 2-3 days and I think you will be fine. There is SO MUCH support out there for cloth diapering–Mothering magazine recently had a great article about it too.

Q: Do you feel like you are “returning to normal” after delivering Alice? Are you starting to wish for your “old body” back? (via Formspring)
A: I don’t feel like I am returning to normal quite yet. I gained about 40 pounds in my pregnancy and now I’m about 15 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight. I know that is a huge accomplishment but it is still frustrating to not fit into ANYTHING–not my maternity clothes, and not my pre-pregnancy clothes. It gets expensive needing to have so many different wardrobes!

Although I don’t feel the same, the truth is I will never be the same woman I was before. Eventually I will reach my pre-pregnancy weight but I don’t subscribe to the “I want my old body back” attitude. My choice was to get pregnant and have a baby, and along with that choice I accept all of the consequences. This is my body, it’s the only one I’ll ever have, and it is beautiful and strong. It supported and bore life and now it is nourishing my daughter. My “old body” is just adapting to my new life and it will continue to adapt and change. I still have my own body, for me, and I continue to be amazed by its resilience and purpose.

Q: Are you and Dave both vegans (or is it just him)? How hard is it to eat out with a vegan diet? (via Formspring)
A: Dave is vegan and I am not. I have a vegetarian diet. It is easy to eat out and we can both always find something at the places we go out to with our friends–places like Noodles & Co, Chipotle, P.F. Chang’s, any pizza place, and any ethnic restaurant have enough vegan options. There are a lot of great local vegetarian restaurants here too like McFoster’s and Daily Grub. However, neither of us generally enjoys going out to eat and we usually cook at home.

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questions from you no. 22

Posted on 24. May, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

Q: Are you ever stuck on ideas? When you feel like you want to create something, but nothing happens…what do you do? (via Formspring)
A: My friend Steve says that lack of inspiration is just lack of motivation–when I feel productive but uninspired, I move! That’s kind of where the inspiration to start CAMP came from–I had been meeting with a group of my other self-employed and freelance friends late at night for several months where we sat around restaurant tables with baskets of french fries and stacks of pancakes and worked together. The idea came between the four of us to create a place that would serve as a “home base” for our group as well as a place for other freelance friends to call home when they need a dose of camaraderie and inspiration or a spot to host a meeting.

Anyway, it was the lack of motivation that led to lack of productivity that led me to leave the house and collaborate with my friends which led to to one of the greatest ideas I’ve ever been a part of. So my best advice for when you are feeling “stuck” is to leave your space and talk to some friends who can help you clear your head and regroup.

Q: I’m planning a trip to Berlin this summer. What are the top 5 things I must do/see/eat? (via Formspring)
A: My five favorite things to do in Berlin:
…walking through the Judisches Museum
…grabbing a snack at Cupcake Berlin
…dancing at club K-17
…watching a German language movie at CineStar Kino at the Sony Center
…catching an opera at the Staatsoper on Unter den Linden

I’m also often asked what my connection to Germany is–”Are your parents German?” “Did you ever live in Germany?”–no and no. I actually started studying German in college and it was the first time I ever took a foreign language. My freshman adviser was the German professor and she signed me up for Deutsch 101–I took it because I was afraid that dropping it would hurt her feelings. It ended up being my favorite class and I completely immersed myself in as much knowledge, literature, and as many cultural experiences as I could.

Q: I’m always interested how people as busy as you keep your schedule/to-dos organized – what are your organization habits as far as prioritizing? (from Jenny)
A: I live and die by my planner. It’s the Draw Your Tomorrow planner from Millimeter/Milligram. Just an FYI, it’s impossible to visit that last link and not buy something.

Of course I write my meetings and obligations in it but I also use it to plan ahead to finish my client work before their deadlines, as well as write down ideas for new projects or blog posts. Throughout the year as I look back through my planner, it’s almost like a diary because I’ve not only recorded what I did, but also my problems, solutions, thoughts and ideas.

Q: What do your wedding rings look like? Did you make them yourself? I’m guessing you have something unique and creative…(Sorry if you’ve answered this question on your blog already–I’m a fairly new reader!) (via Formspring)
A: The awesome website Turtle Love Committee did a little post about our rings last year including an interview.

Our stamped rings are from Kathryn Reichert and my sweet little faux-diamond ring is from Metalicious and has a faceted piece of cut silver instead of a stone. I actually proposed to David so he is the one with the engagement ring.

Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in Omaha (not sushi)? (from Paige)
A: Well, my favorite restaurant is a sushi place–Blue Sushi in the Old Market. I am not a sushi eater either though–Blue has a huge menu and you could probably find something you like. I also recommend Amsterdam Falafel and The 1020 in Dundee. I don’t enjoy eating in restaurants generally so I have no other suggestions.

Q: I’m curious about Dave’s tattoos. Does he have a “straight edge” tattoo? If not, what are those Xs on his forearm? (from Beth)
A: He has a half sleeve that shows Thor fighting some serpent. A scene around his leg of a battle from Warhammer 40k. Some kind of skull on his other leg and the Maxwell equations coiled around his other calf. Some business on his stomach. And that straight edge tattoo–he was edge until he was 26 I think.

Q: You seem so confident in your ability to run your business and really business savvy. Did you take any classes about sustaining a small business or did you just jump in and learned as you went (kind of have a natural knack for entrepreneurship)? (From Renae)

You did not go to school for business or art, correct? I know your mom has inspired you but where else have you gleaned your abilities (both creatively & business wise) from? Books you have read, people/business you have really studied, classes/conferences you have attended. (From Johanna)

A: I just love to make things and I think that have always had entrepreneurial tendencies. My dad was a huge influence on me as a small businessowner himself, and my mom is still the most creative person I know. She keeps the same night hours as me and helps me with everything. She’s also extremely intuitive and often wakes up to tell me about a great idea she had in a dream. I began blogging about my creations in the mid-90s during middle school. At Dana College, I studied Intercultural Communication and German while working in my off hours to build and promote Princess Lasertron as a business and a brand. When I graduated in 2008, I already had a solid business foundation, loyal blog readers, and a sizable client portfolio. The confidence is just smoke and mirrors–I really never know how things will work out, and there is a ton of realistic anxiety involved in small business ownership, but having a good attitude is sometimes enough to convince everyone else that you’re worth their time and respect.

Other influences on me include my friends in the local creative/entrepreneurship community. I can’t even make a list because there are so many–dozens and dozens. Just living here in Omaha has given me so much experience and brought me so many important connections that have led to some of my most special opportunities. Conferences like Big Omaha and little events like Ignite, Barcamp, and Pecha Kucha are great to attend–see if you city has anything like that you can participate in.

I’ve also read a lot of books and attended a lot of conferences that did not help me. In my experience the best teaching tools are time, finding mentors, and learning from others.

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questions from you no. 21

Posted on 07. May, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

I’m almost–not quite–caught up with bridal orders until July. I thought I’d use my extra free time to relax and do nothing but I’ve been having so much fun working on new projects. I love it, and it reminds me why I became my own boss. There is so much progress happening at CAMP–insulation and walls are going up, floors are being finished, and we’re installing a really special glass picture window that lets everyone peek inside. I’m having visions of fulfilling my fantasy as a window dresser! We will have the best displays.

Q: Tell us more about the items in Alice’s room! I’m curious about die Kinder Bücher & if they came from Amazon.de or elsewhere. (from Karli)

A: In the next few days as we finish her nursery I’ll take better pictures of the room. It’s very cute. Until then I just have these little snippets:

1. Queen Buzzy Bee vintage pull toy–this was given to me by my mom. Her wings flap and antennae bounce as she moves!
2. Mad Scientist Alphabet Blocks–each block has a different letter and a detailed illustration. ‘T’ is for tentacles, ‘K’ is for Potassium, etc…
3. Wee Gallery Birdy Banner from Blik.
4. Black sheep on a vintage green plush rocking chair. I love it because it’s very low to the ground and I fit in it!
5. Vintage and new books given to us by friends. I write the giver’s name and date on the inside of each jacket, something my mom did with my books as a baby. Every time I read them, I could think of the person who gave them to me. The German books were gifts as well.
6. A vintage dresser holds onesies and ruffly diaper covers–love the glass knobs.
7. Alice’s curtains are canvas shower curtains from Target (cheaper than other window treatments and so cute) with rhinestone rings by Shabby Chic for Target.
8. A canvas Shinzi Katoh tote bag will be awesome for when we go out and easy to wash.
9. A Sleep Sheep attatched to the side of Alice’s little gray fold-up crib (by Bloom).

Q: Would you ever move out of Omaha? And if so, where? (from Kristi)

A: I will never move out of Omaha. But when I make sick money I am buying a home in Berlin.

Q: Where do you purchase your buttons? I buy the ones they make for scrapping but I like one-of-a-kinds… I have tried the antique stores but seems to be a hard thing to find… (from Susan)

A: I hate to say it, but antique stores! I used to get most of mine from eBay, but I really can’t beat antique stores for the best ones. Look for booths with a lot of needlework, linens, quilts, crocheted things–sometimes there is a little box or basket hidden where you can find some vintage button cards. That’s my strategy. Also, I have YEARS of them saved up–I’ve never really come upon a jackpot of hundreds of buttons. It’s just picking through what’s available here and there.

Q: Did you ever struggle with feelings of fear, that you don’t belong here? I never considered myself creative before planning my wedding, and now I’m feeling a little inadequate, or maybe just out of place. (from Lauren)

A: I think I have always felt secure as an artistic person because my parents raised me believing that I was creative! My advice about that is not to compare yourself to others, but to visualize yourself in a vacuum. If you were never influenced by anyone else, if there was no one to impress, if there were no other artists or designers to make you feel inadequate, what could you create? There would be no limits

Q: What are you doing (reading, buying, etc.) to prepare for Alice? How/Where do you find all your fabulous non-maternity type maternity clothing! As a small pregnant girl (I don’t fit into maternity clothing even though I’m 5.5 months pregnant & have a definite pregnant belly!) I’m dying to know. (from Tina)

A: Reading: Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon, and Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein. Buying: wrap carrier, Quinny Buzz stroller, cloth diaper service, tons of ruffled diaper covers. Clothing: Jersey dresses! Old Navy and Forever 21 are great for that. I never wore jeans because I don’t feel pretty in them.

Q:Do you choose Prof. Laserton’s wardrobe or does he? You two are both way stylish and I was wondering if that was your doing or if he enjoys getting dressed as much as you do? (from CJ)

A: I do not dress him–I don’t think I’d feel compatible with a man who needed to be dressed (although I am trying to get him to wear more cardigans and vests)! It was Dave’s great style that first drew me to him–I think it communicates security with one’s self, emotional maturity, confidence, and understanding of value–extremely attractive traits to me. His vegan lifestyle does limit his options (no wool, silk, leather, etc) but there are more and more cruelty-free menswear options. He loves Ben Sherman, Tom Ford, Penguin, and D&G and Diesel denim.

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giveaway winner and feedback from you

Posted on 29. Apr, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

Congratulations to Chelsea, or “random number 223,” who won the giveaway for a package of fun crafty goodies. There’s a headband in there, some vintage supplies, a handmade pencil case, and some other cute stuff thrown in as well.

I had a huge amount of feedback from my annual reader survey and I am so grateful to everyone who took the time to give me their opinions about their reader/user experience here. You can still respond to my survey here if you want to share your thoughts with me–I’m appreciative of all responses.

A few of my assumptions were shown to be wrong and I learned a lot about what you like and dislike as blog readers. The biggest surprises:

…You generally aren’t bored by baby posts. I always assumed that other people didn’t really care about my kid/those aspects of my personal life. Holy moly was I ever wrong.
…Most of you have been reading for at least a year, and many for over two years. I didn’t realize I had such a loyal base!
…Several of you–like dozens and dozens–asked me about teaching craft workshops or speaking about small business ownership which is a huge compliment. After the opening of CAMP this summer, my schedule will be more open for those kinds of engagements and events.
…YOU ALL LOVE MY CAT. Hilarious.

Things you want more of that I will do my best to improve:

…Posts about my home and how we’ve decorated–umm, with tons of dirty laundry, at the moment. Alice’s nursery is looking really adorable though and we also just bought some new chairs and redecorated our front room with an interior designer, so those photos will be exciting to share.
…More DIY and video tutorials–sometimes they take so long to put together that I put it off. But I do have some good ideas for easy future projects that I haven’t seen on other blogs before and I’m excited to share those soon.
…More guest posts from Mr. Lasertron. A lot of you want to hear him talk about vegan life and read posts from him about food. As the house chef I think one of those once in a while would be right up his alley.
…You want me to fill up my Etsy shop again. I need 100 hours a day for that! I really hate using Etsy because the amount of time it takes to upload and ship products is more than I can afford to spend. The user interface is extremely bulky and I also disagree with many of their policies. I need to find an easier way to maintain an online store though so I can upload more inventory. Aaaaaand this is a job for my intern. (Who you will soon meet! I found him! Yes, him!)

Rather than use Etsy, I make more money and save more time communicating directly with customers through e-mail for custom orders. If you are waiting for the shop to fill up, it will again eventually, but you are always welcome to contact me through e-mail too.

Finally, many of you still have trouble with the new website redesign because you are used to reading blogs where you can scroll down endlessly and read full posts (as in Typepad or Blogger). You don’t like the grid of posts and having to click “read more” to get to them. That was a style decision I made to fit more content on the main page and make it easy for you to skim the post titles and decide what is most relevant to you.

Thanks again everyone and congrats to Chelsea. I’ll put that box in the mail for you asap!

xo
meg

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maternity fashion: dressing when pregnant

Posted on 25. Apr, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

Q: What is your advice for dressing well when pregnant? (Via Formspring)

A: Everyone I talk to who has had a baby recently says they miss little things about being pregnant. Although it’s becoming more and more challenging, I think what I’m really going to miss is dressing my body!

Here are some of the tips I would pass on to other moms-to-be:
…I felt most comfortable and fashionable in loose, comfortable jersey and cotton dresses, long tanks, tunics, and tees.
…The only real “maternity clothes” I ever bought were jeans, a white button-up shirt, a winter coat, and a “nice” dress. Everything else was just regular clothing.
…Invest in well-fitting tights and leggings because you can wear them with everything.
…Wear comfortable shoes when you’re at home so you can wear heels when you go out–I don’t have body image issues about being a short woman, but I think my calves and butt do look better when I’m not flat on my heels. Obviously, don’t do this if you can’t balance.
…Don’t hide the baby–I’d rather people see I was clearly pregnant than merely gaining weight.

…I got my “maternity formal” pieces in black jersey because I thought they’d provide a better foundation for accessories. I don’t normally wear black but during a time when my body is changing/leaking/growing/being gross so much I am glad I didn’t invest in something too expensive.
…I had also never been one to accessorize much, but the fun necklaces, purses, and big cuff bracelets really came out in the last few months.
…Those belly band things really came in handy early in pregnancy and let me wear my jeans for a longer time. (After I grew out of my jeans, I almost never wore maternity jeans.)

Do you have any suggestions to add?

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questions for you, questions from you, and a giveaway!

Posted on 19. Apr, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

Here are some of the questions I’ve received in my inbox in the last few weeks. I also have some questions for you this week that will hopefully help me improve my blog and my work. I’ll send this package of fun goodies, plus a few more of my favorite things that I’m picking up at the store today, to one of the commenters on this post to thank you guys for your readership and feedback!

Q: Which public figure’s style do you most admire? (From Amanda)
A: Are we talking celebrities? I love Martha Stewart because she is very secure in her image and has created a lifestyle that really serves her aesthetic. I love Lady Gaga for her eccentric glamor. However, I think public figures tend to be homogeneous and boring. The people whose styles I admire most are real people with true style walking around my city.

Q: Where do you shop for Alice’s clothes? They look super cute! (Via Formspring)
A: Thank you! I am stoked to get Alice her own Polyvore account–this week I plan to take pictures of all her stuff. Most of her clothes have been gifts so far and I know they are vintage pieces. I love those old, soft, hand-sewn cotton dresses, and you can find a lot of vintage dresses and new garments sewn from vintage patterns on websites like Etsy. When I look for baby clothes, I stay away from anything with words (”Daddy’s Cutie”–gross) and stick to simple, monochromatic pieces made with natural fibers. Other than that, I think she is going to pretty much live in white onesies and ruffled rompers this summer.

Q: Out of people in your everyday life, whose style do you most admire? (From Amanda)
A: My friends are my style muses—they communicate their identities so naturally and their confidence is so inspiring. When I design dresses for my collections, I ask myself, “Would Sarah wear this? Would Jenny wear this? Can I picture a real girl wanting this garment?” Two other style icons for me are my mom, Mary Beth, and grandma—or “Grand Catherine” as she likes to be called. I’ve always noticed my mom’s ability to express her style through decorating and home design. And my grandma’s style expression is a true throwback to 1960s glamor, humor, and class.

Q: Did you take German ever since you were a little kid? Or did you pick it up during college? (Via Formspring)
A: When I was in high school, I did not take a foreign language although it was required for graduation (not sure how I jumped through that hoop). I just really didn’t want to. As a result, when I got to college, I had to take some language credits. I reluctantly–actually, with much bitching and moaning–signed up for German and was surprised to fall in love with it instantly. It came very easily to me and I began taking two or three classes per semester–language, literature analysis, and a travel course. I also became a huge consumer of German media and pop culture which helped me absorb the language much faster.

Q: What do you think business owners too often overlook? (From Lauren)
A: One thing I think many businesses overlook are the small visual details that customers always notice. In other words, making EVERYTHING beautiful and putting your own stamp on everything your customer is exposed to. They should see something from you and think, “Oh, that is from Bookworm Eats Flower.” I pack every bridal order in stark white square boxes, stuff them with glossy cerise tissue paper, and tie up the contents with a big black satin bow that greets the customer as soon as the box is opened. I also use specific colors and shapes in my packaging and web branding that I think becomes recognizable to customers on a subconscious level. Consistency in your branding and giving your customer a consistently beautiful experience is what communicates value. It’s what makes them think their money was well-spent. If every detail of the product doesn’t connote value and bring pleasure to your customer, it should have no place in his/her life. Branding is always worth the investment–it shows you’re professional and serious about your company.

Q: How did you meet your husband? (Via Formspring)
A: We had first interacted via a local message board and often argued about politics (this was the 2004 election year). We didn’t get along at first, but we couldn’t avoid each other. He and I had lots of mutual friends and kept running into each other at parties. When I finally met Dave in person for the first time, it was complete love at first sight for me. I told my friends that he was the most handsome man I had ever seen. In my typical type-a/aggressive/determined way, I decided that I would make him fall in love with me. Which was easier than I thought. Luckily.

And now, I have some questions for you in this five-minute survey.

The questions include (among a few others)…
…How did you find out about Princess Lasertron and how long have you been visiting the website?
…Are there any topics (craft-related, business-related, personal-related, anything at all) that you’d like to see me write about more often?
…What other blogs do you read and what do you like about them?
…What kinds of clothes do you like to wear?
…When you come to PrincessLasertron.com, what type of post is sure to make you stay and read? What type of post is sure to drive you away?

You can answer these questions by following this link, or by leaving your responses in the comments section.

I will choose from the survey respondents and commenters from this post to receive a random package of fun surprises including a headband, pencil case, lots of vintage notions, and more. I’ll also try to take a look at all of your blogs and leave you some feedback as well!

Thanks again for your continued readership, business, and feedback. I try to do this once a year to learn more about you, what is working, and what isn’t working. Don’t forget to comment to be entered to win the giveaway and of course feel free to share this post!

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questions from you no. 19

Posted on 05. Apr, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

Q: Have you done follow ups on any of your brides with regard to what they do with their bouquets? Are they displayed…stored in a box for future generations to use…plastic cases to prevent dust? (From Karen)

A: I have never asked, but many brides have told me that they have their bouquets on their mantles near pictures from their wedding, or on a bureau near a jewelry box. A few of my customers have even taken their bouquets apart and turned the flowers into pins, glued them to headbands, or sewn them to purses and hats. I love that idea–I understand sentimental value of a bouquet for some, but I am all for repurposing objects you no longer use into something new that you can fall in love with again.

Q: If you had more free time, what hobby would you like to try? (From Jeanelle)

A: One of my favorite bloggers is Alicia Paulson–it was actually she who motivated me in 2005 to stop being just a hobbyist and start my business. I admired how she seemed to balance her personal life and work life, didn’t accept that she had to choose between them, and still enjoyed huge success with her project ideas and craft designs.

Anyway. Lately Alicia has been making a little dress each day, using vintage fabrics from her stash (I have a big one too) and patterns that evoke memories of the simple handmade dresses from her own childhood. I would love to see my daughter in a dress like that every day and this summer I hope to take inspiration from Alicia and make several outfits for her.

Above photo by Alicia Paulson.

Q: I recently bought a bouquet kit from you (love it by the way) but the instructions didn’t have anything about those super cute simple flowers I’ve seen you do lately. How do you make those? (from Jenn)

A: I wish I could sell kits for everything I make, but it’s a lot of work to fabricate them. I spent about 3-4 months before I launched the felt flower bouquet kits finalizing packaging, design, and the instruction booklet also took a lot of time. To design a kit for everything I sell is a long-term goal right now, but I don’t realistically have the time yet.

This summer I am contributing to a new book published by Sterling/Lark that will feature many stepped-out projects. And in a few months after I open CAMP and get some more help, more kits, how-to videos, and project tutorials will definitely happen!

Q: What qualities do you most like/dislike in others? (Via Formspring)

A: I like it when people are adaptable and flexible, when they can get over things quickly. I like it when they don’t take themselves seriously. I dislike pretentiousness and rudeness–It’s so uncomfortable when people are impolite.

Q: In following your blog, you mention that you order a lot of your clothes. Do you have any favorite sites that you’d be willing to share? (From Ashely)

A: ModCloth is my absolute favorite, and I also love how they use their Twitter feed to engage customers without coming off as sales-y. I also shop online at Anthropologie, Ruche, Need Supply, and ASOS.

For splurges, my favorites are Browns Fashion, Gilt, and of course Net-A-Porter.

I also often use ShopStyle to find clothes when I don’t really know what I’m looking for…you just enter some search terms like “green dress” or “black frame bag” and it returns all of these results from all over the internet. It’s a really well designed site that I could waste all day on…

Q: How do you work in the same place you relax and live? I have so much respect for your ability to do that. (From Rachael)

A: Oh man! I was just thinking the other day about how much more space I have than I used to. When I moved in with Mr. Lasertron, I basically worked from the bed and floor. There was no table, no desk, no space. When our roommate Sarah moved out, I was able to take over a really cute room for my studio where I worked for about a year and a half. Now I am working in a room that I share with Dave as his office, and next month I am moving into a 2,000 sq ft space that I’m leasing downtown.

I like working at home but I have nowhere to bring clients and nowhere for employees to work. The new downtown studio will probably become my second home–Alice will be there all the time and it’s just a quick bike ride for Dave to come visit–and also give me some professional credibility and a chance for creative growth that I need at this time.

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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:

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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!

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