Playing out-of-bounds

"It's fun to do the unexpected"

Author: Walt Disney Company,
'Nursery Rhymes & Fairy Tales'

Into the KNOWN Wild Blue Yonder

Do you ever get the feeling that you that you have to do something in order to do what you need to do?

I have sat here for almost 3 weeks looking at my work table that is still scattered with stuff that I have either never bother to unpack, display or just plain and simple put away!

But that isn't even the worst of it yet!!

I know that once I clear and clean off my massive 1.2m x 1.2m (4'x4' ) table that I really will have to not only do something productive with both my time and energy but that I will have/need to start getting creating again.

Now, please do not get me wrong by any means!!

I love being creative. It's in my bones. It's in my head. It's in my heart. The difference here is that in essence I have/need to be creative.

Now, please do not get me wrong by any means!!

This next Line of Faeries truly inspires me. Excites me. Is part of me. I have purchased absolutely everything that I require/need to make/create these Faeries. Everything is separated into their own pretty coloured cloth boxes and rubbermaids just waiting for me. Calling to me. Even whispering to me.

Now, please do not get me wrong by any means!!

I so really want to get these Faeries done by the holiday gift giving and craft shows. I think though that I have missed my international shipping time for any of my Faerie creations in order to reach their destination in time to be wrapped and opened. This is such a massive hurt/blow to me as I was really counting on, well let's face it...for more sales.

Now, please do not get me wrong by any means!!

Since I have shut down my Facebook page I know that I have missed out on the largest looking/shopping opportunity. Promoting my website, blog and even my e-commerce pages is way harder than I had expected. Well, actually I know that I was throwing myself under the bus but I needed to take a break.

Now, please do not get me wrong any means!!

I have tried relentlessly to promote my wee company. To get seen. to not fall behind on what I need to do. I do know however that I made these massive changes and transformations since I knew that I would be away from the nursery for almost three and half weeks. Trying to keep up remotely would have both been way too time consuming and well, let's face it....not the type of vacation that I truly needed.

Now, please do not get me wrong by any means!!

I didn't want to be away from the nursery. I needed to be away mentally and physically. Anyone of you that run a small home based business knows that it takes about 7-10 hours a day. Yes, this is way longer than a full time job. These are the sacrifices that need to be done. This in itself takes everything that you have. Everything that you want to do outside of the business. Everything that you want to do socially un-business related. Everything that you call a personal life. These all get interrupted and/or cut short.

Now, please do not get me wrong by any means!!

Since leaving work (and not by choice), loosing your independence (I am no longer cleared to fly or to drive a vehicle), to being in the house all day with only three critters to keep you company and well, to talk to. When I was a Mom at home with two children this scenario was quite different. Yes, I was still home alone (technically), I did have the ability to fly and drive (but I'll admit somedays just wasn't worth the effort) and when I was talking essentially at least I was teaching (hoping) to teach my children a few life experiences.

Now, please do not get me wrong any means!!

I do promise myself (and you) that the cleaning of my table will start. My head has rested. My body has rested. My heart has rested. Everything else can be called my creativeness and it too have been rested. It is time for me to become Faerie Amma once again.

The Unknown Progression

I find it truly amazing how the progression of my ideas have come to this point.

Back in 2010 I had only begun to think of making flower petal faeries. I was doing them to keep myself busy until I could find a full time job in our newly move to the Northwest Territories. Granted I have lived in the north for 14 years already but never in Fort Smith, never married and never for following someone up here (well okay, there was one time but I was only 7 months old, so I don't think that this is a true indication of the point that I am trying to get at).

My wee Enchanted Pathways company was registered in British Columbia and at that time I was just looking to try to make replica doors as shown in the *Hobbit movie. I thought they would be fun to make so there I was with a design in mind, a massive of amount of new tools and even a **Dremel. Alas, this idea never did come to fruition. I did have fun though!

In the process of this whole new experiment I did learn some very valuable information. Shopping, how to get the lowest price and value for the dollar. Shipping, how to get products from the USA without having to pay duty on them. Ideas, how to jot everything and I mean everything. Tools, how not to loose a finger or other appendages. Paperwork, how to document and file. Education, using all that you have learned in the past and trying to adapt it to what you need now. Friendship, the importance of having someone to bounce ideas off. Love, knowing that you are someone believes in you.

I have now gone from the original play of making Hobbit doors and then onto simple flower petal faeries to what my company is today.

1 - Generation 1 Flower Petal Faeries ~~ that have an average of 20 silk flower petals and stand approximately 7.6 cm (3") in height.

2 - Magical Wooden Faerie Doors ~~ these are now actual cutout wooden doors and no longer doll house doors.

3 - Teacup Nurseries ~~ using miniature trees, flowers and dollhouse items that have been made into a small garden area that faeries just might be found.

4 - Seed Pod Babies ~~ using the small roses that I used to take apart for the smallest petals when making the Generation 1 Faeries are now transformed into a full rose head with a curly wired tail and then placed into a tree pod with a bed of moss.

5 - Generation 2 Flower Petal Faeries ~~ using a wooden platform these faeries stand about 12.7 cm (5") and are numbered for collection status. This style is made up into full groups that are meant to be purchased as a full set.

So that is the product end of my company. Now onto the other end of the company!!

I am now quite proficient at the accounting end but still have a hired certified accountant to do the tax filing. I do all of the GST filing on my own currently.

Photography is now done completely be me. I am able to use my ***Photoshop program in order to clean up and adjust the photos as required for website usage. I have a complete shadowbox that allows me to take consistent photos.

Website has now been changed over to a ****Weebly program where I have full control over the pages. I still do have a tons of assistance from Shawn my In-House-Guru that helps me with absolutely everything when it comes to coding.

Extras are now designed by me for all printing purposes this includes cloth bags, sticky notes, magnets, rack cards, tri-fold cards, postcards, business cards, labels and rubber stamps.

Graphics have thankfully been done by both Alyssa and Shona for the icon and main stump photo.

Adverts are now done by myself as well. This is a part of the company that I never thought that I would teach myself to do (with help from Linda). It is amazing how I have been able to create a background and then put all of the company information on it. These adverts are now run in national magazines and local newspapers.

Additions include the new 'Thought of the Day' graphics along with quotes and now Instagram photos that have a wee stories with them.

Wow! Now that is progression!

Here is the advert that will be going into issue #28 of the Faerie Magazine. I am really happy with what I have been able to create and make my own.

On a final note, this all wouldn't have been possible without you!

* The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - WingNut Films
**Dremel Tools - Robert Bosh Tool Corporation
***Adobe Photoshop Elements 12 Editor
****Weebly website and blog site founded by David, Dan and Chris

Welcome and Introductions ~~ Facebook

2014 - Facebook

So I have always tried my best to welcome everyone personally to the nursery, I know that between trying to keep track between doing updates on the iPhone, iPad and the Mac and now finding out that the Facebook 'like' counter includes not only 'individuals' but that there is a drop down box that shows 'pages' that like you too! Now this particular option is not available on my iPhone or if it is my screen is just too tiny for me to even want to see that small arrow for a drop down box. So this is me, Faerie Amma, welcoming everyone that I have missed to my Faerie Nursery.

I don't ever try to sell anything to anyone here, even though all of my e-commerce sites tell me that that I am supposed to be using my Facebook business page as a selling tool. I am here to interact with you, to show you sparkly things, to tell you silly stories, to let you know what mischief my faeries have been getting up to, what I have bought now! All those kind of good types of things...not being pushy and saying buy this, buy this...sure....I know in the end....that I am a business...but I guess that I am just not that good at that part of the business end....oops! But by all means..if you are interested...all of my products are available through my website .... there...did I satisfy what I'm supposed to do...will they get off my back now!! Back to the fun stuff :)

I have a wonderful helper...her name here if Pixie Sapphire or you can call her Brenda..but she's not supposed to answer to that name on here! Are you Brenda...oops I mean Pixie Sapphire. Umm..okay, so I started getting a bit overwhelmed...I know, you mean me! No, never me...so I gave up just a little bit of control. Okay...everybody. Stop. It's okay. Just breath. Relax....Now close your eyes for just a few seconds...Did you see pretty sequins?...Were they pink? Were they orange? Oh no!....If you said they were green, go back, close your eyes again.... Okay, open them.... What colour were they this time...Pink? Orange? There we go, we are all on the same page again...That was close!! Okay..so Pixie Sapphire has full Admin rights to the Facebook business page and she helps me with a few postings now and then. Did you see the photo album just a couple of days ago...the one where I went shopping AGAIN! She did that! Yuppers....she did. Now all of her work, she will sign Pixie Sapphire. I don't want anyone to think that I have left the country, that I am doing my hair, or that I have been superglued to the table and hubby dearest is trying to figure away to get me undone! Okay..think we are all clear on this topic...okay..I know a few of you still have your eyes closed...OPEN them now.....silly silly silly.....

I have two wonderful Faeries that help me in the field so to speak....Faeries Georgina and Malinda (okay....oops...that kinda gave their names away as that is their real names but ummm oh well). These Faeries are my life line here....they are my Sparkle Tattoo sparkly glittery experts....plus they never stop smiling! Thanks ladies :)

Then there is the hubby...well, okay, he is well, he is everything. There really wouldn't be a faerie nursery if there wasn't the hubby. 'Nough said 'bout that as he knows that he is my everything but he also doesn't like to be in the centre of attention (note.....that is why I put him nearer the end of the introductions and the centre..huh huh huh...great thinkin'   I know!! I know!!).

And me, well I am Faerie Amma...and when I don't have my make-up on, well then, I am Emmanuelle, the artist/owner of the Enchanted Pathways Faerie Nursery. And this is my little faerie nursery getaway. I am surrounded by twinkling lights, hanging vines and flowers, crocheted hummingbirds, pretty pictures of faeries, tiny trinkets that I have collected throughout my whole lifetime, children's books I bought just for me, little rocks I have picked and stored away in pockets since I was little and tons of supplies to keep me busy for a lifetime. I owe who I am to my family and friends...but most of all, I just want to be like Peter Pan and to never grow-up so I can play with my children, Matthew & Brandi and my grandchildren Rebecca, Dominic and Stephen Jr.

Won't you come and play with us too?

Favourites...

Wow, I was just able to add two more companies to my Favourites tab!

As this tab is still pretty new and something that I am actually taking great pride in doing, I thought I should share a bit about it here, through a blog posting.

The original idea came from T&D Designs. They often welcome their Facebook followers to join along and that is how I found the idea. The intent is to hopefully drive like minded folks to their page and perhaps to find a new friend or two along the way.

So, my take on the idea is that if you are interested in joining, which no strings attached (and no promises of course) this is what I will do for you. I will review your site, a webpage, Facebook, E-commerce site and I will do a short write up about you or your product. I will include links to your home page and at least one other page if you participate in other social media sites. If you happen to offer something for sale, I will choose my personal favourite and tell you why I love it so. Once I have completed my write up, I will then post it on my company Facebook, mention the update on my website and will Tweet about it too.

These are the groups that have joined me on this adventure so far...

T&D Designs - jewelry and authentic native art

Canadian Art Beats - nature being transformed into art

Sirens Designs - best graphic designer EVER (a bit prejudice mind you as she did all of my work)

Jen's Tangled Threads - flip flops and scarves for every occassion

Jewelry by Teresa's Country Treasures - jewelry that is handmade with love

The Shabby Witch - bringing magic into your home

The Calamity Cat - crafting resin jewelry with a twist

Brandy Wilson Photographic Works - taking a simple wild flower and creating a masterpiece

Connie Kuusisto - putting the BUZZ in social media

Welcome to my blog page :)

Another visit from Debora...

Last week the nursery had Debora over for another visit. During that time, our first wee wee wee little faerie was born. I mean, she is tiny. Now please don't think for a minute that I am exaggerating! She stands a mere one inch in height, minus the hairdo ;)  Unfortunately I didn't have a chance to name her before she flew out of the nursery to go and explore a new garden at Debora's house. But as she does live close by and I do promise to give you an update on how she is doing soon.

 A big thank you goes out to Blissful Silks for providing a lot of the petals that this little faerie has in her skirt. Please visit her site on Etsy as she has the most wonderful selection of silk flowers. Blissful Silks

The new direction of Enchanted Pathways

The story has been written and now it needs to be told.

This won't change the name of my company at all, it is mainly to allow more 'key' search words when 'Googling' to find me :)

My little workshop has now become The Enchanted Pathways Faerie Nursery.

This will encompass everything from the wee little seedpod faeries, to the petal faeries, wooden faerie doors and wooden trinket chests. It will also allow room for expansion, whether that includes porcelain faerie dolls, cloth faerie dolls, dragons and what not.

We here at the nursery are guardians of the wee folk that are waiting for adoption.

I hope you will take this journey with us as we continue to tell our story.

Wow!

This has been quite the week.

I guess I should have keep the blog updated so everything didn't have to be written all at the same the time. But time allows what it does.

1. I now have hired someone to do my website. A big thank you goes out to Shawn who has taught me the difference between a blog and a website (remember, I'm the one that still thinks that there is a magic combination of keys that if pressed my whole damn computer will blow up). He has be wonderfully patient with me and has guided me through this whole process. He has been up for changes and insertions and deletions :) I couldn't ask for anything or anyone better to represent Enchanted Pathways for me.

2. I have purchased a design. I now own the exclusive rights to a great banner, background and avatar. I would like to thank Erin and her shop "swiekysiggies' on Esty (http://www.etsy.com/shop/swiekysiggies). I have been a major pain the backside for her but she has been great. She is now working hand-in-hand with Shawn to make sure the image is on both my Esty store front and on the website. I am now using her faerie design on my Facebook and Flickr as avatars. When I seen her work and especially this design, I knew I had found what I imagined and hoped would represent what I thought Enchanted Pathways meant to me. I hope you like it as well.

3. My Esty store front is almost ready to be open. I am just finalizing the last details for postage. Now unfortunately there will be no sneak peeks at the new banner as Esty keeps you on vacation mode until you actually add listings for sale. But you can find the link at www.esty.com/shop/EmmanuelleNixon.

4. I have set up a new Flickr account that will be specifically for Enchanted Pathways. Currently all of my available faeries have had their photos retaken, they are named and have a bit of background posted. You can check them out at http://www.flickr.com/photos/enchantedpathways/

5. Out of the blue, I happened to see that there were new courses being offered here in Fort Smith for small businesses. Now even though I do have my Business Management behind me, these courses have been wonderful refreshers. I would like to thank Linda at Thebacha Business Development Services for her great ideas and most of all for being a sounding board.

6. I have hired a local writer, Meagan to help me develop the story behind Enchanted Pathways. Now I could go on but there will be no hints until the story has been completed :)

7. I have been to the Bank of Montreal and with the assistance of Geri set up my accounts for the company. It is always awesome when you have someone who will go out of their way to help you because they believe in you, not just because it is their job.

8. I must add in that I have a wonderful boss and a great group to work with. They have all been supportive with me, encouraging me along the way and offering up their knowledge and experience to get me going. Plus they are putting up with me missing work so I can attend these courses. I am sure they are all sick and tired of listening to me go on and on about faeries.

9. So I guess in the end...I have been sitting here teetering on the edge of whether I want Enchanted Pathways to continue to be a little hobby or whether I want to make a go of it and see if I can let it grow into something more. I have opted for the later. So here we go .....

Time Delay??

I haven't forgotten about my blog or my little company.....it's just that I have been SOOOO busy. I will do today's blogs by theme again....

Since my last blog, I have received about 25 little wee tiny parcels in the mail! One day, they had managed to squeeze 7 parcels into the mail box!

I have now been trying to order a few things from Hong Kong directly as they offer way better prices and free shipping. It looks like if you keep your order to under $5.00 there are no related taxes or customs. AND, the packages get here faster than from the States (sometimes even faster than Canada Post -- PRE-STRIKE)??

Well, all the pictures are downloaded now...so...off to blog :)

Company Details

I have made some pretty major decisions these past few days :)

Company name font has been chosen....I feel it displays my beautiful whimsical dreams

Company official colours have been chosen....antique gold, white and eggplant