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Vicki O’Dell is one of our regular contributors here at Creative Income. Learn all about her and check our her articles on the site!
Vicki O’Dell is The Creative Goddess – I was lucky enough to be born under a creative star and with an ounce (or two) of entrepreneurial spirit.
I got my first taste of business in high school. I did the usual baby sitting, but I also did “elder” sitting and would spend time sitting with older folks while their caregivers had some time off. Many of the elderly ladies I sat with were happy to teach me embroidery, quilting and cross stitch as well as home keeping and home canning.
I’ve run businesses ever since, some creative and some not. The first time I remember really earning money with my creativity was doing some consignment needlework pieces and from there I started doing craft shows. At the time I had three small boys, went to school full-time, and owned a day care center so I had my hands pretty full. When the boys went to bed at night I created things either as gifts for family and friends or for a craft show.
After several very difficult years in my personal life, where I wasn’t creative very often, I got back into creative work. I became certified as a floral designer and ran my own wedding floral business while at the same time working as a self taught interior designer and working on shows on HGTV and the DIY network as well as PBS. These days I work for major craft manufacturers designing, writing, presenting, teaching and consulting. You’ll often find me in my basement studio creating, either for manufacturers or to sell, with my Miniature Schnauzer for company.
Vicki’s Articles on Creative Income Blog:
Starting a Creative Business – The Basics
What’s Your Excuse for Not Starting Your Business?
More Creative Ways to Reach a New Audience
Creative Ways to Reach a New Audience
How to Start an Editorial or Work Calendar
10 Tips for Saving Money in Your Home Business
30 Ways to Find Some Creative Inspiration
Using Pinterest to Refine Your Business
Work/ Life Balance and Staying Organized
Are you a Freelance or a Consultant? Would you like to be?
5 Tips for Increasing Productivity
Do More of What You Are Good At
What’s SEO? These (cheap) eBooks Will Help Explain
Starting a Business with Your Spouse
Starting Your Creative Business – Balance
Start Your Creative Business – Being Consistent
Start Your Creative Business – It Takes Time and Effort
How to Keep Your Holiday Spirit During the Busiest Time of Year
Perfecting the Elevator Speech – Part 2
Perfecting the Elevator Speech – Part 1
How to Use Jealousy to Improve Your Creative Business
10 Craft Show Conversation Starters
Tips for Building a Successful Creative Business
10 Holiday Shipping Tips for Online Sellers
Keeping Up With Your Favorite Blogs and Bloggers
Why Your Creative Business Needs a Mission Statement
Creating Excellent Customer Service
7 Ways to Sell Your Crafts After Craft Show Season
How to Build a Supportive Community Around Your Creative Business
The Time to Think Holiday Sales is Today!
3 Ways to Pull the Trigger on Your Creative Business
Crafters’ Ettiquette: 10 Commandments for Craft Shows
How to Handle Customer Complaints and Returns
Creative Craft Show Booth Display Ideas
Domains, Drops, WHOIS, and Playing it Cool
New to Blogging? What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You
How to Know Which Guru to Follow to the Top of the Mountain
How to Use Pinterest for Creative Business
Tips for Loving and Living with a Creative Business
5 Ways to Jumpstart a Stalled Creative Business
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I have had my own businesses since I was in the second grade and crocheted pocketbooks for classmates. For a few years, I went to work in a professional field. Though I was successful, I was miserable and my creativity dried up. Now I am back in business for the last decade and happier than ever before. Kudos to you for living a creative and successful life!
I would like to get into selling crafts but I’m very confused about the copyright laws when it comes to crafts. I see so many things out there that are very similar. I wanted to do felt board kits for kids, with felt farm, city, park pieces,etc. I have seen things that are similar out there. Whats considered copying and whats not.
Hi Shelley,
Copyright is a very confusing part of selling crafts. It can be a very fine line between infringement and not. We’ve written a few articles on copyright that might help you figure it out. There are also links to other resources. http://creativeincomeblog.com/tag/copyright-laws/
In the interest of full disclosure, I need
to tell you I have only been blogging for about 8 months.
Teaching someone a lesson of value is something they remember.