step two and my to-do list

note to readers: for this post to make sense you have to understand that some of it was written in the wee small hours of 22 June and some today. Call it a process of iteration!

It was been a busy first week (technically 11 days!) in blogland. I got back from the craft as a business talk (see earlier post) with so much energy I couldn't sleep! I stayed up for hours writing blog posts (for a blog that didn't exist yet!), drafting content ideas for mixtape, and designing stuff I could make when I find time. It was a really useful session, so thanks to nicki-shell for organising it, Mary for sharing her knowledge with us, and Amitie for hosting it. There's a second session planned, on markets I think...

So, time to get organised. Armed with my post-session knowledge I now have a to-do list. And I'm working my way through it.

My list:

1. photograph everything!

2. upload photos to flickr site

3. create greenolive blog

4. write blog posts

5. start poking around the blogsphere for other like-minded crafters

6. start networking!

7. find out if old ABN is still active

8. register business name

9. sort out stash (what else do I NEED to buy?)

10. investigate the local market scene

11. submit market application

12. start crafting (make some stuff girl!)

13. investigate Etsy shop

14. send ideas to mixtape

15. write first mixtape article

16. set up system/software for income/expenses/cash flow

17. look into business banking account

18. what to do re: labels and business cards?

19. decide on what stuff greenolive will do – this is easier said than done. (I've dabbled in linocuts, screen printing, illustration, photography, knitting, crochet, sewing, homewares, stationery, studying textile design...plus my background in graphic design)

20. keep applying for jobs in spare time

Its been 11 days since I wrote the list and I'm pleased to announce that I can cross several things off it! (First-born overachiever!) And others are in progress...

Action item 1: I have made friends with the digital camera, and everything is fair game for photographing...

Action item 2: got serious about flickr site – have 190 photos, 132 views, more than a dozen comments, two favourites (you know who you are), a few contacts, and invites to post my photos to a range of groups. Sooooo excited!

Action item 3: blog created, five comments left so far (thanks!)

Action item 4: in progress, this is post number seven

Action item 5: in progress (keep bumping into other designers out there)

Action item 6: in progress (leaving comments left, right and centre!)

Action item 7: 0% complete

Action item 8: 0% complete

Action item 9: in progress, and buying up a storm, so I'll have to re-sort it now! But at least I've put aside the ingredients I need for stuff for market stall (see action item 11)

Action item 10: done, had a great day with Aunty Shabby (see earlier post)

Action item 11: done (see earlier post)

Action item 12: started, but finding it hard to get serious about this as it needs to fit in around shopping for stash, housework, writing blogs, flickring, job applications... must block out some days next week. What am I gonna do if I get a job?

Action item 13: started thinking about it

Action item 14: done

Action item 15: done

Action item 16: 0% complete

Action item 17: 0% complete

Action item 18: in progress, have some ideas, doodles and ingredients to play with

Action item 19: I'm thinking about it

Action item 20: in progress, have two job interviews this week

Action item? Gawd, you can see my corporate speak showing!

So I'm feeling pretty chuffed with my progress in just over a week. Interestingly, all the "business" stuff I've ignored. I'll need to get into the mood to tackle these. Maybe next Monday...