Greetings! ...from Kimberly Shaw

How to Become a Prosperous & Successful Business Woman

At my local bookstore I was browsing the clearance section when my eyes caught a glimpse of a book about how to be a successful and prosperous business woman. Picking it up I was disappointed at the vagueness of its contents which explained why it was marked down. The truth is, God's word already tells us how to be prosperous and successful.

"This Book of the Law (the Bible) shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success." -Joshua 1:8.

Probably not the formula you were expecting?  If you are wondering how I know this works, this has been my business model since day one where I stepped out on a hunch with only change in a jar, trusted God, and prayed.

Open House, Come On By!

It's that time of the year again when we bake batches of  warm scones served with lemon curd and my homemade strawberry fig jam.  The kettle will be on all day as delicious teas are set out for tasting and keeping warm.  There will be an abundance of happy conversations around the table as friends linger.

Unable to come in person but want a great deal on teacup greeting cards and stationery? No worries, everthing in my store is HALF OFF at www.kimberlyshawstore.com all day Sunday & Monday November 28th & 29th!  Enter the promo code 

openhouse

at check-out and watch the cost of your order drop to half the price. It's the best time of the year to stock up on Birthday, Thank You, Get Well and Christmas cards. You can also get a great price on pins, magnets, and recipe cards to give as stocking stuffers or hostess gifts.

Space Planner

When I was in my early 20's my cousin and I became roommates. She worked as a waitress close by while I made the hour commuted into L.A. where I worked for Security Pacific Bank as a Space Planner of their corporate offices. One Friday night she asked me to join her at a night club. Though I refused several times, she talked me into going as her designated driver. I never liked night clubs. I only met stupid boys there and, I'm sorry, but I don't like the stupid boy types.

Once there, a guy walked up to us whom she knew and we were introduced. She asked me to tell him what I did for a living (she being proud of what I did, though secretly I admired her large tip earnings).  "No, that's OK; it's not a big deal." I said.

"Come on." the guy urged, "Just tell me."

"No, really, I don't want to." I repeated, because I could tell from his tussled hair and gas station uniform that if he didn’t know what a Space Planner was, I didn’t want to explain it to him.

"Just tell me. What's the big deal?" He raised his voice at me.

So I told him, "I'm a Space Planner."

"Yeah, right." he laughed, "Like in outer space?"

This space dude used to stand above my drafting table as a memorial of “night club guy’s” reply, which still makes me laugh. Finding him stowed away in a hat box I set him on the shelf above my art desk, and since it's tea time, he now has his own teacup.

All iN THE hOUSE

Spending time with family and friends, old and new, enjoying warm scones, Holiday tea, and a generous amount of delightful conversation, it was the best Open House I’ve ever had.  This year a bit of hail and rain kept us huddled together longer enjoying more tea and eating more scones which were baked fresh throughout the day.

You've seen most of my cards and stationery so I’d like to show you what my friends brought to the party.  Georgia made these adorable doily garlands with red and green bias tape which she hung on the fireplace mantle.

Georgia's gorgeous cone-shaped paper ornaments were a hit. These 5 beauties will be hung on my Christmas tree this year, which will be perfect for adding a little surprise treat inside for the kiddos.

Sandi May brought me these deliciously gorgeous Christmas cookies. They looked too just pretty eat, but once I did, they were delightful. 

The Ginger Santas were my favorite and the Anise Shortbread Cookies were Steve’s favorite. 

 Her new company, “Ivy Hill, Seasonal Baked Goods” is just starting up and I can tell she is off to a great start. Her website will be up soon, but in the mean time if you would like to inquire about this season’s cookies you can contact Sandi May at Bakers@Ivy-Hill.com. Sandi also brought her daughter who I discovered is a blogging buddy at Wild Oak Cottage. She wrote a wonderful write-up of my open house, thanks Machelle!

Sherry Evans was there signing her new book “Afternoon Tea in Southern California.” 

Her book is amazing and to hear her share about all the tea rooms she and her mom visited in order to write this book was impressive. I bragged to guests about all the wonderful tea rooms they could now find in her book, plus the fabulous tea room recipes they could try, with places to jot down the memories of their visit, then Sherry would add, “…and Kim’s artwork is in it.”  I noticed her book was mostly purchased in pairs, one to keep and the other as a gift for a sister, friend, or mom.  To purchase the book for yourself or as a gift find it at Sisters Forever Publishing. Her mom and dad came also. I think I heard her dad and my dad talking about old cars.

New Christmas tablecloths were needed this year so I decided to make my selections of vintage Christmas tablecloths on Etsy.

I contacted each of the shops who had tablecloths I loved and asked if they could send them off within a couple of days for my big event. They all responded quickly and a stack of packages all arrived in a few days. “THANK YOU” to all the Etsy shops: AnitasAntiquities, The Vintage Mercantile, The Cherry Chic, Grams Textiles, and Cheeky Vintage Closet.

I adore vintage things, but there are a few classics that catch my eye as a wishful Christmas gift each year, and one of them is this hot red leather jewlery box from Red Envelope. 

I don't have a lot of jewlery, but when it comes to a classic, this little number stands out. Lucky for me Red Envelope has passed on a hefty Discount Code that I'd like to share with you to help sweeten the deal on some hot Chriftmas gifts.

Use PRESENTS10 Promotion code at checkout and save:

10% off sitewide, 15% off $80 or more, and 20% off $125 or more.

Georgia's Christmas Ornaments

Isn't this Christmas Ornament dreamy? Georgia will be bringing her hand made one of a kind ornaments to my Open House this Saturday Nov 28th. These pretty paper cones are perfect for adding a special treat inside to give as a gift. She will be covering her feather tree with a wonderful selection in different colors and designs. I can't wait to see them all.

For those of you who can't make it to our Open House Sale in person, we will be having an online SALE in my Store at www.teacupcards.com on Saturday ONLY from 12 am-12 midnight. All my Teacup Greeting cards and Stationery will be 1/2 OFF for 24 hours. For more info on my once a year Open House Sale scroll down a few post

You're Invited, Please Join Us

Just wanted to extend an Invitation to come by for a visit at my once a year Open House & Tea Tasting Event. It would be great to meet you and chat over tea and fresh baked scones with my homemade Pomegranate Jelly, Strawberry Fig Jam, or Lemon Curd.  You'll have an opportunity to browse all my Teacup Greeting Cards & Stationery in person, all at 1/2 OFF, and see where all the action takes place.  The pretty tea accessories and yummy teas we offer in my online Store will also be available. Curios? Check out my post of LAST YEAR'S EVENT.

Georgia will be making her gorgeous handmade Christmas ornaments and I've invited a couple other guest to join us, too. It's always fun, and this year I'm anticipating the cozier setting now that we are no longer in the the old warehouse.

The event is over, and it was tons of fun. If you'd like to attend next year, it's usually the last Saturday in November.  What a reminder? Drop me a note and I'll be happy to email you an update as the event draws near.

Gustad y ved que es bueno Jehova

My Teacup Greeting cards are traveling to El Salvador.

80 of five different card styles were especially made to bless 400 women who will be attending a Missions Tea in San Salvador. Two of each card will be placed on a table that seats ten women, one card at each place setting.

Each card was printed with Psalms 34:8a which says, "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good." in Spanish of course.

The cards were packed into smaller boxes which will be packed again into extra suitcases that the men agreed to help transport along with all the other goodies for the tea, like teapots, home made lemon curd, cream cheese mints, just to name a few.  I believe four couples are going from two churches to put this 2nd annual Tea together.

 

Georgia in my office also designed a bookmark which is being laminated by one of the women going down there early November.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalm 34:8

New York, Here They Come

One of the ways we market to stores is to simply send them one of our Teacup Greeting Cards (a Thank You, Birthday, Thinking of You) with info on how to contact us if they are interested in carrying our line.  Once when a store owner called to request a catalog, after receiving one of our cards, asked how we knew it was her birthday.

These Birthday cards with Tropical White tea are on there way to introduce themselves to New York stores.  I made a cup of tea, grabbed a stack of cards, a box of teabags and my roll of double stick tape.

After inserting a teabag in each card, I'll put them in envelopes, add the mailing labels and stamps before sending them off.  Maybe one of these cards will surprise a New Yorker on their birthday. I hope they enjoy the tea!

"Take a Bloging Friend To Work" Day

OK, so I know there is no such day as "Take a Blogging Friend To Work" day, but since my children have already participated in "Take Your Daughter/Son to Work" day, I thought I'd invite you, my blogging buddies, to join me at work.  Welcome, let me tell you what's going on...

Georgia has let me know we have an order for 45 "Oceanside" Teacup Greeting cards to make for a special event. "No Problem," I said, "45 cards won't take that long to make."  She clarified by explaining  we need 45 sets. "45 SETS!"  A set is a pack of 6.   I'm not sure I even know what 45 sets looks like. We began multiplying... 45x6=270. 270! WOW! I better get busy. Here's what I need to do...

First I need to make tea. I'm having English Breakfast with honey and milk, what can I get for you?  Next I grab 2 big stacks of cards, a box and an extra bag of teabags, and envelopes. Then I lay out  teabags upside down. I'll start with 72 teabags and add a bit of double-stick tape to the back of each one to hold them in place in the card.

Once all the teabags are taped, I'll insert each teabag into the die cut of each card by hand & stack them in piles of six.

Then I'll cross stack them so they're level, add 6 envelopes,

and bag them in custom sized gusseted bags.
 
12 sets down & 33 more to go, so I'll continue to set out more teabags, tape each, assemble, stack and bag while I sip my tea.


On to round 3, & I noticed not only is my box of tea empty, but my cup of tea is also empty.
 
So, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to boil water for more tea.
Are you ready for another cup yet?

We don't get orders like this very often, and I'm happy you stopped by for a visit.  Let me know if you have any questions about what we do or how the Greeting Card business operates. 

Thanks for visiting!!!

Wool Girl Knocks My Socks Off!

I’d like to introduce you to an incredible gal, Wool Girl, whose goal is to promote exceptional, hand-painted yarns, supporting Indie fiber artists, handmade accessories, and one-of-a-kind yarns.  She has a Sock Club which sends out an amazing kit each month.

 Logo artwork ©Wool Girl, designed by Jean Kreiter, Woolgirl's mother-in-law (how wonderful is that?)

This kit was inspired by the beautiful town of Kinsale, Ireland, filled with luscious yarn and delightful tea themed treats.  Check out what’s all included in this fabulous Sock Club kit:

• 1 skein of ever so fantastic Wasonga 100% superwash merino sock yarn from Curious Creek Fibers in the stunning colorway Old Head of Kinsale, which Kristine from Curious Creek lovingly created. It is incredibly soft!
• The Crooked Brook sock pattern by Anne Hanson at Knitspot.   Georgia wants to try making these.

• StormySeas cowl pattern designed by Lisa Dykstra at A Little Bit of Knit. I want to try to make one of these with its very cute picot edge.

• A lovely tea inspired stitch marker designed by Sunne from Sunneshine Etsy shop.

• A perfect knitting tote with the Woolgirl Sock Club logo embroidered on the front, with a lot of wonderful storage compartments.
• The cutest ever teapot tape measure from Event Blossom.
• A delicious sheep shortbread cookie (yes, it WAS yummy) hand made by Cranberry Sweets.
• A very pretty hand made Kinsale, Ireland greeting card from local designer and artist Willa Landino.
• A mini suitcase which includes two adorable miniature sheep.
  
  
• And one of my “Thing To Do After I Have Tea” notepads for knitters to keep their “to knit” list.
• Also information about this months contest and the winners from last month.

That's a lot of wonderful goodies!! If you are a knitter I highly recommend you paying a visit to the very delightful Wool Girl.  She has knocked our socks off!!! 

Shades of Pink

Now that I'm working at home, I'm trying to get away from the industrial look of my old warehouse.  When Steve hung the steel dome lights over the card assembly tables, they needed a little dressing up.
 
I found this cute pink toile fabric with little animals and children playing to remind me to spend more time playing, even if I am at work.  I added my favorite white ball fringe, and made shades to go over the metal lamps.  Here's another view showing the assembly area.

Shelves above the tables hold boxes of all the aromatic teas we use to hand assemble in each of my Teacup greeting cards and notepads. 

Working at Home in My PJ's

Hello friends, I believe I promised you a funny story about working at home in my PJ's.  When I started my stationery line from my small 1950's beach cottage, my kids were all very young.  They kept me so busy during the day that I resolved to do my work at night.  So, after putting the kids to bed, my husband brewed some coffee, while I took a refreshing shower and put my comfy PJ’s on. I put tea in the cards, while Steve helped tie ribbons on notepads.

When I worked in the corporate world, the owner was always the best dressed. Now that I was an owner, and working in PJ’s, I thought  I should at least have some very nice PJ’s.  When a Victoria Secrets catalog came un-expectantly in the mail, I found a classic pair of pink pajamas in the back, on sale, so  I ordered them.  When my UPS man, Vince, delivered them, I proclaimed, “Oh, yea! My work clothes are here!”  Vince’s eyes got big and his jaw dropped.  It took me a moment, but then I realize the VS logo wasn’t that discrete, and Vince had a whole different view of “work” clothes than I did.  I quickly set him straight before he left with my packages.

Benefits of a Cottage Business

There are many benefits to working from home. Your commute is very short, you have a full kitchen for serving tea or baking scones.  There are more sounds of birds in a residential area than an industrial area, and a home is more insulated than a concrete warehouse which is too hot in Summer or Freezing in Winter.  The traffic of business solicitors who just walk into your front office to bombard you with their sales pitch diminish, where at home they will knock and I'm not obligated to answer it.  At home I'm blessed with Rose bushes, Camellias, English daisies, Gardenias and fruit trees in the yard, contrasted to a parking lot lined with low maintenance ground cover.

We've started moving our business out of our warehouse and into our home.  It's been a lot of hard work cutting 12' shelving in half, moving boxes of cards, and packing up desks. Our feet and backs are sore, we're exhausted, but filled with a sense of joy.  The benefits of simplifying and downsizing  are revealed as clutter and unnecessary items are removed.  I actually believe these benefits outweigh the loss of a large building space and wonder why I didn't make the move sooner. I may even get caught working in my PJ's, which reminds me of a funny story which I'll tell you about next time.

My Cottage Pot Greeting Card was inspired by my visit to Scottland and the cottages at Loch Lamond.

Cottage Business

Kimberly Shaw Graphics started as a cottage business in a small 1100 s.f. 1950's home close to the beach in Southern California.

As the business grew, we moved into a warehouse. Now as times change, we have to adjust again. We are moving back into our cottage. Do I feel sad, a little. Is there a blessing, I believe so. Like so many other companies in our industrial complex we are reducing our overhead uncertain of what lies ahead.  We still have plenty of Teacup Stationery to offer, only now, we'll be much cozier which I prefer. For those who continue using Kimberly Shaw Graphics Teacup Greeting Cards and Specialtea Stationery I want to express my heartfelt "THANKS"!

My"Cottage Thank You" Teacup Greeting card shown here comes with a bold English Breakfast teabag inserted in the rim of the teacup, delicious with milk and honey.

Annual Open House!!

Saturday was the busy day!  We transformed the warehouse with flowers, set out all the pretty teacups, teapots and tea ware in the front office.




An area was designated for Christmas cards and tea.

My good friend Desire' always helps make gift baskets.  As fast as she tied on bows, shoppers were buying them.

The warehouse assembly area was staged with bins of Teacup greeting cards.
 
We had plenty of delicious tea set out for everyone to try. 

This years favorites were Harrisons and Crosfield's new "Forrest Berries" and Harney and Son's "Holiday Tea" with a hint of cloves.

I had an excuse to use my milkglass.

 

We even had a special corner for the Moms.

Thanks for visiting!!!

All these pretty things are available in my store.

Monkey See, Monkey DO

Edmund has been watching the a lot of news this past week.  Being a creative little monkey, he got an idea and began doodling on a piece of paper.

With help at the office, his doodle multiplied. He watched as the HP Laser printer processed sheets of his new Monkey Money.

Thrilled with the outcome, Edmund wallowed in the bliss of his new wealth.

Eager to spend his newly printed Monkey Money, he finished the process by cutting each $700,000,000,000.00 bill out.

Now, I'm guessing, you want to know what a smart monkey will do with all his newly printed Monkey Money?

He's definitely NOT going to invest in failed companies or bad loans.  Instead, Edmund plans to invest in the SOCK Market: Striped Socks, Polka Dot Socks, Argyle Socks... It's his goal and ambition to establish a new colony of Sock Monkeys. So, Edmund will also be investing in Fluffy Stuffing companies so his monkeys have substance, and Button companies so his fellows can see the truth. 

"Take Your Monkey to Work" Day

Edmund was happy to joined us at the warehouse for "Take Your Monkey to Work" day.

Georgia showed him how to invoice customer orders as he looked on intently.

Edmund was very helpful keeping the assembly counter stocked with tea.

Emmily gladly demonstrated how she assembles cards with tea, and bags them in packs of six with envelopes. 

Steve was happy to show Edmund how he pulls packs of cards from the bins to fill a wholesale order.

Edmund spent a lot of time in the shipping area climbing the racks of boxes,
 
reading the UPS shipping log, and being a stow-away in a box to Hawaii.

Once he needed to be rescued from the bubble wrap.

After making sure the online store orders had their free bonus item,

he took a break in the front office on the teacup rack.

Curios why the rack was empty, I assured more teacups have been ordered.

While I tried to take new product photos, he poked his head in the shot.
It was fun having Edmund at the shop. His bright personality cheered our day and made us smile.

Ganged Up

My five newest Teacup Greeting cards are ganged together with three other Teacup Greeting cards at the Printers. One of the jobs of printing greeting cards requires going to the Printers for a press check.  As the first sheets come off the press, they are pulled from the stack for review. The colors can be corrected to match the proof sheet which was created from the original artwork. My five newest Teacup Greeting cards are ganged with three other Teacup cards we've run out of.

Notepads at press check needed only a few color adjustments.

Sheets of my Notepads in the Printing Press. The reflection in the glass (on the front of the Press) is of the Pressman making color adjustments.

Greeting Card Business Card

Because a traditional 2"x3-1/2" business card doesn't easily represent the Teacup Greeting Cards I design, I created a mini version of my favorite Thank You greeting card. All the business information is on the back. The inside was left blank so I can write specific information: how to get to my office, the web address, where to meet for coffee... Maintaining the standard 3'1/2" width but a bit taller, it was an added bonus to discover a yummy Royal Imperial teabag fits inside. 

Cheese Ball Battles

When I began painting tea cup greeting cards I was approached by Carol Nave to sell my cards at her home boutique.  This was no ordinary boutique.  She set up four luxurious model homes for women to sell their hand craft items. When I tried selling my cards at a previous home boutique I didn't even sell enough to cover the fee. With much prodding Carol convinced me to try it again.

I set up my basket of hand painted cards the day before the sale on the long serving counter in the kitchen of the first home where Carol asked me to place them. My basket neatly arranged, I anticipated returning at the end of the next day, on my scheduled shift, to help with the sale.  Carol asked if I would help by rotating through the homes making sure everyone’s items stayed tidy. Going first to see if any of my cards sold earlier that morning I found they were no longer on the counter. Instead they had been moved to the breakfast table next to a platter of cheese balls.  Happy that a few cards sold I went throughout the rest of the homes tidying as I went.  On my return to check on my basket I found they had been moved to the floor under the table and the cheese ball platter was now spread across the entire table.  I gingerly shifted the cheese ball platter over, returned my basket to the table top and meandered through the homes tidying as I went.  At the end of my second round I returned to my basket to find it again on the floor and the cheese balls spread back across the table.  This time I less-gingerly moved the cheese balls and placed by basket on its corner of the table wondering what will happen when I return after a final round of checking everyone else’s items. Sure enough, just as expected, I found my basket moved on the floor and the cheese balls spread out across the table.  Only this time an old woman with a grey-haired bun on the top her head sat guarding the cheese balls. 

“Are those your cheese balls?” I asked.  “Yes, I make them all by hand.” She replied in a squeaky voice.  After she told me how much effort she put into making each cheese ball and how she covered them in assorted nuts, I decided to leave my basket on the floor and give her the remaining time to sell her cheese.  I thought: maybe by next year at this time I’ll be in 100 stores while she will still be at Home Boutiques selling her cheese.  I can’t tell you what happened to the cheese ball lady, but I am happy to say that my fleeting thought of being in 100 stores actually came true the following year.  If anyone knows the cheese ball lady, please let me know, I’d like to know how she’s doing.

Dish-Clothe Doilies

The very first time I ever sold my cards was at a Home Boutique on the front driveway of a home adjacent an elementary school parking lot. I had never heard of a Home Boutique. My mom, having already paid for the opportunity to sell her hand-made dish-clothes, was unable to go because she had to work that Saturday. She asked if I'd take her place. Her Dish-Clothe Doilies were crocheted in a rainbow of pastel colors and tied with a ribbon. Each had a tag attached that I made for her. The poem she asked me to print on the tags read, "Untie my ribbon is my wish, So I can help you wash your dish."  This did not sound fun to me. Sensing my hesitation mom bated me with, "Why don't you make some hand-made and sell them at the same time?" which worked and I did.

So off I went to the Black-top Boutique with her fully loaded basket of dish-clothes under one arm and a small box of cards under the other.  I displayed them on my little folding table, sat in my folding chair, and waited to see what would happen.  I watched other women, some three times my age, set up canopies, unfold multi-tiered display racks and set out their numerous hand-made items.  There were other crocheted items (mostly dolls), lace trimmed baskets, hand-painted wooden plaques in various animal shapes, and embroidered flowers still in their hoops ready for hanging.  These woman were pros and I felt out of place.

Then I watched an amazing display unfold.  Hung on wire racks were the most beautiful little girl's dresses I've ever seen.  Next, adorable stuffed bunnies came out of their bins wearing matching dresses.  They were propped on a table beside their coordinating girl's dress.  I picked up my little table and scooted closer.

At the sale, shoppers gobbled up all the "ruffly" stuff. All my mom's dish-clothes sold while only 2 of my cards sold.  One card was purchased by the lady who decorated baskets. She later hired me to design a business card for her. It was one of two business cards I designed under the corporate entity of Kimberly Shaw Graphics.  The other business card I designed was for my Uncle's Construction company. 

The other greeting card was purchased by Trish, the lovely lady who made the exquisite dresses.  Trish asked if I ever considered selling my cards at a Gift Show.  "Gift Show?", I asked, "What's a Gift Show? I just learned today what a Home Boutique is."  She explained it was a trade show where owners come to order product for their stores.  She had a booth there and offered to take my cards for a small fee.  I excepted and the rest is, well, you know.....

My Warehouse

My warehouse is mainly just rows of metal shelving full of boxes filled with printed images of all the things I've painted: Teacup Greeting cards, Things To Do After I Have Tea Notepads, Stickers, a Perpetual Calendar, and some art prints.

There's also shelves and cabinets of envelopes, ribbon, double stick tape, a ton of tea, shipping boxes, and bubble wrap.

My son tapes scraps of bubble wrap to the back of our car's tires when we're not looking.  When we back the car up, the bubble wrap pops and flaps, which sounds like a flat tire. 

Welcome to my Studio

I started Kimberly Shaw Graphics from my home in 1997 after 10 years of making hand-made cards just for fun. From much encouragement from good friends, I left a 15 year career in Architecture to start my own business while staying home with my 3 small children.  Within a few years, when the business grew beyond the boundaries of our small home, we moved the shop into a warehouse.  I have been blessed with a wonderful staff of creative and talented people. My husband bravely left his career in Chemistry to help run the business part of Kimberly Shaw Graphics.  Georgia, who literally walked in the door looking for work when we were too busy to submit a Help Add, is my creative right hand. My two daughters, both very artistic, now work with us and occasionally my son helps out. 

When my kids grew out of the playhouse we built for them, I moved in and made it my Art Studio. My move back home allows me to be more flexible. I can paint very early or late at night without getting spooked by the leaves that blew under the roll-up door. The move also gave my husband extra room to spread out in the office we shared at the warehouse.

Above my desk is a collection of Georgia's watercolors with some small plates and saucers.

I was looking for a traditional desk but threw caution to the wind and came home instead with a red peanut shaped desk which I love!