Etsy Blog Party:: Second Star Designs

Who:: Caryn Stockwell @ Second Star Designs She also operates Neverland Patterns and an Artfire shop.

Business Established:: Second Star Designs began in February 2008 as a means to an income after the closure of the company for which I worked. With the success of my first fashion show, Second Star Designs became my passion and the drive to see its fruition into a success.

What she does:: Using a variety of colors and textures, each item is carefully hand-crafted with attention to quality and detail; creating collections that are timeless and without a specific season. How she finds balance:: Wow. I ask that myself at least once a week. I am a mother to 3 children aged 7, 6 and 5 - two of whom are in school. I work a full time job. I attend art school 3/4 time in pursuit of a bachelor's degree. And I own two businesses: one that is primarily dotcom and the other one which is dotcom half the time and participating in fairs/shows/festivals the other half of the time. And I have a significant other who appreciates the time we are able to share with each other.

What I have found is that if you are passionate about your business and are building it in the event that your safety net disappears, everything else has a way of fitting in around it. My days start at 6 a.m. and go until 11 or 12 at night. I get up, go to work, come home, spend a few hours with the kids [homework, playing, reading, etc] before bedtime at 9, spend a couple hours on either homework or building inventory, then bed - only to do it all over the next day. Weekends not spent at shows are used for family time or building inventory. Two nights a week, there is no homework, so I share that evening time with my SO. And, I am blessed with an affordable babysitter for Friday nights - this allows uninterrupted time to get important stuff done.
Her best advice:: Always make sure to reward yourself [or your family] in some small fashion for the sacrifices that are made - even it's something as average as a bubble bath at 10 p.m. with nothing but you and the bubbles. Having a limited income and investing every spare dime into the growth of the business, I often overlook treating myself to such things as new clothes, shoes, etc. After a successful show last week, I treated myself to the clearance rack at a local department store. You cannot imagine what level of happiness a $7 sweater can bring!!!

Also remember that familial support goes both ways. I am fortunate that my SO supports my passion unconditionally. He is there for the triumphs and the defeats. Involving your immediate family allows them to be a part of your dream and helps them to feel as if they matter during those times when the bulk of your concentration is elsewhere.
Get it now:: 20% discount off of entire purchase from our Artfire store. Enter MOM2010 at checkout to receive discount. Good thru 5/09/2010.
What they are giving away:: Candy-Tuft Tutu in winner's choice of 2 colors. Available in two sizes: small [nb-2T], large [3-6]. Amazing for photos, dress up, or pretend play.

Play and win:: What is your favorite product from the site?

To register for THIS prize, comment on THIS post with the answer to the play and win question above.

Extra Credit:: You can earn an extra entry each day by doing any of the following and then leaving a comment {with link} about it. Follow us on twitter, tweet about the blog party, blog about the party, follow this blog, grab our blog’s button, or sign up for the Market Mommy newsletter. All comments on this post close at 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, Feb. 19.