Monday Motivation - Discover New Oceans with Courage

Good Monday Morning! I know it's been a little quiet here on the blog, but I'm working hard behind the scenes on some very exciting projects. April is the birthday month for Beth Hart Designs - I can't believe my business is 5 years old! These past five years have been such a blessing and such a learning experience. I'm beyond thankful to my customers, family and friends for giving me the opportunity to do what I love.

Starting this journey five years ago took a leap of faith and a lot of courage. I've had several hills to climb but thankfully a whole lot of growth along the way - both professionally and personally. My business has gone through a good bit of change, and a good bit more is on the way. I've been blessed to have taken some amazing opportunities to work on my personal growth - including attending The Stationery Academy last summer and attending the Authenticate workshop last week. Both of these were led by Whitney English Kolb who is an amazing teacher and an inspiration for so many creative entrepreneurs. She has an abundance of knowledge, experience and courage from her own journey that she so graciously shares to inspire and encourage others. Thank you, Whitney!

I'm so anxious and excited to share my rebranding and new website with you in late May/early June! I feel like I'm finally going to be able to share the real Beth Hart. Without giving too much away, there will be a new element to Beth Hart Designs - something that I'm really passionate about and something I've never done professionally before. I'd be telling a fib if I said I wasn't nervous or scared about putting myself out there to begin this new chapter of Beth Hart Designs. But I'm determined to be courageous and follow my gut.

At some point, we all have to face decisions that require courage. In order to become the best we can be, we have to look fear in the face and move forward. We have the option to either let fear and uncertainty hold us back or to move onward with courage to discover new oceans and new lands of opportunity. I choose courage, and I hope you will too!

Monday Motivation - What You Were Made To Do

I've been neglecting my blog for several reasons - business is busy (I'm so thankful), winter makes me want to hibernate, and I'm rebranding Beth Hart Designs.

I can't wait to share the new and improved BHD with you in May! I've designed a new logo, established colors, patterns, and fonts for my brand... and most importantly I'm building a brand new website that I think will finally represent me, my business, my products, and my passions. I am truly thankful for my customers who continually put blind faith in me and my designs... because if you look at my current website, you'd think I was one of the most limited paper companies out there. It's been driving me crazy! So it's time to do something about it!

My journey with Beth Hart Designs has been wonderful, but I know that I haven't fulfilled my purpose or reached my potential. At the Stationery Academy, we learned that it's so very important to put our best work out there that represents us as designers and creative entrepreneurs so that we can attract our ideal clients. I'm in the process of defining my ideal client so that I can reach out to her. I'll be sharing that definition with you soon.... I'm so excited about the possibilities that will come from my efforts to represent the real Beth Hart!

Everyone has a purpose and potential. The key to fulfilling your purpose and reaching your potential is believing that you are fully capable. Our Father has designed us to do great things, and He will help us along the way. I'm learning to throw my "agenda" onto His shoulders because I know He has far greater things in store for me than I can ever hope for. "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..." (Ephesians 3:20).

It's Monday - a fresh start to a new week! Believe with all of your heart that you will do what you were made to do!

Monday Motivation - Be Yourself

It's the last week in January - hooray! I love January for the new beginnings and fresh starts, but I'll be honest - I'm never sad to see it go. I love sunshine and warm weather, and January makes Spring seem so far away. So come on, February!

I'm in the midst of rebranding and launching a new website for Beth Hart Designs. I learned from the Stationery Academy that I need to first define who I am and what I value - then build my business to reflect just that. It's easy to compare myself and my design style to other professionals, but I ultimately want to set myself apart from the rest. What makes BHD different from any other paper design company? It's me, Beth Hart. I need to be myself and the rest will fall into place. I know that I'm doing what I love, and I have faith that my Father will help me reach my full potential.

It's not always easy to be yourself or stand out in a crowd... sometimes it's just easier to blend in and be like everyone else. But I think we were all created to let our own unique light shine. We all have a purpose which can't be fulfilled by being like everyone else. So go be YOU, and shine brightly!

Design Inspiration - Black and White Stripes

I'm so very excited to begin this new blog series titled "Design Inspiration!" I really, really love Interior Design and Fashion, and I often find inspiration from both worlds to create new paper products for Beth Hart Designs. At The Stationery Academy, the super talented Emily McCarthy encouraged us to look around and find things we love for design inspiration. I took this advice to heart, and that's why I'm so thrilled to share this new series with you!

I'm planning to share my favorite patterns and trends, while I debut a brand new Stationery Suite design. You can follow my inspiration board on Pinterest to see what's getting my creative juices flowing! I will be adding these designs to my Etsy shop so you can purchase them for yourself or a friend!

And now the debut of the "Black & White Stripes & Dot Suite"

What's Happening Wednesday - A Little Thing Called Etsy

Happy Wednesday! I'm so excited to share with you what I've been up to this week! It's this "little" thing called Etsy. I finally opened my shop! Sure it still has a looong way to go, but by gosh I started! {Confession: I actually opened a seller account in February of 2010, but I got a little overwhelmed and never did anything with it! Shame on me...}

After my trip to The Stationery Academy, I decided it was time to get a "real" Etsy shop up and running. I had always thought that being on Etsy would cheapen my brand, but what I discovered was that I've been missing out on reaching a huge audience. I knew Etsy was "big," but I didn't understand just how big - or how beneficial it could be for a designer like me. I'm so excited about the opportunities that may present themselves by having an Etsy shop... and I'm hopeful that I'll reach many new customers and gain a whole new online community!

I'm in the very beginning stages, and all I have listed are baby shower invitations. But I plan to add wedding papers, personalized stationery, matted wall prints, calendars, Christmas cards, children's birthday invitations and party supplies, serving trays, luggage tags, the list goes on! So if you'd be so kind to "follow" my shop or add me to your "favorites" on Etsy, I'd be so thrilled! I'm just a tiny little piece of the Etsy puzzle, but I'm so very excited about what's to come!

The Beth Hart Designs Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BethHartDesigns

Here she is in all her beginning stages glory!

The Stationery Academy...

I can't believe we're already half-way through August... where did July go? One thing I do know is that July brought me a life-changing opportunity called The Stationery Academy. I briefly referenced my experiences in one of my Monday Motivation posts, but now that I've had a little time to think it through and soak {some} of it in, I'm ready to share more!

I began Beth Hart Designs in 2008, but only since I got back from The Stationery Academy have I really understood where I was going to take my business... and I have confidence in that decision. I have always believed in my design abilities, but my biggest fear has been that I won't be able to reach my full potential because I don't know how. Thanks to the amazing speakers at The Stationery Academy, I feel equipped to map out a plan that I feel will allow me to reach higher and achieve the goals that I have for my business.

Here are a few of the things I learned and how I plan to implement them throughout Beth Hart Designs:

• I need to more clearly define my design style which in-turn will define my brand. Emily McCarthy shared some fascinating tips with us that can help us find our true design style. She is an amazingly talented designer and challenged us to find inspiration from things around us that we love - not from other stationery designers. She really built up my confidence, and I am so excited about the possibilities that can come from me looking deeper within myself! I have been working on a few collections that I feel truly represent me and my style. Stay tuned!

• I need to build an Etsy store and increase my online presence. The super-creative Rachel Shingleton of Pencil Shavings Studio is the ultimate social networking genius! I had the pleasure of being one of her roommates, and I learned so much from her. She has such a love for social media, and her positive attitude has started to rub off on me - a person who often feels overwhelmed by the internet! She has built a thriving Etsy business, and Etsy is something I've been afraid to tackle... but I'm learning that I've been missing out by not getting on board. I plan to have an Etsy shop open soon, and I'm increasing my social media presence (slowly, day by day). I'm really excited to see where these steps will take me!

• I need to make my client experience a top priority. I love helping customers by designing just the right "look" for their special events, but I've realized that I'm often in such a hurry to get orders completed and shipped out that I forget to include the special touches. I'm working on my packaging, I want my customers to know how much they mean to me, and I want to add a little something special to my orders that will help set me apart from the rest. Amber Housley has established an impressive client experience in her own business, and she shared so much eye-opening information at The Stationery Academy. I'm so glad she shed some light on this important feature that will help to better establish my brand!

• And last, but certainly not least, I know where Beth Hart Designs is going thanks to our wonderful leaders Whitney English Kolb and Natalie Ellis Chang. I arrived at The Stationery Academy unsure of what direction I was heading. I have so much going on within BHD - I have a wholesale line for retailers, I offer custom party designs, I offer wedding designs, I participate in Christmas retail shows, I offer free-lance work for other businesses, I rent a small retail space at The Shoppes on Main in Franklin, the list goes on... and I feel so busy doing all of this half-heartedly. I want to be great at what I do and give it 110%, not just part of me. Whitney and Natalie challenged us to look deep within ourselves and define who we are, what our values are, what strengths we have, and so much more. I didn't know just how much all of this soul-searching would mean to me. I desperately need to make Beth Hart Designs a true representation of me and all that I have to offer. I'm so very excited about the direction of my business, but there is so much {hard} work to be done! I am planning to spend some time re-reading the homework that we were given and start laying the foundation for the future of the new and improved Beth Hart Designs.

I owe a huge thank you to Whitney and Natalie for putting The Stationery Academy together. I know that my business will be better because of their vision and hard work, and that is so valuable to me. Whitney and Natalie have been my long-time stationery industry heroes, but especially now more than ever! Thank you for "paying it forward."

Look at all these goodies I brought home! Talk about successful branding!

Monday Motivation - What You Become

Good Monday Morning! I hope you enjoyed your weekend and are rested and ready for a productive week ahead! I have so many fun projects to work on this week - projects for both my customers as well as the business development of Beth Hart Designs! Tomorrow, I will be sharing my experiences and lessons learned from The Stationery Academy... so stay tuned!

Since my trip to The Stationery Academy, I've been making lists and setting goals for how to improve my brand. I've been digging deep to figure out what it is I wish to accomplish as the owner and designer of BHD. I know that I want to work hard to provide excellent designs, products and services, and I want to inspire a deep passion for Southern living, style and hospitality. But mostly I want to honor our Father in everything I do. More importantly than what I will receive by reaching my goals, is what I will become by achieving my goals. My business means much more to me than just the products I offer, and I'm so excited about the future of Beth Hart Designs!

So while you're working hard to reach your goals, remember that in the end it's more about who you will become rather than what you will receive. Here's to a great week!

Monday Motivation - Failure Does Not Exist

Wow! What a weekend I had! I left Thursday morning for The Stationery Academy feeling a little nervous and unsure of what was to come. I knew that Beth Hart Designs was in need of some guidance  and direction, but what I received was so much more than that. I'm still soaking it all in!

I attended the 2 (full) day workshop with the most amazing business women and designers in the stationery industry, and I learned so much from all of them. I am very excited about the future of my business, and because of the Stationery Academy, I am now confident that I'm capable of doing great things!

The development of the new and improved Beth Hart Designs will be an intentional, fun, detailed, exciting, time-consuming, and slightly scary progression because I'll be laying myself {all of me} out on the line. I'm going to make my business and brand something I'm 100% proud of... and something that will reflect me, my style, my heart, my passions, and my love for Southern living and hospitality. What's going to carry me through this development will be the wonderful support system of family, friends, and clients that I'm so blessed to have around me... Thank you!

I have so much more to share with you about my experiences at The Stationery Academy... it's going to take way more than one blog post! But for today's Monday Motivation, I want to encourage you to pursue your dreams and go reach your potential - knowing that you will not fail. We had to address our fears this weekend, and many ladies feared failure. The wise and encouraging Nicole of Libby Lane Press let us all know that we cannot be afraid of failing, because in our minds we have to know that failure does not exist. Amen, sister!

I came home yesterday to my amazing and supportive husband of 6 years {July 29th is our anniversary} with the knowledge and confidence that my business will be great because I won't fail. I have 22 new friends and motivators from The Stationery Academy, and I'm already so blessed by my family and friends here at home... my cup runneth over!

What's Happening Wednesday - Busy Bee!

Whew! It's already Wednesday! Where do the days go? Thank you so much to all of my customers for keeping this workin' girl in business... I really can't express enough gratitude! I also owe a BIG thank you to my favorite printing company for coming through for me and my customers this week! I'm blessed to be surrounded by so many good people!

It's been a very busy "short" week for me as I am preparing to head to Pensacola, Florida in the morning to attend The Stationery Academy! I am beyond excited about this opportunity! I can't wait to learn from some of my stationery business heroes and meet all of my fellow students! Be sure to tune in next week when I will be sharing about my experiences and introducing you to all of my new friends!

I better run! I've got lots of orders to package and ship out before I leave... I'm a busy busy bee! But before I go, I'll leave you with a photo from my last beach trip. I found this handsome fella at The Red Bar in Grayton Beach. I love his way of thinking!