Olivegirlthings

Goodness, I have been so busy these last couple of weeks and here's the reason why. These are the bags I make under my label Olivegirlthings. For now, I make just totes and messenger bags. Bags are all 100% cotton and the accent fabrics are all African prints. The bags are fully lined inside with the African prints you can see on the outside and all have a roomy inner pocket.

Handbags and Shopping Styles

I am feeling particularly exhilarated today. After months of procrastination, I finally knuckled down and made some handbags. And even if I say so myself, they were/are gorgeous!

We were invited to a BBQ on Sunday and just on a whim I decided to take the bags with me to get a feel of what the feedback will be. I needn’t have worried at all. They had barely landed on the ground before they were all snapped up – all six of them, plus I left with orders for more!! I was absolutely beside myself. It was a really heady feeling having people admire my stuff and most importantly, more than happy to fork out money for them!

It’s a pity though that  I didn’t take any photos of them to post on the blog I have set up for my stuff (www.olivegirlthings.blogspot.com – it’s up but not running yet) as I didn’t realise I would be coming home without them in tow. So as soon as I finish the next batch of orders, that’s the first thing I will do.

But I noticed something curious in shopping style between non-Nigerians and Nigerians. All my non- Nigerian friends and acquaintances look at the bags, pick out the ones they like and pay. On the other hand, all my Nigerian friends look at the bags, pick out the ones they like and immediately say ‘Ah, you have to give me a discount oh!’ I cannot tell you how much this pisses me off. I’m like heck why? Do you know how much I’ve spent on the materials to produce these bags? Do you know how many hours, and hours of gruelling and painstaking detail has gone into the sewing of them? I just don’t get why our people always want things a) for free and b) for next to nothing. It takes all the strength I have not to tell them where to get off. I am beginning to think I shall stay clear of this target market.

Crazy Busy, Pet Projects and my Business!

Wow! What a crazy busy ten days this has been and I cannot believe I have been away for this long!!! Sometimes things just get so overwhelmingly hectic there’s nothing you can do.

First off thanks to everyone who participated in the dream job challenge. It was great to read about your dream jobs – and my goodness, were they diverse! Now the next thing guys, is to print off your dream job write up, make a list of the goals and the steps you intend to take towards achieving it and put this list up somewhere VISIBLE – on your bathroom mirror, fridge, as a screen saver perhaps? Just anywhere you get to see it often and keep it in your minds eye.

I finally kicked myself in the bum to get moving with setting up my business. I am really fed up with this 9 – 5 malarkey and working for someone else. I believe very strongly that you’re not going to get rich working for someone else. And when I say rich, I don’t necessarily mean in monetary terms – I mean rich in time (don’t get me wrong working for yourself mostly means loooooooonnnnnnnggggggg hours but at least you know it’s for YOU at the end of the day), being fulfilled, having the satisfaction of watching your (business) baby grow and so on. I know I have gone on about this my business for a while and now it’s time for the revelation… read my ‘Dream Job’ post and it will tell you exactly what I am  setting up. Yes, I make handbags! And I intend to turn this hobby of mine into a booming business. I have spent the better part of the last ten days cutting out patterns and sewing, sewing, sewing. I have spent HOURS hunched up over my sewing machine churning out handbag after handbag. And I am quite impressed with the outcome, even if I say so myself.

I think I also spread myself a little thin by signing up to various projects  which caught my interest and thought I would have lots of time to fit in. But things have changed so much over the last couple of months. And last week I was in desperate danger of not meeting the various deadlines!! This really got me worried as I pride myself on being organized and keeping my promises. But it’s a good thing in a way because I have been forced to take a long hard look at all the groups and projects I have signed up for and made the decision to stick with just a few which I enjoy or will develop me in some way  and most importantly , I will have time for . It’s a pity because there are so many interesting things going on in the great WWW like the group of bloggers who have started a book club! I stumbled on it yesterday and my first thought was ‘I’ve gotta join this’ but then I gave it a bit more thought and to be honest, I barely have the time to read a glossy so what time am I going to have to read a book??

Which brings me onto the next thing … I am not one to recommend books but I will this time. I am currently reading the book ‘The Best Year of Your Life’ by Debbie Ford. Personally, I have found it very motivational and it has spurred me on towards finally oiling the wheels of change in my life.

So have a great week everyone and I hope I am not away for too long this time.