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Branding Your Creative Style with Khali Whatley

Published: 06/17/2013

Today is a special episode! Don’t miss this!!!

Join me as I make a quick introduction to Khali Whatley! Khali is the branding and marketing expert who is coming on board for the Smart Creative Style course. We are so excited to be able to bring you this course and in this video we get more detailed about what you will learn. We know that you have a vision for your business and that it might not be moving forward at the pace that you like. We believe that this course can provide a foundation to help find your creative style and then give you practical strategies to propel you and your business forward.

From my creative perspective, the exploration aspect of this course is going to be SO MUCH FUN. You’ll hear me talk about some of my personal breakthroughs as I have implemented the exercises from the course. After the exploration phase, the develop part becomes crystal clear and once these pieces are in place, the delivery aspect becomes seamless. You will discover what your creative style truly is, what your brand looks and feels like and who are you really marketing to.

Tune into to this video, it explains a core philosophy that I have learned since I started Smart Creative Women. It is getting pulled together in one giant CLEAR (and fun!) course for you. I am thrilled, nervous and excited (as in jumping up and down on the inside.)

Pricing will be announced next week. Tell us what you think in the commmmmmments. Oops, jumping up and down may be happening on the outside too!

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Who and What I am into this Week: My dad

Published: 06/14/2013

I had heard the Family Search was offering a free ticket to ALT summit if you did a post related to Father’s.They may have been thinking of a DIY and craft post. Does crafting a blog post count? When I went through photos of my own father, Ron Moerbe, I surprised myself by seeing in a him different light. I started with this young farm photo of him and his dog, who is rumored to have saved him from drowning at one point. Then I found the hot shot athlete photo of him in his football uniform and I was struck that my own son is about the same age as this photo. Full of himself and full of promise. I think sometimes we forget to look at out parents and at their lives in their entirety. Naturally we are disconnected from their younger selves but if you allow yourself to see your father you might appreciate and love him even more than you thought you could. Did my father meet his hopes and dreams? Has his life been better than he planned as a young man?

He didn’t have a the easiest childhood but I do know (through the family rumor mill) that he was always up for fun and and serious high jinx! He left a farm in west Texas, went on to get a college education, became a highly decorated career Army officer, traveled all over the world, experienced and embraced new things before eventually settling back down in Texas. I am immensely proud of everything he has done for his country and for our family. What in your father’s history makes you proud? Read More »

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Need Press? Amy Flurry has some ideas for you!

Published: 06/12/2013

Artist, editor and author Amy Flurry has got some things to share with you!! You don’t want to miss this episode. Amy unlocks some secrets for you on how to gain press for you and your brand. Can’t afford a PR team? That’s okay, she says you can do it yourself. I had to know how! Amy’s experience as an editor and freelance writer gave her insights that she is sharing with you. She has been featured in Lucky, InStyle, Country Living, Daily Candy and Design Sponge, the list goes on! Now she wants to help you get good press. She says editors, online magazines and bloggers are looking for you and your product to feature and that there are a just few things you need to know. Tune into the interview to find out. You can also check out Amy’s book, Recipe For Press. In it she shares real life examples of creative entrepreneurs who have garnered their own press that has helped grow their businesses. Amy breaks it down for us!

She also talks about getting her own stylish paper sculptures national press. It led to some pretty sweet collaborations. She’s smart, she’s talented and you need to get to know her!

How about these paper sculptures?! Incredible, right??

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Unsure of the next step?

Published: 06/10/2013

I have an exercise that might just help you out! Sometimes we force ourselves to make big decisions under deadlines, sometimes we just simply TALK a decision to death. I know because I have done it ALL! My poor family! In this video, I am sharing a method that I have used to make hard choices that really worked for me. I call it the “index card method.” I wish I had something more sophisticated to call it! What I have realized is that some of my biggest breakthroughs have come when I don’t get obsessive. I have learned to trust myself (and God!) to know what is right for me as an individual. This method doesn’t have to be relegated to big business turning points. It can work on anything where you might have several options and are unsure of which one to choose. Go into the exercise with peace, calm and a little bit of time.

What do you think? Tell me how you have gone about making tricky decisions in the comments!

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Fashion: A look at Style vs Taste

Published: 06/07/2013

About 100 years ago (okay, maybe just about 20 years ago,) I will never forget reading an article in a magazine discussing true style verses good taste. The author was making the differentiation between someone who wore large gold kite earrings and seamed stockings everyday to work verses someone who looked liked they stepped off the page of a catalog. She pointed to iconic Cher as someone who had style and Grace Kelley who merely had good taste. It made perfect sense as I was reading it. You may not like the style of Cher but she certainly marches to the beat of her own drummer. Elvis, Betsy Johnson, Marlene Dietrich all had style. George O’keefe had style simply because she dressed with an anti-style attitude. Jackie Onassis, Kate Middleton, Michelle Obama have good taste. What? Blasphemy! Times have shifted 20 years later and we use the phrase style icon much too casually. Grace and Jackie are now considered “style” icons. But are they really?

Well, here is an interesting take on it. I watched an episode of Project Runway where the young designers had to use Jackie O’s style as their muse. The designers really struggled with the challenge and the resulting runway show was tepid at best. I was surprised that none of the designers reached back into the photos of Jackie more casual, sporting clothing options. I think you see a glimmer of style when she was not dressing appropriately for an event. If those same designers where asked to use Bridgette Bardot or even Mick Jagger as their muse, I am sure the runway show would have been much more eventful! Read More »

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Styling Girls from Confetti Pop

Published: 06/05/2013

Meet the Shauna Younge and Maddy Hague! They are two talented women (and moms) who have teamed up to create a Confetti Pop, a photo styling business and DIY blog.

I love the description in the about section of their website:

Confetti Pop is where party inspiration and reality meet up and dance ’til the break of dawn. Printable paper goods, easy DIYs, and crafty tutorials hang out here, too. If hosting celebrations and crafting party decor is your thing, come on in and get comfy. You’re going to be here for awhile.

How fun is that?

I was intrigued on how exactly their business works and I ask all the nitty gritty details in this interview. Plus you know I like women working together, so I had to find out how they got together.

I didn’t let them off the hook that easily though, I want to know how they are making money and I wanted styling tips!! Turns out they do teach a class online which I think is super helpful since photos and online marketing are getting SO important! Send them some love in the comments since I made them do the interview twice!

photo: Jeff Loves Jessica

photo:Canary Grey Photography

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More details about Smart Creative Style

Published: 06/03/2013

Woot! Here are some more details about Smart Creative Style, an online course to help you find your creative style and unlock the keys to your personal aesthetic. Working through this material has been a game changer for me and I over the top excited to help you do it for yourself. I so want you to be confident in ALL the aspects of your business. Ideally your business needs to happen in this order:

1. YOUR style and YOUR essence

2. what you are offering and your purpose

3. solid consistent branding

4. marketing your offerings and getting press

So often we do it in a wonky order (and I totally get that) so whether you are at a starting point or you really want to fine tune or clarify your creative style, this course is going to get it nailed down for you. I think once you get the key pieces in place you will be able to make DECISIONS and GROW with so much more ease!

Watch the video and tell me what you think of my plan to offer YOU discounts by helping me spread the word AND on what you think about my approach for pricing this course. You can sign up for updates over at Smart Creative Style. If you have a friend who might benefit from this course, share this video and the site with them! Hop over to the Facebook page and share my post on your page or tweet about it. Thank you in advance!

I adore this print! This is a prefect message for today! Print available at Sugar Paper

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Who and What I am into this week: Building your brand on a story

Published: 05/31/2013

When I was at The National Stationery Show, I was introduced the peeps (darling) from Mr. Boddington Studio. Their booth was adorable and busy (always a good sign) when I checked out their website…Well, I just may be crushing on ole Mr. Boddington. This is a really fun example of a brand that was built on a fictitious character! When I went to the HISTORY page instead of the “about” page, I got to read the charming story of Mr. Boddington…

This made me want to click around more for clever text and more “story.” In very simple terms stationery is just paper. But if you are planning a soiree, sending a special thank you or planning a wedding stationery, can take on a completely different meaning. A bride that shops for her wedding with Mr. Boddington is likely to remember the “story” behind her purchase for a long time. I feel as thought I have come across Mr. Boddington in my own travels and I like that! Have you ever identified with a particular character that could represent your brand? Interesting idea, right?

Any business with personality whether your own or a persona with your style applied, can make a lasting impression.

In the course Smart Creative Style, you will go through the paces to bring out YOUR personality. Your fabulousness!! This way no matter what you are selling, your true essence, the part that makes you an original shines through. No imitations of you, no confusion, the real deal in all your incredible glory!

You can sign up for updates about the course launching in Sept 2103 here. Be sure to catch Monday’s video when I release a few new details. Until then, have a fabulous weekend and have something fizzy to drink on me!