The Studio

I love before and after shots and this one is no exception. Anyone who knows me is aware that I am a bit obsessive compulsive. I am very organized, but you wouldn't know it from the before shot.

I have an office upstairs where my computer is, but my studio is in the garage. When I first set it up, I used a lot of old things that I already had. Unfortunately there were a lot of storage solutions that were not very functional for my needs.

After a few trips to Ikea and The Container Store, I created a space that is visually pleasing and very functional.

redstarink.com

website, originally uploaded by REDSTAR ink.

My website is finally up. I am very excited to finally have a site. After months of waiting, my husband Walker, of Syntax Graphics, was able to free up some of his time to work on redstarink.com. Although there are some changes I would like to make and we still need to do more work on a few of the sections, it is a great start. I especially love the short video clip Walker whipped up. He is so talented!

Feature

Jennie, an editor from the blog Style Lush, contacted me today about using one of my products in a feature they were doing on holiday cards. They put together a nice collection of cards including my Feliz Navidad. Thanks for the feature, Style Lush! To view the complete post, click here.

photo credit: style lush

Spanish Notes

I am slowly adding new items to my shop. I created a small line of cards that I call Spanish notes. The Spanish phrases are printed in a bold red and come with a contrasting pewter colored envelope. Growing up in the southwest, even if you don't speak Spanish...you speak Spanish. To purchase click here.

Charley Harper

I came across some amazing skateboard decks a few months ago that really caught my eye. The decks were made by Habitat using Charley Harper designs. If the name Charley Harper is not familiar to you, perhaps his artwork is.

Since then, I have started collecting some Harper stuff, most recently the beautiful book compiled by Todd Oldham. I am salivating over the 400+ page book that includes an interview with the artist before he passed away. I am so inspired by the simplistic, yet articulate style of Charley Harper. He truly is an inspiration.

Time For A Website

Every company needs a website. Even though I am a graphic designer I have never made one before. Redstarink.com will be my first one. Luckily my husband Walker is a very talented web designer. You can check out some of his work at www.syntaxgraphics.com. Not only does he create websites, he also teaches his clients how to manage and update them.

Having a website made can be a very expensive part of starting a business. To cut down on expenses, it is important to be able to maintain your site once it is up and running. You can also save some money by having all of your text written and reviewed for mistakes, photos and images that you want to use and an idea of what you want your site to look like. This cuts down on billable hours for the web designer.

So I am gathering all of the info that I want to incorporate in my site and scheduling an appointment...with my husband.

Welcome Diana

The beautiful Diana has arrived. I ordered the instant back with it so I could play with it and get some instant gratification. After doing the modification to the camera, adding the instant back and loading the instax instant film I started to play. I quickly realized that i need to practice and get to know the camera.

I have been reading up on toy cameras for weeks now. Lomography.com is a great resource. I also purchased Plastic Cameras and Toycam Handbook which are great books with lots of information.

Step 1: Get A Business License

When starting a business it is important to know what the legal requirements are before you start to sell your merchandise. I found a great book called Craft Inc. by Meg Mateo Ilasco which is a wonderful resource that explains the basics of starting your own company. It is important to know that every state has different regulations so it is important to know that the steps I am taking are the required by the state of California.

One of the first things that I had to do was apply for a business license or Business Tax Certificate in the city of San Diego. Since my husband is a freelance web designer and videographer, he had to do this as well. As a married couple we were able to apply for the license together even though he runs his freelance design service under Syntax Graphics and I run my paper goods products under REDSTAR ink. Both ficticious names or Doing Business As (DBA)s are listed on our business tax certificate. To apply, Walker went to the County Treasurer Office, filled out the paperwork and paid the fees. The tax fee was $34 and a processing fee of $25. It is the business owner's responsibility to renew each year.

It is important to do this step first because you will need a DBA in order to apply for a business checking account and a seller's permit.

Beginning

I have been working on starting a business for a long time. Since 2006 to be exact. I decided to start a family around the same time however and once I became pregnant that became my focus. So here I am 2 ½ years later. I have a beautiful son and I am slowly getting my company, REDSTAR ink under way.

REDSTAR ink is handmade paper goods created by designer Marcie Hicks. With a clean aesthetic and a focus on personal organization, REDSTAR ink provides products that are simple, bold, and modern.

In an age of computers and hand-held technology, REDSTAR ink celebrates the tactile quality of paper. There is something satisfying about checking items off a list or opening a piece of mail from a friend.

Using carefully selected materials, REDSTAR ink is committed to creating eco-friendly paper goods. All products are handmade in San Diego, California. Recycled materials are used whenever possible.

As I go throught the process of starting my paper goods company I will document it as I go along. I will share my inspiration, frustration, excitement, disappointment, successes and failures along the way.

The Weepies

After 3 weeks of unseasonably warm weather for January, it has cooled off today and the rains have come. Of course, cool in San Diego means it is in the low 60's today. Nevertheless, I am in the kitchen making chili in the crock pot and listening to folk music.

Last month I was turned on to a band called The Weepies after reading a blog from the Kitchn. Blogger Sara Kate made a playlist of songs she likes to hear while she cooks. It is a great list and I downloaded most of the songs from itunes.

The Weepies. Super cool. Super chill.

Quiche

I decided that I need to put my apron on and spend more time in the kitchen. I have always enjoyed cooking and baking. Nothing fancy but I like trying new recipes that sound tasty.

My friend Jenny made a delicious quiche one morning when we were visiting her in Vegas a few months ago. She was kind enough to share her recipe with me so I decided to give it a shot.

View the set on flickr.