Hobby to Business {link up challenge #1}

So here we are at our first 

LINK UP PARTY!

This is the crux of the whole operation:

link up party = exposure

exposure = interest

interest = networking

networking = relationships

relationships = brand loyalty

brand loyalty = success!

{The first complete creation to come from my sewing machine}
{Messy, but loved}

Here's the deal, people.

- These link up parties are meant to be a sort of twice-a-week challenge -

a place to get those wheels turning,

a chance to view your business in a whole new light.

But since today is the first of a great many link ups,

let's celebrate by welcoming EVERYBODY!

{Even if your post is not exactly business related, that blog can be considered a small business within itself}

But since I'm a gal who likes a little structure, here is today's theme:

tell about the moment you decided to turn your hobby into your business, and if you haven't opened your "doors" yet, what is holding you back?

{Time? Finances? Fear?}

When I decided that I wanted to turn my hobby into a business, I really hadn't been "hobbying" for too long. In fact, I had only been sewing for a good few weeks {am I allowed to say that?}. Basically I was in dire need of some sort of challenge for my brain. Sometimes I get in these ruts where the only way out is for me to pick up some new sort of project. 

So one day I said to myself, "Hey, you know what? I'm just going to drive on down to mom and dad's house, pick up the ole' sewing machine, and teach myself how to use the darn thing."

And that's what I did as soon as my little guy woke up from his nap that same day. It was a great feeling, even though I literally had no clue as to what the heck I was doing. After much research {well, a few youtube videos}, I learned! After I had sewn a few hundred trial-and-error Little Man Neckties, it occurred to me that there was absolutely no way Carter would be able to sport all these things all on his own. I guess you could say it was my "Ah-Ha!" moment.
 A couple days later, I told my husband that I was going to open a shop and market myself through my blog.

On September 12 of this year, I opened that bad boy.

On the 18th, I made my first sale.

On the 19th, I bought my first set of packaging materials, and on the 20th I took an exhilarating trip to the post office. 

I.Was.Hooked.

Now it's your turn!

Grab a button and link up below!

{Gotta do it people! Or else you will get deleted, which means no networking, and no fun}


Here are the rules:
1. As mentioned, you MUST sport the Small Business Month button
{as made beautiful by her}

2. You MUST check out at least three different partiers, because really, the bottom line is, we are here to NETWORK and PROMOTE like ANIMALS!

3. If you have any words of wisdom for any partiers, help a sister out and come forth with that advice! Again, we are here to support, network, promote, and to downright celebrate the awesomeness that is small business ownership!

Woohooo!

<center><a href="http://threesforme.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g471/nicolecisneros1223/nicole22.png"/></a></center>
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{And while you're being fabulous}Head on over to The Shine Project for a fabulous beyond fabulous GIVEAWAY!