Wendy's Whimsies...

Tips For A Please Remove Shoes Home

wendyswhimsies — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:24:00 GMT

So, you want to establish a Please Remove Shoes policy in your home; how are your going to enforce it? You will probably have friends or family who don't "Get" your choice to ask people to take off their shoes when they enter, so what can you do to bring them over to "The Clean Side?" Obviously you don't want anyone to feel unwelcome, but it is your home; if you don't want shoes worn inside, that is your prerogative. If you have trouble getting folks to abide by your shoes off policy, here are a few simple suggestions to help you achieve your shoe free home and still make your friends and family feel welcome.

Give your guests a sign. Post a Please Remove Shoes sign or a Welcome Remove Shoes sign outside your door. Not everyone thinks to take off their shoes when they enter a home, (I know, GASP!) so a sign at your door will let your visitors know that you prefer a stocking feet environment. You may not always be available to stop people at the door, so a pretty, hand painted sign will help to remind them. A Please Remove Shoes sign also takes away the surprise factor. Your guests will know that you don't wear shoes inside.

Offer a place to sit down. Once your guests come inside, where do you want them to put their shoes? Let's face it, most of us start a Please Remove Shoes policy because we want to keep dirt out of our homes. Do you want people to just kick off their shoes and pile them up in your entryway? I'm guessing that isn't what you had in mind. If space allows, you may want to put out a basket or shoe rack to keep those shoes neat and orderly. A bench is also helpful so people can sit down when they take off their shoes. This is a safety measure as well, especially for more mature visitors. It will also help prevent dirty finger prints on your walls.

Provide indoor footwear. Not everyone likes to walk around in socks or bare feet, so you might want to offer something to make them more comfortable. If your guests are comfy they'll be more inclined to comply with your No Shoes policy. Keeping a bin by your door, full of slippers and non-slip socks in assorted sizes will help to keep everyones tootsies warm and prevent any slips and falls. If you choose rubber slip on sandals, you can toss them through the wash after they are used. The same holds true for non-slip socks.

Hopefully these suggestions will help you achieve your shoe free home. If anyone has anything to add to this list, I welcome your input. You can post a reply here or join me on Facebook . I have a page dedicated to all my Please Remove Shoes Inside friends.

Please Remove Your Shoes Inside on Facebook

wendyswhimsies — Mon, 17 May 2010 15:55:00 GMT

I know a lot of you have established "No Shoes Inside" policies in your homes, so I decided to create a Facebook page dedicated to the topic. Please Remove Your Shoes Inside will be a place to share your challenges with getting people to abide by your wishes, and to bond with people who share your philosophy that shoes bring dirt and other unmentionable things into your home. (Eeewwww!) Whether it is to cut down on dirt and germs, or a cultural reason, everyone is welcome to share their experiences. I just ask that you are polite and respectful.

If you have purchased one of my Please Remove Shoes or Welcome Remove Shoes signs, please feel free to post a picture on the wall so we can see where you chose to hang it. Is there is phrase or design you would like to see on one of my hand painted tile signs? Post your idea to let me know. Do you have a useful tip that makes it easier to get people to follow your house rule? Please share it. Have you found an article online that you feel is relevant? Post the link on the Wall. From time to time I will use this page to let everyone know when new designs are added to my inventory, and when sold out designs are back in stock. Who knows, I may even sneak in a sale or discount as well.

So, if you have a Facebook account, I hope you will join me at Please Remove Your Shoes Inside. Let's have some fun sharing ideas.

32nd Annual Daffodil Festival

wendyswhimsies — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:42:00 GMT

Yesterday my DH and I attended the 32nd Annual Daffodil Festival in Meridan, CT. The Daffodil Festival began in 1978 as a community event, but it has grown into one of Connecticuts largest celebrations. The festival boasts a parade, food, crafts, music, and rides for the kids. Fireworks were also planned for Saturday evening, but we didn't stay for those. The festival is held at Hubbard Park and they claim there were 61 varieties of daffodils throughout the 1800 acres. The weather was spectacular, the crowds were large, and we had a really nice day.

My primary reason for attending the Daffodil Festival was to check out the craft show. Since the Navy relocated us to the east coast, I have focused on selling my artwork online through my website, Wendy's Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts. I have been fortunate enough to have steady sales over the last few years, so I haven't taken the time to research local shows or build up the inventory needed to participate in a large festival. After blogging about my past experiences at art festivals and farmers markets recently, I got the urge to get out there to see what art shows are like here in CT.

The Meridan Daffodil Festival touts itself as, "New England's Most Beautiful Craft Fair!"Hubbard Park, where the festival is held, is indeed beautiful, but the area designated for the Arts and Crafts vendors could have been chosen better. The Festival website refers to the craft show as Crafts By The Lake, however, only a handful of artist booths were actually along the lake where there was a flat walking path. The majority of the booths were crammed into an area at the edge of the park where the ground was uneven, rocky, and very difficult to walk on. I could not imagine trying to manuever this area with a walker or in a wheelchair. The craft show at The Daffodil Festival is a juried event. They look for quality and unique exhibitors, and this year they advertised there were over 80 crafts people. I did not take a head count, but I did see a few empty booth spaces. I also noticed that there were quite a few jewelry vendors in close proximity to each other. Don't get me wrong, I love jewelry, in fact I picked up a pair of really cute beach glass earrings, but it does not seem fair to the artists to have booth after booth of basically the same product. I suppose it is entirely possible that mostly jewelry vendors applied to attend the show, but the organizers could have arranged the booths better to space out the similar products.

There were a few vendors who offered items that I had never seen before and I really enjoyed their artwork. One artist who worked with old flatware had some unusual products. In addition to the flatware wind chimes you frequently see, this artist created door hangers, wall hooks, napkin rings, napkin holders and knife rests. He may have had more, but that booth was so crowded we couldn't get inside. Another craftsman offered photo mats made of thin oak paneling. I have never seen anything like these before. This artist used a scroll saw to carve out names and embellishments to accent your photos. The mat sizes started for 5 x 7 frames and went up to larger collage frames. They also took custom orders to personalize your oak photo mat for a specific event. They even had mats for the different Military branches, but nothing specifically for Submarines. That was too bad since the Submarine Capital of the World is so close by. There was an amazing photographer who created Name Photography. I hope I can do justice to this description because I absolutely loved this concept. This photographer had photos of architectural and botanical elements that were cropped so these elements formed letters or numbers. For example: a photo of a window was cropped to look like the letter "H". An image of stair rail spindles was cropped to look like the letter "I". A shot of wrought iron scrolls was cropped to create the letter "S". These letter photos were then placed side by side to create names or words. Each individual photo was interesting, but when placed side by side, they created a secret message. I spent the rest of the day looking at buildings, trees and flowers in a completely different light. Finally, there was only one artist who sold hand painted glassware. She had a nice assortment of wine glasses, champagne flutes and martini glasses. She also had some lovely cracked glass vases painted in aviary themes.

So that was my day. I had a great time with my other half and I thoroughly enjoyed getting out there to mingle amongst my fellow artists at the 32nd Annual Daffodil Festival. It was very encouraging to see such a large crowd and I hope the artists made a lot of sales.

Dealing With The Dreaded "I Can Do That" Shopper

wendyswhimsies — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:21:00 GMT

If you have ever sold your hand crafted products at an Arts & Craft show, Farmer's Market or Festival, you have probably heard someone stage whisper to a friend, "I can do that." When it happened, I'm guessing your gut reaction was most likely, "How rude," or "Yeah right, but will you?" Let's face it, you have put your blood, sweat, and tears into your artwork, so comments like this often feel like a slight to your creativity. This scenario happened to me several times when I sold my hand painted ceramic tile signs and glassware at Art Shows and I too felt offended, but maybe we should interpret these comments as a compliment. Obviously the individual thinks enough of your craftsmanship to even consider trying it themselves. Be honest, don't you feel recharged when browsing the aisles of an Art Festival or Craft Show? I always come away with lots of creative energy and my head bursting with new ideas. I do not go to these events to blatantly copy someone else's creations, but I do find inspiration from their creativity.

OK, enough about what inspires me, lets get back to the "I can make that" person... Rather that get mad about an overheard comment, ask yourself how you can entice that person into making a purchase before they leave your booth? Someone may say they can do it, but by the time they track down and purchase the supplies and instructions needed, they have usually lost that creative spark. They have also probably spent more money on all those supplies than one of your completed products would have cost them. Carol Gunkel of Professional Crafters.com has written an interesting article about catering to the "I Could Make That" shopper. Carol suggests offering kits that include the supplies and instructions. By appealing to that individuals artistic side, the I Can Do It shopper gets to experience the satisfaction of making the item themselves, and you have still made a sale. You may be concerned about giving away your secrets, but Carol reasons that if that person does truly decide to copy and sell work that is similar to yours, you will most likely have moved on to new products by the time they master it. We are creative people, and we are always looking for new ideas to inspire us, right?

So if you find yourself up against the dreaded I Can Make That shopper, don't get mad, embrace their creativity. If this person is truly a passionate crafter, they are no different than you or me. Strike up a conversation about how you create your products and ask them about the type art medium they like to work with. Share tips and encourage them to pursue their artistic self. You may just end up making a sale and a new friend.

Please Remove Shoes, Kindly Remove Shoes, What Is Your Favorite Phrase?

wendyswhimsies — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:32:00 GMT

At Wendy's Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts my most popular products are my Please Remove Shoes signs and Welcome Remove Shoes signs. A quick scan of the comments on my Testimonial page says it all. My clients are very happy that my signs help them notify their guests there is a Shoes Off policy in place in their home. Most find it easier to post a sign at the door, rather than play Shoe Police.

I offer (3) phrase options in my 6" square Please Remove Shoes signs: Please Remove Shoes, Kindly Remove Shoes, and Stocking Feet Please. On my 8" x 10" signs, I offer the phrase: Welcome Thank You For Removing Your Shoes. I would like to know what phrase(s) you like best? I have posted a survey at Polldaddy.com and I hope you will take a moment to select your favorite phrase(s). If there are any additional phrases that you would like to see added, please contact me at my website with your suggestion, or post a comment to this blog.

Your home is your castle and if you prefer that shoes come off in doors, you shouldn't be ashamed or hesitate to ask people to take off their shoes when they arrive. At Wendy's Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts it is my goal is to provide everyone with just the right sign to express their wishes. If I have overlooked a phrase that will help you in any way. I hope you will take the time to let me know.

Sunflowers Join My Welcome Remove Shoes Sign Line

wendyswhimsies — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:59:00 GMT

I realize that Spring just arrived recently, but the unseasonably warm weather here in CT has me thinking about summer and sunflowers! There is nothing prettier than a field of smiling sunflower faces, swaying in a warm summer breeze.

Due to the popularity of my Sunflower Please Remove Shoes signs, I have decided to add the design to my Welcome Remove Shoes sign line. The bright and cheery blooms are sure to catch the eye of your visitors and let them know that you prefer that shoes be taken off when entering your home. My sunflower design features a trio of vibrant golden flowers nestled amongst lush green leaves. The background color is denim blue and the lettering is done in white dimensional paint that adds texture. The phrase reads, "Welcome Thank You For Removing Your Shoes". Each hand painted tile sign is approximately 8 x 10 inches in size and hangs from a leather cord. The back of the tile is lined with cork to protect your walls and the sign. All my hand painted ceramic tile signs are painted with durable glass paint that can stand up to outdoor display. Rain, snow and sun are no match for these hand painted tiles so you can hang them outside with confidence. If you have trouble asking guests to take off their shoes when they visit, this may be just the tool you need to help express your wishes.

How Strict Is Your Shoes Off Policy?

wendyswhimsies — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 01:50:00 GMT

I sell a lot of Please Remove Shoes signs on my website so that got me thinking, just how strict are people about their Shoes Off policy? I did a quick search on the web looking for information about this topic and I was amazed at all the pages dedicated to this question. There are some very strong feelings out there, for and against shoe removal policies.

Personally, I'm flexible. I usually take off my shoes when I come in and change into a pair of sandals. My husband also takes off his shoes and opts for socks. Our floors are tile, and tend to be cold, so I don't ask people to take off their shoes. If they ask me, I leave the decision up to them. I do have a lot of friends who insist that all shoes come off when you enter their house. I don't get offended by that request, it's their home, they get to make the rules. People don't get upset if they are asked to smoke outside, so why does this request cause such a debate?

So, where do you stand on this subject? Do you play Shoe Police, and insist that everyone takes off their shoes inside, or are you more flexible and let the circumstances dictate your choice? I would love to hear what people think about this hot button issue.

What's New In 2010?

wendyswhimsies — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:28:00 GMT

New Year, new methods! Wendy's Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts has taken the Facebook/Twitter leap. If you follow either (or both) of these popular social networking sites, please look me up and become a Fan. The Facebook Wall is set up so you can post pictures of your hand painted sign purchase. I would love to see how you chose to display it once it arrived. Right now this media is new to me, so for now it will just be for updates. Maybe later it will grow into something else. Time will tell. On Facebook you will find me if you search Wendy's Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts, or you can use the link below. On Twitter you should look up wendyswhimsies. I hope you will join me. We'll have some fun.

It's Grape Season At Wendy's Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts

wendyswhimsies — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:11:00 GMT

OK, so the true Grape harvest doesn't start until late summer, but I just added the cutest Grape Welcome Remove Shoes sign to my Welcome Remove Shoes line so I had to share with you all. Featuring a bunch of juicy Grapes in vibrant shades of purple, framed with lush green leaves and curly vines, this sign will be a hit with those who decorate in a Tuscan or Fruit theme. The background of this 8" X 10" sign is a neutral, gray-taupe, faux stone look that will compliment a variety of wall colors. The phrase reads, "Welcome Thank You For Removing Your Shoes", and was applied with black dimensional liner paint that adds texture to your sign. The final product is sealed with a durable hi-gloss top coat so it can safely be displayed outside. The back side of each sign is covered with cork to protect your walls. Not everyone thinks to remove their shoes when they enter someone's home. If your home has a Shoes Off inside policy, why not add a charming hand painted ceramic tile sign that relays your wishes? You've invested a lot in your home, protect that investment and welcome your guests all with one sign.

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

wendyswhimsies — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:51:00 GMT

Looking for budget friendly, unique, and one of a kind Valentine's Day gifts for friends and family? Money is tight for everyone, why not give a gift that carries through beyond the holiday. I offer an assortment of hand painted glass heart dishes, votive candle sets and wine glasses that are sure to please for Valentine's Day and beyond.

Keeping with a true Valentine's Day theme, my hand painted glass heart dishes are available in a variety of designs. Each glass heart dish arrives with a floating candle puck so it is ready for gift giving. If you prefer to give candy, remove the candle and fill the glass heart dish with your Valentine's favorite sweets. These dishes are painted with durable non-toxic glass paint so they are top-rack dish washer safe. The artwork is painted on the outside so it is safe to place candies inside. After Valentine's Day this glass heart dish can be used in a variety of ways. From potpourri, to bath soaps, jewelry or office supplies, your special Valentine will find endless uses for this charming gift idea.

Need a romantic gift? One of my votive candle sets in your choice of floral designs may be what you are looking for. Each votive candle set includes (2) white unscented votive candles. Add them to your intimate dinner setting and you have candlelight and flowers in one gift. Have more than one person on your list? You can split the votive candle set up and give them to more than one person. As a pair or alone, each votive candle holder is a thoughtful and pretty gift.

Another option for a romantic gift are my hand painted Wine Glasses. Imagine an intimate candle light dinner with you and your Valentine sipping your favorite beverages in unique one of a kind wine glasses. Available in sets of (2) or (4), I have hand painted Wine Glasses in floral, botanical and fruit designs. Many designs have matching glass heart dishes and votive candle sets so you can create a whole ensemble. The artwork is painted with durable, non-toxic glass paint so the wine glasses are top-rack dish washer safe. Your Valentine is sure to fondly remember your special moment, every time they drink from these hand painted wine glasses.

A New Year Prayer

wendyswhimsies — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:18:00 GMT

At the start of 2008 (yes, 2008) a fellow artist and small business owner posted a prayer on one of my chat groups that truly struck a cord. I saved that prayer and refer to it often. In light of the historic Inauguration today, I wanted to share that prayer here. The artist is unknown, but the message is still true, one year later.

New Years Prayer

Thank you Lord for giving me
The brand new year ahead
Help me live the way I should
As each new day I tread.

Give me gentle wisdom
That I might help a friend
Give me strength and courage
So a shoulder I might lend.

The year ahead is empty
Help me fill it with good things
Each new day filled with joy
And the happiness it brings.

Please give the leaders of our world
A courage born of peace
That they might lead us gently
And all the fighting cease.

Please give to all upon this earth
A heart that's filled with love
A gentle happy way to live
With Your blessings from above.
-Author Unknown

The Animal Rescue Site

wendyswhimsies — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:52:00 GMT

We have all seen reports on TV about animal neglect and abuse and maybe felt a little helpless. Due to allergies, and our nomad lifestyle, we have decided not to adopt a pet(s), but I have always felt like I could/should do something to help. Running my own business keeps me very busy, so I was very happy to learn about a website that allows you to help rescued animals just by clicking a button at a website. There are no fees, and you do not need to sign up for anything. The Animal Rescue Site provides food and care for rescued animals living in shelters and sanctuaries. Funding for the food and care is provided by site sponsors and distributed to animals in need. You can visit the site daily and they will get credit from the sponsors for your click. I hope you will click on the banner below to visit The Animal Rescue Site website. There you can learn more about them and start supporting them.

Introducing Welcome Remove Shoes Signs

wendyswhimsies — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:48:00 GMT

Wow! Where did the time go? It has been a long time since I posted my last entry. The 2nd half of 2007 was incredibly busy for me and I feel very fortunate. Business was strong, in spite of the economy. To all my customers, thank you for your business. I hope you will come back and visit again very soon.

A large part of my business in 2007 was for custom sign work. I had so many people ask for larger sizes that I decided to add 8 X 10 inch tiles to my inventory. This larger size allows me to combine my two best selling signs onto one tile. Starting this month I now offer Welcome Remove Shoes signs. These signs will be available in limited designs to start out. This new sign will give people another option for greeting their guests while also requesting that they remove their shoes.

Beginning this month I also plan to start working on an overhaul of my website. I hope to keep the look of the site, but improve the load time for pages and make navigation easier. I plan to change to an XHTML/CSS format, as opposed to traditional HTML, in an effort to make my site more accessible to new technologies. I do have a few pages completed so far, but I am still working out some layout kinks. Hopefully I will be able to launch the new and improved site very soon.

Tips to Help Place a Custom Sign Order

wendyswhimsies — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 03:16:00 GMT

I love working with my clients at Wendy's Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts to create custom signs to meet their specific needs. Sometimes the process is easy and flows smoothly, other times it can be more challenging. Most clients know what they want their sign to say, and what design they want on it, but in some cases my clients aren’t sure how to communicate what their needs or desires are. Here are a few tips to help with that process…

What size would you like your sign to be? Sometimes it helps to measure the area where you plan to display your sign to help you determine what size tile you need.
What do you want/need your sign to say? The length of text will also determine the tile size needed. Longer text requires more surface area.
What design would you like? You can pick a design from my inventory or I can create a design specifically for you. If you require a custom design, it helps if you can locate a picture online to use as a reference.
What colors will suit your environment?
What is your timeline for delivery? Custom signs usually take 10 days to complete once payment authorization is received. Since custom orders are non-refundable I have my clients review the sign at different stages to make sure they are satisfied with the progress. If I do not receive a reply by email, I cannot continue, and that may delay the completion date.

These a just a few items to consider as you decide on your custom sign requirements. If you need additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Hand Painted Wine Glasses at Wendy's Whimsies

wendyswhimsies — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:32:00 GMT

I started painting glassware after seeing hand painted wine glasses in a gift shop on the Seattle Waterfront. The glasses were absolutely gorgeous, but they couldn’t be washed in the dishwasher. Maybe I’m a bit lazy, but if something needs special treatment, I probably won’t use it. After looking at the glasses for awhile, and debating whether I should buy them or not, my husband asked me why I didn’t just paint a set of glasses for myself? I looked at the man blankly for a moment, and realized he was absolutely right. I had been painting my tile signs for roughly a year, but never considered painting on a surface that wasn’t flat. I left that gift shop with a new mission. I was going to try painting glassware. The next day I picked up a few glass pieces and got to work right away. I immediately fell in love. After a bit of trial and error, I finally completed a coffee mug that I was happy with. Eight years later I still have that mug and use it nearly every day.

My customers fell in love with my painted glassware right away, too. I couldn’t keep enough inventory in stock when I was making the rounds at the local art shows and farmers markets. I have also shipped glassware around the world through my website, Wendy’s Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts. I use the same enamel based paint on my glassware that I use on my tile signs. The paint is oven safe, dishwasher safe and microwave safe. Customers are always amazed when they learn my painted glassware can go through the dishwasher. I do recommend washing on the top rack of the dishwasher, using the China setting. I also suggest using a liquid detergent that is less abrasive to protect the gloss finish. For those who are uncomfortable with the idea of washing painted glassware in the dishwasher, you can always hand wash them using a soft cloth. Never soak your hand painted glassware.

All the products at Wendy’s Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts are painted one at a time. Nothing is mass produced. Each item is slightly unique, making it one of a kind. In addition to hand painted wine glasses, I also carry a line of hand painted accent lamps and glass accessories at Wendy’s Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts. I hope you will stop by to check out the items I have to offer.

Qflea.com - A Life Line for Small Business…

wendyswhimsies — Fri, 25 May 2007 01:19:00 GMT

Running my online business Wendy's Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts is a constant learning experience. For me, building the web site was the easy part, thanks to my education. Everything else I have learned on the fly or from the members of Qflea, a Yahoo Group for small business. Qflea is strictly moderated by the group's fearless leader Charley. Charley also runs the website Qflea.com, a free virtual flea market community consisting of 400 vendors. All the sites linked to Qflea.com are run by small business owners who take pride in their products and their customer service. Qflea.com is a great site for shoppers interested in a wide array of products. It is also a fabulous site for small business owners in search of online resources to help them run and build their business. This group of small business owners has helped me more than I can ever repay. The Qflea members freely and generously share their knowledge and are never judgmental or condescending. Running a business online is more than taking pictures of product and writing the code to post it on the Internet. When I started out, I naively thought that if a website was on the Internet, then people would find it. Through the members of Qflea I have learned the importance of generating quality traffic to a website. Advertising and promoting my site are areas where I still have room to improve, and I know the members of Qflea will be an invaluable resource to help me expand my knowledge. I have never regretted joining Qflea and I look forward to being affiliated with these small business owners for many years to come.

Please Remove Shoes Signs

wendyswhimsies — Mon, 21 May 2007 19:36:00 GMT

People are always thrilled to find my hand painted Please Remove Shoes signs online. I am often asked what made me think to create them, and the answer is simple. My customers asked for them! Not wearing shoes inside a home is becoming a very popular trend. This choice also sparks a lot of debate. Some people have no problem taking their shoes off when asked; others are offended by the request. My signs help my customers gently coax their guests to take off their shoes when entering their home. I have many different styles, so hopefully everyone can find a design that suits their decor. I am also available for custom orders.

The products at Wendy’s Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts are not mass produced. I paint each item, one at a time, so every piece is slightly unique. My tile signs are very popular because they are painted with an enamel paint that holds up to any type of weather. This allows the owner to display the sign out side their home to catch their guests before they enter. In fact, the paint is so durable, the sign is oven, microwave and dish-washer safe too. I would suggest taking off the leather cord first, though.

The reason’s for not wearing shoes inside a home are endless. For some people, it is a matter of cleanliness. For others, it is done to protect their flooring investment. In some cases, it is a cultural preference to remove shoes when indoors. No matter what your reason, I hope you will visit Wendy's Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts to find a Please Remove Shoes sign to help you express your wishes to your guests. Heck, Martha Stewart asks her guests to remove their shoes so it must be “A Good Thing,” right?

How Wendy's Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts Began...

wendyswhimsies — Sat, 19 May 2007 00:06:00 GMT

People are always surprised to learn that I have been painting less than 10 years. Truthfully, I was not the creative one in my family. My brother David is an excellent artist. He won awards in school for his drawings. I never had much interest in art as a kid. I was more drawn to sports and music.

I think my creative side came out after stumbling across various craft shows on television. Military spouses learn to fend for themselves pretty quickly, and I was looking for something to keep me busy while my Sailor was out to sea. I happened to see a sign at a local craft store advertising classes for Basic Painting Techniques and decided to sign up. The class was taught by a fellow Navy wife, and we hit it off. I took quite a few classes with Colleen, and I thank her for bringing out the artist in me.

Once I learned to paint, there was no stopping me. If it didn’t move, I painted it. I started out painting things for my home. As I gained more confidence, I painted items as gifts for friends and family. Next thing I knew, I was getting requests from neighbors and co-workers to paint gifts for their friends and family. With the encouragement of these friends and neighbors, I decided to start selling at local craft shows and Farmer’s Markets.

In March 1999 I was laid off from my job due to downsizing. Initially I felt this was the worst thing that could happen. Luckily, I realized quickly that it was a golden opportunity. Due to the lay off I was eligible for a Worker Retraining Program which allowed me to go back to college to learn a whole new trade. Rather than just brushing up on my office skills, I decided to learn how to design web sites. I was able to combine my education with painting to start my online business, Wendy’s Whimsies – Hand Painted Gifts. My website has allowed me to reach customers far beyond the local craft venues. As a result, I have artwork displayed in nearly every state in the US, as well as a few countries around the world.

I love what I do and I hope it comes out in my artwork. Painting is therapeutic to me and I hope my pieces bring joy to the people who receive them. I love to work with people to create one of a kind, custom pieces, so if you are ever in need of a special piece of art or an unusual gift, please stop by my website. I look forward to meeting you!

A Quick Introduction...

wendyswhimsies — Mon, 14 May 2007 15:48:00 GMT

Welcome to the blog for Wendy's Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts. From time to time I will be posting some thoughts and experiences about running an online business. I get to meet a lot of people through my website and I always enjoy helping them find products to make their homes more beautiful.

My name is Wendy Yorges and I am a proud Navy wife. I have been following my Sailor around this country for 15 years and have seen quite a few places I may not have had an opportunity to visit if it weren't for the Navy. Since we move frequently, starting an online business was the way to go for me. Having my own website allows me to "set up shop" wherever the Navy sends us. Running my own business also keeps me busy when I am flying solo during a patrol.

Please feel free to visit Wendy's Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts and post a comment about what you think. I am always looking for constructive suggestions on how to make my site easier to navigate. If you have an idea for new products I would love to hear those too. Thanks for stopping by!

Wendy