PaperDoll Anniversary!



My middle little just turned 12.  PaperDoll Designs was born shortly after she was so I guess my biz baby is turning 12 this year too.  It has been 12 years full of ups and downs.  I have had helpers and I have gone it alone.  I have run this biz from my kitchen table and I have had an office to call my studio.  I have thrown up my hands and quit.  I have come back.  I have operated solely off of word of mouth.  I have had websites that have made my life so much easier.  I have had happy customers that leave Diet Dr. Pepper, bundt cakes, and Christmas wreaths on my front porch.  I have had a few nasty emails.  I have had months that left me wondering how I could stay afloat.  I have had months that paid for vacations.  I have wished more than anything that I didn't have to work and could just be "mom."  I have been so thankful for a creative outlet and have wondered what I would do without it.  I have introduced products that have flopped.  I have introduced products that have been game changers.  I have hand delivered orders.  I have shipped orders all over the United States.  I have pulled all nighters for weeks on end hustling to get orders done.  I have pulled all nighters worrying whether enough orders would come in.  I have gotten down on my knees and prayed that God would help this business grow and flourish.  I have cried tears of joy and thanked God for all that He has provided through this business. 

I think after 12 years, I can finally consider this business legit.  I don't know why it took me so long to feel like this gig is for real and not just some hobby but I'm finally there.  I am pretty certain that 12 years from now, you will find me somewhere making note cards and sprinkling sequins into packages before they head out the door.  I am a born Maker.  I love to create.  I love patterns and colors and textures.  My heart honestly skips a beat when I see the perfect combination of stripes and florals or a lovely font.  I love styling the finished product for a cute Insta photo and I love hearing from a customer that she is thrilled with her PaperDoll product.  I may cringe at accounting and seriously detest keeping up with technology but for all the things that I don't love about being a business owner, there are a million more that I do. 

Here's to 12 more years of cute clipboards and monogrammed stationery!

Thanks for sticking around!

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