Weddingbee PRO

It's been an extremely busy week, but I don't have much to show for it yet. I'm in the mood to make an easy post and answer more questions from you!

Q: What is your favorite color scheme and trend right now?

A: I love red. red red red. I was reading through a back issue of Where Women Create (awesome mag) and one of the featured artists said that she treated red like a neutral, and that really stuck with me. I'm starting to see shades of red matching with everything. I'm also totally in love with marigold and silver–that I have been into for a while though.

My favorite trends right now are heart-shaped glasses and super geometric patterns and construction.

Q: How did you came up with the Princess Lasertron name?

A: A lot of people ask me this. When Dave and I started dating I think he called me that once and I loved it and kept it for myself. I started Princess Lasertron the year we met, and it just seemed fitting. Also, speaking practically, I think it's wise to choose a memorable name for a fledgling business.

Q: Do you ever have any buttons that you think are just too gorgeous to use on something that will be given to someone else?

A: Secretly….yeah. I usually save the buttons that I don't have more than one of, and if I come across another one, I will use it in a customer's order. I hate to give away the last button in a collection because then I worry I will forget it. I should make a post soon showing some of those amazingly unique, one-of-a-kind pieces.

Q: What is next for Princess Lasertron?

A: I plan to write a diy-type book about fun and alternative flower girl projects and ideas. My fantasy is to work with one of the publishers that provide the pocket in the front for patterns and notions. I'd also love to start traveling around the world teaching workshops (vor allem in Deutschland, wo ich in der Lage ware, kommunizieren…so nur ein bisschen!).

The future projects that actually are on the table include online workshops and a line of dresses for 2010.

Q: Which celebrity that has been married in the last 18 months should have ordered one of your bouquets and why?

A: That's a fun question. I would have loved to make a boutonniere and bouquet set for Ellen and Portia. Especially with her beautiful frothy dress, I would have made her something so perfect and airy!

Q: You're someone I look up to when it comes to branding–how have you gotten so noticed in different media?

A: I have done all of my own publicity so far–I'd love to hire a publicist eventually but I have done okay without it. I have a background in journalism and I have several close friends who work in publicity and marketing and I have called on their advice at times when I was putting together my first press kits and writing copy about my services. My suggestions for people who do it all–the handwork, the accounting, the errand running, the publicity, the design–are to put together a good press kit and send it everywhere. Think about the magazines and blogs where you want to be, and research them–think of an angle to pitch to them about why their readers need to know about your product. Editors will be more impressed and it will make their job easier if they know you have done your homework.

As for branding, the first things of course are to pick the colors and typeface that will be on all of your correspondence and logos and anything professional related to your business. Keep any graphics you use in a file with all of the pre-written copy that you can send to an interested editor or journalist, and it will all start to take very little effort.

Q: What music do you listen to while you work?

A: You can check out my playlist on blip.fm which has a list of songs I have listened to most recently. I love to listen to electroclash, french pop, electropop, anything that's a little synth-y and a little dance-y like Fischerspooner, Mind.In.A.Box, Covenant, and Girls Under Glass. I also listen to a lot of rap in the afternoons like Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, Notorious B.I.G., Spank Rock, stuff like that.

Q: How would you brighten a dark bedroom? We live in a half above ground and half basement apartment. Our bedroom is soooo dark.

A: I would paint the walls a sunny, glossy color and have lots of mirrors. Also keeping the room very uncluttered might help. Or, you could work with the darkness and paint it a gorgeous glossy deep indigo color, get a fluffy white bedspread, and use candles for soft light. Either would be really pretty–sometimes you can't fight what your living space gives you.

Q: What is Turbo's [my cat] superpower?

A: Amazingly useful ability to cry all day long even though nothing is wrong with him. I think he misses his dad during the day–the parent that works at home is always chopped liver.

Q: What was your best resource as you started and have had success in your business?

A: Other business owners, definitely. Amazingly, I've met most of my local networking resources through Twitter and since then I have participated in local events like Big Omaha and the new Girls in Tech organization for Omaha. There is nothing better for a small business than GOING OUT and meeting people–going to conferences and events and volunteering is important, but nothing is better than a successful followup with the people you meet.

Q: Is it hard coming up with new ideas?

A: Yes. It's a 16-hour per day job.

Q: What kind of lead time do you need to make a bridal order?

A: I generally say that as soon as you know you want to work with me is the time to shoot me an email. 2009 is booked pretty solid for me and 2010 is filling up fast for custom bridal orders, which is also why the kits are such a great option for brides who are not able to get a custom bouquet from me. And it's also why I'm so glad to have my first employee, Hollie Nicole.

Q: Is there a craft you've always wanted to try, but haven't yet for lack of time/knowledge?

A: I would love to learn how to solder and make jewelry. Every time I try, it sucks and I know there are tons of people doing better things than I probably could. I feel the same way about apron-making…that was really cool for a while but I really wasn't getting the hang of it.

A few things I have learned to do that I'm proud of are screen print, sew, and knit. I don't do those things very often but I am a believer that if you want to learn to do something, you can make it happen. The “but I don't know how” or “I wish I had time” things don't fly with me.