|
Crafty Divas and Entrepreneurial Empresses
October 2004's Diva
Carrie Miller
of www.PaperCandies.com
Carrie Miller is a professional oil painter with a whimsical side! She
encourages that whimsy through The Painting Brush's greeting card
company, Paper Candies. Each greeting card is unique. They are not
mass-produced, but rather carefully assembled by hand. Carrie has a small staff, but
she is involved in every aspect of production. When asked to describe
herself and The Painting Brush, she said:
"I believe it is important to know the artist behind the designs! I am
a wife to a wonderful husband, and the mother to two boys. I have so
many blessings in my life! I want my website to be a retreat! Please kick
your shoes off and spend some time with our bright colors!
I love fine things, rich fabrics, decadent collections--deep arm
chairs, thick magazines, coffee in the morning, amazing views, vacations,
desserts, chocolate, thick colorful sweaters, funky necklaces, and friends. I
surround myself with family, fun people and laughter.
I intend for my whimsical designs to reflect the celebration of life. I
enjoy being a woman, and I love to celebrate all of the extravagances
we are allowed!
My sketchbooks are loaded with designs. I love transforming these
sketches into colorful images that are then attached to a card, and begin their
journey to you! I often wonder about the person who will buy the card,
and the one who will receive it as a gift. I hope my cards bring a smile
to each of your faces. I hope the bright colors add sunshine to your day.
Our Paper Candies are more than just the every day greeting cards!
These greeting cards were inspired to bring back the art of writing letters.
Remember? Pen to paper, stamp to envelope . The good old-fashioned way!
Everyone loves receiving a special card in the mail! Send a
handwritten note. Is there anything more thoughtful?"
****************************************************
The Gallery
****************************************************
****************************************************
The Interview
****************************************************
The Basic Lowdown:
Girlposse.com: Who are you?
Carrie Miller:
Carrie Miller, a crazy, creative and blessed wife and mother to two
fantastic boys.
Girlposse.com: Where are you located?
Carrie Miller:
We currently live in Oklahoma.
Girlposse.com: What is your creation / business?
Carrie Miller:
I own a business named The Painting Brush, we specialize in luxury
greeting card's called Paper Candies.
Girlposse.com: Where can people buy your stuff?
Carrie Miller:
Well, directly from me of course! www.papercandies.com and if you want
to by our cards from others.you can find a whole list of retailers on our
website.
Girlposse.com: Tell us something about yourself - your personality:
Carrie Miller:
I am one of those people that sits in a meeting and I doodle, I am
constantly thinking of designs, constantly looking around at fashion
trends.
I love to laugh more than anything else. I love dry senses of humor
and I adore close friends. I love to be comfortable, I love to decorate, and
I am a night person. Too bad I usually have to be up so early!
The Nitty Gritty:
Girlposse.com: How long have you been doing this?
Carrie Miller:
I have painted pretty much all my life, but the greeting cards started
a little of a year ago.
Girlposse.com: Beginning a business is a big step. How did this become a "business" vs. just a "hobby""?
Carrie Miller:
When we started getting sales representatives, it quickly moved from a
hobby to a business.
Girlposse.com: Did you have previous business experience - or was the business end new to you?
Carrie Miller:
I have always had the knack for business. It just makes sense to me.
There are just a few principals that you must adhere to as a business person.
1. Treat the customer just like you want to be treated.
2. Deliver the absolute best product possible, each and every single time.
3. Be organized.
4. Have absolute customer service.
5. Be positive and upbeat each and every single day.
I believe if you do those 5 things,
everything else will just fall in to place.
Girlposse.com: What was (is) your biggest obstacle in selling what you create?
Carrie Miller:
The toughest part is just getting the product out so that people know
who you are! You might have a wonderful product, but if you can't get it
out there, then it becomes tough to sell it! I think that is the hardest
part for most people, so I don't feel alone.
Girlposse.com: Your cards begin as oil paintings. What made you decide to turn them into greeting cards?
Carrie Miller:
Well, I paint realistic and detailed landscapes and portraits in oil.
I fell in love with oil paints! But I have this stack.and I do mean
STACK of doodles, and sketch books! One of my hobbies has always been to
collect greeting cards. I always bought them with the intention of sending
them out (and I DO send a lot of greeting cards) but some of the cards were
just so cool that I fell in love with them and enjoyed looking through them
like some people look through say, a stamp collection. I have always wanted
to make greeting cards and I thought, why not paint a few of these
sketches up and print them out. There is just something about unexpectedly getting
a card in the mail. It is just like Christmas to me. I love sending
cards with doodles all over the front (the mail man probably can't stand me.)
I don't know, staying in touch is a lot easier these days with email.but
I have yet to meet anyone that doesn't love opening the mail box and
finding something besides JUNK! And bills! A colorful envelope--you just never
know what you might find inside. Money? Pictures.the list is endless, and
sure to bring a smile!
Girlposse.com: You offer cards that are just like Posh Purses
(another Girlposse.com Crafty Diva). How did the two
of you team up?
Carrie Miller:
Tori Alvarado is the owner of Posh by Tori. www.poshbytori.com. I
found her purses about 2 years ago and put her website in my favorites so that I
could buy a girl friend of mine a Christmas gift. I ordered 2 purses from
her last Christmas. Within SECONDS of placing my order she had emailed me
and was just absolutely incredible. Her customer service was amazing, and
my purses arrived so fast! I lived in Germany at the time, and she bent
over backwards to ship to me with my specific shipping instructions. We
began to email back and forth and we developed a friendship! We discussed
fashion and decorating, the stuff all women love to talk about! When I told
her I was going to start making cards, she immediately had all these ideas
for me! She graciously gave me permission to use her purses as inspiration for
some of my cards! She is one of the most giving and incredible people I
have ever met. Not to mention she is an incredible business woman. She
keeps things fresh, she keeps adding new things and never settles for second
best. I admire and respect her a great deal! She has been an incredible
mentor throughout this process. She will go very far, mark my words!
Girlposse.com: What kind of impact has the internet made on your
business?
Carrie Miller:
Really the internet has allowed us the ability to really get our
designs out there in front of the public.
Girlposse.com: Where do you see your business in six months? In five
years?
Carrie Miller:
We have just introduced a new line of cards to fit any budget! They
are called "Low Carb" Paper Candies. This version of our line is printed
directly on the card stock as opposed to being a print of my paintings
that are attached to the card stock. Because of this I see our company
moving more towards having our line go to a professional printer to keep up
with the demands. That is a good thing!
Girlposse.com: What keeps you going on a bad day?
Carrie Miller:
On a bad day, I look at our designs and I think, if I were at a card
shop, I would SO buy these cards!! I don't settle for second best, and I know
we make a great product! If you believe in your business, and you believe
in yourself, I don't think you can fail! It gets you through the bad
days! Also, my husband helps me so much. He believes in me, and in the
cards. That makes it even more important to me.
Girlposse.com: Where are some of your favorite places to shop?
Carrie Miller:
Well, Posh by Tori, Bath by Bettijo, Mary Berry, Sharma Designs. As
for brick and mortar stores? I love decorating stores. Places like Pottery
Barn. I know it is cliché but I love that store! Any store with goodies
you don't usually find in the big stores. High quality, brightly colored
items.
Girlposse.com: What was the best piece of advice you've been given?
Carrie Miller:
Believe in yourself. Believe you will succeed.
Girlposse.com: What advice would you give to a future Crafty Diva?
Carrie Miller:
I guess the constant in my life is to believe in yourself. If you
don't, at the first sign of trouble, or the first or second "no" you hear, you
will pack up ship and give up. If you believe in yourself, even on the bad
days, you might get discouraged, but you will persevere. And that is the
key! I think that if something isn't quite working, you have to step back and
look at the process, refine what you are doing, listen to the customer,
listen to your sales reps and then make a decision and don't look back! Be
blessed enough to have a mentor, be smart enough to listen, and be strong
enough to know what you want, and don't let anyone discourage you!
Girlposse.com: Are they any other Crafty Divas or Entrepreneurial Empresses we should know
about?
Carrie Miller: Yes! Sharla at Sharma Designs. I ADORE her necklaces. I wear one of her necklaces each time I design. They bring me all kinds of good luck!
Not to mention, she is a great person! www.sharmadesigns.com
~October 2004
****************************************************
Your Chance to Win!
****************************************************
 During the month of October, Carrie Miller is giving you a chance to win 2 Gift Card Sets of your choice and 10 gift cards from their brand spankin' new "Low Carb" line of cards! Visit our Contests area for details and to enter. Good luck!
****************************
Are you a Crafty Diva and Entrepreneurial Empress? Or do you know one that should be featured in a future Girlposse.com issue? If so, visit our Crafty Diva Info Page for the details.
****************************
send this review to a friend
current misc. reviews past misc. reviews
2003 Crafty Divas Hall of Fame
2004 Crafty Divas Hall of Fame
|
|
Looking for a book?
Use this convenient Search Box from Amazon.com
|
|
Printer Friendly Version