I set up this blog the other day and knew I had yet to publish my first posting. As I was straightening up my studio today (for the umpteenth time this year) I opened a box of my childhood memories and stumbled upon this folded piece of paper from 1975. This would be a fun memory to share with you. I was 14 at the time, and I had recorded my cash flow...which, as I see, was a mere trickle, but nevertheless, every penny was accounted for. I was an entrepreneur recording my sales, cost of goods and even recording loans and repayments. Watch out Quickbooks! I had to take a second look at the prices I charged for those fabric picture wallets I used to make and sell to my fellow classmates. Surely I didn't charge just 65 cents for a wallet? And then seeing other entries, I charged different prices for what looked like the same thing. Hmmm. Maybe one held more photos? I just don't know. But hey, at any price they were a bargain. I still have one of those wallets and I must say, the workmanship was excellent. One of my "clients" was Sue Lamden. I recently saw Sue at our 30 year high school class reunion at Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula, CA this past October. In our conversation, we exchanged info about our respective careers and she said, "I remember that purse you made for me." How remarkable that she remembered that. (That purse must have been a bargain, too.) Repeat business...even at that age--and very much a part of my business since Designs by Dian began in 1987. How fun to see how my love for sewing as a young girl led to a successful career in the window treatment business--way more lucrative than sewing wallets! :-)
