Productivity with the 1-3-5 Rule

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Being your own boss has many benefits, but controlling your productivity relies solely on you. Everyone has a different method that works to keep tasks, big and small, in mind. Some of you may still be searching for that method, so I am sharing the one that works for me.

I have a weekly meeting with a fellow creative business woman where we discuss all things business in our lives and how our jobs relate to our families and the time we have to make things happen. She suggested this 1-3-5 method from The Muse and I have been using and loving it for almost a year.

I usually write 2 lists: one for business and one for personal. I try to write them the night before, but my brain definitely works better in the morning, so I generally create my tasks early in the day.  Some days are more ambitious than others and a task or two can carry over into the next day (or the next!) The daily list-making of both large and small TO-DOs keeps my business and personal responsibilities easier to accomplish.

Do you have a method that keeps you productive and sane? I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

Cyn Thomas is the illustrator, designer and pattern maker of RiverDog Prints. Her paper goods and gifts are guided by earth, animals, function, food and cocktails. You can also find Cyn canning in her kitchen, walking her dog, being outnumbered by her boys and husband or reading herself to sleep.
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | woof@riverdogprints.com

Nutmeg Collective Instagram: Designer Dwellings

We have some great photos in our #nutmegcollective Instagram feed. 

 On a regular basis, we'll feature some of our favorite photos here!

Sparkle and shine #cuttingboard #silver #etsy

A photo posted by Alonda Baird Juhasz (@abdesigned) on Jul 6, 2015 at 2:24pm PDT

Colchester Farmers' Market 2015

Held weekly on the Town Green, the Colchester Farmers’ Market is another great Sunday market known for its small town charm and all things local.  Get there early (the market runs from 9am to 1pm) for the best selection of fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meats, seafood and more.   While the market does have all the wonderful things you expect to find at a farmers’ market, this one also features many local artisans.

This year the market is hosting a few special events including a kids' market on August 23 featuring Nutmeg Collective members Milo and Molly and Treefort Naturals as well as some of our collective friends.  Laurie Lynne’s Jewelry will be doing a free clay bead workshop for kids, and local kids will even have the opportunity to sell their own handmade items.

On September 13 the market will host an event dedicated to highlighting local artisans.  In addition to market regulars like Purring Pottery, Treefort Naturals and Spencer Hill Jewelry, artisans from around the state will be there to display and sell their beautiful items.  You can even expect to see a wheel-thrown pottery demo and a fiber artist spinning yarn from raw wool.

If you are looking for a laid back Sunday market to visit this summer, Colchester may be just the place for you.  And if you’d like to make a day of your visit, go into town, grab some Cato Corner cheese and fresh bread from the market and head over to Priam Vineyards for a relaxing afternoon of wine tasting.

Visit the Colchester Farmers' Market online or on Facebook!

Open every Sunday from 9am-1pm from June to October on the Colchester Town Green

Owner of Treefort Naturals, mom to 3 young kiddos and nature lover, Jessica Eveleigh started making soap as part of an eco-conscious lifestyle overhaul. Her handcrafted soap business offers natural alternatives to commercial products, all made with 100% natural & organic ingredients.

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | treefortnaturals@gmail.com 

Wednesday Words

Find it: Vanessa Pixel Studio

Shop Spotlight: RiverDog Prints

Meet Cyn Thomas of RiverDog Prints from Avon, Connecticut.

"My business was named for my dog, Scout, who is an almost 14-year-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever. I think of her as my partner, even though she is now almost deaf and sleeps about 20 out of 24 hours. My connection with her drives quite a bit of what I create and how it's produced. All RiverDog Prints products are as eco-friendly as possible, using only recycled paper and envelopes produced by wind power. The other materials I use have to fit within that earth-friendly philosophy and can sometimes be difficult to source, but it’s a commitment I feel strongly about in both my business and personal life.

I am an extremely late-bloomer as an artist. The fact that I can draw and paint still surprises me. I began RiverDog Prints in 2004 as a part-time venture with the idea that it would be a destination for well-designed pet photo cards. It did well in its small way initially, but a few urgent family matters put the business on hold for an extended period of time. When I was able to return, photo cards had become big business for some major companies, so I decided to switch creative gears and create stationery. It has developed into many paper goods, greeting cards, art prints, canning & preserving papers, notepads, notebooks, as well as gifts, like recipe binders, tea towels and totes.

I create my art, paper goods and gifts out of my home studio in Avon, as well as in my new out-of-house studio and shop, Hello!, in Simsbury. Hello! Artisan Shop & Studio is a joint venture with two other creative business owners, Kristen Skelton of Milo & Molly and Vanessa Felie of QueenVanna Creations. We have an Open House scheduled for the evening of August 27 as our first official event. We are still defining and planning what Hello! can offer to our other creative colleagues and the local community, but we’re excited about the opportunities for the future.

I also am in the beginning stages of offering logo design and branding to businesses. You can look at my portfolio here, http://cynthomas.com  This new direction has been great so far! I've loved creating logos and graphics for some very talented people."

See more of Cyn's work in her Etsy shop

or connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

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Active Nutmeg Collective members fill out this form!

Local Love: Pure Elements Co.

From Stamford, Connecticut, experience the made-to-order, all-natural sugar scrubs, handmade aromatherapy 100% soy candles, hand and lip balms from Pure Elements Co.

"Pure Elements Co has been in business since 2009. I had started out creating scrubs for my own use and once my friends & family started using them too and liking them, they pushed me to start up my own business.

We have all natural sugar scrubs (for men & women), hand & lip balms, body oils (moisturizer or for massages) and soy wax aromatherapy candle.

It was initially a challenge finding a market and niche where I can sell my products but once I started going to art fairs and holiday markets, the company and products got a lot more exposure which helped spread the word and got a lot more sales.

However although we have our products in some in stores and yoga studios in Stamford, we are mainly an online business, so making sales on a regular basis isn't always consistent.

It has been an educational and interesting learning curve, finding the right sources for ingredients and other items like containers and labels. But I am proud of where we have reached from where we started out and I look forward to the years ahead."

Pure Elements Co.

Phone: (646) 710-0125

Email: pureelementsco@gmail.com

Find Pure Elements Co. on Facebook.

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Nutmeg Collective Instagram: Milo and Molly

We have some great photos in our #nutmegcollective Instagram feed. 

 On a regular basis, we'll feature some of our favorite photos here!

#nutmegdailypic Day 4: desk accessory. I do a lot of standing at my main desk, so my favorite accessory is actually on the wall. My husband made me this to hold all my small things- pencils, scissors, cutters, etc., plus my twine. 😍 #nutmegcollective

A photo posted by Kristen (@miloandmolly) on Apr 4, 2015 at 8:23am PDT