Logo Design

I apologize for my absence. I've been working hard to get Excelsior Events, my event business, off the ground. You know, that other creative business. I've been focusing mostly on building my brand, logo and website. People when I tell you to get help with these things, get help. I designed my own logo and it took forever. There are too many options and I went way off the image I wanted to have (well not totally). Now I'm wondering if I should start over. I wound up editing my slogan to better explain my logo but then I didn't feel like it fit my business name. So I shortened it. The full version and explanation are in my business plan of course but I was recently reminded that too much information confuses people. 

That aside, I did a pretty good job. Its not completely original art but its distinctive enough. I used Gimp, a program I didn't have much familiarity with but I found its similar enough to photoshop, with its many features, and its free. It moves slowly on my old computer but that's the price I pay. With some instruction reading and lots of youtube video watching I got what I wanted.

My hesitation in changing the logo is because I don't think my other idea will translate well for more serious and sober business events clientele. Also my website launch date has long passed. Thinking about keeping it at this point doesn't feel like settling. More like a good business decision. Maybe one day I will have a pro update it. For now, I am quite proud of my creation. And I am happy with its versatility.

It is easily blown up or downsized. I have a black and white version for when necessary. 3 colors can get expensive when printing but not beyond what I am willing to pay. I also think it looks pretty enough for potential wedding clients as well as meeting clients.

Check it it below. Tell me what you think.

~Lashette
  Excelsior Events
  Scarlet Moon Creations

Spells and magic - Glamour

By Glamour [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

I think one of the ways my products can be used magically is with glamour magic. This is actually a practice I only got into recently since I associated glamour magic with wanting to look more attractive or to feel good about your physical appearance. I, personally, don't really think about my looks once I'm dressed for the day and didn't see the need for using glamour. Having learned a bit more about it it looks like I've unintentionally done it before. The first thing that comes to mind is when getting ready to go clubbing. I love dancing and dressing in a way I wouldn't normally. Sexy and fun is the name of the game when I prepare to go to a club. (And comfort, because its not fun or sexy when your clothes don't fit right or are not warm enough.) So I have a whole ritual I do that involves sexy, dance music, the right clothes, hair and sometimes makeup. Its like putting on another Lashette. Or taking her out rather. I know if certain things don't go right I won't have as much or any fun. See comfort above.

Another thing I do is wear yellow when I want to be happy or keep the happy feeling I already have. I also tend to wear girlier clothing during those times as well. But just doing these acts and wearing these clothes is not the magic. Its the intent and will behind it all. These are not things I do unconsciously. I know what works for me so I do it and believe in it. However, I never thought of these mini rituals as magic let alone as glamour magic.

When I started Scarlet Moon Creations I had to start incorporating using body scrubs and bath salts and body butters into my daily life. (I would never sell something I haven't tried on myself first.) Doing this changed my outlook on these types of items from seeing them as luxuries to seeing them as essential to self care and body care. Your skin is your body's biggest organ and it comes into contact with a lot of things during the day. It protects your much more delicate insides from a lot if harsh stuff but it can still be damaged and that protection takes its toll over the years. So you have to "love the skin you're in" to use Olay's slogan. And anything worth doing is worth doing well.

As the world often shows, your skin has more than one purpose. We as a people often see and use skin as a way of identifying ourselves and others. Whether it be by the color, feel, scent, taste or look of our own or others skin. We see people with rough hands are hard workers while people with soft hands as privileged, for example. In America, we tend to see those who show more skin as confident (or overconfident) while those who perpetually cover up and shy. That's not including the things we use to cover our skin, clothes, makeup, jewelry, tattoos, glasses, etc. Certain clothes show ones profession while others show we're out for a good time (my clubbing clothes). So due to public perception and how it has influenced us we take care of our skin and the things that cover it by projecting a certain persona that we know others will recognize both consciously and unconsciously. We want others to think of us in a certain way but we also want to think of ourselves in a certain way.

This is where glamour magic comes in. Its something we all do a bit anyway but glamour magic takes it that extra willful step by us making a conscious choice to put our energy and will behind our skin and coverings to project a certain aspect of ourselves louder than usual. To go back to one of my examples. When I want to be happy I throw on my yellow sundress and tell myself I am going to have a happy sunshine day. And when I smooth on lemon body butter, I tell myself that my skin will be smooth, moisturized and warm throughout the day but also that I will be upbeat and awake today. I associate lemons with happiness as well.

So I think that my bath and body products would make a good addition to any glamour magic, spell or ritual.

~Lashette
  Scarlet Moon Creations

Pagan Business Network

I have been neglectful in talking about the Pagan Business Network. Its amazing how much this group has done for me and I have done for them in the short time that I have been a member. I cannot believe it has taken me this long to write about this great group.

The Pagan Business Network (PBN) is exactly what its called. Created by Charissa Iskiwitch in the fall of 2014, PBN is all about networking and creating resources for pagan business owners and pagan-friendly businesses. I found out about the Pagan Business Network through an article on Patheos Pagan about it last year.

In the spirit of collaboration and cooperation PBN offers many benefits depending on your needs. For me the most useful part of PBN is the Facebook group. There you find many people in the same or similar position to you. Whether you are pre-startup or are in your 10th year of business; doing ecommerce or a brick and mortar store; offering a supply or a service; a pagan or just pagan-friendly, as long as you are there are people and businesses willing to help you and do business with you. I love that it is a judgement free zone. And I have learned a lot and improved my business thanks to the many knowledgeable and helpful people within the group.

But the group is not all. The website, PaganBusinessNetwork.com, offers tons of more official resources. Such as paid membership, the blog roll, a list of wholesalers and other suppliers, upcoming events of interest for those who are vendors, business spotlights (an interview of your business), free swag bags for event organizers, a chance to have your business products and/or literature in those swag bags, PBN radio, reviews, many advertising opportunities and much more. Then there is the Pagan Marketplace by PBN a free place to advertise your business, products, services, and events.

And of course I can't forget the various social media channels where PBN has accounts set up to spread the word about its most active members and other important information. For example, The official Facebook page offers pagan and business news and advice from around the web as well as sharing ladders to help get your business, products and services out there. There is also an Etsy Team created to help those with shop on the Etsy marketplace take advantage of all Etsy has to offer. Look for PBN on Twitter, Pinterest and Google+ as well with more to come soon.

Being an admin gives me the privilege to know what is going on behind the scenes, because I'm nosy. And let me tell you there is so much more to come. PBN is only going to get bigger and brighter from here. So go if you consider yourself pagan and have a business or run a pagan-friendly business you should definitely check out the Pagan Business Network (PBN).

Now I am off to do some more work. Have a great day and see you next week,

~Lashette

  Scarlet Moon Creations