Life and Work by Design Blog

With the prevalence of US citizens going to work in foreign countries around the globe, a new opportunity for folks who love art and also desire to do something meaningful with their work is quickly expanding.

I’m talking about an importing business for all the wonderful artwork, home décor products, clothing and jewelry that is being produced by indigenous artisans in villages in Cambodia, Brazil, Uganda, Thailand , Viet Nam, and Guatemala to name a few.

I know lots of people who do this in one way or another.  One got started when her husband was traveling to Uganda for business and she tagged along. She started out one day in search of a wall hanging for her home and found a village of talented women and young girls weaving beautiful pieces.   When she asked if she could buy one she discovered that they really didn’t know how to market their wares beyond the street market in neighboring cities.   She spent the rest of her two weeks locating other artisans and returned to the states determined to find a way to help these people earn a decent wage for their efforts that would then help them support their families and villages.  Her organization today supports schools and feeds children in two villages through the non-profit she developed from her sales and donations.

Another importer I know is an interior designer who traveled to Thailand on vacation, found a village that was making beautiful silk scarves from silkworm to finished product.  Again, they had little access to markets where they could sell their creations.  She has helped them design new items to produce including pillows and wall hangings that are sought after in the US. She travels several times a year (a business deduction!) to meet with them to decide on new products and to help them with their business plan.  In turn, she has created a business for herself that is unique and rewarding.

The third one I will mention buys hand-knit woolen mittens, hats, purses, scarves and sweaters from villages all over the mountains of Guatemala.  Again she gets to travel to her favorite part of the world, helps many women support their children and pays them a fair wage that slowly improves the life in these third world places.

One of these ladies maintains a storefront.  One sells through other designers and the third one sells at a street market in Philadelphia.  They all participate in the various Fair Trade Fairs that are commonly sponsored by churches and community groups.   They are earning income, traveling and helping others all at the same time.

If you have family living or working in another country, or just want a way to travel and learn about another part of the world, this is a concept that can be started small and grown in a way that fits your lifestyle.

Want to know more?    Comment below and I’ll get you resources and information.

I love the library and now that most of us are trying to cut-back and spend less I recommend you put it on your “I’m bored - What can I do?” list.  I try to spend at least an hour a week just browsing.  Last week’s search turned up a couple of gems I’d like to suggest.

McGraw-Hill has a series on Careers for ___(lots of different groups) and there’s one titled Careers for Homebodies & Other Independent Souls by Jan Goldberg.  It’s a jam-packed little soft-cover book that is a must-read if you are considering starting any sort of home-based business.  The first two chapters help you determine if you are the right type of personality to be self-employed, the next two spell out the steps to getting started, and the rest gives examples of real people and their biz ideas.

For those of you who live in Canada, it contains lots of resources for you as well.  The appendix has excellent lists of current books, web-sites and organizations that will help you find your way.

I’ve added it to my bookstore - go to my website, click on the Books tab and you can see all the books I’ve recommended in the last couple of years.  You can purchase right there and add other items from Amazon if you wish.  Same prices and same free-shipping deals - only I get a small commission.  I’d appreciate your support and it makes choosing easier.

Of course I understand if you want to use the library to borrow it instead…..:)

I quit making useless resolutions a long time ago, but about 5 years ago someone suggested that you could give the new year a theme that would kind of over-arch the choices you make, the projects you tackle and the new experiences you decide to try.  I liked that idea and have chosen themes like “Independence”, “Connections” and “Just Do It Now” in the past.

On a recent train trip I had lots of time to ponder the coming year and decided on my new theme - only this time it’s more like a mantra.   A mantra is a word or sound repeated to aid concentration during meditation among practitioners of Buddhism.  The more modern definition is a statement or slogan repeated frequently.

During almost all of my adult life I have owned LBCs - Little British Cars - like an MG or a Triumph as a hobby.  I’ve had 7 all together in different colors, sizes and condition but they were all a blast to drive especially with a group from the car club.  They make this unique putt-putt sound that no other car can imitate.

I know the picture of me that you all see appears to be a pretty straight, conservative mature woman, but put me behind the wheel of a little sports car and I become someone else!  A someone else that is let free to feel the wind in my hair and swoop around curves and up and down hills exuberantly.  I love that!

As I remembered this on the train trip I decided that my mantra for 2009 will be  “Vroom- Vroom.”  I will try to make choices and do things that will allow me to feel like I’m behind that wheel again.  I will plan a few trips to new places, go looking for some new friends who share my enthusiasm for life and learning, try a couple of new things that scare me a little like a hot air balloon ride, and do the two things that thrill me - sailing and LBCs - as often as I can.

What’s your mantra going to be?   Take a minute right now and think about a big theme that you could adopt that would challenge you to try some new things; to reach new heights; to stretch yourself just a little.    Post your theme on sticky notes around you at home and at work. Or write it on small tags and tuck them into drawers, books and pockets to remind you what you are aiming for this year.

If you’d like to share your mantra or theme, please comment here.  We could create a great list and inspire each other.