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This past week felt like an entire year. If there’s one thing you learn quickly as a small business owner, it’s how to adapt on the fly but nothing could have prepared us for the uncertainty of last weekend’s tariff threats from the U.S. administration. Like many Canadian entrepreneurs, I spent the weekend anxiously glued to the news and sorting out how this would affect my small business.
I design, produce and ship out all of my orders from my studio here in Ontario, Canada. The suppliers that I use to order tools and materials for my DIY craft kits are spread out across Canada. I wasn’t just thinking about my own business, I was thinking about them, and the many other small businesses that would face increased costs and new challenges overnight.
It felt personal. It felt unfair. Especially given that Canada has always been there for America during their time of need and vice versa. We are friends, we are neighbours. I felt a deep sense of anger, worry and frustration. Do things need to change? Do we need to tighten up our borders? Absolutely! However, our solutions were met with deaf ears by someone whose entire persona is that of a schoolyard bully.
What started to happen though (thanks to the power of social media) is that we truly came together as a country during this time. Our leaders put forward a very united front to protect our country and Canadians rallied behind the idea of supporting local...more than ever before.
We're not sure what will happen within the next 30 days. By then, something new and shiny may distract the "Orange One" and we may never hear the word tariff again but for now, THANK YOU for standing with small businesses like mine and for believing in the power of local. We'll see where this road will lead us.
PS: Big shout out to all of the folks from the U.S. who placed orders with me this past week regardless of the tariff threats. I am immensely grateful for your support!
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With all the noise that surrounds us, it's easy to get pulled in. Especially with the news of the world bringing us down. That's why it's important to take a night here and there to shut everything down, and push aside that pesky voice that sometimes gets in the way with "I should be doing XYZ". This is your time to sink into a big comfy chair, sip on that cup of tea and work on your craft project. If you feel peaceful, then stay there for as long as you need. You deserve this time!
Think back to a handmade gift you’ve received. Chances are, you still have it tucked away somewhere, or maybe even still use it. Every stitch in a quilt, every loop in a crochet pattern, and every carefully placed detail in a handcrafted card tells a story.
There’s nothing better than rounding up your best people, pouring some wine (or tea, if that’s more your vibe), and diving into a pile of craft kits together. Life gets crazy! Between work, family, and a hectic to-do list, it’s hard to find time to catch up. That’s why a girls' night in, filled with crafty bits, belly laughs, and good conversation is the perfect way to hit pause on that crazy life.
