shoprsd.com Blog

Well summer sure is in full swing and I am soaking up this gorgeous weather and blessings all around. 

I was walking across a field to one of Gus’s (our 4 year old) softball game and the sun was setting- the weather was incredible, Ivy (16 months) was on my hip and Gus was running ahead and I thought to myself , “How did I get here?”

Have you ever done that?  Asked yourself objectively- like somehow looking from above on your own life and asking , “Just how did I get here?”  I think of it often and all the blessings I am receiving every day.  Here the sun is perfect, the field is green and the smell of fresh grass, 2 beautiful babies that call me, really me, mommy, a successful business that allows me to do what I love everyday and I’m married to Nick Scott!!  And I am able to help my mom realize her dreams through me and being able to work for me and sew all day.  Really God- me?  This is amazing, thank you.

That being said –that is exactly how I got here.  It’s believing I can do this, and depending on a source bigger than myself- God.

Gus hit his first double this week in baseball at 4!  I know–’proud mommy’ moment here- but seriously I saw joy on his little face and throughout his body that I just know will always exist in baseball for him.  That is where his heart lies, so I pray for a good little athlete and that God will bless his skills to make God even bigger.  If God can use purses to allow me to live my dream, why not baseball?

One more story about Gus and then I will get off my Mommy braggin’ bus!  Gus has a hard time when you leave for anything, almost like a little anxiety when he is not sure what is going on.  You have to reassure him about 100 times about the details of the day or he just can’t handle it. Well I had to run into a gas station to get a drink for the road and I told him to stay put- I would be RIGHT back and to stay with sleeping Ivy. I will lock the van. So I ran in and was hurrying so he wouldn’t be in complete hysterics when I got back. To my surprise, when I opened the van door, he was talking to himself out the window.  I proclaimed, “GREAT job Gus, you didn’t fuss at all!” ”What are doing?”  Gus replies plainly, “I was just praying for those guys over there Mama.” There was a construction crew across the road working.   (Yes, here is where I tear up with gratitude.  We play this game when we run errands in town that anyone out of a car (like on a bike or walking) we pray out loud for them.  For things like- warms beds, warm food, good church, they know God, and then Gus offers his prayers as well-sometimes very comical- who doesn’t want mac and cheese for supper?!  So that is where it started and he is now initiating  the prayers himself.  Good things for the heart.

What  a week.  A really good week and I really busy week. We are gearing up for Brookings Art Festival the biggest one we do all summer long.  We are sewing 40 bags a week to gear up and my purse room is stocked high, it’s only going to get higher! Thank you for continued support and we will continue to make fashionable, functional and fun bags to tote on your cute bare shoulders this summer!

Here’s to a long summer with blessings stopping you in your tracks and have you wondering, “How did I get here?”

Ivy & Gus

Perspective….

I know for sure that life offers “perspective’ to a lot of things. Especially as a mom, I am reminded of all kinds of different perspectives I can take when viewing something far or close up.

For example,  our son Gus- 4- is very expressive and offers his perspective frequently to me!  While I am stressing out about a day, so much to do, so little time, he is telling me about the little things that make me stop and slow down. He was playing outside and I heard him run inside as fast as he could as I was sewing, and proclaim, “Mommy-come quick, there is ‘bootiful’ yellow flowers all over the lawn!”  Well that is one way at looking at it!  Another day shortly after, he says, “Mommy- make a wish! ” holding onto one of those ‘bootiful’ yellow flowers again, and I make a prayer rather to get everything done that day, and he pauses to say “Mommy- we- (he and Ivy) didn’t hear you, you have to wish out loud for God to hear it!”   Well I better speak up then!

I just love hearing his little brain work, because there isn’t much he doesn’t want to explore and share with me.  He and Ivy both offer perspective that I tend to look over.  Thank you God for children and their simple way of looking at things.

Flapper caps

On a different note….What a month May has been!  We are gearing up  for the Edina Art show and ready to go pretty soon.  I am so excited for it. We have a different booth location this year. We are on France ave now, so look for us there instead of by Lund’s grocery store.  We have been experimenting with some new styles and some new headwraps.  I created a ‘summer’ head wrap that we are naming the “Flapper caps” because it shadows the 1920′s vibe a bit.  They are really funky and totally a must have for spring/summer. I hope to have enough done to have at Edina and give to our 5 sales reps to get moving!

family

New this month also:  I am so PROUD to announce that my mom was able to step down on one job to join RSD more full time! My mom, Peggy, has been sewing my accessories line for about 5 years now and now she is starting to help me with sewing the outsides of the bags now too!  It is so much help and I just love having her be able to stay at home and sew, it is her happy place, a lot like me!  Go mom- this is just thrilling to me!

That’s about it for now, I gotta get to sewing before my kiddos wake up and offer some new perspective on the rain outside and some of it dripping in our old farm house!

Happy Summer to all!

Good morning.  Ever feel like you want to scream “Simplify” and have it magically happen?  I didn’t realize how much I use that word in my life, until this last week.

I don’t have text messaging on my phone. In fact, I asked it the store when I bought my cell phone with my husband to NOT add texting and to not even have it as an option.  You may be thinking,I am Laura Ingalls Wilder, (at least that’s what my family calls me!) but I simply didn’t see a reason in getting texting for my simplified lifestyle.  I am constantly asking myself, how can I simplify this?  Whether it’s sewing, designing, cooking, baking, parenting, or housework, I want to simplify it and get on with it.  I do the same with technology.  I have to check 2 email addresses, a blog, a facebook fan page, my website, our home phone, our tv messages, and my cell phone…..why would I want to also check text messages?  I feel like all my ‘paperwork’ in one day is returning messages.  Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE what I do and returning messages keeps me in business, but I just couldn’t see checking one more thing and having one more thing pull me away from what counts. 

And just what does count?  For me, it’s listening to Gus the first time he says, “Mommy look at this!”  and seeing Ivy ’sign’ eat-please with her tiny fingers, or writing in my journal and reading my devotions in the morning without checking anything.  Sometimes I feel like we are never really present or in the moments we are given because we are always checking in with something or  returning some text or message.  That’s why I have been dragging my feet.

That being said, I also am feeling like if I don’t get text, my business and my communication with my team will lack, and that I can’t have.  I enjoy hearing my sales reps voices when they say how their trunk show was or what their goal is for the week and just generally checking in with them.  (Remember I work at home and female co workers would be nice I don’t think the same emotion or anticipation can be communicated over texting.  However, if it will help us stay closer in communicating simple messages than I can be a big girl and get texting. I just don’t want to check one more thing that will pull me away from what’s important. I like to hear people’s voices and the tonation and the feeling behind words.  Am I too old fashioned? Probably.  But I do know this. If I continue to ask myself “How can I simplify this?’  life will be easier and filled with less messages and my children will remember mommy watching all their ‘firsts’ and being fully present with them and not checking any phone or message or anything. I will be checking their faces and reading their reaction to God’s beauty in everyday things. 

My immediate family and Rebekah Scott Designs team will be very impressed when I get text messaging, but they will also not be surprised when I call them and check in to hear their voices and connect more personally.  I can evolve without sacrificing the finer things in my life.  That being said -Praise God for technology and simplifying things- and then also allowing us to choose how to manage it.

This weekend we had a surprise 60th birthday party for my mom –Peggy. It was so much fun! I and my three siblings helped gather her friends and family for a surprise birthday party was that was a huge success.   My mom, Peggy, works almost full time with me.  She is head of my accessories line, and can barely keep up because of all the success of those accessories– thanks to our customers. But I gotta tell you I LOVE that she works for me and that I can somehow make her dreams come true of staying at home and working too.

I wanted to post my “toast” that I read to her at the party. All my siblings read a little something for her and here is mine.

Mom-

Oh goodness this is hard for me to narrow it down!

I read a book by Marcus Buckingham about developing your strengths.  They have developed 34 something strengths and as I was reading it I couldn’t help but think this one is by definition one of your many strengths.

It’s called ‘woo’.

Woo stands for winning others over.  You enjoy the challenge of meeting new people and getting to know them.  Strangers are rarely intimidating to you.  On the contrary strangers are energizing. You are drawn to them.  You want to learn their names, ask them questions and find some area of common interest so you that you strike up a conversation and build rupport.  Not only are you often a loss for words but you actually enjoy initiating with strangers because you derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection.  In your world there are no strangers only friends you haven’t met yet-lots of them.

Mom- that’s you, verbatim.  You are so gifted with people and connecting them.

I gotta tell you– I love when people tell me I look just like you because I can’t think of anything better that being like you in looks and life.

I can’t help but think of the relationship we have formed  in the last ten years.  You are my morning cup of coffee each day. I can’t wait to hear from you and talk about our days and catch up.  You are such a good mom and even a better friend.  You friendship is vital to my lifestyle .

Who knew 15 years ago, at 2am when we were still working out details on my all state dress  for the next weekend and both about crying that we would be so close now and still talking over sewing details!  But without all the stress and crying

I have shaped my family life around what I know is best and that is whatever you did for your family.   I knew I wanted to stay at home and raise our kids and I knew I wanted to sew and God is good and provided just exactly that.  I ask myself multiple times a day what would Mom do here? Whether cooking/baking/sewing/bathing kiddos or where to hang my home décor, you are always in my head and forever in my heart.

I can only pray that I can be the kind of mom you are- selfless.  I am so grateful for what you did for me in my growing up years and dealing with my determination and sometimes painful big ideas.  And just when I think I couldn’t love you anymore, I see they way you are with my children and I am reminded of how good I have it and how good they will have it with you as their nana.

I can only pray  that I can be the kind of friend you are- encouraging, steady.  Try making a guest list for this party!

I  can only pray  that I can be the kind of wife you are- loving, trusting.  Your marriage is one I will admire and try to emulate the rest of my life.

You make me a better woman by the example you set.  Thank you for traveling with me to dreams come true and I promise to make yours come true also.

I love you Mom, Bekah

Ps. Mom- you were right, I would use my punch bowl eventually—first time this year for your party in 8 years!

That’s says a lot Mom- Happy Birthday Mom, here’s to many great years!!

I love this time of year, even the brisk air, just reminds us spring is coming! Gus, our son, told me this week, “Mommy, I want the snow to melt, why is it coming again?”  I told him I didn’t have control over that but God would bring spring in as a surprise!  (Gus loves surprises, and I feel like spring in South Dakota is a surprise!)

I wanted to take a moment and write about my kiddos and how much I love my life here on the farm.  Gus is 4 now, and Ivy just turned 1. What a fun stage for both of them. Ivy is walking and Gus is batting balls like he is 8 or something.  I can’t wait to see what kind of mischieve these two will get into but I trust nothing too terrible .  They play right next to me as I sew, I really do live an ideal lifestyle.  I work at home and get to raise my children right next to me, who gets to do that anymore?  I praise God for making that happen and thank my husband for allowing it to happen also.  Somedays are really messy with fabric and orders and toys and many wants and needs that need to be met, but somehow it all gets done and somehow I can’t wait to start again the next morning. 

I have been journaling in my prayer journal after I run in the morning and really listening to God and reading His word.  If I start my day that way, it makes a big difference.  I feel ready to get started and feel steadier somehow, scripture reminds me of my priorities and what comes first. 

That’s all I got for now, just wanted to thank you— my customers/fans for allowing me to do what I love– creating products unique to women and children and letting me see every moment my kiddos have, I love my life, and I pray the same for you!!

Well I know it has been awhile since I last wrote but all is good and we sure are picking up in business!

We are in the middle of getting all the applications back from the art shows we applied to.  Each event is “juried’ so we have to be chosen to make it in, and each year you are juried. There is no guarantee that if you are in once you are in again, so every year I get a little nervous!  So yes we are waiting and so far, no letters yet, but in the next couple of weeks we should hear from all of them.  Keep us in your prayers, we make a living from the art shows and our trunk shows!

Well I have been busy ordering new fabrics and creating new styles.  I created “Mindy” in the last 2 months, and she is worn over your shoulder or under you arm and has a “slider” to adjust her length.  She is named after my sister-in-law and it just fits her personality so well.  She likes hands free and doesn’t really ever carry a purse, so this style she liked and wears all the time now of course!  She is picking up in her popularity I see now too, we have sold almost 20 of them since they debuted. What fun to see it take off like that!

The next big art show is the Spring Festival in Shakopee MN at Canterbury Downs.  We (my twin sister Sarah and I) LOVE this show, we see our great customers and get them updated styles and fabrics and have fun catching up together! We will have some new products to bring this year too. We now have raggedy bands, a really cute headband, and some new headwraps for the cold weather.  Plus we have plenty of Pixies and the new styles Ashley and Mindy to share.  Come one, come all!

I have had one heck of a saga with my sewing machines.  I had to transition from my old sewing machine to a new one, only to go back to my old one! I thought it would take one week to do the switch up and it has taken 7 weeks…yes that’s right.  So for now, I am back with old faithful and we are trying to figure out what to do next. 

As far as growth, we currently have 5 sales reps that are selling like crazy and I I love seeing how motivated they are and how much they love what they do and what I sew, so fun to see my dreams realized and beyond.  If you would like to book a show, simply email us at rebekahscottdesigns@yahoo.com and we will get you some dates and go from there.  We have reps across most of SD and Alison Werder in MN. We love spreading the word and making this happen. 

God is good and continues to bless my home, business and family. Iversyn turned one last Monday and promptly started walking on Tuesday, we will have our hands full with her, and I am so thankful I was home to see all their little “firsts.” Thank you for loving our things and allowing me to stay home! 

That’s all for now, but make sure to become a fan on facebook and see our weekly updates and specials!  Onward and upward!

Okay, I know this may sound just ridiculously silly, but I am in tears over my sewing machine.  Just recently I bought a newer machine and I so I need to move my “old” machine out and start the new one, but I am having the hardest time with this.  I just have so much time invested and so many memories with my machine.  I know- silly right?  But I decided that if I didn’t allow myself these sad feelings I would misplace them, so I am feeling them out! 

So here’s to my old sewing machine, the “Tacsew.”  You helped me launch Rebekah Scott Designs and allowed me to kick it up a level with being able to be heavy duty and encouraging me to use leathers and other beautiful heavy fabrics.  You never broke down long enough to set me back and you always welcomed me with a loud roar in the morning.  I will always cherish our time together and the long hours in the middle of the night under the glow of your light making dreams come true.  I’ve raise my children in your viewsite all these years, sometimes even on your counter or sometimes rocking  them to sleep by the sound of your engine.    Thank you for being the stable one in our relationship and always encouraging me to do one more seam, one more purse, one more filled order.  You certainly hold a special place in my heart for the success of this business, thank you for being what God made you and allowing me to get attached.  I will continue to care for you and see that you are always well treated. Thank you again Tacsew, your work has changed my life. 

Now onward and upward!

What a great Saturday at home!  I plan on creating a hairband for winter with a really cool “brooch” I have been dreaming about (literally- it was in my dreams) and then an owl hat.  I love the months of January and February because I have a little bit more time to create, and that is what I am going to do today!  I am also going to sew up some kind of “cupid” outfit for Miss. Ivy, our youngest, for her one year pictures, think lots of ruffles in red and pink!

Then for more exciting things I am going to sort.  If I didn’t sew for a living, I would sort and organize for a living.  If I have free time, (ha- when does that happen?) I like to sort and pitch things out.  I just love the feeling of being efficient and knowing where things are.  So yes a Saturday at our house looks like this!

Tomorrow I am very excited to have my first sales meeting with all my sales reps.  All 5 are going to be there, and I am so thrilled to have them meet and greet together.  We will be brainstorming and coming up with all kinds of new ideas and new ways to sell, just brace yourself, I foresee big things happening!

I have to tell you I had a show on Thursday night in Sioux Falls and it was a big success with the ‘Mindy’ style  being Miss. Popularity!  I am so excited that she is being so well received   I’m telling you the hands-free option is fantastic.

Thank you all for our 700th fan campaign on Facebook, we meet and exceeded the goal in one week, thank you all so much! Next up, 1000th fan- with $100 Bekah Bucks and $100 to the person who refers you!

Have  a great week and I will keep you all posted on the sales meeting results-  So excited!

I get asked/emailed/facebooked this question a lot, and yes I do diaper bags.  I have a link on my website www.shoprsd.com for babies and mommies.  I don’t call one certain bag ‘a diaper bag’ because  all of my large size bags could be considered “diaper bags.” Each bag has pockets that line the inside (all the styles and sizes do) but on the large ones, they are sized specifically to fit diapers, wipes and a bottle/sippy cup.  So, YES, we do have a diaper bags, we just have mush cuter names for them like, Olivia, Rachel, Jessica, Genesis and Jocelyn.  Enjoy all you Mommies something that makes you look cute and your little one, that doesn’t scream “Diaper Bag.”  These just scream cute, chic and functional!  Also, all the bags are washable, so no crying over spilled milk, or whatever else gets spilled    

Start Shopping Now!

http://www.shoprsd.com/shopBabyBags.htm

My husband is no stranger to that phrase in our household, I say it a lot.  I just love my life, and how forunate am I to say that?  Thank you God.

I love my life because I am doing what I love everyday, designing, raising my kids at home with me while I work, and serving my husband as his helper, I LOVE my life.

I was reflecting on my life as I rocked Iversyn last night in my bedroom and thinking just how blessed we are. Everyday I get to do what I love with a husband that I love and to kids that I love having wtih me.  So I am saying thank you to all of you who make that happen. You -who think my products are a must -have and allow me to keep doing what I love.  Thank you so much! My prayers are that somehow by me living and doing what I love others will be inspired to do what they love and reach higher and further to achieve their dreams.  Thank you for letting me lead on this one!

I love the month of January, for one it’s my birthday that I share with my twin sister and 2 aunts and second, it’s goal month!  I love making new goals, seeing new numbers to reach and creating new products to move a long.  So again, I LOVE my life.  Thank you.

I watched this show last night with Nick about people who survived these events where they saw God or heard Him.   They talked about the peace they received about knowing where they were going when their time was up.  It was  interesting to see and affirming to know that God is near and praying to Him gives me peace.  They said after the experience that they prayed without ceasing because it was so natural to talk to Him after their experience.  So I have decided that I don’t need a “near death” experience to remind me He is close and have decided to pray in “run-on sentences ” throughout the day.  I often pray while rocking the kiddos or sewing at my machine, or while brushing my teeth, or washing the dishes or riding in the car, but why can’t I without ceasing?  So for 2011 I am forming some new habits of praying to the God who made it possible for me to say , ” I LOVE my life.”!  Happy New Year!