Mad About Molds

June 1, 2011

“Do you know where your time goes?” May/June Issue of My Molds!

My Molds Newsletter

News that Inspires Imagination!

MAD ABOUT MOLDS.com - When it comes to service, we break the mold!

The Preferred Place for Clay Push Molds

May/.June 2011 Newsletter

Are you following us on Facebook? Stay up to date on our latest news, products and activities.

Fun Links: Molding Accessories - Free Stuff - Creative Ideas - Gallery

Hello Crafter,

So what are you going to do this Summer? That question seems to be asked a lot, so why not have an answer ready. I’m going to be making all kinds of goodies with my new molds from Mad About Molds! :) We have a huge selection of molds for just about anyone’s interest. As you think about the carefree days of summer, remember that crafting is only enhanced when you enjoy the simple things that nature brings into your life. It doesn’t cost a thing to open your eyes to the colors blooming all around you. Let your mind run wild and enjoy longer days and refreshing new ideas.

Continue reading to learn more about using your time wisely in our article “Do you know where your time goes?” If you’re always rushing around doing this and that, it’s a great read to calm your mind and enjoy your days.

You won’t want to miss this! So sit back and enjoy this issue of My Molds!

Until next time,

Marjorie with Mad About Molds

As always, we thank you for your time, you’re wonderful comments and your generous support! We enjoy sharing what we do and we love to hear what you think!

Announcements:

As time goes by and browsers are updated, things change. Because of this, website publishing programs need to be updated as well, so we made the changes needed to keep up with the times. An advantage of this is that many new enhancements have been added to our website for your viewing experience.

We are happy to announce that our revised website is done! You will be happy to see the same layout, but with lots of extra benefits! It’s more compatible with different browsers and the gallery pictures can be enlarged in the same window. There are many other changes that you won't be able to see, but the outcome is a better working website just for you. So enjoy! :)

Visit us today to see our new look!

As always, we thank you for your comments!

We appreciate hearing about any problems you might have with our site and we love to hear what you think!

What Are Clay Push Molds?

Have you ever been at a loss of words when someone asks you… “What are Clay Push Molds anyway?”

Well now we have made it easy for you! We made up a small definition for you to use when you are at a loss for words.

what are push molds.JPG

Click to enlarge.

What do our Molds look like?

If you haven’t ordered from us yet, you might wonder what are molds look like. Here’s a nice image that will help you understand. Sometimes a picture is worth a million words, so this should help you out.

Also many of you may have clients or teach classes using our molds. Feel free to use this image as a handout for those interested in using our molds. We also have business cards and brochures if you need any.

Click to enlarge.

This Month’s Article:

Do You Know Where Your Time Goes?

Since time is always short for me – it’s important to pay attention to how efficient I am with my time. I can’t remember who said that you get more done in the day before your vacation than you do in the whole week before. I definitely think there’s some truth in that statement. For me, part of the reason I shift into overdrive before I leave is that I like to return to a clean slate. It would be great to work more efficiently more of the time. Here are a few tips that might help you do that:

1. Track how you spend your time. At the end of each day and at the end of each week compare the percentage of your time used toward fulfilling your mission and achieving your goals with that spent elsewhere.

2. Set your priorities for each day. Select your three top goals for the day and work to complete those. If you are clear about what you want to accomplish, it’s easier to say no to something that comes up that doesn’t fit into you time.

3. Keep a copy of your mission and goals where you can see them. If you keep the end in mind, it’s easier to keep distractions at bay.

4. Learn to say “no” more often!

5. Use caller id and/or let your answering machine take a message. You can allot a certain amount of time at the end of the day to return the calls.

6. Limit time on social networking sites. Connecting through these sites is important for connecting, but they can be big time vampires. Set aside 30 minutes each day for Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, etc., and then stay off the sites the rest of the day.

See our past Newsletters!

When it comes to service, we break the mold!

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Thank You!

Mad About Molds.com

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"When it comes to service, we break the mold!"

April 25, 2011

Get More Done: Try Single-Tasking – April Issue of My Molds!

My Molds Newsletter

News that Inspires Imagination!

MAD ABOUT MOLDS.com - When it comes to service, we break the mold!

The Preferred Place for Clay Push Molds

April 2011 Newsletter

Are you following us on Facebook? Stay up to date on our latest news, products and activities.

Fun Links: Molding Accessories - Free Stuff - Creative Ideas - Gallery

Questions? Contact us - Creative Ideas - Molding Tools

Hello Crafter,

Summer is fast approaching and the colors are bright fun and very creative! As you think about the carefree days of summer, remember that crafting is only enhanced when you enjoy the simple things that nature brings into your life. It doesn’t cost a thing to open your eyes to the colors blooming all around you. Let your mind run wild and enjoy longer days and refreshing new ideas.

Continue reading to learn more about using your time wisely in our article “Single-Tasking.” If you’re always rushing around doing this and that, it’s a great read to calm your mind and enjoy your days.

You won’t want to miss this! So sit back and enjoy this issue of My Molds!

Until next time,

Marjorie with Mad About Molds

As always, we thank you for your time, you’re wonderful comments and your generous support! We enjoy sharing what we do and we love to hear what you think!

Announcements:

We are planning on adding a nice selection of new molds this year, but first we are in the process of redesigning our website, so please be patient and watch for them here. You will be happy to see what we have coming. Also keep in mind that a few molds will be discontinued to make room for the new molds. So if there’s something you “have to have” you might want to consider getting it before it’s gone.

If you like Mad About Molds you will love our other websites!

Featured Molds:

After this winter, who wouldn’t be excited about Summer! Now is the time to start thinking about accessories that extenuate “Fun in the Sun!” Think about using cool summer colors such as blues and greens to make pieces that go with the bright new colors of summer!

Here’s just a sample of some of the summer time molds we have available.

Do you need some Creative Inspiration?

Need a smile? Check out these very creative pictures! They are sure to get you laughing, wondering, inspired, motivated, amazed and completely fascinated! It's got all the eye-candy anyone could wish for.

This Month’s Article:

Get More Done: Try Single-Tasking

Are you a multitasker? Do you read your e-mail while you’re on the phone and at the same time bind your quilt? We’ve all been there, and I’m hoping to put my multitasking in the past.

According to Harvard Business Review blogger Paul Atchley, studies show that multitaskers are less efficient, perhaps by as much as 40%, than they think. He says that it takes an average of 15 minutes – and I’ve read numbers as high as 40 minutes – to reorient oneself to the main task. Wow – 15 minutes! Can you imagine how much time you waste on a daily basis trying to get back to the task at hand?

If you want to break your multitasking habit, here are four tips:

1. Focus on one task at a time. Atchley says our attention starts to wane after 18 minutes. He suggests that if that happens and you switch to a different task, make notes about the first task to make it easier when you go back. I think that if your attention wanes, it might be time for a quick stretch and then quickly re-focus on the same task.

2. Since I mentioned focusing on a task, be sure to divide your project into doable tasks. Set a timer for the task. I find it easier to focus if I have specifically set the time aside.

3. Eliminate distractions. This could be closing the door to your studio, letting the answering machine pick up the calls, stopping the audible tones of your e-mail. What’s key is paying attention – again focus – to your task.

4. Stick with it until it’s done and done right.

And, if you think multi-tasking is only a problem today, here’s a good quote from Lord Chesterton, attributed to a letter to his son in the 1740s:

“There is time enough for everything in the course of the day if you do but one thing at once; but there is not time enough in the year if you will do two things at a time.”

Good luck single-tasking.

See our past Newsletters!

When it comes to service, we break the mold!

To ensure that you keep receiving our e-mails to your inbox add shop@madaboutmolds.com to your address book or safe list.

Thank You!

March 22, 2011

5 Ways to Unleash Your Creativity – March Issue of My Molds!

My Molds Newsletter

News that Inspires Imagination!

MAD ABOUT MOLDS.com - When it comes to service, we break the mold!

The Preferred Place for Clay Push Molds

March 2011 Newsletter

Are you following us on Facebook? Stay up to date on our latest news, products and activities.

Fun Links: Molding Accessories - Free Stuff - Creative Ideas - Gallery

Questions? Contact us - Creative Ideas - Molding Tools

Hello Crafter,

Now that we are 6 years old it’s time to makes a few changes. Many of you have commented on how nice our website looks after the new layout was introduced this past year. Now we are working on some details that will make the website work better for you no matter what browser you use or settings. We are currently working on replacing all 1,000 pictures showing the molds on our shopping pages. As you may know this takes some time and effort, so please be patient as we update them. When it’s complete you will be able to easily enlarge the pictures without leaving the shopping page to save your place and save you time in navigating our website. These new pictures are so much better that you may wonder if we added a whole new line of molds, as they will be much clearer and nicer to browse through. Keep watching for our newsletters and we will announce when the work is complete.

Continue reading to learn more about tax tips in our article “5 Ways to Unleash Your Creativity.”

You won’t want to miss this! So sit back and enjoy this issue of My Molds!

Until next time,

Marjorie with Mad About Molds

As always, we thank you for your time, you’re wonderful comments and your generous support! We enjoy sharing what we do and we love to hear what you think!

Announcements:

We are planning on adding a nice selection of new molds this year, but first we have a lot of work to do, so please be patient and watch for them here. You will be happy to see what we have coming. Also keep in mind that a few molds will be discontinued to make room for the new molds. So if there’s something you “have to have” you might want to consider getting it before it’s gone.

If you like Mad About Molds you will love our other websites!

Featured Molds:

Here’s just a sample of some of the summer time molds we have available.

Do you need some Creative Inspiration?

This Month’s Article:

5 Ways to Unleash Your Creativity

Do you ever bump up against inspiration and/or creativity blocks? I think it happens to all of us at some point. Here are some of my favorite ways to get back on track:

1. Get out of the studio and go shopping. No, I don’t mean buy more fabric, paints and threads. I mean go window shopping. And bring along a small journal. Sketch some designs that inspire you, note unusual color combinations that you like, and make notes about a new technique you see. Don’t just poke around quilt or fiber shops. Try antique shops, art shops, galleries, etc.

2. When you’re on vacation, I’ll add that new surroundings are great for inspiring new ideas. Historic homes and gardens offer ideas. Shells on the beach or landscapes you don’t see at home can lead to inspiration. Be sure to pack your cameras!

3. Take a class or get together with other artists. This could be as simple as going to a local guild and viewing show and tell. You might also find a small group to join. And, don’t limit yourself to your normal classes. Try a watercolor or other painting class, jewelry making or photography, something outside your realm.

4. Start an inspiration journal or file of photos, rooms, words and sayings, floral arrangements. Anything that inspires you – or makes you smile – goes in the folder. It’s a resource you can turn use to awake your creative juices.

5. Relax. Do something for your inner self. For example, a walk in the woods, a bike ride to the lake with a picnic, a bubble bath can all have the effect of just clearing your mind so you’re open to something new.

See our past Newsletters!

When it comes to service, we break the mold!

To ensure that you keep receiving our e-mails to your inbox add shop@madaboutmolds.com to your address book or safe list.

Thank You!