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When Copying Isn't Flattering... to Anyone

8/30/2018

 
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If you're a maker, the tale is a familiar one. You make a thing, someone else sees it, likes it, and then they make the thing too. ​They mix it up just enough that it's not actionable infringement. Often they're overseas, where intellectual property law has an even weaker reach anyways. If you've been a maker for a while, the way you likely look at it is, when you’re being copied, it’s an indication you're doing something right. It happens because you’re good at what you do. Nobody copies bad work. Flattery, right?

Usually Amy and I see it this way. We decide to not let it stress us out and we just ignore the copycats. After a while, these folks seem to fizzle out anyways. Instead we've focused our energy towards designing unique, quality product, reinforcing our brand identity, establishing a photographic style, creating clever and useful content, and continue building a following. All these things help our customers distinguish between what’s ours and what’s imitation.

Unfortunately, lately we have a situation where all of those things, not just our product design ideas, are being copied too. Our words, our marketing layouts, our photography style, even our advertising strategies; days after we do something, one copycat in particular follows suit, and this morning it got to us. ​
To mitigate our frustration, Amy went to yoga and "sweated out her rage", and afterwards we reminded ourselves of the following tenants we offer to you, fellow makers, in case you've endured your own copycat or two.

1. ​Don’t waste your time and energy.  

​Your resources are better spent on the positive rather than checking in on a copycat. Just look away. When you focus on your business, you keep the negative vibes out and leave room for positive creative goodness to flow in.

2. When someone follows your lead rather than blazing their own trail, they will always be behind you.  

​Keep making good things, offer exceptional customer service, and connect with your people.  Over time, it will become clear that the other product is an inferior imitation in more ways than one.

​3. Keep building on the trust and loyalty of your customer base. 

​Your long-time customers will call out a copycat on social media without you needing to say anything.  Don't even bother acknowledging their copied version of your item. Why give them a spotlight?  It's attention they don't deserve unless they work for it in the right way.

So, current or future copycats, we see you. We do. This is us, urging you to generate your own ideas and strategies rather than copying the hard work and talent of others.  
​
It's not flattery to us.
Nor does it look flattering on you.

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Be kind to each other out there, folks.
​Love, Moxie

How to Draw a Mandala

8/26/2018

 
How To Draw A Mandala MoxieDori
We have a special treat for you today. Stacey Brown @thoselildetails was generous enough to share her step by step process of creating a mandala. Stacey tells us everything - which supplies she uses, the steps she takes,  her tips and her tricks. So grab your Compass Protractor, your Mandala Maker, a pencil, a pen and let's get started.

Gather Your Supplies

Stacey uses the MoxieDori Compass Protractor, the Mandala Maker, Faber Castell pens and her bullet journal to make her mandalas. 
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The Compass Protractor works in A5 Journals
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The Mandala Maker makes larger circles and suits an A4 page.

MoxieDori ships free within the US on orders over $35. The Compass Protractor and Mandala Maker are exclusive designs of MoxieDori and are only sold at MoxieDori.com and the MoxieDori Etsy Shop.

Both tools come with written directions and there are easy to follow how to tutorials on the listing pages. Amy and Kris at MoxieDori provide excellent customer service and are available for questions. 

Main Guidelines and Center

Stacey first marks the center of the mandala using the center hole of the MoxieDori Compass Protractor. She then uses the hash marks to divide the page into eight equal parts and connects opposing hash marks with a straight edge.  
Mandala Making Made Easy with the MoxieDori Compass Protractor
Mandala Page Divided Into 8 Equal Parts
Next, Stacey uses one of the circle cutouts on the compass protractor to create a design in the middle of the piece.
Circles on the stencil make the Mandala's middle
Middle design of the Mandala

Supporting Guidelines and Concentric Circles

While mandalas are usually drawn using circles divided into 16 equal parts, Stacey's intricate creations have 32 equal parts. In doing this, she creates a complex structure to support her smaller elements and detailed shading. She uses the Compass Protractor to divide the circles in 32 pieces.
These circles are divided into 32 equal parts
These circles are divided into 32 equal parts
 Then she uses the Mandala Maker to draw 32 concentric circles
Next draw 32 concentric circles
Next draw 32 concentric circles

Pen to Paper

Once the framework is penciled in, Stacey took a fine nib pen, such as the one in this Faber-Castell Pitt Artist pen set, and made permanent the mandala elements on her grid. She starts from the center and works her way outward.
Start mandalas from the center and work outward
Penning in the Mandala Elements
Faber-Castell Pitt Artist pen
Penning in the Mandala Elements

Keep on Going

Next, Stacey chose any elements she liked and placed them around the circle, using the guidelines to space them out equally. This Mandala Making Pinterest Board has a ton of gorgeous mandala elements for inspiration.
Penning in the Mandala Elements
Penning in the Mandala Elements
Penning in the Mandala Elements
Penning in the Mandala Elements
Penning in the Mandala Elements
Penning in the Mandala Elements
Penning in the Mandala Elements
Penning in the Mandala Elements

Shading, Outlining, Accentuating and Texturizing

Stacey explains that she turns away from the mandala and goes back to it so she can see where she needs to outline, accentuate, shade or texturize. While this isn't mandatory in the mandala making process, Stacey creates stunning mandalas using these techniques. 
Mandala Shading, Outlining, Accentuating and Texturizing
Mandala Shading, Outlining, Accentuating and Texturizing
Mandala Shading, Outlining, Accentuating and Texturizing
Mandala Shading, Outlining, Accentuating and Texturizing
Mandala Shading, Outlining, Accentuating and Texturizing
Mandala Shading, Outlining, Accentuating and Texturizing

Stay in the Moment

Stacey suggests that you don't become overwhelmed with the big picture. Don't fret about mistakes. Just concern yourself with the exact element and row that you are working on. The mandala will unfold itself to you. If you would like to learn more from Stacey, visit her YouTube channel or check out her lovely Instagram account @thoselildetails.
Mandala made with MoxieDori's Compass Protractor

11 Back to School Bullet Journal Ideas

8/16/2018

 
11 Back To School Bullet Journaling Ideas
Summer is coming to a close and it's back to school we go! So grab your bullet journal and let's get organized. Join us in creating bullet journal layouts that will help you manage your family schedules, lecture study notes, activities, meals, playdates, deadlines, routines, appointments and school calendar, kid-friendly self-care layouts, homework trackers, chore trackers, a how to pack a lunch layout, and more! 

1. During the School Year Weekly Spread #1

This weekly spread combines the schedules of both the adults and children in your family. The basic vertical layout contains, organizes and tracks in one quick to make layout. Just place the Vertical Weekly Layout behind your page and trace the spread. Add color coded task boxes (lavender for me, aqua for the kids) and a packed lunch meal plan using the Mini Set of Stencils. Create a chore, homework and self care tracker for the whole family using the Journal Rule and you're good to go. You have it all covered and everyone is set up for success.
Back To School Bullet Journal Weekly Spread

 2. Future Planning for School

Never forget a school event again. I don't know about you but the school, classroom, and PTA calendars HAVE to be in one place or I inevitably make goofs. Who likes to make a Thing One costume the night before? Answer: No one. Kimmy Ly of BumbleCreated.com penned this simple and gorgeous yearly outline for her son's kindergarten year. All of the things in one place. 
Back To School Bullet Journal Future Planning

3. Flexible Meal Plan

If you know what you're having for dinner next Tuesday, more power to you. I, however,  am not that person. This flexible meal plan layout contains 20 go to meals that I can choose from every day at 4:00 when I'm standing in front of my open refrigerator with the omnipresent question, "What's for dinner?" 
Meal Planning Bullet Journal Spread

4. During the School Year Weekly Spread #2

Di Lara @themonsterofstationery designed this weekly to include daily school notables, meal plans and next week. Everyone's information has a place on this two page spread and can be easily seen at a glance. The clean look and detailed sections of this layout makes it soothing and purposeful.  
Back To School Bullet Journal Weekly Spread Idea

5. Self Care for Kids

The first week of school is a rough transition for the whole family. In times of stress, we turn to the book, "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?"  This tender book teaches about compassion, self care and kindness. The "Fill Your Bucket" layout is an outgrowth of this book where my children can brainstorm activities or experiences that help them go back to center.

A post shared by Amy & Kris (@moxiedori) on Aug 17, 2018 at 7:11am PDT

6. Student Planner made with a $1 Composition Notebook

Share your love of bullet journaling with your kids. They can make a bullet journal to keep track of their activities, chores, schedules, deadlines, homework, projects, volunteer time, reading log, sports activities and everything else in their busy lives. Click on the video below to learn how to use the Composition Notebook Stencil to create a bullet journal using a one dollar composition notebook. 

7. Kids Chore Tracker

 Musical Chores is a spread designed for kids to see how much time is required for their chores. In my home, we do all of our chores to songs that the kids choose. They take turns picking a song. When the song is over, the chore is abandoned. (Usually we have time to spare.) The half note represents half of a song and the the whole note represents an entire song. In doing this, the kids have input and control while knowing that there is an end in sight. Seeing the chart helps to reassure them that the chore list has a definite end and they know beforehand how much is expected of them. It's been a game changer for our house. The MoxieDori Journal Rule makes creating this and similar chart layouts quick and easy. 
Kids Chore Bullet Journal Tracker

8. Meal Planning Weekly Spread

Di Lara @themonsterofstationery has created this compact meal planning weekly spread. Organizing a meal plan ahead of time removes some of the pressure from the dinner time hour. Once things are written down, you can grocery shop knowing what dishes you are making that week. When you get home from work and school, you'll know that the ingredients and recipes are all ready for you. Your family can make dinner together and chat about your day.
Meal Plan Bullet Journal Layout

9. Daily Rhythm Time Blocking 

As a teacher and a mother, I find that children understand things better if it is written down. Time is definitely one of those things. Creating a "Rhythm of the Day" layout has helped my children to understand that we are under time constraints. We have a schedule to keep, places to be, and deadlines to meet. We all have to be mindful of how we are spending our limited time to make sure that we aren't stressed when it is time to transition to a new event. Tools used: MoxieDori Journal Rule and Brush Lettering Tracing Strips.

Bullet Journal Daily Rhythm Time Blocking

10. Packing a Lunch Graphic

Teach your children how to pack their own nourishing lunches by creating a Packing  a Good Lunch Graphic. Provide them with choices that are best for your family. We pack our lunches the evening before to avoid rushing in the morning. Treat yourself and pass along this chore. 
School Lunch Plan Bullet Journal Spread

11. Student Note Taking

Students need to be overtly taught how to take notes. The Student Planner Note Taking Stencil was designed to create note taking layouts based on the Cornell Notes Method. Using this method, students will learn a proven, methodical, consistent way to take notes during class, phone calls, business meetings or lectures. The video below demonstrates how to set up this note taking layout.
Back to School can be an easier transition with a little bit of preparation. Including the whole family in the process will increase their ownership and participation. It will also provide everyone with tools they can use to control situations that feel out of control. Check out the MoxieDori Back to School Bullet Journal Pinterest Board.

If you'd like to learn more about bullet journaling, we host a great bullet journaling FaceBook group called Bullet Journaling Tips and Tricks. We'd love to have you join!

We also have a Beginning Bullet Journal blog post for folks who want to learn the basics. Enjoy!

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