It takes a lot to make it work in a handmade business... a lot of work, a lot of dedication and a lot of courage! Ellen Braley, watercolor artist and calligrapher of El's Cards shares her inspiring journey with us, from waiting tables to running the Boston Marathon and shifting into the mindset that from there, anything could be possible! As we celebrate 20 years of success in her handmade stationery business, we hear from El all about the challenges of meeting customer expectations and timelines to the value of networking and putting ourselves out there, even when that means doing things beyond our comfort zone. Sticking to a consistent style, knowing what and when to delegate to keep the quality of your creative work at a maximum and how to balance a mostly seasonal wedding-niche business with ways to keep retailing all year long are just a few things we discuss in this HAT chat.  • • • If you are a creative solopreneur— a designer, illustrator, artist, or other type of independent, self-employed creative professional—HAT CHATS are created for you and designed to inspire, educate and "Help Artists Thrive." (HAT) Listen while you create! • • • 🎩 #elscards #ellenbraley #watercolorartist #handmadesuccess #handmadebusiness #stationerybusiness #newenglandartist