T-shirts, Embroidery, Watches, Children’s Christian Clothing, and more…

Looking for really cute Christmas gifts!! We have the popular silicon watches in a variety of colors and other watches.  Children’s Christian Clothing….embroidered with really cute saying for boys and girls. You can customize the sayings, or pick from a variety of pre-made designs.  We do not have all of our embroidered products online, but if  you email us we will be happy to get the images to you. We are hoping to have our full product line up on the web soon!! Thank you for all of your support!  Blessings, Jennifer Droske

The Business Lunch

My circumstances have positioned me to experience the two distinctly different versions of a business lunch.  One version is the corporate America lunch, and the other is the stay-at-home working mom (or dad) version.  Here’s a quick summary:

Corporate Lunch Version – “I arrived at the restaurant on time, but my business associate was late.  We’re working on a project for a major client, and we’re running out of time.  We really need to step this thing into high gear, but I get the feeling he doesn’t share my enthusiasm for what we’re doing.  Anyway, after arriving 20 minutes late, he delays our conversation another 15 minutes while laboring over the lunch specials.  My honey-glazed salmon arrives shortly thereafter, and it is a little overdone, but at this point, I don’t really care.  I just want to get back to the office and finish this project on my own.  I work better alone anyway.”

Stay-at-Home Mom Version: “I have the same lunch date every day, and she eats whenever she wants to, regardless of what I have planned.  Today, she overslept, and now my whole schedule is thrown off for the rest of the day…but at least she’s here.  We have this crazy ritual everyday: I prepare something for her, and then she demands something else.  I never seem to get the time to make food for myself, so I just survive by large amounts of coffee.  Anyway, for today’s lunch, I tried to keep it simple for her (chicken sticks and an assortment of cheese), but she didn’t appear grateful.  I know this by the large amount of chicken and cheese I had to remove from the floor, the wall, and even my own hair.  I’m used to this kind of behavior from her, so I don’t complain.  Even if I did complain, her non-stop babbling drowns out anything meaningful I have to say.  Come to think of it, her babbling is kinda cute, just like the rest of her.  I’m not sure how she feels about our lunches together, but I wouldn’t trade them for the world.  Excuse me for a moment, I think I have some cheese in my eye.”

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Open to comments.  Blessings to all — Michael (www.byhishandsart.com)

Running a Business AND a Household — The Paycheck

By personal choice, and with a little influence from our turbulent economy, I find myself in the interesting position of stay-at-home dad and t-shirt business entrepreneur.  After serving in these roles for quite some time now, I have come to the conclusion that most men don’t have a clue what goes on all day for the stay-at-home mom.  In addition to the other blogs I will be posting regarding t-shirts, screen printing, and Christian business ownership, I will be posting regular blogs about my experiences in my reverse role.  FYI – Let me apologize right up front to my entire gender as I’m confident my postings will, in fact, load the “guns” of women who would love to finally have some “ammunition” to justify their family and financial contributions.

Let’s call today’s topic The Paycheck.  Stay-at-home wives and mothers provide a HUGE financial contribution, and yet it isn’t reflected in their weekly paychecks.  Why?  Because they don’t get paid at all for the hard work they do…unless you count children’s hugs and kisses as full payment.  If you’re a husband, and you’ve overlooked this paycheck issue, let me take the time to tabulate the bill for you:

•  Housekeeping: Daily, weekly and monthly responsibilities
•  Chef: Up to three meals a day (eat-in and take-out services)
• Accountant: Accounts payable services and budget reconciliation
• Purchasing Agent: Personal shopper services as well as grocery research (coupon clipping) and acquisition
• Childcare Provider/Teacher: Diaper service, motor skills development, academic tutoring, disciplinarian, entertainment, etc.
• Laundry Service: Washing, folding, ironing, etc.
• Other: Duties too lengthy to list

If you’re struggling to come up with a paycheck total, let me help you…there isn’t one.  That’s because you can’t put a price tag on things that are priceless.  How do I know it’s priceless?  Simple.  No one in their right mind would do this much thankless work for any amount of money.  Instead, it’s done out of love. 

Here’s where I stop writing, and you men head to the flower shop for a heaping bouquet of spousal appreciation.  If you know someone who could benefit from this posting, please send them a link to it.

I welcome your comments.  Be blessed – Michael (www.byhishandsart.com)

Give Until It Hurts…And Then Give Some More

Let’s face it…one of the hardest things for people to do is to give away their hard-earned money.  And it’s especially hard to give when you’re giving out of your own economically distressed circumstances.  So, in those times, do you hold back on your giving?  Absolutely not!  In fact, that’s when you ought to increase it. 

Honestly, in the natural mind that line of thinking is not logical…no banker would endorse it…most spouses won’t either.  If you do a little self-reflection, you would come to the same conclusion.  And that’s exactly why you don’t give according to what comes naturally; you give according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Giving is not really in our nature since we are born with a sin-stained, disobedient, selfish approach to life.  In the natural, we want it all…cars, houses, cash.  You know, that fame and fortune stuff Hollywood fills our heads with.  What’s surprising though is the fact that we find a way to completely ignore the depression that comes with all of that wealth, recognition, and celebrity status.  You don’t have to search very hard to find a story of a well-known actress who just died from a drug overdose or an actor who had it all but decided he wanted someone else’s wife too…or an athlete who shames his own team by his selfish antics on, and off, the field.  Enough never really is enough, is it?

If you want true success and happiness, give until it hurts.  Skip a meal while making sure someone else has theirs.  Find out what it means to be cold as you give the coat right off your back.  But wait, there’s a catch.  You need to find a way to give in secret.  God says don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…that kind of secrecy.  If you give in order to be praised for your generosity, you’ve already received your recognition.  However, if you give anonymously, the only one that knows besides you is God.  Try it…it’s harder than you think.  I once did someone a favor, and she wanted to bless me in return.  Totally unaware of the movie, “Pay It Forward”, I asked her to anonymously bless someone else instead of blessing me.  Weeks later, we exchanged emails, and I asked her if she had come up with a plan for the secret blessing.  She said, “Oh, I’m on my fifth attempt now.  Every time I come up with a really good idea, I put it into action and then find myself telling the person that I was the ‘secret santa’.  I keep hoping I can do it without seeking the glory, but it’s so hard.”  

Unfortunately, her story is all too familiar to most of us.  Can I be bold and ask when it was that you last gave out of your lack without seeking the recognition that typically accompanies such giving?

One final thought: Everything you own is God’s anyway.  If you honor him with your giving, perhaps He will trust you with more.  History proves that He will.   Blessings, Michael

http://www.byhishandsart.com

When Harry Met Sally…At Work

In the blockbuster hit, When Harry Met Sally, Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal are an unlikely pair whose opposing strengths, weaknesses, and neurotic behaviors actually draw them together and make them a perfect couple.  Have you met your Harry…or your Sally?

I work with my Sally.  Her name is Jennifer, and she is my wife and business partner.  While we have a number of similarities in our relationship, we are also very different…VERY different.  Jen is a creative art teacher; I can barely spell the word art.  I spent 20 years in the disciplined and organized environment of the military; Jen “colors outside the lines” in most areas of her life.  Like Harry and Sally, Jennifer and I are an “apples and oranges” couple.  She is everything I’m not, and I seem to be much of what appears missing from her character too.  Simply stated, we complete each other, and that works in every aspect of our lives.  Our marriage and our business isn’t negatively focused on our differences; instead, it absolutely depends on them.  You see, I can’t do the things she can do.  I can’t think the way she thinks, and I can’t reach people the way she reaches them.  The same is true for Jen. 

So, whether you are married to your Harry or Sally, or you simply work with someone whose approach to business is not a mirror image of yours, perhaps you can now examine the diversity in your thinking and welcome those opinions that might seem “out of left field.”  I can assure you that doing so will help you grow and mature and reach levels you’ve never reached before.  Success is rarely achieved in a silo, and when it is, you often don’t have anyone to share it with.   

I married my Sally, and now we work together on our business making custom t-shirts in a business designed to help people who are less fortunate.  (By His Hands Art, LLC – www.byhishandsart.com).  Don’t miss your opportunity to partner with someone who completes you.

T-Shirts: Differences Defined

There are many different brands of t-shirts on the market today, and choosing a make and model is often as difficult for some people as choosing which kind of car to buy.  Gildan, Anvil, Champion, Fruit of the Loom, Jerzees, Hanes, Authentic Pigment…the list goes on and on.  So, how do you choose? 

Here are a few thoughts I have on the subject:

• Try not to over-think it.  Most t-shirt brands are pretty similar (as compared to their competitor brands in the same weight category).
• Speaking of weight, the biggest difference you’ll notice is when comparing 5.3 ounce shirts to 6.0 ounce shirts.  Most brands have what you might refer to as their “base model” tee which is a 100% cotton 5.3 ounce tee.  As compared to the slightly stouter 6.0 ounce tee in the same brand (also 100% cotton), the lighter weight shirt is exactly that…lighter.  My experience shows that some consumers feel the difference right away and others can’t tell at all.  As a screen printer, I advise my customers to choose the 6.0 ounce tee simply for durability sake.  The 6.0 is a little nicer garment, and it is only about $.25 more.  Nonetheless, it still comes down to personal preference.  There is one other popular weight in most brands, and that is the 50/50 cotton/poly blend.  Personally, I don’t think the polyester makes this shirt much different from the other weighted cotton shirts, but it is more difficult to print on certain colors.  For example, when printing white ink on a red 50/50 shirt, the dye in the shirt tends to migrate (bleed) through the ink when the garment is heated during the curing process.  Bottom line: White prints on red 50/50 shirts are not always fully white.  This is a very common issue.  Personally, I would choose a 100% cotton red shirt for a white print, but again, it is all a matter of preference. 
• Don’t discard Hanes and Fruit of the Loom as simply underwear companies.  Hanes produces a really nice 6.0 ounce tee that our customers love, and it’s a tagless tee too.  Their lighter weight option is also a good choice.
• Sometimes due to nationwide shortages in a particular color/brand you’ve selected, you have to move to another brand…or you have to change your t-shirt color.  Either way, flexibility is sometimes required in order to get the shirt color and graphic combo you desire.
• Trust your screen printer.  While there are some devious screen printers out there who try to sell you anything you’ll buy, there are still honest screen printers who give good advice and steer you toward the most cost-effective option that will satisfy your project needs.
• Keep in mind that there are some very cool t-shirts available in brands like Authentic Pigment, and these shirts wash super well and simply don’t shrink at all…and they’re really soft.  The downside is that AP shirts are almost twice the cost of other tees.
• Sizes: If you are ordering shirts across a wide range of sizes (all the way from youth XS to Adult 4XL), you could run into complications getting what you need, when you need it.  Stock levels vary widely, particularly in the summer months, so try to place your order early so your screen printer can acquire the blank garments ahead of the print cycle.  One other thing to be aware of is that adult and youth sizes are not always available in the same colors, so you’ll want to check the color charts.  We have our color charts available on our web site: www.byhishandsart.com

I hope this information helps a little.  If not, give us a call, and we’ll “un-muddy” the waters.  770-876-3348

Get Rich Quick Schemes

In our society, there are far too many people who get lured into hair-brained business ideas promising more money than you can count, but unfortunately, the only ones counting money are the scam artists themselves.  In a struggling economy, even a practical person can be persuaded to believe in the easy-money fantasy, so I am compelled to share this nugget of reality: Successful businesses aren’t built overnight.  It takes quite a while before you see a steady stream of income even when you’re working 12 hours a day, six days a week. 

Why am I sharing this?  Well, there’s an old saying about idle hands being the workshop of the devil, and it couldn’t be more true.  God doesn’t bless laziness or the busyness associated with get-rich-quick schemes.  If you want God to multiply your finances, He requires that you give to others.  Yeah, I know that doesn’t follow the practical laws of business, but God isn’t practical — He is holy and righteous, and His ways are not our ways.  If you want favor, give favor.  If you want to be successful in business, help someone else be a success in theirs.  Give and it will be given unto you…pressed down, shaken together and running over.

How do I know this to be true?  Because I was one of those people who wanted to believe in getting rich quick.  Like most others with that philosophy, my business failed.  Now, armed with the bullet-proof truth of the gospel, I conduct my new business God’s way.  You know, it’s a lot more rewarding this way.

www.byhishandsart.com

Does the screen printed ink flake off of your custom t-shirts?

Ink flaking off of shirts is a classic problem.  This issue occurs when the ink on a screen printed shirt is not properly cured.  Most screen printers use Plastisol ink which needs to be heated to a temperature of 320 degrees throughout the entire ink deposit.  To get the shirts to 320 degrees, screen printers will use a flash dryer, a heat press, or a specialized t-shirt conveyor oven.  Of these pieces of equipment, the only one that will ensure the entire shirt is cured is the heat press.  At By His Hands Art, we flash dry our shirts and then use the heat press to “seal the deal.”  Why?  Flash drying sets the ink quickly so the shirt can be easily handled, and we use the heat press to finish the curing process AND marry the ink to the fibers of the shirt.  Basically, the ink melts right into place and stays there…no flaking.  Another added benefit to using a double cure is the soft hand it creates.  In the shirt business, a “soft hand” means the ink isn’t scratchy feeling and sitting on top of the shirt.  Instead, the graphic is very soft because it has become part of the garment, not just something attached to it.  www.byhishandsart.com

Running a Christian Business

Advertising your company as “Christian” should be good for business, right?  I wish that were the case, but it isn’t.  For some reason, many people have run into business owners who treat Christianity as a marketing tool rather than as a way of life.  Consequently, we at By His Hands Art spend a fair amount of time proving ourselves to cautious consumers — and that’s okay by us.  You see, the way we conduct ourselves speaks much louder than our words ever could.  We know the world is watching…and evaluating.  We view that as an opportunity not a persecution.  If you are a Christian business owner and find yourself contemplating removing all references about your faith from your web site or other materials, let me encourage you to do the opposite.  Advertise who you are and what you believe and then make sure you back it up each and every day.  We are called to make a difference in this world…to be “in” it but not “of” it.  Will you get scrutinized along the way?  Yep.  But it’s worth it.   www.byhishandsart.com

Screen Printing Company Launches Blog

By His Hands Art has been helping customers get their message(s) out through customized screen printed t-shirts and polos, embroidered bags, hats and business wear, promotional items, and now through its new blog.  www.byhishandsart.com