~Homemade with Love~

This was my first Creative Therapy challenge since I have been back.  I took a little break this summer while I was recovering from my surgery and trying to move and settle into a new house.

I used October Afternoon Farm Fresh……………….I love this line.  I added Maya Road red gingham ribbon, heart, green button (love the MR buttons because you can sand the edges) and cream scallop ric rac.  I bought the vintage cherries (or berries, not really sure) at an antique store.

The catalyst was this-

Tell us about a time when you realized you had the answer to something you were struggling with where you least expected.

this was my answer…..

I have always struggled with what I wanted to do for a career. When I was 15, I worked for a lady that had a home crafting business. I worked in her garage and painted, glued, tied bows and packaged. I did that for 2 years. I used to design patterns for my Mom’s wood working business and also did craft shows with her.

I became a parent at age 19 so I didn’t get a lot of “finding me” time. I just had to jump into a job to make ends meet. I worked at a department store in the fashion jewelry department. I loved to do the display cases and used to bring in props from home and I would spend hours making beautiful displays. Then I got hired by one of the manufacturers that made the jewelry. They had seem my cases on a store walk through and were impressed with my work. I did that for 7 years and loved it. I traveled around to all the malls in San Diego and merchandised their product.

Fast forward. I met my husband, got married, had 2 little girls and have became a stay at home Mom for the last 11 years (dabbling in all kinds of arts and crafts that I sold on ebay and at shows). All the while the career question has haunted me. What will I do, who will I become? I try to think of jobs that have flexibility so I can be there for my family, I try to think of jobs that aren’t too physically strenuous as I have some medical conditions and I try to think of jobs that won’t squash my creativity. I’m almost 40 and I cannot figure out what to do. Many sleepless nights, many hours researching potential jobs, many doubts….and then one day as I sat in my studio looking around at all my stuff I realized something.

Where else could I have a flexible schedule? A job where if the school nurse calls and says my daughter is sick that I can say, “I’ll be there in 5 minutes”. Where else can I have a job that is not too physically hard, I can sit and stand at will and if I need to take a break, I can? Where else can I find a job that will allow me to be as creative as I want to be? Right here, that’s where.

The answer has been in front of me the whole time. All these years. l have it right here. I am sitting in it right now as I type this. This is where I need to work. Right here at home. Luckily, I don’t require a lot of money. I am willing to dye my own hair and trim my own bangs. So, for right now I just need to get it started. Figure it out. Take step one. I am just glad that I have figured out that my career is in my own hands. Pun intended.

My piece of work signifies this realization. It’s “Homemade with Love” which is exactly what everything I make is. I put my whole heart into it. I want to work at home, creating with my heart and my hands. I don’t know where this will take me but I have drive and spirit and Thank God a husband whose job comes along with medical insurance!