Friday I got a call back from an interview I had the Friday prior. They offered me the job. I had basically already decided it wasn't a great fit, but asked for the weekend to discuss it with Pressly and think about it. I tried to get excited about it, but I just could not. A big part of my wanting to get a job is so I can meet people and get to know the community better. This job is in a town 20 minutes away, so that also was working against it. I tried calculating the weekly/monthly income to help me get excited, but it just didn't work. I kept thinking that I could make a months' pay in a good jewelry show over two days.
I discussed it with Pressly who basically supports whatever I want to do. He agrees that if I'm miserable at home I should get out and do something. He also asked that if I turn down that job that I don't despair over what to do with myself while I continue to look. I promised I wouldn't and decided to follow my gut on this one. I called them back on Monday and declined the offer.
I also got my magazine submissions completed and mailed them today via Priority Mail so I will make the deadline!
For now I'm going to work on getting all of my current jewelry loaded onto my website, and I'm going to put some stuff out on a few upscale selling sites, including Ruby Lane and Etsy. Not having a lot of history on those sites, I may not see a ton of action this holiday season, but I might get some more exposure and sell a thing or two since I'm not doing any more shows right now. I've neglected my website horribly over the past year, so its no wonder I don't get any sales from it.
I also have applications in for a few jobs here in town. One is for an inclusion aide with the school district, which I think would be extremely rewarding and the schedule would match Aaron's. The other is for an executive assistant for a CEO of our electric coop, and the requirements match my qualifications perfectly.
So I'll not stress about it. Instead, I'll enjoy reading to Aaron's class and going on their field trip. I'll enjoy photographing and describing my jewelry and adding it to the various websites. And I'll enjoy the holidays this year, not stressing about upcoming shows.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
EEK! *Happy Dance* and maybe an answer to some prayers...
"Thank you so much for sharing your talent and creativity with us!"
That was the closing line in an email I received today. A few weeks ago, I made a last minute decision to submit a few pieces to a magazine, and they emailed today to let me know they have accepted several of my submissions! I'm totally floored. Really. I hoped of the five submissions I sent, they would choose one. The photos were not good at all, taken in a rush to beat the midnight deadline on my dining room table under incandescent lighting. The magazine will, of course, professionally photograph the pieces for publication, but I was afraid the poor quality of the photos and my quick editing job wouldn't do the pieces justice.
The timing could not be more perfect or ironic. Or confusing.
I've been praying for direction and answers about what to do with myself lately. I have basically decided to just hang up jewelry design as a business because I have not been feeling successful at it. People tell me that I am talented; they tell me that my jewelry is gorgeous, that it is unusual, that they love my work. But I totally suck at marketing. I do.not.like.it. I'm introverted and shy and exceedingly uncomfortable tooting my own horn. And I've been struggling with the fact that I just don't feel fulfilled or useful staying at home.
Since we decided to sell our house this spring and pursue our dream of moving to a smaller town, life has been chaotic. We sold our house in just 10 days, then moved to a rental house that also happened to be on the market, so I wasn't comfortable spreading all my stuff out there. During that time, we began the process of finalizing plans to build on our 13 acres. We ran into problem after problem with that process, and finally it became evident that it was going to cost a LOT more than we expected so we decided to see what kinds of existing homes were available. After only one day of looking, we found the perfect house. It was a foreclosure with a very attractive price, had a shop and sat on 4 acres. Within one week, we had a contract on this house, a contract on the sale of our 13 acres and were making plans to move.
Without a doubt, everything fell into place just as it was supposed to, but the limbo time and all the uncertainty wrought havoc on my creative energy. Plus, almost all of my supplies were packed away in a dank storage building, out of my reach.
Fast forward to now: adjusting to this small town lifestyle has been surprisingly difficult for me. I thought I knew what I was getting into because I grew up in a small town. I don't know anyone here. I'm not good at meeting new people unless we are forced together by soccer games, volunteering or other circumstances. My very best friend in the whole world might as well live a world away. We talk on the phone at least once a week and exchange occasional emails, but that's no substitute for real-life friendship and I miss her so much. I've felt myself slipping into a hole for the past few months, and finally decided that since my application to substitute teach or volunteer at Aaron's school hadn't received a response, that I should start looking for a job. I've had a few interviews, one of which would have been okay, but it's in a town 20 minutes from here, so it wouldn't afford me the opportunity to meet local folks. I'm supposed to hear back about that one by this Friday. I've been mulling over what to do if I am offered the job because it's not exactly perfect.
So here I sit, less than an hour after receiving this amazing news, wondering what the heck I'm supposed to do. And wondering whether this is the answer I've been looking for. One of my prayers was that I have the wisdom to recognize the right opportunity when it presents itself. Now I guess I'm trying to decide whether I've been endowed with said wisdom.
As for the magazine, I'm going to keep the details under my hat for a while longer, just in case something falls through with it. I'll announce details when it hits the stands, which is supposed to be Spring 2008!!
That was the closing line in an email I received today. A few weeks ago, I made a last minute decision to submit a few pieces to a magazine, and they emailed today to let me know they have accepted several of my submissions! I'm totally floored. Really. I hoped of the five submissions I sent, they would choose one. The photos were not good at all, taken in a rush to beat the midnight deadline on my dining room table under incandescent lighting. The magazine will, of course, professionally photograph the pieces for publication, but I was afraid the poor quality of the photos and my quick editing job wouldn't do the pieces justice.
The timing could not be more perfect or ironic. Or confusing.
I've been praying for direction and answers about what to do with myself lately. I have basically decided to just hang up jewelry design as a business because I have not been feeling successful at it. People tell me that I am talented; they tell me that my jewelry is gorgeous, that it is unusual, that they love my work. But I totally suck at marketing. I do.not.like.it. I'm introverted and shy and exceedingly uncomfortable tooting my own horn. And I've been struggling with the fact that I just don't feel fulfilled or useful staying at home.
Since we decided to sell our house this spring and pursue our dream of moving to a smaller town, life has been chaotic. We sold our house in just 10 days, then moved to a rental house that also happened to be on the market, so I wasn't comfortable spreading all my stuff out there. During that time, we began the process of finalizing plans to build on our 13 acres. We ran into problem after problem with that process, and finally it became evident that it was going to cost a LOT more than we expected so we decided to see what kinds of existing homes were available. After only one day of looking, we found the perfect house. It was a foreclosure with a very attractive price, had a shop and sat on 4 acres. Within one week, we had a contract on this house, a contract on the sale of our 13 acres and were making plans to move.
Without a doubt, everything fell into place just as it was supposed to, but the limbo time and all the uncertainty wrought havoc on my creative energy. Plus, almost all of my supplies were packed away in a dank storage building, out of my reach.
Fast forward to now: adjusting to this small town lifestyle has been surprisingly difficult for me. I thought I knew what I was getting into because I grew up in a small town. I don't know anyone here. I'm not good at meeting new people unless we are forced together by soccer games, volunteering or other circumstances. My very best friend in the whole world might as well live a world away. We talk on the phone at least once a week and exchange occasional emails, but that's no substitute for real-life friendship and I miss her so much. I've felt myself slipping into a hole for the past few months, and finally decided that since my application to substitute teach or volunteer at Aaron's school hadn't received a response, that I should start looking for a job. I've had a few interviews, one of which would have been okay, but it's in a town 20 minutes from here, so it wouldn't afford me the opportunity to meet local folks. I'm supposed to hear back about that one by this Friday. I've been mulling over what to do if I am offered the job because it's not exactly perfect.
So here I sit, less than an hour after receiving this amazing news, wondering what the heck I'm supposed to do. And wondering whether this is the answer I've been looking for. One of my prayers was that I have the wisdom to recognize the right opportunity when it presents itself. Now I guess I'm trying to decide whether I've been endowed with said wisdom.
As for the magazine, I'm going to keep the details under my hat for a while longer, just in case something falls through with it. I'll announce details when it hits the stands, which is supposed to be Spring 2008!!
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