I feel out of the loop lately-literally!
I/we crocheted for summer in Feb/March, now I need to start crocheting for winter-in June. It is the nature of the beast, I know this. It won't change, and in fact, I don't normally pay too much attention to it unless the yarn store isn't stocking up as much as I'd like them to for the up and coming season!
When I actually decided to do fairs and open an online store and put money into the craft I adore, maybe even make a profit, I was employed outside of the home and crochet sales did not keep me very busy. It was more about a new process than making money. More about meeting people than being a top seller. It was about coming up with that thing nobody else made but everyone would want.
A challenge I had to embark on!
Then it became more about money and that feeling of success after I was let go of my "job" due to "consolidating" my department. I was the first and I took it very hard.
Along with the job and the paycheck, my self esteem also went on hiatus.
Crocheting helped me deal with the inevitable rejection I was dealing with. When I found myself dwelling on things, I'd find a project that took a lot of counting.
When the counting was complete, I had endless, monotonous rows or rounds that allowed my left brain to argue and debate with my right brain. I cried a lot.
Soul Searching? Self forgiveness? Call it what you will.
Before I knew it, the project would be finished.
I finished something, I did it! I did it myself.
No one told me to go home before I was ready to leave.
Pretty soon, I had made enough things to be proud of. My yarn stash began to have more color.
I was getting compliments & Thank You's from happy customers. Friends gave me smiles in exchange for that gift in the bag made just for them.
I started to look forward again. I did feel better.
In time I came to learn that if my items didn't sell, not to take it personally.
Always hoping to be busier. Always hoping to sell something, then something more. That's just me.
I believe that I succeeded my expectations. Even though the economy took a dive. I increased my online sales. I have kept Very busy locally and have maintained a retail (brick & mortar) location. Many custom orders, happy repeat customers, shows and fairs, and I feel that I continue to make new friends and come up with fresh ideas regarding crochet. That was the initial goal.
Now I am faced with a very serious case of Tendinitis. I am also fighting weight gain due to this being the least active job that I have ever had. Turns out, the time I now take for exercise provides healing time for my tendinitis and the rest of me still.
I love what I do, and if that means do it slower so I can do it longer, so be it.
I have healed with crochet. Crochet has taught me how to take time for myself. How to better myself as well as my math skills... he, he. I am still learning when to put it down.
I will be spending the next month on Charity Items. My way of celebrating Yarn and Hook.
patsridetorecovery.com
ugleedolls4kids
These are two of the charities I've decided to get some things made for.
If you don't know how to crochet, or you're in a place that you need a distraction, like my story above, or both, consider signing up for this contest.
http://www.allfreecrochet.com/sweeps/Crochet-Me-Workshop-DVDs-Product-Giveaway
