Life Happened
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
United States
February 21, 2008 10:33am CST
Yesterday, I responded to a thread in the craft section and one of the MyLot members mentioned that she used to enjoy making and selling crafts, until "life happened" and she got away from doing it.
I have a similar story, both about crafts and life happening...
I used to work at a boutique, where I decorated shirts and sweat shirts and sold them to the tourists. I also made beach-type jewelry that we sold in the boutique. Stuff happened and the owner was forced to give up the boutique and I was forced to find a "real" job. Shortly after, I had my first child and crafting was pushed to the backburner. Life Happened and my crafting, which I really loved to do, was the loser. There was no time for it any longer, as the need for a real 40 hour a week job and my newborn son commanded every moment of my day.
Fast forward about a decade and I found myself knitting scarves for family members as Xmas presents, found people I work with wanting to buy scarves from me and I "got the crafting bug" again.
Since my situation is somewhat different, both of our sons are a bit older and my hubby is very involved in their activities, I found I had the time and energy to go back to crafting and creating.
It's something I really love doing, and while I do sell my creations, it isn't hardly enough to pay all the bills, but it does pay some of them and I'm having a blast creating again. I'm so happy to have the chance to get back to what I loved doing so much!!So, who else had to put something on the backburner because "life happened" and how many have been able to persue their passion once their lives settled down??
5 people like this
10 responses
@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
10 Jun 08
When my life settles down, I'm ust going to enjoy relaxing, and then I'll think about the interesting things I can do with all of my leftover time. If I think about them now, I just get upset that I don't have the money to do them. LOL
1 person likes this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I know what you mean... I'd love to wake up and head to the beach everyday to hunt for beachglass, but that's just not going to happen when I need to be work 5 days a week.
Hopefully someday soon (she says with fingers crossed)
@vulgarlittleprincess (919)
• Canada
22 Feb 08
I am only twenty-two years old so for me, I guess, life is just beginning. Although some days it feels as tho I am eighty. I wanted to open my own craft boutique, but, then "life happened" I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and an eating disorder. I quit the job I had I dropped out of school and I quit all three of my dance classes. I had been dancing for twelve years so you can imagine how sick I was. I was recently told to stop working because of complications with my PTSD. I am taking this time to relax and try to get better I am also going to look into opening my little boutique online. I am using mylot ot help me fund the start up costs.
Hopefully life will unhappen and I can get on with living mine
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
22 Feb 08
I hope your "life happened" story has a happy ending for you and you do get to realize many of your dreams. I know giving up your passions was not a choice for you, but a necessity and while I can't even begin to understand what you've gone through, I can hope for a happy-ending for you.
I hope for a God-speed recovery and thank you sooo much for sharing your story. I'd love to hear about your little boutique that I know you'll open one day.
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
21 Feb 08
I, too, had to put my craft projects on the back burner for awhile. I make different projects with plastic canvas. When our kids were younger I was one of the carpooling mom's who drove all over the place with 3 girls and their friends. Our kids also made fun of me for making things I loved. I stopped for years and finally got back into various coasters, etc. made with plastic canvas. Now they are always all over me to make them something. The use what I make and, by the way, I also use several of my projects at home. I've done a few craft fairs the last 2 years and have done very well. Sometimes I buy patterns and make those items just for the family since I'm not able to sell them. The things I have created have been an Elmo box which holds our grandson's little cars. A parrot box which I took to a craft fair and it was sold in less than 10 minutes. So, some of my projects are in demand and do well. This is my love and take the crafts with me everywhere and work on them when I have a free moment. I am a happy camper..lol
1 person likes this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
21 Feb 08
Hi Carol! The days of carpooling for us aren't over yet...luckily with my boys involved in sports, my hubby gets involved with the their teams and I'm out of the car-pool picture... I actually get to come home from work, eat dinner , relax for a second or two before I dash off to one or both of their games.
Thanks for sharing your story!
And I still think your creations have more marketability than you think!
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
21 Feb 08
Thanks for the nice compliment about my crafts. I don't "push" them enough. It's my fault.
Two of our 3 daughters played softball and traveled all over the US. I went with one, my husband went with the other. Those days were fun. Lots of driving but fun times. I do miss those days and the closeness we had with our girls. They are now married and one lives out of state.
1 person likes this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
22 Feb 08
Do you find crocheting relaxing? When I used to make scarves for family members, I found it very theraputic to sit and knit. It relaxed me, especially after a hard day at work. What was once knitting to make family members Christmas presents, has turned into creating jewelry part-time for my Etsy shop, craft & home shows.
So never say, not professionally...ya never know...LOL
Thanks for sharing!
2 people like this
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
21 Feb 08
Oh, I think it is quite common for life changes to effect how we use our time. And parenting is often the most common "interruption."
I'm retired now and disabled, so I have time to do several creative activities. I crochet for Project Linus and for our church holiday bazaar. And I paint with pastels.
I'd love to sell my work but I live in a large city with lots of competition. I don't have a venue to display and sell paintings very often. But at some point I may. I've sold a few. But because pastels must be double matted and framed under glass it is expensive to frame them - $200 or more. So by the time you charge enough to cover that cost many people are unwilling to spend that on an unknown artist.
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
22 Feb 08
Yes, it does seem that raising a family puts many things on the "back-burner of life" for awhile. I guess I'm lucky that between my hubby and myself, we have schedules that have allowed me to get back to my crafting.
If you haven't looked into Etsy.com yet, you should give it a look. There are quite a few artists on the site- I don't know how well they do, but it could be another avenue to pursue.
Thanks so much for sharing!
2 people like this
@just2crazygirlz (2479)
• United States
21 Feb 08
That is great! Do you sell your items on etsy? I really love etsy. I make tutus. I am going to be putting together mom packs. I want to get everyone from mylot involved in them. You can definitely include something. That way your customer base will increase. Crafting is great. My daughter loves to try to help and she's only 4.
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
21 Feb 08
Yes, I do have a shop at Etsy!! Let me know what you are including and I'll see if I can include something to the packs.
My 4 yo son helps by picking out colors for some of my creations and he's a very good beach glass hunter (along with picking up the glass beads that fall on the floor!)
Thanks for the response and great idea for a "group pack"
2 people like this
@just2crazygirlz (2479)
• United States
21 Feb 08
You can include anything you want. Biz cards, flyers, samples. I will take anything you want to send.
1 person likes this
@p3halliwel2005 (3156)
• Philippines
21 Feb 08
I used to do cross stitch and paper mache but then I have no time for it now. I have a full time job and I have a family to raise 5 kids in it. I am so busy and have no time for my crafts. I would want to have time for it though but it's gone now. Maybe when I'm old and not working I'll be able to do it again. :)
1 person likes this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
22 Feb 08
Wow, 5 children to raise... I don't think I'd have time to inhale and exhale, much less respond to a thread if I had 5 children to raise!
But you are blessed! Thanks for your response
1 person likes this
@gnarlybrowdude (68)
• United States
21 Feb 08
Im only 18. But about a year ago, my grandfather got really sick. And since he has only one son (my father) he needed someone to take care of him. At first I was angry because I had to move and leave my friends behind, I had to leave actual school and start online homeschooling so i would be able to take care of my grandpa at anytime. And my father goes out of town alot so i had to constantly be at home. I had no life, no friends, nothing. I couldln't even get a job. My gradfather was the kind of man who did anything he could for another human being. So thats why taking on the resposibilty meant more to me. My granfather passed away in August, his health just slowly deteriorated. And even though "life happened" and i had to take care of him, which meant i couldn't be a regular teenager. I've had many misfourtunes in my life, that have set me back in being a normal kid. And with all fo them I had to put my needs and wants and desires on the backburner for someone else. Now I have great friends, An awesome boyfriend, Im going to college in the fall. so i have been able to persue everything I've wanted to do. I guess our stories are alittle different, but not by much because when we say "life happened" to us, it means reality, it means somethings are more important than what we want. it means putting others needs before our own.
1 person likes this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
21 Feb 08
I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your grandfather, and it's wonderful to hear how you gave back to him after he did for others... it's a very rare quality and it looks like you've been rewarded with an awesome boyfriend & great friends! Best wishes to you in college, you sound very centered and should thrive in college.
You are 100% correct, "life happened" is about putting others needs before than what we want...
Thank you so much for sharing your heart-warming story with us!!
1 person likes this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
2 Jun 08
I find life happens to alot of hobbies that people have. They love doing something, collecting something and then the situation changes and theres no time..no money etc for that hobby.
Life happened to my love for going horseback riding...i moved away from my parents home was too far to go riding regularly and Got out of the habit of going and i found other things to do with my time.
I've since gotten back into the habit but thats due to having access to a horse again.
1 person likes this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
2 Jun 08
That's great. I found a little more appreciation for the hobby when I returned to it after "life happens".
For me it became almost theraputic when I'm able to sit and create.
Thanks for your response!
1 person likes this
@leateagee (3667)
• China
10 Jun 08
Hello there! I have almost the same story. I was awakened by the fact that I am young and I am well educated. My mom said, I can go on with this hobby soon as I established something already and if I really love it I should earn my own money to start a business about it. I am into doing fancy jewelries and selling them in every way possible. My mom is right. So I set aside it first. Soon as I get the real money and all the possible resources, I will get back to it. Take care =)
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Sounds like your mom gave gave you great advice! I find making jewlery to be a lot of fun and it's relaxing, especially after a long day at work.
I do enjoy making money by selling them, but sometimes, especially around the holidays it can become trying... between custom orders, getting ready for craft fairs and keeping my online shop's inventory up, it gets hard sometimes too!
Thanks for your response!!
