Still not happy...does this sound familiar???

[Katianne]

Now I am back into my crafting, I am thinking more and more about the option of reducing my hours at work to focus on crafts. I am getting really fed up of not being able to spend time doing what I want to do. I know we all have to deal with it, to pay the mortgage, bills etc etc, but at the same time why should I spend the majority of my life in the rat race, unhappy?

Ideally, I would like to cut down to 3 days a week, giving me the other 2 for crafts, plus weekends. This would give me the time I need to start really promoting my work. Over the summer I did very well from my mosaics, but had to stop because I couldn't manage it all along with full time work. I was working very long hours at work, crafting in every other spare minute, plus trying to manage everything else that life throws at you.

Based on the summer's success, crafting could part fund my income to pay my bills, but on the otherhand it's not a guarenteed income.

Has anyone else been in this situation and can anyone offer any advice?
Sorry - I know I have brought this up before.

[candles by lisa]

Sorry I am in the same boat as you. I have found that I have gotten really fed up at my day job because I am getting quite stressed - nothing to do with the day job but the crafting - I just don't get the time that I want to do the candles but like you say the fairs are hit and miss and not guaranteed at least with the day job I am guaranteed a wage. Still doesn't make me feel any better though.

Sorry.

Lisa

:o

[Debeadz]

I'm in total agreement with you.

I'm getting less and less motivated in my day job and would rather be at home crafting but that just doesn't pay bills, unfortunately.

I'll just have to keep dreaming that one day I can craft all day :D

[Katianne]

Sorry all, don't want to be a moaner, I know that's just life :nopity:!!! Helps to say how you're feeling though.

[nattynetty]

Hi Kate

I know you do the same job as I used to (have to admit I do miss it a bit) and I cut my hours before leaving altogether. I know this time of year is the busiest so no wonder you're feeling like this.

If you've got a nice boss or line manager who you can talk freely with I'd suggest you have a chat with them. Also, where I worked there was always a few people off on long-term sick leave or long gaps between people leaving and new ones starting so there was always the chance for part-time staff to add extra days/hours if they wanted on a temporary basis.

[Seahorse]

but at the same time why should I spend the majority of my life in the rat race, unhappy?






Bravo to you.I agree and am in the same boat.
I work 24/7 on my jewellery, either thinking, drawing,designing, researching, making etc.
Can you imagine how much work a company would get out of us, and how much money we'd make them if they employed us to do our dream jobs.

[glasskanvas]

I have to say-I was also in the same boat! I managed to take my crafts stuff into work in my last 2 jobs and would sit at my desk making things just so that I would loose my mind! There was always a balance between not having enough time to do my arty stuff and not making enough money from it because I didn't have the time.
I ended up loosing my rag one day in work and writing a resignation note there and then...with no other job to go to and no intention of working for for another idiot boss again I decided to just dive in! It's amazing how focused you become when your hobby is your only source of income!...You have to be sure you can make something of it but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet!

[Pebbles]

I too have a similar problem, however, I love my day job and I love beading, if I left my job to bead full time I would miss work, however, I never get enough time to devote to the beads because I work the usual 5-days a week.......

I sometimes stay up all night to bead, then am too tired at work the next day to do my job properly........ Then sometimes, I work 12-14 hour days and come home and can only stare longingly at the beads wanting to string them together and make pretty things but too tired to even pick up a pair of pliers.......

Is it possible to hold down 2 dream jobs? I wish my days had an extra 7 hours!

[swirlyarts]

It's a tricky one - I'm lucky in that I'm staying at home to look after the girls but I do work full time at my crafting around them which is hard. Can you just give up 1 day at the moment and see how it goes from there? What does your other half say? Will there still be enough money coming in?

[colourart]

I gave up work a few years ago primarily because I wanted to stay at home with my children. We had sacrifices to make like going down to one car and not paying for Sky tv etc. The most practical thing we did was to go through our out goings and incomings very carefully and find out where we could make cut backs in order for me to leave. Before we did this I would never have believed I could give up work. As long as you have enough money to live and support your new business, then I would go for it? Especially if you don't have any children. You know your mirrors sell so it worth taking the plunge and realising an ambition. Good luck.

[Katianne]

I did discuss it with my BF last time and we agreed into me going down to 4 days a week. In the end though I decided to calm down the crafts a bit, which I have ended up really missing and am now getting stressed again because I feel that I spend all my time either working or doing domestic tasks. Crafts is what I love doing so looking back it probably wasn't the best solution.

I am having a girly day tomorrow with a friend so think i will talk it through with her and get her advice too. Then will need to sit down with BF again and then work if I decide to go for it. We can afford to do it, as we looked at that before, plus if I can really make my crafts into something to add to my income that would be great. i know its not gaurenteed, but I suppose as long as you ensure that you can survive without the craft income, that's ok.

Thank you all for the advice and support.

Please feel free to keep it coming!

[icecreamgirl]

You know it will work and people will buy your stuff as you said you were really busy in the summer
You also know you can afford it as you said you and bf have worked it out.
You also know that you can't do the crafting and your 'proper job' both together... you've said you tried that and you chose to slow the crafting down.
Life is too short to be wondering what could have been.
Do it.
Cut down your hours and spend the rest of the time making marvelous mosaics.
There that told you, now go
Go on
Do it.
Now.

[Katianne]

Now that's me told! Do I possibly have any other choice? I don't think I do. Thanks, you are all FAB!

[icecreamgirl]

No, no choice at all.
I have decided this is what you need.
Telling.
So off you go then.
Done it yet??????:)

[Seahorse]

Life aint no dress rehearsal, ...just tought Id add that,probably a lyric form a song or summit.

[Katianne]

EXACTLY!!! You only get one shot. I do enjoy my day job but want to focus less on that if I can, more on my craft business. :D

[craftdancer]

EXACTLY!!! You only get one shot. I do enjoy my day job but want to focus less on that if I can, more on my craft business.

Do it, but just be careful that the extra time you have for crafting is exactly that and doesn't get eaten into by domestic and other tasks.

Linda

[Seahorse]

Does anyone here feel guilty about doing their dream crafting job.
Everytime I imagine doing it full time I get this guilty feeling and I feel like I have to justify why I do it!!Very odd.

[caketopper]

At the min im trying to work part time downstairs in the pub doing odd shifts here and there and trying to concentrate more on selling my crafts. It is hard, wish I could just do it full time like everyone else but cant afford to at the minute.
I dont think I would feel guilty if I was doing it full time, why should we, we are earning a living like everyone else and paying our taxes.

[Tip Top]

Well, I'd go for it I was you. Cut down to 4 days and forget the domestic chores!;)

I wish I could devote more time to my crafting, but I work full time in a very demanding job with lots of travelling, have 2 boys under 4 and my husband is self employed, so I have to work to pay the bills - I have no choice.

I keep my sanity by switching off for 2 hours or so most nights and doing my stuff. And cos its dark when I leave the house and return after 6 I don't see how much muck there is on the carpet so I don't do housework!! And I also think it helps being part of this forum cos you can have a rant and know that the advice is constructive and thought out and not off the cuff (or plain stupid like some advice I get from colleagues - get a cleaner.... and they work for free?!!)

You only live once and if you're not happy then change something. If the 4 days working does not work out, then you can always move back up to 5. But if you don't try it you will never know and you'll always kick yourself for not trying to see if it did work! :D

[fragg1es]

I gave up my dream job to look after my daughter full time, I still miss it 2 yrs on :( I started making bits to keep me sane and now am trying to make it successful. Its hard work but its worth, I wake up in the morning and I am my own boss ok im fibbing my daughter is the boss lol.

I hope you find a find a way to keep both in your life and if your bf is behind you then go for it. :)

[caketopper]

someone else from wellingborough! me too lol

[fragg1es]

Not for much longer I hope (no offence wellingborough lol) I want to move back down to Somerset next year. :)

[Jo W]

Hi All

I know exactly how you all feel. I was realy ill at the begining of the year and had 3 months off work. Unable to do much but make my jewellery(great fun if it wasn't for the feeling ill bit). I had loads of time to think about what I want from life and sitting in an office for 40hrs a week is definately not it. Since going back to work I have completly lost interest in my job and just can't wait to get out of the door and get back home to make jewellery. I am also considering the option of reducing my hours but need to take a serious look at the finances first. I have just spent loads on a new website due to be finished next month.

Lifes too short to be doing things that don't make you happy if you can afford to do it then you should definately go for it.

Good Luck

Jo

[caketopper]

Not for much longer I hope (no offence wellingborough lol) I want to move back down to Somerset next year.

Im from welly but live in Southend now anyway, no offence taken, bit of a dump!

[fragg1es]

Im from welly but live in Southend now anyway, no offence taken, bit of a dump!

lol it certainly is :cool:

[beadsbydesign]

No one on their death bed regrets not spending more time at work!!!!