Live it: Owning My Own business

I have always wanted to work for myself, to have my own business. I was brought up to want that for myself, my Dad was quite insistent that it was something I should strive for, whatever industry I chose to go into, the goal was always to be independent.

So now that I do, I have my own business, It's lovely... right... 

Yes, yes it is really Awesome. However it is by no means the easy path. Running your own business is just that, the buck ultimately stops with you, and only you. You are responsible for every aspect of that business, delegation is a great tool, but it is just that, a tool to be used wisely. I am really lucky, I run my business with my parents, they are so supportive and with me every step of the way. I have learnt so much from both of them, and from my experiences with Sew Crafty. The biggest thing I have learned is that I LOVE my job, despite it being challenging and a lot of hard work, I really couldn't picture myself doing anything else right now.

There are so many things I love about what I do...

I work in an industry that I adore... I have never known an industry like it, the Haberdashery/craft/sewing world is just so amazing. I have met so many lovely people over the years, customers, sales reps, advertising reps, editors and other business owners that I am so proud to call my friends.

I work with my family.... Working with my Mum every day and with my Dad on the behind the scenes stuff makes me so happy, I am lucky to have a really great relationship with my parents, I am so grateful to them for trusting in me and pushing me to achieve.

I get to create... all day, everyday and I get to play with pretty things, I never knew when I was studying at school that a 'job' would be so much fun.

Inspired... I am surrounded by inspiration everyday, sometimes it can be a new catalogue from a supplier, or a customer who comes in with a challenge for us to help them with. 

Exceeding expectations... my least favourite common phrase of the last ten years is 'you don't sell .........., do you? I would like to ban the use of this negative question.  However it is so lovely when I get to say ' yes we absolutely do' seeing the smile on the previously dubious face is one that cannot be compared.

Helping people... I always thought that this would be the part where I came unstuck, I have never felt confident in a teaching role, but as it turns out, I am pretty good at it. It doesn't always involve a 'class room' situation, sometimes it is as simple as giving an opinion on which buttons I like best on a customers garment. Sometimes all the help people need is a second opinion. Helping customers to realise their vision is one of the happiest parts of my job.

Happy customers... not every customer is happy, some are challenging, as in all areas of retail, but we are so lucky to have so many happy customers. They make me smile on a daily basis

Rising to the challenge... We have a lot of customers who throw us a 'Challenge' whether it's matching a button, or a ribbon colour, or a product they don't expect to find with us. Everyday I am put to the test, sometimes it means sending the to a place we know that may have what they need, but most of the time we get to surprise them by having what they need.

Like any job there are pros and cons, I am grateful everyday that my job is mostly fun, happy and ultimately rewarding.

Do you love your job? do you own your own business?

Try making a list of the things you love about it.  On those hard days take a look at it and remember why it's worth it. You won't regret it.

Sammy xxx

Live it: Ch-ch-changes

This time last year was so different!  I was living in London as I had done for the past 4 years and having given up my 'it's just not me' job the previous October I was temping and doing workshops to get myself back to being creative and to my dream job!

Then BANG in July I got that job! It's been a long time coming, but it meant however that I had to leave London, which I was not quite ready to leave.  But the fact that I got a job as a Learning Officer in a Museum which means I get to do arts & crafts on a daily basis is well worth missing some of the perks that London gave me.  I still get to see my friends in London as I am only half an hour away in leafy Surrey and now I am actually closer to my family and other friends outside of London, so its not all bad.

I get to teach children how to do arts & crafts and make History and Art a little more interesting.  I get to think up activities to do with school visits and groups alongside learning new skills along the way.  I work with people who might not think that the museum is a place for them at the start and then they end up with an exhibition on display.

The local area is still taking a bit of getting used to, there are no late night museum trips or huge choices in restaurants and markets, but I do have a park behind my house which doesn't have a roundabout around it (I used to live in Shepherds Bush) and there is a fabric shop and Pret for all my other enjoyment needs!  Let's face it if I am not creating, I am eating!

I have sorted myself out a workspace in my rented houseshare and so it's not ideal but small and perfectly formed!  I just have to be a little careful of the projects I choose and keep my hoarding nature in check so that I don't take over!

It's always amazing what difference a year makes, I can't even remember what I did last New Year's and so it just goes to show how many other memories I have made even with a change of pace along the way.  Like the time I dressed as an owl for my friends birthday; the time I became a Barbie; the time it was so sunny in April that we spent our lunchtimes by the canal; the day my niece was born; the time me, Sammy, Anna and Carly made a vintage event; making lots of children happy with workshops; and of course hanging out with all my wonderful friends throughout the year, what better way to spend a year!

Live it

H

Love it: First week Jitters

As I told you last week I started at The Lightbox, Woking, Surrey on Wednesday. I was really nervous to start with as when you start a new job you always have that 'Will they realise that I'm not as good they thought' moment.

But this week was all about going in at the deep-end as one of the local College's had their final show in the museum's galleries and so I thought I would show you what they had done. The students are between 16-18 and so some will be going off to uni to carry on the work and others will be going to do other things - which really could be a shame for some.

They pretty much sorted themselves out with where they were putting the work and so I didn't really have to do much. But I did manage to fill up my diary with all the workshops I am going to be working on throughout the summer from 'Bubble fun' through to storytelling and drawing.

The work really was amazing and I can only wish that I could paint like these kids now, let alone when I was younger.

I can tell I am going to be very inspired here in my new role, Bring it on!

Love it
H

Live it: New Beginnings

I said last week that I would tell you more about my decision to leave London. 

I have lived in London for over 4 years now and although I only came from the Reading area originally, it was always a place I wanted to live as it could open opportunities for me to work in the creative/museums area that I trained in with a Design degree and a Curating Masters behind me.  I came to London after I had already been working in outdoor events for the past 3 years near Basingstoke. I  was working on hot air balloon Festivals, music, Transport and fireworks events,  alongside working on some education and Theatre work, you gotta love a portfolio career. Whilst in London I worked for the same company for over 3 years and throughout that time I worked on my own amazing events such as the Boat Race (you know, that famous Oxford vs. Cambridge one), Polo, Japanese Cultural events and arts events to name but just a few.  I had a great time, working with some great communities and sheltering from the rain/ extreme sun from time to time.  But, in time my role became much more administrative and less events orientated, which for me, just wasn't what I loved about it.

So, I started looking for another job and after some soul searching and a-lot of moaning on a Monday mornings to all who would listen, I took the brave/crazy step and quit my job.  It wasn't making me happy, in fact it had got so bad, I just didn't even have the energy to be creative any more. 

Since I quit in September I have interned with the Make Lounge in Islington, London; worked at Kings Place Music Foundation on various roles and stints to assist them when looking for new staff and found out much more about the Kings Cross area of London.  I Volunteered at many museums in London to learn more about education and re-learn some skills. I have started on my TEFL course and still tackling that one; Led some craft workshops with Sammy down at the Craft Coop shop in Maidenhead and last but no means least learnt so much more about me and what I want to do in my life.  It revitalised my love for museums and the arts and made me realise that, museums is really where I see myself.

I filled in so many applications I cannot even tell you, lets just say that even when I am qualified for the role, apparently sometimes that just isn't enough.  One thing that strikes me as odd, is that when you have exactly what they are looking for you don't get an interview and other times when you are not as qualified, they take a chance!  It did start to get me down and there were some moments where I doubted my experience and knowledge and so my confidence definitely took a few knocks along the way, but eventually  I got just what I was looking for.

Tomorrow, I start at The Lightbox in Woking and this is where the leaving London part comes in!  I will be commuting for a bit as my current housemate's need to find someone else, just as lovely to replace me. but after that I will be moving closer to my new job.

I will be Learning Officer for the museum and so running sessions, devising new education plans and all manner of other things that need to be done.  I will be part of a small education team there, but one of the great things about being in a small team is that you can really get stuck in.  I know my first job will be to assist the local College with their final show set-up which opens on Wednesday, which is great.  I hope they give me an electric drill!  he, he.

I will be leaving busy London for a life in Woking (when I find a place to live of course).  But with and HG Wells centre (due to War of the Worlds being based in nearby Horsell Common)  and a huge shopping centre to explore, I am sure it will just feel the same as Shepherds Bush after a while.  It's going to be different, but what an adventure, and as they say you gotta keep moving forward and if that means leaving the big smoke then so be it.  Maybe it will be the best thing that has ever happened to me, or maybe its just a bit different for a few years.  Who knows what could come next!

I will update you in a few weeks to how it is going, after all, I might even encourage a few of you to come see the museum!

Live it

H

Live it: H's New Beginning

Big news in My world has been that I have quit my day job and am going to start being creative again.  I decided that after 6 years working in events, my role had become less creative and so I am going back to my roots and back to the arts and crafts!

So, to kick start this new phase, I am undertaking an Internship at The Make Lounge in Islington.  The main emphasis for them is the workshops they do.  The integral point is that they are 1 or 2 evening classes that don't need you to commit to a 10 week course like other craft courses.  You can undertake many different types of craft, including; crochet, cupcake decorating, skin care products and dressmaking, amongst others.

But back to what I am up to.  I have been there over a week now and I will be working with them until the end of the month, so I have plenty of opportunities to learn and find out more information about how a craft business works.

I have been helping with the preparation for workshops, marking up dress patterns, making sure equipment is set-up and today I started working with the flash till they have for the shop.  There are plenty of craft materials to buy in the shop, mostly to do with the workshops they have on offer, but also a huge amount of books to have a look at and get inspiration.

I can already feel my creative mind working overtime and my notebook has become scrawls of ideas and notes that I can use for my own work.  I also have my eye on a few things to help me, with the speedy carve to help with making prints and fabrics to use for, well just about everything. Wish me luck!

Live it
H