When I explain what I "do" I usually get a vague glance and a raised eyebrow and an "oh how lovely" kind of reply. I'd love say I was a nurse or a teacher, but my life didn't follow that path. I decided on an Arts Degree so now I do what I do and I do what I can.
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I've not got to that point yet where I feel I can reply confidently, "I run my own very successful business actually thank you very much!!" No, what I usually do is lower my head and mumble something about making and trying to sell cards.
I know, I know, I should hold my head up high and be proud of what I do, but in all honesty, I mostly feel like a bit of a fraud. Sometimes in the middle of the day I stop (usually mid cutting up an owl out of pretty paper) and think "what the hell are you doing, you stupid, stupid girl. What ever possessed you to think that you could make money out of sewing bloody paper?" As you can see, I do give myself a hard time most days.
Do you have your own craft business? How do you deal with the "what do you "do" question? I'd love to know, please leave a comment below.
So, what DO I do all day?
So anyway, I thought I'd write down my typical day, in order to make myself feel a bit better! (hopefully the hubby might read it too!)
6am - Alarm goes off and I'm up making coffee. Hubby is out of the house at 6.15am and doesn't return until about 8pm. So it's down to me to do the rest. Coffee (sans children) is an absolute must for me first thing and once that's downed I'm up and at em. I'm most definitely a morning person and so I try and get all the hard work done before 12 noon. I make school lunches first, then get the (one grumpy and one not so grumpy) children out of bed and start getting them ready for school. I try and fit a bit of cleaning in as well if I can.
8am - The girls are at separate schools at the moment, so we have to be out of the house by 8am and then it's an hours trip in the car for me dropping them both off. My little one just does 4 days at the moment, but it's the first time in 8 years that I have had all these hours to myself, so it's fantastic for the business and I know that she is very happy!
9am - I try and get an hours run in. If I don't do it at 9 it doesn't happen, so I force myself rain or shine to just do it! I always feel 100% better after and I always do my thinking when I run, so this is when I plan my day.
10.30am - I'm done, showered and at my desk with coffee in hand by 10.30 at the latest. I check e mails, orders, write blogs, send invoices, edit photo's, update websites/online shops, argue with photo shop, call stockists etc. Well anything that needs doing on the computer really. It's amazing to think that about 80% of what I do is on the computer rather than craft based, but it's a must.
12.30pm - I have some lunch and then try and get any photo's taken as the light is better at this time of the day. If I have time I might edit them or get on with a little designing. (I tend to do most of my "creative" work at the weekend. I think I'm more relaxed then, so find it easier to get everything out, make a complete mess and go with the creative flow)
1.30pm - I only have an hour now so I have to get to the printers, post office, take the dog for a walk and nip to the shops for anything that is needed for dinner. I'm always in a rush at this time of the day.
2.30pm - I go to pick the little one up before the long drive to pick my eldest up. We are usually back home for 4pm.
4pm - 8pm - If you're a mum I don't need to tell you how this part of the day goes do I? Homework, dinner, bath, bed is the easier version, but let's just say it's the hardest part of the day and by 8pm I'm ready for a glass or two of wine!
8pm - Hubby is home and it's always tricky trying to get the kids in bed once big daddy is in the house! I usually nip and try and catch up with e mails while he catches up with what's happened at school. I also whiz around trying to tidy up a bit.
9pm - I try not do any more work after 9pm as I'm a bad sleeper and having my mind buzzing at this time is not the best medicine for sleep. So we usually watch t.v before collapsing into bed.
And that's my day. So for anyone interested, that's what I "do!"
