Re: OT Been busy...

Gemini, that's a sad but heartening, disappointing but encouraging story.

But did I miss what's happened about your gift shop idea?

Big Hugs,

Mary

Reply to
Mary Fisher
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The bottom line of the gift shop idea is that, according to a couple of government people, I don't qualify to get any help in starting my business. The one who says I do qualify and who has actually worked with other people on Disability before to start their business... suggested that I might want to reconsider what line of business I would like to start because "a giftshop is very risky and very expensive to start and operate". I haven't made it back to talk to him yet, but I am considering the correspondence courses instead *if* I can get some help in paying the cost.... so that I can either work for someone else or start up my own at-home business in Computer Graphics/Desktop Publishing/Web Design. If I can make that work out, I may eventually get my giftshop up and running eventually. At the moment I'm just tired of all the stress in *trying* to have government people hear me out and then telling me it won't work. So it's all at a stand-still at the moment.

*hugs* Gem
Reply to
Not Likely

Forgot to mention that I have been researching and hoarding away places to buy items I want to sell *wholesale*, and I've had my vendor's license for five years as well... so it's not like I haven't been thinking about it or working on it, and just assuming everything would drop into my lap (like some of the government people make me feel like they think I'm doing).

Also forgot to mention in my original post (in the part about me working at the fair this past weekend)... that I got TWO beestings on the *same* arm. Got the first one on Friday on the front part of my arm just below the bend in the elbow, then got the second one about two inches away from the first on Saturday on the back part of my arm. It hurt a bit, but not nearly as bad as when I stepped on a bee (I tend to go barefoot in the summer unless I'm going away from the house for any reason) one year and was stung on the bottom of my second last toe... my entire foot swelled up like a (an American) football, and I couldn't even put my sandal on it to go to the doctor. That one actually brought tears to my eyes and I had to put ice on it to try to deaden the pain. The two on my arm did hurt, but I was too busy to take the time to feel sorry for myself, and just had to keep going... it eventually stopped hurting. I joked with Matthew later Saturday night though, that I looked like I had a Popeye arm now with both the beestings swollen up like they were. LOL The swelling and the infernal itching finally stopped, thank goodness, and the swelling has gone down today. Back to normal again. ;o)

*hugs* Gem
Reply to
Not Likely

I've no idea what it's like where you are but the adviser might be right.

Gift shops aren't at all attractive to me but it does seem that the ones which are profitable (usually in historic and tourist properties) sell mass produced things, often imported, which have no real link with the locality or the community. That's probably because true hand-made items simply can't be sold at a profitable price which would give a true return to the maker and the seller.

I can't remember the last time I bought anything in a gift shop. I know I'm not a 'normal' shopper but I doubt that I'm alone. Mind you, I'm not a 'normal' shopper even in a supermarket and they seem to thrive :-)

Please don't regard what I say as advice, it's a very personal opinion.

Well, why not just stand still for a while? Do you actually NEED the income from a stressful job? Years ago I decided that if I had the time at home which I gave to an employer I could be more comfortable and be a better mother and wife AND could save money on bought-in goods.

Not preaching, honestly. I know that some people like working, I don't mind it for a short while but not in the long term.

Now back to the candles!

Mary

Reply to
Mary Fisher

Good. Stings aren't pleasant, I react badly to all stings and bites and have to think forward five days when I know I'll have more or less recovered :-)

Mary

Reply to
Mary Fisher

I wasn't planning on selling hand-made items, but rather nice items that could make lovely wedding/anniversary/birthday/etc gifts. The only hand-made things I was planning on having in my shop was going to be a donation box called "Blankets of Love" (my own idea) for people to donate blankets (whether they are hand-made or store bought, doesn't matter) for others who can't afford to buy because I think everyone should have something to comfort them and/or keep them warm wherever they may be or go. I still want to do that, regardless what kind of business I ever end up having, because it's important to me. :o)

Funny you should say that... because I'm not actually a shopper myself. In fact I detest shopping! My sisters say I must be adopted. LOL When I

*have* to shop I want to know in advance what I'm going for and have a general idea of where in the store it may be, so I can get it and leave. My sisters on the other hand will linger over the same clothes rack for twenty minutes or more.... it drives me crazy. I say "Tell me what you're looking for and I will find it for you!" I guess that's a form of relaxation to them, but it makes me very tense.... I would much rather sit in the car (I *have offered to do this, but they dragged me practically kicking and screaming in the store with them saying they want to spend time with me.) doing crossword puzzles.

Well, we do need the income... but I would rather it wasn't from a stressful job. If Matthew could manage to get himself a part-time job (he needs it to be part-time because of studies for his courses), then there would be some extra income and we could likely manage to get by with that and I wouldn't have to work. However, I honestly wouldn't mind working at the fairs next summer (I don't find that stressful, and actually enjoy it)... but we need to get through the winter on our combined income, and that isn't that wonderful at the moment.

Oh I know! With normal jobs, I don't care for it much... it is very stressful. One of the jobs I had wasn't too bad, but the foreman and some co-workers made it stressful. I was five minutes late one night (because half way there I ran into a really bad blizzard and could barely see, and the road hadn't been plowed out properly) and the foreman was all over me about how I should leave home early enough to get to work on time. I told him that I had left in plenty of time and there was no snow at all in my town, I hit the storm half way there and had to slow right down to a crawl and I was lucky I made it at all because I had passed three other cars in the ditch. His response.... "Check the weather channel and plan on bad weather and leave earlier.. be here on time!!" Yeah... bite me!

Candles? You're making candles? Do you make scented ones? mmmMMMmmm Speaking of scented candles... I recently came across some that smell like chocolate chip cookies. That is SOOOO mean to make something you can't eat smell so good. LOL

*hugs* Gem
Reply to
Not Likely

That means quite a lot of investment - and shopfitting.

You have more guts than I have :-)

It's a lovely idea too.

Yes, we only go shopping for food (and postage stamps and tools - we don't mind shopping for those) and when we do we go together because we both dislike it so much that we don't think the other should have to do it alone. Actually that's changing a bit since a very good supermarket came to ten miles away.

So would I!

Hmm. I don't know what part time work is like where you are, here students don't seem to find it difficult to get them. I think it's not good for them to work while they should be studying though, our children had full grants (because of our low income) so their fees were paid. They used to get jobs during the long summer holidays but it was for extras, not necessities.

What a ... well, I've never used bad language on Usenet (or anywhere else) but that makes me want to call him something foul!

No because I only make beeswax candles and they have their own fragrance. It would be like squirting a rose with scent :-)

A television channel is making yet another version of Pride and Prejudice and wants 400 large dipped candles to light a stately home about 15 miles away (Harewood House, home of the Queen's cousin). I've used all my wax though and although I ordered some on Monday it still hasn't come. I despair when people let me down! It's another downside of relying on suppliers. I normally manage with what beekeepers sell me but this was urgent. Still, the props chap will be able to collect at least 150 on Monday. There would have been more but I've also made some for a very special exhibition of Romanoff porcelain to be held in New York. They had to have appropriate wicks for their date - made from flax.

Don't talk about chocolate chip cookies, I'm trying to lose weight. And succeeding, slowly. I've lost half a stone in the last four weeks.

Hurrah!

Hugs,

Mary

Reply to
Mary Fisher

Thank you! :o)

It would be different if Matthew were taking full daytime courses at college, but he is taking two night courses (4 hours a night, once a week for each of them... Monday & Tuesday) and actually has relatively little homework that he can do in one day. So the part-time work he is looking for is to basically help with a few more of the bills (the house and the utilities are in both of our names) so we can try to get out from under and then keep ahead a bit.

Yep, my feelings exactly!

Ahh, I see!

How nice that you got called upon to make the candles for them. :o)

*giggle* Sorry for the temptation! Congratulations on losing the weight though! :o) I *had* been losing some weight while swimming everyday in the summer, but I don't think I've lost anything at all since I had to stop swimming. Oh well, I'll have to try to lose it another way... I still have a couple of months before any snow decides to fly here, so maybe I can go out walking everyday. However I have to wait to start that until next week as my weekend is busy and I will be on the sofa resting each night. *hugs* Gem
Reply to
Not Likely

...

I'm more pleased about the four pairs for New York than the 200 for tv! It's far more glamorous and prestigious - my candles in that beautiful porcelain - kept hidden since the Czar and his family were murdered ...

I believe that walking IS excellent - but I can't do it because of my pain. I insist on walking a couple of hundred yards to the post box every day - but then I need a little sit-down to recover :) I do make the most of the sit-down - I knit.

Mary

Reply to
Mary Fisher

I agree and have told Matthew many times that walking as well as swimming are two of the best exercises there are... they work everything. However, I also know what you mean about the pain. I have some days when I have such a hard time with the Fibromyalgia, but I *love* walking and seriously can't do it in the winter at all because I tend to slip and fall often with the ice and snow... so I want to try to get at least some walking in before the snow comes. Even if it is only leisurely walking, it's better than nothing... so I may take my digital camera along with me and go walking on the trail that used to be the railroad tracks to see what things I might see to take pictures of. Of course when I have really bad days, I will just have to sit home and dream about walking instead.

*hugs* Gem
Reply to
Not Likely

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