The business of beads...

Personally, there's not much separation between personal and business for me, because I enjoy my art so much. I do try and take breaks from the business by going out and being with friends and family and trying really hard not to talk beads. Of course, everyone I am around is usually very interested in what I do, so it doesn't work all the time. I have recently began studying earth religion and spirituality more and more lately, and this really helps my brain relax and escape. Meditation helps tremendously. As does massage and just going out by yourself and doing something you like. (I go to the bookstore/coffee shop alone and browse for a few hours.) When I have the money, I am going to hire someone to help me with my bookkeeping. I think that's a wise choice, especially for those of us who hate bookkeeping. It will likely be someone I know and trust - I have done this before when I lived in Portland, and it really helped. It was worth the money. I wish you all the luck in the world in your business, Tink - but don't forget to take those time-outs and relax. Going full speed ahead at all times without a break is likely going to cause a major meltdown at some point. I am sure Prairieson can be a huge help in this! :)

That's how I've been doing things, and though I completely LOVE lampworking, I'm finding it's simply not healthy for me to live and breathe it (literally and figuratively) 24/7. I have to force more of a separation between the two.

Shoot, I hate stopping long enough to eat, sleep or even pee. Not to mention getting together with friends, playing with my puppy, going to a MOVIE even! Gads! I haven't been out to a movie for over a year!

I think that finding an assistant will be a PERFECT solution to help me towards my goal of a more balanced life.

Kandice, you worked as an assistant. What did you like about it? What do you wish would have been different? What can you tell me to help me be a better employer?

I keep thinking about doing an own buisness (and have had problems myself with bringing work home).

My mom has a friend who works at home. She said that she has really had to force herself to work regular hours, as if she weren't working at home. Of course her job isn't as fun as your's, but it is probably just as important for you to have a normal amount of time off. Even if you don't want to work 9-5 (or whatever), you can pick a set time to do the work and when that time is over, LEAVE it for your "home life".

marisa2

Yes! That's exactly it! Another little pointer I picked up from my consultants is to get ready for work just as though you are going to an office/factory/store. That's hard for me, as I tend to work in my duckie lounge pants and scruffy house slippers. LOL! And I've been hot-flashing so much lately that it's useless to put makeup on.

This would work well for an assistant. But you might have stuff you just don't want to do, and an assistant might not want to do either. Perhaps you could have an unpaid assistant, plus hire out administrative tasks to someone whom you can have an impersonal relationship with.

Tina

(Schools or outreach programs may also have a curriculum and pay you for teaching skills, ie the cost of the employee)

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Christina Peterson" :

]Perhaps you ]could have an unpaid assistant, plus hire out administrative tasks to ]someone whom you can have an impersonal relationship with.

](Schools or outreach programs may also have a curriculum and pay you for ]teaching skills, ie the cost of the employee)

boy, does that put a hole in MY dream job!

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Bill of Rights - Void where prohibited by Law.Regime Change in 2004 - The life you save may be your own.

I have a basket business as a part time job. My husband works full time during the day and I stay at home. The best time for me to work my business is at night, when other people are home from work. Thats the time when I can make phone calls to book parties and the time when I can do parties. He knows that if I am working, leave me alone. That has been the hardest part of working from home. My kids don't quite get it tho.

I wish I could drive up to watch you work.....I have checked out your e-bay store and love them beads you make. I am new to beading and have been lurking and learning here. I am having a blast! My oldest DS loves looking at lampwork beads....he truly understands that they are works of art. He and I have been pouring over magazines, looking at all the neat beads.

Learning to bead in Ohio,

You've visited Byzantium in Columbus, right???

Thanks for the nice comments about my beads, Lisa! If you find that you'll be in the area, drop me a note and we can get together!

I haven't been there yet......I hope to get my son to go with me on Friday...his day off work. We just got back from Knoxville..went to 2 shops there. I am looking forward to going to Byzantium! I will let you know if I ever get up your way...I truly am enjoying this hobby!!

consultants

consultants is to get ready for work just as though you are going to an office/factory/store. That's hard for me, as I tend to work in my duckie lounge pants and scruffy house slippers. LOL! And I've been hot-flashing so much lately that it's useless to put makeup on.<

I'm gonna argue this one. One of the perks of working from home (to me) is that very option to NOT to the 9-5 office girl regalia. When I was doing medical transcription from home (web-based), I wore whatever I wanted and did my time in ways that worked for me. When I had a local pickup, I dressed reasonably well (pretty sundresses or coordinated outfits) but my days of "office suits" were long gone. As soon as I got home, I hopped into comfy shorts and t-shirts and typed away. For me it worked much better (and *I* worked better) being more relaxed. I've always worked with a (flexible) schedule, but I'm one of those types who needs some sort of structure somehow. My Palm is my lifesaver. Now, I even take it outside with me and time myself on the torch.

This summer, sadly, has been total chaos timewise. Thankfully tomorrow is the first day of school. I'm giving myself some torch "playtime" tomorrow and Friday, along with some blocks of time to deal with all the extraneous summer stuff, then Monday I intend to get back to a real routine. I think everyone around here will be grateful, since I turn into a royal b*tich when I don't have a routine. It has NOT been pretty around here. "The summer of my discontent."

-- KarenK Desert Dreamer Designs

Store:

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Karen_AZ" :

]I'm gonna argue this one. One of the perks of working from home (to me) ]is that very option to NOT to the 9-5 office girl regalia. When I was doing ]medical transcription from home (web-based), I wore whatever I wanted and ]did my time in ways that worked for me. When I had a local pickup, I dressed ]reasonably well (pretty sundresses or coordinated outfits) but my days of ]"office suits" were long gone. As soon as I got home, I hopped into comfy ]shorts and t-shirts and typed away. For me it worked much better (and *I* ]worked better) being more relaxed.

AMEN!

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Bill of Rights - Void where prohibited by Law.Regime Change in 2004 - The life you save may be your own.

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Tink" :

]Now if I can get the neighborhood kids to stop ringing the doorbell and if I ]could just litter-train Macy so I didn't have to take her for a zillion ]walks a day...

WHY do they ring the doorbell???????

as for the puppy - it'll probably be a "sudden" thing.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Bill of Rights - Void where prohibited by Law.Regime Change in 2004 - The life you save may be your own.

Well, I don't have slides YET. They're just "in the budget". I interviewed two photographers today: One who looked good and one who thinks he's God's gift. *rolling eyes*

I did discover an interesting site today for anyone contemplating slides for juried shows or gallery presentations:

Supposedly,they will create slides for you from digital images. Looks interesting...I spoke with Bead and Button today on the phone about their ad rates, andtalked to them a bit about "Bead Style". I haven't gotten my hands on a copyof that pub yet, so I'm not sure I want to put my money there. At thispoint, I'm thinking Bead and Button, Belle Armoire and maybe two more. I also wanted to mention that Bead and Button will totally do your ad layout for you, INCLUDING taking your picture, for an unbelievably low price: $29 for the ad design and $42.50 for the photo. The photos are done by the person who does the cover photography. That's an outstanding deal!

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Tink" :

]I get so used to ]wearing 'comfy' clothes that I forget and leave the house that way. I went ]to the carryout in PJs and house slippers the other day. I just acted like ]it was normal, and only a few people looked at me funny :-)

that's the nice thing about sweats in the wintertime - everybody wears them.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Bill of Rights - Void where prohibited by Law.Regime Change in 2004 - The life you save may be your own.

Because they like me, and because I'm cool. Their words, not mine. LMAO! Remember, I'm the lady who gives out lampwork beads, jumpropes and bottles of bubble stuff... And I have loads of cool animals.

School starts soon. Thank the Goddess. LOL!

Thanks, sweetie... That's wise advice. I vowed I would set aside the work stuff and just goof off tonight. I played some online backgammon and cribbage, but all of a sudden I found myself tweaking my website in between turns. LOL!

I cooked a real meal tonight, and went for a walk with Prairieson. And I've saved just enough energy that I bet he gets lucky tonight. ROFL!

relationships

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Tink" :

]Because they like me, and because I'm cool. Their words, not mine. LMAO! ]Remember, I'm the lady who gives out lampwork beads, jumpropes and bottles ]of bubble stuff... And I have loads of cool animals. ] ]School starts soon. Thank the Goddess. LOL!

well, then, you REALLY can't blame them, can you?

you need a BIG SIGN for the front door that says what time "Tink will be able to come out and play at: ________" and explain that if they let you work in peace, you WILL come out and play at the stated time.

and make sure one of your breaks occurs just about the time they get out of school!

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Bill of Rights - Void where prohibited by Law.Regime Change in 2004 - The life you save may be your own.

That's what I've ended up doing. Funny thing is that a lot of my little friends aren't old enough to read. So I made two signs: One with a smilie kitty which means I'm not busy and they can ring the bell. The other one with a sad kitty which means "Sorry, I'm busy and can't play".

They're darling... And such good kids!

On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 0:12:25 -0400, Karen_AZ wrote (in message ):

What!?!?! It's only the beginning of August! Kids here don't start school until the Wednesday after Labor Day. (Very Strong teacher's union in the area). When do they get out for the summer? Mine get out sometime in mid-June, depending on how many snow days they had during the year.

Shocking - going to school in mid-August. My kids would be on strike, big time.

Kathy N-V