I own my time

Song of the Blackbird

I finally took the leap of faith to becoming my own boss and quit my well paid secure job to do stained glass full time. In the past couple of weeks I have had several comments and questions; ‘How’s retirement?’ (SIL), ‘What are you doing with your time?’ (mother), ‘So, I am off to work now’ (as husband goes off to home office), to which I have answered - ‘Not old enough to retire, I am setting up and running my own business - working, mother dearest! - I own my time.

So, what I have done is; - an intensive qualification in teaching - making stained glass - tidying studio (and organising) - marketing - making contacts and networking - sorting out finances and understanding running a business and the Law - lesson planning - risk assessing - buying much needed equipment - new kiln eeeeek……- business planning - sorting out demo pieces for students. And even managed to fit in a couple of days volunteering for the Canals and Rivers Trust.

So, yes, I own my time :) and whilst I have had a couple of moments of wondering if I have done the right thing, the path less travelled is always the harder but is the most exciting.

The piece I have made is rather traditional - a modesty (love that word, so Jane Austen-esque) window of blackbirds. We have a couple of cheeky ones in the garden which I have been watching for a while now.