The reason I am a Quilting Wanna Bee - I want to be quilting all of the time. I know bad pun. But I really do want to be quilting all of the time. You see, I have grown disillusioned with my current employment. My job has turned into an unpleasant place to be. I feel unfulfilled and unappreciated. Like many others I am overworked (60+ hrs a week) and underpaid (salaried.) Sewing, quilting, and creating helps ground me. I am by no means an expert and well I could be more disciplined in my work. It brings me joy and quite frankly I am not feeling a lot of joy lately.
Another thing that brings me joy is teaching. I have a gift for teaching. I am quite good at it. I taught sewing to 4-H groups in Delta, Utah. I loved it. I love the training I got to go to, I loved teaching the girls, I loved developing teaching plans and projects. I guess I could mention I have a degree in Elementary Education. Out of financial necessity I let my certification drop. Besides now teaching school is less about teaching and discovery and more about indoctrination. Which is not what I love to do. I love teaching people how to do things especially sewing and quilting.
To sum up I am unhappy in my career and would much rather be quilting/sewing and teaching others how to do it as well. Now where do I find that job.
I have a dream of owning a quilt shop one day. It would have fabric and notions and all the things needed to make quilts. Classes would be offered of course. But I want it to be so much more than a business. I want it to be a refuge and gathering place. I would have a place for women (and men) to come in a work on their projects, a social gathering corner, and a quilt on a frame for those who just want to do a little hand quilting. I would like to rent out time on long arm machines for those more modern quilters who want it done fast but can't afford to send it to someone else to quilt. I would have day long retreats for women who need to go someplace to get a project done.
Does this sound crazy or what? Here I am about 13 years from retirement and I want to figure out how to start my own business in this horrible economy. Not just any business either but a frivolous one. One that caters to hobbies rather than necessities. Yet that is exactly what I am trying to do. I want this so much that it scares me.
That is why I am a Quilting Wanna Bee.
