A New Year, New Directions?

Notice the "?" after the title of this post. It basically sums up my state of mind so far this year (all four days of it). I'm facing a financial dilemma. After being laid off last May, no employers have shown much interest in me (not so good for my ego!) and my savings is completely gone. Yesterday, I got my last check from unemployment for the 2010 year with a letter stating basically that's that. They're gonna let me know by snail mail if I qualify for an extension which, I must say, is proving to be a test of my patience and sanity. I don't like the not knowing. I also don't like that I don't have a single job prospect lined up. I'm diligently sending out the resume and applying but so far, nada.


Soooo, until I get something (and I mean anything really), I'm working on an assembly line of sorts for stuff for the shop. There are a few things that really only take me a few minutes to make, if I have all the supplies. So I'm churning them out, or trying to anyway, as fast as I can. There are other things (like baby blankets and such) that take a bit longer to make and I don't usually have all the supplies on hand so those will have to wait. What I'd really love, and I mean LOVE, is for the crafting to become at least a semi-full time gig. I've had some requests for things from friends and lots of "ooh, you made that, I'd buy it!" from others, so that's encouraging.


My worry is inconsistency. Not mine (though that can be an issue at times, to tell you the truth) but with people buying my stuff. I'm thinking that I'm going to have to try out some local street fairs and farmer's/craft markets to see what's selling and what isn't. And it seems like a good way to get some instant feedback. (If any of you regular market sellers out there have any advice, I'm all ears!)


So that's my new direction for 2011. Do what I love, love what I do. And probably get a part-time job to supplement the income. I think life is too short to be stuck in a job that just sucks the life and energy out of you. I learned this the hard way. I wish someone had pulled me aside when I was 25 and told me the type of work I'm ideally suited to. Which I do know now, at 37, and am very grateful that it didn't take me til 47 or 57 to learn.