{"id":3275,"date":"2021-05-06T12:52:35","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T16:52:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maureensmusings.ca\/?p=3275"},"modified":"2021-06-21T18:50:32","modified_gmt":"2021-06-21T22:50:32","slug":"my-retirement-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maureensmusings.ca\/?p=3275","title":{"rendered":"My Retirement “Career”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Let\u2019s see\u2026 I\u2019ve been a file clerk, a receptionist\/shoe model, a secretary, a print production coordinator\/manager\/buyer, an office manager, a business partner, a project manager, a team leader, a supervisor, a business manager, and, not to forget, an ongoing wife, mom, grandma (Amma), sibling, and friend.  Now that I\u2019ve been retired for 16 months, why another career?  Haven\u2019t I done enough?  Don\u2019t I deserve to relax?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have a very pragmatic brain and have never considered myself to be artistic, although Steve will argue that I am creative.  Yes, I can combine random ingredients into a nice meal without a recipe (only after years of reading recipe books, watching cooking shows on TV, and experimenting); I can sew nice things from a pattern (learned that from a young age from my mother); I’ve made some lovely cross stitch pieces (self-taught but from a pattern and detailed instructions); I can create an okay garden (had some help from a designer and am great at maintaining).  And I have my singing voice and intermediate ability to play a ukulele. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I desperately wanted to be good at something classified as \u201cvisual art\u201d.  I know my limitations.  I can\u2019t draw, paint, or sculpt, and I suck at ceramics and collage.  But\u2026 many, many years ago (maybe 30-35!!!) I tried a stained glass class (with a friend, just for something to do together) and not only found that medium fascinating but also realized that I might be able to actually do something visually appealing.  I took it more seriously in 2013 and, on and off since then, I\u2019ve taken lots of courses \u2013 some once a week over a few months, some a full week at a time (Haliburton School of the Arts, better known as Adult Camp), and some random instruction from a couple of favourite local resources.  I\u2019ve watched YouTube videos \u2013 lots and lots of YouTube videos \u2013 and I\u2019ve subscribed to a few groups through Facebook where I\u2019ve picked up many tips and tricks (not to mention ideas). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of picking up ideas \u2013 I definitely DO NOT have the idea gene \u2013 my life changed the day I discovered Pinterest.  I\u2019m not talking plagiarism here, I\u2019m actually talking about ideas, concepts if you will.  And as a friend of mine is in the habit of saying, \u201cthere is nothing new under the sun\u201d.   Even some recent painting shows we\u2019ve been watching (to support Steve\u2019s artistic genius \u2013 but that\u2019s his story to tell) claim that every well-known painter throughout history has copied from other well-known painters who came before.  I digress.  Or, I\u2019m just still trying to justify using other people\u2019s ideas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you might imagine, it\u2019s difficult to dedicate yourself to your budding artistic outlets when you\u2019re working full time (outside and inside the home).  In an extremely inconsistent fashion these past eight years, I\u2019ve made many items and have gifted most of them.  I call those my practice pieces, the ones where I made most of my mistakes.  But the recipients seemed to be happy enough with them.  And as I posted these various \u201cmasterpieces\u201d up on Facebook, several people asked if they could purchase them.  I was not ready for that added stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So now, I find myself with the luxury of time (despite a year-long plus pandemic), and with the desire to continue to create my little works of art and to challenge myself to move beyond my comfort zone.  Where selling them was once a thought I was not willing to even consider, that subconscious thought has been percolating around in my wee brain for a few years and has now surfaced \u2013 a thought both exciting and terrifying.  Gifting is one thing and selling is another.  How would I do that?  Would people want what I have to offer?  How do I price my pieces to represent something handcrafted yet affordable?  But most frightening of all, am I good enough?  Only one way to find out.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m now open for business.<\/strong>  YIKES!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some well-received gifts have been garden stakes that stand approximately 4\u2019 above the ground.\u00a0 It\u2019s difficult to gift an item that\u2019s meant to hang or sit inside someone\u2019s decorated home but much easier to gift one that is meant for outdoors \u2013 to plunge into a lawn or a garden.\u00a0 I had three wrought iron frames left over from last summer so decided to start with those.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n