Typically on Thursday I pick up an old blog post and reintroduce it to you. Â This Thursday I’m doing something a little different. Â I am throwing you back to my old life. Â Here’s me, cute as can be playing with my childcare kids.
From 2000 until 2008 I was an in home childcare provider. Â I have to say, it’s hard work but it was my most fun job ever.
After careful consideration, I’ve decided to go back to it.
Don’t worry…I’ll still be here on the blog every day. Â Kelli and I will still have quilts in magazines sometimes but we won’t be chasing and chasing deadlines anymore and for that, we are both really happy. Â Too many times Kelli and I found ourselves just wishing for a minute that we could sew things simply because we wanted to sew it. Â We found ourselves wanting to cross stitch, punch needle or rug hook and just didn’t have the time for it as deadlines were always looming.
Sadly, our hobby of quilting became work. Â We had trouble leaving work out of our personal relationship and it wasn’t quite as fun as it used to be. Â It wasn’t that much fun for the family either. Â Being creative on demand takes the fun out of being creative. Â Plus the income is strange and sporadic. Â It is definitely a feast or famine way of life.
I am happily going back to a regular pay check with day to day people contact. Â I miss that-the regular paychecks…but mostly the people. Â As fun as it seems to be able to hang out in jammies all day if you want to, it can loose it’s appeal after awhile.
I debated about getting a job in town but my heart isn’t in that. Â I still want to be a stay at home mom and wife. Â Here there is a big shortage of child care providers so I’m hoping I can fill a need in our community and provide quality care for the families.
Hubby and I have plans to make the basement into a childcare space keeping the mess of it all away from our living space. Â I will likely start out doing care on the main floor and once the basement is finished, I’ll move operations there. Â I’ve been drawing things out and testing ideas trying to make the best use of our space.
I’ll have a 24′ x 28′ space but that has the stairs, a tiny 1/2 bath and a closet in it. Â I can see the kids having LOTS of fun on the platform on the bottom of the stairs. Â It’s screaming dress up clothes and a stage to me!
Under the stairs I am hoping to put a “playing house” area. Â I have a doll bed and highchair along with a little cupboard that will work there. Â In fact, I kept many of my favorite things from doing childcare the first time. Â I always thought I might do it again.
I think we will wall off a little room so that two cribs can fit there so we have a quite place for infants to sleep-I’ve thought about putting a plexi-glass window in so I can see them sleeping.
I’ll be watching sales for a couch, television, desk and file cabinet….little by little we’ll get what we need.
I am super excited about all of the upcoming changes. Â I can’t wait to get into the house and can’t wait to get back to a job that I love and I can’t wait to get back to being just a hobby quilter and blogger. Â There is something really comforting about it all!!
Jo, family and friends having constantly asked me why I don’t sell the things I sew or quilt and my answer has always been ” because, then it becames work” I sew and quilt because it’s fun and relaxing for me. I totally understand why you are changing direction. Good luck on your new adventure.
Best wishes to you!!! You have such a great talent for quilting. I’m glad you will be doing it because you want to and not because you have to!
I’m basically a knitter, and about 7 1/2 years ago started a yarn dyeing business. It was a lot of fun for a while, but, as you said, turning a passion into a business takes some of the pleasure out of it. So, now I’m retired from dyeing, and am very happily knitting and dyeing as I please.
And now that I have the time, I’m quilting and loving it.
You are very smart to go back to child care and leaving the quilting for fun.
Good luck on your new – old endeavor!
Good luck! I agree it’s not nearly as much fun to do things when you “have” to do them. As much as I love quilting and sewing, I love it because I get to do it on my schedule. Best of luck with the kids – finding good childcare is tough, and I’d love to have someone like you watch my little guy! I’m a little far away, unfortunately…
Good for you, Jo! Following your heart is always a good thing! You’ve got a great space for you new adventure! Wishing you all the best and looking forward to what lies ahead for you.
Jo-
Everyone seems to be saying the same thing here.
Returning to an old passion is a good thing, as is allowing your old and new recreations(quilting, crafting, etc) sustain you. Wishing you all the best,
Stoney
My first reaction was ‘oh, no’, then I realized that was my thinking for me! You have tried daycare and know what you are in for and know it is for you! It takes all of us with our gifts and talents to make our world a happy place. Thank you for doing what you love.
do what’s best for you. good luck
I have a full time job now and just moved to boot so trying to straighten out the house and get my sewing room set up in the sunroom at the house,,people tell me they will pay me to make them a quilt and I say, I make my quilts for the love of it and if I love you enough you just might get a quilt..LOL
Your house is looking great. What a fun year you have ahead. New house, new job and new quilts. Just do not stop your blog.
as long as you are happy, that’s all that really matters in the end. i sure will miss your patterns if you and kelli don’t keep doing them. i really have learned to love your blog this last year, but you need to do what is best for you and your family! best of luck
sara
So, you’re not going to be the next Bonnie Hunter, traveling all over the world with your quilting career? :) It’s good to know what you love to do and doing it. I’ve never advertised my machine quilting because I’ve never wanted it to be a “job” job either.
Good for you, Jo, making a decision that is right for you! It will be fun to hear all about your child-care adventures on the blog too!
Your house is looking great! I am happy for you. I was a professional sewer years ago and it took my joy from sewing for a long time, I finally changed careers. I think you be be happy with your decision I was. My sewing is now just my time to make me happy and I am also able to tell people no when they want me to sew things for them because they know I know how. I tell them I am happy to show them how and help them make the items themselves. I love sewing things as gifts for people and surprising them though. I love reading your blog. Thanks for sharing with us. I don’t always respond to posts but I enjoy them all. By the way your Celtic Solstice quilt is very pretty, great color choices!
Lisa
I’m so glad to hear you’re going back to what you love doing. The pace you set for yourself didn’t leave much “me” time in your day, and that’s certainly something we all need. In addition, perhaps fairly soon, you will be having grandkids and you will want to devote time to them as well. Slow down a little, enjoy your life and we’ll be right here reading along with you!