Delusions Really Can Come True

Remember that one time when I inhaled too many chemicals and had this crazy idea to quit my job, plant a garden, buy a piano and have a baby?

I'll wait while you click over and read all about it...

I don't know if it was a premonition or if when I had the idea I liked it so much that I began to pattern my life in such a way that it would come true.

Fast forward almost three years from that point and the delusion doesn't seem so delusional anymore.

A couple of years ago I bought a piano.  Then I moved into a little house that very closely resembles the house in my daydream.  I haven't been able to plant a garden yet, but I do have the next best thing; a farmer's market a block away and every Saturday morning we walk down to get fresh veggies, eggs, and locally raised meat.

And the baby in a one of those sling things...

She's my world.

I am so in love with my life right now.

We're pretty close having our "dream."  But it's not easy.  And the biggest part of the dream, being freed from my forty hour a week job, hasn't happened.  Even with the full time job we are barely making ends meet.  I stayed home with Annelise as long as I possibly could after she was born, so we went a couple of months without an income.  Childcare isn't cheap, and due to my work schedule I have to pay more than if I worked a traditional Monday through Friday nine to five job.

So while it is unlikely that I will ever be able to quit my job and support us with my crafting as I would have it in my "delusion."  I have never stopped putting it out there as my intention.

Awhile ago a friend sent me a link to a contest at Uncommon Goods.  They were looking for bicycle themed items.  I entered.  I was nervous.  I didn't feel worthy.  I tend to think of myself as a crafter and not an artist.  When I saw all the other entries I felt a little out of my league.  But I thought I would just put it out there and let the Universe run with it.

When the contest was over I got an email stated that I didn't win, but that they really liked my item and would be contacting me about adding it to their store.  So I was shocked when they called the next day and told me that the original winner had declined they had decided to declare me the winner.  I actually cried when she told me.  It was what I needed at the moment.  Just a little bit of hope.

Of course this isn't going to be enough to quit my job and live exclusively off crafting, but it's a step in that direction.  I'm slightly overwhelmed right now.  I feel like a small time crafter that dove in to the deep end and am hoping that I can learn to swim before I drown.  I have so many worries (you do know me the worrier right?).  The biggest is keeping up with demand.  One of the disadvantages to working with recycled material is getting your hands on enough of the material that needs to be recycled.  So a small plee to my cycling friends:  your used cassettes and cogs - please send them my way.  I'm also concerned about creating a second job.  I love crafting.  Right now it doesn't feel like work.  I would like it to stay that way.  I want to continue to enjoy it and I don't want to feel like it is pulling time away from my daughter.  My life seems hectic enough throwing another commitment into the mix makes me a little nervous.  Right now I'm just trying to have a little faith and trust that the Universe brought me this opportunity and to trust that I'll have what it takes to see it through.

If you've never visited Uncommon Goods, click over and check it out.  There are so many cool gift ideas.  They recently did a piece on me on their blog, feel free to read it and soon they will be carrying my Sun Catchers.  I'm really excited about this opportunity and am looking forward to working with them.  Who knows where this could lead, maybe there's still a chance that my entire "delusion" will come true.