So why did you ‘close’ your business Amy? ….for those that are curious and asked since reading my last post (here).
Well, I didn’t really ‘close‘ my business. ‘Transition’ is a better word. It is still my dream to ‘carry-on’ with a creative business ~ it will just look a little different when we begin a new chapter of Classic Amy Joanne.
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Let’s back up the train a bit…..
During the time of ‘creating the biz‘ ~ I had just lost my full time job at the age of 49 and up until this point I have worked full time (alongside of growing into a biz). It wasn’t easy going from a full time income to none, but my hubby said ~ “Go for it, build your dream business, I’ll support you, seems like the perfect time to try”….and so I did, I created a business with Creativity and all that I have learned thru Decorative Art over the past 30 years.
I was scared, I didn’t know how to live. We never lived without both our incomes ~ don’t get me wrong we didn’t ‘need anything’ but with two incomes we were living a lifestyle we could afford ~ eating out, vacationing, fixing our home, and simply enjoying life. And then I found myself saving tinfoil from leftovers, buying generic moisturizer, using cheap shampoo every other day, canceling magazine subscriptions and more, Yes, I was scared because prior to this ‘hiccup’ we lived abundantly.
I had to weigh out what I wanted more, another secure income or a dream.
I chose the dream and eventually got into a new rhythm of life over the next 8 years ~a few wonderful ‘things’ started to happen and shape who I was ~ instead of eating out I learned to cook, I shopped for vintage furniture and made them mine, My Art started to be recognized simply by constantly creating and sharing, I learned how to stretch a dollar and learned the difference between need and want, everything I learned began to contribute to the business, the business of Art & Home ~ it taught me about what was most important. Those were lean years but happier and more fulfilling.
I used this time wisely, using my ‘art education’ and creativity to build the biz and grow an audience and it was amazing! It grew steady over those 8 years…… until it didn’t. I began to see class averages at our Local Art Center drop from 30 people to 5 during the Covid years, I saw Zoom classes drop from 60 people to 3 once Covid was lifted, magazines were not being published any longer, paint & brush companies no longer paid out for articles, Chapters and Conventions were closing, books were becoming a thing of the past and pattern sales where dropping, all the ‘things’ I counted on for an income ~ I was still working 60 hours a week, but with-out the avenues or audience, and with-out the income. Reality was setting in.
I will say though…. that my time building the business was more than worthwhile in so many other ways and I wouldn’t change a thing. The friendships alone were the icing on the cake.
At this point, I needed (and wanted) to find a source of income…even if just to keep Classic Amy Joanne alive (truthfully I wasn’t even earning enough to keep the website going)
…..and that is the ‘Why’ of it all.
So….I set out to find ‘work’, work that would be fulfilling for my creative soul, while I decided what Classic Amy Joanne would be next!
…and I did find 2 part time ‘jobs’ (I’ll share soon) that both fill my creative soul and leave room to continue to grow ‘Classic Amy Joanne‘. Maybe not in the direction I intended but maybe into something even more full-filling and beautiful, I will be ready for my new Purpose when it comes my way.
When I wrote my last post (Good Grief), I felt like a weight was lifted, It felt like I made peace and now I can move forward ~ Maybe there is something to ‘this journaling’ thing.…and of course my Faith.
In the meantime and in this on-line space, this Blog will remain as a way to stay connected and share creativity during this transition for ‘Classic Amy Joanne’, continuing to share all things Art & Home. ….keeping true to what we are all about ‘Sharing in Creativity‘.
We’re taking it one day at a time….. living in Faith, waiting on my next Purpose….and dreaming again.
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Enjoy ‘One Day at a Time’ thru our Daily Dose (found here), a place to find a daily dose of inspiration!
