Are you ready? Here it is...
"You must have so much time on your hands?!"
Me (in my head): Ahem. Who told you that dirty lie?
Let me set the scene on how this question usually goes down:
I am selling at an in-person event.
New customer browses an array of my inventory...art, products, goods and jewelry.
Customer inquires about how they are made. I tell them the story of having a handmade woodburning business. (Sometimes, going in to great detail about what exactly woodburning entails and how slow the art process is.)
*Disclaimer: All this back-and-forth banter is completely enjoyable as I love sharing about my craft.*
But then, new customer widens eyes, and out comes the harmless, but aloof question.
So, how do I respond?
With a smile. Respectfully and truthfully, of course.
Hi, I'm Chelsea, most of you know me as an artist and creative entrepreneur who sells the things she makes. (More on that role in a separate blog post.)
But what a lot of you don't know is that, first and foremost, I'm a homeschooling mom of of four young children. AKA full-time mom, wife, cook, teacher, custodian, shopper, dictionary, photographer, butt-wiper (hey, just the 4 year old), and playmate.
My handmade business was the thing that I desperately needed to feel a part of me again. The extra work I created for myself by starting this business was to get in touch with a part of myself I had long forgotten after years of playing the role of 'just a mom.' My title of mom and artist is now a fluid one. I frequently jump in and out of all the roles multiple times a day. I somehow, miraculously, make time to get the creating part done. This making of time has been achieved by adopting a new system taught to me by my brilliant coach and I am just now starting to figure out - but honestly, most days I'm still winging it.
I get it, at first glance, my art looks like it takes time. And, you'd be right - it sure does! But, one thing I know for sure is that it doesn't come without many sacrifices and precious time stretched between these very busy mom/maker/artist hands.
Are you an artist and a mom? What are some of your challenges? What systems work for you? I'd love to hear them.
And if any of you are looking for a great start to help you on your creative journey, I'd love to point you in the direction of my business coach and fellow busy mom I referenced above, Kristyn Burney.
XOXO,
Chels
