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My big news... I think????

My big news... I think????

@Maggie @SJT63 @Anastasia

I really cannot remember what made me think of this idea. I am sure I will remember at some stage. It was simply just some thoughts I was having. For many years, I have fixed broken things. China and ceramics mainly. It was on the odd occassion, and not really looking for something to fix, it just came along, it was broken and I really wanted to fix it. I have fixed some electricals too, nothing that needs rewiring at all. I never asked any money for it, I just did it.

I am very patient, I like to stick with something and find a solution to the problem/s, I do not give up too easily and I actually enjoy it alot. This is in regards to mending broken items/ electricals I am talking about.

I (think) I was just sitting having some time out and thinking about things. It was quite sudden that this idea started forming in my head. It was a strange experience, it was just kind of flowing, so I went with it.

I decided to put a note up in a local group I am on. I put my idea out there to see if there would be any interest in it?

I certainly was not ready for what came back! I had 39 people comment! It was insane. I had never had that before. I was quite overwhelmed with the response. I was thinking maybe one or two comments perhaps, but I got 39! I was so very much supported with the idea from everyone and everyone was so positive about it. I live in a small regional town and it certainly means a lot when you have the locals support you in a venture.

Anyway, moving along, it happened all so fast. Next thing I know, that night I am creating a place for the locals to go to, to come and see me regarding my idea.

I think right about now is the time I should tell you about my idea. I had the idea that I was going to start mending things. Broken items, small electricals and so on. This is the idea I put out in the group I am in. I do mainly focus on materials though, such as china and ceramics. I will do glass as well. It is my main focus I should say. A couple of months ago, I came across a book called Kintsugi. I actually want to buy it because I was enjoying reading it.

Kintsugi is the Japanese art that teaches that broken objects are not something to hide, but to display with pride.

It is an actualy art form that repairs broken objects, and then infuses the broken reapired parts with gold. (Not real gold)

Items that have been broken and are sentimental do not have to be thrown out and are most of time able to be mended.

By mending broken items, it gives me the chance to use art as therapy and is part of what helps my healing process through difficult and painful times.
I call it art, because it is art to me.
So the following day after this has happened, I am up and ready to go, just like that. People had a place to go, I had started a mini side business and I was off and racing. This all happened in less than 24 hours! That was the 17th November.

It is still the 26th for me, the 27th for most of you at this time. In the last ten days I have had my first two customers.
Customer 1 is coming to pick her item up tomorrow and customer 2, I went and picked up her items yesterday. I have had to stem the flow sadly but I am offering to put people on the waiting list for when jobs are coming to a close and I can take more on.
If that is not enough, I have also been asked if I do workshops. I have responded that it will be something I look into later next year, so some are asking to be put on the email list I have offered, so when I am ready I cant put out some emails to gauge what interest there is.
I really have had no time to connect with myself about all of this happening. It was so quick and all systems go when it happened. This last week has been immensely challenging and the work itself is very time consuming and you do have to problem solve. One of the great things about this though is people are not in any great hurry.
What I have started is really changing people's lives and my own. I actually still cannot believe it is real. To abide by Sanes rules, I cannot post the name of my business. It does have great meaning, but I cannot share it sadly! I need to slow down so that I can figure out what I am doing and to catch up with how I am feeling.
I am attaching some photos of what I am currently foxing and my next job! The Stein is what is being picked up tomorrow. The vintage oak chairs are my next job. There are three. The one chair that is still intact is going to be used to restore the two other chairs. I am also working on another ceramic job too, but that is a freebie, and for a friend. Other than that I have put all jobs on hold, until I cant catch up with things, as there is so much else to do other than this. I am trying to balance things more. Vintage oak chairsI will send a photo of the stein tomorrow when it is complete.
So, that is my big news. I probably have not written this how I would have wanted to. I am just truly tired.
I havn't really had anyone to share this with. Of course, I have told a few people. It has been in passing though, so no real long conversations have been able to happen. It's all good though. I still think my story is somehow a bit magical, so I am really just sharing the magic. Ramble. xx

107 replies

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In response to: My big news... I think????

Re: My big news... I think????

I miss being hugged. Thank you @Anastasia

In response to: My big news... I think????

Re: My big news... I think????

I haven't ever tried. I'll pop back to see piccy shortly x

In response to: Re: My big news... I think????

Re: My big news... I think????

Sounds like you've been through the wars, @Powderfinger ! Your poor sore foot, on top of everything else that's going on with you. I have been thinking of you these last few days. You are such an inspiration to me because even when life throws you a curveball, you're there figuring out how to do things to the best of your ability, while lifting your community. Or... something like that, anyway! I'm not the most eloquent of people these days. Your dedication and your perseverance and your care is really inspiring. Best of luck with the chairs, and the move and all the other sh*t that's going on.

In response to: Re: My big news... I think????

Re: My big news... I think????

@Gwynn

Hi. My entire life has been the wars, though this last year and currently is no different. I think even a blind man could see change is needed and a lot of it. I am tired of fighting wars. Wars that others create and that I create with myself.

I read your response which was so lovely and thought about it. It conincides with a few realisations I have had today about myself. I focus more on everything that is wrong with me, mor so that what is right with me. I am very hard on myself and have high expectations. The thing is I only do this with myself. I am very gentle with other people and don't have unusually high expectations of anyone else. I am going to continue therapy next year.

Back to what you wrote. You put it in a way I understand. To learn that I am in inspiration to yourself and @Anastasia and the other things you have said are true has lifted my spirits a little bit. You have pointed things out that I need to hear. Thank you for a positive response and for lifting my spirits a bit.

In response to: Re: My big news... I think????

Re: My big news... I think????

That makes me happy to hear @Powderfinger that @Gwynn and I were able to lift your spirits just a little. Sleep well friends x

In response to: Re: My big news... I think????

Re: My big news... I think????

A bit of an update.

I took a full day off today. I am going to take another full day off tomorrow. I managed to get a telehealth appt with a doctor through health direct this morning. I had tried to see one before everything was going to close down and I just couldnt manage to get in to a see a doctor. My doctor was fully booked out.

Long story cut short, he diagnosed possible plantar fasciatis. his advice. Strict instructions to rest my feet. I can take pain meds at the same time. Ice my feet. Go and get a compression sock. Get in to see a doctor as soon as possible. The possible diagnosis makes sense to me.

Here is a link so I dont need to explain it.
Plantar Fasciitis | What is Plantar Fasciitis by Sydney Heel Pain

So I am going to call the surgery I attend on Monday and try get into see a doctor. I wont be able to see my doctor though.

I will not be able to stop working. I need income, but I will reduce my activities and I will change my work policies around a bit so I can also spend time on my recovery. I work for myself thankfully, so I can call the shots within being reasonable of course.

I am on holidays till the 16th anyway.

I have been reflecting. I have worked damn hard on these chairs and for long hours on some days. I realise that I did not take care of myself very well. Too many very late nights and little sleep. No days off. Stressed myself out and so on. I was using the chairs as a distraction too for things I am not coping with. I guess I just put everything I ahd into them and neglected myself, thinking I was taking care of myself. In some ways I was, in others I was not.

It is what it is. I am going to make changes and I have again learnt a lesson/s.

In response to: Re: My big news... I think????

Re: My big news... I think????

@Anastasia

You both really did. Thank you. What goes around comes around. Goodnight myboy.

In response to: Re: My big news... I think????

Re: My big news... I think????

I wanted to leave this news separate, even though it is to do with the chairs.

As most of you know, I bought a workbench. I included photos here in this thread in one of my posts. I am not sure if I mentioned it at the time, but the guy I bought it from also fixes furntiure. He buys it, does it up and sells it. A bit different to what I do, but nevertheless does the same as I do. Anyway, when he dropped the work bench off, we got talking for a bit. He saw the chairs and we had a bit of a chat about it.

After that chat he said to stay in touch and let him know if I needed anything. He was really nice. I said I would send him a photo of the finished chairs as we had exchanged phone numbers and thought hey could eb a new friend for me. Later that day I found hoim on Facebook and added him as a friend. We hadnt spoken for a week or two and on Thursday I got a tect message from him. He was asking how I went with the chairs.

So, we had a min conversation via text. Long story cut short. He is snowed under with work and just not able to get around to jobs that need doing. He asked me to come around and have a chat to see if we can work something out, so he can pass some of the workload onto me. I was a bit blown away, I wasn't expecting that to happen at all.

I have arranged to go over to his house, which is not far from me. I will be going there on Monday. That is the thing about small regional towns. People think there is no work. I can tell you, there is plenty of work to be had here. Some people I think just miss city life. I do not miss city life. I can go to Perth anytime I need to, but I do not go often.

One of the things of the many that I love about living here is that there are no Huge places near me for four hours either way. I think it is lovely. I live in one of the most beautiful places in Australia and it is really all about community where I live.

I have not decided what I am going to do moving forward. I have been reflecting a lot and I am going to making some big changes. It is not about new years resolutions at all. I do not do new years resolutions. It is about seeing that my life desperately needs change and that I want change for me.

So, I will see what happens on Monday and ask him to give me some time to think things over after we have met and chatted.

In response to: Re: My big news... I think????

Re: My big news... I think????

@Powderfinger , I'm so glad you're going to start taking better care of yourself, and to be kinder to yourself rather than measuring yourself by your high expectations. My friend tells me over and over again that "self-care is not selfish" and that was something I really needed to hear. I can relate about doing the chairs as self-care but neglecting other parts of self-care. Even if this lead with the bloke doesn't work out for whatever reason, you can still run @Powderfinger's Repair and Restoration Service through Facebook on your own bat. 🙂 Best wishes.

In response to: Re: My big news... I think????

Re: My big news... I think????

Oh @Powderfinger

That does sound painful. So passionate you pushed through the pain to keep working. You really are remarkable. Please do use this as a lesson to take better care of yourself hun!

👂☹️🤗✔️

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