Back in the saddle (or chair) again

I was a middle school science teacher for 30 years, then I retired in 2015 and moved to FL (where else?) But I had a a plan! I would make and sell jewelry as a part time gig. I didn’t decide overnight; it was a plan that was nearly ten years in the making. When we had our basement refinished in 2007, I decided part of the space would be devoted to creating my jewelry studio, since my den craft table was not the best place to do sawing, hammering,  and soldering. I had already begun some basic beading and stringing work in my family’s den, but realized if I truly wanted to make my dream a reality, I would need the proper space to create. So my hubby made some sturdy wooden work tables with shelving and I purchased the necessary equipment and supplies to begin my new life a “ jewelry artist.” I never considered myself “artistic,” but I was always crafty and good with tools and had a good work ethic and some creativity. I had dabbled in a variety of arts and crafts through the years, finally settling on jewelry as my final destination in my path toward artist. Once I had my studio set up with the essentials, I began reading and watching videos on how to do general metalsmithing work. then I opened my Etsy shop, vended my wares at some local art and craft fairs, and I’ve been at it ever since. I would love to say it’s been a smashing success and I’ve been blown away by all the love and attention my jewelry has been given and excited to see my work flying off the proverbial Etsy shelves, but no, that’s not how life works. Yes, I’ve done a few craft fairs, yes, I’ve made jewelry, but no, I’m not traveling every weekend to high demand crafts shows, and no, my Etsy shop is not on the front page of its website. Instead, there’s been lots of down time- family issues, ill/dying parents, arthritis in thumb bad enough to warrant surgery, laziness, and the bane of recent retirees- depression from a seeming lack of purpose. But now I’m back. Or so I say. Etsy shop has been restocked, thumb recovery mostly there, now I’m just trying to dig through all the rigamarole to get my Etsy shop profitable. This is not easy, as there are sooooo many things profitable Etsy shops have to do to get that way through  top-notch tags, attributes, titles, photos, etc., and there’s still no guarantee that viewers will become buyers. Yikes!