About 4 years ago I started a custom quilting business out of my home. I purchased a mid-sized machine and set to work. My client base grew steadily and I found great satisfaction in the work. About a year and a half ago, the business really took off and I upgraded to a long-arm machine w/computerized options. I had 5-6 quilts in my sewing room/office at any given time and they just kept coming in.
Around this same time I got offered a job with an organization I had worked closely with through my work on the trade show. Fearing a missed opportunity if I passed it up, I jumped on board. I now had 3 jobs/businesses...all of which I could run from my at-home office. What I also had, over the next few months, were ulcers. Both of my office jobs have the same January deadline since they work in conjunction with each other and the vast majority of quilt clients wanted their quilts done by Christmas. I was living under one deadline after the other.
Don't get me wrong, I was glad for the work and job opportunities. There are a lot of people who don't have either right now so I'm not complaining. But, this spring I decided I had to let one of them go and the quilt business seemed like the easiest one. I made the decision, told a few clients and even posted it on Facebook (where the entire world could see it...ugh). However, the machine hasn't sold as of yet and, low and behold, the quilts keep coming in. "Could you do just one more before for me before your done?" and "It's just a little one...". Since I still have the machine and could use the extra cash, I've been taking them. And...that's how I continue to have quilt business even though I had every intention of closing up shop. In fact, as I write this I should be working on one of the 7 quilts I have sitting here because I have several others that are still on the To-Do list.
So...I could sit here and spin this into a 'grasping opportunities' schpeel or I could just get back to work and make the most of what's been set before me.
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