Stories with Stitch People
Jessica Savage finds flexitime a welcome asset when it comes to unleashing her full design potential…
Stitch People
Hullohappystitchers! Crossstitchgivesbackinso manyways, butoneofthebig waysitgivesbacktome, professionally, isbyallowingmetoset myownworkschedule. Working9-5 limitedtheamountofflexibilityIhad foreachdaybutnow, whenthesunis shining, Idon’tstaycoopedupinside! Icantakemyhandshovelandmy compostandwhileawayafewhappy hoursinthegarden– becausetheboss saidIcould!
WhenIfirstbecameafreelance cross-stitchdesigner, myschedulefelt sonaughty: sleepingin(I’mnot a morningperson), startingworkat 11am, takinglongbreaks… Ifeltlike theslackestpersonintheworld! But thenIwouldputinhoursafterdinner eachnightwhenIwasatmymost alert. Byutilisingmymostproductive timesforworking, Iwasproducingfar superiordesigns, enjoyingmywork, andIgottogardenfortwohoursin themiddleoftheday!
Thiswork/lifebalanceiswhat mademewanttoworkformyself. Gettingupearly, forcingmyselfoutof bedwhenmybodyreallyneeded sleep, battlingtrafficandunfulfilling workandcrammingchoresand errandsintomyevenings, allledtoa versionofmethatwasrundown, unsatisfiedandunhappy.
ThesedaysI’mfarmorerelaxed. Istillworkthesamenumberofhours asIusedto, oftentimesmore, butthe hoursareplacedwhenI’mbestableto perform. Overall, Isleepbetter, I’m lessstressedand– mostimportantly – Igettocreatecross-stitchpatterns everysingleday! Forme, thisis definitelyonthewaytolivingmy bestlife!
Ifworkingforyourselfisyourjam, or evenifyoujusthavefreedaysduringthe weekorweekend, rememberthatyou gettodecidewhatanormaldaylooks like. Notsociety, notpastexperience, notthepeoplearoundyou, justyou… and, ofcourse, thecrossstitch.
Buildingacross-stitchfuelled lifestylethatIlovehasbeenthebest thingI’veeverdone. Weonlygetone life– sowhynotmakeitthelifeof yourdreams? Happystitching! Jess