Getting real on Instagram!

A few weeks ago, I opened up about something that's been bugging me for quite some time now... You all know it. You've all felt it. It's the dreaded BURNOUT!

Now, I've been burnt out before, but never like this. I have burnout on top of burnout. When you run a crafty biz you don't have much time for burnout recovery, do you? Nope. You job is to keep creating. To keep churning out the handmade goodness at the rate of a small factory. Ug, that is hard work. It's compounded when you have a staff that relies on you to help pay the rent. No matter how much stress you have, stress sucks!! Big. Time.

As some of you may have noticed I stopped making handmade goods for now. My Modern June Etsy  shop is on vacation and that I'm only selling fabrics on my website, Modern June and at Oilcloth Addict. Why? Well, that's a big question, and the answer requires us to sit down for over a long dinner while sharing a bottle of w(h)ine. For now, I'm just trying to open up and share a bit more in-the-now, after I've mentally processed it a bit, and I'm a little less raw.

So to kick-off my journey, I'm sharing my Instagram story from a few weeks ago:

It's an honor to have all day to play (around and draw all day) like this!! Not too long ago my days where filled with making cool loot! I really enjoyed making tablecloths and other useful goodies until a year ago. Work and staff management kept me away from my kids for 9-14 hours a day. Even when I was home I was working on the computer or at my sewing machine. I would go weeks at a time without a day off. Basically, I was more than exhausted. The more successful I was, the more there was to manage. Money, supplies, and Junies (my workers). When I started #modernjune 8 1/2 years ago I never really meant to run a company. I never imagined writing sewing books, or having a staff. I had no idea that all of these things were possible. I rode the waves of hard work and opportunity where they took me, rarely saying "no." Over committed was my middle name!! Until last year, when I caught myself in a lie!! I told a customer who was gushing over my booth filled with product, that I had a blast managing the making of it all. The fact was, I was tired and I missed being #mamahen! It nearly took me an entire year to whittle down Modern June to a manageable specialty #fabricshop, Oilcloth Addict! Now, everyday I try to be creative! I do a little drawing or crocheting before and after I #homeschool our teenaged kids. Every day I remind myself that #mycreativitydoesntneedtobemonetized. I remind myself that my self worth does not have to be tied to my success as an #entrepreneur and maker. Sometimes being a mom is everything! Soon enough, I'll have an empty nest and I'll be able to do all kinds of crazy things I never thought were possible! #grateful!

How have you beat burnout? Leave me a comment below so we can chat about it. Also, check out my Instagram and see daily drawings and much more!

Plans...

Baltimore Print Studios

I've been a little funky lately. I don't have a strategic plan for 2011, and what's worse is that I don't even want to do anything. (Even if I did buy the poster!) 

I've been thinking that I lack inspiration. Then yesterday, a friend mentioned that her father lacked ambition, and I realized that felt the same way. I told my husband this at bed time, and he said that I lacked motivation, that I was suffering from long term burn out. Whatever you want to call it, I must say I hate it. I don't do sluggish well. I'm a work-a-holic through and through. Laying around felling low is not my cup of tea.

This morning that same friend (Kathy our MJ shipping Junie-goddess-of-love) pointed out my Twitterscope for today. How funny and timely is this...

You are unable to suppress your enthusiasm now, yet you're not quite ready to swing into action. There's a lot at stake today and you may be overwhelmed by it all. Fortunately, you should be able to deliver on your commitments, so don't talk yourself out of participating. Ultimately, you will feel good about your contribution if you don't hold anything back.

We shall see. Will I get my mojo back today? I did wake up with an inkling of a plan, a glimmer of an idea, hopefully I'm back!  Heck, even a little enthusiasm would be fine for today!

xoxox,
Kelly

Progress Report: Yesterday's Twitterscope was fulfilled! I wasn't ready to get back in the swing of things but I had a lot of commitments, I didn't let myself sulk away from the days challenges! My Junies showed up for work, we had a blast and got a ton of work done. And... (drum rolling in the distance) I made a plan for 2011!!!  I went to bed happy, with my Mojo intack.

A bit of balance

Of late I am suffering from Burn Out. This is just not ok. With the busiest season upon me and school in full swing I just can not stop. So what to do. Well, cook of course. Today after working a full day I actually stopped working at 5:00 just like a real worker! I cleaned up the house and studio while the kids did webkinz on our computers. (they met and play online, weird right?)

I then took a break, flipping the channels I settled on Rachel Ray 30 Minute Meals. And then I did the unbelievable... I made what she was making! What was really shocking was that I actually had every single ingredient! Wow that panty list has helped out!

Let me tell you the BBQ Chicken Burgers with Slaw are super yummy! The kids wouldn't eat then but Mr. "Don I never eat burgers" loved them. I used ground turkey and also cut the fat and sugar in half. Still, they were wonderful! The slaw was great too. With tons left over I look forward to tomorrows lunch. Unfortunately the sweet potatoes fries are all gone!

Now with a full belly and bed time at hand I feel a bit of balance. Now if these kids would go off to bed and I could snuggle up for a movie with my man! I could get used to this! Happy weekend!