May I have your attention please!

At the request of friends, I am posting about my new FULL TIME business venture: Jillry.

Yes, you heard right! I am finally devoting all of my attention on my jewelry business. After 13 years of jewelry making, this day has finally come. I can hardly believe it, I just want to pinch myself!!!

Screeeeeech! Hold up a second. I was prodded by the beautiful Lindsey to tell my story. So, grab a coffee, tea, or whatever choice of caffeine you may have and have a seat with me.

All my life I've sort of bounced from job to job. I graduated from LSU in Fine Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design. My senior year I was contacted by a local photographer/graphic designer who wanted me to join his company as soon as I graduated. It felt like a dream come true. Two years later and I was twiddling my thumbs on the job. Graphic design is a very competitive field and the work just wasn't there.

I moved on to an association management firm where I managed associations and planned their conferences. Stayed there two years. Learned a LOT including patience and self worth. I learned not to ever let anyone talk down to you, no matter how much higher up on the totem pole they are from you. I also met a lot of dear, dear friends that I still stay in touch with to this day. One I call my BFF. One strong gal helped me find my spiritual side. You get the point.

Bounce, bounce and I ended up being administrative assistants to real estate agents. I loved the organization part, I was bored to tears with the rest. Exactly two weeks ago (on a Wednesday) my boss called me into his office at 4:30pm. Told me he was sorry, but he had to let me go. Again, I was in a situation where the business just wasn't there. (Damn economy.) I was told he admitted he felt sick letting me go. Which of course made me feel a tiny bit better... :)

The past few weeks I've been on the job search, but to be honest I wasn't seeing anything that was setting me on fire. While I was submitting my resumes, I was doing so half-heartedly. In the meantime, I was home doing what I love best: making jewelry and NESTING.

Man can this woman nest. J was walking in the door every evening to a fragrant home with dinner on the table, our surroundings clean and tidy, laundry done and I would even get a wild hair and take the trash out - eh hmm, HIS job ladies!

Monday my friend Michelle texted me, telling me to bug the lady she works with who I sent my resume to the week before. So, I did. The lady told me there were two job opportunities, but that I had to do some testing first. She sends me 30+ miles into town to "test", fill out a gazillion forms and watch a stinking video. I was there for over 2 hours.

Needless to say, I was exhausted and antsy to get home when I was done. Driving home, I thought about this possible job opp. Every single bone in my body was screaming NOOOO!!! Don't do it!! How can I not? I would sass back at myself. I have to get a job. But I don't want another desk job!! Yes, I'm crazy like that.

About ten minutes of dreaming and I had my mom on the phone. I always call her when I need to talk things out, find clarity and get an opinion that matters. She was excited and supported the idea I had of trying to work on my jewelry business full time. She even offered to help me when I got busy!!

The second I walked in the door I went straight to my ledger, worked on numbers until it made sense. I. Can. Do. This. I thought, my heart soaring.

Two hours later dinner is cooked and I'm nervously waiting on J to get home so I can "present" my idea to him. He shows up, gives me my kisses and heads for the shower. I can hardly wait to sit down to dinner to tell him! I make our plates, head toward the table and KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

You have GOT to be kidding me. My sis and nephew have stopped by for a visit. We eat dinner while chit chatting and J turns his head to me and says: So how was your job thing today?

I squirm in my seat a little. Can we talk about it after company leaves? I ask. I love my sister and nephew, but at this point I was considering physically picking them up and tossing them out the door. They left soon after my comment.

When I did tell J he seemed very tentative... he didn't show any emotion but said he felt that if I could make it work, then great. I could always go back to work if it didn't, right?

I tried not to let it get me down. I knew in my heart that I could make it work.

The next morning I received 3 orders before 10am. I was sure to text him about it. Later in the day I received a text from him stating that while he realizes he doesn't show it, he's excited and happy for me.

And now we're here. :) Today was my second day on the job and I am crazy in love. I was meant to do this. I've been dreaming about opening my own boutique one day and it actually feels doable at this point.

So that's it! Here I am, sitting in my pajama pants in a clean, uncluttered house with a pot of red beans and rice on, blogging my little heart out. Next I'll package up all my orders for the day. Maybe I'll create more new items, or work on the custom orders I have waiting for me. I am my own boss. Ahhhh!!!!

There's so much more to say, but I'm going to close shop for now. I have some creating to do. *beam*

xo Jill