So far, 2022 has been bustling with changes around my work life. I decided, rather abruptly, to discontinue selling my work wholesale, for the most part, towards the end of the year. I had a lot of struggles in the studio for months leading up to a stressful holiday season, and I just came to the end of my rope. I've been wholesaling my work for about 15 years, and I needed a change in so many ways. Creatively its been stagnating, physically its been demanding and repetitive, and mentally its become rather boring. So, I just decided to stop. This doesn't mean I'll never go back, but I needed to make room for other things: new ideas that never got to see the light of day because wholesale always took over; more connection to my retail customers who I never have time or energy to reach out to; partnerships and collaborations that excite me. So...now's the time for those things!
The downside to discontinuing wholesale is that it was a big chunk of my income. Needing a way to supplement that, I took a new job as Design Consultant for Ethan Allen. While it might seem counterintuitive to create the space (time) for new things, and then go to work outside the studio, in reality it is helping to move some creative energy and get me excited to be back in the shop. I'm working 3 days per week at Ethan Allen, and find that now, when I'm in the studio I'm more focused on doing the things that I really *want* to do. Of course, there are always things that one does not want to do in one's work, but the equilibrium is back. It used to be that I couldn't wait to get out of there at the end of the day, and now I find that I want to go in on my day off and try out a new thing, or write this blog, or take some pictures. I am excited about some new designs in the works, and really focusing on what will bring me joy, so that I can share it with you.
And, as luck would have it, I really like working with Ethan Allen. The design work is fun and is using my brain in a new way. I get to help people create spaces they love to live in, which is really an extension of what I have been doing most of my adult life, just on a different scale, and in a more holistic way. Ethan Allen as a company is committed to integrity in craftsmanship, and still makes most of their products in the US, which is very important to me. So, this shift makes sense in so many ways.
I look forward to sharing the new things with you as they come along, and if you have a design project you'd like help with please reach out! I'd love to help you create your dream space, whether its an installation for your wall, or an entire overhaul of your living room!
