Making Stuff Happen.

So  – if you know me, you’ll know that I am always up to something or other. I find that throwing myself into a challenge is the best sort of therapy there is (I have some experience of therapy, I know these things).

I’m a pragmatic person, and don’t believe that your luck is made by, well, luck as it goes! I personally think it’s a combination of continuing to work at it, seeing everything as an opportunity, and being able to adapt when things don’t work out.

Now I can’t say that that has made me a multi millionaire, but the age I am now, I’m quite clear about what I want in life and what makes me happy, and though being a multi-millionaire in its-self is, I’m sure, a great goal for some it’s not mine. What I’ve searched for in life are a few things.

1. To be able to work with vulnerable people (I knew this from working with children as a Primary School Teacher) I am able to do through my role at Tees Valley Arts, and the workshops I do too.
2. Have opportunities and outlets for being creative. This sounds more simple than it is. I have what I have heard called a ‘portfolio career’ so I make my way in life with some paid work from different sources, from some selling, some workshops and whatever else comes up. This doesn’t leave a lot of time for the creative stuff, so any time I have to make is precious.
3. Having freedom (see above). I am really fortunate – I do have some days which I’m tied to in the week, but have loads of wriggle room, and I try to keep a day I can use for me/swapping/workshops, which works really well. Having freedom is a vital part of what I do, and as I am a long term Fibromyalgia sufferer, means if I need to I can use that one day to recharge – sometimes that means a day in bed.
4. Working with and helping others. I love working in out team at the shop. It means the world to me, likewise our market and Saltburn Farmers’ Market. I am part of these mini-communities, and within each one are people who inspire, support and are brilliant fun! At TVA I’ve recently written research on how we can support our local Arts and Makers communities, so more on that as it progresses.

There’s always something happening. You have to talk to lots of people, keep your eyes open, separate the real opportunities from those which will distract you from where you want to go (I have learned that not every opportunity is worth seeking further.) Some, however do seem to have dropped in your lap from who knows where… Keeping your eyes open and the conversations gong sometimes really pays off.

A Change at Tea Corner

All this talk of opportunity, and I can’t yet tell you about the one that really has been dropped at my lap, but can say that something exciting is in the offing, and it’s where my teas and a major local tourist attraction meet…. I’ll leave that with you for now.

So, there will be some changes. I made a decision a while ago, based on where the tea sales were going and who was buying my tea, to have a bit of a shake up.

The main changes I made were based on the buying demographic. Many of my buyers are men, yet I sell a brand of tea labelled in what I consider to be a somewhat female manner, and have wanted to make a change to this for some time.

I didn’t want to throw out the baby with the bathwater, but have decided to rename the tea brand, away from Ruby and Blue. So it will very soon be called Taaadaaadaaaaa…..

Whole Lot Of Rosie Teas. 

I love the song ‘Whole Lotta Rosie’ by AC-DC. I suppose I identify with the lyrics. It’s sort of  flattering in a round about sledgehammer way, written in 1977 when feminism played no part in rock music but tells of a love of an ample lady (such as me!)

Wanna tell you story
About woman I know
When it comes to lovin’
She steals the show
She ain’t exactly pretty
Ain’t exactly small
Fourt’two thirt’ninefiftysix
You could say she’s got it all

Labels will change too  – less of the flowers and more of the plain cups of tea.. still hand-drawn by me. I won’t be taking away my personal touch. The new website and FB pages will have less of a female lilt. I’m going for a mid-century feel.

Watch this space…