Being a New Mom and a Jewelry Designer
Becoming a new mom has transformed my life in ways I never expected. Amid the sleepless nights and endless diaper changes, I stumbled upon a remarkable opportunity: diving deeper into my passion for jewelry design. From nurturing my little one to creating beautiful pieces, this journey has been both challenging and rewarding. If you find yourself juggling motherhood while pursuing your passion, here are some insights to help you achieve success.
Motherhood and Creativity
Adjusting to motherhood can feel overwhelming. There were days when I thought I might drown in the demands of caring for my child. However, I discovered that this new chapter sparked my creativity like never before.
Creating jewelry became my sanctuary amidst the chaos. For instance, during my baby’s afternoon naps or late into the night, I found precious moments to express my emotions through design. These periods of reflection allowed my mind to wander and gave birth to new creative ideas, rejuvenating my spirit.
Finding Your Creative Space
A crucial element of crafting success is establishing a dedicated space for your creative work.
For me, that meant setting up a new small, cozy corner in my home, filled with jewelry-making tools, beads, and design inspirations. A space I could still monitor my son and still enjoy crafting. I fit my light box and my laptop and some candles for some ambience into this space so it becomes everything I need but with a cozy feel. A designated area not only helped me focus but also served as a constant reminder of my creative goals and made it easier to continue to pursue my dreams. Sure, my main studio is still in a separate part of my home, but at least having this secondary space next to my baby's play area allows me to be both a Mom as well.
Consider the impact of a well-organized workspace. According to studies, a personal workspace can increase productivity by up to 25%. Making your environment inviting may spark your creativity more robustly.
Juggling Both Worlds
Managing time effectively is one of the biggest challenges for any new mom. I don't have any tips or bright ideas to share, as I'm only shy of 5 months in as a new mom; and as you know, each month brings new challenges as a baby is rapidly growing. So what works for me today, may not work next week.
When I became a mother, my routine changed drastically. It was exhausting at first. Feedings, diaper changes, and nap times filled my day, so I had to carve out time for my jewelry design. In the beginning, it was all about rest and my son. But as he got older and I begun to heal from the trauma of birth, I begun to plan how to fit my hobbies, self care and my Jewelry Business into my dads. For example, my baby begun to wake around 4-5am in the morning like I have always done throughout my life. He has peaceful mornings where he is content to do some tummy time and independent play. This has given me an hour or two to myself which I have dedicated to my biz. As the day goes on, less time is given to myself and more time to my son. He and I do a lot of interacting and talking and reading books. Somewhere in there I manage to take a few minutes at a time to clean and eat.
It is very important to me when I engage with my baby, I give my full attention. Then, when it's time to create, I devote myself entirely to my jewelry making. This method has helped me maintain balance and significantly reduced the stress of multitasking.
Embrace Imperfection
As a perfectionist, my journey has taught me to embrace imperfection.
I had to learn to accept that my jewelry might not always match my original vision, and that is perfectly fine. The same applies to motherhood—things rarely go as planned! Acknowledging that imperfections often lead to the most beautiful creations and memories has been liberating. In fact, studies show that embracing imperfection can enhance overall happiness by 30%.
Social media is a blessing and a curse. More of a curse for Moms. The criticism and judgment cannot go understated. Virtually every single video of a baby or a mom comes with a slew of critics. Half aren't even mothers. So even this blog post I'm sure will garnish some silly criticism. So I've long since accepted that I will never be a perfect mom. I have to do what works for me and my son. I only welcome criticism if that individual is financially providing for my son, feeding him, housing him or changing his diapers. If they aren't doing those things, then they do not have a leg to stand on. Their criticism will fall on deaf ears.
And I recommend for peace of mind, that others do the same. And you can always cut out toxic people out of your life if they are hurting your peace.
Takes a Village
A support system is vital on any journey. Us ladies are realizing more and more that we don't need a man to be happy, but that doesn't mean that we don't need our own Village.
As I navigated motherhood and my jewelry business, I reached out to friends, family, and fellow creative moms. Having a network allowed me to share experiences, seek advice, and get feedback on my designs as well as Motherhood. "It takes a Village!". And it was a Village that came together to drive me to Civic Hospital where my midwives were waiting, 6 hours away. A visit to my friends in Orangeville didn't last more than 24hrs. At 36 weeks, and 24 hours into my Mat leave, Ethan decided that he was going to break free from "Prison" and make his debut into the real world.
Finances have been very tough, and it has been my Village of support that has helped me manage the supplies needed to raise my son. The cost of living has skyrocketed and despite that I strive to not change my prices as best as possible. I don't believe in this "Greedflation" but it does become a challenge when purchasing supplies. That's where having a handcrafting community has been great help. Ottawa doesn't have the same "crafting supply streets" that Toronto has. So its been necessary to lean on other's who know of great sales online for supplies and where to source the best materials. Not to mention finding the few hidden jewelry supply stores around Ottawa and the Gem Shows that pop up.
Celebrating Small Wins
Along the way, I've learned the importance of celebrating small achievements.
Whether completing a new jewelry piece, receiving positive feedback from customers, or enjoying quality time with my little one, every small win deserves recognition. Celebrating these moments not only motivates me but also provides a sense of fulfillment, especially during tough days. Some days I get nothing done, but I have to remind myself that the biggest achievement is being there for Ethan, keeping him alive, fed and happy. Those are daily goals that I always meet. Ensuring he has tummy time, practicing sitting up and grabbing toys, reading books and getting fresh air. My personal goals can wait until the time is right. And when needed, I can call in reinforcements so that I can practice self-care.
Crafting a Life You Love
As a new mom and jewelry designer, I have discovered the delicate balance between nurturing my child and pursuing my passion. Following this path is about finding harmony, appreciating imperfections, and staying inspired and positive.
With every challenge, I remember why I started this journey. For every sleepless night spent with my son, there is a moment of pure joy when he laughs and smiles and knowing that he feels loved.
If you are muddling through motherhood while trying to fit in your passions, remember: take it day by day, set small goals and take things one step at a time. Success is not just measured by outcomes but also by the joy and fulfillment you craft along the way. Maybe listing your handcrafted piece takes several hours instead of a half hour because you have to pause constantly throughout the day to care for your little one, but you WILL list that item and meet your goals. But you'll do it on your own unique schedule.
Embrace the journey; you may uncover that each challenge is merely a stepping stone toward creating a life you love and inspire someone else.
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