Transhumance Crafting.

The transhumance method of farming is well known in the alps, - moving from the winter home to the lush alpine meadows for the summer months.

It also exists in Wales, where the farmer often owns two cottages called Hendre (the winter home) and Hafod (the summer place).

I too have a similar lifestyle, making things upon my knee during the winter months.

And moving back to the studio during the warmer weather.

Well my bad back limited the time I could spend sitting this week, so I set about moving everything from the house to the studio.  {This move was spurred on by warm weather, and was in no way related to the end of the university term - when someone might wish to turn my store room into their bedroom!}

Unfortunately on completing the task this was my workbench!

Ah well, 'twas on a Monday morning the gas man came to call !

Handmade Monday

Inspired by 1stuniquegifts Handmade Monday I thought I should let you know 'what I have made this week'!!

My main achievement was to complete a challenge set by Linda Jones of the Wireworkersguild blog

Make a piece that can be repeated.

So here is my pendant

here is the pattern in a chain

When I mirrored the pattern I tried the idea of a teardrop

but settled on a central bead.

The earrings and evil eye necklace are available for sale on my shop Polly Polkadot

Backbreak Thursday

I recently discovered 1st Unique Gifts handmade Monday and thought I'd take part.

Unfortunately I invented my own event beforehand - Backbreak Thursday.

All you need to do is take one heavy task that is beginning to annoy you.  Go at it like a mad man ...

... and then spend the next week considering the error of your ways.

By Saturday evening the out of hours doctor had given me enough drugs to be able to walk again.  I am unable to get an osteopath appointment until Friday, so I left trying to care for two young children, unable to bend, twist, or lift.  

As to the pile of logs it will have to stay where it is.

Still I am sure that Osteopath fees are cheaper than heating oil!!

I mean: Give up the day job!

I shall miss the reliability of it, but I am leaving the day job.  - Well actually it was an evening job.

The self-employed income has become high enough to 'risk' it.  While the commitment needed by all the elements of my self-employment has become too much. - hence my absence from here for a while.

Here is to a whole new attitude!

Don't give up the day job!

So how did I become self-employed? 
Well, the first thing to admit is that I still have 9 hours of contracted work each week.
I had a few half hearted attempts at setting up a business, but when you have a regular income setbacks can put you off launching the business.
In September 2010 my eldest child started school full time, so I asked for extra hours at my workplace, but they were not available.
This I decided was 'the sign' I had been waiting for!
So I declared myself self-employed, bought a website and hit the craft fair scene!

10 reasons to NOT be self-employed in a rural area

I shouldn't give you rose tinted glasses, so it is only fair that I give you 10 reasons to not be self-employed in a rural area.
1. Lack of market
2. Lack of suppliers
3. Cost of transport and time to reach market
4. Slow broadband speed - for those that don't know, the further from your exchange you are the slower your speed.
5. Lack of contact with fashion - trends are not always obvious, take coffee shops, you expect them to offer latte, cappucino etc. but also have an area with sofa's and provide take aways.   When did that start?  Would you have caught on quickly to it?
6. Commercial property tends to be limited, and planning can be more restricted.
7. Courier costs tend to be higher due to lack of competition.
8.Your home becomes your workplace.
But all that said, I really can't think of a 9 and 10, so if you have an idea that you believe will work then it looks like a rural area is a good place to be self-employed.

Top 10 reasons to be self-employed in a rural area.

I live in rural Wales, and have done so, on and off since 1993.  Recently I decided to start up as self-employed.  Below are 10 of the reasons I think might be high on the list of reasons to make that choice in a rural area, but maybe you have some more ideas?

1. Lack of jobs
2. Low wages
3. Cost of petrol or public transport
4. The time it takes to travel anywhere!
5. The lack of child care may make standard employment difficult
6. If you are trading locally - big firms may be detered by the small market.
7. Broadband now offers rural areas the chance to 'access all areas'.
8. There will be less neighbours to object to noisy work or courier visits.
9. Houses tend to have larger gardens in rural areas, so you will have more space to locate your workshop or office - aka shed.
10. Great views from your office window.