metamorphosis

metamorphosis= transformation or rebirth

I started this blog back in January after many months and years of fantasizing of starting my own studio. I put it blogging aside and have thought over the last 6-7 months about posting to here but remained hesitant as I've undergone many changes in my life over this period.

At the end of January I lost my job of over 7 years as a senior designer working on custom rug and carpet design. I was shocked, devastated, afraid, excited, angry, hopeful, relieved, worried just to name some of the emotions I have experienced over the last 6 months. It is pretty ironic reading back to my early January 1st entry here. I will still be exploring this process here but will no longer be doing so anonymously.

I realized pretty quickly that this loss was also a wonderful opportunity to make my own dreams a reality. Dreams are funny though because sometimes when you come face to face with them you flounder and don't know where to begin. I began my metamorphosis by doing a lot of introspection, reading, researching, talking with supportive friends and family and giving myself time to revel in this chance to enjoy my life and recreate it.

As much as I loved moments of my corporate career it had become terribly unsatisfying over the last 2 years as I became bored, unchallenged and lost creative enthusiasm. In hindsight perhaps these were the exact reasons that I lost my job but I also worked very hard and was a loyal employee; something that is becoming more of a novelty in today's corporate environment.

I decided pretty early on after my job loss that I didn't want to pursue the same type of career path. I contemplated going into Non-Profit arts, beginning a Non-Profit (which I still aim to do one day), working in a Museum environment or working on a farm. After these ideas of radical change subsided I slowly realized the value in the many years I've invested in the world of textile and carpet design. I love so many aspects of design, I love working with clients to create something that evolves from a collaborative vision into a reality.

The process of collaboration is one that I love and am fascinated by. It is something I have explored over the past years as I've participated in and organized many collaborative art projects with fellow artist friends. I will be launching a design studio (virtual) with the dream of providing designs that come from a diverse group of designers and artists. These designs will not be trend driven, they will be created by individuals for the sheer joy of the process of creating. There will be designs that stand alone, photography, design collections, designs that are by anonymous individuals and designs that are collaboations between more than one designer. This is an aspect that I am so excited to explore. Please join me here until I launch my website (www.hkpowerstudio.com). For news, sneak peaks, inspiration and bits of knowledge I will share about this process of launching my dream business.

new beginnings

So I had a revelation that I just need to start blogging here to make this someday studio become a reality that much sooner. I am not going to say who I am but I'll give you some info along the way about what I do now and what i want to be doing someday. Yup, it's 2010 and I've got a goal to leave my daytime job and "retire" to self employment by the time I'm 40 (which gives me 3 years). I set this goal for myself about 2 years ago and since then have been trying to figure out what it is exactly that I want to do and what do I need to be doing today to get there.

Well...starting here feels like a first step. Albeit an anonymous step but and I hope that's okay for now. I've been struggling with the idea of walking away from a successful career that I went to college to initiate and have spent the last 10 years building upon. Okay, but the thing is, it's no longer satisfying. I'm really sad about this but I just got some inspiration from Kim Werker who came to the revelation that she was not a "finisher". She sold a successful web based business and walked away from editing a magazine publication once she realized that she was no longer happy. She was no longer challenged, no longer learning and she had essentially turned something she loved (a hobby) into something she could no longer enjoy. She didn't want to become resentful so she took a leap in a new direction.

I wish I could take that kind of leap but I'm afraid, need I say more? So I am going to explore my thoughts and ideas about venturing out of corporate America and into my own "Someday Studio" here, anonymously. I hope you will join me in this adventure to learn more about myself and eventually take my own leap of faith that will led me to a more happy and fulfilling life of my own making.