Lampworking Full Time vs. Part Time?? Help! [Archive]

anneli

2007-08-16, 4:40pm

Hi Everyone:

I have been making beads now for just a little over 2 years. I have been selling most of my work on eBay and I have just recently starting taking special orders also. I love creating with glass...just love it...it's totally me! I have a part time "regular" office job that is becoming boring, repititious and just downright bland. The work at the office has slowed down considerably, so I've asked my boss for Tuesdays off several times (that is my 1/2 day). It would be a total of 16 hours a month..big deal! She has NO over and over again..and I just don't understand why. Most days I have nothing to do but stare at the walls or surf on eBay.....I could be home making beads!! I watch the clock constantly and can't wait to leave the place.

Anyhow, I am now thinking of quitting that job and doing lampworking full time from home. My sales are doing well and I am almost positive I can make the same and eventually even more than I am at my present office job. My husband carries all my medical insurance..so I wouldn't be losing anything there. I am only working on the beads maybe 10 days a month presently and my sales have equaled up to 2 weeks office pay. So I think...what if I had more time to make beads?? I could make more money..and be doing something I love!

I am just looking for comments or suggestions. Anyone out there ever have to make that decision?? And if so, how did it turn out? Did it work out better for you? I really appreciate any feedback I can get...I have been turning this over in my head for a couple months now. I am not one to jump into things without thinking them over...but life is short...why not be happy?

Any comments would be great. My website: www.freewebs.com/sparetimedesigns

Thanks for reading all this! :grin:

SuzyQ

2007-08-16, 4:44pm

When your hobbie becomes your job there are things you begin to dread and times you don't want to make beads but must. For me they are far and few between. If my family was dependant on my income I don't think I would love it as much. But, there is a lot to be said for doing something you love most of your week.

anneli

2007-08-16, 5:29pm

Thanks for responding. I thought about this too. I don't want the hobby to feel like "work"...but I am sooo busy lately with orders..I think I just need more time! My other job doesn't pay nearly enough..so that's why I'm considering this. Thank you for reading and answering my post..I appreciate it! :grin:

Kalera

2007-08-16, 5:40pm

I was faced with this a little over four years ago... I have never regretted quitting my job and becoming a full-time beadmaker! The only advice I have, really, is that it may take some time for your client base to catch up to your new production abilities, and that can both be scary and also create a temptation to slow down, since you're not selling all your work anyway... but don't succumb to that! Times when your production outstrips your sales are opportunities to get ahead and stock up for busy periods, vacations, and bead shows, so keep on making beads and don't be discouraged by slower sales... just stockpile and do your best to spend your free time on forums, doing tutorials, and otherwise spreading your name around. :)

Good luck!

BlackRiverBeads

2007-08-16, 5:50pm

For me, it wasn't a choice. I had started beadmaking before I lost my factory job of $13.00/hour, reasonably good pay for the area. I had no choice but to go full time beadmaking. We had already started a brick and morter business with a gift shop, and just switched to focusing on beadmaking. I don't know if we could actually make it if we only had the beads, but you also have your husbands job as well. We have to have our internet business as well as our store business to make it. I do like the fact that we are able to work hard, get ahead, hire a helper and go on vacation whenever we want. I have traveled more per year than I could do with my factory job. Go for it and give it a good try. It may just work out for you. If not you can always go get another job. I still keep that in my mind when I don't want to make beads, I can go get a on the clock job for someone else and be tied down or work for myself and be able to do what I want.
I know that I rambled a lot here that said, it is hard to work for yourself. Sometimes I wonder if we will ever get a day off, and don't forget about the taxes. Lots, and Lots of paperwork to be done.
Think long and hard and make sure that you think you can make a go of it. If you think you can, it is great.

elle

2007-08-16, 6:32pm

I've been looking at beads as a full time job for quite some time now. The whole thing sort of fell into my lap. It was very welcome, but then again, I was fearful that if I looked at it as a real job, it would lose its luster and I would flake out. But it hasn't, and I haven't. I think it helps that I make a better living at selling beads than I ever have at any minimum wage job I would be lucky enough to get. Every time I get overwhelmed with beads and want to crawl into a hole for a couple of days, I think about what else I could be doing, and the beads win every time. The thought of spraying toxic fumes in a tiny room with no ventilation, or adhering to someone else's schedule sends me right back to the torch. Plus, I'm a hard-wired night owl, and that isn't conducive to keeping someone else's hours at a real job, anyway.

If you quit, you can put more energy into marketing, presentation, and like Kalera said, stockpiling for a rainy day or other sales venues, and you'll have more time to spend exploring other sales venues, as well. Prepare to work your ass off. Answering emails, packing and shipping, bead cleaning, photos, web maintenance, ebay sales, not to mention making all those beads, and the countless other things I'm not thinking of - could easily add up to 16 hour work days, and not much time to do absolutely nothing. The more beads you make, the more busy work you have created for yourself.

It helps that you've been doing this for a while and have a decent customer base. If you are making more than what they are paying you at your job, and insurance is already taken care of, why not? Being self employed has its perks, but it has its drawbacks, too. As long as you enjoy what you are doing, the extra work you will have to do to keep up is worth it. After all, it is all for YOU. Not some random employer that doesn't give two craps and a lick about you and your family.

Sarah

gennym

2007-08-16, 6:50pm

My partner Helen just became full-time after doing regional arts and craft shows (we don't sell our beads separately - just as jewelry and other items) and getting into two galleries in our surrounding area - she's doing her first show alone this weekend to see how she likes it - but everyone we've talked to said that their business didn't really take off until they went full-time. I have a full-time job as a nurse and am a little envious of her - but love what I'm doing and can still make beads and jewelry and go to shows when I can....(although her beads are far nicer now than mine). I think this ought to work with me having a salary and benefits (that she also gets) and letting her see how far she wants to go with it. We are thinking of getting into the wholesale market and would never have thought of doing that unless she had the time - so I think other opportunities will present themselves when you are devoting yourself to it.

Lisa

2007-08-16, 9:24pm

I've been running from this decision for years, so the only suggestion I have is that if you have some vacation time coming -- at least a week or two -- set that time aside as a work try-out, and work full time at beads for that entire time ... maybe that will give you an idea of how well you will like it. L

gwacie

2007-08-17, 6:15am

"life if short...why not be happy"

It took me 3 years to decide to quit my job and go full time and then another almost 3 to get the nerve up to actually do it. I thought the lifestyle changes would be tough (my regular job paid quite well you see). Turned out that the transition was pretty easy as we had been spending lots of money on going out and other things we didn't actually need and don't seem to miss. So that part of the equation was easier than I thought it would be.

Now as to working full time at something you love, well some days it's harder than others. There are things I do in glass specifically because I have expenses to cover and I know that those things will sell. Thus sometimes I feel being full time can stifle some creativity. I long for the slow times of the year when I have more freedom to just 'play' with the glass.

And I work far more hours then I ever did when working for corporate America, though I don't seem to mind. It's great being able to break the day up if you want to and work late into the night if it suits you.

I have no regrets at all, but there are times when melting glass does seem like a job (just a way more freaking awesome job than most any other).

anneli

2007-08-17, 7:48am

I want to thank all of you that have responded to my thread so far...it has been great! I see the ups and downs of deciding whether or not I want to do this. You have all given me great insight and each one of you has something different for me to think about. I still have alot of thinking and planning to do, but I sure would love to do it. Please keep your comments and suggestions coming in. It helps so much more to get feedback from people who actually DO lampworking...whether its full time or part time. For all of you who made the decision and actually did it....good for you and I wish you all the best of luck! :-) Anne

2007-08-17, 10:56am

Sounds like you've decided, but want our blessing, well you have it. i say go for it if your already having good sales, you could do more if you spend more time at it. there is always the option to get another or part time job elsewhere down the line if you need it. so if your not leaving a 'career' ie benefits/pension etc. that makes the decision much easier and i would go for it. if your husband is supportive of it, that will make it that much easier to succeed. I had a pension from my old job when i started lampworking so my story doesnt help much as to my decisions. i can make whatever i want when i want sell it or keep it. it doesnt pay the bills. the only thing that would be nice one day is if it paid for itself. i need to make more work and branch out into wholesale and galleries. kind of have been laying low on all that up until now, just creating, and learning. within the next year or two that will change.
good luck!
ro

lampworker1

2007-08-17, 11:57am

Live a life of least regrets.

anneli

2007-08-17, 1:08pm

Lampworker1,

I like your quote of "Live a Life of Least Regrets"...it's great! But I'm not sure which way I should focus that. Will I regret it if I decide to quit my job..... or if I don't quit, will I regret that I never went fulltime with my lampworking? I suppose it could go either way. Here I go over-analyzing everything...that's me...that's why I can never make decisions! :-) Thanks for the quote...I love it. Anne

Lisi

2007-08-18, 7:03am

I was an LPN for 17 years and about three years ago I had to give up my career due to severe pain in my feet and legs. I surely don't regret that but I have no health insurance. That's bad.

I have been a full time beadmaker since then, and yes, it does take the joy out of it because it becomes a real "job". It's boring and repetitious, but it's brings home the dough so I do it in spite of its difficulties. Then you have to worry about your equipment breaking down. Because...

no work = no money = bills don't get paid = you fall deep in s***

If you are doing this alone or with a husband/partner who's income alone cannot support the family, this is a necessity - you must have "backup" on all your business equipment.

You will need an extra of each of these, or the money put aside for emergency replacement. For me, one week out of work and I'm dead. Been there already this past week. (computer problems have cost me about $600 in sales)

1) torch
2) source of oxy
3) kiln
4) camera
5) computer

This may sound kind of harsh and I don't mean it to. It's just that I live the life and it's not as easy as people like to think. It's a lot of hard work.

musicpg

2007-08-18, 1:17pm

I have been dreaming about lampworking full time. Yes, dreaming because right now, I need the income from my full time job. I know that sometime down the road, my dream will become a reality, it's just a matter of time and money. My thoughts about your situation are these: I believe people should follow their dreams and have no regrets however, you have to look at your monetary situation and see if beginning a new business venture is feasible at this time (like my situation) Are you relying on your part time job to help pay bills? Are you in any type of debt? Most of us are! It's the American way. How much stress will you quiting your part time job put on the household or your partner? If the ansers to all these questions are minimal, I would say that you should go for it. The worst that could happen is you can't make enough income. On the upside, you earn more than your present job, love what you do most of the time and become your own boss. Look at it this way, if things don't work out, you could always get another part time job. I hope some of this has helped.
Pam

anneli

2007-08-18, 1:59pm

Im getting alot of input from all your responses..thank you! Pam, in reference to some of your ideas, my part time job does help us with the bills, but I think I am able to make the same beading..as I've been calculating it out for the past several months. Also, I am fortunate that I don't have any debt (except of course the house payment). I don't own any credit cards..never have..guess it's just the way I was raised, so I don't have any major bills, just my normal utility bills, food, etc.

My husband thinks it's a great idea and has no problems with it, but I am the one who mostly takes care of the finances (paying bills, etc.) so I think I know more than he does about our financial position :) I am the "thrifty" one in the family I guess you could say. Again..it's the way I was raised!

I am going to continue monitoring how much I make for the next few months...and see how it all evens out...before I make any decisions.

Thanks again to all of you..you all have had great comments (mostly positive ones too!)...and have given me lots to think about. I'll let you know how it ends up!

e. mort

2007-08-18, 2:08pm

I do it full time as well, and I love it. But.....between glass working and all the administrative details, marketing, traveling to shows, and so on, I probably work a good 12 hours per day Monday through Saturday. I try to take Sundays off, and I usually don't work glass then, but i always seem to end up photographing stuff, reading glass related stuff, organizing supplies, cleaning the studio, or a million other things in support of this business then.

Having an emergency fund for when you start out is fine, but a good credit card will help you out if you have to suddenly replace a kiln, torch, etc.

My wife has also gone back to work so she can cover about 85% of the critical monthly expenses if something bad happens. However, my goal is to bring her home by August of 2008, so I will have to build an emergency fund by then.

Oh, and if you don't have a credit card now, get one if you plan to do any shows out of your area. You will need it to book flights, hotels, car-rentals, and pay for show fees. Most places won't take a check, and many don't like to take cash either. They seem to assume you are either a drug dealer or terrorist if you pay with folding money. :)

Good luck!

Norskiglass

2007-08-18, 2:14pm

I did a few of these on my day off
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p197/WilliamHagy/gobletsandobera.jpg

And these while I was working
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p197/WilliamHagy/webedit1.jpg

And this while I was bored at work one day
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p197/WilliamHagy/webedit7.jpg

And every so often I make stuff to make the little people happy:wink:
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p197/WilliamHagy/glasstour2.jpg

I will never quit what I believe in for the fact when I started working with glass I was flat broke. My bead sales consisted of farmers markets and selling wholesale to a couple of shops,average price per bead .15-.95 cents each as ebay had not been invented yet.

I quit my job as an auto mechanic/commercial driver/sales rep/factory worker/heavy equipment transporter, and every other thing I did in order to

~Play with fire and work glass......

I don't even look at as a "Job" I look at is as "what I do". I lived for years BROKE as Hell living in a camper van! and I see former students of mine selling a bead for $50 where as it only cost them $65 for the class they had taken from me. (I just laugh)

My advice is to do what is in your heart......not for what you can put in your pocket ~More importantly what you can put in other peoples hearts and you will forever succeed.

~Enjoy!

JetAge Studio

2007-08-18, 2:37pm

William, that is some amazing inspiration!! Thanks so much for sharing your talent, and your thoughts. That's some serious dedication you have!

Renee
JetAge Studio

Norskiglass

2007-08-18, 5:54pm

William, that is some amazing inspiration!! Thanks so much for sharing your talent, and your thoughts. That's some serious dedication you have!

Renee
JetAge Studio

You are most welcome! ~I just do what I do and I enjoy doing it;)

~W~

elle

2007-08-18, 6:36pm

anneli

2007-08-18, 7:44pm

Wow William...your work is outstanding! Amazing what you can do on your "day off" huh? :) I recognized your name right off...I've seen your work before (eBay, website) and have always loved it. Your post is truly inspirational to me...you've surely come a long way...and I to believe that if we put our minds to it, to what we really want to do in our lifetime..we can do it. Thank you!

anneli

2007-08-18, 7:51pm

Thank you Eric..for the post. Well, I probably should get a credit card..but I just use my debit card when I need it. Actually..that's mostly all I use! Yep, I know beading can be many hours of work, seems I already spend about 8 hours on my days off from my boring office job on beads...but I love it!! But yeah, I do get tired out every now and then. I just think if I had more time, I could take a day off during the week. As it is now, I work my regular boring office job and then my days off are just beading...so I probably get 1 day a week off. Oh well :) Anyhow, thanks so much for the post!

anneli

2007-08-18, 7:54pm

Good for you Sarah! You are alot like me...who needs plastic?? I've been fine without it for years now. The only difference is I gotta have my cable tv :)

2007-08-19, 4:19am

shawnette

2007-08-19, 7:00am

only issue i ever had with debit card is rental car, some companies wont take them, i believe hertz wont. we booked on line with with the card to reserve, but when got to florida they wouldnt accept it as payment.
ro

That's odd. I rent with Hertz a lot and I only use my debit card. They do have a requirement that you have the cost of the rental plus $200 in your account, though. The only large companies I haven't used are National and Enterprise (same company, different name) and they've all accepted my debit card.

I live 99% cash (debit) only, but I do agree that having a credit card available is a good idea for those situations where you can't use your debit card. Just pay the credit charges immediately. I can pay mine online and I don't even wait for the statement to come in. I just go online and make the payment.

skyberrys

2007-08-19, 7:23am

Hello Anneli,

I would just quit the current office job you have right now & try to find something more part time. Perhaps only 3 days a week or only in the morning or evening. That way you can go closer to full time with the glass & still enjoy your saftey net. Or just tell your boss you are no longer going to be working on Tuesdays and she can either deal with it or let you go.

I don't know your area to well but I've always found office jobs easy to come by. I also enjoy temping in times of need. So if I need to buy a new torch or computer I go work as a temp for two months and earn some extra income. Or work as a telemarketer... they usually let you work whatever hours you want as a telemarketer.

ETA> The little girl in the purple shirt = future lampworker.

e. mort

2007-08-19, 7:58am

That's odd. I rent with Hertz a lot and I only use my debit card. They do have a requirement that you have the cost of the rental plus $200 in your account, though. The only large companies I haven't used are National and Enterprise (same company, different name) and they've all accepted my debit card.

I live 99% cash (debit) only, but I do agree that having a credit card available is a good idea for those situations where you can't use your debit card. Just pay the credit charges immediately. I can pay mine online and I don't even wait for the statement to come in. I just go online and make the payment.

Not all debit cards are the same. Some have the MasterCard or visa logo. In that case, most rental car companies can accept them. The true original old style debit cards with no credit card logos are the ones that most rental car companies reject. However, it depends on the rental car company, its location, and I think may even then they can be ok'd at the managers discretion. I ran into the same problem once at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix.

twiggyinaz

2007-08-19, 9:26am

You will need an extra of each of these, or the money put aside for emergency replacement. For me, one week out of work and I'm dead. Been there already this past week. (computer problems have cost me about $600 in sales)

1) torch
2) source of oxy
3) kiln
4) camera
5) computer

This may sound kind of harsh and I don't mean it to. It's just that I live the life and it's not as easy as people like to think. It's a lot of hard work.

Not only do you need the backup equipment or the funds for the equipment, you also need a business outline.

Make a spreadsheet.

Put ALL your costs on that sheet-
shipping and materials
auctions and websites
mailing lists
internet hookup
paper and ink
glass
supplies like mandrel release and mandrels

everything that you have to have to make your business run, even if you already have it, and would have it anyway, put it down. you can do a percentage, like for your power bill, you probably only use 10% of the total power bill, but you have to have power to make beads.

this is tedious, but once it is done and you get it down on paper, then you can look at your income. how much are you really making?

i keep a spreadsheet and it is an eye-opener. it also helps me know when it is time to buy a new press, order glass, or put money aside for equipment replacement.

my list is huge, but i am a person that wants to be my own insurance. if something breaks down or wears out, i want to be able to replace it with a phone call or quick internet order, so i need to know where every bit of the money goes so i know how much i can keep set aside.

i also like to have a little bit set aside for a new press or one of the new glasses in between regular glass orders, if i don't know where my business stands, i don't know how much i have to spend.

i see people in trouble selling tools and glass all the time, a little planning and saving and budgeting would have helped them out tremendously. yes, there are exceptions, and it doesn't mean they are irresponsible, i am just saying that if they had planned to be out of work for a couple weeks and had that cushion, they wouldn't be scrambling so hard to pay bills and eat.

if you run your bead business like a real business and don't fall into that "starving artist" crap, you will probably be fine. the only starving artists i know are not marketing their art or they don't run their business.

for example: norskiglass went from living in a camper van to being a successful artist. it can be done, and people do it all the time.

the hardest part for some people is they don't work well for themselves. they need someone to tell them what to do, when to get it done, how much to do, etc.... working for yourself is different, but if you do it well, it is the BEST!

i love the way norski put it, not my job, but what i DO

glassbead

2007-08-19, 10:07am

Oh, I just have to put in my two cents. I am one of those who has fallen in and out of doing this as a full-time job. Also one who doesn't generally make a ton of bucks when I work. I love doing this, and one of the best things is that it seems like you can continue learning and getting better forever. Yes, we try and live on what I make, but we are the most frugal people in America, so that helps. What I find hardest is getting out there and selling to shops. I sell at my local farmer's market, which helps tremendously; it's a great way to connect with the community, network, educate, etc. But when I have to talk to a shop owner, it is sooo hard. I feel like I'm putting myself on the line. I know the beads are good, but so many people still don't understand what it's all about.
It does seem like you've pretty much already decided. If nothing else, maybe you could find a job that was part time, or a bit more flexible. I had two part time jobs for a while- they knew from the start that market days had priority, and if there wasn't enough work for me on a particular day, it was ok with me to stay home. I know how lucky that was. Unfortunately they both died at about the same time, so now here I am beadmaking full time. But I feel like I'm suddenly making great strides in my beads, so it's a good thing.
Good luck, whatever you decide- and lucky you, living down the road from Arrow Springs- hey, maybe they would hire you!!

anneli

2007-08-19, 11:23am

Well...my regular office job is already part time. I only work 28 hours per week. I am trying to go down to 24 (so I can have Tues off - thats my 4 hour day) but my boss won't budge...she even said "hey, maybe it's time you leave then"...so hey..I say "ok..cya" :) I haven't left the job yet..but if I'm not appreciated at a job..a job that I do WELL, I tend to lose interest in it. I've been there 5 years. It's not all just being stuck behind a desk..I also am out in the field alot..visiting our providers. Lots of driving. I'm also at conferences alot..very nice beach resorts mostly...different places all over California. That part is nice too of course....but still, I prefer lampworking over it all. The job isn't really that bad...it's just very SLOW now...new programs for our providers has eliminated alot of the "in the office" part. So why the hell not give me Tues mornings off? It's 4 hours! geezz..I don't get it.

I've already made 1/2 of what I make on this job with my beads per month...and that is only working about 10 days a month on it. So, I do feel I can do well. I will make a list of all it takes to run the business...thanks for the idea twiggy :) I do have a pretty substantial savings I can dip into if I need to (new kiln, torch, etc.).

I know..it sounds like I've already made up my mind to do it...but actually, I haven't. It takes me awhile to decide on things..especially of this importance. But hey...I'm gettin there.

Well, back to my beads :) Thanks again to all of you...it's very helpful. :)

twiggyinaz

2007-08-19, 12:42pm

as an owner of many businesses during my lifetime this disturbs me:

"""""it's just very SLOW now...new programs for our providers has eliminated alot of the "in the office" part. So why the hell not give me Tues mornings off? It's 4 hours! geezz..I don't get it.""""""

first off, you sound like you are trying to make your boss force you into the decision so you don't have to take responsibility for it.

it is not her obligation to make sure that you are not bored. it is up to you to make your job as interesting as you want it to be.

you don't need to "get it"....maybe she needs you there tuesday mornings, that might be her 4 hours that she knows she has clear to do what she needs to do, regardless of what she might need to do, it could be anything from running errands to brainstorming to putting her feet up and relaxing.

you work for her, she is the one that decides when someone needs to be there, and she is responsible for those decisions. whether you want to be there, whether you are bored, or feel unnecessary is totally up to you, but has nothing to with her decision that somebody needs to work that four hours, and it is also not up to you to second guess why.

i know it is nice to know why you are doing something, a purpose makes the work a little bit easier, and i always try to let my employees know why they are doing something. i also listen if they have an opinion or input, but frankly, unless it is absolutely oriented toward the operation of my business, their input is usually useless, and they are not the ones that are responsible for my decisions and policies, i am. (i do have a couple star employees, they have come up with some great ideas and alternatives, so don't think i don't listen, i just find most of it useless and centered around what they want, not what is best)

i am the one that has to justify my policies, i am the one that has to live with the outcome, and i am the one responsible to every employee that works for me. if i do a bad job, nobody has a job, and if i made policies and changes that only made my employees happy, trust me, there would be no place for them to put their timecards.

don't put this on your job and your boss and whether you like it or understand it. make this your own decision. you will be much happier in the long run.

can you give it a trial? can you be honest with your boss and tell her what you are considering?

i know i might sound harsh, but you are on the fence, and i have been on the fence many times. i am like you, i spend a lot of time on important decisions. it sounds like what you need is hard facts, and then a little bit of soul searching.

sorting out the hard facts isn't as easy as it sounds, and sometimes the best thing is sounding them out for yourself, or putting them up to an objective party like you did posting in the forum.

i went through the same thing less than a year ago. it is still fresh in my mind. if i can help you at all, please feel free to ask. it can be exciting, scary as hell and tedious all at the same time, and i am glad my decision making is over. when you finally make the decision one way or the other you will feel sooooooo liberated!

anneli

2007-08-19, 1:40pm

Twiggy:

First off..I was hired to work 24 hours a week..Mon, Wed and Fri. I made it clear I would not add any more hours..they said fine to that. Then a year later the boss begs me to add Tuesdays...I said NO...but finally gave in to half of the day (I realized that I was needed, business had picked up quite a bit at the time). She told me it would be on a "trial" basis only...if things became slow, she would let me go back to my normal schedule. We even shook on it. Well, here we are, nothing to do now but stare at a blank computer screen...wasting my time. She went back on her word as far as I'm concerned..and won't give me the time back off again.

In the past 6 months I have talked with her 4 times about this. I even went down to asking for every other Tuesday off...no deal. That would have been a total of 8 hours a month...big deal. My boss does not work in my office. She is 300 miles away in another office and has no idea what I do...not the faintest idea....never comes to my office...so to her it's just a big power trip. She has never even asked why I want the time, or what my workload is or nothing. You don't know her...3 people have quit due to her attitude already. I'm way overdue.

I understand your post...but I'm not going to bend over backwards for her or any other job where I'm working my ass off for nothing. I am a star employee and I go above and beyond in every aspect of my job. I have been so flexible in the past for her, too damn flexible if you ask me....because now when I want my regular hours back (the ones I was promised) I can't get them.

Anyhow, I have my monthly phone meeting with her next week. I am going to explain to her how I feel one last time. Explain to her my needs. (Not once has she given me a reason for not giving me my 4 hours a week back). I bet you any amount of money she says "Nope, can't do it..maybe it's time you should think of leaving" in her nasty tone of voice...and I'm tired of hearing that. It's disrespectful, rude and insensitive. This is no way to treat your employees. Just because you are a "Boss" doesn't mean you own the person damn it.

Ok..you got me going again! I'm sorry. It has been very stressful lately. It's a shame, because it is a job I once loved very much. And still, I wouldn't be asking for extra time off if I didn't want to try and stay first. I need peace, quiet...I am a solitude type of person as it is. I don't like feeling "jailed"...been there, done that..not worth it.

I'll let you know how it turns out. This post is not about my part time job..it is about whether or not to go full time with lampworking and I would like to stick to that. But thanks anyways :) Anne