Jeni’s Design Diary

After about two years of being a housewife I got bored. I started spending a lot of time thinking about what, if any, jobs I would like to do. I had two main interests: photography & interior design. My knowledge of photography was basic, and the only things I knew about interior design came from television programs. By the way, that is NOT a good source of information!

Photography felt like the safe bet since I did have some experience/education, but I wanted to learn something new. Plus, the TV shows made is seem so fun! Being convinced that I would need formal education, I started looking at local school’s and their interior design programs.

I only visited two schools before I made my decision: The Art Institute of Seattle’s Residential Design program. It was nothing like I thought it would be.

Looking back, I wish I had done my research. Reading articles like those written by Rhonda Layton and Candice Mathers would have helped me be more prepared and informed. They probably would not have changed my decision, but at least I would have known what I was getting into before I committed myself.

I did (and still do at times) have those romantic ideas of waltzing into someone’s space and just magically adding color and lush fabrics; making everything gorgeous with hardly any effort. But now I realize how much effort that really does take! It doesn’t scare me off; instead I find that it draws me in. I’d love the chance to do this work!

I’m going through Job Search Skills Workbook: Take Charge of Your Career, by The Art Institute of Houston, and this is exercise 1-2.

What I’d really like to do:

I want to own my own business, and work from home while raising my children. I have had many ideas for businesses.

I really do enjoy interior design, and would like to practice it. I’m only interested in a part-time business; I’m not career focused. It’s totally feasible. What really matters is how good I am, and finding people who want to use me. I want a home office that is designed well. Eventually, I’d like to hire someone who is like I am right now to help teach them. Kinda like discipling.

I’d like to have a photography business. I’d shoot events, formal portraits as well as nature. I would use the nature photographs as art projects. I would find a way to serve every customer that came to me – whether or not they could afford my “normal rates”.

Wedding coordinating and make up artistry also interests me. I would like be able to offer this service in some capacity.

Sometime in my life I want to write one of the books that have been forming in my mind.