Tag: covid 19

2022 New Beginnings

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The year has begun and already we have some big changes happening.

1 Probably getting a new dog to join our home. His name is Brody and he is Johns uncles dog. Unfortunately, Uncle Fred passed and that has left Uncle Mike alone with the responsibility of caring for him and he is a Doberman Pincer so a large dog. We are unsure of when this will happen but it will be a big change for him as he is born and raised in Victoria BC. So the climate is very different than here. All the same we will give him a loving home to be in. Honestly, I am excited to have a large dog again.

2 We have decided to move the manufacturing part of Uniquely Ys to another location for growth, the new location is in Arnprior and that means I will have an extra hour a day to work in between bus runs. The space is the upstairs with lots of Natural Sunlight and lots of room to move around in. John will take one of the rooms and Stan will be taking the other. There is a huge property that we can make use of. This is a big change but movement into progression.

3 Christmas break has been extended till Jan 17th so far… So I’m using the time to do up straggling orders but also going to be working on the website and preparing for the move.

4 Mental Health is so far stable, I have support from Community Mental Health and still continuing with COPE (Couples Overcoming PTSD Everyday) We are fortunate to have these available.

5 Mom has a Tumor on her Thyroid Gland and is waiting to find out what they are going to do about it. In the meantime she is down to 87 lbs and very lethargic, weak. I am hoping that after the surgery (whenever that may be) that she will start to get better again.

So as you see lots of things going on. I’m trying my best to stay healthy mentally. As I know I can put myself under a ton of extra pressure trying to do everything all at once.

oh and side note Covid Finally hit our Family. Steven and Rain had it. Thankfully they are both Vaccinated and it didn’t effect them to bad. They are both fine. It has hit a few of my friends as well but no one we normally associate with so for the time being we are ok.

Stay Safe and Healthy as much as possible.


Re-opening

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Today we were finally allowed to open.

Honestly, it was nice but my brain could not stay focused on anything for too long.

I did get 2 orders which was very nice. It will come together.

I have the CNC assembled and am now making sure everything is connected and setup to do my first cut. I’m excited and nervous about this.

CNC 3018 PROVER

I also received the large pyramid for Resin today. I started the first layer. Next layer will be the Dandelion head. Then a few layers for the base.

I have enough product options now that I can truly have a complete personalized custom product for each client. No product will be the same as we can choose the varied processes to create that true UNIQUE item.

We were told a week ago now that school is off for in person learning till September. So that was a relief that there was finally a decision.

Summer is so close. Hoping I will find a moment to go camping with John

I didn’t reach my weight-loss goal so no kayak yet. It is still a goal just didn’t reach it for my 50th birthday.

Progress

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This has been a busy week. Started off with an order for 6 t-shirts and a couple more orders.

Been working on some resin art pieces. Also some other orders are coming in. Feels good to have something to work with.

We are getting 2 retired breeding hedgehogs at the end of June so I’ll have them in my household again. I just love the temperaments of these fun creatures. These 2 are both 2 yrs old.

We are still in lockdown #3 till June 2. No word on when we will be going back to work. I don’t imagine we are going till September. However, that is just a possibility. Who knows with politics.

John has been doing a lot of outside work this week and his moods have improved. The warmer weather has been a huge help.

I have connected with Bounceback Ontario and waiting for a response. I have also reconnected with Community Mental Health. I am on the waiting list for a case worker.

Things are progressing in a positive at this moment. Hoping to continue the momentum.

Plans

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We are still in Covid Lockdown #3. Not sure if schools are going to open up before end of the year. Still running store as curbside pick-up.

I have ordered more molds and different stuff for the epoxy resin. I am trying new things with it. One of the other vendors in the market works with resin as well and we are doing a lot of supporting each other and helping each other grow our ideas. He is a great artist and he already had me do a transfer of his art on a shirt.

I will be getting a CNC to add to our equipment. Which is exciting as we are going to be able to do so much more.

The full focus of my shop is still going to custom personalized art. Just will have the option to add other products.

As for personal plans. I have reconnected with Community Mental Health and am going to see which programs will help me get through this bought of depression and anxiety.

John is waiting for the OT to assess him to see which programs he is eligible to help him.

You can tell we aren’t doing the best as our home is cluttered and disorganized. Having someone come in every other week to do a refresh is helpful but I’m not getting through the clutter and it is very draining.

I am going to keep focusing on building the business presence online and grow the network.

Building Jays logo for Trucker Tourettes has been draining. I think we are getting it where it needs to be.

Forward thinking and ignoring the wishy washy news of when things are going to reopen is how I am going about my days.

Business doubts

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So it has been a full year since I started to fully think of myself as a business owner and working to build it.

Since November I have been renting a booth as a full time vendor at Up-Town Market.

We are now in our second lockdown and that means no foot traffic. When school is open I am still driving bus so I have 3 hrs per day to be at the store.

I’m trying hard to utilize this extra time to make the booths more appealing. I am adding products to expand the variety.

I am struggling as I am fighting another depression due to these changes over and over.

I am struggling with my self confidence as I was building a good momentum with T-shirts and other products but one of the other booths is doing the same and I am feeling defeated. I almost want to give up completely as the other business is promoting almost daily.

I sound petty and jealous but honestly it is a fear that I am not good enough and that I am way over my head. I have support but I don’t ha6the self confidence that I had. I realize some of this is due to my mental health but it is also a lack of true support from the other store that is now directly competing with my business even though that is not what we agreed on. I’m stuck….

I really need to have our lockdown end so I can regain my mental health coping mechanisms.

Bursting at the seams

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With end month bills and payments due. Trying to not use Johns money because he only gets paid once a month. That was the goal. I needed supplies and products in the store so I could prepare for the coming season.

I am waiting for a payment to go into my account from a customer so I can pay John back some of the money. He always so I don’t need to but when he gets low on funds he starts to fall apart and it is hard to calm him. I do as well as possible but if I try to talk to him about it, it irritates him. So I shut down and try to not talk too much.

I have my own mental health hurdles and we do as well as we can to not have bad days the same day. Yesterday was his and today I’m feeling so tight in the chest, jaw, neck and stomach. So not that I want to rely on yet another pill (I have anti-depressants and another 2 I use at night for sleep and PTSD) I am taking an anti-anxiety pill so I can relax a little. I would have gone swimming or to a float tank if we weren’t in Covid restrictions.

I really don’t like turning to meds but I’ve learned there are things I have to accept in order to be productive.

I miss my coping mechanisms.

Grief

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Today seems to be a rough one. My childhood friend lost her husband earlier this month to a long term illness and because of Covid his memorial service was shared by Zoom. I was able to watch it after and I am very happy that I was able to because I never got the chance to meet him.

Today is the 3rd yr anniversary to my big sisters passing of cancer. George and I are birthday twins. She is 4 yrs older than me and my Brother Dave and his 3 children have a huge hole in their lives right now. I miss being able to reach out for that sisterhood connection that we had. She had the biggest heart but was strong and taught me to stand up for myself. I fail at that at times.

So today I’m grieving. I’m in the midst of covid reopening but not able to get myself out for full escapes.

I’ve been uptight and very emotional. I’m hoping this will pass soon.

Covid 19 continued

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Hi so I finally went back to work on Monday Feb 1. Very happy to be back, however we are still in lockdown till the 11 th I believe then things will open again with restrictions.

I’m hoping for the Gym, Restaurants and stores. I need to have some of my coping tools back.

So since Christmas I’ve had a few orders here and there. I’ve been distracted so had to redo a few of them as my application fails me. I did finally make a shirt for myself. The stars represent my losses this past year. Trooper July, Harriet Sep, Fern Dec and Rosie Jan. I have had a rough go with staving off my depressions but I am lucky to have the friends and family I do have to help me get through.

We have added a new family member his name is Copy Cat. He is a brave love bird lol. Except he is not hand tame. He will fly to me and sit on me, give kisses but as soon as I try to touch him he moves away. Working with him to gain his trust. Only had him for a week now.

As far as the store is going we’ve been in lockdown but I’ve gone in and worked on stuff and it’s coming together. Uniquelyys.ca is continually being updated. Need to work on the paperwork side of the business this month. Hoping we can open up to the public again soon.

Copy Cat in converted cage setup

Mya and Copy Cat
My Shirt representing my losses

Covid 19 lockdown

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So since March 2020 we have had a series of lockdowns and stay at home orders.

I have found I don’t do well with not being able to go out and socialize. We were back to work in Sep, then Christmas Break came and it is now extended again. Supposedly we are going back to work (school) Feb 25th.

This last stay at home I’ve really struggled mentally and it is causing migraines again. Lots of crying and missing visits and outings.

I have been going to the store and working on stuff but it is not enough to distract me from being closed off. John is helping as much as he can. I try not to bother others too much with this as I don’t feel it is fair to them to whine.

I just need to feel purposeful and set goals.

Trying to create for myself I get stuck. Creating for customers/family is helpful.