This weekend, I talked to my friend Mark who was convinced that most people he knew didn’t like their jobs.   He also said that was life.

Well.

I love my job.   Some might call me lucky.  And they’re right.  And wrong.

Lucky isn’t the right word.  I have other words that describe better my career path:  confused, curious, confident, uncertain, ignorant, inexperienced, intuitive, trial and error, practice, perseverance, unconvinced,  hopeful, giving up, and failure.    I have a resume of work experiences that include ice cream server, restaurant hostess, architecture technician, landscape design assistant, construction worker, walking tour guide, construction management, visual artist, faux finisher, mural painter, ESL teacher, mother.

Here’s the thing.  If I hadn’t had all of those previous experiences, I might not have ended up where I am today, which is feeling comfortable in knowing that I am doing what I love and that I am good at it.   It’s a journey.  Everything’s a journey.

That’s life.

by Fabricio, age 6

Three headed monsters go as far back as Greek mythology where Cerberus was a three-headed dog that guarded the gates to the Underworld.  I’m not sure where Fabricio got his inspiration from, but his drawing turned into a really cool softie.

by Gabriela, age 6

One afternoon, Gabriela was found by her mother, drawing a picture of the main character in the children story, “The Little Moon Princess” by YJ Lee.   Like Fabricio, Gabriela is starting to use visual sources to develop her drawing.

by Marina, age 5

 And Marina drew this for her aunt after a visit to New York City, of the two of them shopping.   What a lovely memento of a fun experience with a loved one.

PS.  I published this post, but forgot to add that  I am fully booked with orders for the rest of 2013.  Check out the Softiemaker Showcase, a directory of independent softie-makers around the world who offer the service of making soft toys from children’s drawings.