Three years ago this month I was "laid off" from my job as a carpenter framing houses. The contractor I worked for told me that he couldn't find another project for us to build... Things were drying up. Officially, this recession began in December 2007, but for me it started that August.
In September my grandmother passed away and I had to borrow money from my brothers to attend the funeral. My uncle and eldest cousin (both conservatives) reassured me that once the Fed dropped the interest rate everything would be okay. Well, the Fed did drop the rate... 3 times in the latter third of 2007 and 8 times in 2008. The prime rate is now $5.00 lower than it was at the time of my grandmother's funeral.
Not to worry though, I'm a resiliant guy. In late October of 2007 I started a new job and a new career in a stained glass shop. This was a perfect job for me. I've always been artistic, and just a little too meticulous for the regular trades. I practically begged the owner for the job even though the money was less. I'm a quick learner, and less than 2 weeks after starting I was restoring antique windows by myself. I learned every aspect of the craft and mastered all the skills. By March 2009 I was completely restoring this priceless (IMO) 100 year old Mary Tillinghast window:
Days before I finished it... I was laid off. "It's only temporary," my boss told me, "it may be 1 week it may be 5." For the 1st time in my life I had to file for unemployment. After my child support was deducted and with $25 in stimulus added each week, my checks came out to $109 a week. That's okay though... Like I told you, I'm resiliant. One week turned into five and I didn't get called back. One month turned into five so I beat the pavement looking for work. I'm still looking...
In the meantime I scraped together enough money to get myself some tools and supplies so I could make some stained glass art for myself:
I've given it the title "Splash". It's based on a painting I did back in '05. I'm really proud of it although it has 2 flaws... 2 of the pieces of glass broke while I was making it and I had to glue them back together. An untrained wouldn't see the repairs, but I know they are there and never fail to point them out to others. It doesn't really matter, because I made this for me. It's an expression of myself and my labor and my art... It's hanging in my front window right now. It looks spectacular when sunlight hits it.
Unfortunately, my unemployment has run out, and I've got to at least try to sell it. I have no idea how to place a value on it. To me it's priceless, but it's only really worth what I can sell it for. I estimate it took me about 30 twelve hour days to complete. As a carpenter I made $15 an hour. At the glass shop I made $12... If I calculate it at a rate of $10 an hour, "Splash" should be worth $3,600!!! It's flawed though.... Cut that price in half: $1,800! I'm not a professional artist though. I've never even been to art school, won any awards. I've only ever sold $130 worth of drawing in my lifetime. Half it again: $900... Well, it does have a custom frame designed to look like a vine. I hand made all the leaves. No two are the same. Wow, $900 still seems a bit high, though. Maybe I'm selling myself short, I don't know...
If I can get a fellow Kossack to buy "Splash" for $720 plus shipping I'll donate another smaller piece to the next Netroots Nation Auction!!
PS: I should let everyone know that I'm at the library and have a limited amount of time each day to use the computer. I've 35 minutes left at this time, so I'll be in and out commenting and throwing mojo trying to conserve my minutes.