So in my previous blog, I talked about the 'pivot'.    That would lead me to think about how lucky I was to have a manufacturer who would take on my small scale production. And thus my pivot away from mass production sewing.

Then along came the pandemic.  My manufacturer was in the middle of a the small tablet 4 pocket TB production which was halted. That was already 2 years ago!  There was a massive shortage of face masks. My amazing manufacturer quickly changed course or made a gigantic pivot in production.  That production involved cutting cotton fabric for masks. I was happy they could use may die cuts for that, as they happened to be the right dimensions. They organized about 100 local home sewers to make the cotton masks! I marveled at their quick thinking and pivoting towards a cause!

The Allen family has been in manufacturing for almost 87 years. During the depression they supplied parts for the shoe industry, then onto making shoes, safety equipment, gloves, handbags and thousands of other items. They have had to make adjustments or changes to find their way in this competitive market. Quality made in a America with  equitable wages versus, the offshore cheap labor and materials. I am a maker and not a business person, so I am thinking I got lucky! Thank you David and your production team!

Go here to learn more about Allen Manufacturing.

'Pivot' is my word for 2022. I heard it today in the news and it attached it's self to one of my lobes.  Would it be the frontal lobe or is it left or right side brain?  Webster or google definition- noun, the central point, pin or shaft on which a mechanism turns or oscillates.  verb- turn on or as if on a pivot, " he swung around, pivoting on his heel."

I feel like I am sitting on a pivot or a fulcrum.  I know I will be changing directions or pivoting.  I should also add time  or a clock to the mix! The 'when' is the question.

The Pivot story started in May 2017 after my husband retired. We immedieately went on a trip to visit family and to vacation out west. The trip ended with me braking my hand and other bodily muscle pulls.  Sewing tool belts was out to the question. At this point I had sewn nearly a thousand tool belts. It would be years to get my hand back to near normal. I am not one for production work anyway. Plus, I needed more playtime as my husband had retired. That fact forced me to pivot toward finding a new manufacturer, since the previous one was not working out. After much work or time, pivot accomplished. 

So we nicely got started with US manufacturer number 2 and then came a halt in sales and manufacturing. Meanwhile, I am getting older and catching up to my husband. 

This year I turn 65, the pandemic has turned a corner perhaps? We want to travel more. I want to focus my attention to other things. So here I sit on my pivoting point or fulcrum wondering which way to swing.   I have sold out of the sewing tool belt my first design, the design that I made for myself over 10 years ago. Do I try to sell my business, or just sell out of my stock?