I did it! My new job.
A Crazy Summer
Silhouette Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii (May 10-13, 2017)
All Things Silhouette Conference in Peachtree City, GA (June 9-11, 2017)
Filming “Get Started With Silhouette” in Denver, CO with Craftsy (June 18-22, 2017)
Youth Conference, Letterworks Jr Conference, Girls Camp, Family Vacation
Decisions
After a really intense five months of creating my Craftsy class, traveling for three major Silhouette trips in six weeks, working heavily through tax season at my accounting job, keeping up with Silhouette Design Team responsibilities, and staying on top of everything for church and my kids’ school and daily home life, I was doing some serious soul-searching about what’s most important to me.
I was frustrated and tired and unhappy. In the middle of my trips for Silhouette Summit, my trip to teach at the All Things Silhouette Conference, and my trip to film my Craftsy class, I thought about what I could give up. Kids? No. Church? No. Blogging/teaching about Silhouette? Really did NOT want to give that up.
With some advice from a friend, I started to consider quitting my part-time accounting job, which took me out of the home 2-4 days a week. I had barely started my list of pros and cons (hadn’t even told my husband yet) when I was contacted by Silhouette America with a proposal of creating their YouTube content with the new version 4 of Silhouette Studio.
Working for Silhouette was the perfect solution! Similar hours to accounting but WAY more fun and satisfying! I have always loved sharing my knowledge about the Silhouette software and have struggled getting it out there with my limited reach since I have minimal time to play the social media game. YouTube is available to basically everyone!
Long story short, I quit my accounting job when I returned from Denver and have since been playing catch up with life and working on new Silhouette Studio video tutorials.
New Job
I’m pleased to announce that as of today, with the launch of Silhouette Studio 4.1, you will start to see my video tutorials on Silhouette’s YouTube channel. The plan is to put out videos each week to cover all of Silhouette Studio version 4, and we’ll see where we go from there. I’m really excited about this!
What You’ll Find on My Blog
- Here on my blog I’ll link to the Silhouette YouTube videos, and sometimes I’ll have more details and photos here on a project I may have worked on in the video.
- I’m still on the Silhouette Design Team so will continue to put projects with written tutorials up on the Silhouette Blog. And I get to use all their products, so please ask me if you ever have questions about specific Silhouette brand materials.
- And of course, the goal is always to put my own posts on current personal projects I’ve made here on my blog.
Craftsy
I’m still super proud and excited about my Craftsy class, Get Started With Silhouette, because I believe it gives an excellent base for Silhouette newcomers to the v4 software, the CAMEO machine, and exposure to working with a variety of common cutting materials.
But the Silhouette YouTube videos will be ongoing, so everyone can find out about each and every new feature of the software, replacing the old software videos that were filmed years ago. It should be helpful to new and experienced users alike.
New Adventure
I have loved being associated with Silhouette America now for several years on the design team. I’ve owned their machines and followed their blog since the beginning. I’m so happy they are taking these steps to put out great information for their users with Craftsy classes, with the Silhouette Handbook, and now with updated YouTube videos.
This really feels like the perfect job for me to be creating these tutorials you can all enjoy for free from YouTube. I’d love it if you subscribe to my blog to get notifications of my posts, which will also let you know when new videos are released. And I’d love it if you spread the word about my blog so other Silhouette users can find me, too!
Thanks for all your support in my new adventure, and please let me know if there’s a topic you’d like to see covered.
Kelly I am so excited for you and your new adventure! You are living what some of us only dream of doing! So in saying I will live my life through your YouTubes episodes. After taking your class on stippling at All Things Silhouette in June and having met and talked with you before, you are the perfect person for Silhouette America and I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us! I’m finally taking the leap and will get off the fence about V4 and upgrade to 4.1 this weekend!
Thank you, Julie! This is something I’ve been hoping for for years, so I’m glad it’s finally happening, even though slow in coming. Yay for upgrading! I think you’ll love it!
HOORAYYYYY!! This is SO cool Kelly! You are living YOUR dream! You are going to rock this new gig because you are so good at what you do and you do it with a sincere heart! Way to go! 🙂
Thank you so much, Christine! I will certainly do my best! 🙂
Congrats Kelly!!! I really think it was “God” thing that you chose this. If you do something that you, you will never consider it a job. I think that’s what you have chosen for yourself and your family. You will do great. Blessings!!! patty
Thank you, Patty! I’ve been doing the same thing just because I love it for so long, so it doesn’t really feel like a “job”, like you said. I appreciate the well wishes!
Kelly, I’m so happy for you! I’m looking forward to your YouTube episodes! This sounds like the perfect fit for you and we all benefit from that! Congratulations!
Thank you so much, Marilyn! The kids go back to school tomorrow and I’ll start cranking them out as fast as I can. 🙂
Wow, what a fantastic fit! Huge congratulations to you Kelly! So happy to hear you found balance amongst all your needs and loves. There is no better YouTuber for Silhouette than you!!!
Thank you, Cecelia! ♥
Congratulations on your new job! It sound like a perfect fit for you 🙂 Looking forward to the update and all the new YouTube videos!
Thanks, Terrie!
Thanks for sharing this. Way to go, Kelly.
Thanks, sis!
Congratulations on the new job. See things just seem to fall into place for a reason. Sounds like this will be a whole lot more fun and you will be able to handle it all.
Thank you, Lora!
Congrats! Great fit.
Thank you so much, Jill!
I am so excited for you Kelly! You have a finesse of teaching others where we don’t even realize we are learning. To combine your skills and Silhouette it is a incredible match! I’m going to be glued to this YouTube channel.
Congrats! Jerri
PS…have you told you husband yet? ☺️
Ha ha! Yes, he’s fully supportive. 😀 Thank you so much, Jerri!
No one could be happier for you, realizing your dream, than I am! Being co-moderators and friends for several years meant watching your rise to the Silhouette Pinnacle with great joy! I watched your preview at Craftsy, and saw a sophisticated professional that made me gasp. (Love the new hairstyle, too!) Silhouette is so fortunate to have you on board and learn what so many of us have known for a long time; you’ve worked very hard, been very patient, and learned your new role with persistence, and you are more than ready for this. I am now calling you Rocket Girl! Congratulations, Kelly; keep your star shining bright, because you illuminate a lot of worlds, my friend.
You’re the best, Barbara! Thank you so much for all your support and confidence in me over the years!