What is your profession?
Artist, maker, and owner of Handmade Habitat
How has your life changed since the community has been impacted by Coronavirus?
It’s been really unpredictable. The ways that my business brought in income has changed dramatically. Everything is online now. Before, we did more orders to stores. We had a small storefront and that’s closed. A lot of our other channels of income are non-existent right now. The good news is people are still buying. Since everyone is stuck at home I have the perfect business for that – candles, bath salts, soap, etc. Online sales have been great.
Are you working more or less?
It’s hard to tell. Last week I worked a lot. If things were normal right now I would be working more. Technically I’m working less, but I’m working more than I anticipated for this time of the year.
What are you most afraid of?
I’ve been very lucky in that our online sales have been good. But I’m extremely worried about what happens after Mother’s Day. I’m worried about how long this goes on. We’re fortunate to live in an area here people have been able to keep government jobs. Where people are still spending money -- and are very aware of where they are spending money. But the longer this goes on I don’t know how sustainable it will be.
I’m also concerned about our collective futures – and how this will change people’s psyches. What happens when six months from now, or more, people are still concerned about touching things or using communal or public spaces? For example, I used to take metro to my studio every day. One of my biggest joys was not getting in my car. I just don’t know how I’m going to feel about public transportation in the future.
What are you most hopeful for?
I think this is really forcing us to slow down as a society. I’m going to be sad if we go back to the crazy hustle bustle, never-sleep culture that America is known for.
What has been the most challenging part of this experience for you?
Last week was really difficult for me. I was freaking out about what the next few weeks are going to be like. When orders come in I feel good, but when they don’t I get nervous. The uncertainty is really getting to my head. No one knows how long this will last. And if it comes back in the fall – that’s my biggest fear. Noticeably, definitively since Trump got into office materials have been all over the place, events aren’t as good because when administrations change the culture in DC changes. It’s difficult to keep going every year. You expect that you’re doing everything right and that your business should grow and your income should grow, but that’s not how things work in DC right now.
Is there anything – even a tiny thing – you enjoy or like about sheltering in place?
I definitely appreciate being home more. Since I opened my studio last year I haven’t been home as often. Being able to be home and hang out is really lovely – having the time to cook more has been great. I was talking with my mom about how we’re seeing more birds, and whether there are actually more birds out or we’ve just slowed down enough to actually see them and pay attention to them.
What do you think society as a whole will learn from this experience?
I think that we will figure out what we do and don’t need and what we have been wasting our time on. At the end of the day I think we’ll all figure out what is most important to us. That’s what I’m learning, anyway.
How are you coping with stress/taking care of yourself?
Lots of walks and being kinder to myself. If I feel stressed in the middle of the day, I just stop trying. I don’t feel the need to be busy because you can’t be busy and I’m okay with that. I’m perfectly content to have a cup of tea and make an apple turnover and just chill out. Having a dog is also nice because I have to take her on a walk. I think I’m out a lot more than people who don’t have pets. Having that rhythm helps keep me sane.
When future generations ask, what will you tell them about this time in your life?
I think it’s a really good lesson in that you cannot predict the future and you can’t take things for granted. If you would have told me six months ago that this was going to happen, I never could have guessed. I will also tell future generations to never stop washing your hands.
What would you like your friends and neighbors in Silver Spring/Montgomery County to know?
I have a question for everyone: is it safe to use the little free libraries? I’m not using them but I see people are still stocking them.
Also, everyone needs to support their local spots and their regular places and try to make an effort. Otherwise Amazon is going to rule us at the end of this. We should try to keep supporting our communities, especially if you want your community to look the same after the pandemic as it did before the pandemic.
Artist, maker, and owner of Handmade Habitat
How has your life changed since the community has been impacted by Coronavirus?
It’s been really unpredictable. The ways that my business brought in income has changed dramatically. Everything is online now. Before, we did more orders to stores. We had a small storefront and that’s closed. A lot of our other channels of income are non-existent right now. The good news is people are still buying. Since everyone is stuck at home I have the perfect business for that – candles, bath salts, soap, etc. Online sales have been great.
Are you working more or less?
It’s hard to tell. Last week I worked a lot. If things were normal right now I would be working more. Technically I’m working less, but I’m working more than I anticipated for this time of the year.
What are you most afraid of?
I’ve been very lucky in that our online sales have been good. But I’m extremely worried about what happens after Mother’s Day. I’m worried about how long this goes on. We’re fortunate to live in an area here people have been able to keep government jobs. Where people are still spending money -- and are very aware of where they are spending money. But the longer this goes on I don’t know how sustainable it will be.
I’m also concerned about our collective futures – and how this will change people’s psyches. What happens when six months from now, or more, people are still concerned about touching things or using communal or public spaces? For example, I used to take metro to my studio every day. One of my biggest joys was not getting in my car. I just don’t know how I’m going to feel about public transportation in the future.
What are you most hopeful for?
I think this is really forcing us to slow down as a society. I’m going to be sad if we go back to the crazy hustle bustle, never-sleep culture that America is known for.
What has been the most challenging part of this experience for you?
Last week was really difficult for me. I was freaking out about what the next few weeks are going to be like. When orders come in I feel good, but when they don’t I get nervous. The uncertainty is really getting to my head. No one knows how long this will last. And if it comes back in the fall – that’s my biggest fear. Noticeably, definitively since Trump got into office materials have been all over the place, events aren’t as good because when administrations change the culture in DC changes. It’s difficult to keep going every year. You expect that you’re doing everything right and that your business should grow and your income should grow, but that’s not how things work in DC right now.
Is there anything – even a tiny thing – you enjoy or like about sheltering in place?
I definitely appreciate being home more. Since I opened my studio last year I haven’t been home as often. Being able to be home and hang out is really lovely – having the time to cook more has been great. I was talking with my mom about how we’re seeing more birds, and whether there are actually more birds out or we’ve just slowed down enough to actually see them and pay attention to them.
What do you think society as a whole will learn from this experience?
I think that we will figure out what we do and don’t need and what we have been wasting our time on. At the end of the day I think we’ll all figure out what is most important to us. That’s what I’m learning, anyway.
How are you coping with stress/taking care of yourself?
Lots of walks and being kinder to myself. If I feel stressed in the middle of the day, I just stop trying. I don’t feel the need to be busy because you can’t be busy and I’m okay with that. I’m perfectly content to have a cup of tea and make an apple turnover and just chill out. Having a dog is also nice because I have to take her on a walk. I think I’m out a lot more than people who don’t have pets. Having that rhythm helps keep me sane.
When future generations ask, what will you tell them about this time in your life?
I think it’s a really good lesson in that you cannot predict the future and you can’t take things for granted. If you would have told me six months ago that this was going to happen, I never could have guessed. I will also tell future generations to never stop washing your hands.
What would you like your friends and neighbors in Silver Spring/Montgomery County to know?
I have a question for everyone: is it safe to use the little free libraries? I’m not using them but I see people are still stocking them.
Also, everyone needs to support their local spots and their regular places and try to make an effort. Otherwise Amazon is going to rule us at the end of this. We should try to keep supporting our communities, especially if you want your community to look the same after the pandemic as it did before the pandemic.
Interview conducted April 20, 2020
Want more? Check out our archives
Prayag Gordy, Montgomery Blair High School, Silver Chips
Liz Brent, Go Brent, Silver Spring Cares
David Fogel, Bump 'n Grind
Dr. Lilly Walker Shelton
Warren "Buck" Buckingham III
Linda Perlman Tabach
Dan Reed, Just up the Pike
David "Moe" Nelson, NOAA, King Teddy
Mike Diegel, Source of the Spring
Lene Tsegaye, Kefa Cafe
Want more? Check out our archives
Prayag Gordy, Montgomery Blair High School, Silver Chips
Liz Brent, Go Brent, Silver Spring Cares
David Fogel, Bump 'n Grind
Dr. Lilly Walker Shelton
Warren "Buck" Buckingham III
Linda Perlman Tabach
Dan Reed, Just up the Pike
David "Moe" Nelson, NOAA, King Teddy
Mike Diegel, Source of the Spring
Lene Tsegaye, Kefa Cafe
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