-originally published in November, 2011

 A Question of Why?

Sometimes I think back over the last three years since I started Bags of a Feather, and I ask myself- Why are you doing this? On days where I am feeling unmotivated or I haven’t sold anything in five weeks, or the quilt I made came out crooked and crappy, the why is a big question.

 In my wildest fantasies, I dream of making twice the amount of money that I used to make working in corporate cubicle-land. Then I look at last month’s Income and Expenses spreadsheet, and realize that I made a whopping profit of $62.00. OK, it’s definitely NOT the money.

 I worked with a consultant who calculated that I would have to sell 72 bags a week to make up for the amount of money from a regular paycheck for the old job. I am realistic enough to know that that won’t happen. Besides, as a friend of mine once pointed out- “You don’t want to become a factory.”  There is nothing fun or creative about cranking out 10 zipper pouches per day.

 Are the people who buy from my online shop or at craft fairs only interested in what I make? Or do I communicate to them my passion for sewing and creating and giving back by donating a portion of the proceeds to avian rescues and sanctuaries? The big question is- do they care about the why?

 I think of my business as a creative way to indulge my love of fabric and sewing with “paying it forward”. We have a bird here in our home that was adopted from a couple in their forties who both passed away from cancer. Another bird was rescued from a crack house in a police raid. If I can help some of those rescues and sanctuaries by donating a portion of my sales, then I am happy. I cannot adopt more birds and I do not live close enough to volunteer at a rescue or sanctuary.  Over the last 17 or so years that we have had birds, I have probably been offered 100 birds or more, and many non-bird people assume that the “inn” is always open, and I am always ready to take in more unwanted or homeless birds. It breaks my heart to say no, but I know my limits and the amount of time, money, and attention that I can devote to our little flock of four.

 So back to the original question of WHY?

 I started Bags of a Feather to combine my two passions in life- birds and sewing. I truly feel that it is my responsibility as a parrot caretaker to educate people on the growing problem of unwanted parrots and the rescues and sanctuaries bursting at the seams with more and more birds. I have been fortunate enough to hear from several rescues and sanctuaries that have ordered from me, and want to thank me for helping them out by donating to their organization. I am just blown away by those comments, and honestly feel it should be the other way around- I should be thanking them! They are the ones taking in the surrendered birds, the ones dumped at animal shelters or vet’s offices, the ones left to starve in an abandoned apartment. I get to sit at my sewing machine and create things out of beautiful fabrics, take pictures, and list it online for sale, or put it out for browsers at a craft show.

 A lot of people would look at the bottom line of my business and think that I am crazy for continuing when it is not making much money. I guess it depends on your definition of success.  Is success measured only in financial terms and a profitable year-end result on the tax return? Or is it a feeling and knowledge deep in my soul that I am doing the right thing?

 If I can donate even a little bit of money to avian welfare causes, then I consider my business a success.