Working on a workspace + Etsy dreams

Last fall, we closed in an old garage door that led directly into our basement. It was non-functional and not at all insulated. Frigid in the winter and I swear you could feel the wind blowing through.

Other than making it more energy efficient, the main reason for fixing up this space was to turn it into a workspace-slash-studio. A dedicated space for painting, building, taking photos, etc.

The last time I showed this space here, there wasn’t even drywall up. It’s up now, but like the rest of the unfinished basement, it’s not taped and mudded. (A previous owner started finishing the basement, but didn’t finish finishing the basement.)

So I’m starting to create my basement workshop. Looking at these photos, you probably wouldn’t have guessed anything had been done at all. Really, it’s not so pretty at this point. But considering what it looked like not even a year ago, I am allowed to call this progress.

I was going to paint this concrete wall behind the work bench white to freshen things up, but. It’s already sort of a white-washed light grey, and I have grown to love the chalky texture so I’m keeping it the way it is.

Even though it looks a mess, things are coming along. It needs more organization and some prettifying, but I’ll get there.

You may be wondering why I need a workspace like this. I’ll let you in on a little secret: I’m currently working to start my own Etsy shop. All my legal start-up paperwork is in order, and all I’m doing now is using every spare bit of free time I have to make things. It’s slow going, though. Given that I’m on mom-time, my free time really doesn’t add up to very much.

I’m not quite ready to show my wares here yet, but I will divulge more soon. I’m trying to act all confident and business-lady-like, but truthfully, the thought of opening this shop is making me so nervous for all the normal reasons. (What if nobody likes what I make? etc.)

Any Etsy shop owners out there with tips or advice on calming those fears? I’ve read just about every article out there about opening a shop and I feel prepared, but still the nerves won’t quit!