self-employment

Knitting the second sock and 12x12 squares is pretty darn boring, so I've had lots of time to think the past couple of days. I'm going to share the gist of it here, for feedback. Freely comment on any of it!
Sam (my knitting friend) and I have been discussing starting our own paint-your-own pottery studio. I have lots of experience, since at my studio, I do it all. She loves it and has always wanted to have her own business. So it seems like a good idea. Except, I don't so much love it anymore. I mean, I have a great job, lots of creativity, flexibility, responsibility. I love the job, it's perfect for me. But I don't love the industry. I mean, I'm not passionate about pottery painting. Shouldn't I be? If I'm going to commit to it for the 5+ years it would take to get it up and running, I should be in love with it, not just in love with the idea of having my own business!
What I do want, is a creative job. And self-employment. Hub and I talked about this last night for a long time and I figured out some stuff. I love to knit, but don't feel selling my own knitting would be profitable enough (all that time and energy makes for some expensive products). I'd love to have a yarn shop, but don't have experience in that area. What I can do is design, and sell those designs (both online and to knitting companies and magazines). I can design while still having another job, so it's not like I have to put our whole life on the line only to find it's not profitable. My job at the Kiln Time allows me to work as little or much as I want, but I'd like to keep all my hours so I can save it up for the next part of my plan.
Designing is just a fraction of my masterplan. If it doesn't work out, I'll move on to something else, make up a different plan. But it's a good way to start slow (and cheap!) I'll also try to get some work teaching knitting at the community centers. Then comes a website, a Tax-Id #, a business bank account! I want a site like Glampyre's (kinda) where I'll sell my designs and hopefully some yarn and needles. I'll always be on the lookout for a job in a yarn store and if I find one and love it, will learn about opening my own. This part is sketchy-er as my husband and I plan to move back to Tennessee in the next coupla years, so I have no idea if we'll even be in an area that needs a yarn store!
The truly fantastic thing about thinking (and talking) all this through is that my husband is so supportive. He really wants me to be able to do what I love, whether it makes us money or not. Of course, it's important to me to have a job and be productive, but it's sweet that he would just let me stay home all day and knit!
Now, if this sounds far-fetched it's because I haven't shared this tidbit of news yet: the Fashion Editor for Lion Brand's website saw my journal cover in Spun and requested a design for the Lion Brand website! She wants a bookcover out of Fun Fur, and I'm also doing one in Lion Suede. She's been super friendly and already sent the *free* yarn for my designing and has encouraged me to submit ideas for other designs-Hurrah!