Changes

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Let's see - how quickly can things change? Artisan's Alley, the Victor store carrying my cards, suncatchers and framed pieces - is closing. As in now. I had a voice mail from the owner today to pick up my stuff this week, so I went on my lunch hour today and picked it up. I also bought 3 wire card spinners from her - two tabletops and one floor model. Great price.

It's a shame. I'd hoped that store would really catch on as Victor seems to becoming revitalized. But this is Pam's second attempt at a gift shop in this town and I guess the time and place just isn't right and she decided to cut her losses sooner rather than later. The product and the way she displays it is just outstanding - probably a little too upscale for that neck of the woods. I guess. I didn't ask her what she'll do next. She obviously won’t open another store since she’s selling the fixtures. She's an artist too - makes exquisite dolls.

While I'm disappointed, I'm not upset - it's not like I'm losing a big money maker, for one thing. On the bright side, now I'll have more things available to sell at the November craft show. And I'm totally taking it as a sign to get my butt in gear and find other opportunities. On our drive back from our away-weekend, this is something Steve and I talked about. I was feeling unsure about the direction I wanted to take Pine Tree Designs. So I spilled all my in-no-particular-order random thoughts about it and asked him to pick out what he thought I was saying I wanted to do. You know how you can have so many swirling thoughts; you can't see the forest for the trees? Or something like that? And finding a new store to sell my products is what we decided sounded like the next logical step I should take.

Remember in my Sunday entry, I mentioned seeing an ad in the local Pennysaver about a store opening in Avon under new ownership? I emailed the owner for details and she emailed me back on Monday, telling me square foot pricing, etc. I would not have to work there, which really would be a deal-breaker for me. Anyway, I thought about it for a few hours; I tried to make it work in my mind but just couldn't - based on the rent and my card prices. I just don’t want that kind of pressure. So I politely declined and told her why.

She emailed me back an offer to consign there. See? Everything is negotiable! I was hoping for a more favorable split (it's 40/60) but maybe that's the going rate these days. That’s what it was at Artisan’s Alley. She needs to cover her expenses and make a profit too - no shame in that. I asked to be the only card vendor, which it turns out I won't be - another vendor sells mass-produced $2.00 cards. My market is different so maybe that will be okay. Maybe. That could actually be a deal-breaker for me too. Anyway, we've been emailing back and forth this week. I was unable to attend her open house last night - where vendors come to check the place out but she's having another one next Thursday so MJ and I are going to that one.

I want to see the store, see the location and meet the owner before deciding for sure but I'm definitely leaning towards doing it. Just a couple of weeks after Steve and I discussed my finding an additional store, this ad popped out of the paper at me. Don’t you love how that stuff works?

Actually, it’s not really such a mystery. Oprah says luck is when preparedness meets opportunity. Not sure if that’s her original thought but that’s where I’ve heard it most often. What a true statement.

And of course there’s something about one door opening when another closes.

The one thing that disappoints me most about not being at Artisan’s Alley any more is I really wanted, even just a small time frame, to be able to say my art is being sold in two stores. Just have to work harder and get more stores, right?

So now I’ve got a car full of stuff I must sort through and store and get ready for the show and oy – I just never get anything done during the week. It didn't help that I stopped by Penney's tonight and bought 3 new pairs of pants. Clothes shopping - it really doesn't get much more tortuous than that.

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The reason I couldn’t go to the Avon store’s open house last night was because I went to Simon’s open house at school. My very last one! I did it – went to every single one, his entire school career. Because Simon has early release every day to go to work, I had early release last night – only had to go to 5 classes, I think it was. I wish I could be a senior every year! I definitely enjoyed my senior year, taking mostly fun electives. Simon is taking an economics class, which I would take in a second. It doesn’t sound nearly as dry as I thought it would. And he’s taking a class called “Justice for All” – criminal law. Fascinating stuff! They have lots of speakers, can take the law enforcement entrance exam (an old one, not the actual one), which is not only a good gauge to see if it’s something the student would like to pursue but it shows what all officers have to go through. (Right, Mary??) They have a chance, well 30 students out of 150 do, to take a field trip to Attic State Prison and have a discussion group with real inmates. Yowza.

He’s also taking Mythology as his English elective. Not my favorite subject but the teacher seems pretty good. Actually, he switched out of Contemporary Lit, I think it was, to Mythology because it’s easier. That’s my boy!

And I went to his math class. I’m pretty okay with numbers, work in accounting, etc. There were words on that overhead display that I’d never heard of! Man, I felt old and dumb.

Health class was 1^st period and since I arrived a bit early, that’s where I discovered another of the joys of a cell phone with text messaging capability. I knew Simon was home, so while waiting for the class to start, I text messaged him, “Nice collage in Health.” I TM’d him a few more times throughout the night. Yep, love that text messaging.

I was shooting for an 8:30 bedtime tonight and it’s just after 9:00 so I’ll scoot. I was kind of dragging all day and I hate that. Goodnight.