More Changes and Good Friends

The new Avon store has fallen through. Just like that.

I received an email from Sandra tonight - she couldn't get appropriate financing on the building. There's an apartment in the building and the bank couldn't find a comparable in the area on which to base a residential/commercial loan so they offered her a commercial loan at a term and rate she couldn't afford.

She apologized up and down and will mail my deposit check back. I emailed her back right away - I think I feel worse for her than I do for me! She said there might be some spots opening in her Henrietta store in January, but I passed on that because if I remember correctly, the terms of that co-op are working in the store 16 hours per month and that just doesn't fit in with my life plan right now. I told Sandra that I truly believe that things like this happen for a reason and something better will come along. I mean that for her and for me.

Either it hasn't sunk in yet or this really doesn't bother me very much. The closing of Pam's two stores in Victor this year didn't bother me all that much either. I really feel something else will come along or there's some new development on the horizon for me - who knows what that might be.

So that's that. Stuff sure changes quickly, doesn't it?

~ ~ ~

This past Saturday I got together with my high school friends for brunch at Linda's house in Naples. For the non-locals, Naples is a lovely town, full of hippies and woodsy kind of laid back people, located in some foothills I guess you'd call them, south of Canandaigua Lake. It's known for its wineries and annual Grape Festival. Betsy and I carpooled there so we had a good 45 minutes of conversation to get us warmed up before we arrived at Linda's. Lynn comes from a different direction, so she met us there. She brought her wonderful dog, Brita - you'll meet her later.

Linda lives in a cool little house that I could so live in. Her daughter is in college and her son is stationed overseas so she's got the place to herself. This is her living room with her relatively new very comfy furniture. It might be hard to see in this picture but it's a lovely deep green - that new microfiber stuff - feels soft and velvety. Her kitchen is a deep red and the stairs leading upstairs is a Tuscan gold color - you know how I love dramatically painted walls!

This is a quilt that Linda made - isn't it gorgeous? The greens match the couch and loveseat perfectly. She made the quilt for her daughter a while ago, just happens to match this furniture. She gave us a tour of the house so we got to see other quilts she made also. I can't believe I didn't know she's a quilter. Betsy too! Today in an email I suggested we have a "craft retreat" sometime - they can quilt, I can do paper things or needlepoint and Lynn can knit. I thought they might think I was weird but they seemed to like the idea! And I've made a mental note to show them my quilts the next time we meet here.

Linda made this fantastic Overnight Cheese Fondue, which we had with sausage and apple bread that she baked. Lynn brought her excellent Blueberry Buckle and Betsy made a delicious fruit salad. I picked the easiest thing and brought juice because, well, because I could. Hey, I've been busy! (By the way, my friends know about this journal, but they didn't know about my fondness for food photos - they looked at me a bit strangely when I took that picture!)

After we ate, we sat around for a while, they drank coffee, then we went for a walk. We cut through this field across the street from Linda's house and ended up in the village. Linda lives down a small street just off the main street.

Betsy, Linda, Lynn and Brita

These photographs are from a new scenic overlook place that wasn't there the last time I was in the area. We could not have picked a more perfect fall day. Lucky us too, because it had been raining for days, prior to Saturday. Just beautiful!

Linda's parents live not far from her, so Linda, Betsy and I stopped by their place on our way home. Betsy and Linda were best friends in high school so Betsy was excited about seeing Linda's parents again. Besides meeting them, I was eager to see their house which I knew was at the end of a mile long winding driveway - in the woods. Sounds like my kind of place. Her parents are very nice. Her sister, brother-in-law and their son were visiting from out of town. Get this - their son's name is Simon! He's a little over a year old I think. And the brother-in-law is Asian! What are the odds!?

Linda showed us her mother's quilting room, to which they had added additional windows so it was very bright. She has a design wall - it's like wool batting attached to the wall so you can stick fabric pieces to it without the use of pins. But my favorite feature of the house was glassed in sun room - seasonal room - whatever they call those things. It was right off the living room, glass on three sides with sliding windows. Look to the right and you see a gorgeous view of the lake in the distance; look to the left and you're looking into the woods. Simon loved standing in the window watching the birds at the birdfeeders. Who wouldn't??

Great friends, great day.

A New Adventure

Go big or go home, right?

With only 4 hours notice, the open house at the new shop in Avon was rescheduled for Friday night at 7:00. It was quite a hustle to get home from work, throw the frozen pizza in the oven and wolf down dinner before leaving to pick up MJ to find our way to the store in time. Good thing I did take time to eat though, I didn't get home until 9:00 or so. I wasn't thrilled with having to back out on a Friday night but that was definitely the better choice than going on Saturday or Sunday since I had other plans for those days.

The store is right next to The Avon Inn - and was formerly an antique store I think. I should put antique in quotes, I think, unless I don't know the definition of antiques. Lots of junk, if you ask me. The daughter of the former owners was there too - said her parents had to sell it due to health problems. They had been having sales for a while to get rid of stuff but there was enough stuff left to make it difficult to envision how the new place will look under new ownership. And it's very difficult to imagine how Sandra will get this place in shape to open on November 12!

We kind of wish she had made appointments with people instead of having the open house because she's the only person with the information so we all had to wait our turn to speak with her. There were probably 6-8 other vendors there during the time we were there. Some seemed to be friends that didn't require her attention though.

I went there feeling pretty skeptical, maybe to prevent myself from being disappointed if it didn't work out. I'd had a feeling all along that my decision to join that store would be based on one thing: Did I like Sandra? The other details of the vendor arrangements were fairly standard, so I decided to just rely on my gut and make my decision when my instinct told me it was time.

I like Sandra very much! That's probably in good part because she's a CPA so I know she'll have the accounting part down pat and she'll be good with details. I know she's keen on email and a morning person because the first time I emailed her for store details, she replied the next morning at 6:30. Email and morning? Score! She appears to be younger than me, works full time as a CPA and just opened a co-op gift shop in Henrietta a month ago. For local readers, it's called Henrietta's Country Cottage and it's at 2982 East Henrietta Road, between Lehigh Station and Calkins Road. I asked her if she'd been part of other gift stores previously and she said no. The fact that she's opening two stores within a couple of months of each other fascinated me. I teased her, "How do you know you can do this?" She looked me right in the eye and said, "I just know I can do it. Type A personality, I guess." Love that modest confidence! She seems very down to earth.

It's a Victorian house with lots of chopped up rooms and floors so uneven, walking on them makes you feel drunk. I went from thinking of possible consignment, which you'll recall Sandra offered me via email when I said a 20 square foot booth for $50/month was not in my budget. But once I saw the set up at the open house and realized she was renting every nook and cranny at a standard per foot price, which is how it was at the Fairport store, I considered renting a small space.

Go big or go home, right? So I negotiated an area just big enough for my large wood card rack with a strip of wall space for $35/month for a year's lease and gave her a deposit. There is a possibility that someone else wants that spot but she was a package deal with another vendor who will not be renting there, so Sandra thinks it unlikely my spot will be taken. If it is, I talked to her about similar area on the other side of the same wall. Both are on the first floor, near the register. Score!

It will be a challenge - I'll have to sell 9 cards/month or about 2/week to cover my rent. I'll have framed art on that strip of wall and probably suncatchers and maybe paper jewelry so hopefully it will all go well. It's up to me to make it happen and I'm enthused.

MJ initially wanted to be on the first floor but when we went upstairs she found her own little room with just enough room for shelves and lots of wall space. She sells a little bit of purchased product besides her hand painted glassware, which she can display on the walls. She signed up for a year also. It's a perfect space for her - she'll fix it up nice - and she's not right next to someone else's product, which is what she wanted.

We are both happy and excited. And now we're even more so because I had a voice mail from MJ today telling me she visited Sandra's other store (the above mentioned Henrietta store) and found it to be clean, well presented and full of customers. So she's even more pleased than before and I trust MJ's judgment and experience enough to be just as excited as she is.

MJ said that Sandra said all the old stuff should be moved out by November 2 and we should be able to move our stuff in that following weekend. That's the weekend before the craft show at St. John of Rochester School and after dithering about if I'll have enough product for both, I've decided to email Sandra and tell her I just won't be ready until November 13. That will either fly or it won't and I'll react accordingly. Meanwhile, it's create like hell for me!

I'm happy.

(I just realized - I don't know the name of the new store! I'll get back to you on that.)

Thursday

I received an email just before lunch that the open house at the new store I'm interested in has been postponed until possibly Friday or Saturday. I was disappointed but glad to be able to use that time to keep making inventory for the November show. (I'll post details for the show shortly.)

I can't imagine anyone is surprised by this: I sorted my buttons this morning! Yep, not 12 hours after I said I would save that project for a rainy day, I found myself compulsively separating colors. Once that stuff is in my head, there's no trying to delay the gratification. I justify it by saying it will help me in the long run, find what I need faster, thereby being more efficient. Even before Annie suggested it (thanks!), I got out my small canning jars to use. I have tons. But these must be the small quilted jelly jars - to make the buttons all the more sparkly!

I started assembling the origami hearts into cards, saving the gluing of the heart and button or bead until last, doing that part all at once.

Meantime I stamped out a bunch of gold and orange pieces to use for suncatchers - and these small shapes will be pins. I'll layer them and sparkle them up some - should be cute! I find that even though I mostly sit on my ass for my day job, by the time I get to my studio at night, I'm often not up for standing at my craft table getting creative. I'm more in the mood for mindless production work while watching that day's That's Clever and Crafters Coast to Coast. Guess it's not a physical tiredness so much, more of a mental factor. And due to the fact that I get up at 4:30 (I'm a morning person, what can I tell you??), by 9:00, I'm winding down pretty quickly. (Maria - how DO you pull all nighters!? Even without the day job, I can't imagine myself doing that.)

Beads!

Paua, Freeform Chips

Crazy Lace

No! No! No! I cannot develop another hobby, I cannot fall in love with beads! That's Maria's job. But man, aren't these beautiful? I ordered these from Rings & Things for my suncatchers. Yeah, I know I was all hot-to-trot with making the dangly centers for them out of polymer clay. But I want to make a bunch of suncatchers/ornaments - and more quickly than it takes me to dink around with polymer clay.

I still haven't decided if polymer clay is a medium I'll explore more or not. On one hand, I know I haven't devoted enough time to it to improve my skills adequately. Maybe I just haven't found my niche with it either. On the other hand, stick to paper, Stefani. I am at one with paper. Paper is an extension of me. I am the paper.

I actually thought I wanted clear teardrop shaped crystals - or an inexpensive facsimile. Luckily I couldn't find just what I wanted so decided I needed to start looking with no preconceived notions - and these are what I ended up ordering. I love them much better - more exotic, less expected.

I finished the 20 origami hearts so I think I have time to put a few cards together before I head to bed. Then I'll need to find buttons or charms to secure the centers. I don't have a ton of buttons but a decent supply - maybe a pint jar's worth. But they are all jumbled together, which never bothered me because I love to run my fingers through them, looking for just the right one.

Then I saw this picture on Tag Sale Tales and decided I really need to separate my buttons into wonderfully color co-ordinated jars. These are actually glass baby bottles but I know I've got containers around here I could use. The problem then becomes, what do I do with as many jars as I'd need, rather than just the one tin they are in now? I'm serious, for someone who is as anti-clutter as I am, this studio is packed to the gills, as it is! I'm going to try to save this project for a rainy day - not when I'm staring down the barrel of a craft show, for crying out loud. Lord help me.

I probably won't post an entry tomorrow night - it's the night that MJ and I are going to the open house at the new store we are both considering. MJ emailed me tonight that the owner asked her if she and I are renting a space together. Neither one of us had considered that so we decided to discuss the pros and cons as we look around the store tomorrow night. One advantage for me is that I could charge more appropriate prices for my cards, not having to worry about covering the 40% consignment fee.

Guess I've used up all my card-making time tonight - must go to bed!

20 Hearts

On tonight's schedule - 20 origami heart cards. I just had a thought. I wish I could teach you to make these. It's hard to explain but I could take step by step pictures, couldn't I? Another project for another time - but it's going on the list, for sure.

This is the extent of my world series watching. Okay, I know Wynonna and Michael McDonald but who are the two people on the ends? Simon was talking to me and I missed the introduction. I poked around the Internet with no luck but I didn't try all that hard. Anyone? (I had my doubts about Michael McDonald singing the national anthem, but I thought he pulled it off nicely.)

I watched Rosie O'Donnell on Inside the Actors Studio the other night. Love that show, love Rosie, love her blog.

That's Clever! on HGTV is one of my favorite shows - and this Friday, Heather Powers will be featured! She's the one who made my lovely Monet Pendant. She wrote about her experience here and here.

Monday

Crockpot Pot Roast

2 each, 10.75 oz cans of condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 oz package dry onion soup mix
1-1/4 cups water
5-1/2 pounds pot roast

Directions

1 In a slow cooker, mix cream of mushroom soup, dry onion
soup mix and water. Place pot roast in slow cooker and coat
with soup mixture.

2. Cook on high setting for 3-4 hours, or on low setting for 8-9 hours.

It's pretty much your standard crockpot pot roast but yesterday I made it with two cans of Cream of Onion Soup. Outstanding! It smelled so good when I got home from work.

When I told Steve I didn't even know Cream of Onion Soup existed, he called me a SoupSnob. "Just because it's not your brawny, bites that could choke a horse soup, you don't want to know anything about it." He's right. Until I met him, I never knew anyone who ate cream of whatever soup, as soup. I thought people only used it for recipes. Now Simon likes those soups too. (I'm surprised he still does since that's all he ate for days when he had all his wisdom teeth pulled.) Of course Steve doesn't eat vegetables (I know!) so his soup choices are limited. Me? I love a thick soup with lots of stuff in it. And if there are no beans in it, you better have a darn good reason for it. Like tomato soup or French Onion soup - okay, no beans. Because as I (too) frequently tell Simon, "I am at one with the bean. I'm all about the bean."

I finished up the purple cards for the boxed sets.

Two finished boxed sets of assorted cards. These are for the order I shipped yesterday. The 10 boxed sets I'm working on to sell have slightly different cards. Stay tuned.

Sunday

What makes your little heart go pitter-patter and it's not chocolate? How about a little compartmentalized box, with individual lids mind you - and beautiful variegated threads that look good enough to eat?! Yep, made a little trip to Jo-Ann's yesterday. I went for the thread and some Mat Stacks of paper that I'd seen in their flyer as being on sale. But you know how it is when you get there - everything is on sale. I bought a package of tiny square brads of various shades of green and a package of fall colored tiny star brads. I just can't have enough brads on hand. That beautiful thread is for use with some of my paper embroidery templates.

These flowers will be attached to various shades of purple cards. These will go in the boxed sets of notecards I'm making. Six cards for $18. Quite a bargain since the cards sell for $4.00-$4.50 indivudally. I'll post the completed set in a day or two.

Earlier today I made 20 of these too.

There's the purple punched flower I mentioned above. Those are dots of dimensional purple paint around the outside square. I made just 2 each of the gold flower and origami heart cards so I can ship an order in the morning. (Mom - that's Joan's order I'm talking about - will ship it on my way to work tomorrow and email you to tell you when it will arrive.)

I was a little worried in the middle of the day that I wasn't going to accomplish enough today, but I'm feeling better about it. Besides this, I updated the quantities I have left on some of the discontinued items. And took all the cards, etc. back downstairs to store until the craft show on 11/12.

Not bad for having a headache all day too.

I'm off to Advil up and go to bed.

The Theatre, Dahling!

I love these hummingbird feeders from Par*a*Sol -
especially the Mini Blossoms and the Dew Drops.

Cool jewelry from Shari Dixon.

Lynn and I got a 6-show subscription to Geva Theatre and today was our first show. I was glad Lynn was agreeable with my preference for a matinee schedule. Then again, she has about a 45 minute drive home so it makes sense for her too. We saw A Marvelous Party, which is a celebration of Noel Coward's work. Neither one of us knew much about Noel Coward so I was wondering if we'd enjoy the show. I'll be honest; the first act was sleep inducing. But the second act was much better. They changed the words in the final song to include current references, including very local references, which was a big hit. The cast was very good. I wanted to be exposed to all different shows - and so I was. I'm sure people familiar with Noel Coward enjoyed it much more. It just wasn't my thing, for the most part. But it was fun going with Lynn and doing something different. One down, five to go!

Otherwise it was a paperwork and journal reading catch-up day. Steve and I did get most of a walk in with Reggi first thing this morning before it started raining. And it hasn't stopped all day.

Changes

Check out Pumpkin Gutter!

~ ~ ~

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.

~ ~ ~

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.

More Craft Show Pics

Why oh why can I not remember the reason I walked into a room but on the way to work this morning I could sing every word of Hair, by The Cowsills. Every word. Can't tell you the last time I heard that song.

Gimme head with hair
Long beautiful hair
Shining, gleaming,
Streaming, flaxen, waxen

It's going to be stuck in your head now too, isn't it? You're welcome.

This, my friends, is why I love the Internet. You can find current pictures and updates on celebrities you haven't thought of in years. Did you know Barry Cowsill is still missing from the Katrina disaster in New Orleans?

~ ~ ~

I remembered today that there was at least one more picture from the craft show I wanted to show you. I remember I had trouble downloading photographs yesterday and these two must not have downloaded. Thank goodness I had not erased what was on the camera.

This is MJ's dog, Trevor, who was a very good boy the whole time, in spite of what MJ said. You can just read his little thought balloon, can't you? "You know, I agreed to one day behind this gate, not three!! C'mon, you guys!" He is a very sweet dog - and I never once saw him try to move this gate (which was just leaning against the door) or make a peep.

Most of this stuff is painted wood figures, made by Sandie. In the small world department, it turns out she works with my mom. Sandie & I figured this out before Mom and her friend (also from their work), Mary Ann showed up on Saturday. Sandie also does some very fine cross-stitch - small scale, like I like to do.

~ ~ ~

I'm quite sure I've raved about Stamporium before. Terri sells all sorts of interesting things, largely from the Netherlands. (She lives in Washington State.) This is where I buy my templates for the Spirella stuff, paper embroidery, Cut'n'Tuc, etc.

Check out this Fontana template I bought last week. These are a new item at Stamporium and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have one. (Jen too - she bought a similar squarish design.) It's a metal template that you can use to cut out these interesting shapes and you can poke holes with a needle too, to do embroidery.

Terri gives such great service, I placed the order with her online last Friday and it arrived today, Monday! Not bad for US Priority Mail - cheap and fast service.

So I had to do one quick down and dirty design to see if it was as much fun as I anticipated. It is!

I suppose you can use an Exacto knife to cut the paper through the template but I traced with a mechanical pencil (because you need a very fine lead to fit in the template) and cut it out with scissors - because you know me, all about cutting.

Here, I just took another picture of the stitching for you. I used variegated thread here, which I'm just nuts about lately. I see Jo-Ann's has some spooled variegated thread on sale this week so I'll see how that works too. I didn't buy that kind before because the variegations (is that a word??) were too abrupt. I thought I liked the more subtle stuff like this DMC floss. But now I've decided to give the other a try.

Anyway, this has tons of possibilities - can't wait to make more of these.

I bought another type of template too but I haven't opened it yet. I'll show you that when I've had a chance to give it a try. No stitching involved, believe it or not.

This is all I did tonight in spite of my very specific plans I formulated in my head all day, about what I was going to work on tonight. I think I'm maybe feeling so overwhelmed about all the cool things I want to make in time for the Nov craft show that I really don't know where to start. Tomorrow - I make a prioritized list. Lists are our friends.

Sunday

A new craft store is opening next month - in Fairport!? Karen's Crafts - in the old Vix building. I can't imagine anyone thinks they can compete with Michael's and Jo-Ann's. But Fairport is without its own craft store, other than the craft thrift store, Bits & Pieces, which is cool in its own way. Otherwise, we have to travel to Michael's in Victor or Jo-Ann's in Penfield or the superstore in Webster. This should be interesting! I hope it works out for them and they carry a nice selection. Or even just the basics, for those craft emergencies we all have. You know I'll do my best to keep the Fairport economy healthy. (They have a website, www.KarensCraftsandThings.com - but it didn't connect for me today.)

~ ~ ~

In retrospect, I should not have been surprised but I encountered burnout today. In fact it beat me over the head until I got it. Obviously, I've been very much focused on the craft show the last few weeks, particularly this last week. I fall behind in other things. There's been a bit of stress at work. Simon's been particularly Simon-ish the past few days. I think my menopausal hormones are fluctuating as well because I've been having one continuous warm flash for the last week, some days warmer than others. (I bought Remifemin today, the herbal menopause stuff. I'd done what I hate other people doing. I took it for a few months, and then stopped - because, I don't know - it was working so why continue?! It's not cheap, though not outrageous or anything, so I wanted to see if I could go without. Guess it's worth the price.)

I drove to the grocery store today around 11:30, saw that the parking lot was full, as if it was before a holiday or something, so I turned around and came home. I just couldn't face it. That should have been a clue that I was about to crash. I came home and dove into the paperwork mountain and went back to the store at 2:00. Much better. But this whole time, for days even, I've been having physical stress pains. I thought it was mostly the work stuff so I've been putting my mind right about that. Finally, I realized all of the above - how hard I've been working and thinking about the craft show and my business in general. On the drive home from the grocery store I decided to take the afternoon off - to be a big goof-off and not worry about getting anything done. As I told Steve my plan, my voice quivered and I got a little teary. Yep, then I knew I'd struck the right chord, I'd found my answer. Steve said weekends are for relaxing and I shouldn't work so hard, but as I've said before, I like everything I do. But I usually build a little more down time into my days and nights.

I put just the refrigerator & freezer groceries away, made myself a roast beef sandwich on soft, delicious potato bread and flopped on the couch to watch HGTV while eating that, with Baked Ruffles and a big glass of cold milk. Heaven! I finished it off with a Smart Ones chocolate ice cream sandwich.

I continued to watch HGTV until I'd relaxed so much I felt sleepy. So I took a 30 minute nap on the couch with Reggi by my feet and Verona on my shoulder. More heaven!

I felt so energized when I woke up, I put the rest of the groceries away, watered the plants and Dysoned the house. After writing this, I'm going to get out some fall decorations and place them here and there. That should take about five minutes.

I forgot to mention, this afternoon Simon has been working and Steve's been at his brother's house watching sports. So this has been a true Stefani Afternoon, just what the doctor ordered. I haven't felt a stress pain in hours! (It's weird, I've never felt pain due to stress until the last year or two. I don't like it because I sort of pride myself on having a simple, stress-free, joy-filled life. Shows what I know. The body always trumps the mind, I guess.)

I'll go to bed early tonight, as I like to do on Sunday nights, reading my new Family Circle magazine. I cannot believe I can't find this issue online to show you, so I scanned the cover. It's not a magazine I usually buy but it was my impulse item - because check out the cover. That wreath is made of paper! I skimmed the article before I bought it. They offer directions but no patterns or anything but I can fake that. It was only $1.99 so I bought it anyway. That just takes my breath away - paper, brads, beautiful colors, a wreath - what more could a girl ask for?

Woo-hoo - - more for the Pine Tree Designs to-do list

Oh - and more PTD news. I saw an ad in our local Pennysaver about an "antique, country home decor, craft and gift shop" re-opening under new ownership in November. It said rental space is available to "display and sell your items". So I emailed the contact for details. It's in Avon, which is what, maybe a 45-60 minute drive from here? But it doesn't hurt to get the details. I've been half-thinking my next step for PTD should be to get into another store. Just food for thought.

Success!

The craft show is over and I'm very pleased. And surprised. I haven't seen my final figures but I think they might be 3 digits or very close to it. That's not bad for product that sells from 50 cents to $7.99 each.

Figures, the only picture I took of one of the signs has the balloons blowing it front of it. The day dawned nice but right around opening time, a thunderous and lightning-filled storm blew through. Even though the sun came back out, it's been pretty darn windy all day - thus the unpredictable balloons.

I thought my card rack looked the nicest it ever has. I grouped like colors together, (almost) regardless of theme and everything stood out nicely. I worked the cash register area with MJ mostly, so I was able to very easily overhear people's comments. Everyone was extremely complimentary and far more interested than I anticipated. I have to tell you, my favorite comment was this: "These colors are magnificent!" Yep, magnificent. That one word made my whole damn day, I tell you. (She didn't buy anything though!) Either MJ or I would mention my Pine Tree Designs website so a number of people took my card so maybe I'll get some online sales out of this too.

(I'm half relieved some of these cards didn't sell so now I'll have a chance to scan them and update the website.)

I just reread my last few entries and I don't think I mentioned this. After I took my stuff over Tuesday night to set up, I remembered I'd been wanting to ask MJ if I could sell my wholesale purchased product, the stuff I had left over from when I sold it at the store in Fairport. When I set my stuff up, I saw she had hers out so I emailed her the next morning and asked. Doesn't hurt to ask and the answer is either yes or no. The answer was yes! She understands I'm trying to unload, I mean, sell it. So I repriced a bunch of that and took it over Wednesday night.

So I sold my wintery cinnamon sachets at cost - only sold a few of those. I sold a bunch of fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving coasters at the regular price. The middle shelf there, is those Note Quote books - lots of people looked at them, and I sold quite a few.

I'll be eager to see my tickets from what I sold so I can see how many of each of those I sold - and how many cards. Interestingly, I don't think I sold any Christmas cards - and that was going to be 3/4 of my focus! Thank goodness I had so much fun making those pumpkin cards, that I made a bunch of those. I guess because it's mid-October and feeling very fallish outside, that that's what was on people's minds. Now I know. I thought MJ was smart for having her sale in October, to avoid the onslaught of November and December craft sales. I'm pretty sure that November show I'm in will be heavily into the December holidays. For which I'll be prepared.

Debbie Coller of Artistic Ambitionswas there with her polymer clay and silver PMC jewelry. I picked out a necklace that Mom bought and will give me for Christmas. It's gorgeous. Debbie is very nice, told me again to stop by her studio any Tuesday and use any of her 4000 (yep, four thousand) rubber stamps. She has lots of QuicKutz Dies too, she says. When I met her last year, she offered the same and I thought she was just being polite or something. Now I know she is being nice, means it and I'm going to take her up on it.

Nancy Hammond makes slab pottery. This is in MJ's living room - aren't the walls gorgeous? You know how I loves me some wall color.

Connie Stevenson of Boughton Hill Designs had her painted pieces for sale. She does these detailed village scenes as well as designs on pieces of slate too. I always get a big kick out of hanging out with Connie - she's very funny and talented.


Of course, MJ had her lovely painted glassware for sale. That's her living room massive stone fireplace behind those shelves.


Overall, it was a wonderful experience -far better than I anticipated. Admittedly, I had low expectations because I didn't want to feel disappointed if I didn't do well. I was very pleased by the attention and interest people took in my cards, almost as much as the actual sales.

And it was fun, hanging out with my artist friends for my two 4 hour shifts Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.

Like I said, I don't have the breakdown of what I sold but I'm still a bit worried that I can ever sell enough cards at a craft show to make the time and effort worth my while. I spoke with Steve a little bit tonight about continuing to sell wholesale product as well. MJ is very successful and she does it. But I don't know what her future plans are with that. I was going to email her, as my mentor, and ask her for her thoughts. But Steve said to me, "It depends on what you want to get out of all this." That's when I remembered - I want to be an artist. I am an artist.

My Mama

My sweet mama showed up at my office this afternoon, bearing this lovely Gerbera Daisy, saying it was her Random Act of Kindness for the day. I had her put it in front of the poster of Gerbera daisies - clever, eh?

I know this is the kind of thing my mom likes to do but I think Jen was surprised and pleased by it all. Especially because her mom has Alzheimer's and has been in a nursing home for 10 years and isn't doing well right now. Thinking about that made me happy for me and sad for her.

After Mom left, I joked to my office mates that when I saw her with the plant in hand, I should have said, "Oh Christ, something else to water!" Mom would have laughed but I wanted to at least appear to be a good daughter. Fake it until you make it, right?

Thanks, Mom - you're the best! I love you.

~ ~ ~

Jen and I decided to go to MJ's craft show today on our lunch hour. Jen had wanted to go but suddenly realized that was the only time she had available to go so off we went. Just like that. We both commented about our spontaneity. Not one of my stronger traits, you know. I joke that I like to plan to be spontaneous.

We walked in and I saw a woman oohing and ahhing over my cards - and she had three in her hand to buy. Yes! I saw a couple of other spots where cards were missing -which naturally made me stress over how I could find time to make more immediately.

Jen bought a few things, I introduced her to MJ, we met another artist who was working there. It was fun.

My friend Maria wrote about her her first craft show. I read it while eating my lunch today and it prompted me to put my November craft show to-do list on paper (or rather Palm Pilot) and get it out of my head. I fell asleep last night trying to think of the best way to display my suncatchers. I spoke with the organizer yesterday - I'll have a 8' x 8' space and I can sell non-handcrafted items too. MJ was nice enough to allow me to sell some of my wholesale purchased product at her show this weekend, so I'll be able to sell what I have left at the November show. This is all good because other than my website, I no longer have an outlet for it since I left that store in Fairport earlier this year and would like to move that inventory.

I was also excited this afternoon to receive an order online for some of this product - so I can ship it tomorrow. Go me.

I'm so motivated and jazzed - can't wait to 1) work my two 4-hour shifts at MJ's this weekend and 2) get crafty.

~ ~ ~

I'm baking a pumpkin roll tonight to take to work tomorrow as part of my turn to bring breakfast. I'll stop and get fresh bagels on the way to work. Gosh, I love Fridays. Oh! And I'm only working half a day so I can work at the craft show in the afternoon. I'll be done at 4:00 so I'll get home earlier than if I'd worked. Yeah, life is good.

Hello

She surfaces...... if just for a moment.

I've been making cards like crazy.

Steve and I went away for the weekend to A Beautiful Place, the same place where Gretchen and I took our sons and their friends for a few days in July. It was dreary and rainy and just a lovely snuggle by the fireplace weekend. Actually, we did the same things we would have done at home - Steve watched his beloved Houston Astros and Buffalo Bills and I made cards. Except there were no phones, no responsibilities, no "shoulds". We ate breakfast and dinner out - no dishes, no planning. Very cool.

Some Spirellas I made on my lunch hour today with variegated limegreen and variegated burgundy embroidery floss.

I set up for MJ's craft Show tonight - it's this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I'll be working there Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. MJ's glasswork is beautiful as always. The only other vendor already set up was a woman who makes jewelry out of polymer clay among other things and her work is stunning. I met her when I worked with MJ at a show last year, then I saw her demo her work at Studio 34.

I had started 10 boxes of assorted blank notecards but they won't be finished for the show. Sure, I could bust ass and get them done. Maybe. But, and this really surprises me, I feel totally relaxed about the show and my inventory. Unfortunately I was working at such a focused pace, I didn't take time to scan some of the new cards. But I can make more. :-) I regret not taking my camera with me tonight to photograph my full card rack - but I'll take pictures Friday. It will be better, with all the vendors set up then anyway.

I'll leave you with this simple dry embossed card I made tonight to mail to a friend tomorrow. I just learned today her birthday is Thursday.

Annual Craft Show, October 13, 14, 15

Annual Craft Show
342 Pannell Road
Fairport, NY 14450
(Off Route 31, near Lollypop Farm, follow the signs.)

Thursday, October 13th, 9am to 6pm
Friday, October 14, 9am to 4pm
Saturday, October 15, 9am to 4 pm

Over 10 Crafters and Artisans.
Door Prizes.
Refreshments.

I'll be working Friday 12:00-4:00 and Saturday, 9:00-1:00.
Stop by, say hello and buy stuff!
This is MJ's show (at her home) so she'll be selling her painted glass of course. I believe she said another vendor sells jewelry and I don't know about the others. Should be a great show!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now. Can I bitch? I'm in Printer Hell.

My Brother MFC-5200C decided quite a few weeks ago to stop printing magenta. I replaced the cartridge twice, ran the cleaning procedure mega times, got in touch with Brother online support twice and spoke with them on the phone twice. I took the printer to work to have one of the printer guys look at it. Ultimately, I had to take it to the local authorized Brother repair depot, which I did yesterday. Actually I bribed Simon to drop it off for me since he wasn't working yesterday afternoon. I was a patient customer today and didn't call to see if they had a chance to look at it but I'll call tomorrow. I don't even care how much it costs to repair (sorta) because this printer/scanner/fax/copier was a gift from Steve, who picked it out of his company's prize catalog for his 20th anniversary gift. (Yep, he's a nice guy like that. I tried to refuse it, too big of a gift, he should get something for himself - but he insisted and boy am I glad he did. I love this machine and still thank him frequently for it!)

Shame on me for not taking care of this sooner. Denial. It ain't pretty.

Now I need it to print price tags and business cards and scan new cards (though I haven't been able to get my laptop to be able to scan, just print, but I can still use my old computer for scanning).

So tonight, I thought I'd be Ms Smarty Pants and hook up my old HP 640C, literally a $40 printer I bought at work a few years ago. When I got the Brother, I gave the printer to Lizz, though she never hooked it up. I've downloaded drivers and fiddled and faddled and cannot get the damn thing to print. Wouldn't surprise me if the ink cartridges have dried up but it was worth a shot.

I'm so frustrated I almost hopped in the car, drove to Staples and bought another printer to use as a back-up printer but cooler heads prevailed, thank goodness. First, I'll see when my Brother will be fixed. Secondly, shhhhh, but I can print a bunch of price tags on my printer at work tomorrow morning. Not my usual practice but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Everything has been going so swimmingly with loading up and using the new laptop, that I guess I was due for some frustration. Plug and play, is that asking too much??

Otherwise, I'm in good shape