October

October smells like fall.
Crayons smell like school.
I am there
and here.
Breathing.

march

I'm here...and not here. It suddenly got really hard to share a computer with 4 other internet-dependent people. (that being my family. and we have more than one PC but the in-house network isn't hooked up properly)

New work almost ready for elpy. Exciting things going on at Minifolk. Where it all lead? Only time will tell.

July

For some reason I understand that June was over but didn't make the connection that July was starting. Maybe I was thinking we had a second June? Anyway, it's been a while since I've done a monthly post. Would like to get back into that, making up goals for the month and just keeping tabs on where I am.

Here are two goals:

Get the remaining items transferred to: http://elpy.etsy.com

Lose 10 pounds.

Gotta start somewhere. There are more things that I would like to do. I've brought back to-do lists. Function better with lists. Just making the lists is therapeutic.

Here's to a hopefully great month! :)

December and [nautico]

If I were more organized and " 'bout it, 'bout it" as someone I knew used to say, this monthly posts would actually appear monthly and would contain a list of goals I have for the month, how I fared on last month's, etc. Maybe that can be a goal for next year.

Oh, I held a Canon Rebel EOS x(?)i d-slr yesterday. Fell. In. Love. I will own one one day. I hope. I hope.

Post Picture: New necklace in the shop, Nautico, to match the earrings.

November

New month! The year is almost over...there are two months left. I prefer to think that there are two months left (as a good thing). Optimism, in areas outside of the shop, is making a comeback in me. I'm happy about that.

Post Picture: Super-chunky, and completely adorable squirrel in the driveway. He had a pot-belly and happily munched on ever maple seed he could find.

Weekend Blurble- Happy September

September is one of my fave months. Last September started a change in my life that, well, changed me. I can hardly wait to see what will happen this year.

It has been my most productive season to-date, I think. August, the longest month to me, went swimmingly, all things considered. I finished my commission, packaged, boxed and tagged it. It's been given to the client. She loved them. I'm happy.

This is a sort of sandwich month. I'm prepping for the craft fair in Oct. and riding the wave of creative thought sparked by my summertime success. I'm going back to the temp job I had in April, which will be a good boost. I'll have to work harder now and then to find time to work on elpy when I'm zonked after work. That job is quick and tiring in its meticulous-ness.

I'm daring to think things have a turned a corner. And, to resurrect an old phrase, a phrase from last year, I'm going with it. :)

Post Picture: How one leaves comments in real life. It's from my mom on a small bit of newness that I hope to begin listing soon. The holidays are coming...it's weird to think about Christmas when it's 80 degrees out.

June

I want this to be the month that I get more organized about my shop...s. Yes, I will shortly have two Etsy shops: elpy [Handcrafted] and rJax. rJax has been registered for a while, but I was indecisive about actually trying it. elpy will continue the way it has been, with more new additions in different categories throughout the rest of year. rJax will have photography and paper goods. Paper is/was my first medium and therefore my favorite. So in a way I'm going back to my first love. Am I crazy? Maybe. But if I don't try I'll always wonder and that would drive me crazy.

I'm not exactly sure how I go about organizing. I should track my spending more carefully. I need a plan, what kinds of items I want to offer and who my audience is. Thinking about this recently, I discovered that the audience I want may not be the audience I'm actually attracting...which is fine, just need to switch mental gears. I need to work out a more solid pricing structure. Figure out how much my time is worth, charge accordingly and not apologize. Promoting is the ultimate conundrum for me. I can make lists and stuff to get back, but actually opening my mouth or even sending an email sometimes...

Shall see. I get a level of resolve at the beginning of every month. But I can't run two shops by the seat of my pants so I have to do this. Creating is my passion...one of them at least. (Writing is the other, can you tell?) It deserves to be presented and cared for as professionally as I can.

Post Picture: A tree I passed on the walk to the PO.

April

It's April. It's also the 1st and I've been had twice. Ha!

I woke up feeling like it was new month. April and September have always been my favorite months. April for my b-day. September for...I don't know school, though I'm not in school at the moment.

There is so much I want to do- line sheets, consignment/wholesale, Minta- so much I am going to do -job and driver's license. I hope it turns from the dull greyness of winter soon. I'm ready. I want it.

Post Picture: A picture I took last year, but thought it was fitting, you know, turning over a new leaf...new month. Yeah.