YARN ON EBAY

Louet Worsted Wt. Cream Wool--great for dyeing 1700 yds
Adriafil Leaf nylon papertape yarn; white 20+ balls
Worsted Wt. burgundy 100% alpaca yarn; 1100 yds

Starting at horribly ridiculous prices I might add.

still taking a psuedo-break...

I'm broke, so I may be destashing soon on Ebay. I'll put a notice here if I'm selling any yummy yarns. I'm still laying low for a little while blog-wise.

"Life shrinks or expands according to one's courage." --Anais Nin

fly guy...

Try Fly Guy (thanks, Susan!). Outer space is particularly interesting.

little boo-boos...

Sadie was just fine when I picked her up at the vet. She has about six stitches in her leg and a couple in her chin. She wasn't even groggy...just noisy and wanted to go home. The vet said she barked all afternoon wanting out of her cage so they had to put her outside in the little fenced yard. She's a demanding little critter. What Sadie wants, Sadie gets. It takes poor Pickles a day and a half to recover from being put to sleep. One of her liver enzymes is elevated though and we're going to have a repeat bloodtest for that. Yesterday's bill: $251. Cha-ching. There went my wool money.

I spent last night taking photos of my work to submit for the TACA shows in the fall. I hope they turn out okay because the autofocus on my big camera is broken...let's hope I still have 20/20 vision, eh? They're slides, so there's nothing like a giant, out-of-focus hat on the wall. Sadie barked at me from the porch the entire time I was working (she cannot be left unattended inside because she is A Destroyer). And yet, I love her--my problem baby.

I am still really upset about my brother, but I'm working through it...and it's really helping to exercise. Hubby and I have been going to the gym BEFORE work (which is almost unheard of in my anti-morning world) and I am already addicted to that morning zing it gives me. I'm actually showing up at my job on time, too, which is getting me looks of befuddlement.

Thank God it's Friday--that's all I gotta say.

everyone is seeing red...

I am ready for this week to end. Sadie is having minor surgery today to remove some terribly ugly growths on her leg and chin...she is Miss Moley...the older she gets the more skin tags, moles and growths she gets. The growth on her leg, which looked like a little midget brain (ew!) will have to be sent to the lab and analyzed. Poor baby! She will be coddled like the little princess she is when I pick her up after work.

Today we get a red chair. I took advantage of a no finance charge for a year deal and got a chair for our living room. I never used to like red things, but I've suddenly become quite fond of the color. I don't know why. Maybe I'm in touch with my anger these days...

...which brings me to the fight I had yesterday with my older, and only, brother. His blood sugar has been skyrocketing over 300 and he hasn't been doing anything about it. I read him the riot act, which made him none too happy. His wife is dangerously obese (and has major health problems as a result) so in an email I sent to his WORK address detailing the dangers of diabetes, I said "I know X doesn't take care of herself, but you don't have to go down that path..." Well, little did I know, she has access to, and READS, his work email. The subject line was "hello bro!" Would you read an email that was obviously meant as a personal message?

Anyway, she is never going to speak to me again and my brother is livid because I upset her so badly. He left an angry message on my work voice mail and when I called him back I just let it all fly, which has caused a rift that may never be repaired. He is an absolute slave to his wife, who does need more care and help than most (which is ok), but I also see that the marriage ONLY revolves around her and her needs and never anything pertaining to HIM. That upsets me and makes me angry--so I told him all that. And I probably lost a brother in the process. So, I've been really upset over all this crap. I did sent an apologetic email to them both and related to X that I do NOT care about appearances, but I am concerned about her health--and its impact on my brother. And that's true. I don't care if she weighs 3,000 pounds or even a metric TON--as long as my brother has a good life with her, then so what?

Sigh. Going back on bloggie vacation (yeah, right).

takin' a break...

Rooney, a.k.a. "Secret Agent Eyebooger," says I should take a little break from blogging. Be back in a few days. Don't do anything important while I'm gone! :-P

photos from the last fair...

I still need to do a lot to have a professional display, but I can only do a bit at a time. There's so much cost involved in doing fairs! My mom built the shelving system from scratch! My husband made the cool bag display that has curly copper pipe...click for full views.

gym in the rough...

Not only did I go to the gym with nervous pearlescent beads of sweat on my brow (the pearlescence comes from my high fat content)...I actually exercised. Friday I did the stationary bike for a few minutes and walked out like a proud high plains cowboy. It made me feel so good I went back on Saturday and stepped upon the dreaded eliptical trainer.

Stepping onto an impressive new piece of equipment holds such potential for embarrassment --and it was with a great deal of trepidation that I stepped onto this one. I started moving and thought "uh oh, I'm not going to make it for very long on this contraption..." But the very thought of stepping back off within five minutes was tempered with the frightful vision of the entire gym bursting into hysterical laughter so raucous that they'd all have to grab their crotches to keep from peeing in their pants.

So I stayed on the evil thing. And my butt ached. And I started um, breathing hard. I think my heart even pumped a little. And I stayed on for 20 minutes--quite respectable for slob of my stature. I worked hard for 15 minutes and tried not to pass out at a slower pace for 5 more minutes. Pathetic, I know, but I was terribly proud of myself. I had "worked out." I dejunked my trunk and maybe even some big veins down around my creaky knees.

We celebrated by going to the pool, getting sunburned and rearranging the living room. Life is good.

like the kid eating those peas on AFV...

I don't wanna. I am scheduled to exercise after work. With my husband. I'm going to have to get off my ass and move around for the sake of keeping everything moveable. I used to exercise a lot. Then I dis-acquired a taste for the whole sweaty thing unless it produced a fibery thing to look at and touch. I got lazy. I started looking like a blob of cottage cheese thrown into the cheapest of plastic bags. I gained 30 pounds. I lost 30 pounds. I gained 30 pounds. I am really going to make it to the gym today because I promised. Out loud-so I couldn't get out of it-because I know I would have. I know I'll feel better afterward but I got out of The Habit. I am an all or nothing person. I either do The Habit or I don't do The Habit or I am actively quitting The Habit with Drama. Moderation is for extremists. Oh, I'm already sore. It'll be okay-peas are good for you.

gallery sales...

Hey you arty-farty types out there...do any of you have any experience selling through local or regional galleries and if so, what has been your experience?

There's a new fine craft gallery opening in our area and I'm thinking about giving them a call. It's a 65-35 commission split, which according to what I've been able to find out, is a pretty sweet deal for the artist.

Anyway, share your wisdom!

crap.

Just crap. One of my favorites...gone too soon.
Goodbye Dear Ray Charles.

who knew...

that eating six giant-sized California strawberries would give me gas for two days?

Anyway. Blogging is slow this week. I am slow this week. I have my performance review for work today. Oh. Boy.

I need to exercise. I need to drink more water--hell, ANY water. I AM going to the Y after work today...we recently rejoined. Flub-glurble...I didn't always hate to exercise. Maybe I can knit while I bike...maybe I won't have strawberry-induced gas by then...maybe I should shut up and quit talking about fruity farting.

quack, quack, quack...

Sometimes you just run out of titles... I'm still in "whooped" condition so my promised photos haven't made the blog, but they will--I swear on a stack of stinky Junebugs...

I got something very cool in the mail yesterday...my commemorative knit kit from the American Red Cross! I'm so excited. The yarn is so soft and it came with the original 1942 instructions to make a pair of serviceman's socks. Cool...another picture I will be posting.

I did digital video filming in a cave this morning for work. I'm not kidding. But I'm too tired to tell you about it. I had to go shower and come back to work after we got done around lunchtime. Marketing is such a do-it-all field. I guess it made for a more interesting Tuesday morning than usual.

Well, like I told my co-worker yesterday, I've got one brain cell left and it's riding around on a squeaky unicycle. I'll check in later...hopefully with some pictures. Happy Tuesday, all!

agent GiGi reporting back...

We had beautiful weather for the arts and crafts fair this weekend. Sales were not great, but I had lots of people, including a woman who used to have two shops and judged crafts, tell me I needed to be in a better venue--and that I am severely underpricing my work. I got lots of ego-boosting, but also a lot of "what the hell?" looks from folks who were buying deely-bobbers and airplanes made out of Co*ke cans...so I think I might have outgrown the fair a bit...my pricepoints are too high for that particular fair at this point.

But I don't regret it...I got lots of important contacts for better venues and good feedback. I made my fees back plus a little wad to help pay for the fairs in the fall which are juried very selectively. You gotta start somewhere.

I could go on, but I'm too tired to even think. I will post a couple of pics tonight.Thanks for all the wonderful support and good wishes. It really makes a difference! Happy Monday.

Just call me GiGi...

I'll be at the Lenoir City Arts and Crafts Festival this weekend in booth GG, so come see if you are in the area!

floob-garble

And that is a very accurate picture of how I'm feeling. Floob-garble...as in mush-brained. That's ok. This weekend will go okay and hopefully people will buy some stuff. I still vascillate day-to-day on what to do about school.

I feel like I left the impression that I was deciding between being a part-time artist or a full-time artist, but that's not really the case. The decision is between a) working full-time, doing internship and taking classes (and having no time for art for nearly a year), or b) working full-time, quitting school and spending more time with my art (but giving up a possible career change).

I think I have to be around people part of the time, so I will always work for the man (at least part-time). I would go Van Gogh-mad if I were left to my own devices in a studio full-time. There's also the consideration that I am the insurance carrier in the family. Hubby works for a small company that offers no benefits.

You would think I could just wait a year to resume my artistic endeavors, but I when I think about the possibility, it's like a child is being ripped from my bosom. And I'm not being dramatic...it feels that bad. I have so many ideas and I'm just getting started.

Bah! Bah! Bah! No wonder artists go nuts and chop off their ears. Okay no more whining...and probably no more blogging until after the weekend is over. I'll check in then. Have a wonderful rest of the week and weekend everyone. Thanks again for all the supportive comments--they were very much appreciated. *smooch!*

toothpicks...

I need some toothpicks to keep my eyes open. I am really tired today. My wrists ache--no they hurt. Last night I had to file my fingertips to remove super-glue from them. I have to start picking and choosing what will be finished for the show rather than trying to finish everything... Doing a fair is neat, but it's exhausting. I wish I could skip the week prior because I'm either working my fingers to the bone (like this time) or pacing the floor nervously chewing my cuticles and feeling nauseous. Whatever.

Thanks y'all for all the supportive comments. My gut continues to churn about the whole thing and will eventually give me the right answer. Hope you're all having a great Wednesday...

Can you sleep with your eyes open?

could someone remove that piano from my shoulder?

I know I'm always whining about various things, but really life is good...it's just that I have some heavy decisions to make...like the one I'm afraid to even type out here...

...like I'm thinking about quitting school and working more with my dolls and felt. Throw away hundreds of hours of study? Ruin my chances of being a social worker/therapist? Give up my "noble" quest to lift up someone in the same way someone else uplifted me?

Dolls and felt may sound silly to someone else, but the draw of this art-making is unmistakable. And I have hundreds of ideas that are going undeveloped because there is no time to develop them.

When I was a kid I knew I wanted to write. I decided that in the fourth grade when, in thanks for a baby shower gift, my teacher gave me a note that said she "wanted to read one of my books one day." I STILL have that note. Have I written a book? No, not yet, but I love words and I always will. I'm not a great writer, but there's a place for words in my life and I hope I will always grow as a determined wordsmith.

The other things I have always loved--art and music. From day one. No question--it came with the original hardware. Finding a little niche that I'm fairly good at is absolutely intoxicating and it keeps tugging at me like a spoiled child with a sucker stuck in her hair. "Pay attention to ME! ME! ME!"

So, be something new? Or be what you were meant to be from the beginning?

I am on the cusp, the verge, of doing something really, a) crazy, or b) right.

Ugh, where's my Magic 8 Ball?