mizarchivist

It's been 14 years since quiet_elegance and I decided to make an official go of it.  This year he's gotten me a renewed, slightly used, but nicely broken in Commander in Chief. This is really preferable over a new one, because I don't like the OS that goes with Mittens.

Some snapshots from anniversaries past, courtesy of Live Journal:

( 2003-2011... )
2012- It's been an intense year of growth and challenge. Again, there's this kid. He's great and amazing and a lot of work.
My work has shifted remarkably over the past 12 months. I have a great part time office mate/colleague whom I adore. We have a development director, a new admin, and a new cataloger. The new outnumber the established and our activity is just spinning up and up and up. We have a lot to fix, though. So much growth so quickly, and we just don't have the infrastructure to deal a lot of the time. But I hope we'll get caught up and be even better for it.
And omg, Election Fatigue. I know all elections can be pretty exhausting, but this one felt extra vitriolic. I don't want to say the worst ever, because that seems unlikely. I'm hugely relieved that the president has been re-elected. I realize he's not perfect, but he will at least support (most) of the social issues that Mittens almost certainly would actively trash or allow his cronies to trash. 
quiet_elegance has had a rough year. We realized in April that it was most realistic for him to stay home and be the full time kid-care. He's also found that too many years of working in the field and deferring health maintenance has lead to a lot of catch up.  BTW: cortizone shots happen on 11/20. Hopefully this will be the tipping point for him. 

There's, of course, SO much more than just what I've said, but it's a snapshot. 
LOVE to my dear life partner (in crime). LOVE to everyone who voted yesterday and to our POTUS who'll be around for a few more years. LOVE to my friends and family who remind me that the world is full of wonderful people. People who like me! 

Part 1- talking about art stuff-( Craft Fair )

( Etsy )

( craft fair prep-fueled anxiety dream )

Part 2- I actually do other things sometimes-
( KT Tunstall concert )

( Travel )

( Work )

( State of (un)employment for q_e )

I've now been writing for a damn long time and need to stop now.

Less than a week now until Stitches Needles n' Guns. I spent most of my last craft days working on skull & crossbones medallions that can be finished to magnets, pins, or pendants. Some homework on Derby team colors may have some positive returns. Also, I remembered, oh yeah. Valentine's Day, so did 2 more (total of 3 now) heart shapes that once held Mrs. Fields chocolates (oh, like 4 total?)-- if anyone has access to those in the days to come, let me know.  I used up most of what I had for this show. Also, the Altoids Smalls are new enough I have very few of them to begin with.
I had enough forethought to dedicate any free time today to actual show prep- pulling everything up, packaging, labeling. I had forgotten how frickin' cute my little winged dust-catchers are. I'm basically bringing everything and hoping for the best. Not that I'm putting everything out at once, I don't think. Clutter = bad. It would be really cool if I could go to one more craft fair and yet manage not to do any new product for the hypothetical future one. I ... have a LOT of stuff.  I have plans to have a sale/clearance bin that may entice. The medallions at least are Etsy-worthy. Once this is over, I'll put up listings.
I'm just afraid that after all this work, I won't sell much at all. I don't think I have a concrete goal or anything. The only reasonable one I have at the second is to give away all my cards at least (I need to get new ones made that list my Facebook page). The Arisia success could be an indicator, or just false hope generator.
And just like me, I've already picked out my outfit for vending. I will definitely do my best to take some pictures for posterity.

Don't suppose anyone's planning on going to the show? It wouldn't suck to see a familiar face or two.

The last Etsy sale I made before this evening was in November 2008. I sold my flagship piece, The second box I ever made. I'm.... sad. I have the tools and technology, though, I shall rebuild it.
It's funny- I'd let everything- and I mean everything- lapse on Etsy last Thursday, so I reloaded it all this afternoon. I guess it really just is my season. I am grateful.

Oh- the purchaser is in Australia. This is my first international sale.

With some encouragement, Etsy seems like a reasonable answer. Until lizzielizzie  pointed it out, I'd not thought to feed in a few items a day vs. ALL-AT-ONCE-zomgwtfbbqkittens!
At least I'm getting faster with picture-taking.

In other news: I really don't want to go to work tomorrow. Yeah, who does, right? Additionally, my parents will be here on Thursday!

I'm 3/4 finished with a new flaming skull tin. This was the inspiration (made for q_e):


but being the second time I've done it, I am happier with the technique. I wrinkle my nose at how washed out that picture is. I suspect it was taken with the old camera. (Checks... yep. finished about 2 weeks before Christmas last year. That'd do it. However, I refuse to get all OCD about it now )
Anyway... tin! Yay!! I've not put anything new on Etsy in months. I'm hoping this one will spark some interest.

I hope the folks in these parts got to enjoy some outside today. woodwardiocom and I had a picnic, mostly ignored the very manly baseball game in favor of watching the clouds scuttle. The were in quite a hurry.

This afternoon I've gotten one request for a trade and one for a commission from my summer benefactor. Suddenly I'm sort of liking the $WinterHoliday thing

My current custom-order Etsy patron told me, belatedly, that she was out of the country until last Saturday. She said she'd get back to me once she was home. Well, it's now been a few extra days and no word. At what point do I say "helloooo? Are we present?" I don't want to be pushy, but we sort of had an agreement.
edit: Ok. Sent a short note.  

The stranger who bought a small tin from me last week has asked me to make custom made tins- we had a lot of back and forthing about the dimensions she'd need. Just about none of my tins are 2" tall, which was her requirement. They're either woefully short of that number or over 4",  which wouldn't work. However, I figured out that the largest spice container tin on the Container Store site is satisfactory to her, so I need to make a pilgrimage to the Promised Land.  EDIT: I ended up buying 20 tins online, so the end cost will be 1.50/tin instead of 2.50 and I get to use Etsy "profits" to pay for this purchase via paypal. I hope it doesn't take too long for them to ship! :)
I'm giddy with this major success. I expect I'll get a few extra of the same size on the principle of she may have friends who would also like some of that sort. It would be entirely ironic if future sales were for a size I have none of normally.

Also: finished The Book this afternoon. I'm pleased. Email me if you want to natter on about details.

She does the dance of joy, Numfar, for she has made her first sale on Etsy! Thanks to occasional train buddy, jasra, for the patronage. Narcissus shall transfer houses shortly. He really really is a one of a kind and while I tend to say this about most of my work being favorites, I think he really is.
Thanks, too, to shadesong who requested a raver friendly tin.