I’m giving myself a deadline of tomorrow to have a substantial amount of new
stuff designed for January. I spent yesterday morning organizing a twelve-foot
tall pile of doodles in my office, so really, I don’t have to draw anything;
it’s just a matter of pulling out those watercolors. I tried to get some done
last night, but got distracted looking around at different websites (just one
more, then back to work…never works). When I first started all this, I used to
come home from work, take a nap till about 8:00 in the evening, then stay up
till 4 a.m., working while everyone else slept. My parents would wake up to a
breakfast table piled high with paper, and over morning coffee they would plow
through it all, picking and ditching different designs. I’m thinking that may be
what needs to happen tonight.

Last Wednsday afternoon at 2:00 we took pictures for the company photocard. I
uploaded, edited and sent it off to Sam’s Club photo processing by 5:00.
Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m., I got an email confirmation that the order had
shipped. They arrived today. If you don’t call that service, I don’t know what
is. The photocards are at the printer right now, and I have an ambitious idea to
hand-calligraphy the address on each envelope. We’ll see how long that lasts.
Drew and I put up my Christmas tree on Friday night. We got take-out Italian
from a little wine bar around the corner and sat at my dining room table and ate
dinner there for the first time ever. He made this delicious wassal with spiced
rum, apple cider, cinnamon and raisins that we sipped while we decorated the
tree. After we were done, we turned the lights off and sat in front of the tree
and basked in the warmth of each other’s company and the joy of the season. For
the first time ever, I began to feel that this place is home, not just a house.
I took pictures; I’ll try to post some later. Several weeks ago, I got a frantic
email from a consumer who said she needed two more boxes of a particular card. I
got on the computer, found the store nearest her, checked to see that they had
recently reordered that card, tracked the shipment, and told her it when it
would arrive. She took the time today to make a long distance call back to me to
tell me how upset she was with the service at the store (our best account by
far–pay on time and buy alot) and three times mentioned “how disappointed” she
was that our logo was not on the back of the second batch of cards. I just
listened, because I knew there was no way I could explain that I still have to
pay for runs of printing that I screw up proofing and forget to mention to new
printers to print the reverse side and can’t just let thousands of otherwise
perfectly good cards sit in the warehouse. While I was writing this, Connecticut
store (the one that was avoiding us and not paying) called to place a reorder.
When I started to enter it into the computer, and realized who it was, I told
her that we couldn’t ship it until her account was paid in full. She gave me a
debit card number at the drop of a hat. How does six months of avoiding someone
sum up to a pay off that quickly and easily? We haven’t run the card yet; I’m
actually a little bit nervous. Something still doesn’t smell right.

You know how Martha Stewart said she wanted to own Christmas? I THINK I JUST
BOUGHT HER OUT.

I spent the evening tonight babysitting. Bless, bless, bless those dear people.
They ARE my cashflow. Anyway, I just had the youngest, a girl, age 5, who went
to Target with her mom today and actually asked permission to climb out of the
basket so that she could carefully select all the craft supplies for us tonight.
Upon my arrival, she dragged me to the kitchen table to show me sparkle markers,
pipe cleaners, a big new box of regular markers, and giant sheets of
construction paper. Always looking for something to get me out of that awkward
moment when the parents walk into the kitchen to say goodbye to kiddies and I
feel forced into commenting on how lovely they look, I buried myself in the
creative options. I should have taken my camera, because we came up with some
COOL stuff. Cool for construction paper and pipe cleaners, anyway. Fishies and
princess crowns and a whole winter snow scene complete with three dimensional
fir trees. The piece de resistance, however, was a self-standing Christmas tree
I made out of construction paper and glued together. There were 5 “wings” with 5
“branches” each on them, and we punched holes in it and twisted red and white
pipe cleaners together and bent them in the shape of candy canes and hung them
through the holes. Talk about cute. But why is it that I spend one night with
kids and come up with DARLING stuff, yet have been sitting here for four solid
days trying to create and can’t get a grasp on it? Can’t get one single freakin
thing on paper? Arg! The frustration is getting to me!

I have to confess, I recieved my Gifty from Mabelle early last week, and have
just now gotten around to getting batteries for my camera to take a picture and
post it. Anyway, Mabelle sent me an absolutely scrumptious jar of rose-scented
shea butter–truly delicious! She wrapped the cutest pink bow around it, nestled
it in fairy-hay, wrapped it in lime green tissue and hand-painted roses all over
this darling scallop-edged card. (She has magnificent handwriting, by the way).
The card is precious–she finished it off with a little green button and
streamers of pink organza ribbon. I pinned it on my bulletin board in front of
my desk. Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a more thoughtful card. This
gifty round was sooo fun, and such a blessing! I can’t wait till the next one.
Thanks Mabelle!

in honour of the holiday shopping day

Me brain has been a-thinkin’. I got such a fabulous response on the “How to be
Inspiring” doodle, that I really am contemplating a line of cards along the same
lines. Themes like, “How to Procrastinate”, “Indulge Yourself”, “How to Remodel
a House”, all with sweet and humorous “instructions” on how to live, basically,
a beautiful life. Does anyone have any suggestions for themes, or instructions?
I’m thinking I’ll post all the prototypes for critique and review…and I kinda
sorta need to get it soon. Anyone have any helpful input? Anyone…anyone?

More than a day late, and several dollars short, but this is actually my sketch
for Illustration Friday Vintage, as promised. I’m actually hiding a Regal in my
back pocket.

Here’s the honest to goodness truth about why there have been no illustrations
on this site lately. I love doodling. I usually start by sketching something
with a pencil, but often that’s as far as I get. From that point on, I can’t
decide wether to outline said doodle with a black pen, or just to start
watercoloring from the pencil sketch. If I actually make a decision wether or
not to outline it in black or just color it, I am usually never brave enough to
pick up the watercolors, since I’m afraid I’ll screw the sketch up. It’s a fear
thing, really. Is anyone else afraid of part of their process? Am I insane for
having to talk myself past these design hurdles? How does one color and forgive
oneself for a potentially ugly drawing?

Because it’s 11:30 and I’m sitting here in pajama pants eating sausages wrapped
in blueberry pancakes (thank you, Target) drinking cocoa-coffee with a little
black dog in lap while I watch my bills get paid by responding to emails. I
don’t lead a lush life, but I have every reason in the world to be thankful this
Thursday.