November 2004 Archives

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.

Amanda mailed out a round of statements on Monday, with a nice little letter
stating all accounts not paid by December 31 would go to collections on January
1. Apparently, the statements have arrived, because I've fielded phone calls all
day of people wanting copies of their invoices faxed to them. Makes me think we
should just enclose copies of the past due invoices and skip the statement part.
Good news is, dear readers, that prayers and karma are working because we've
gotten a gazillion checks in the mail this week! Yesterday it was all checks--no
bills, no flyers, no coupons; just a nice pretty pile of checks. That has NEVER
happened. Connecticut store even sent us a partial to hold us off on calling the
feds for a little bit longer. So I'm flyin' solo; the phone is ringing right and
left with statement questions and last minute Christmas reorders. I checked the
"fax" earlier (actually, all faxes go to my inbox, so it's just a matter of
clicking send/recieve), and there were a few little printing orders in there. I
love all this little last minute stuff; it reminds me Christmas is right around
the corner and offers a little extra incentive to get some stuff done.

I can't believe it's already 3:00 here. Today has been hectic. Amanda flew out
for Thanksgiving at noon, but came in to clean up around here first. She left at
10:30 and I started a zillion bidding wars on ebay, most of which aren't over.
The amazing, amazing Hope and her friend Dan have installed Movable Type on my
buisness website. I have been trying to jump that hurdle for two weeks now. I
don't know how they did it. My sister and I dropped by my parents house to give
my mom a vase of flowers for her birthday, and while I was there, I decided to
empty the last few boxes out of their garage, along with my vacuum. I just got
back home, and realized I haven't done one single thing for work today. I've got
proofs to fax, orders to print, one tiny order to package and ship, and now a
car full of boxes to unpack and reorganize. Oh, and the ebay wars--I must win, I
must. Tonight, I have to make a Wally World trip, or Sophie will starve to
death. Thank goodness Drew TIVO'd lost.

Tonight, my parents and I went to a screening for Nicholas Cage's new movie,
"National Treasure". Three words: I. Loved. It. I like alot of things. I like
movies. I like critiquing movies. However, I hardly ever come out of a movie
saying, "If I had just watched that at home, I would rewind it and watch it all
the way through again." This one I would. This one I'm buying the day it comes
out on DVD, and I'm buying a DVD player to watch it, which means I have to buy a
TV that a DVD player can hook up to. I'm not into electronics, so this is
commitment here. My review is simple. I liked the movie for eight reasons:
One, the black dress. I want one, I need one, I have to have it. Literally. I'm
finding out who designed it and I'm buying one to wear to the ballet ball in
January.
Two, it's about history. And not just any history--American history. And if ever
there was an amature American history buff, it was me.
Three, it's about treasure. And if ever there was an amature treasure hunter,
again--me.
Four, romance.
Five, non-stop action.
Six, Nicholas Cage. I don't know why I think he's hot, but I do.
Seven, humor.
Eight, well written screenplay.
Fine, nine reasons. It's a totally kid-friendly, no skin, no cussing, family
movie. And unlike most of America, I like that! So, go see it. It's very Indiana
Jones/James Bond-ish--thrilling and ruggedly romantic, all at the same time. And
watch for the black dress. It will take your breath away.

Last night, Sophie and I shared a plate of pink iced strawberry bread in bed. I
was on the phone with Drew, who promptly reminded me that dogs should not be on
beds, let alone eating pink cake in beds. Oh, but what is life without pink cake
and piles of warm blankets and an oh-so-happy little doggy? p.s. if anyone could
help me with Movable Type, could ya shoot me an email? I'm LOST.

Last week when we were at my sister's house helping her decorate the Christmas
tree, conversation fell to my current living conditions. Before I go further in
explaning the current conditions to you, let me tell you how different my sister
and I are. She's two years younger than I am, has been married for four years,
and has two kids: Baylor, 19 mos. and Ford, 9 weeks. Me? No hubby, no kids, one
very darling dog. Despite the fact that most days, my sister goes no further
than the nursery on the other end of the house, she takes a shower, does her
hair, and puts on makeup. EYELINER. Me? Wet hair, pony tail, what's eyeliner?
She and her husband bought their second, gorgeous home over a year ago, and live
a picturesque life complete with one SUV and one Volvo. They have landscaping
AND a leather sofa. Me? Scrawny little cottage, a bunch of prickly bushes left
over from 1972, no sofa at all. OK, one Volvo, but that's where the similarities
end. My sister has worked out religously through both pregnancies. They don't
eat salt or butter. I, on the other hand, can't remember the last time I even
considered working out, and life without salt or butter would be agony. Hear me?
AGONY. My idea of health food is "not fried". They keep their home, cars,
children, lawn and furniture in immaculate condition. They are the poster family
for GAP. They are amazing. To boot, I'm smack dab in the middle of a remodel and
done a very good job making friends with the dust bunnies. They don't bother me
until I spend an evening in her perfect house, decorating her perfect tree,
quite aware that she has no dust bunnies to befriend. I asked her how she did
it. She told me I needed to find a "motivator". A what? A personal trainer, an
inspiration, a life coach, someone willing to hit me upside the head with a 2x4.
She explained that her "motivator" was her husband. All fine and dandy, I
replied, but I don't exactly have one of those. "Well, then do it for Amanda;
she practically lives at your house anyway. Or do it for the reward of
self-discipline, the satisfaction that organizing your life brings." I know
she's right, but do you know how miserable I'd be without salt and butter and a
ponytail?

and lovers of all things cute...Darling Studio now has holiday cards for sale.

I'm working on Illustration Friday. By the time I get it posted, I'm sure it
will be Illustration Sunday. I just had to pause and share all this cuteness
with you, though.

Drew and I went over to my sister's house last night to help them decorate
their tree. They put it up early so that they could take pictures for their
holiday card with a tree in the background. They're perfect that way. I have a
list of six things to do today. The first two are already done; third is halfway
done; numbers 4 & 5 I've delegated, number 6 is Illustration Friday. I have the
idea already, which for me, is half the battle. p.s. that's a picture of my
darling niece!

I tried to take pictures of the highlights, but they kept turning out terrible
just because the six chins I currently have were becoming a dominating focal
point. (Note to self: drop a few before Christmas.). I did turn out this shot,
though, which I very much like, since it represents me in so many ways. (But see
what I'm saying? Ugly--no lipstick!)

The highlights look smashing. I look quite blonder than I have in awhile,
possibly ever. Crazy-ebay-copy-lady is now emailing me copies of every toile
card she finds on ebay, asking if it's mine. As if I haven't already looked at
every toile card on ebay. I think it's quite ballsy of her to come back to the
scene of the crime. I just found NaNoWriMo (DG--go check it out) and am actually
contemplating an attempt. It's only 175 pages--and I wrote 60 in one night
during high school for a history report. My teacher actually handed it back to
me and asked me to cut it half before he would grade it. Where did I pull it
from? Sophie and I are going to snuggle up on the sofa-bed and watch Lost in a
little bit. I am so addicted to that show. Lost and CSI:Miami. I love Horatio.
It's like he's tough, but kind. That's the perfect combination. Doesn't take any
bull, but loves with a heart of gold. Amanda got a notice from her apartment
complex today that her rent was 1 day late, so now she has to pay a $75 late
fee. I feel guilty, because while I don't get a paycheck, I would just write the
amount from the business account. She gets a check every week, but her income is
not as disposable. I wonder if she ever looks at me like, "Man, must be nice to
go get highlights this week." I told her that if she ever needed highlights,
just to let me know. Surely they'd be a write off for January market.

I'm going to get my hair highlighted. Standard hair-highlighting procedure is to
re-highlight once every four to six weeks, right? I haven't had my hair
highlighted since May, much to my mother's dismay. Partly because it takes
forever, and partly because it costs so much to get it done right. But the time
has come where I can no longer put it off. I'm a dulling shade of dirty
dishwater blonde, with roots now in the 4 inch category. It's awful, really, and
I can't bear to go through the holiday season looking like a tub of dirty
dishwater. By some nature of miraculous intervention, we've gotten a sizeable
load of checks in this week and have been able to pay portions of some of the
bigger bills. It really is something to be grateful for. I love it when I can
pay my printer on time, or at least send them a really big check a week, and
since we're gearing up for January, we've already printed alot and I'm hoping to
do another run or two at least. Now, for some insight on the personal and
hard-to-share part of my life... When I started this business, I told myself to
remember to give God the glory. He gave me the talents; He's carried me this
far. I get up and do what I have to do, but I'm constantly reminded that He
still holds the keys to this universe. It's both humbling and awesome to think
about. It reminds me to be grateful for little things like getting my hair
highlighted and being able to pay a bill on time. Things have been sort of rocky
lately, with the crazy-ebay-copy-lady and all the stores not paying; I have to
remember that even when things get tough, God is still in control of it all, is
going to make something good come out of it, and needs to get credit for the
glory.

I just had lunch with a friend who lives near me who runs a small, custom
stationery business from her dining room table. She's the mother of two, worked
selling advertising for a local paper here for years, and recently got into the
whole stationery angle by luck of the draw. Literally. She drew a thank-you note
for her daughter and friends started asking for them. We had great talks about
the "moral value" elections, caught up on our friends and family stories, and
then fell to talking about business. She usually asks me tons of questions that
I consider taboo--like where I get my stuff printed, how much I'm selling, etc.,
and I just dodge with vague answers. Today I didn't care, though. I just started
talking about all the recent frustrations with the net 30 payments, the rise of
copyright issues thanks to our dear friend the flatbed scanner, constant issues
with the precious reps, and all the problems I know other companies are having.
Before I knew it, it was a total brainstorm session, and before I realized it, I
wasn't sitting face to face with competition; I was sitting face to face with a
friend. I started trying to pull from her what she needed to know, without
giving away the answers I've busted my backside to figure out, realizing that in
one swell move, I could make her life much simpler. How to decide if she should
go freelance to another company or stay custom or start manufacturing it herself
and go wholesale, or retail. And that's just where the options start. I'm
learning more and more lately that it's not the business I'm in that I
love--it's not paper. Paper is fun, but for me it is just a means to an end--the
end being the business. Yes, I love to design, and I do love paper. I love being
artsy fartsy and cutting up magazines to make collages all over my walls and
painting and glittering and making darling things. But the dollar sign has
always been my motivator, since the age of twelve when I started babysitting.
While I'm constantly challenged to build a better product line, lately I've been
challenged to build a better business, and figure out how to help others to do
the same. I don't have a husband, kids, or anywhere to be when I wake up each
morning--precious time a'wastin'! I've always looked at my business like it's a
dead end, but today I saw it as an open door to millions of other opportunities
yet to be discovered. I don't talk about the business angle much, aside from the
random venting, but I had to share this today. It's so exciting to see buisness
from a different point of view; the ideas flourish when you put on someone
else's shoes.

So I've had a bunch of kids' sing-along songs stuck in my head lately. I don't
listen to sing-alongs, nor do I sing songs with children, so I have no idea why
they've been popping into my head so much. I'm not going to get dirty in the
details, but I'm not talking just two songs. I'm talking like twelve, people. So
this morning I walk into Amanda's office singing that "The ants go marching two
by two, hurrah! hurrah!" but changing the words to, "The boxes go marching two
by two, hurrah! hurrah!", and threw in some inferences to the boxes marching
onto the UPS truck. I even added some hand motions and clicked my heels. I
thought it was funny. Self-entertaining, at least. She looked at me, raised an
eyebrow, and asked me what medication I was on.

My parents are vacationing for a few days, and while they're away, I'm the proud
owner of their high-maintenence dog, Lucy. Lucy has taken it upon herself to
tinkle on one seagrass rug, barf on the other, and when I put her in her kennel
last night, whine until I let her out and sleep on the bed with me. To the
present hour, Sophie has snarled at Lucy 3 times, stolen her squeaky-squirrel
(thank goodness the sqeaker broke yesterday), and has now taken up residence on
Lucy's bed, beside Lucy, despite the fact that Mimi's personal shopper found
Sophie an ever-so-darling wicker dog basket last week. Me nose is all running
and me head is all clogged and me feels like mes talking and walking in an
allergic fog. I sneezed no less than 2,549 times yesterday--really gicantic
sneezes. It's disgusting being sick. The good news is, it makes my voice a notch
lower and so I made a bunch of business calls this morning, and thanks to the
stopped-up-effect, sounded like I meant business.

There's a store in Connecticut that owes me $2500. The invoice is 5 months old
and they haven't returned my more and more frequent phone calls in two months.
Due to the slow nature of recent paychecks, I faxed the store on Friday, telling
them that they had until 5:00 CST today to give me a check number or a credit
card, or I'd be pursuing "further legal action". Since there are only two hours
left until that deadline and I've not heard from them, and we confirmed receipt
of the fax via phone, I guess they didn't take me seriously. The saddest part of
it all is, I know so many other small companies with recievable accounts larger
than mine that I could start a collections agency and make a killing. But who
wants to be a collections agent for a living?

Wow. The past few days have been a whirlwind. It seems like every Monday starts
off slow, and so I take my time, and by the time it's Friday, I'm trying to
scrunch everything into one day so I don't have to worry about it over the
weekend. Blogger's been down, every time I've tried to post, and I've been
running around town like a crazy girl doing errands all morning. So, no time for
Illustration Friday. I really wasn't sure what to draw anyway. Nothing struck me
as particularly "searchable". If it does, maybe I'll doodle something and post
it later this evening. Last night I went to bed at 8:30. I never go to bed at
8:30. Usually it's sometime around 2 in the morning, at the earliest. The night
before last I had stayed up all night trying to figure out movable type. I
haven't decided if I'm going to use it yet; depends on if I can switch to MT
from Blogger. I just ran into a coding snag I couldn't solve by myself, and
emailed somebody for help. I have to go check and see if I have a response yet.
That's all I got at the moment, folks. Maybe more later. Happy weekend!

I just got off the phone with a woman who was telling me a story of two women,
both of whom had cancer. She read the article in a magazine while she was
getting a pedicure just now. One was going to live, because her medical
insurance was covering her expenses. The other was going to die, pedicure-lady
explained, because her medical insurance had just been dropped. "Things just
should not be like that in our country," she voiced. I stopped. I had called her
to find out why her bill wasn't paid--and far past it's 30 day due date and
grace period. I wanted to point out that I haven't had a pedicure in 4 months. I
wanted to say that I'm trying to pay an employee's health insurance. I wanted to
scream at her that I don't friggin care about what article she read during her
pedicure, that I just wanted her to pay. her. bill. She explained that she was
going to have to divide the total by three and send me payments each month, now
through January. I conceded, just because I'm way too nice like that. Nevermind
that I will go without a pedicure for three more months, while she decides to
let her monies trickle in. Forget that if my employee gets cancer, her insurance
won't get paid because she didn't pay me. Don't tell me what our country should
be like when you can't pay your bill because of your hoity-toity superfelous
expenses, lady. You're the last opinion worth listening to.

I voted. I went to the little church around the corner from my house and I
voted. The parking lot across from the church was flooded with cop cars; I
wondered if there were as many at other polls across our country. There were
lots of elderly people; I think I was the youngest voter in there. There were
alot of canes, oxygen tanks, wheelchairs. I almost wondered why they were
voting. Not to be mean, but it looked like very few of them would actually make
it through the next four years anyway. One of them in the back asked another:
"Are you voting Democrat?", to which the second man replied with a chuckle, "I
forgot." One of them couldn't read the ballot, and so there was someone standing
beside her yelling the questions so she could answer them and fill it out. I
smiled my gracious-est smile all around, took my ballot, and messed it up. I had
to go back, get another, watch the old ballot get torn up, and take a new one,
sign a book that accounted for missing ballots, and "start all over", as the man
told me. And so I voted again. As I was walking back to my car, I felt a smile
creep across my face. The man in the vintage tweed jacket (with leather patch
elbows) getting into his old Buick must have noticed, because he beamed at me.
Beamed with cherry colored cheeks as his snowy white hair was ruffled by the
wind. It brought tears to my eyes. Here we were, two separate lifetimes, two
entirely different histories, two entirely different perspectives. At the
moment, that didn't matter. We were both Americans. At that moment we beamed at
each other, he was celebrating his freedom too.

Sophie and I went to bed early last night so that we could get up and get coffee
and get to the polls before the long lines. All I want is that little sticker
declaring that I stated my opinion--I have the rest of the day to resign myself
to the fact that my choice may lose. I've decided that's the best way to handle
it all--think we're going to lose, and if we win, just be happy for the outcome.
I'm going to go babysit tonight for a senator's family. They're going to be at
some watch party thing that's even quicker than the news and are supposed to
call me with all the scoop. I'm hoping it will be a late night. I've been
fooling around with the professional website (should I say butchering?). I don't
have Dreamweaver, nor am I going to shell out the cash for it anytime soon, so
I'm hand coding the whole dumb thing. Any Movable Type users out there who think
that would be a good solution? Scary. I just asked web-world a tech question.
Bring on the undecipherable answers, boys! I can take it! Also on the Pinky Tech
front--I think I want a laptop. And I think I need a Mac, for all the graphics
stuff. And I think I want wireless internet, so I can sit in bed and surf until
my eyes won't stay open anymore. Sounds yummy, don't you think? Methinks,
however, that this purchase shall have to be financed--UGH. I'm a big believer
in paying cash for as much as possible. Anyway, any advice on that purchase
would be well recieved as well. It's going to be a great day--I can feel it. I'm
going to work, and doodle, and get some stuff printed, and have coffee, and
everything is going to be absolutely marvelous.

Friday morning Amanda and I were off before the crack of dawn. The drive to
Dallas was exhausting, especially on the two hours of sleep we both had the
night before. Fortunately, we got there in just the nick of time and set up our
table. I laugh at all the last minute effort I was putting into these display
boards, that showcased alot of my custom work, because we ended up selling loads
of luggage tags and I didn't get one lead for a photocard project. We went back
to the hotel and rested for a couple of hours before heading off to TABC for
dinner with my friend Jen. We were waiting for a table when a guy offered us
his, saying his group was leaving, and then proceeded to sit down and hit on us
before a whole posse of his cronies showed up and tried their hand at the same.
I've never been one for getting "picked up" at bars simply because I'm so proper
and formal and therefore not "easy game". Normally guys get one hint of my
standards and run. The interesting thing about this situation wasn't that they
ran or didn't, but that by the time we girls were ready to go, every single guy
at that table realized that we were ladies, and stood when we left the table.
Amanda was suitably impressed, Jen was annoyed at their arrogance, and I was
glad I had a boyfriend back home that didn't roll his eyes when I started
shrieking about how much I love princess movies. Now I just want the elections
to be over.