I have been avoiding writing for a bit because I try to blog by the code of "if you can't say something nice, don't say nuthin' at all." and things have been a megacrapslide lately. So, I've been keeping my miseries secret until I had the opportunity to soften the harshness with a bright side. I'll quickly skim over the details of the bad so I can focus on my elation about the good.
The bad:
As some may know, I recently left my job at the bakery to delve full-on into finishing the cafe and organizing my life so that I have more time to make art. Less than one week ago, I was very optimistic about the way my plans were shaping up and I was bubbling with excitement. I honestly have had the Boys II Men version of "Yesterday" stuck in my head for four days.
On the same day as my last day at the bakery, Justin and I received a fifteen thousand dollar bill in the mail. The responsibility of paying this already past due bill was unexpectadly laid upon us and we were (and still are) utterly overwhelmed. Shortly after Justin and I had concluded many budget analyses and coping strategies, we were bombed by my boss's decision to delay the opening of the Cinema Cafe by more than a month therefore leaving me nearly income-less for all of September and quite possibly longer. On top of this, sales for Argyle Whale are at a record low. This is all I can think about and I have yet to figure out a decent solution so I feel trapped and panicky. I could go on and on and pile up all the sludge but I'm ready to focus on the positive.
The bright side:
My family is healthy and, at worst, we can end up falling upon the grace of my parents and living in their spider-webby basement. I'm trying to remind myself that the worst that can come of this is still pretty darn good compared to the lives of many other people (sometimes that depresses me more though). Also, losing my job (temporarily?) at the cafe and giving up my job at the bakery leaves loads and loads of time for me to make stuff. All I have is time now!
The really good news:
I have just received my acceptance email into this year's Bazaar Bizarre! I have always dreamed of getting to be in this show and it is a tremendous opportunity to take Argyle Whale to the next level and make a bundle of cash money! I hope that this invitation to the show marks the beginning of things becoming good again.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Things changed quickly.
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8 comments:
After all of your hard work at the cafe, I certainly hope that your boss will come to his senses and realize that he will reap benefits from your talent. "If you build it, they will come". If it does come down to you moving into the basement, Hodge & Yoshimi will certainly scare away the spiders and the 'dust bunnies' :o) so don't worry about them. Congrats on your acceptance to the Bazaar. You now have time to create til your hearts content :o)
Hang tough!
Can't wait to meet you at the Bazaar!
Well, crap.
Money matters can get me in a panic faster than almost any other thing. I'm feeling it for you now! But I'm glad to hear there are bright sides. Because there always are. It's just hard to see them with all that uncertainty around. Have fun preparing for the show!
oh my dear, things will work out!
Seems that despite all the bad there is a lot of good in there. keep your chin up
Elise,
Congratulations on being accepted into the Bazaar and things will be sunny again soon. I'd like to see you sometime, if you would ever like to come over and snuggle a cat, let me know (my cats offer a great deal of (free) "purr & furr" therapy, as I'm sure your Bunn's do to).
Chin up, Cheer up
-Julie
Hang in there! We've all (or a lot of us) have had to crash at the parents after we've flown the nest. And August has been horribly slow for me as well, but this is your change to create for the Bazaar! Mincy and I will be there and we'll stop by to say hi!
Congratulations on into getting into the show. I hope it is an amazing success and having this time off before hand could prove to be very valuable.
I checked out your stuff on Etsy and if I could offer one suggestion....make some (or all) of your prints available on T-shirts. For some reason T-shirts are always phenomenal sellers.
I could honestly say if the guinea pig pile print was on a T-shirt I would buy it. (Let me know if it is available and I missed it)
I'm not an art on the wall kind of person and I think there are a lot of people out there that feel the same.
Good luck on your future endeavors.
Hi again Elise.
Obviously I am catching up on past posts backwards. I just wanted to put in my two cents and remind you not to worry. As Michael Jackson says "You are not alone". I feel terribly weighted by student loan debt every single day ( it would probably be easier to not think about it if Sallie Mae wasn't calling my cell phone every two or three hours- every day of the week!!). But, also, August Etsy sales sucked horribly. My sales have never been lower either. It was so sad and depressing. But holiday time is just around the corner, and now you have so much time to crank out a million prints for the BBB! I can't wait to peruse your table and finally buy some of your great prints. Please be sure to have at least one pussy willow print for me. I think about that almost every day and it cracks me up! I hope things are looking up for you. Hang in there. And, if you need it, just go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8rYl6K2STc
Love,
Ashley
(I can't help but write emails where comments should be!)
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