one million things or less.

So much has happened since I last posted and it wasn't even super long ago! I wish I had been updating all along but here is a quick rundown of what is old and then I can get to what's new.

I left my upholstery job.

I got an office job and had a serious commute.

I went to NYC to vend at the Renegade Craft Fair and visit Meagan, Jason, Ashley and Justin.

I did another week of office work.

I quit the office job faster than I've ever quit anything before!

I made a plan B (more details to follow)

It has been kind of a big few weeks for me and it isn't quite over yet! This Sunday I am selling at Union Made in Somerville, MA and the best part is that it will be the first fair I helped with as an organizer! It is going to be fun. I heard there will be cookies and I am working on a sweet mix to enchant Union Square. So, be there!

The BBB and Me!

Something really neat happened and I can't wait to tell you. But first, I'm going to get sentimental and describe the events leading up to this neat thing so you can get an idea of my level of enthusiasm for the news at the end of this post. Or you read blogs like I read books and will just skip to the last paragraph.

Six or seven years ago, I was pursuing my BFA with a concentration in sculpture and even though I loved the school environment, I kept feeling like my brain was slowly shifting away from gallery oriented work to a more crafty sensibility. My friend suggested I go with her to the Bazaar Bizarre in Boston to the best craft fair for artsy types. Once I saw the handmade goodness at the end of the very long line to enter, I'm fairly certain glitter shot out my ears. Seeing the creative folks peddling their loot, I was sure that I needed to be a part of this group and I made the goal of becoming a vendor.

As I finished up my last year of college, I kept creating sculptures and installations that were probably overly complicated, but was meanwhile indulging in instant gratification crafting that was refreshingly "more do, less think". I ended up creating an absurd brand with Justin called Lazer Beanz where we took clothes from the thrift store and embellished them with colorful applique images of volcanos, fried eggs, bunnies and lightning bolts. We took our silly products very seriously and applied to become vendors at Bazaar Bizarre. We were crestfallen when we received a rejection email but it made us look closer at the business we'd created in a frenzy and see with fresh eyes that our product photos were shameful, I could use a couple sewing lessons, and we were underpricing for the amount of work each item required. We decided Lazer Beanz was much more like a fun project than a real business.

Taking what I learned from Lazer Beanz, I decided to start a new project on a more professional foundation. I started slowly building an online shop full of my illustrations under the name Argyle Whale. My product was more polished. I even had decent packaging and photos and charged prices where I could conceivably make a profit. How novel! I applied to Bazaar Bizarre again and was completely nutso with giddiness when I found out that this time, I was accepted as a vendor! The nerdy photo above is me at my first BBB.

I have been a vendor at Bazaar Bizarre three times now and it is one of my favorite events of the year. This year is going to be very exciting and different because this is a triple fair year and I am the newest organizer! I am flattered to be in the company of such ambitious and talented people. It makes me feel good to look back on the past few years and see how I graduated from wannabe to rejectee to vendor to ORGANIZER! I hope they don't find out how disorganized I am.

PS: The applications for the Summer fair (Union Made) are going to be up any second!

Halfway up the mountain!

With Twist behind me and all my Craftland goodies shipped, I'm rationing my remaining energy to sustain me through two more fairs. Bazaar Bizarre Boston is right around the corner and Mass Market (also in Boston) follows shortly after.

I have plenty of inventory and my display all set but I'm a little disappointed in myself for not introducing as many new products as I'd planned. There are a couple new card designs but I didn't set up my studio in our new place quickly enough to be truly efficient. With just three work days left before Bazaar Bizarre, I'm trying to decide which of my many new design concepts will be realized in time for the show. I've got a dusty chinchilla print, some pinback buttons, tea sipping camels and a cat in a paper bag to choose from.

I'm also trying very hard to not let the new home suck up too much of my attention this month. I'd like to be able to put everything on hold and take a week to hang art, sew pillowcovers, decorate for the holidays and go thrifting for furniture. I must remind myself that the home isn't going anywhere and it isn't a priority during the hectic holiday season. And yet... I have to show you these acts (above photos) of wintry window embellishing I committed last night while over-caffeinated from chai-nog.

Well, I must get going on tonight's print sleeve-ing process. I'm glad I can do that task on the couch in front of a movie because I'm really in the mood to watch Die Hard (at least one of them).

Bazaar Bizarre was super!

I'm so happy to report that the Bazaar Bizarre was a big success! Jenn, Justin and I had a long chilly day but it was full of people smiling and enjoying my work so we have lots of stamina for that kind of thing. It snowed for hours and the crowds still showed up and waited in a line that was two blocks long (so I hear).

My greatest enjoyment was meeting a few fellow vendors I really admire. I wish I had the chance to mingle more. I also was really pleased to meet folks who already knew about Argyle Whale and were eager to meet me. That was a neat feeling for sure!

Being a vendor at Bazaar Bizarre has been a big goal of mine for a few years (even before I had a business!) and it was every bit as good as I'd imagined. Gigantic heaps of thanks to the organizers and volunteers who made the event so spectacular.

Photos from the event along with all the loot I brought home can be found here.

Bazaar Bizarre creeps closer.

Today was my first day with Jen (Argyle Whale's first ever intern!) and I am extremely thrilled to be working with her. She is so efficient and focused which helps balance my tendency to be a scatterbrained dawdler. We got so much done for Bazaar Bizarre in the hours we spent together that I'm almost relaxed approaching this big event. Almost. I do have plenty of butterflies though.

Ok, I've got to get back to work. I'm not stopping until Sunday at 7:00.

I ate a wild mushroom omelette for breakfast

I stayed home sick today and kept out of the cold rain. I feel much much better now.

I had a pretty productive day for someone wrapped in blankets, confined to my office chair and working one-handed due to the other hand being constantly occupied by a mug of hot tea.

I've nearly completed the tedious task of putting a couple thousand prints into their individual cellophane sleeves with business cards as part of my attempt to streamline my shipping process. I also finished the long awaited "Danger for Breakfast" print which is now available in my shop.

The night is still young and I hope to print another something special before retiring. I'm all revved up with productivity now that Bazaar Bizarre is just around the corner.

Things changed quickly.

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.