Write (a blog)

You people rock. Thank you for commenting. It’s good to know someone is out there reading me even if I don’t blog all too often. I will try to post more, I promise. I appreciate your visits.

I admit, Plurking (which I do almost daily) has taken away a lot of the things I would normally blog about. It’s a lot quicker to just write a quick plurk than to write out a whole blog entry. Seriously, if something pops into my head, I can just text it to Plurk! (And I admit I may be a little lazy.)

Anyway, since you’re here,  this is whats up. I’m still making bags! Today I made two prototype bags for a custom order. They’re larger than the regular bags. The regulars are 6″ in diameter, these are 8″. They’re taller too, and have a larger outside pocket and a 4th pocket inside. The matching mini notions bag is a little bit bigger too.

I like how it turned out, but I’m not sure if I’m going to make them regularly or not. With the larger size, you can put more in it obviously. But that poses a potential problem with the usefulness of the strap. If it’s too heavy, it defeats the purpose of the quick snap and go strap, which is intended to go on your wrist, belt loop or purse strap. Plus the whole point of my bags is to be able to take a *small* project with you, like socks or a hat. I never intended to make a bag for a sweater in progress, even if I have lots of feedback from people wanting such a creation. I teach people to knit socks, and my knitting bag is intended for carrying your sock in progress. Knitting socks is good. All you need are socks.

So if the demand is there, why don’t I fulfill it? Simply put, TIME. The small bags alone take several hours to make. On a good productive day, I’ll make 4 bags. On a crazy busy day, with nary a potty break, I can make 6. But that kind of work is not really what I *want* to do day in and day out. I still enjoy making my bags, because I do it on my pace. Two here, two there, sometimes 4. Sometimes I take a week or month off. Or several months off. I don’t want to find myself in a place where I feel like I’m required, pressured, or obligated to make them, because I know me. I would end up hating it.

I’ve even turned down a few wholesale offers. I’m just one person, and I don’t even have a craft room. My “office” is what should be our family dining room. I can’t commit to a certain kind of production. Not yet.. not till I have a real craft space. *eyes the husband*

What about minions? I’d love help, but I’m pretty particular about how they’re made. Maybe even a control freak. I don’t think I could hire someone else to sew for me. And I don’t think they’d appreciate my leaning over their shoulder and the constant nit-picking. And the kids wouldn’t do it for what I’d be willing to pay.

Remember when you could pay a kid a quarter and they’d do almost anything?

*sigh* Good times. Good times.

Til next time… xoxo

How about a show of hands. Who still reads my blog? I need some incentive to start posting again…

Is anyone out there?

Oh, and Happy New Year!

Wow, I haven’t blogged in a while. Sorry about that. I hope you keep up with me via Plurk, cause I’m rambling about something on there nearly every day.

So this is what’s up. Last Monday I had my two right-side wisdom teeth pulled, along with a deep cleaning on the right side of my mouth. A double whammy that hurt my mouth and Pierre’s wallet. I hadn’t been to the dentist since I was a kid… probably 20 years ago. This was an elective procedure, but I knew they needed to come out.

I didn’t know what to expect. After the monster needle to numb me up, there wasn’t any pain, but the pressure was HELL. I thought she was going to rip my whole jaw out of my head. She didn’t, thankfully. Just the teeth. The bottom wisdom tooth did not want to leave, and had some massively curved roots to hold it in place.

After a week of healing, I went back today for more torture. I hoped the bottom one would be easier than last time. No such luck. This one was even more resistant, causing the doctor to not only cut the tooth in half, but remove bone in order to get it out. Did I mention that they *were not* impacted? The root had a 90 degree bend in it.

The top ones were no problem at all. I imagine that’s what all of them are like for normal people. Regarding the bottoms, I was awarded with “yours were some of the toughest extractions I’ve ever done. Thanks, I needed the workout!” Wee. Go me. I still had to pay though.

So here I am, unable to chew anything even remotely solid and missing a good portion of my head. Those teeth were HUGE. But it’s over, and after a couple weeks of healing, I will never. have. to. do. that. again!!!

I’m on good pain pills though. Doc gave me Vicodin. Pierre says I can pretend I’m Dr House. *smirk*

I love my sewing machine!

This is the first attempt at turning my little Edgar the Ram into embroidery. More tweaking is needed, but I couldn’t help doing a little dance in my seat as I watched my machine stitch him before my eyes! SQUEE!

I just got back from the grocery store. While I was checking out, the gentleman bagging my groceries was making his usual small talk and jokes. He’s a very pleasant older man who treats everyone as if they were his grandkid. He tells jokes, banters with the checkout ladies, calls everyone youngin, and is just all around happy! He must be a very awesome grandpa.

While he was bagging my groceries, I mentioned that he’s always so happy. He said he tells himself a joke at night, and waits to laugh in the morning so he’s happy all day.

The lady in line behind me mentioned that she thought of him the other day when she read about a bag boy who won an award for always brightening people’s days, and that he should get one. He said, he already has, and told the story.

He was in the parking lot helping someone else with their groceries when he saw a young lady crying by her car. He went to ask if she needed help and she explained that she was out of gas, had no money, and had a job interview in 15 minutes!

Neither of them had a gas can, so instead he…  handed her his car keys and some money. He told her to take his car to her interview then stop and get a gas can and some gas on her way back. A total stranger.

She came back an hour or so later, again crying. She had gotten the job. She told the manager of the store, and he was later awarded for his caring generosity. It was one of several awards he’s gotten in his years at Publix.

He must be a really awesome grandpa indeed. What a fabulous guy to look up to!

Finished spinning Jackson Pollack. Sock weight, 470 yards.

Currently on the wheel, Georgia.

Some crickets, oblivious to the monster behind them.

A hawk that came by for a quick visit.

Lazy puppies on a lovely day.

I really do not like new years resolutions. I think that if you don’t make any, you won’t fail, so that’s good. But, if you don’t make any, you won’t succeed either.

So… meh. I guess I’ll make some.

1. Knit more.
2. Spin more.

There. I’m done. Wee! Now anything else I succeed at is a bonus!