springtime color, sunday report

Happy Spring! Yesterday (first day of spring) was AMAZING. More on that soon. There were peacocks.

I think I'm at the last stages of this neverending cold. Woo! I'm to the part where my brain is more or less operational, but still marinating in snot. (I know this is gross, but sometimes the truth is gross.) Anyway - along with many crumpled tissues comes a weird kind of focus, which I used to get some etsy stuff done that I've been putting off forever.


My etsy expectations are limited: I sell things on there to fund my paypal account, which I use to buy things on etsy - mostly gifts, but stuff for me too. Since I've released myself from the burden of "developing a brand" and "search engine optimization" and so on, I make things when I have time or feel like it, then take pictures when I have time or feel like it. Lots of people have done very ambitious things using etsy, but it takes a lot more work than I'm willing to do. This was a relief to realize! I think I'm warped from all my years working in the craft industry - it's hard to break that "can I sell it?" mindset, which I find really limiting to the creative process, especially when I want to make something weird. Not that I think these little magnets are particularly weird, but I like making them because despite using rubber stamps, no two are alike. I also like the small size, which limits how fussy I can be.


The craft industry mindset that I'm talking about is one that makes it hard to make ONE NECKLACE to wear instead of developing a whole bunch of them and some kind of assembly line process to put them together. Does that make any sense? I think I'm finally working my way out of that particular bramble. I know I want to do more sewing (FOR ME) and maybe get out some supplies and start making a necklace a week just to see what happens. I have a lot of supplies, but my taste has changed quite a bit since I acquired most of them. It could be interesting.


I have a lot of respect for people who do pursue their etsy ambitions - there are so many talented people selling on the internet! It's just not where I want to put the focus of my creative work right now. So much of craft success on the internet is marketing and that's not where my strength or interest lies AT ALL. I'm a craft dabbler and that's okay.


boy, do I like taking pictures of colored pencils!


Hey, we can pretend that determined woman above is Nancy Pelosi, pushing through legislation! Congratulations and thank you, Speaker Pelosi for pushing on healthcare reform. It's not perfect, but this uninsured taxpayer appreciates the bill as a good place to start.


green pencils for spring!