Temporary Pause

All crafting has been put off for the time being because I have company coming this weekend! I'm very excited about this. I have not seen any of my friends for over a year now and I miss them something fierce. So I'm happy to set aside the crafting and focus on housework right now. You know, setting up the guest bedroom, making sure I dust and clean all the corners I accidently overlook with my usual cleaning, etc. I like things to be sparkling when guests arrive! - then it can go back to it's usual state of just tidy once they've been here for a bit.

In total I think I'll have about eight additional people in the house - though most will arrive and depart on different days - and I'm still trying to figure out where exactly I'm gonna put them all. It'll definitely be very different around here with so many people - usually it's just Moondoggie and I breathing up all the air - but I don't mind giving up my hermit-like ways for a week. And I'll actually be forced to go out and experience the city! In the time I've been here I've really only gone out for errand-running purposes - sure, I've had the occasional night out, and plenty of movie watching, but, as I've mentioned before, it's been a bit hard to find our niche so we haven't been too motivated to really spend a lot of time enjoying the city. This week I'll get to experience Miami as a tourist (which I guess I still feel like I am) and that should be fun.

For the time being, here's a teaser picture of the items I made last week. Hopefully, I'll be able to get them lined and zippered up in the next couple of weeks.

Currently shuffling through my soundsystem: Little Joy - Keep Me In Mind, Alpha - Sometime Later, Alkaline Trio - Armageddon, The Cry Babies - It's My Thing.

Craft Room

My craft room has been moved and greatly reduced in size and I blame it on Miami weather. My official craft room is in the part of the house we call the "dungeon" since it's dark and and spooky and in the bowels of our tiny house. Really, it's just a converted garage. And it is HOT in there. Not only do I share the space with the washer and dryer, but the air conditioning doesn't reach that room and it gets stuffy and musty in no time flat. So I've moved my actual craft space to the left side of my dining room table. Plus sideboard. It's been surprisingly comfortable and obviously convenient, being just off the living room, where I do all my knitting and hand sewing. Plus it's forcing me to stay organized since I can't stand disorder in the "public domain" rooms. Shove stuff into closets? - of course! But always keep the living room, dining room, and bathroom tidy. It makes me feel the whole house is neat, even when it's not.

I've been working on more bags, coming up with new ideas, and finally making some local contacts to see if I can't expand into the community that physically surrounds me. More on that later, if it pans out. Oh, and added just a few more things to the shop. Anyway, back to knitting needles I go!

Currently shuffling through my soundsystem: Chris Murray - Ex-Darling, Diana Ross - Love Hangover, Mad Caddies - All American Badass (my iTunes has no rhyme or reason).

Research

I purchased this book recently at the behest of Angry Chicken. (Sidenote: Have you read her blog? You should. She is always full of crafty goodness.) She's been in the business for a while now and I figured if she can recommend it on her blog, it must have pretty good information in it.

I'm only about a third of the way through it but have already learned quite a few things pertaining to both questions I had and ones I hadn't even thought of yet. There's a lot to think of and I think this does make a good guide for those of us just starting out. Previously, I'd done a little online research about starting an online venture and turning ones hobbies into careers but this goes into far more detail than the few articles I'd read. Has anyone else read this book? Any other books you'd recommend for making your hobby into a successful business reality?



Currently shuffling through my soundsystem as I type: Alpha - Sometime Later, Blondie - Hanging On The Telephone, The Black Keys - Oceans and Streams, Ultimate Fakebook - Little Apple Girl