Went into the city today to get the donation incentive shipments out before the ice storm hits. Didn’t get everything shipped: I ran out of boxes already, but I’ll get more out on Monday. LOTS done and here’s a look at some happy packages ready to go:
And doesn’t my studio look sweet and cozy? All those cluttery bookshelves are gone for good. Now I have a nice, comfy chair where I can sit with my feet up, wearing my favorite rabbit slippers, and my lapboard on my lap.
Check out these old WORK IS GOOD posts for old pics. The old set up was nice, but I have streamlined quite a bit and moved an entire bay of books into my workshop. And, of course, I am moving many books out by sending them to my fine sponsors.
The other bay of books is over by the doors leading to the workshop. This gives me so much more breathing room in here. All is easier on the eyes. I don’t feel so claustrophobic anymore.
And now I can finally finish off the detailing on the painting and woodwork in here. I did most of the renovation in this room, including installing the floor. You would no believe how hideous it was when I moved in.
That said, behind these doors, a scene of horror! Here is all the stuff I have piled up and have ready to ship out to my noble patrons!
AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!
What a nightmare! Calling Neicy Nash! Man, do I need Clean House!
OK, not really, most of this was brought in from the well house where it has been stored in boxes for years. I am determined to whittle it down and get it sorted. And to move as much out to my noble patrons who support me and appreciate all the good stuff I am sending them.
Some of my goodies have not been out of storage since I moved, and I can’t tell you how many times I have had to root through boxes and boxes of things to find one item, only to lose 20 more. It is deeply embarrassing to lose an order or a commission because I moved a pile of papers and accidentally put it in to a storage box and sealed it away. Criminey.
A few weeks ago, I pulled a bunch of A Distant Soil art for scanning, and the workroom is so cramped I cannot move things from point A to Point B without losing them. And I mixed up the scanned pages with the un-scanned pages. I had to go through the ENTIRE STACK and resort them. There went four hours.
So, as time-consuming as it is to go through all of this and pack it and ship it off to my patrons, I have no doubt whatsoever that the long term result will be a cleaner, more streamlined workshop with a place for everything and everything in its place.
Some of you have been so very kind as to send donations to the website without asking for anything: even insisting that I send them nothing. Thank you SO MUCH to Yolanda Kozak and our fine friends at Inter-Fan Productions Ink!
I was admonished to go and get myself a little something, even just a cup of coffee, with some donations, so today I did just that.
I confess it stings a bit when I send out some of these packages and kiss a few of these cool items goodbye. Some of them are going for a song, but I’d rather sing them to a good new home, rather than let them gather dust in mine.
That said, I decided to get myself a little treat.
There’s this big, fancy schmancy toiletries store in the city near the Fedex office. This store is the type where a bar of soap costs five bucks. And I hardly ever shop there, unless I have five bucks for a bar of soap, which I usually don’t.
And I thought to myself, “Self, what I would like after a big day of packing and shipping boxes is a nice bubbly, smelly good bath thing that will make my aching back feel better.” And so, I decided to take my nifty donation extra few bucks, and get me a nice, long, hot relaxing evening, instead of a cup of coffee.
And wow. Did I get my reward for all my hard work, and for sending out all my beloved books and goodies to my patrons.
Sale. The sale to end all sales. The sale sign I never expected to see in the kind of store that sells NOTHING but L’Occitane, and Chanel, and Princess Marcella Borghese, and Bare Minerals…
BUY 10 for $10.
Let me repeat that.
BUY TEN FOR TEN DOLLARS.
I could NOT believe my eyes.
THE ENTIRE COSMETIC SECTION WAS BEING SHUT DOWN AND EVERY SINGLE ITEM WAS ONE DOLLAR!!!!!!!
Sixty dollar jars of face goo: $1
The very expensive Princess Marcella Borghese makeup, which I had stopped wearing years ago because I cannot justify buying a tube of lipstick for $35: $1
AN ENTIRE BOX of freaking expensive facial care system: $1
Bare Minerals makeup at $18-$28 PER ITEM: $1
I about fainted. I asked three different clerks if the sign was true.
And when I nervously filled up a shopping basket and brought it to the counter, afraid they were going to ring me up and give me a bill the equal of my monthly rent, yea and verily, the signs were true: every item was $1.
And I stocked up.
I bought about $500 worth of goods for $30.
I bought smelly good powder, and loverly witch hazel soap, and fabulous facial cleanser, and two tubes of hoity toity lipstick, and a wonderful night cream, and some terrific sandlewood-smelling stuff for my brother, and even a wonderful tube of muscle rub. And I only paid a dollar for each item.
So, there I was going goodbye to a few fabulous books and feeling a little down, but dang, do I feel better now. I feel like I got some uber-fabulous shopping karma. I won’t have to buy cosmetics or toiletries for ages, and every single item is high-end awesome. The top of the top, the creme de la creme at Dollar Store prices. FAAAAAABulous!
I’m going to TOTALLY slather myself in smelly-good creamy stuff, and now I have some wonderful new makeup, too.
I feel pretty.
THANKS!
c
