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Because I know Katie is tired of me griping to her: I am so ready for this week to be over.  It’s been stressful at work; schools are starting back up and people are rushing to get last-minute cleaning projects done, and to stock their janitors’ closets before all the kids get there.  The office has been a bit of a mad-house, and the warehouse has really had it bad – especially the drivers and the routing department.  I do not envy them their jobs this week.  I have been having to try to put out fires and apologize to people all week for various things, and Thank God It’s Thursday because that just means tomorrow is Friday.

I will say that largely, the clientele here is omg so many worlds better than the clientele at B&C.

Good things about this week: have done cardio every day so far, and have been getting to bed early too which means that I’m not dragging every morning.  It’s nice!  I haven’t been snoozing my alarm until the last possible minute all week!

I have to make it a priority to finish these custom bags over the weekend.  I have two people waiting…neither are in a rush, which is good and bad.  I’m terrible without deadlines.

I’m feeling pretty good this Thursday!

First of all, for lunch today I have fresh-from-our-CSA honeydew, and a slice of Boston Creme Pie.  Furthermore, Michael just showed up with some banana pudding.  So….looks like it’s going to be a healthy lunch.

Also, I’m getting my business cards today, and am awfully excited about seeing them.  Will update with a picture later, probably.

Plus, I’m at a very good (for me) level of busy-ness when it comes to leatherings.  I just finished that laptop bag for Stephen, which is just gorgeous, and am now turning my attention to a custom request via Etsy.  I really have fun figuring out patterns for these things, and then turning the pattern into a three-dimensional object.  I also feel like my techniques are improving A LOT and that I’m already a ton better than I was 6 months ago when I started on all this.  Er, 7 months ago.  It’s nearly August.

Stephen’s about to leave for like a long time, so I’m trying to come up with things to do in the evenings (that don’t involve spending money).

(SIDE NOTE: someone came over to my desk for about 2 minutes to ask me a question, and I can STILL smell him.  Stale smokey smell – like I imagine bartenders at the Villager smell.  I think I have some scented lotion somewhere around here…..)

Anyway, so in my free time next week, I’m going to work on churning out a bunch of items for my inventory; I sold the minimalist leather wallet that I listed in just a few weeks, and it was almost nothing in materials, so I need to make about  more of those.  Plus I will occasionally decide that I want to make journals, and sew/glue the insides together, but run out of steam before I actually make a cover and finish the project.  So I will probably throw together a few of those, as well.  I should put up some new Moleskine covers as well, and add some different pyrographic art to them.

So yeah.  Goal for next week is to make more money than I spend – or at least list items that will eventually sell for more than I spend.  Yep.  I would, in fact, like to go home right now and start working on some of them.

(s

Been trying to knock out some leather projects lately, so that I can make that laptop bag for Stephen.  Finally I have everything finished up, so I can start on the bag any time.  If I have time I’ll draw the layout and make up a template today, but that might have to wait.

Thought I’d put up some pictures of the stuff I’ve just finished, though.  I’m trying to update my FB page too, but I don’t want to post too much there as it probably just gets annoying, so!

I finished this commissioned saddle bag for a coworker (FINALLY – took me forever), and when I sent him the pictures this morning to let him know it was all done, he called back and asked me what on earth I was doing working in an office when I could make leather bags like this!!  I was duly flattered.  If anyone wants to give me some space in their rent-free studio, let me know.  Wouldn’t that be fun?  To go to work in a studio every day?  Designing and making leather things?  Man.

So I’m going to buy new leather with the money I make off of these things, I think.

Also had someone request a custom Moleskine cover, and just sent this off yesterday.

Was pretty pleased with how this turned out.  I want to list one of these and add a customization option – so like charge an extra dollar amount to do custom pyrography.  Need to figure out how to list that.

ALSO I decided to cave and order some business cards.  I just ordered 50, which is the smallest quantity that you could order them in, but it’s something!  I’m excited about getting them (in probably 1-2 weeks…).

I’m still trying to finish up the saddle bag I’ve been “working on” for like a month.  I either need to suck it up and get over my resistance towards doing commissioned work, or just stop accepting commissions.  I’ve gotten emails on Etsy this morning asking for custom items though, so I think I’m going to go the former route.  One of these should be really easy to churn out – it’s a Moleskine cover with a tree burned into the front.  Should be able to get it done tonight, as long as I actually work on it.  Not sure what I’m doing tonight.  So I guess I should make the Moleskine cover.

Last night I was going to work while I watched a movie, but I picked this German film and forgot that it’s impossible to work while watching foreign movies (subtitles, duh)…so the movie won out.  It was a pretty good movie, too.  But this is why Wes Anderson movies are perfect for watching while I work on projects – I’ve already seen them so many times that I can pretty much enjoy the whole movie while barely even watching it.

But really I need to finish the saddle bag, and then make Stephen’s laptop bag.  I have about two weeks, which I can do, but only if I stop dilly-dallying around and watching German movies when I should be sewing or burnishing.

Did I mention that I’ve made two Etsy sales this week?  So I ALSO need to restock my inventory.  For heavens sake.

First thing on my mind this morning?  Disappointment that it was already morning, and that I had been so absolutely unproductive with my free time last night.  YES it’s true that I lengthened a purse handle for someone on Etsy, who then bought the purse.  But I did that in bed, over a couple of episodes of Criminal Minds, so I don’t really even know if that counts.  Otherwise though, I did not clean the kitchen, the litter boxes, the living room, or change my sheets.  I didn’t do laundry or mow the lawn.  I didn’t sweep any floors.

So!  Tonight I’m going to do at least SOME of those things.  If I don’t mow the lawn, I’ll do some kind of cardio, because dammit I feel better when I do.  Also I’m definitely going to wash the dishes, and do at least one load of laundry.  I need to dedicate a good hour or so to cleaning out my closet at some point, though I’d sorta like to get one of those over-the-door shoe holders first, so that I can get rid of the milk crates that I am currently pretending to use for shoe organization.  (Not pretending very hard.)

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned, but Stephen is just the best and I am beyond thankful that I’ve been able to spend the last year with him.  *sigh*  I could go on about how wonderful he is, but my words aren’t seeming adequate and anyway, this is sort of a public blog, so I’m not going to.  But.  I could.

I could also tell you about all the stuff we did last weekend, and how many times we’ve been to McKay’s in the last month to buy new amazing books that we don’t technically need, and about how I am having a serious bookshelf shortage at my house right now, but I’ll also leave this topic since I really only came here to make a list (of sorts) of the things that I need to do when I get home tonight…and also to post these two pictures.

It was a normal, decent Friday morning until a few minutes ago when I saw the news about the Supreme Court’s ruling on marriage equality, and suddenly I am having urges to go hug people and celebrate.

I have a FB friend who is saddened by this ruling, and to people who feel this way I just want to say —– I understand that marriage has traditionally been a religious institution, but if you still feel that marriage in 2015 (or 2005, or 1995) is based in religion then you are not paying any attention.  What you want to do with your religious beliefs is your decision, but for you to be saddened because all of your fellow Americans can now receive all of the benefits that go with marriage is just, well, silly.  If your job had been to make sure that marriage remained a religious institution, you failed several decades ago.  So please stop being saddened that the majority of Americans are overjoyed this day because we are finally allowing equal marriage rights for all of our citizens.

I wanted to share this —The final two paragraphs of the Court’s opinion:
“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right. The judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is reversed.
It is so ordered.”

In case you’ve never read the Desiderata —

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.  As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.  Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.  Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.  If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.  Enjoy your achievements as well as your plants.  Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.  Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.  But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.  Be yourself.  Especially, do not feign affection.  Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.  Take kindly the council of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.  Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.  But do not distress yourself with imaginings.  Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.  Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.  You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.  And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.  Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.  With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.  Be careful.  Strive to be happy.  

I am overly inclined to compare myself to others.  I need to stop.  Just because I might do things differently than other people does not mean that my ways are inferior – and even saying that sentence aloud makes me want to laugh at how absurd it sounds.  I am less talented than some people in some ways, and more talented than some people in other ways.  Always there will be greater and lesser persons than myself, so why bother comparing myself with them at all?  Why do I struggle to embrace myself the way that I am?  True, it’s good to be motivated to be a better person, but it’s not good for that motivation to be a negative voice in my brain telling me that I’m not good enough the way I am.

Sometimes I feel like I need to go to a cabin in the woods and live by myself for about 6 months.  Seems like that would be a good amount of time to allow me to…sort of remember who I am, and focus on my passions and loves, and remind me of why I am alive.  Every so often, I’m amazed at how easy it is to get stuck in the 8-5 office rut; I get up, I go to work, I come home, I have dinner, maybe watch TV, maybe work on a craft project, maybe read, then go to bed.  I was telling Brittany last night that I have very much shied away from trying to make my passions into my livelihood, because in my mind forcing a passion to be a career is a good way to kill it.  And so I go to my day job and try to remember my passions after work (and sometimes during, if I’m not too busy).  I don’t like this very much.  I am trying to be thankful.

I’m finding myself wanting to spend the weekend quilting, rather than spending it leathering – which is what I’m going to be doing.  I need to try to knock out that saddle bag for my coworker…the extra money would be REALLY nice to have, lemme tell you!  Spending $100 on renewing my tags, while necessary, is no fun and all I have to show for it is a sticker that says “16.”  Hmph.

I am SOOO glad that it’s Friday though.  Tomorrow I’m going to give blood, and then will likely hit up Wendell Smith’s for lunch (partly because it’s good to have a hearty meal after losing a pint of blood, and partly because seeing Nashville last night makes me want to get re-acquainted with the nitty-gritty deep-down Nashville part of Nashville).  (Also makes me want to go to the Springwater, but probably won’t do that after giving blood.)

Or I could also just stop at Fat Mo’s for lunch.  Hmmm.

There’s an afternoon show at Centennial Park that we’re going to…hm, would probably be a good idea to have some leather pieces cut out so that I can take them to sew while we’re there.  Maybe I’ll do that tonight.