Friday, November 30, 2012

In Which I Ask You a Favor

I knit a lot. I love knitting. I've tried to crochet, but I just don't get it. I can't make it work out.
As you know, the town I grew up in has been pretty devestated by Hurricane Sandy. There are people who still don't have power (30+ days)!
My good friend Shannon is putting together a special project - Operation Sandy Claus, where she and her crew will put together stockings with treats and hygiene products. She reached out to me to see if we could mobilize the fiber artists to make scarves for these awesome giveaways!
I have a few beautiful scarves that I have made for craft fairs, and I'm in the process of making more. Do you have any you could spare? They are looking for gender neutral scarves for adults and kids. We would be grateful for any knit/crocheted scarf you could send our way!
We need the scarves by December 20. You can send them to: 6 Watts Place, Valley Stream, NY 11581.
Thanks, if you're able to help. If you can't knit or crochet, nag your bestie who can. or your mom. or your bestie's mom.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

In Which it is The Pinnacle of Selling and I am Unprepared

I showed at another craft fair. Andy says no more. I work really hard to get everything together, and Long Island doesn't appear to be my place to sell things. I do okay online.
Everything's crazy. Hurricane Sandy cleanup at the library is really hard. It's still a lot of physical work and my poor little out-of-shape librarian's body is unhappy about the whole thing.We're starting on the fifth week of all of this stuff, and everything's off. Andy's schedule is kind of back to normal, and I'm working 9-5s, which is unusual for me, as I used to work different times almost every day.
Now, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone and I didn't have time to really get myself together for it. So, I'm afraid I won't sell as much as I wanted to.
Some recent additions:
Shiny Brite Ornaments

Vintage polish ornaments

An awesome Murano glass bowl. It's beautiful and it has its sticker! I don't know a ton about glass - I've just picked up things I think are pretty. But it's definitely something worth looking in to. I listed the bowl on Ebay, hoping it will make someone the perfect present (and right quick!)
 
Now, for something completely different:

A long time ago (months), I bought this tumbler/vase. It is white ceramic and it has deers in a forest on it. I thought I found some answers about its maker, but I cannot find the info again! Anyone know anything? It was made in Germany (from the partial sticker at the bottom) and it has a mark I haven't been able to match.
Thanks for any help you are able to provide, friends!
Also, use the coupon code SWEETDEALS for 10% off anything in my shop - vintage or handmade!


Thursday, November 01, 2012

So

This hurricane was the pits. We have power, but many of our friends are devestated. The amount of water and trees and power lines is unbelievable. The amount of garbage and sewage and fall-leafy-crap is astounding. The gas lines, the crankiness, the food shortages, the un-powered - it makes it spooky and weird.
My family is safe. My friends are safe. We have many friends who are homeless, staying here until things start to even out. My papa comes for the day, but goes home for sleeping in his own bed. We have four dogs here, and I'm getting used to them all following me around like I'm their shepherd or something.
The library, where I work, is soggy, and has no power, so it may stay soggy for a while. It's sad to see so many people who I see every day, patrons or friends or neighbors, who are having such devestating life problems. The businesses were water damaged. The schools were severely water damaged. So many facets of people's lives are ruined, and it's hard to conceive.
Sometimes you feel like, "well, at least my job's okay" or "at least I have my home" or "at least there is running water". Well, a lot of people don't have any of these things - and kids who would've escaped the sadness around them at school, can't, because their school is a mess. It really stinks.
I'm lucky. I have my home, and am lucky enough to be able to open it up for anyone who needs it. I worry a lot, because my husband and one of our friends work for utilities, and so they are working really long hours in dangerous conditions (and to top it off, people seem to be mad at them!) I try to make sure that they have food when they come home, and clean clothes and stuff. I don't feel in control of anything, and my life is good, so I can only imagine the stress of people who are in trouble. My biggest hope is that gas gets here soon, because it seems to be the thing that people are getting craziest about, and I'm extra grateful for all of the people- utility workers, policemen, firemen - who are trying to keep everyone safe (even from themselves)