where my "disposable income" would go (after bills, then handbags, yarn and shoes)

Thanks to the Vox neighbor who purchased one of my favorites last night. I'm making yours right now - it will be hitting the road on Monday and headed right on down to one of my favorite spots in the country. Now, if I can just stay motivated to put up some NEW designs!

My Etsy shop is about to go through some more changes after my indiecontests.com deal ends (click that link to participate!). To the right are a few of items that have three days left online before heading off to a great little gift shop here in Portland, Imp on Alberta.

Most of my stitch markers will be headed to a local yarn shop. They are among the only items in my shop that haven't gotten any hearts!  This makes me kind of sad, as they always get compliments in the presence of other knitters. There are a few other items, too, mostly earrings, that haven't gotten any love. I'm considering removing those from the shop as well. Or, perhaps, simply better photographs are necessary.

I'm torn, really, because I know this from years of experience doing shows - sometimes, the piece you hate the most is the first thing to leave the table. Sometimes, it just takes setting up in a different part of the world for that item you've had in your shop for ages to fly off the table in seconds. I had a store in Asheville sit on my jewelry for months. As soon as he shipped back the unsold pieces, I put them on Etsy and they started to move. Still, there are items in my shop that no longer represent me and the work and aesthetic I'm doing now. They're beautiful pieces of jewelry, but they're not me anymore. They need to go somewhere, though!

In the meantime, I've managed to make it to the instep on the yoga/dancer sock I've been knitting for over a month. Last night I was forced to frog my progress tho, and I worry that by the time I make it to the second sock I'll have forgotten all the little tweaks and weirdnesses I've had to figure out on my way through this pattern. I have my suspicions that it will be a while before I find out. I'm wanting to get started on my mom's Mother's Day gift, but at the rate I'm going with these socks, I should probably get started now if I want hers done by May 11, 2008. I swore I wouldn't cast on another project until this one was finished but unfortunately her gift requires the same set of needles. My simple living agenda will not allow me to simply purchase another set of needles.

Whatever, I guess - if this were my biggest problem in life I'd be very, very happy. It's not, however. Every piece of jewelry you purchase from me helps me get one step closer to paying my rent for March (yes, it's the 7th, and after that we'll start on the bills - my phone will be shut off soon and after that, they'll cancel my car insurance. I'm not even driving my car right now, because I can't afford the gas. Instead I'm riding a bike I will be purchasing off of the gracious friend who let me have it in good faith). WHAT A MESS! Portland always does this to me. As well, I'm trying to find the right employment, not just ANY employment. I hope it can happen for me here.

Enough of that, however! I am going to stay positive - the sky was clear and blue for a split second this morning too, but has since smoothed over with Portland's typical gray slate. I'm actually kind of happy about this - now I don't really feel so obligated to anywhere. I can stay inside and work, make new jewelry and work on a new project I've begun. I won't be able to sell it through Etsy, sadly, as it's a print-on-demand project, but thankfully I have plenty of other venues for that. Too, I have all the materials I need - the production of this project requires only my time. A lot and lot of time - it will be another month or two before it's finished and even after that, I'm hoping to run it through my writer's group first. So, in the meantime, check this out:

Either I have great, or purely common taste. Almost every item I've favorited in my history on Etsy is now sold. Regardless, if you've been enjoying MY aesthetic, check out these great Etsy sellers, too. Clicking any item will take you to their shop where they'll have items that are actually STILL for sale.  :-)