News from the Fronts

So many blogs seem to have this post, and I felt left out -

Wow, it has been awhile since I posted anything. :)

Life has been hectic, and my perfectionism has really delayed me in getting my stuff together.

Well, I started my business, filled out all the forms and licenses and such. I ordered mailing envelopes and boxes. I even planned on the look of the box design. I set up an Etsy account, a personal website and bought a new camera, got a light box and even filed taxes (easier than I expected, since nothing has been put up for sale yet) - I have even made a few items for sale, and that was where my perfectionism silenced me with a delay, which dragged on and on and on.

I commit now when we return from vacation, that I will be posting more, and getting my pictures up on Flickr and my website . Also, I plan on tweaking some of the website items to get it a bit better.

Yep, November (almost a year after starting it) my business will need to pick up - and at least, I avoid the downfall of many businesses that end in their first year. LOL

In less than 24 hours we start the vacation we have been planning for over four years! Our great-niece and godchild Chenoa's fifth birthday trip to Disneyworld! This is more than a chance to spoil the heck out of her, it is teaching a valuable lesson about keeping promises. We promised her at her 1st birthday that she will be celebrating her 5th birthday with Mickey Mouse! And years of planning are allowing us to keep that promise - big time. I have a special time with her planned, we are going to a princess tea party!

And on the WOW front, my alt hit 85 yesterday. Finally, after quite a few years (we started a few months after it went live with our primaries - which are still in the mid-60's). :) But, that felt great to accomplish.

Oh, and I won't be doing Nanowrimothis year. I won two years (Thicker than Water and Terra Infirma), and a few months ago finally dragged out my manuscript and started re-reading it with the idea to get it edited for submitting in a year or so. It wasn't as horrid as I expected, but the story arc seemed really crazy. After reviewing Thicker than Water, I think I have a trilogy trying to fold itself into one story - some parts seemed SO rushed and needed expanding, others seemed to be a natural break. So, I have Steve reading it and checking what he thinks and will be working on that also.

Yep, tons of life, not very public - but I learned much over the year.

Friday...

Last night was the January Columbus Polymer Clay Guild meeting. We are trying something new, we are doing demos from Polymer Clay Color Inspirations: Techniques and Jewelry Projects for Creating Successful Palettes by Lindly Haunani and Maggie Maggio
I liked the new format for the meeting. We did the normal stuff, but in addition, we went around the room and introduced ourselves. We also did hands on demo, and I really was glad we are doing them again. I liked it so much that I volunteered for June's demo. It will be the color triangle from the book. I like the project, very enlightening - but can be very, very repetitive mixing all the colors. I started a few different ones before, and got really bored in the middle. When it is exploring, I enjoy, when it is rote - not so much. But the end product is just so cool, and really helpful.
	I am slowly working through Katherine Dewey's Creating Lifelike Figures in Polymer Clay. A really great book, and really a cool concept in how to sculpt – everything is drawn from base units. You use a set number of units or fractions of a unit for the facial parts, for arms, legs, or torso. Then you place “appliqués” that simulate the muscle and bone, and smooth them out to give it skin. It really is very detailed, very step by step, and organized. It also has a set of tools to make to help make the sculpting easier. The computer programmer brain likes the idea, and the creative part really likes that you can use the base idea and move from there!

I have been drawn to Polymer clay ladies faces - and have been using fantastic molds that I have purchased. But, if I want to go much father with them, I feel the need to make my own faces and molds from them. This book has made me feel that I could do that and really is quite a great wealth of information.