Yahoo Groups and Holiday Cards - Progress

So, let's start with the Yahoo Groups news. Although it's been years since I've had any interface with YahooGroups as an active member, there are several groups I belong to (and a couple that I am admin for) which are on that platform. So, I'm doing a shout-out to my readers. If you have material on a Yahoo Groups location, pull it and put it elsewhere ASAP. Yahoo Groups is disbanding, and within a few short days, you will be unable to upload, with the whole shebang fading into the sunset before the end of the year. 

Yahoo Groups is closing down. Nothing will be able to be uploaded
after a few more days, and all groups will be permanently closed
by mid-December. Pull your items off NOW if you need to. 

In a way it's like another door closing on a lighter time when I was a bit more carefree. The groups I belonged to and/or moderated were mostly crafting groups, but there were a few fiction writing groups among them too. Now I'll have to find a quick moment to go on-line to Yahoo Groups and double-check to make sure I'm not missing anything urgent that needs to be pulled. *sigh*. A pain for everyone, no question. 

I love the entire concept of mailing a physical card
to my friends. There's something so satisfying about
sending envelopes throughout the world and
knowing that I'm sending a unique gift to some
very unique and treasured friends. 

My holiday cards list is growing due to yesterday's post. I'm going to be a bit more specific - it would be VERY appreciated if you would Private Message me with your mailing address (yes, even if I've sent you numerous cards over the years). I always want to make sure that I have everything accurate, and things change sometimes from one year to another. So, please, if you replied that you wanted a card in yesterday's call-out, I'll be responding with an address update query. It's for the sake of accuracy, not to be annoying. *hugs* 

I found the cardstock I had been needing, as well as what I want for my front border and I ordered what I decided to use for the interior yesterday, so all things considered, it was a good day. I even got multiple items polished and ready to be put back out onto the sales floor. As usual, I didn't get everything completed, but for a day off, it was successful. 

Here's hoping your Thursday is wonderful and complete. I'll be back hard at work on my cards early this morning. I'm just waiting on a couple of materials before I can move on to my next stage. I'll do a second call-out in another week or two. Have a great day and I'll be back tomorrow. 

Breezeway Furnishings and a 3-Word Address

I had to run a quick dryer load through this morning, so today's post is a bit short - on time and content. I received a package yesterday of three pairs of sweat pants, two turtleneck shirts and a button up Henley from Kohl's (all for less than $80 with free shipping) and wanted to get them washed, along with DH's shirt from yesterday which was fusty from having moved and assembled the soldering bench (photo below). I knew I had to get the rust off the shirt right away or it would be toast, thus a washer load last night, and a dryer started at 3:00 am this morning. 

The solder bench is assembled. We still need to put the
top into the frame, but that's easy. Notice the new
height of the shutters. He raised them up approximately
four inches so that they can be opened to let light in.
Blinds would be much easier to handle though, since
the table depth is four feet. 

The solder benchtop was a total PITA to get up the stairs of the shop, out the door, and into the back of the pickup. DH had to get it into the breezeway on his own, but that only entailed a single shelf. After getting everything reassembled, and raising the shutters so that I could open them and the windows if I wanted, he spent last night searching on-line for inexpensive narrow blinds that we could replace the shutters with. The least expensive would fit, but not easily. I could actually get the dimension I need, but it would cost $60+ (vs under $15 for the least expensive). Whatever we choose, we'll need two sets, so economy does play a role. 

Remember this photo from August 1st? Here you can
see where the shutters originally were positioned. He
raised them quite a bit to clear the tabletop. 

Sorry to be so short today, but on the positive side, I've got a website for you to check out. What3Words is an address app that can accurately pinpoint any address in the world - on a street, or on a mountaintop. It is already being used in untraveled parts of the world to rent yurts and forested tents for AirBnB uses. Check it out when you have a chance. Every address receives a unique three-word designation. I found my three-word address, although I had to move across the pond to the USA and then start moving into my city, street, neighborhood and finally house. It was easy and rather fun. What's your new 3-word address?   

I'll be back tomorrow, have a wonderful day and enjoy your Friday! 

Time Is Moving Too Quickly!

Time is getting away from me and I have to get this written and posted. It might be my "day off", but it's a super busy one, and Thanksgiving is only a week away! I have to spend some serious time on the computer today updating our mailing list and doing an update for our after-Thanksgiving-Day-Sale email. In the middle of all of this I still have to do my regular Wednesday errands and shopping and look for a couple of extra things that might take me to unexpected shops (things like packaging twine - who buys/needs that stuff anymore? Actually, I do - I need some for some packaging and display items for the shop). It's going to be a hectic day, I can tell already. 

I'm super rushed today, and have a TON of errands before I can
actually start my housework. I could use a few more days
between now and Thanksgiving, but the calendar isn't going
to change just to accommodate me! 

I also use my "day off" to relax a bit, but I'm not sure I'll be very successful at that right now. I have a LOT to do on my cards - hand painting takes serious time - and I'm running behind on my personal schedule for those too. I'll be putting a final "call for cards" into my blog/posts around Thanksgiving, but you can always message me earlier if you want to make sure to get onto the list. The more the merrier ... I'm not making them for the sake of filling "open" space in my days. They need to be sent out to friends and family - it's their purpose in the world. 

I need to knock my mailing list into shape - not just the store's list for
my two holiday sales, but also my personal list for sending out my
Solstice cards. Are you on that list? Make sure you are! Send me
or message me your address. I'd love to send you this year's card. 

But, since I slept until my alarm for the second day in a row, and had a BUNCH of emails to handle before I could post today, I'm just going to end today's blog here. Short, sweet, and a bit rushed, but still reaching out to my friends and readers and still able to get a couple of pics to plug into it. Have a truly fabulous Wednesday and I'll return tomorrow, hopefully with a bit less rush. 

Thanksgiving and FINAL Holiday Card Call-Out

I love Thanksgiving, and hate it at the same time. DH was at the store yesterday, so I had him pick up one thing that I knew we needed, just to avoid having to shop on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. BUT, I realized last night that there is one more thing that I will run out of before Friday and so I have to get it today. I'll make a special trip, very early this morning to pick up that single item. I'm crossing my fingers that it will be a quick in/out of the grocery store.

I really liked this little math problem. Practical math makes
more sense than problems that aren't grounded in reality. I'd
say with three bags of flour, however, Grandmother could
make a lot more than a single apple pie! 

I'll be in high gear tomorrow for my "day off" working on my holiday cards. I'm hoping to pound my list of recipients into shape tonight, so please message me if you want one of my cards but haven't sent a confirming message with your address to me. I don't want to lose you in the mix. There are a couple of people I haven't heard from who I might contact directly. I haven't had time to do a final count of respondents yet, and I'm short my normal 50 by a few, so I'll be watching every name. But if you contact me, I'll make sure you're on the list and get a card.

But, as I said, tomorrow will be a day of "Full steam ahead" to get as much done as I possibly can. I still have my Wednesdays off to finalize the cards, but time is running short and I need them to hit the mail ASAP, especially for my foreign friends. Mail delivery across the pond to my various friends isn't as quick as sending things to the next state or city here in the USA. I'm very happy with how they are turning out, though and I'm getting excited watching them come together.

I love this "Early Bird" image from 1916. The envelope itself
is postmarked from 1930, though, so I'm not sure how the two
elements actually relate in time. 

I hope you have a wonderful and productive Tuesday. I'm sure things will fall into place for me soon - or not. ... LOL. One thing's for sure, I'll be in the pool in an hour and everything is better from the other side of my morning swim.

Holiday Cards - First Callout

If you're a long-time friend/reader of mine, you know that I hand make a limited number of holiday cards each year and send them to friends and relatives throughout the world. The relatives are a given on my list, and they take up the bulk of the quantity. But I always make enough to send to friends too, and that list changes annually. I'd love to send one to you, but here's the requirement. 

TO GET A CARD FROM ME, YOU MUST PM ME YOUR ADDRESS. 

Simple, yes? 

Don't wait until tomorrow. Send me that PM with your address now, and
you will have one less thing on your "to do" list. 

DON'T LEAVE THIS FOR THE LAST MINUTE. Why? 

1) Not everyone gets a card because "limited number" is real. At this point I'll be sending out a total of 48 cards, keeping one, and one is my experimental template so it's my 'trash' card. That number can drop if I mess a card up. Remember - these are hand-made and mistakes happen! 

2) It is most definitely "First Come, First Serve" on this one. 

3) It's my little "Thank You For Being A Friend" gift to you, but how will I know to add you to my mailing list if you don't respond? I'm not psychic! 

Don't procrastinate. Send me your address NOW. Are you in the
process of moving? Send me information/confirmation on that
and I'll reserve a card for you. I'll address it after you have your
new address and have updated me. 

Do you live away from the USA? Are you reluctant to have me sent overseas? I budget for my cards all year. Postage overseas is included in that budget. Don't stress the expense. 

A REMINDER - YOU DON'T NEED TO SEND ME A CARD TO GET A CARD FROM ME. 

I understand that postage is a serious expense, as is making/purchasing cards. I'm NOT expecting a card in return, although I love getting one. My joy comes in the making of the cards and imagining the look on your face as you open my card to see what I've designed for you this year. 

Don't hesitate. My joy is making and sending these cards to my
friends all over the world and throughout the USA. It's a small
way that I give back to you the friendship you've given to me all year. 

So ... hop onto my bandwagon. Send me a PM or an email with your name and address, and let me get you onto the short list. 

Tonight is Project Runway, and we only have three episodes remaining, if I'm counting correctly. Tomorrow's post will be the workshop synopsis with the actual Runway show and analysis with spoilers scheduled for Saturday morning's post. I'll do two more "call-out for cards" reminders, then close down the list. Your clock is ticking! 

Have a great Thursday. My day will be FULL. Lots to do before these cards are actually ready to hit the mail! 

Progress Is Being Made - Do I Have Your Address?

It seems as if things are coming together for this year's Holiday cards and I'm having so much fun making them. Oh, I'm not finished yet! Not by any stretch. But I'm into the final steps (yes, there are still several steps) on the cards themselves, the inserts (which will go to most people) are well on their way, and I'm starting to plan the envelopes.

I can hardly wait to send my cards on their way and
I'm on track with my schedule. 

I'm certainly on track for a Solstice mailing, but might be finished earlier than that. I'm focused on at least getting my overseas cards sent out sooner. I'm still missing some addresses. It might be easier to run through my address list tomorrow while I'm "bored" at work (my Sunday open days during the holidays are either frightfully busy or ridiculously boring). I can look at whose addresses I've received and who I'm missing, then message you individually for updated information.

I wish I was as good at lettering as this example, but my writing is
sloppy and I'm not good with a pen and ink. But you'll have to make
do with a decorated envelope instead. 

I think I should put on some holiday music, make some hot chocolate, and toss up a handful of glitter to simulate snow. Or ... maybe not. Have you sent me your address in a private email or message? Please do. I don't ask for cards in return (although they are always welcome), I just enjoy the idea that my little pieces of art find new homes all around the world. So much fun!

I'm off to the gym, have a wonderful Saturday and a great weekend.

OMG - Running Late!

I was on time - but now am late. How can 20 minutes make such a difference?!?!?

I'm making my list and checking it twice! I heard from several of you
yesterday, but there are names I expect that I'm not seeing! Send me
your address in a private message or in Monday's daily blog post
where I had all comments screened! Do it NOW before you forget! 

Time for a single picture and a reminder to all reading to send me your address for your holiday card. Kaishin - this means you! You snooze, you lose ... I'm not privatizing the comments on this post, but go to yesterday's and post your address there for a private post or message me directly. Tick tock .....

The goal is to send my holiday cards all to friends all around the world. It's the
small things like sharing my art at the holidays that really make me happy. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Holiday Cards - Call Out #1

Here it is - December 1st, and I have a ton of work still to do on my Holiday Cards before getting them into the mail for those of you who supply me with your addresses. I have addresses from Hans, silver_trails and curiouswombat, but here's how this works.

You want one of my cards, you supply me with your current address. That includes you, huinare, and you, drummerwench, even though we discussed cards when you were up and we visited earlier in the year.

I've always loved this holiday card image. It's a study in
negative space and the design implications created by
just removing the fence bars at just the right places. 

Old friends (Sharon and Missy) and family (Catie, Annie, etc) are exempt from the "supply me with an address" because I think I have the correct ones (we'll find out, won't we?).

I'm going to screen comments (on DW and LJ) so that you can comment directly on this notification, but if you have hesitations, feel free to message or email me directly. I only make a total of 50 cards and sometimes it works out to a few less because of production issues. So far I'm on track, but I still have two major stages remaining and I'm going to be working on getting this year's card completed - full steam ahead!

So give me your current addresses, please. I love it when I have the opportunity to send my cards around the world and I don't expect (although I adore) receiving a card in return. Hasten to your keyboard and give me your address! Happy Tuesday.