Just keep working

This is the last Sunday of the HM, with the three weekdays left to go, culminating in the Christmas-Eve-until-four-then-pack-it-all-out-celebration. Needless to say, it is exhausting, but fun too. It has been quite successful for me this year, sales topping the records. I made some correct inventory guesses and some not so correct.

It looks like I will sell out of quite a few things, at least the most desirable forms of them, like the two-tone hats of some of the popular groups. I have some blank hats and have Monday and Tuesday to make a few more, but I'm really trying to let some things sell out. It's an unfamiliar concept to me to end the season with empty inventory, but it makes sense. Almost all of my products will spend the next three months in a box, and some stuff won't be needed until July.

My booth is still too full and progress is slow in simplifying my style. I've made a few gains but overall my style is still my style. I don't want anyone to go away after not finding what they want. I'm practicing with the kids shirts, which are dwindling gradually and just might not appear at next year's HM. Let us hope. I still love them but change is inevitable.

Ah yes, the season of change whether you like it or not. I'm just not a fan of cold dark weather, and after all these years I still resist it. But pain comes from resistance, right? I got proper footwear, I know I have the biking gear to make riding (and thus exercise) a faithful part of my week, and everything is in place for me to have a lovely, warm winter season within which I will recharge, try some new directions, and fill my senses with art. I just have to remember not to hit the wetlands on the days when the head wind is on the way home. A person needs a tail wind on the way home.

I finished a few scarves that were hanging around, kinglets in bamboo and tulips. I tried printing the new calla design in gutta on silk and was somewhat successful. I've dyed three copies of it, two with mistakes, and one that I overdyed the green with blue and it got a bit too dark. I have more to try. I think printed silk items will work for me once I get the process down.

My big challenge will be to buy new dyes, the kind that you steam to set instead of using chemical fixer. I plan to enjoy the process from research to end product. I'm going to buy real flowers during the winter to paint, which will brighten my days too. I also have my big Jell-O Art projects to work on, which involve lots of new directions, so I'm excited.

Apparently I need something to look forward to. Christmas itself is just okay for me, with the tiredness and the flown kid (he is coming home for a day or two, with his wonderful girlfriend, so that should be nice). Once that forced sentimental stuff is out of the way, and the buildup of desire in every type of media is over, (except of course the amount of energy needed to block out all the Valentine's Day hype) I can just focus on art, health, refinement and improvement. Maybe it will snow.

I got up way too early today but now must go immerse in retail again. I really can't complain. I won't complain. No complaining. Everything is just super.

Lots to look forward to. Looking forward to it.