Afternoon update, with movie reviews.
I have lots of stuff to play with in the next few days. I have more metal clay (I want to try a new technique with sheet clay, which I've never worked with). I have a rack of wings curing and a few more to make today (I want to make a few testers in brass and copper). I have LOTS of stones: ruby, rose quartz, garnet, mystic topaz. I have fun, steampunk-y beadcaps. I'm in a very experimental mood of late. I am trying to let myself play and put less pressure on myself to get it right the first time. (Granted, getting it right the first time is always a plus with metal clay, 'cause DAMN that stuff is expensive.)
On the downside, I am going to have to raise prices a little soon. I get my metals at wholesale prices (a perk of working at a metals shop), and even my boss can't get sterling wire for less than $35/oz right now. Metal costs have DOUBLED in the last 18 months. Perspective: when I was living in ABQ, I was getting wire $14/oz RETAIL. Aaaaaand I need to keep 5 gauges in stock at all times. Add to that: my favorite chain has gone from $3.50/foot to $5.95/foot. And the post office is increasing cost again after the first of the year. I am strategizing and figuring out how I can cover rising costs without putting my work out of price range for many of my repeat buyers.
Back on the upside (or downside, depending on how you look at it), J and I have opted against going to see Gogol Bordello in DC on NYE. We are just not willing to brave the roads full of drunken idiots and get home, tired and exhausted, around 3:30am. We ain't spring chickens no' mo'. So we have fancy cheeses (peppered asiago, cranberry gorgonzola, port), mulled wine, champagne, and we're going to do fruits and also some shrimp cocktails. We'll probably watch lotsa movies and make merry all on our own, like the little old couple we actually are inside.
Movies seen recently:
Legend of Kells: LOVED IT. WANT TO OWN IT. GORGEOUS AND ARTISTICALLY INSPIRING.
Salt: Angelina. Honey. There is a difference between "thin" and "frail" and I am seriously worried about you. I think it's great that you stepped in like a BAMF to awesome-ify a role that was intended for Tom Cruise, but seriously.... this movie has 0% believability. And I'm not talking the "is she or is she not a Russian sleeper agent?" plot. All of the stunts are SOOOOOOO over the top, and yet Salt walks away with nary a scratch or concussion from multiple things that would kill her, no questions asked, in real life. Also, if you are sliding down an elevator shaft using only your elbows to brace? If your pressed white shirt is still perfectly white afterwards and you haven't ripped any skin on errant nuts and bolts, I CALL SHENANIGANS.
Easy A: LOL'ed a lot, would LOL again. Emma Stone is totally my new Girlcrush. She's so fucking funny. PLUS. I love that this movie was not about "I HAVE MADE A MESS OF MY LIFE AND NOW MUST GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO RECTIFY IT, EVEN TO THE POINT OF APOLOGIZING TO MINE ENEMIES BECAUSE I AM A GIRL, AND THEREFORE DEFAULT GUILTY." I see that trope in way too many otherwise-serviceable comedies. The heroine is funny, smart, and not at all some wreck of a type A personality who must embrace ridiculousness to ~~find herself.~~ How fucking refreshing. PS, Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson chew lots of scenery and make me wish I was their daughter, 'cause seriously, best movie parents ever.
The Losers: Just watched it for Chris Evans, who is apparently my new Boycrush. Blah blah action extravaganza blah blah oooh Chris Evans is hot and oh hey so is Zoe Saldana. The end
...am considering Redbox-ing Eat Pray Love for the hotness that is Javier Bardem, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't respect myself in the morning.
And now, to get to work. Have been daydreaming about a February/March swap. Either a Little Indulgences swap (a one-or-two item swap for specific indulgences, like Macarons) or a Glamourbomb swap. Doot doot doot.
On the downside, I am going to have to raise prices a little soon. I get my metals at wholesale prices (a perk of working at a metals shop), and even my boss can't get sterling wire for less than $35/oz right now. Metal costs have DOUBLED in the last 18 months. Perspective: when I was living in ABQ, I was getting wire $14/oz RETAIL. Aaaaaand I need to keep 5 gauges in stock at all times. Add to that: my favorite chain has gone from $3.50/foot to $5.95/foot. And the post office is increasing cost again after the first of the year. I am strategizing and figuring out how I can cover rising costs without putting my work out of price range for many of my repeat buyers.
Back on the upside (or downside, depending on how you look at it), J and I have opted against going to see Gogol Bordello in DC on NYE. We are just not willing to brave the roads full of drunken idiots and get home, tired and exhausted, around 3:30am. We ain't spring chickens no' mo'. So we have fancy cheeses (peppered asiago, cranberry gorgonzola, port), mulled wine, champagne, and we're going to do fruits and also some shrimp cocktails. We'll probably watch lotsa movies and make merry all on our own, like the little old couple we actually are inside.
Movies seen recently:
Legend of Kells: LOVED IT. WANT TO OWN IT. GORGEOUS AND ARTISTICALLY INSPIRING.
Salt: Angelina. Honey. There is a difference between "thin" and "frail" and I am seriously worried about you. I think it's great that you stepped in like a BAMF to awesome-ify a role that was intended for Tom Cruise, but seriously.... this movie has 0% believability. And I'm not talking the "is she or is she not a Russian sleeper agent?" plot. All of the stunts are SOOOOOOO over the top, and yet Salt walks away with nary a scratch or concussion from multiple things that would kill her, no questions asked, in real life. Also, if you are sliding down an elevator shaft using only your elbows to brace? If your pressed white shirt is still perfectly white afterwards and you haven't ripped any skin on errant nuts and bolts, I CALL SHENANIGANS.
Easy A: LOL'ed a lot, would LOL again. Emma Stone is totally my new Girlcrush. She's so fucking funny. PLUS. I love that this movie was not about "I HAVE MADE A MESS OF MY LIFE AND NOW MUST GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO RECTIFY IT, EVEN TO THE POINT OF APOLOGIZING TO MINE ENEMIES BECAUSE I AM A GIRL, AND THEREFORE DEFAULT GUILTY." I see that trope in way too many otherwise-serviceable comedies. The heroine is funny, smart, and not at all some wreck of a type A personality who must embrace ridiculousness to ~~find herself.~~ How fucking refreshing. PS, Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson chew lots of scenery and make me wish I was their daughter, 'cause seriously, best movie parents ever.
The Losers: Just watched it for Chris Evans, who is apparently my new Boycrush. Blah blah action extravaganza blah blah oooh Chris Evans is hot and oh hey so is Zoe Saldana. The end
...am considering Redbox-ing Eat Pray Love for the hotness that is Javier Bardem, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't respect myself in the morning.
And now, to get to work. Have been daydreaming about a February/March swap. Either a Little Indulgences swap (a one-or-two item swap for specific indulgences, like Macarons) or a Glamourbomb swap. Doot doot doot.