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:
( Non-spoilery movie reviews.Collapse )
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:
( Non-spoilery movie reviews.Collapse )
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.
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