Tuesday, June 14, 2011

What's been keeping me busy lately

I had forgotten how much I love California poppies! 

I see from my little blog roll here that I haven't made an entry in about a month.  Aren't you all just dying of curiosity just what I've been up to that's more distracting than blogging?  Well, to work backwards, I'm currently in Oregon, specifically typing to you from the front room of my brother's pub, the Brewers' Union Local 180.  My eldest niece graduated from high school last weekend, and my mom and I decided to come out here and surprise everyone for that!  Long story short, the surprise worked beautifully, and we also had a chance to visit my sister, and wander around the Chinese Gardens in Portland, and to make a little expensive stop at the Fluevog store to buy the tall black boots of my dreams.  My amazing creative niece graduated with literally flying colors (a purple robe and bright green Doc Martens), and I'm enjoying a bit of time on the west coast.

And before that, I was busy working on my Wingtips business and my garden.  I'm also mixing things up by starting some kinda-cool waitressing work a few nights per week.  Not gonna tell you where right now, but you local Ithaca folks will find me sooner or later.  I find that working a job like that is fun and doesn't have homework, plus my taxes are taken care of.  All around a refreshing and profitable break from the less-attractive bits of freelance graphic design which have been burning me out.  I've found at various times in my life that working a non-art job actually frees up my creative energy for my own work, and I appreciate this.  (Side note: wait staff gets $5 an hour, so that 20% tip for good and cheerful service is very much appreciated.  We work hard.)

Wingtip is coming along well...I've sold a few pairs at the market and also one pair on Etsy, which is making me very happy.  I'm working out a few glitches in the materials (learning which leathers work best) and working out my policies, and also making some longer-term plans: I'd like to do a few big shows in NYC or Philadelphia next spring.

So that's the scoop right now...and it's an exquisitely sunny day in Oakridge, OR, so I'm off to take a run on the trail by the river.  Stop in the pub sometime if you're out here, my bro makes a wicked British mild.

2 comments:

Gary's third pottery blog said...

That is why you weren't at the farmer's market! whoa, what restaurant might that be? We were embarrassed when visiting cousins with plenty of dough would not tip our great servers last week, so there we were, laying out all kinds of cash to make up for it...how could somebody be so stupid? Email me with where please!

BSOB said...

Fluevog does make some kick ass boots. i agree. and not bein mean but that photo looks like the wickid witch of the west posed for a snap shot.
glad oregon is goin well for you