A Change In Plans, or A Moving Update

I expected this morning to be heading northward for the first session of my tax prep class. Just as I was grabbing a power bar and cramming my feet into my shoes to run out the door, the teacher called to say the session had been cancelled. Fortunately, I was able to reschedule, but now my class will be a longer commute and afternoons rather than mornings. As pleased as I am to have the extra time this morning, readjusting my schedule for the next several weeks may prove to be challenging. Such is life.

The move went well last weekend, despite the lack of time to settle in. I still have several boxes in the basement, and I still don’t know where most of my essentials exist. I wore stage makeup for a gig this past weekend, and after failing to find my makeup remover after an extensive search after the show, I gave up and fell asleep in the mascara. I’m sure everything will resurface in due time. I had forgotten just how hectic a move can be, especially with the added element of trying to keep a business afloat whilst relocating.

Last week was full of insanity and commuting all over town for various painting and construction projects, and I’m hoping to take care of some of the technicals (like switching the utilities) today. This week I’ll be preparing for Mixer Match, a speed networking event sponsored by I Heart Art: Portland.

More as the week progresses! Happy Monday!

 

A Planner! A Planner! My Kingdom for a Planner!

Finding the right planner is always a challenge. I prefer the school-year planners that begin mid-summer and go through the next year. 18 month are perfect. But I would rather have a notebook-sized planner over a 5×7, and my favorite layout only comes in a very juvenile style or is not in stock. Each year, I roam from store to store, in an attempt to find the perfect planner. I would make one myself, except that I would rather have a spiral bound over another binding.

What is necessary in a good organizer? Personally, I want a calendar at the beginning of each month, and a two-page spread week breakdown just behind that. What I really need, then, is an hourly breakdown day by day, just behind that. That way I can see how things measure up in the month, I have a spread to see what needs to be done during the week, and I have my hourly schedule accessible at all times.

I have yet to find a planner that includes both a weekly breakdown and also a day-by-day breakdown. Ah, well. I’ll have to start designing my 2013 organizer now.

 

Self-Employed!

It’s official! Though it means hell for my taxes and more weekly paperwork, my Self-Employment Assistance application went through! It’s exciting to feel official, working for myself. It doesn’t really change much, except that I can stop applying for minimum wage office assistant positions for auto parts shops and focus that time and energy on developing my own business.

Speaking of which, I should probably finish my calendar for August…

 

Upcoming Events

For those of you who are as crazy about word-related events as I am, I would like to add a regular update of Portland events.

What: A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: Mike McGonigal. Fundraiser for the IRPC (Independent Publishing Resource Center).
Where: Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, Portland, OR.
When: Wednesday, July 27. 8:00pm-2:00am.
Cost: $7.00 day of the event.
There’s a list of bands on the website. The IPRC are great people. Go give ’em some love.

What: BroadArts Concert: COWGIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN!
Where: Urban Grind Coffee House, 911 NW 14th Ave, Portland, OR.
When: Saturday, July 30. 7:30-9pm.
Cost: $8.00 in advance (www.BroadArts.org or 503-288-5181). $10.00 at the door.
We’re raising money for our upcoming lesbian cowgirl musical, Bunkin’ With You in the Afterlife. Jody Seay, who wrote the show, is also launching her new memoir, Dead in a Ditch — Growing Up in Texas & Other Near-Death Experiences, and will be reading selections from her book. Yours truly will be performing with the band.

What: Portland Poetry Slam
Where: Backspace, 115 NW 5th Ave, Portland, OR.
When: Sundays at 8pm. Sign-ups for open mic are at 7:30pm.
Cost: $5.00 suggested donation.
Come slam with us every Sunday.

I’m adding an events page today, and hopefully I will remember to update it.  But I will still post blog updates as events come up!

 

MOVING SALE

I’m only moving down the street, but I would much rather send my journals to good homes than pack them in boxes! If you’ve had your eye on anything in the shop, now’s the time to buy it!

I’m sad to be moving out of the apartment, but excited for new experiences and opportunities. It will be great to still be near enough to my friend and often-boothmate from inkstrand.  Speaking of which, we have been busy playing the craft circuit these past few weeks!

Saturday, June 25, we had a booth at HipHappening at a nursery in Sellwood.  Traffic was slow, and we were competing with a neighborhood yard sale, but we met some great crafters and had a chance to experiment with booth setup.  I had a very exciting secret sale for a Christmas gift that made for an entertaining day of plotting with the purchaser.

This past Sunday, July 17, we were at SuperRAD PDX at the Portland Nursery on Division.  Perks: Free beer, amazing pizza, a jug band, and another go at booth organization.  Down side: RAIN.  It came down in torrents for the first part of the fair and flooded our tent, even with the sides up.  We had more visitors than at the last fair, but mostly people looking and admiring.  All in all, it was a fun day and a learning experience, even if it wasn’t the most successful by the numbers alone.

HipHappening, June 25, 2011

SuperRAD PDX, July 17, 2011

Check us out at HipHappening on Saturday, August 6, 2011!

WHERE: Sellwood Masonic Hall, 7126 SE Milwaukie, Portland, OR

WHEN: August 6, 2011, 11am-6pm

 

What would you like to see on the blog?

I’ve been overwhelmed by projects and changes and a move, and in the process, I have been reflecting on the past year. There are things that I am proud of, and things I know I should change. I have ideas about blog posts that are related to what I hope to accomplish with my shop, and I am halfway through a business plan.

Here’s the point in the game when I ask you: What have you loved? What would you love to see more of? What am I missing?

Thanks for the support!

 

Short and sweet.

Still folding paper. More substance later.

 

Anti-Slacker Post

I folded lots of pieces of paper today. And now I am very tired. So that is the blog post for the day. If you are disappointed by my brevity, you may discuss the matter with my agent*.

*Please note: I do not have an agent.

 

Thursday Treasury: Throwback

I was aiming for an ode to the speakeasy this week, but it became an ode to great headwear.

‘Throwback’ by WriteOwl

Subtitled: I like hats.

Black Cloche With Large… ohmama $85.00	The Lady Who Came To St… SteampunksNotD… $250.00	CLEARANCE – Speakeasy N… twochickstoo $35.00
20’s Woodcut Flappe… reVIVALism $7.00	The way home -affordabl… Raceytay $30.00	1920 style Headband wit… zazuandviolets… $80.00
Old VINTAGE Antique GLA… piecesofthepas… $5.00	1920s Cloche in Blush L… bonniesknittin… $85.00	Diana – Feather Headban… LiveInStyle $18.00
seal or sticker- 4 diff… CreatebyGrace $4.00	Platinum silver fascina… kathyjohnson3 $89.00	Absinthe Nymph Peacock … BaroqueAndRoll $86.00
Five discontinued print… flapperdoodle $5.00	It was 1928 in Paris Fl… pinkpurse $89.00	Shabby Chic 1920s Vint… buygail $85.00
Dramatic Flapper Earrin… coutureordeath $21.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

 

Side Dish

It could be said that I take on too many projects. I like to think that I am full of ideas with not enough time to flesh them all out.

My roommate has been working on a project where she takes one photograph a day for 365 days. How neat is that?!

I heard once that O. Henry wrote a short story every week. So I am making it my goal to write one short story every week from June 1, 2011 to June 1, 2012. So far, one down, 51 to go. Anyone else want to join in the madness?