Stuff

The latest T.V. show I'm melting my brain with is "Hoarders" on A&E. It's so interesting/freaky/scary/fascinating.

I mean, people have this connection to their "STUFF." And sometimes it's not even stuff ... it's actual crap, as in garbage.

On the other side (the extreme other side) are collections! I've got lots ...... Jadite glass, Hello Kitty, Things with the letter "E" on them, etc., etc....

It's funny though how we gather these things around us. They are just objects ...

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I read this poem by Mary Oliver that I thought kind of touched on this:

"In Your Hands"

The dog, the donkey, surely they know

they are alive.

Who would argue otherwise?

But now, after years of consideration,

I am getting beyond that.

What about the sunflowers? What about

the tulips, and the pines?

Listen, all you have to do is start and

there'll be no stopping.

What about mountains? What about water

slipping over the hard-skinned rocks?

And, speaking of stones, what about

the little ones you can

hold in your hands, their heartbeats

so secret, so hidden it may take years

before, finally, you hear them?

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Here are some collections my parents have that I've always equated with them and home....

Some of my mom's elephants

mom's rug-beaters (she's an antique dealer ... so I guess that explains this! haha)

The "ribbon ladies" that have been in the bathroom for ages.

Some of my dad's most valuable stamps!

Rare comics!! Dad-- you should frame these in the basement I think ... the colors are great!

What do you collect???

All my posts are starting to sound the same ...

It's a funny thing about doing art full-time ... there is no time for loss of inspiration. You have to be "on" all the time to keep bringing home the bacon!!

At my old "real job," if I was not feeling in the mood to work one day .... I could still sit at my desk and play solitaire. Just get through the day with minimal thinking.

But now, I'm the only one to blame if there aren't new items being churned out of my studio! I've really got to maintain a constant drive and inspiration.

Right now, I'm taking my "day off" over at Rich's. He's on the phone right now, so, of course, I turn to Etsy! I'm trying to make lists of what supplies I need to buy, what I should think about making this week, and other business things to do.

For now, and to help keep my artistic inspiration fresh, I'm doing the ol' Google image search.

It's amazing the things you can find! Here is what has caught my fancy for the week ahead of creation .....

This is kinda fun :)

Lookit, lookit!!

I'm in Baltimore Magazine! Not exactly national press ... but still, pretty dang cool!!!

See --- that's my crown she's wearing. It's purpley with a butterfly. Kind of hard to see ... but I got a little credit line :)

WAHAHHAHAHAHA CRAZZZZYYYY $9.99 SUPER SALE!!!!!!

Okay. It's OUT OF CONTROL down here in whichgoose land!!

I've decided I'm getting sick of some item's I've had in the shop for too long ...and I'm going to be selling them for $9.99. WAhhaaa!! It's like a crazy used car commercial!!!

Seriously though, I hate to see these pieces not go to a good home, so I'm hoping someone who maybe was on the fence before will take the leap will the discount. And .. (this is a little bit OCD) I have this thing about not wanting to get over 200 listings. SO this way, It will make more room for new goodies :)

ENJOY!

The good things about winter (and the blues)

One would think my life would be glamourous. It certainly has the possibility to be.

But between the rare afternoons spent sipping lattes while listing Etsy items, or the casual lunch then shopping trip ... it's mostly hard work. And STRESSFUL. (Not to mention expensive.)

Not that I'm complaining ... because ... my goodness ... I would be willing to live in just about poverty in order to continue this life.

It's the little things that make me less than happy with some days. Like health insurance ... and having to deal with 401(k) decisions, and long-term care insurance ... and estimated tax payments. GAH!!

It's like, why can't I just catch a break from the universe, you know? It would seem that's I'm allowing myself to be lead by my heart and my dreams ... and that type of leap deserves some sort of payoff, right? Maybe it just takes a while :)

SO. As I am enjoying my first latte-filled afternoon in more than a week (BLIZZARD) I am going to think of positive things about winter to cheer me up.

Feel free to add to the list:

1.) no annoying little bugs ... like gnats

2.) sweat is kept to a minimum (except when shoveling snow)

3.) the Olympics!! (some years)

4.) Natural rosy cheeks from the cold = no need for wearing blush

5.) You can see through the trees where there used to be leaves

6.) Cute accessories like scarves, mittens and hats

This is sort of like my favorite hat that I bought last winter from "ThisOlThing" on Etsy. Here is HER SHOP.

MORE SNOW!!!!! .. and early Valentine's Day

Look it! I'm "sort of" on Etsy's front page! See me creepily staring out at you from cyberspace??? heheheh :)

You don't see it every time you go to etsy.com ... but if you keep refreshing the page, it will eventually show up there. FUN.

As you know, I've been snowed in here in Maryland for a while now. I'm not even sure when it started. Well, the last couple of days I've been able to venture out a bit .... re-up on my food rations and hit the post office to get my orders out.

But .... OMG. There is another 20 INCHES of snow coming tonight!!! Buh ..... So, I'm seriously starting to go stir crazy. Cabin fever. You know.

Thank goodness for my sweetie boyfriend who came to rescue me yesterday afternoon with dinner out at Ruby Tuesdays (my fav .. his least fav...) AND early Valentine's Day!!!

At first, I was like "aren't I getting roses ON Valentine's Day???" hahaha

But then he said these were to brighten up my apartment while I was stuck here with the snow :) He wouldn't say for sure if I was getting anything else on the actual day ... but we shall see.

I swear I'm not that ungrateful :) :) hehehee

Look ... we ate all the chocolates last night (except the two gross ones.)

snowed in.

AHHH!!!! I'm going stir-crazy. seriously!! We got like 30" of snow here in Maryland. I am STUCK.

Example A.)

My car.

And Rich had to go in for emergency work, so there went our weekend AND super bowl (stupid bowl) party plans!!! :( So ... here I am all alone. TRAPPED. Pretty much just eating junk food and watching bad TV.

So far today I watched:

1.) Keeping up with the Kardashians (sp?)

2.) Scary Movie II

3.) Some random infomercials about a griller and an exercise program.

The good news: I don't have to go anywhere ... especially not work ... and I can basically stay shut in here as long as I can stand it. And Rich says he's coming over after work on Tuesday ... so I know I'll at least get out of the house then :)

And tomorrow, I might try a walk down the snow-covered street to the Starbucks. We'll see if I have any energy left after trying to dig out my car.

Share the ♥

Well, it's that time of year again. Whether a happy/giddy time or a sad/lonely time, Valentine's Day is full of emotion. It really shouldn't be day about love ... more about feeling. After all, you have to experience the bad feelings to really be able to appreciate the good, right?

Anyways ... back to the shop. And the SALE!!!

SALE SALE SALE!!!! haha

Here's the shop annoucement: ♥♥ SHARE THE LOVE SALE!!! ♥♥ Add at least 10 of my items to your favorite items list and get FREE SHIPPING on your order! Make sure you tell me which items you heart in the "messages to seller" section at checkout. Sale ends Valentine's Day (February 14th). Not valid on custom orders.

SO... be my Valentine, and help spread the word about whichgoose!!! Then we all can feel warm and fuzzy inside. :)

Wham bam thank you ma'am!

Today, I did my taxes. Let me tell you ... it was shocking!! Last year was shocking, too, so I sort of expected it would be bad again. But still ... wow!

What do you guys think of the white background? I was getting a bit sick of the aqua, and white is a basic, clean look, right?

It looks a bit like the view out the window. We got MORE snow here and I am getting sick of it, too.

Because I like lists ... here are "Things I hate about winter"

1.) Dry skin.

2.) Chapped lips.

3.) Itchy wool sweaters.

4.) Car always covered in SALT.

5.) Static electricity.

6.) Perpetually cold nose and toes.