Working in the publishing industry sometimes make you feel like you are Alice in Wonderland. Nothing makes sense. There is no sense of time, space or season.
Displacing holidays has been a part of my life for many, many years. I remember well the hot summer days when my friend Cari and I sat at the pool, watching the kids swim while we were on the side painting Santas and Christmas items. I remember how ironic it was that the beads of sweat would be falling on Mr. Snowman while I was trying to paint him and the only problem we had was that the acrylic paint was drying too quickly in the hot sun. Those are wonderful memories and I think that Cari and I truly kept Christmas in our hearts all year long!
Working for the magazine and catalog companies also keeps Christmas alive throughout most of the year. It seems that everyone loves to do Christmas projects no matter what time of year it is and I see this not only through my wholesale sales, but also through sales on my website. There just is no bad time to offer Christmas items.
Usually before the snow is even melted I am thinking about what I will be offering for next year. Although I was somewhat side tracked this year with the show and all, it hasn’t taken me long to come up with some cool ideas for holiday decorations for others to make. Actually, I am somewhat behind in my submissions, but my Editor has graciously saved some space for me and my partner to fill in the Holiday issue. That is one of the benefits of having a standing relationship with a company for so long. I am grateful that he is holding the positions for us to fill, as I would hate to miss that special issue.
The week has been one of recovery for me, as many of you have read. Each day, little by little I am feeling back to normal and getting things back in order. It only makes sense that what took months of preparation to accomplish would take a little time to get back to normal. It seemed that the total focus of my energies for at least a month or more before leaving has been on the trip. Now it is time to get back to designing and the site and the “meat and potatoes” work that will sustain my business. It feels good though to be focused on something that is familiar to me.
While cleaning and organizing and getting things back in order, my mind has been racing. What to do for the Holiday issue for the magazine? I want something new and different, that I haven’t seen ‘out there’ yet. My Editor always loves ornaments, and I do have some ideas for that, but I somehow wasn’t excited about making a set of ornaments just yet. I have ideas for some and may also offer a set to them, but I wanted something that was different.
Yesterday while cleaning and doing my mail I had an idea of something that I think would be really nice. The more I thought about, the more I liked it. Little by little I am figuring out the details of this project in my head and I feel that by today I am ready to hit the drawing board with it and it is ready to be born. Although the fine details are still incubating in my head, I am thrilled and excited at the thought of it and I am getting that familiar feeling of excitement and anticipation in seeing it come to life.
How I have missed that part of designing!!!
For those of you who also design, you know exactly what I am talking about. It is that ‘high’ you get just from thinking about something. You can picture it in your mind down to the finest detail and the anticipation of actually building it and seeing it come to life is exhilarating and thrilling all at once. What a wonderful way to christen my new saw!
I am not going to tell you about it yet. I will be a stinker and make you wait. Although I promise that I will give you a sneak peek when I get going on it. I have some other ideas too for a couple of different projects that I will submit, but this one will be the springboard that will get me back into designing.
As I sit here this morning I can’t help but think that I am truly happy and all is going well in my life. Have I made millions? No way! But I am happy to report that I “broke even” on what I made in teaching on the trip and what it cost me to make it. The way I look at it (the pink cloud way) I got to meet people and make contacts and see my children and reconnect with the people from the magazine and it cost me nothing but my teaching time (which I love to do anyway!) The long term of those contacts and meetings cannot have a price put on it. How can you put a price on experience?
I am back home now and full of ideas and my dear companion Pancakes is stretched across my lap gently purring as I write. His “grammy” is back and all is right with his world, too. Take notice, my friends, of the simple things around you that make you happy. Focus on them and appreciate them for what they are. Be it your family or a smile from a stranger or a devoted look from your pet. It is these things that will bring your heart joy and peace.
I wish you all a wonderful day today!