meh meh meh

[valis2]

The show on Saturday, which was to be my crowning jewel, was a disappointment. I did barely half of what I did there last year. There was some festival going on at the same time and it probably scared away the customers.

I have two modes of thinking that I inherited from my parents--Doom and Insanity. It's not a great mix, let me tell you. The Doom side of my brain says all sorts of awful things all the time, because it looks into the future and only sees doom. The Insanity portion of my brain gets tremendously antsy and hyperactive and exacerbates the Doom portents. Right now I'm fighting off both with a stick. Let's see how long I can.

The money situation is not improving, and knowing that I didn't commit to enough shows is making me really freak out bigtime. I mean, you can't really rely upon a show--you never know what will happen, after all--but still, I was hoping for a repeat of last year. I'm stressed and starting to get that panicky feeling.

I am actually seeing some results with the website. Thank goodness Website Friend is really coming through. Though I'm not pinning a lot of hope on the website, it would be nice to have a few orders through it. Once I have it up, I'm going to send out a mailing to my business mailing list, and hope that a few people check it out.

I think I'm going to go visit my grandmother again. I also should pick up a portable clothes rack and a set of drapes--I'm trying to create a simple backdrop for taking pictures of clothing. I have tons of nice clothing for eBay and this is definitely eBay season, so I need to get started.

One flash of happiness--I have finally managed to get the Greasemonkey Thread Unfolder extension to work. Huzzah!

I need an emo!valis icon.

Comments

[ladywhitehart.livejournal.com]

At the risk of sounding like a dolt, what kind of show was it? It there a link for the site?

I too am gearing up for eBay season.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I usually don't talk about the exact business I'm in on LJ--simply because it's not just my privacy, but the privacy of dear friends that I'm protecting. I know it's really frustrating but I just can't go into detail--if I did, then you could not only figure out many aspects of what I do, but also who I work for, and then I'd have to go back and delete a lot of stuff which might tell you things about my friends that they'd rather not advertise.

That's the unfortunate side effect of having a public journal--I have to really censor myself very carefully.

I'm so sorry that I'm so cryptic! :(

I've had a couple really great weeks on eBay--I think if I can get this clothing going, I might have some even better sales.

And I'm thinking about selling off a bunch of videogame stuff. I don't play it anymore, and with downloadable games happening, it just seems silly to keep it all.

[sylvadin.livejournal.com]

Oh, how I understand the disappointment and frustration when a normally good show only produces mediocre results. Been there, done that far too many times - it's one of the 'not fun' parts of being an arts&crafts merchant that the general public doesn't recognize.

You have my sympathies. Take deep breaths. Try to relax. You've been running your art business for a number of years. Remember that what you experienced at the show is just a convergence of inconvenient factors; it's merely part of the ebb and flow of the business we're in and NOT a sign of impending doom.

*Hugs* It's all going to work out.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

hee! The Doom portion of my brain is tolling enormous bells, let me tell you. *laughs*

*hugs* The tiny, sane portion of my brain is trying to be reassuring, but it's being outvoted today. I think I'm going to try to get some things accomplished today--that's the only thing that will make me feel a little better, I think.

[florence-craye.livejournal.com]

I think I have some of the Doom and Insanity modes, too. What the others have said is good advice! Step back and breathe a bit, and remind yourself it's just one of the ebbs. I'm not sure how good I am at taking this advice or making it work, but I do think it is sound.

I love thread unfolder, btw. It makes lj-ing (especially in comms) so much easier! :)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

It's really hard to keep them quiet, y'know? The tolling giant bell o' Doom and the chattering, endless Insanity are always dueling in my head...

I adore the thread unfolder (primarily for f_w, heh), but it only worked for me for a brief time before not working for at least a year.

I installed it today, and it seems to be holding its own...*crosses fingers*

[(Anonymous)]

I don't have much luck with greasemonkey sometimes, but where's this thread unfolder?

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't either, but it's working--at least for today!

The aforementioned thread unfolder (http://clear.com.ua/en/projects/firefox/unfolder)

[jaelle-n-gilla.livejournal.com]

Did I hear anyone say "icon"?

[valis2.livejournal.com]

OMG, that rocks!!!

Is the "valis" supposed to be backwards? That made me pause for a moment.

I LOVE IT, though, tremendously!!! It's awesome!

[jaelle-n-gilla.livejournal.com]

*heehee* I'm glad you like it.
Yes, I was being artistic and flipped it around. You can have it the normal way too, though. It's a bit irritating, I admit. "valis" has only two letters that look different if mirrored.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

You rock a THOUSAND TIMES!!! OMG, I love it so very much!!!

[jaelle-n-gilla.livejournal.com]

*chuckles madly* I am using other people's icon slot and they'll never know! NEVA!!! *chee-he-he-e*

[tjwritter.livejournal.com]

Man, I never really thought about the public and private and how hard it is to keep them apart. I've often read your entries and thought to myself, "what is it she makes?" "Is it something shiny?" "I like shiny things" but I always thought it was because I was a little late to the party that you had already covered it in your journal. I had no idea it was a concentrated effort on your part to not give specifics. I understand the reason (and now wonder about my personal/public bits) but it is a bummer because we could be a great resource for you.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

heh--I love the icon!

Yeah, on one hand I'd love to share it all--I would love to hear opinions on everything, and I know one or two of you would probably buy stuff.

But the thought of my regular customers finding slash links on my journal really squicks me. Also, the thought of people being dissatisfied with my wares, or some aspect of my customer service, and having that bleed over into my journal life...it all scares me. I don't want to end up the recipient of craziness, and I really don't want my friends to be the recipient of it, either!

*hugs* I'm sorry to be so cryptic and weird. ;)

[tjwritter.livejournal.com]

Yeah, these are the only emo icons I got...but I do have a few that would break your heart!

Well, promise me this, if you ever do a show around Connecticut/New York let me know. Don't tell me what you sell, or what you will be wearing or anything, just give me the chance to discover it for myself.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I will do that. ;)

Haven't been to the East Coast in a while, though. :(

[ladywhitehart.livejournal.com]

That's understandable. Sorry for prying.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Aw, you weren't prying at all. No worries--I just wanted to explain it so you wouldn't think I was totally antisocial. *grins*

*hugs*

[ladywhitehart.livejournal.com]

:-) *hugs back*

[serpenatrix.livejournal.com]

I just hope you overcome Doom and Insanity, m'dear, don't let them beat you!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

haha! I'm trying so hard, honestly, but it's been a lifelong struggle. ;) *hugs*

[sylvadin.livejournal.com]

Please extend my happy (belated) best wishes to Squidiccino - that cute little convention hopping, photogenic, Starbucks slurping, HP addict squid who lives with you.

October 8th was Cephalopod Awareness Day.
http://cephalopodcast.com/blog/octopus-day/

*g*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Aw!!! He thanks you for your kind and appreciated best wishes, and hopes that you will remember the cephalopods in all that you do. *giggles*

[verdenia.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I really think that people are making a pretty concerted effort to buy small production runs of locally made stuff, so: SANE. ;D
I should probably ebay a lot of my stuff, too--but then I worry about whether it would fetch enough to be worth it. Huh.
♥