The First Week of Fall

Coffee in the New Orleans mug, "Sweetness Follows" by R.E.M on iTunes. I was looking forward to this moment not so long ago. I awaited the departure of the child to school and the spouse to work with impatience so I could sit down and cleanse my thoughts here. Now I wish I could call them back and have one more "stay at home" day.

We all got a late start this morning--I was the first to wake at 7:47 and then it was a mad scramble for Dave to get out the door with J in her new lace-up sneakers (I taught her to tie her shoes this morning!) with all her gear for her two classrooms (changes of clothes in cloth bags, fuzzy socks for slippers, rain pants, rain jackets, pillow, blanket and soft toy for the afternoon class), breakfast and lunchbox.

It's the first day of the first full week of "fall". I know it's August and therefore still summer no matter how you slice it, but school starts in the fall, school has started, ergo... And it is a bit cooler this morning at 72 degrees (22 C). It's also the last week before the NICHE submissions are due, and I'm not going to make it this year. Time to surrender the fantasy and move on. Finally, it's the first full week back after a crazy month traveling. Time to knuckle down in the traces and start producing again... but I'm so tired! Still on Mountain Daylight Time I guess.

The new studio becomes more of a reality this week. I am putting the final touches on the financing and might even get an offer in--though I guess I better review the space on paper one more time to make sure there's room for everything (the sandblast cabinet, e.g., looms). I've even started looking for a used van--though my mechanic isn't holding out much hope of finding one for me. Anyone know someone who has one that might work for me? Some artist retiring or not traveling anymore?

Before we all fall asleep reading (writing) the little details of life in the studio, I need to jump into the big news: The fall issue of Profitable Glass Quarterly is out and I have an ad for the book on the inside back cover. The fall issue of Glass Patterns Quarterly will be out soon and I have both an article and an ad in it. Both ads are for the book, and I have to laugh--I have so spent any possible revenue I might see for this book, first on materials and tools for making the projects and now on advertising for it. But way back in the beginning knew I would be writing it "for fame and glory" rather than any financial gain so I'm not surprised. Yet to come are my ads in the September issue of Fired Arts & Crafts and November's (or December's?) Crafts Report. All are for the book but the last one which will feature one of the new stands... assuming I can get a decent photo.

Now off to post on warmglass.com in the classifieds about the book--and to solicit for suppliers for the on-line suppliers lists (the publisher does one and I'll have one on my website too). Time to start polishing the websites too...