What I Learned In St. Augustine

100_4534
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

We dashed on over to St. Augustine for one night - about all we can afford right now. Usually I'm very excited because it's an opportunity for me to do some shopping in the abundance of cool shops.
Well....they're not so cool anymore. Or maybe my thinking is changing. I didn't see anythng I wanted. Here's what I did see:
I saw some pretty glass bottles that were on sale. Made in China. Nope.
I saw tons of knick knacks, tons of St. Augustine t-shirts, tons of junk with Betty Boop, Hello Kitty and SpongeBob.
I saw nothing I wanted to buy. It would seem that I would rather spend my money on used dishes or an old desk.
Hmmm...

What I'm Reading

The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin

LOADS of good information! Whether you're just starting out in the craft biz. or been selling for a while, there is much to learn. The chapter on branding made me really think about what kind of image I want to present to the public.

And the chapter on Marketing along was worth the purchase price of the book. Now I need to go create a press kit...

You Sunk My Battleship!

You Sunk My Battleship!
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

Ahhhh.... vacation... time to play games, read on the front porch, watch movies....
I'm on vacation from my "real job" for 10 days and am lovin' it! We will be heading off to one of our favorite destinations, St. Augustine, on Wednesday. We can only afford to stay overnight, but a short trip is better than no trip.

Sofa Table

Living Room
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

I have been moving this table all over the house. It started life as light-colored wood. I just finished painting it red and plan to wrap the legs in cloth. It just doesn't seem to fit anywhere. This is my most recent arrangement.

Interview on analliteration

Lauren of alliteration.etsy.com has a wonderful featuring "unofficial etsy featured sellers" and she chose to interview me! If you care to read about lil' ole me, here is the link: analliteration.blogspot.com/

Red Shoes Key/Jewelry Rack

RedShoes4
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

Well... this little guy sold almost immediately.

Guess I'll be making more.

I love being able to use all the parts of the sheet music. Sadly, the back covers aren't good for much of anything - except maybe as backing for paperweights.

I just came across a story about Roger Ebert dealing with cancer. It was pretty darn fascinating. He has lost most of his jaw and chin; can't talk, eat or drink. But he can still write. And write he does. Pretty inspiring. This part was the most interesting to me:

Ebert is dying in increments, and he is aware of it.

I know it is coming, and I do not fear it, because I believe there is nothing on the other side of death to fear, he writes in a journal entry titled "Go Gently into That Good Night." I hope to be spared as much pain as possible on the approach path. I was perfectly content before I was born, and I think of death as the same state. What I am grateful for is the gift of intelligence, and for life, love, wonder, and laughter. You can't say it wasn't interesting. My lifetime's memories are what I have brought home from the trip. I will require them for eternity no more than that little souvenir of the Eiffel Tower I brought home from Paris.

There has been no death-row conversion. He has not found God. He has been beaten in some ways. But his other senses have picked up since he lost his sense of taste. He has tuned better into life. Some things aren't as important as they once were; some things are more important than ever. He has built for himself a new kind of universe. Roger Ebert is no mystic, but he knows things we don't know.

I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn't always know this, and am happy I lived long enough to find it out.

Don't fear death. Try to make yourself and others happy. Two big lessons in one day.