This is probably my last blog post of 2016 (unless I sneak in next week and write up a review of all my kiln firings of the year - I honestly can't remember if I did that at the end of last year or the very first week of this year). I've decided that even though I'll be in the studio working between Christmas and New Year's, I'm going to take time off social media, not work long every day, and spend some time with my family. Crazypants, I know!
Anyway. What are you working on this week? For the most part, I am prepping, and contemplating.
In ceramics, I'm prepping for some things coming out in January; the start of my Mug-a-Month, some plates (which I had made a few prototypes and was planning on giving for Christmas, but after a horrific explosion in the kiln yesterday I am back to the drawing board on those), and evaluating what I have online that's not moving and what I'd like to do about that.
In soap, I've just had a pretty good-sized update of stock, and as orders of the Year of Soap come in I'm making a list of who wants what type of fragrance and what I have and what fragrances I'd like to order in. I'm ridiculously excited that a couple of people have joined who were also in last year, and they wanted some of the same fragrance families they chose last year. Because I made a list of what I sent them last year, I can make sure that I don't send them the same things this year - and this also gives me an excuse to order in some new fragrances, and y'all know how much I love the fragrances.
In yarn, I'm afraid I do still have some Tiptree and Yolen that needs to be wound and added into stock (maybe I can get that done on my no-social-media week). And I'm working on swag for the yarn club. I know what one is going to be and I'll make it next week... I know what a second is going to be and I'm communicating with someone about that now... but I'm stuck on the third! I think I know what I'd like to make, but I'm having trouble finding the parts for it. So I might have to do something else (I know that's vague, I don't want to give away any spoilers).
Other than that, I'm getting ready for Christmas. Admiring my tree (I bought a live one that we can plant on the property after the holidays. It's got nice thick leaves which will offer good cover to birds, and it grows to 40-60 feet so it might become a good home to a few nests). I'm getting ready to make a second batch of Chex Mix, and that's a first -- I usually get by with one (I make enough to fill about 25 bags with about 3 cups each) but we're having a large crowd for Christmas dinner so I want to make sure I have enough for everyone at home in addition to all that I need to mail out. Which of course will be late because while I can mail packages out to customers in a timely manner, my own things are almost always late. Sigh.
Anyway, that's my week. If I don't get back in here before the new year, have a wonderful holiday and a restful last week of the year!