Yeeeeeee Hawwwww!

That got yer attention now, didn't it??? Yep. I thought so. :)

After work today, I walked down to the world-famous (OK, maybe not the WHOLE world, but at least anyone who reads HOW magazine) Yee-Haw Industries in downtown Knoxville. They are a letterpress company that has their shop in a storefront. The great folks of Yee-Haw even let visitors walk past the check-out counter into the actual workspace to watch them at work.

I walked down an entire wall of old wooden trays full of metal type and miscellany. It was fantastic!!! This was my first time ever in an actual shop atmosphere. I even got a mini-lecture on the workings of an "old Vandercook model" letterpress while the girl, roughly my age, was printing sheets of a light brown color paper with bright red ink.

I was in a letterpress-lovin' heaven! It only increased my desire to do the same thing one day (in my own style, of course!).

While at Yee-Haw, I even bought a couple of letterpress printed postcards. The first one reads "My Grass Is Blue", and the second one says "Knoxville Girl". You see similar products (although, unfortunately, not the exact cards I'm talking about) by checking out Yee-Haw for yourself at their website: Yee-Haw Industries.

now more than ever

I am determined to get Ruby Red up and running. Though The New Job has been both a blessing and a refreshing change of pace (stress-wise), I am still lacking in *cough* $$$.

I'm looking to maybe buy a small house (read: VERY SMALL) in the rural county outside of the city where I work. This is simply not going to happen unless I have extra income.

Besides . . . after tons of real estate ads, my creative juices are dying to get creative again!

go read this book!

Invitations
by Marc Friedland

I haven't finished it yet, but it's full of wonderful examples and inspirations!

USA TODAY recognizes the small-biz greeting card entrepreneurs

This weekend, USA TODAY's Lorrie Grant brought the story of the upstart greeting card company to the masses. She reported that while card sales have been in somewhat of a slump overall, small and specialty boutique cardmakers have seen continued success by following their individual interests and marketing to others who share that interest.

This is good news for those of us who either are, or intend to, do just that!

Here are a list of websites mentioned in the story:
Lyrics2go
The Message
AnneLisa
Inspirational Arts
Stacy M. Design

Also mentioned, but no address given:
Laugh Lines

so i now i want a scanner, please

If there is one thing The New Job is doing for me, it is teaching me fairly rapidly the mundane BUT extremely necessary Photoshop things that somehow I never learned in school, like MASKS and CLIPPING PATHS and how to adjust GRADIENTS.

I know. I know. Shouldn't I have already known this??? Nope! And it hasn't been until recently that I've begun to actually understand the whole way the program works. Once I found out it is based on film developing, the lightbulb clicked on. Ohhhhh! So THAT's what BURN TOOL means. And now I understand why you have to DODGE to lighten things up. (Dodge?? Isn't that what you do when all the faster, more athletic kids in gym class throw those nasty red gym balls at you and when you don't move fast enough the balls bounce off of you with a sickening *pong* sound that reverberated in your ears and turns your cheeks red with shame when you know that you had just been affirmed, once again, as "the easy target.")

In my alma mater's defense, I will point out that I wasn't in the artsy graphic design classes. I learned practical things like how to lay out large portions of text without losing content, and how to recognize Franklin Gothic from a mile away, or what is most important when choosing an opening photograph for a photo-journalism piece. There was no lessons in making TIFFs have "transparent" backgrounds, because, quite frankly, we were supposed to find that out for ourselves. We had a professor who not only encouraged us to be self-starters (after all, that's what the real world requires), but also INSISTED on our ability to learn what we needed through trial and error, one of the surest ways to have how NOT to do things burned into your neural pathways.

Anyway, now I'm learning voraciously on my own, just like I had always been encouraged to do (Thank you, Professor Wong!!!), and it's really paying off. Just the other day, while using the LEVELS ADJUSTMENT LAYER to clean up the colors in a photograph, I proceeded to follow the directions I read in a how-to column. And today I made my very first clipping path, all on my own, by following directions from the COLOR SELECTION advice I read in a book to create a WORK PATH that I could convert to a CLIPPING PATH to make the TIFF "transparent," and, therefore, the logo I was working on could be placed on any colored background, not just white, as it was originally designed to be.

I am on my way to Photoshop guru-ness!!!

So now I want a scanner. Because now I can scan in my sketches and trace them with the PEN TOOL in either Illustrator or Photoshop to make line art out of my designs and get started producing product, already!!!

happy birthday to me!

So, 25 years ago, back when the 80s had just begun and Star Wars was the biggest thing since sliced bread, I entered the world, kicking and screaming, and generally trying to get my own way.

I guess some would say not much has changed since then! :)

I can't believe I've already hit the quarter-century mark. To some, I am still a young'en, as they say here in Tennessee. To others, I'm ancient already. I mean, wow! She's twenty-five. She (insert gasp here), used to TIGHT ROLL HER JEANS at one time. She wore those funky sunglasses with the black lenses and frames and neon pink sides. She curled her bangs into a giant pouf on her forehead. Yikes. Like, totally gross! (Uh-huh. Just you wait. What goes around, comes around--heaven forbid!!!)

I'm just hoping that my auto insurance rates go down for when I renew in August.

Anyways, free virtual chocolate cake for all. Eat up!

Two more signs . . .

Seen on a Long John Silvers sign:

Now Hiring
Crabs & Shrimp

Seen on another food store sign (I think it was a grocery store):

Boston Butt
$1.19/lb

Tired

I'm tired. The 1-hr commute is just KILLING me! I get home and have no desire to much of anything but collapse on the couch or go to bed early.

This is not to say that I'm not enjoying The New Job. I actually have begun to feel like an operating part of the team. It's nice not to have to ask my manager "what can I do??" every 30 minutes or so.

I've already learned much about Photoshop that didn't know before, and a few more shortcuts in Quark. Yay, for shortcut keys!!

As for Ruby Red, I feel like it is still there, but almost more of a dream than it was before. I plan on registering my business name and domain name soon, but beyond that I don't think it will be easy to start-up this year. This is discouraging, but not stopping me from trying to continue.

In the meantime, one thing my hour-long commute has done for me is to give me time to relax while listening to the radio, or listen to suspense novels on tape, or continue to play my favorite unconscious "spot the funny sign game". I have already seen two more signs to add to my collection. In fact, it has become such a habit for me, and sort of a stress-reliever, that I'm seriously considering starting a new blog devoted just to my signs.

I'll keep you updated.

I know, I know!! I've been lazy lately!

So sorry!

I solemnly promise to post some more juicy content soon, very soon.

Cross my heart . . .

seen on a grocery store sign in town

legs and thigs, $3 lb.

I wonder what thigs taste like??!!

On the other hand, since it didn't really specify which breed of animal it was referring to (although I knew good and well), it's a relief to know that my own legs and thigs are worth, upon estimation, approximately $120 each.

I'm back! (with DSL!)

I'm still in moving-box limbo at the moment, but I have a bed, and a table for my computer, and access to my parent's computer which has--gasp!--DSL. This is a first for us, having previously been stuck in the dial-up stone-ages.

Been at work for 2 weeks now. Moving along nicely. I'm actually working on some realtor ads now!

Business planning is still stalled, but it will come back full force shortly. In the meantime, I'm rooting for all of my online friends at Paperpreneurs.com who are right now, as I write this, setting up for the National Stationery Show in NYC. Good Luck!

on "vacation"

I am not going to be able to post for the next week or so … not sure when I'll have access to the Internet after the move.

As Tigger would say, TTFN!

(ta-ta-for-now)

my new life

After having completed my second day at work, I feel like I’m a wee bit closer to understanding how it all works. I have already begun to remember what it is like to be very, very busy again! This 1 1/2 hour commute is really taking a sizeable chunk out of my day. Pretty much the past two days (and, I’m sure, the rest of the week) have been as follows:

1. Get up before the sun
2. Bleary-eyed, get ready to go
3. Leave no later than 6:45 a.m. (I know, I know—most school kids have to be ready before then! Call me spoiled).
4. Drive to work; arrive around 8:15, just in time to find parking and take the elevator to work.
5. At 8:30, walk through the door of my new place of employment
6. Sit and watch as other do their day-to-day tasks, as I take notes, ask questions, and try not to get bored during repetitive tasks.
7. Have lunch. Today was a co-worker’s birthday, which we celebrated with pizza and a cookie cake. Yay, for free lunch!
8. After lunch, go back to observing the work-flow procedures. Actually, despite the occasional bored moments, I’m quite pleased that this is part of my training. At my last job, there was no training, other than how to send a package, and where to find art and archived Cds. So, not being responsible for a thing other than learning how things work makes me HAPPY! J
9. Clock out; drive home.
10. Eat a late dinner. Pet the dog. Go to bed.
11. Rinse. Repeat. (just kidding!)

In other news, Wednesday is Packing Day. There is, as they say here in the hills of Tennessee, a “big ol’” Ryder moving truck parked in our driveway. By Thursday evening everything we own, outside of our air-mattresses, toiletries, and the clothes we plan on wearing during Friday’s move, will be inside its cavernous walls.

suddenly, my life is feeling different

It hit me Friday that, in exactly one week, I will be writing this blog in another house. Except for some random papers and clothing that needs to be put in the wash, I'm packed. Really. My room is soooo empty right now! Just furniture and a few paper business things I couldn't live without.

So, for the second time within the span of three months, I am moving AGAIN. I will probably be staying with my parents in their new home for at least the next 6 months or so, but we'll see. I'm done trying to predict the future.

Speaking of future, I just read the weirdest "true story" I've come across in a very long time. I should preface the link I'm about to post by saying that I am a writer, as well as a stationery business girl. I have been writing since about first grade. I don't often write science fiction, but I just happened to recently, and it dawned on me that if I wanted to submit that story to a magazine, I'd better make sure my "science" in the fiction is accurate, or at least passable for something remotely possible. So, since my story is about the affects of time being warped, I thought I'd do some research and see what others had to say about so-called "time waves," "time fields," and "time shields." To my (silly) astonishment, there *was* stuff out there with my ideas in it. What??!! You mean I'm not 100% unique in musing about time and how it might (not) work?

Stuff like this: http://johntitor.strategicbrains.com/TimeMachine.cfm.

I'm not sure whether to laugh, cry, or sit dumbfounded that, from all appearences on the website, a conversation with a supposed time-traveler from almost thirty years in the future is actually being taken seriously. I mean, I consider myself as open-minded to unusual facts of science as the next person, but come on, people …

So, back to the present.

Monday, I start work at The New Job. I'm excited and nervous, all rolled into one.

Tuesday, my parents have the final walk-through at our new house. My Little Brother goes to work.

Wednesday, my mom is driving out to my old college town to pick up my brother (the middle child) from his apartment so he can help us move. Middle Brother is 3 1/2 years younger than me, yet he is 75% through his Grad School training in Aeronautical Education. He is already a certified flight instructor with several students. He's looking for a job with a regional airline. I am in awe of my genius Middle Brother, and occasionally jealous. But I love him, and we're pretty close, and I haven't seen him since my last move, so I kinda miss him. (We shared a 2-bedroom apartment in college).

Thursday, the Guy From New Jersey who is buying our house has *his* walk-through. That evening, we will pack the moving truck, sleep on inflatable mattresses, and eat who knows what! (OK, probably pizza if my brothers have anything to say about it).

Friday, I have the day off so I can help with the move. I think I am going to end up the keeper of the animals, as we and our pets are going to be in house limbo in between closings. I will probably drive to the new house with them and try to keep the cats in the shade and my dog happy. After closing on our new home, I expect we will unpack what we can from the moving truck and either install our new refrigerator (if we have it delivered), or go buy one.

Saturday, Little Brother goes to work again, and Middle Brother drives home in his "new" car. Middle Brother's current car is what some would call a boat, otherwise known as a 1985 Mercury Grand Marquis. It has ceased to be able to drive above 55 MPH, creating some difficulty driving on any highway! He will now be the proud owner of my father's Honda Civic, which is significantly younger and in much better driving condition. (I suspect the gift of a car was my parent's bribe to get him to help us move. LOL!)

Sunday. I have no clue what will happen Sunday. We will all probably either be too exhausted to move from our (newly set-up) beds, or perhaps brave visiting a local church. We'll see.

thinking about that long commute

I found a cute Cape Cod for an absolutely incredible price not even 15 min. away from The New Job. Gorgeous inside pix with white mantle over fireplace, french doors between living and dining rooms, little "chandelier" in front foyer, and hardwood floors throughout. All this, and only a hop, skip and jump away from interstate ramp. Amazing.

Then I did my research.

Let me just say, there's reasons it's so cheap.

1) Somebody posted the inside pictures to an entirely different house on the "more pictures" tab. It's not as cute as I thought. Sure, it still has hardwood floors, but they're underneath carpet. Yep, it's a cutie, but it needs a bunch of TLC.

2) The road that runs by it is my New City's drug and prosititution corridor. Oh joy.

Serves me right for looking into buying a house before I've even started the job (or have down payment $$ saved up! It's just that I timed my commute today … and found out I had misjudged the time and distance. I'm going to have a MINIMUM of a 45 minute drive. If I actually do the speed limit, that number increases signifigantly.

*sigh*

seen on a church sign in town

"Spring … God's greeting card."

plain vanilla is a-ok with me

I went to the second interview, took a design/computer "test" in Quark, and was ushered into the VP's office by the Assistant Graphics Manager (my first interviewer) to get asked a few more questions and then, without any warning or warm-up small talk, offered the job. I accepted!

True, it's not as much as I made at my last job. I'm going to have to really get creative with my budget. But I think I'm going to enjoy working with the rest of the staff—all 7 of 'em. Met all but two yesterday.

On the way home I did a take two on my vanilla milkshake celebration. I got vanilla this time and savored every bit of it. It's kind of a metaphor for my new job, I think. I had the "strawberry" prestige job fresh out of college, but it ended up being too rich for me, with little chunks of strawberry that got stuck between my teeth and didn't taste as good as I thought it would. Now I'm going into my plain-vanilla job and, yeah, vanilla might be boring, but it's predictable and yummy. Here's to plain vanilla, as both a job and a dessert!

strawberry is NOT vanilla

The interview went well, I think. A few hours afterward I got a call from the guy I interviewed with asking me to come back for a second interview with his employers tomorrow. It's at 2:00.

I am really getting to know this city. I've already been to the library twice, and circled around downtown trying to find a parking meter that is opened. I braved a parallel park today, pulled it off perfectly, and was very pleased with myself. Now to learn which streets are one-way, which have construction, and which will be full to over-flowing during football season when a certain very popular college team begins playing again.

On the way home, I celebrated by buying a small McDonald's vanilla milkshake. As I pulled back onto the highway to drive into my town, I sipped at my shake and mused, "hmm. They must have just served a strawberry shake before I got mine. I taste strawberry."

As it turns out, there was a reason it tasted strawberry. It WAS strawberry. And I have to be really, really in the mood to buy strawberry. I wasn't. It was. I was dissapointed.

Interview!

I have an interview at the real-estate publication Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. EST!

I did a test-run today to make sure I know how to navigate the city it's in, and discovered that when the girl I talked to on the phone to get directions said, "you can't miss us, we're in the tallest building downtown," she really meant it. I was expecting some old refurbished 4-story building and ended up taking the elevator up 16 stories in a small-scale skyscraper! Whew. That was a first for me.

The offices are in a bank building, so I went to a nearby mall and picked up a nice black suit (on sale!) to wear to the interview. I might be overdressed, but I really want to make a good impression. After all, it's not everyday I have a chance to work in a building where the downstairs plaza includes a Chik-fil-A and a gym.

I am determined to be positive, self-assured, and articulate during the interview.

But, if nothing else, I had a reason to go clothes shopping for the first time in months!

The Phone Call

I was driving in town today; running errands, paying bills, etc. I picked up a map of the city I'm applying for jobs at now, so I could do some studying of the major streets and traffic patterns, and then I headed home.

I had forgotten my cell phone, so it wasn't until I got back that I found out that I had gotten a phone call from a potential employer. Talk about fast! I had only emailed my resume to them this morning. It's a layout/design job for a real estate publication. Nothing glamorous, but that's OK. I don't want glamorous. I want a salary, and benefits, and vacation time (so I can attend NSS next year, hopefully!).

I called back, and got the receptionist. My contact was in a meeting. So now I'm on pins and needles, hoping for the best, anticipating the worst. It would be great to continue working in my field, but I'm still nervous about it. I'll call again tomorrow morning, and if I get asked in to an interview, I'm going to have to drive 2 hours to get there.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch (so to speak), today was the last day for the library job application. I hope to hear from their HR department within the next week.

Whatever happens, time's a-tickin' away. In a mere 3 weeks, my family and I are moving into our new home. Maybe I'll have a new job by then, too! Maybe.