Monday, November 28, 2005

another goal met

I did it. I saved up $269 for Christmas presents. I am stunned by how painless it was. Most of it was rebate money, ebay money, and cashback bonus money. I really only took $60 out of my checking account to start it.

The next short-term savings goal will be to save up for a digital camera -- but that's a project for next year. So any unexpected money will go straight to the emergency fund, which is not growing as fast as I'd like.

I spent the weekend in Kentucky with Mike's family, so i have no crafty news to report. I need to catch up with the laundry, cleaning, and grocery shopping.

Friday, November 18, 2005

2006 New Year's Resolution

I tend not to make "resolutions." I tend to create goals and projects for myself throughout the year. (Hence Project Vicki)

So I'm not really making a new year's resolution, I'm merely making a goal for 2006.

Here it goes:
I want to get published in 2006. I want to sell my craft ideas to magazines, get them published, and get paid.

Minimum:
The minimum goal is to have at least one thing publish.

Ideal:
I'm aiming to have one design published a month.

Reach for the stars:
And the best goal would be to publish enough to pay for a membership to the Society of Craft Designers. ($135) I was a member for one year, but it's too pricey for me.

I've decided that I will spend my commute time on the bus designing and writing instructions. I figure one idea a week is reasonable. After all, I'll be rejected more often than i'm accepted.

Status:
Feb 21, submitted Wedding card takes the cake to Paper Crafts Mag, by electronic submission.
March 31, submitted Wedding card to Fred Flare's next best thing.
June 21, submitted Bride's day (hand-carved bride stamp) to Paper Crafts Mag by electronic submission.
July 3, submitted Santa's Suit Favor Bags to Crafts N' Things magazine
July 18 - SUCCESS! Pack-o-Fun magazine wants to publish my santa's bags!!! I'm so tickled.

Sept 27 - received contract from Pack-o-Fun. Goal complete!

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Goal complete!

I finished crocheting the hat.

Unfortunately, I didn't do a swatch before i started, so the hat is too small!

Here's what it should look like:


And here is what my hat looks like:


If anyone knows someone with a small head who would like a pink hat, it's theirs. No charge. I'll even mail it to you. Leave a comment. :)

Friday, November 11, 2005

Newspaper article quotes me! Yes, ME!

I just discovered an article which I was interviewed for a few months ago: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/08/28/news/californian/21_21_128_27_05.txt

That is not what I said! Makes me sounds like a dufus, doesn't it?

having a good day!

I woke up this morning 21 minutes late. But otherwise it's been a great day!

Got a great parking spot because it's Veteran's day and all the federal employees are off.
I decide to take the elevator, and there's one waiting for me!
Then I check my email and I sold at textbook at half.com. Yay! $44.82 to the Christmas fund!

So now the challenge is to parlay the good vibes into finishing the nanotech article today.

Next week: I will reveal my New Year's Resolution 2006

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Today

Today I am wearing navy blue socks and black shoes. (I can't explain it. I even double checked to make sure they were black socks, yet they were blue! Bad lighting, I guess)

Today I am going to work hard on my nanotechnology article.

Today I am going to choir practice even though I am starting to hate it.

Today I will not go grocery shopping and feel guilty about it.

Today I will want to extend my lunch to finish the latest Lemony Snicket book.

Today I might just do that.

Monday, November 07, 2005

This is not a hat.

There's good news and bad news.

Good news:
I made significant progress with my crocheting and finished the hat.

Bad news:
It looks nothing like a hat.



I knew as I was working on it that I was doing it wrong. I haven't crocheted in years. The yarn took some getting used to, and I realized half-way through I was slip stitching the rounds together and the directions said "Don't slip stitch rounds together" ha ha. (Gee, i wonder why it doesn't look like a hat?)

SO, I went ahead and made the little flower ties that go on the side, they look normal. And I guess I will start over with a new ball of yarn. I think I'll use the failed hat as a decoration on something else. It looks like a big floppy flower.