Waiting, Hopefully Not For Godot...

I have been remiss in posting here, but that's because I'm waiting..
Waiting for the Post Office lockout to be over, waiting to be able to finally draw a name for my give-away, waiting to open up my online shop again on ArtFire...and waiting for a decent day selling at Farmer's Markets, just to have something to be happy, and blog-chatty, about.
Problem is, it's been dreary here for everyone, and the weather is matching up wih the economy in general.
No one I'm talking to who also vends at these Markets is doing well - seems like hard times are catching up with us, and, when you have a mostly seasonal range, it is doubly hard.
But, thankfully, babies are born in every season, no matter what the weather is doing, and they truly have been the only thing selling - not babies per se, baby hats - ...not in great numbers, but at least they are keeping the groceries in the cupboard..
So thought I'd share with you what I did yesterday, since I was a bit astonished at myself..the crochet hook went into overdrive, for some reason, and the pictures around this posting are what happened after that...
a new-style ladybug hat to replace another one I sold last Saturday, and an idea from a potential customer.
She is a photographer, and was asking if I could do cocoons..I never had, but they're just a step away from a really long slouchy tube, so I said sure...and she said she'd send some "examples" of what she is looking for. I'm really not interested in copying someone else's work, plus, she says she wants a really plain, basic brown..not the most interesting thing to make for this colour junkie..well, haven't heard from her (that's normal) but it got me thinking about cocoons..so I made this little pea-in-a-pod coccon and cap..it's really newborn-sized, and my 'model' is more like a 4-6 month old, but you get the idea..
What do you think?

Random Stuff #2- Of Birds, Crafting and generally Chasing our Tails...

I'm feeling less than enthusiastic these days about being an online seller of my handmade goods, but I realize that it isn't just me...
If you spend any time in the Forums of handmade sites, the issue seems to be everywhere..is it Google, is it Etsy, the Fates, the economy...?
My own theory is that things have reached their 'natural' plateau...and that very few of us are gonna survive this downturn, because too many of us are working on attracting the same scarce dollars...
Okay, I admit I'm one of the 'lucky' ones...no kids, no one to support but me, and have a small pension for survival money, so I at least don't have to walk away, but can wait it out..

Ultimately, I think that's what we all have to do...and, by the way, it isn't just online sales that are affected...I am down now to once a month for my 'weekly' Market that was bringing in enough to make it worthwhile for the expenses, but not since January has it been profitable, or, at the least, a break-even situation. I do feel that a more level playing field will result by Fall of this year; in the meantime, have to find a part-time alternative..

Are many of you hooked on the live bird cams, so prevalent today online? I have an Eagle Cam (link at end of this posting) from a location about an hour South of here, near the ferry terminal that brings vehicles and passengers from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland over to this Island...and it's so exciting to watch-now in my mind, that's true reality TV..
I also an linked to an Owl Cam-from San Marcos, California, and just today a bluebird cam from Texas....amazing how engaging these creatures are.

When I think about what bird parents deal with, day after day, determined, not swayed by scarcity or exhaustion, it makes me a bit ashamed about my own whingeing...it stops now...well, I'll try...


http://www.cbc.ca/bc/features/eaglecam/