This.... this is what I am not able to say this well.

https://www.julieneidlinger.com/2021/03/taking-time-to-say-thanks.html

Custom work

 So this is why custom work is so difficult...

This was first attempt.  Photo supplied so I could get the colors needed.  On my devices and printed out on my home printer, the colors appeared to be an off white, tan, rust and forest green.  

Cute rugs I thought.

When I delivered them, that's when I got to see the remodel that these were to be matched with.

Turns out the tile has actually got blue - not green - in it.

Attempt number 2 was this...

 

 I know the colors match now,  we will just have to see if the style change will be ok with the customer.

My personality type makes me rather want to make whatever and wherever the spirit leads me, and find the right person for the finished product, rather than to have a person find me and then having to produce what is in their mind...

All for now,

JULIE

Behind the scenes

 Sometimes I have photos that just don't always fit on my fb rug page.  Or it feels like I would overwhelm with posts if I included them :)

In this photo I have the inspiration that was given to me by my cousin for a pair of rugs that she wants to use on some new built in bench seats.  Now to get them to her to see if they fit where they should, and if the color works for her. 

This one just makes me kind of laugh.  Without the cat in the photo, the rug might 'read' as a full size rug.  It's a mini one.  Just barely big enough for Jack ( on the right)  to lie on it if he were to choose so.

 

As you can see, there is some sun today.  Very harsh  - hard shadows. It is warm enough the snow is dripping.  It almost makes me think of spring - but I can't have the luxury of even thinking about it - it's so far away for us yet!

My son in law said that yesterday when he was checking drinkers - one of the mares was there to get a drink.  As she was drinking ( swallowing that cold cold water ) he saw baby movement.   So we have at least one coming!  May 24 will be the 11 month count so somewhere about that time :)

 I had been telling him that was how I used to tell for sure the last times I had possible babies coming.  The cold water in the tummy must be felt by the baby, because they can sure move around in there when mama fills up with that cold water!  So I guess he's been watching....

 

All for now,
JULIE

In the deep freeze

 I have to admit, up until the last week or so, we've had a mild for South Dakota winter.

Mild went away ---  It's been regularly close to 20 below zero (F)  for the last few weeks - thank goodness not alot of wind by South Dakota standards.

It's cold enough that locally there have been deaths... 

Mostly for dumb reasons -  my co workers nephew - teenager or young adult - froze to death last weekend.   Partied with the wrong people, who beat him up and left him on the side of the road.  

That happens all too often around here. 

People make excuses for this sort of thing -  poor job opportunities, racism, that type of thing.

In this small town - there are so many businesses looking for employees.  

No, they may not be work from home, or desk type jobs, but they are jobs.  That pay the bills and give you a stepping stone for a better one when you have learned new skills and how to be a valuable employee.

 

And then there is the other side of the equation.  Those that are willing to work tend to be overworked.  I've already upped my hours at my part time job.... And they are asking if I can cover some more - since no one wants to apply and be a good employee.

There is opportunity to be a contributing member of society!

Too much 'taking care of' has trained a large majority of the local population to be dependent.   

Too much giving them fish instead of teaching them to fish type of thing.

I have to purposefully remind myself to not think about it -  it is just so frustrating.

Change of subject --- I have been weaving, although slower than I'd like.  More work hours means tired feet -  less likely to stand and weave in the evenings.  Plus it gets chilly in the loom room when it is so cold outside the wall of windows.  I've covered them with plastic and keep the heavy drapes closed, but you can feel the cold coming in....

Here are pics of the two latest.  These were produced to try to fit a request/commission.   We'll see if either is what they were thinking ;)

All for now,

JULIE

Minority

 I finished up a few more table runners.

The patriotic runners are popular.

So I keep doing them....

The black ones are from denim.  I've had many requests for blacks and grays.

And then always a random color just to keep things interesting. 

 

I had typed up my thoughts on the Bernie mittens thing, but decided, due to the prevailing winds in Blogger land, it wasn't worth voicing my opinion.  Apparently it is funny to mock people now.....  

All for now, 

JULIE

PS   Not sure why I stay here - I seem to be in the minority.

Sophisticated

 Nothing about me is sophisticated.

                                       My upbringing, my day to day living, my sense of "style".

My rugs, most would say, aren't fancy either.

 

Many things that others would consider sophisticated or fancy,  I have to study to see if it is the real deal, before I find the worth in it....

                      Is the sophisticate really so much better than the 'not so sophisticated"?

I'm not one that follows the crowd, fashions, the latest thing that changes with the wind.

What really matters?  

What things look like, or sound like, or put on an act like?

I guess what I'm trying to say is even tho something may not be sophisticated by the culture at large, it doesn't mean that there isn't value and worth there. 

Look for the worth - don't be fooled by fancy words, actions, promises, manipulations- If you find worth somewhere, recognize it, support it, protect it. 

All for now,

JULIE

Computer work

 

This is Jack.

Jack came with my daughter - along with another cat, Jane.  Jane unfortunately passed due to a stomach abscess after moving here.  She was my daughters favorite.  Jack wasn't...

I'm told that Jack belongs to me now.  LOL

He sleeps with me and I'm in charge of his daily care.  I've trained him - yeah right - to open the closet door and self feed from the cat food bag.  He has become quite portly!

He likes to sleep in odd spots.  This is how I found him the other day. 

It's kind of a cute picture, because he is actually a very good mouser and has done quite a lot of hunting that I've seen the results of.

So the start of the new year brings much in the way of paperwork.  Sales tax filing for 3 states (even tho one of those states I had no sales this year), Federal taxes to prepare for, and maybe even a rough plan for the year.

Last evening I made a spreadsheet of shows I know dates for, as well as other shows that I'd like to go to in the general time frame they normally are.

I also did some inventory work.  I haven't done an actual physical count, but my spreadsheet tells me that I made 114 rugs in 2020 and sold 91.... do I'm really not that much farther ahead than normal?!?

Table runners I made 59 and sold 48.... again, not that much farther ahead.   

I am starting the year with 126 rugs and 74 runners that are already in stock.  I do have a small group that are finished, just not tagged and measured and added in yet. 

Looking back, 2020 was about 27% down in sales.  Keep in mind that in 2019 I didn't get completely ramped up until mid year for events.  It would be interesting to be able to know what a "normal" sales year would have been if there had been events to attend...

All for now,
JULIE