Dropping out into The So Unknown

Artsy friends: I need your help!

I've been asked by a friend to knit something for her and she's said she would gladly pay for it. This is both exciting and a little bit scary for me (but mostly exciting)!

What's your advice on charging for handcrafted items? I've looked up a few things online which coincided with what a friend told me as well:

Cost of materials + Cost of labor = Cost
Cost x 2 = Retail

Does this sound about right? I'm no pro at knitting--whatever it is won't come out like lacey cobwebs--but I'm pretty good, I know a lot of different techniques/stitches, and I'm willing to try anything.

Is $8 an hour selling myself short? I mean, it wouldn't be pro-level work, and I'd enjoy it while I was working on it...

Any feedback would be helpful, whether you're an artist who sells their work (moonvoice, I'm lookin' in your direction...) or just someone who appreciates art and work.

Thanks!

This is before I ripped the whole thing apart to redo it in a smaller size. Will post a photo of the finished second attempt once it's done.

they think we're disposable
well, both my thumbs' opposable
spelled out on a double-word and triple-letter score

we won't stop until somebody calls the cops
and even then we'll start and just pretend that
nothing ever happened

Outlook: decidedly good.

I figure I should let you all know, although I haven't really posted about it much, but...

I got the job! The one I was really hoping for that's full-time, pays really well, has full benefits, paid vacation, and gives me a cost-of-living raise every year! I'm super relieved, and it's really affirming to know that someone wants me to work for them and they'll appreciate my efforts.

So now I can start saving money for going back to school, and I can do other fun stuff with money too, like PeaPod, and buy a computer for myself, and maybe, just maybe, get cable. Also, I would like to move into a nice apartment with actual rooms when my lease is up next October.

Ooh, and a Kindle.

And one of those neat aluminium fancy water bottles.

Okay. Budgeting is good. Breathe.

Hope you all are having as good a week as I am.

(The Christmas card post is to come...soon...)

I'm still alive.

Easter was good.

I'm at my parents' house now, relaxing, doing laundry, watching their digital cable.

Sorry to be so quiet lately.

Poll #1141568 Recommendations
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 8

Recommend a movie for me to watch. (No horror movies!)

Recommend a food for me to try/make. (Keep in mind: I have very little cooking skill, but I'll taste-try anything!)

Recommend a book for me to read.

Anything else you'd like to recommend?

This, and other photos of my apartment, now up at my Flickr page. Check it out.

Hi. I don't feel like writing an entry now, but I did have a good weekend. Got to see Sweeney Todd and 27 Dresses. Sasha is staring at me while I write this. More later.

ZOMG! For those of you who are DIYers, I found the bestest site EVUR.

Burda Style--open source sewing (patterns, etc.).

I am so gonna do about 12 dresses to wear for Spring...!

Happy birthday tinydaisy! Love you lots.

Day 3 of new job:
I just became very aware of the buzzing noises made by the fluorescent lights and the wall clock...

Oh, jeez.

The obligatory Christmas loot entry, a week late.

No photos this year as I'm lazy.

$1000 gift card to IKEA (YAY! FURNITURE! Now you can come visit me!)
Lightweight vacuum cleaner
Toaster
Classic cookbook (Better Homes & Gardens)
Adorable denim dress from H&M
Cute heather brown wool swing coat w/ handmade pink knit scarf (by Mom)
Stocking stuffers (Cadbury's! Travel coffee mug. Burt's Bees lip stuffs! Toothbrush. Makeup.)
HAND-MADE pajama pants from my SISTERRRRR.
Monies from Grandparents, which went to a speaker system for my iPod.

Every time I've been online since Christmas, I go to the IKEA website to ogle what kind of furniture I'm getting. So excited. I'll actually have a (futon)bed and not an air mattress!

Dreading going back to work, though. Have to leave for Chicago tomorrow. Boo. Have enjoyed my stay here at home.

Currently reading:

The Other Side of the River: A Story of Two Towns, a Death, and America's Dilemma by Alex Kotlowitz
Only Revolutions: A Novel by Mark Z. Danielewski

I'll let you know how they are when I finish.

It snowed last night, just a few inches to cover up all the yuckiness. How lovely. It will make for a beautiful Saturday.

After I go out to buy stamps and get my customary cuppa chai from the wonderful French bakery, I'm going to stay inside and watch White Christmas (which I just bought at Target on DVD) and write Christmas cards. I found some really cute retro-y ones at Borders yesterday. (Which reminds me, if you'd like a card, send me your address either via comments or email me sarahlarowe (at) yahoo (dot) com.)

Enjoy your weekend, all.

If Emily Dickinson wrote "I dwell in possibility", then

I am the Queen of What If.

Yes, here's me avoiding putting together the Winter Quarter schedule. I do still have 3 days of work left in which to do it, and there's nothing like waiting til the last minute.

Oh, crap, I just remembered I have to go get juice...and it's freaking heavy.

Went to the Chriskindlemarket at Daley Plaza downtown on Saturday, and it was so busy, but it was really wonderful. I got some treats at the sweet shop, and I think I'm going to go back next week on a weekday to avoid the lines.

Then I spent my Christmas check from Grandma at LUSH and got some amazing stuff--Ultimate Shine and Godiva shampoo bars, The Olive Branch body wash/shampoo, Happy Pill bath bomb, and a Fever massage bar. My bathroom smells like a greenhouse now, yay! And yum.

Okay, it's taken me like an hour and a half to finish this post with all the stuff going on at work, so I'll make a better post later in the week, maybe even with...pictures! YAY!

Waiting for the bus--so a quick update at the end of the day.

Work is winding down, next week is the last week of school and then I don't know what I'll do with myself. Spend the time organizing/cleaning my apartment, maybe, or just go up to my parents' and hang there.

I've caught a cold from whomever--working in a school is like living in a petrie dish, but I think I'm slowing getting better. Lots of tea, combined with Zicam and Airborne as often as I'm recommended to take it.

I'm glad to hear that so many of you are in good places; I'm glad you'll have good holidays. For those of you having less-than-ideal Decembers, I hope it goes on the upswing soon. I'm thinking of you.

Lots of love.

Lots of updating going on all around, figure I should throw something into the ring while waiting for my lunch to cool.

Cold is finally here, but it's nice that I found out I can ride the bus for free to and from work. Makes the coldness a little easier to bear. My mom and dad are going to be downtown (aka closer to me) tomorrow while my dad is at a conference. My mom and I are going window-shopping down on State St. (it's going to be madness) and then going uptown to some resale shop she wants to check out. I think tomorrow night I might hang out with my girls after that.

Everything else is going relatively well--I'm handling work well, even with the daily snafus.

I'm happy because there's shrimp, asparagus, and penne in my lunch. And it's hot and tasty.

Photos to come from my excursion tomorrow.

So, maybe I just found out that I can ride the bus that picks up in front of my new apartment and drops off in front of my work FOR FREE. Why have I waited until now to figure this out? I'm taking the bus every frickin' day I can!

This is the news that made my week. Sadly.

( And here's a meme. )

I got the apartment! And I move in a week from today! Awesome...and scary!

My sister is going to give me her old digital camera--she got a new one for her birthday--so I'll put up pictures as soon as I take some!

Time to go to a Halloween party--I'm going as Bono, complete with big shades, a rosary, motorcycle jacket with American flag sewn inside, and causes. I'm sure someone will take photos and post them on Facebook.