Bittersweet Friends

I always start out things with the best of intentions. Like this blog for example – I have wanted to have this blog up and running for no less than 3 years now, which although I’m not a math expert, is about 3817 days (give or take a day) in Chrissy-land. Needless to say, I’m enamored with the IDEA of having a blog and religiously writing away (despite the firm belief that I’m the only one that actually checks in here, aside from the countless friends who considerately come to send me thoughtful comments about erectile stimulants and pyramid schemes). But in all seriousness, I have gotten a few really amazing  people who have stopped in here, and left gracious comments and I appreciate them so very much. They also make me feel somewhat guilty for so rarely updating. Because I really WANT to be updating this more often… and I would like to say that I have a good excuse like I was recruited for secret service missions or won the Pillsbury bake-off and was touring the nation making pot pies for adoring fans, but alas, this is not the case. I’m mostly just tired lately. And lazy. And not even remotely funny, or clever or witty. But I’ll try harder to be more consistent in my randomness in the future.

What was I saying?

Autumn. The most glorious and amazing of all seasons here in Vancouver. The green turning to lemon yellow and burnt orange and shades of russet red (then falling crisply brown and dead to the ground… but we’re not acknowledging that fact at this moment). The crispness in the air and that smell – that smell of autumn that simultaneously reminds me of campfires and soft mittens and mulled wine. I’m in love with autumn,  despite knowing it signals a quick turn toward winter here (which incidentally is not the most glorious and amazing season here in Vancouver, but rather soggy and grey and dismal and mildly insanely soul crushing). But the summer and spring and autumn in Vancouver are enough to make us all forget the fact we want to curl up in a fetal position and cry uncontrollably once all the leaves fall from the trees. So we are pretty much in a constant state of denial here. But it is a cozy, delightful, colour filled month of denial. Hurray for fall! Pumpkin pie and feather duvets and Granville Island Winter Ale (preferably all at the same time, please.)

So aside from the leaves changing and finally digging out the dozen of scarves from the deep and dark recesses of my closet, I’m just really trying to enjoy the season as much as possible. I have not yet mentioned that I have in the last couple months found gainful employment doing both graphic design and photography (although product photography – I have not yet found someone independently wealthy who wants to pay me to take pictures of abandoned buildings and alleys – yet, but I’m sure it’s any day now. If you’ve lost my mailing address for sending copious amounts of money, please let me know and I’ll get that to you ASAP). But the ability to pay one’s rent is a fantastic thing. So ultimately all the perseverance paid off, and I have heard that the job market is opening up a bit more, so hopefully much of the struggle is over for many people. Now we must all instead draw our worried attention to our imminent demise from the swine flu, or lead poisoning from ingesting paint used to decorate Hanna Montana lamps. But aside from that, everything is peachy. Or pumpkiny?

The Bittersweets must have gotten some mysterious press recently because I got 6 orders in one day. Up until this point I hadn’t sold a single thing for about 2 months. So it’s nice that it’s moving again. I had intended on designing a new line around fall with various pumpkins and gourds and angry cupcakes dressed in costumes. But what with my intensely busy schedule of procrastination and laziness, I just haven’t gotten around to it. But you have to admit, cupcakes? Costumes? I think I’m onto something. Think cupcakes with eyepatches. Or horrifically monsterous Frankenpickles.  Look away kids, it’s not a pretty sight.

The Plush You show is currently on at Schmancy in Seattle, and although I’m not a part of that side of it, my flower bracelets and brooches are available for sale in the Plush Jewels part of the show which takes place next door at Fancy. If you are in Seattle (which is an incredible city, also glorious in autumn) please drop in and check it out. I doubt I will be able to make it myself, so if you do, please let me know how it looks

Pumpkin carving very soon – I can hardly wait! Beer! Pumpkin seeds! Sharp knives! Mutilating innocent vegetables! Who can resist that action? Not I my friend, not I.

This last picture really has nothing to do with pumpkin carving, autumn, my lack of mathmatical prowess, the Pillsbury pot pie bake-off, monsterous cucumbers or my inability to remember to update regularly. It’s just a cool picture that I took a couple of weeks ago on Main Street – I think she’s pretty haunting.