Dilemma Horns

 Oh, what to do, what to do?

You know I've been working on a long-term, temporary job. It's not exciting, but it is a job. It's helping to ensure that I will be able to own a car in retirement - at least for a year or two. After losing a good job last year, any extra money now translates to our level of future comfort.

Besides my temporary work, I've done some freelance editing on the side. Not a lot, but I need time to develop it. I'd also like the time to work on my crafts and set up an Etsy shop (more on that in a minute). Both those strands would be under my control, would not require going to an office, and would be possible to do even in my late 60s or early 70s, if necessary.

So... there's a permanent job available at the place I'm working. It would be full-time, as now, but would obviously pay better and include benefits. It would mean continuing to go in to an office five days a week. Now, I have to mention that the office is over-heated. Seriously, the thermostats in the office read between 76 and 78 degrees! Who does that? I'm menopausal, I have a fan running all day, and it's just too hot.

That may sound minor, but it's a comfort factor. Also, sitting at a computer all day takes its toll on my back, hips and waistline (my home office is set up so I can either stand or sit).

Do I play it safe and apply for a predictable income? Or do I try again to establish my own business(es) and continue to pay for health insurance on my own? It's a tough one.

I hope to get Etsy set up in June, after beautiful granddaughter has visited (we pick her up at the airport tomorrow!). Here's my most recent creation - a Day of the Dead shrine, which will be part of a series.

I think I'm done, but then again, I think it needs a little more gaud (you know, to be more gaudy).

He who lives with hope, dies happy.

Go on, my wise friends - hit me with your opinions on the job dilemma, and also let me know what you think about the little shrine.

Oh, and here's me on Mother's Day (with my niece) wearing a recently thrifted dress. It buttons down the front, but it's too tight on the hips so I wear it as a duster.

I had just dropped a bunch of cookies in the whipped cream - yum!


I'm linking up my creamy cookie faux pas with Visible Monday!

Val

Oh, no - not another Altoid tin!

If you're coming here looking for pretty pictures of me in my fantastic clothes and gorgeous home, with inspirational quotes and tips for removing warts, I've given you fair warning. This post is about an Altoid-type tin that I crafted for a custom order for Christmas.

The order was for a little diorama for my customer's mother-in-law, who is housebound. I was given some ideas about the MIL's life and likes, and I went from there. This is what I came up with.

The customer said her MIL likes East Asian art and architecture, so she asked for a temple door and roof tiles.

The interior continues the theme, and includes a passport and map to reflect MIL's travels, the books she likes to read, and the coffee she likes to drink.

The otters in the photo have special significance, too, but the little felt slippers were a last-minute thing I added because the floor needed something. Squee!

I didn't glue down the itsy books, and one of them is a picture book with tiny photos from my own travels.

And one more -

I'm still working on my little Parisian café, mentioned in my last post. It's an even smaller scale, so it's challenging to fit in a tiny café bar, as well as an upstairs bedroom. I think this one's going to take some time! Here are some more in-progress photos.

You know I'm making this because I want to live in a little place like this on the Left Bank.

I should have called it Café Tout Wacky because the scale and perspective are going to be totally wack. I made a stack of espresso cups that are tiny, but too big for this place. Maybe I should add a bottle of absinthe to accentuate the twisting of reality!

À bientôt!

Val

The beach in the palm of my hand

I took these photos a few weeks ago, and I need to use them up before they start to smell bad.

I got the striped shirt at JCP on sale for $9.97! It's a cotton and silk blend, and it's got a pattern that will make you go blind when you're ironing it.

Why can't manufacturers figure out how to place the buttons so they don't gap at the widest point? I always have to pin it there. Obviously not for this photo, though.

The yellow jeans are thrifted - Shylo is the brand. And I'm not wearing shoes because I figured I'd head to my beach hut.

paper doll Me inspired by the amazing and multi-dimensional Melanie

This is what I've been working on lately - a little beach hut for me to dream about while I'm sitting at my desk. Actually, I'll be looking at it while I'm sitting at my desk - I'm going to keep it in my office.

My little hut is a cozy place for reading, drawing, walking on the beach.

There's my spare pair of glasses (a staple that I saw at work, curled into exactly the right shape), my lamp (beads), my pencils (toothpicks), and my parasol (cocktails, anyone?).

And it's not just my beach hut - there are three of us on this little beach.

background photo near Burton Bradstock, UK - if you think it looks like the beach in Broadchurch, you're right

My neighbor always loves to have picnics, but has questionable taste in wine.

little tiny snail shells on top shelf were found in a flower pot

And the guy on the end loves fishing. You can see him on the beach in all weather.

little Swiss army knife made from small pieces of wire and plastic - I painted a tiny white cross on it, and that's it!

I made some of these before, and they've been dispersed to Iowa, Maryland, and British Columbia. But I'm keeping these - my own little Echo Beach!

Linking up with Visible Monday, then on Wednesday, 52 Pick-me-up - Geometrics, and Creative Monday at Clairejustine. Bring your towel!

Val