Some Opinions Sought and Some Futures Found

First off, some of you may/may not know that the blog you are reading is actually a duplicate of another blog.  I have two with the exact same content: one on Blogger, the other on Wordpress.  I'm not sure if it's helpful or not, but in my explorations it's harder to subscribe to one or the other depending on your experience, and there are those that simply don't know about the different feeder services that make it easier to do so... I figured, why not?  It's not like I'm doing to separate blogs with totally different content--they're both the same.

The one downside that I've discovered is the comments--it's sad that comments made on one blog aren't available to the other, but it's worth the trade off for easier access, I feel.  Perhaps I will stop posting on one in the future, but I would prefer to do that when I develop a website of my own for Relished Artistry.

I'd be interested in hearing from others if this is a good idea, and what blogging platform seems to be the most useful for those in the crafting/art fields.  I'm limited in my understanding of how RSS feeds work and "readers" and the like--and I'm sure that if I am somewhat baffled, there are others out there that are just as daunted by the whole thing as much as I am.  Thus, two blogs to make it easier for everyone.

Secondly--and this is a totally different topic--I have accepted a position at La Jolla Playhouse as an overhire stitcher on their newly developing musical "Bonnie and Clyde".  I'll be working in an auxiliary costume shop with a one of my former supervisors, Ingrid Helton, who is the shop manager.  She's depending on me to work my fingers to the bone, and I'm excited to follow through.  I'll be working with some technicians from my past in a familiar structure that I'm used to, so it'll feel like old home week!

The employment will last until mid-November, so it's coming at the right time for me, monetarily.  Ingrid and I go way back to 1995, when I first started at the Old Globe as a costume technician, and I worked on her cutting team for several years.  She taught me everything I know about men's tailoring, and for a while I was her assistant cutter.  It will feel good to stretch my skills again.

So as a consequence, I'm going to be splitting my efforts for a short while--working on Relished Artistry after work and spending my days at LJP stitching as fast as I can.  In the past, working in costume shops has had a tendency to have an "all-encompassing" effect on me and my mental state...  It is difficult to "keep it a job" when the amount of focus and concentration is mentally exhausting.  It is good on the one hand, but emotionally frazzling sometimes.  I spend a lot of time listening to audiobooks on my iPod and podcasts to keep my mind in check.  It would seem silly--"It's just sewing!"  But when one cares a great deal about quality and precision, and the entire team is invested in a high standard, it can be a bit daunting.  I can anticipate that this will impact my ability to keep up with my business, but I am hoping that it will also spur me on in some ways to delve deeper into Relished Artistry.

So, I'll keep you all updated on what I'm working on and what's happening as I go along!  This should be interesting!  Live life with Relish!  :)