Here I am!

I got busy with a Daymond John free webinar offer... it started at 11pm, just when I planned to be here.  I hope you don't mind.  It was on preparing the so important "elevator speech."  I have tried to figure that one out for years.  He has a nice free downloadable sheet to help.

So, what has been happening this week... a lot I think... but it is hard to quantify.

I started receiving my supplies, started working on some crafts, and have been working on my CHRISTMAS options.  It's getting there. 

If I can't find my paint for silk-screening I may have to try something like acrylics until I can get some.  I am excited to see how this works on real screens.  I have two premade screens - one of an elephant head, one of a dandelion.  One has thick spaces, the other fine lines.  Before I make my own screens, I need to figure out how these design options work in the finished product.

I got an email about bartering art for services. It reminded me of the option.  I browsed the article and did see that you have to make a receipt for taxes.  It is considered "income" for taxation purposes, and needs to be accounted for.  Barter is a great concept.  With the government's need to tax every penny it can, I would need cash to pay the taxes... I don't have that... BUT, it is an option to think about.

I am still in the process of receiving some of my supplies.  Many seem to come from CHINA, no matter where I order them.  Some must be warehoused here, but others take many weeks to get here (for free shipping -- the only other charge I noticed was $42 -- that would be a lot more than the order!)...  Someday, I would like to try a big order and see how that works.

I am looking for the details more these days... MADE IN THE USA. 

I had a horrific experience with a packaged cake mix this month... when I went to make it it was nothing like the cake mixes I use to make years ago... it was like slime... gel-like.  I made it, and will eat it, but I will never buy it again... and I will try to remember to read more labels.  This mix was made with GMO ingredients.  It was my first time actually seeing what that means.  I am thankful it was labeled... but I hope the company goes back to real ingredients. 

I made the cake because I have been wanting to try the CAKE POP thing.  I decided to not make them on a stick... and froze most of the scoops I made.  I have four to try covering with chocolate.  It is definitely a  S W E E T  treat!


I guess this has been a slow, thinking and praying kind of week.  I had to sleep much more than normal.  I have been planning the next several months... trying to get a path through it. 

I finally decided to commit my crafting roller machine (pasta maker) to polymer clays.  I will be getting that started this weekend I suppose.  You have to warm up the clay to get it to be pliable... I will try to keep it in my pocket and see if body warmth will help that process.  I don't know what shapes I want to make yet, but I need some flat pieces.  Eventually, I want to try to use various colors to make "art" on squares of polymer.  And I am going to try "glow in the dark" options.  :-)  I think that will be fun.

I have some shapes already baked and will be trying to get them finished... drilling, sanding, etc.

Next I need to figure out the packaging for the projects I am working on.


I guess there are so many things that are "in process" it is hard to share all the details. 

I have made a commitment with my Patreon CHALLENGE tier to review my activities on all ten of my tiers when I do my weekly updates.  This has proven to be a very difficult thing, but it is helping me focus on each of the tiers for my reporting duties... finding things to get me moving forward on all of them.


In the Faith department, I am continuing my PRAYER JOURNALING projects, and as they develop, I am expanding my person list.  Sometimes the needs weigh heavily on my soul.  We pray all the time, but seeing how GOD answers those prayers is not easy.


I guess that is enough for now.
May GOD be with all His People as we try to make it through this life into heaven.

In Christ,
Deborah Martin

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