Price of Tea Issue #3

Just a quick note to everyone that you can finally have your very own issue of The Price of Tea #3 hot off the presses.  Just follow the link above and see a sample of each and order all the issues you have yet to get.  Enjoy!

Publications all around!

A few weeks ago I wrote an essay about my values and was honored to have it published in today's newspaper. I'm kind of shy about it (which is a rare thing) since this whole thing is a little overwhelming for me. I'm not big on attention, but this was an important subject and it was easy to write since it was all from the heart. For all you un-local friends, you can find my essay here.  There is even a HUGE picture of me, much bigger than I would have wanted.  I don't even like mirrors and pictures are even weirder.  It's out there and its all me.  ;-)

I got to see the final proof of the issue 3 of TPOT last night.  Wow!  CJ did such an awesome job on the artwork and set up of the whole book.  He really has an uncanny natural eye for layout even before it's in the layout stage and it really shows in the final stages of production.  Everything flows so well and ever picture conveys not only the story, but the feeling of the seen.  There isn't a whole lot of "POWS" and "BAMS" in TPOT, so the feeling are more of an undercurrent of tension.  How he manages to do it, I don't know, but that's what he's the artist and I'm just the lucky person to get to enjoy it. 

Just a quick last note. We have our eye on loom number 4 right now. (I know! We're crazy! Looking at looms while we try to buy a house!) Can't believe how these things get me to voluntarily surrender my home, money, and time, but there all just so wonderful and 60" means I could start making actual bolts of hand woven material just like I've always wanted. EEEEEE! It makes me gitty!

Hang in there, friends, spring is coming. Be good and be careful.

I feel like I'm on a slide.

First, I get to make the happy announcement that we have been accepted the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen!  Yay!  This is a good thing, but I have to say that the fact that we have been planning so long for the end that it has really dampened the enthusiasm of the whole event.  Especially in comparison to the fact that yesterday we have excepted a counter offer on a place in Pulaski Co!  It's perfect and I haven't even seen it yet...(gasp!) :-)

The past two weeks have been so completely crazy that really my whole world has changed.  I'm not sure what the future holds for us, but I have faith that we will be safer and happier even if we are poorer.  I don't want to say too much, because I'm a believer in jinxing, but as soon as something final happens I'll be sure to let the world know.

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.  We'll take any positive energy everyone can toss at us.

The soapbox.

We went all over Pulaski Co, and even into Casey Co., Monday looking at houses.  We might have found one!  I don't want to say too much because I don't want to get my hopes up since we haven't gotten anything official from the bank saying the house is mortgageable, but as soon as we do (if we do) I'll have pictures and will spill my guts about how excited I am. 

For everything else, once more, we are in limbo.  Sometime this week we should get the "yay" or "nay" from the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen.  We picked up our goodies on Monday, but they couldn't tell us anything.  I think that's silly, but it's their rules and there is nothing I can do about it.  I would just like to know, but it seems that the lesson I need to learn from this part of my life is patience, because I do an awful lot of waiting recently.

On the TPOT side of things we are waiting for the printers too.  I'm excited to see Issue 3 in print.  Our first Trade Paper Back isn't that far off and that is very exciting.  We are planning to even add some unseen "issues" into the TPB that will not be in the single issue form, at least in this first edition indy printing.  In the end we are looking at having three TPB, but I can't believe that we are almost 1/3 finished with TPOT.  I mean, it seems like just yesterday that it was a single issue idea about a girl, a dragon, and a bunch of demons holding up the tea shipment.  Almost 8 years and a research trip to Japan later, its really developed into something learned and deep.  I'm proud of my baby, but they grow up so fast. 

This past week we had a self-assignment to try and find some grants or programs that would help our artistic endeavors.  We did find a few, but nothing super promising.  What I did find out is that sexism is still alive and well.  Not for me, there is a lot of opportunities for artistic girls.  I feel so sad for my CJ, though.  How many things did I run across that were set aside for women only; grants, programs, scholarships, and even paying jobs!  Sexism should not be allowed on any side.  How many people would be all over something that said, "for men only,"  so why is "for women only" acceptable and even held up as a higher standard?  Just because you have breasts and a vagina does not mean that you hold some deeper understanding of the artistic expression and certainly doesn't make you instantly a better artist.  No one should be passed over for any reason; sex, religion, political choice and I certainly don't think you should be chosen just because you are a certain way.  Equality for everyone does not mean special treatment for certain groups, that just puts us right where we were before.  People who do this should be ashamed.  Maybe this will make me unpopular in my field, but I'll stand up for the strong men I know who can't work hard enough to over come what God gave others.  I love my male artist. 

No, its not over yet....

I woke up this morning with a job just calling to tell me that if they don't find anyone this week then they will call me next week.  Who does that?  I love being told that I'm someones last resort.  So, needless to say I was super depressed this morning thinking what a loser I was and that I would never get out of this ghetto city.  I was so lost I even started to fill out an application for the PeaceCorps. (Not that there is anything wrong with the PeaceCorps, its just not on the path going where I want to go.)  By noon I was totally down for the count.

Then I got a call from the local news paper saying that an essay I wrote about my "values" had been selected for publication and they wanted to set up a photo shoot.  I was floored; more by the photo shoot then the published essay.  I've never had a photo shoot before, what does one wear?! This was a boost to my down mood.

Then, I found a really cool job to apply for.  It's a HUGE long shot, but would be way awesome to do and it pays very well.  Getting this would mean that I could have that farm I always wanted.  It will never happen if I don't try, so I'm going to apply in the morning.

 And then.... I found out that TPOT qualifies for an entry in the Eisner Awards!  Just having TPOT in their hands would be a big plus, but if we could actually WIN and Eisner Award for TPOT it would be a dream come true and a big break for CJ and I, as a team and as individuals.  You want to know a secret.... I really love writing comic books.  If I only had time to retreat into my "happy place," find a nice soft and warm place in my house, and not worry about bad people, I think that I could write way more than I do.  Everything is so wrong right now and it takes so much out of me to be a good adult, that I just can't.  Perhaps very soon, though, and until then I will lift CJ and TPOT as high as I can and hope they will take me with them.  

Oh, and if there is anyone out there that has anything to do with the Inkpot Awards you should see this.  CJ Bloomer is THE best inker I know and deserves way more recognition then his modesty has gotten him.  I love this inking he did yesterday, so I stole it, and am now showing it off.  It has so much feeling and depth of emotion mixed with action that it really feels like your there.  

We will hear from the Kentucky Guild of Artist and Craftman next week.  I'm hoping for some more good news.

So, things aren't over yet just because some losers woke me up with bad news.  I'm still here, still highly skilled, and everything is still moving forward.  

Here's to everlasting hope! 

Do I actually see light?

This past week has seen a lot of change for my family, starting with the fact that BOTH my cars were broken into.  I wont go into details because I try never to focus on bad things (I think it calls them back to you), but it has spurred me and my extended family into action to get us out of the city once and for all.  I'm not sure what the future holds for us except that I'm going home to Pulaski County, Kentucky; finally.  I refuse to give up everything I have worked for, but I'm not going to risk that the 6th crime against us will cause physical harm.  This place is getting rougher and I'm just getting sadder, so I believe its time to leave Lexington.  I thought this for quite a while, but my extended family has really pushed me to stay, until now that is.  I'm looking for a job so I can have a little "start up" money when I get there and as soon as I find one the next two weeks will be dedicated to moving.  I'm scared of changes, but I think this is for the best and I can't say that there is much to miss up here.

On a even better note, TPOT issue three went to the printers this morning.  We'll be ordering our copies in a week and so can you.  I'll add the link as soon as I have it.  It looks so nice, a little nontraditional, but it should be a lot of fun.  As soon as CJ gets back from paying the rent I'm hoping to get to work on Issue #4.  The story is done, but layout and details of dialogue is next.  I think this is one of the hardest parts, because CJ and I have an equal hand in its production which often leads to some heated debates.  We have such different styles, but I think it makes TPOT balanced and therefore worth all the trouble.

And then there is weaving.  Today we took a trip to our old home of 4 years, Berea, to drop off all our goodies for the judging of the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen.  Five weaving items and five skeins of yarn.  Here's crossing our fingers that they have good taste!  ;-) 

Be careful out there, its getting rough.