SED - Day 04 - More DIY and stuff.

[teddy_radiator]

I feel like all I ever do nowadays is edit this story and try and put together our redecoration projects. In between, work is a little slow, and they are introducing a new way of logging our work that isn't working the way they want, but instead of waiting until they fix it, they are forcing it on us anyway. Ah, Corporate America, eh? Nothing ever changes.

Today the base and the candlestick for one of our SteamLib wall lamps came. Except for the actual cord and plug, which we forgot while at Home Depot today, all that's really needed is to stain it. Here is what it looks like in its unfinished state, with my PC in the background:

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I have the alcove patially taped off in preparation for painting it the same deep red as the chimney breast. I am loving the results we got yesterday. The floor in the SteamLib is prepped and the underlayment is down but not secured. Lots of little things done, and nothing quite finished.

Today we went to one of our favourite places, Christmas Tree Shops, which has all sorts of goodies during the year very cheap. We like to get the suet blocks for our birds there. They are around $1.20 each for the no-melt variety, which is good for us since the blocks are open to the elements. Well, today, we got to the register and paid for three of them, and the cashier said, "That'll be $1.78." I pointed out we bought three of them, and she said, "Yes, but these two are maked 'as is', which is 75% off. They are $.27 each."

Well, as you can imagine, we immediately ran back and got twelve more! As we rushed back up to the check out, the manager was heading back, saying, "I'm pulling those cases. Someone has marked them with the wrong price tags." The cashier still gave us the 75% off, since we had picked them up in good faith, and so they honoured it for us. I think we paid around $5 or less for 15 suet blocks - result! That is the second time something like that has happened to us in two weeks. We are extremely grateful.

I sent my first draft of my first Query Letter to stgulik, who pronounced it good enough for government work, so tomorrow I start sending out queries for agents. I could really, really use some good vibes tomorrow. Thank you to everyone who has sent their warm wishes already!

Well, I'm off to stain this lamp a deep, oily brown, and TheHubs™ is going to drill through the candlestick to prep it for the cord.

I'm still loving all the posts so far - thanks to everyone who continues to fill us in on your lives. It's very rewarding!

Comments

[akatnamedeaster.livejournal.com]

I love when stores make mistakes in your favor and honor the mistake. It happens so rarely. And the birds will eat like kings!!

I'm so excited for you that you're taking the plunge into sending your work out, it is a very nerve-wracking thing and I am wishing you speedy responses with at least a few of them being exactly what you hope to hear. Congrats Teddy! You're doing it!

(I have one of those hand models back in one of my closets and watching your project is making me want to pull it out and do things to it. No, not those things! *tsk* Mind out of the gutter!)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

No, not those things! *tsk* Mind out of the gutter!

*Looks around and whistles innocently*

Thank you, sweetie. It's lovely to know that your friends believe in you. I feel really good about it, even as I know I'm going to be disappointed far more than I want to be. Hey, everyone goes through it.

I actually thought those hand models would be expensive, but it wasn't. I wish the thumb had more mobility, though; it sort of restricts what the lamp will look like because of how it moves (or doesn't, in this case). What I'm not sure of is how to secure the candlestick to the hand without it being too obvious.

[akatnamedeaster.livejournal.com]

What I'm not sure of is how to secure the candlestick to the hand without it being too obvious.

Would it be possible to maybe carve a little bit of a groove in the palm to seat the candlestick? Just enough to give it a place to rest where you could apply some epoxy without dramatically changing the look of the hand. Remember, you're staining it so such adjustments may be less obvious in a darker color.

Hey, everyone goes through it.

They do and sometimes it takes multiple dips into the well to get what you're after. The thing to remember, while you may get disappointed and even allow yourself to wallow, don't allow it to break you or cause you to give up.

That's the trick I think.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I just stained it and it looks fab. I think glue would be the answer.

Thank you for those bracing words, babe. I know this will test my fortitude more than anything else in my life. But I know I'm loved, and that helps. And I do believe in the story, which helps as well ;)

[adelaidearcher.livejournal.com]

That lamp is going to look amazing!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I've just stained it, and it looks great - I'm only going to give the hand one coat of stain because it's a pain but it looks good.

[ex-logospil.livejournal.com]

The wall lamps are going to look so cool!

Sending many happy thoughts your way ♥

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I really appreciate it.

[m-mcgonagall-65.livejournal.com]

That is a really interesting lamp, and I bet it will look really cool in your SteamLib.

*crossing fingers and toes for good results to your query letter*

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I appreciate all the good wishes so much.

[blueartemis07.livejournal.com]

Best of luck. And that is a very cool looking lamp.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much - I've stained the different pieces, and it looks properly old and worn!

[jenidralph.livejournal.com]

That wall lamp is a whole world of wonderful! I am so excited for you and know that amazing things are coming your way.

"Drill through the candlestick" ... is that a euphemism?

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

It does sound like something I'd say, doesn't it? ;)

[gelsey.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to see your finished library. I'll be terribly jealous, I'm sure. I just have to make sure to have an extra room for a library when I get my very own place which I want to do in the next 5 years.

Oh jealous of that deal! I have my hummingbird feeder up but no regular feeder. I will in the winter but mum said not to bother for the summer. And she's right, this year looks like there will be plenty for them to have around here.

Good vibes on go!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

We are loving watching the birds. We really are a bit lazy, though - we should have finished the floor a week ago. We are very lackadaisical.

[kittylefish.livejournal.com]

lamp is cool, as are unexpected bargains.

and hooray re query letter! i shall send positive vibes your way.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you, sweetie - I really believe in your good vibes!

[melodyssister]

What luck with the suet! I must say, as both a vegetarian and a Jew, I feel that suet is only for birds to eat - but I know that the Hogwarts house elves probably disagree with me :)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I have vegetarian suet, which I use in Christmas pudding. It's been in the freezer for a couple of years, but it seems okay.

[melodyssister]

I had no idea that such a thing existed.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

We had to special order it from a British import store - you can't get it here for love nor money, even in the high falutin' places like Whole Foods. But really, butter works just as well.

[mimimanderly.livejournal.com]

Lucky birds! A suet feeder is probably the only kind of food we don't put out for the birds, because the squirrels wind up eating the bulk of it. Our squirrels are mutants as it is. If they get any bigger, we could hitch them to a cart and use them for transportation.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

It's amazing - squirrels are one of the few animals we don't get around here - plenty of bunnies and the occasional family of deer, and plenty of birds but no squirrels - not that I'm complaining.

[tamlane.livejournal.com]

instead of waiting until they fix it, they are forcing it on us anyway.

UGH. That's how it always works, isn't it? We went to an entirely new student record management system several years ago, with zero training and practically no forethought. It was a disaster. There are still fundamental tasks I have no idea how to do, and no one can tell me. And what used to take one screen now takes five. Progress!

Yay for happy pricing errors!

Sending lots of good vibes your way!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's frustrating but we just grit our teeth and get on with it.

Thank you so much - I'm going to need all the help I can get.

[arynwy.livejournal.com]

That wall lamp is all kinds of cool. Your library is going to be the place to be when things are complete.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I certainly hope so. It's been a year in the planning, and we've got a long way to go, but it's very rewarding to see it finally getting off the ground.

[hikorichan.livejournal.com]

Wow! Totally jealous of your cheap suet haul! $1.20 is about the cheapest we can find around here too, though I suppose since that's Canadian dollars, that is actually a bit cheaper than your USD $1.20!

Would love to know more about the process of getting an agent. Good luck with your search :)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I'm really just flying blind about the agent. It's a scary, soul-destroying thing. Writing a book is child's play compared to this.

[arwitchywoman.livejournal.com]

~~~~~~~~~~those are my good vibes floating into the air to help!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you, dear heart - I will latch onto them and let them send me soaring into the air like the tail of a kite!