Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Decorating an office... what fun!

I am having all sorts of fantasies about my future office, which my generous husband is allowing me to create in what other homes would call the "living room," which no one ever really lives in. The living room at my parents' house was the most lived-in living room I can think of, and that's just because we gathered around the Christmas tree there and set up card tables at Thanksgiving for me and my brothers (the "kids;" we still sit there today... I wonder what will happen when all the nieces and nephews are required to sit with us for dinner, not at the TV). I also did my homework there as a kid, which makes my using the new living room as an office just a logical step.

Oh boy, do I want to make it stylish. I know I'm already getting the brass campaign desk from the in-laws, so I'll have to incorporate that. Actually, I just looked up "campaign desk," and I don't think that's exactly what they are giving me, but interestingly that's what they call it. But regardless, it's a nice desk and I'm thinking about putting a mirrored top on it. I've been looking at Design Public for their shelving. I'm also going to use this room to do my Murami business (not the heavy machinery stuff or resin pouring, but the filing, display, photography, and web work), so I want it to reflect Murami's style. Maybe some wallpaper? Ben might scrunch his nose at that, but we'll see. Really, the most important changes to the house at the moment involve the rear windows and the kitchen, so my office being "stylish" doesn't necessarily need to happen immediately. ;) I can visualize and fantasize and develop my plan of attack.

On the Domino Mag forum, along with the suggestion to cover filing cabinets with wallpaper (ooooh), I found a few resources:

See Jane Work

Staples

The Drapery on the home office in Philly (blog by a Philadelphia designer)

Great Setup for Startup

I've got a security blanket to cover me while getting other freelance work started. I'm going to continue working as an as-needed employee for my current employer from my new home. What a great deal! I'm so excited! So, I'll have this on top of the work for my previous employer (editing teacher resource books).

I'll take this good news to offset my sadness about putting my beloved cat to sleep on Friday.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Good things come in threes... and fours

I've gotten several freelance gigs since I started my part-time search for part-time freelance work. I'm moving to Pennsylvania in October, at which point I will ramp up my marketing and whatnot for freelance work (I might even become part of my husband's consulting company, InkCircle, which has been in hibernation) . But I've already had three writing assignments for a magazine, and out of the blue last week I got a request from a previous employer for an edit on a teacher resource book, and we've started talking about more work for them after that.

I certainly needed that, after a few serious disappointments! Now the only problem is finding time to DO all this while still working full-time (until 10/13!), getting a mortgage, and moving to a new state! I guess it's not a terrible problem to be too busy, especially considering the large "money funnel," as my father calls it, has been installed on top of the new house, before we've even closed!

On an off-topic note, but still in the disappointment category, while I was walking the dogs this morning, I watched in horror as the Waste Management guys threw ALL of the trash AND recycling into one dump truck today, after I had just put my carefully collected bag of paper in the "PAPER ONLY" recycling bin! I wrote to customer service on www.WM.com and asked my landlord to forward a note to the condo association in case anyone else is as bothered by it as I.

Friday, September 08, 2006

Les Editeurs


Merveilleux!