however, since I’ll be in Europe, this isn’t quite as amazing since there is cell coverage everywhere.  but it’s practice for that day I get really courageous and hike the AT or something…

you can check out my location posts on twitter or via this map thingy.

This morning I dropped Young off on Badger Island-  which is the beginning of route one in maine, and, incidentally, Badger is his animal totem.  He’s going to walk route one up the coast (hence the sleeping bag project.)

And I’m going to Belgium tomorrow, then driving over to Berlin next week.  As usual, here’s my packing photos.  I’ve got the kit down to 25 lbs carried (and probably another 2 worn).  The macbook pro, unfortunately, is 25% of the weight, but I miss my computer so much when I’m away….  I much prefer backpacks to wheel-luggage.

yes, I’m bringing two GPS devices.  More on that tomorrow. no camera this trip, just my phone (which took all these photos.)

left of the shoes:  my plane outfit.  to the right:  going in the backpack. I have a couple professional meetings, so need nice clothes.  hence the pretty shoes.

I just found out it’s actually fall in europe, so I’m hoping this will be warm enough.

this is my first time using stuff sacks.  All those clothes from the previous image are now in those two stuff sacks (which I borrowed from my bivy and thermarest sleeping pad)

food, books, etc.  I want to walk a lot around the cities, and have a new plan for keeping my feet intact-  those injini toe socks (awesome!), my simple sneakers, and that moleskin pack.  I’m not really carrying that much food this trip, because I’m going to be in big cities and have enough time…

the finished kit.  The yellow backpack is a 22 liter size.

strange thing.  where does it come from?

for instance:  I’m going to be traveling part of this month, and trying to take care of my run-down health (feel a cold coming on) right now…  so generally, not in my studio/store. (and last week, I was there everyday but kept the doors mostly locked, wanting to be undisturbed.)

This means the store won’t be open.  Sometimes when I travel, Young keeps it open, but he’s going to be off on his own too.  So…..

Guilt about not keeping the store open.  Why?

• it’s not financial.
• it’s not about success.
• it might have something to do with others’ expectations
• it might have something to do with actually having the freedom to leave for a month and not worry about revenues.
• it might be in line with that previous post regarding tv…just not feeling able to identify with most people.

good little exercise, that. I think it is about others’ expectations.  or, more precisely, my perception of what others might expect.  which is, even more precisely, likely to be inaccurate and clouded by solipsism.  (I couldn’t remember that word for almost half a year, and couldn’t find it either in the dictionary, even though I knew the definition.  Unfortunately, “reverse dictionary search” hasn’t become a well established technology.  There’s another word I’ve been trying to remember too–  it means something like “shrinking violet” mixed with “reserved” mixed with “humble” and I think it begins with “re-”.  It’s an adjective for a person who never tells you how amazing they are, and always hides their skills/ achievements/ brilliance-  but they do so sincerely and not because they are seeking attention.  however, they do it to such an extent it’s probably to their own detriment. )

anyway. i’ll be in europe soon.

him:  so why don’t you cancel the order, and when you are in Germany next week, pick up a kinder!

(um, no.  not looking for a kinder, danke sehr.  )

aber ich nach Deutschland reisen nächste Woche. Berlin.

I say- “nobody I know owns a TV, so I’m going to guess that television ownership is declining and probably around 70% now”.

He says-  “no wonder you can’t identify with most people, you are so seriously in the minority.”

wikipedia proves him right. TV ownership in the US is still 99%.

Then we have fun listing off all the other ways I’m unable to comprehend most people.

here's the space just after I moved in.

Some of the things that have surprised me:  people in portland love my clothes (voted best women’s clothing shop in the phoenix) but most of my actual sales are to out-of-towners.  I’m sure this is partially price-point…$200 for a dress is cheap in a bigger city but expensive here.   I’ve also been pleased that the clothes are attractive to women older than my generation.

and after painting and some organizing

The most important part, for me, about having a retail store is that I don’t have to SELL.  If I were focused on wholesale, I’d spend a chunk of time either at tradeshows or contacting buyers and trying to get them to look at my stuff.  Instead, I spend my time in my studio, and people can come in if they want to.  And my interaction with customers comes with a very light touch (it’s mostly “hello” and, if they seem open “where are you from?”).

The other good part is that my work and home are separated, even if only by a few blocks. (or, more realistically, one block.  It takes me two minutes to walk home.) Sewing is, unfortunately, a stuff-intensive process.  I wish it were simpler, but unless I used one type of fabric, in one color, with no trims (i.e. zippers, buttons)…it’s hard to keep a handle on the excess stuff.  Because I don’t want to throw out that quarter yard of beautiful silk!  It might make a lovely collar someday!

a more recent photo....

Even with a totally minimalist approach to materials, one still needs the machines.  A professional sewing machine weighs about 150lbs (and I need two: a straight-stitch and an overlock), and the big table is a necessity for efficiency.

Is there a downside to the store? Sure. I get anti-social, and sometimes lock the door so I can work without interruption. Or, I travel and there’s nobody to run the store. I feel, sometimes, that having the store limits the amount I can travel…but I miss it when I am gone. So it’s a balance.

and when it comes down to it, I love Portland and Maine. I’ve traveled enough to big cities and other countries to know how much I love it here.

I think I should take some more photos of the studio side of the shop….

During the move, I’ve also spent some time simplifying the site so it’s all wordpress.  I debated incorporating zenphoto, which I got familiar with updating 37A, but decided against it.  Integrating the two CMSs isn’t fun and my goal is to make my life EASY!

Additionally, I’ve decided to only use etsy now for online sales.    It’s important for my customers to know I’m making each item after the order, and etsy buyers are very familiar with this idea.  Plus, it’s got vacation mode

So, parts of my site are still missing (like collections) but will be back soon.

• 5’6″ long
• ~25oz 850 fp down
• total weight 2 lbs 6oz
• total cost (not including my time/labor) $330 (all materials including shipping.)

based on that, I’m figuring it’s about a 5 to zero degree bag.

So, the summary is….it’s not much cheaper to make it yourself.  (something similar, made in the US, goes for about $500.) however, we were both really proud of how the bags turned out-  they look professional and nobody would be able to tell they were homemade.

So it was a bit of a trip down memory lane.  I started this version of the blog about two years ago.  (I’ve had various blogs and a tumblr for perhaps six years, but they’ve gone through transformations, transportations, and the original one, sadly, was destroyed.  permanently.  by me. note to self-  always keep a backup in case you change your mind.  at that time, I intentionally deleted it.  goodbye forever 2004-2007.)

however, it’s also the one year anniversary, or roundabout there, of my shop on wharf street.

So, during the process of turning off comments for ~ 2 years worth of posts, I was reminded of the places I’ve been (mentally and physically) in the past couple of years.

to summarize in a few sentences the things I’ve mostly written about — (there is more to my life than these items, but I don’t write about everything

raw food: feel much better physically now that I’ve stopped eating raw.  I’m thinking that all raw for long periods of time doesn’t work for everyone.  still eat vegan.

business: sorting (continually) what sort of business I want to have.  Right now preferring something with low-geographic commitments.

organization: this is just a catch-all word I use for when I’d like to understand something in a concrete sequential kind of way:  i.e. take it apart, analyze the pieces, and put them into pretty boxes.  characterized by quizzes, spreadsheets, databases, and other forms of linear organization.  similar to languages, very calming. used with personality attributes, financial management, minimalism, thoughts & philosophies.  aka RULES

language: have grown to LOVE language learning.  it calms me down.

people: haven’t written much about this, but the past 5 years really have been about learning to be more discerning and discriminating regarding who I let into my life.

(ironically, I rarely write about fashion-  or even think about it.)

37-A Gallery | Jeffrey Clancy

Show Opening Tonight!  6-10pm on Wharf Street