Hint at the Future and Small Life Update

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Magweno
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I've just come out of a meeting with Sam, the new regional manager of the charity who has been helping me start up Magweno Art Dolls and has funded it in the past (the PSYBT). She's a self proclaimed goth through and through and absolutely LOVED what I was making, especially the Abdabs. 

We spoke about how I've been progressing and what steps I need to take for the future, how the PSYBT can help financially if I need it and where she thinks a good place to expand would be.

As per all my meetings with the PSYBT I came out really enthusiastic and excited about what I can do next, and also more clear-minded. 

I'm sure you've all experienced the mad cavalcade of ideas and thoughts that come rushing every time you start a new project - I have piles of started and abandoned projects, sketchbooks stuffed with ideas and getting fantastic suggestions from you guys means my head feels like it's full of birds! I can focus on each idea and I can't decide which to do next!   

I voiced a few of the strongest ideas to Sam and seeing and hearing her reactions to each really helped. I definitely need to focus on ONE thing, and, as a goth, Sam knew exactly which she thought would be best!

The Abdabs are going to grow in numbers. We both got very excited about the possibilities. I need to develop a strong brand - so what I produce next is going to be me being all.. grown up and professional. Ish!

This intense focus on the Abdabs is going to be juggled with my current bread and butter, the kirins and jackalopes. I'm reducing commissions to one a month (not including the custom kirins and jackalopes), as I seem to work well at that pace. My one current commission from the ever patient suchacat is progressing slowly, hopefully a delivery in the next couple of days should see that wrapped up soon.

As for my personal life...!

Those of you who follow my tumblr will know I recently went to see a plot of land that has outline planning permission for a house.


The problem is that it's registered as a croft. In some ways that's excellent, but it means that most banks won't give us a loan.

We have an excellent broker who is working her bum off to secure a loan for the land, and that's ticking along... But we've been given a deadline. The solicitor selling the land has said they've had so much interest over the past two months they might move to a closing date. 

Closing dates mean that every interested person puts in an offer in a sealed envelope and on the closing date, all the envelopes are opened. The highest offer wins. But there's no way of knowing what the other people have offered.

He's given us until Friday to get a written offer in before he suggests to the land owner to move to a closing date, and it's Wednesday today - our broker has only just managed to get the one bank willing to lend to start moving on it. It is EXCRUCIATING. Sleepless nights since Monday - when we put in the verbal offer - and no message back from the land owner saying yes or no to the verbal.

So. I'm on edge. Mum and Rob are on edge. We're all so nervous! And it's so frustrating to be so close to the dream plot... And yet totally unable to speed things along. I'm just trying to bury my head in work but man it's tough not to drift off into a daydream about how things would be if we do manage to get the loan.. if we really did have our own 60 acre croft...

If we did manage to get the land the first thing would be for me to apply for another loan to build a new studio there. My income would cover some of the cost of the initial loan, the second loan would be from the PSYBT and has excellent terms, perfect for letting me get set up before I have to start repaying it. So it's important I get the studio up and running and warm!

Things COULD get very interesting over the next few months if... Friday comes around slower or the banks and our broker move faster... Aaaah I'm too nervous.

Also on Tuesday Rob got asked to go in for an interview for an offshore job. Starting salaries offshore are something like £28k so there was plenty of screaming and excitement when he got off the phone. AGAIN it isn't a definite! So these things I want to be SUPER EXCITED about I can't be, until they happen! His interview is tomorrow!

Basically everyone keep your fingers crossed for us!! :heart:


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CMWyvern's avatar
CMWyvern
Wishing you good luck with everything!! You are a great inspiration to me by supporting yourself by making posable art dolls.

I have no idea what "croft" means, but if that is a picture of the land you want to buy... oh man, it is GORGEOUS!!

And I know exactly what you mean about too many ideas... I have had more inspiration than time since the beginning of spring, at least. And I haven't even had all that many obligations this summer. But, too many ideas is so much better than too few!!