11.30.2008

Insonmnia is in the details. . . God probably is too, but definitely insomnia.





Wow -- I hadn't even considered that I might need to upgrade my deodorant. That's just how preoccupied I am with the million little things I need to remember to do. Because here we are once again: that magic time when I emerge from my studio, blinking in the light, and turn my legion insecurity demons loose on the city of Chicago. . .



That's right, it's show time! It's always a pleasure to see people interact with my work (after interacting with it by myself for so long).

Sometimes when I'm holed up in my studio, I wonder whether anyone will care about what I'm making or not. So far, I've been terribly lucky to find enough people who care to keep me from having to get a job as a checker at Target.

And I thank you all, friends! This history does not, however, seem to be able to silence my insecurities. So I'm just going to take a deep breath, wedge everything into the van (including the little table from Aunt Lillie's store which I always keep in my booth for good luck, even though the drawer sticks) and . . . .

We're Off!


The Diver--thanks, Wesley Anderegg!


This year it feels especially scary (it's the economy, stupid . . . who would be crazy enough to try to sell art when even Citibank can't seem to stay in business?) and it's enough to make you wonder if being a checker at Target might not give you a better night's sleep. One of my friends kindly pointed out that surely people need art more, when all the news seems to be bad news. But whether there turns out to be water in the bucket or not at the end of our dive, my #1 salesman and I will have a marvelous time screaming together all the way down.


We'll eat at our favorite Chicago restaurants


where I will blab-blab-blab about the funny funny people and either marvel at our sales or marvel at our lack of sales.

(Do you know someone actually asked me once "how much for the frame without the little stitched-thingy? Yes, they said "stitched-thingy." You have to laugh.)

We'll take our extensive collection of Hinckley Christmas cd's


and sing all the way through Wisconsin. And we'll just enjoy the ride.

Because Chicago in December is always "lovely weather for a sleighride together,"



and we always manage to have f-u-n.

If you're in Chicagoland, come see us in booth 1049 at the Merchandise Mart. If you're not, come back and see me here when I return, December 9.

I'm sure I'll have a good story . . . and hopefully some money for Hannah's tuition . . . but almost certainly, a good story.

9 comments:

Amelia Poll said...

Good luck! One of these days I will make it to one of your shows. It's really a shame that I haven't been to one yet.

Jake and Chelsea said...

it's that time of year!! good luck!

citibank's got nothin on those little stitched thingys.

at least you didn't get an essay back that straight up said "poor" on it. yeah. POOR.

yea chicago!!

Amanda Cheniae said...

Good Luck Susan! You will rock the windy city! I sure wish I could come see your show, or even come see you when you return. :(

susan m hinckley said...

Thanks for all your kind wishes! I wish you could all come, too -- it's always so nice to see a friendly face stop by the booth -- let's all keep our fingers crossed for a dramatic economic turnaround this week. A Christmas Miracle! I believe, do you?

april said...

good luck!!! it's time for me to pull out those hinckley CDs too.

Little Miss Crafty said...

Oh my god your stuff is so wicked !

Cory and Sara Jane said...

I will be thinking of you while I am sitting alone at my own booth this weekend. Good luck!! :o)

susan m hinckley said...

Sara, you've got to get those kids grown up so you can recruit your husband to do shows with you -- it makes all the difference in the world! We really enjoy our show weekends, but doing them alone is no fun at all, so you have my full sympathy. And you have my best wishes for a successful show of your own! I'd love to come to one of your shows sometime. You make really great stuff -- must be in the genes . . . :)

susan m hinckley said...

As for my stuff being "wicked," I'm going to take that as a compliment, so I hope it was meant as one. I happen to know you make pretty great stuff yourself, Little Miss Crafty. Thanks for visiting!

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