Professiwhat?

Happy Hallowe'en and Trick or Treat and all that fun stuff. I've eaten my weight in junk food and seen many a costume. Some good, some bad.

So after four (that I can recall) non-payments/"It's going to be a bit later than I thought" 'payments', I've decided that I need to implement some sort of pay-me-before-I-make-things-for-you rule. Over the past year, a number of people have bought dolls from me and that's great. Most of them have either bought them outright from shows or ordered them and then paid for them once I've made them all.

But then there are a few who may not see what I do as a profession. Or may not think of it as something that can be a profession. I get paid for making things and I love that. I can call it my job (even though it's still more of a hobby that makes money than it is a job at the moment).

In fact, my wifey put a quote up on my wall at my drawing desk that says "Find something you love to do and you'll never have to work a day in your life". That's true. I love what I do and to get paid for it is something that seems too good to be true. I make dolls and I draw. For money. (Although not at the moment - I'm not allowed to legally work in the States. But I am allowed to live here legally. Nice one, America. Put us up the creek much?)

I digress.

If you have someone build an extension to your house, but end up not using it, you still pay them. If you leave your car at the garage for people to fix but tell them you can't pay yet, they won't fix it. If you ask me to make something for you, why are either of these things different? You pay me to make it - you don't pay me for you to have it.

If I ordered a coffee (hypothetically - coffee is horrible) and then upon being presented with the beverage, told whoever made it that I no longer wanted it, that wouldn't go down too well.

Not because the barista didn't get paid for his time, but because there's a product that will now go to waste, while the time a resources used to make it could have been spent more productively on someone else. Someone with the intention of drinking it.

This isn't a rant at anyone in particular; it's a rant at everyone who does this. You are the individual straws that have crushed this camel.

On a lighter note, thanks to all who have supported what I do. I truly thank you. You make my day brighter, my food tastier and my poop more satisfying.

I'm going to go fishing with my wifey.

Peace.