5k... crafty... and crazy. :)

Well, given that I haven't blogged in a while, my newest addition to the craftroom deserves a little post. :D Every trip I take to Dallas, I come back with one thing less... storage for my 12x12 paper stacks. You can't really stack them as is, they look untidy... and you can't stand them up right, they warp. SO... I worked out the dimensions I wanted and how I wanted it to look overall... I had it made. You don't get this size here in Pakistan, the only thing I've seen is for 10x9.. pretty much your a4s.. to stand upright.

So now, Alhamdulillah, I've got my paper organized by make and mashaAllah.. I love it. It was one of those teary moments of joy when I got it ready. Brought it home and painted it black.. the trays are gold :D shinyyy.

Looking at it from across the room is aaaahh. Heaven. Alhamdulillah :D

In other news, everyone's been writing in and in between a heap of orders via email, and queries every ten minutes in my inbox... handmade items to send out, to prepare for a workshop... as well as think of things to present on the 16th at the ASEAN food and bingo fiesta... I thought it would be better to not close orders, but take a break from my daily 4 hour task.. responding to queries. I've been getting all mix ups sorted. Rerprocessing done... and so on. I believe I should fulfill pending requests and then move on to new ones. I have doodles and sketches to upload for 4 of my clients... and something as simple as scanning is taking me forever. I understand it upsets people.. but it kind of peeves me when I mention on the wall twice a day that I will respond back inshaAllah, just not right now. 

I think sometimes people forget that Firefly is actually a person... and not a glitterbug B) I spend almost my entire day working... I don't get weekends or holidays... And this is in no way a complaint. Alhamdulillah! I love what I do.. and it isn't about taking a 'hobby' forward into a profession.

I had approximately 52 registrants for the workshop. WOW right?

Can you guess how many responded back when it came time to pay the fee?

I felt slightly saddened by the lack of seriousness by those who had signed up. I understand committments arise.. but it's actually little things like this that mount and become what we are as a people. *no offense at ALL* This workshop was an initiative for awareness... for education... and for sharing. It is through these workshops that I hope to create a better understanding of the 'scrapbooking and stamping' craft. It is only this way that others from abroad would recognize us... and well...

Everyone here says 'idher tu ye ni milta'... 'yahan tu ye ni hai'.. that's because we ourselves are not committed or dedicated enough to have things like scrapbooking paper or crafting tools locally available... Generally, the psychy of people here is, if I have it, I don't want that person to, if I do it, no one else should... if I know it, I don't want anyone else to learn. WHICH by the way, holds us back from so much we could accomplish :) Does that make sense? 

I'm on my toes... still in touch with the manufacturers.. still hopeful. InshaAllah :) 

I do not imply to ignore anybody's email... really. There's so many of you everyday, that I just felt I need to resolve all old issues before taking on new requests. Sometimes we get batch errors, sometimes during setting orders mix up... it happens.. and it's our responsibility to address it. If there's a mix up from our side, an error in type or text, or anything missing... that's all taken care of by me. 

In recent days, I have not at all appreciated customers writing back with things like...

that's so so .. you could have done this much for my order? :/ I fulfilled all the requirements and description... if there was a particular something you have in mind, please share it. I'll work on the guidelines you provide me with. :) happily!

or things like I was expecting at least an atm size... my friends.. all the info is available, sizes, material, prices.. everything.

I do NOT appreciate being told I'm blackmailing when I have delivered an order and have only stated my procedures and decorum for reprocessing at additional cost or refunding. Every business has its set of rules and beliefs... and at Firefly the values are whatever mum taught me at home:

- be honest.. don't lie

- be kind.. give warmth

- do whatever you do to please Allah Kareem

- spread the right message and love of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam

These are the reasons why you will never see anything promoting hate, negativity or things such as vulgarity, drugs.. alcohol etc. I get requests all the time to process this or process that.. but there are some things you just don't do.

I've had mix ups from my side as well, where 2 keychains became one, or 3 became a tag chain. I understand that's upsetting, but you have noooo reason to fret :) I'll fix it.. no worries at all. 

I am very blessed to have a VERY loyal fan base, and I appreciate everyone that supports what I do. For those who are new and a little curious as to why it's taking me so long to reply... I normally hit back within a day :) 

For those who want to judge and misconstrue anything and everything at Firefly, please go ahead. :)

Thank you for all the feedback, appreciation, criticism, warmth and most of all... duas. 

Smile Sunshine!

Love,

Varah