Dispatch no. 71 - Updates Podcast

We are an ash on the crest of collapse, which is all the more reason why you matter to me! Announce that you’re taking a two week break and unplug, put down the spinning plates (Don’t spin the new cream and green ones please), and give yourself time to absorb everything you’ve accomplished since achieving your dream of homeownership 18 months ago. You already give me a lot, and your existence as an artist is worth my $$$.

I guess the tile could have been worse. It could have been a whole house of burnt orange shag carpet! Yes, we WOULD watch a vid of you painting a fireplace. I still think you ought to have a go fund me campaign. I bet you'd faint seeing the amt. of money you'd make. Just a one time thing to help you. My nephew did a go fund me so he could have hernia surgery.

Perhaps this is a very niche question-- but since you mentioned not wanting to deal with the pilot light if you painted your heater, I am now wondering what type of primer you're using to prime your walls and cabinetry. Usually, when I've watched people working on old houses, they always seem to be using flammable/volatile primers on their walls and cabinets that I would assume require turning off pilot lights. If there's an alternative that blocks stains and provides adhesion without worrying about pilot lights, I'm very interested in what that would be. There are some painting projects I've avoided because I was worried about having to deal with pilot lights in my old house.

Renovating a house, creating fashion, crafting... don't get me started. Sometimes it's overwhelming and it happened to me numerous times. Inspiration is abundant, comes at you like a waterfall. No way to stop it, you have to run the waves weather you like it or not (but you do). I always say creativity is an incurable disease that'll stay with you for life. And yes, it can wear you out sometimes, both mentally and physically. I've learned I have to excuse myself from... myself. Get out and do something completely different, break the mold as it were. Works for me but that's me and you're you. In other words Change It Up! Maybe it helps. On another note (not), lately Lady Gaga is wearing some beautiful Victorianesque outfits, might that inspire you or are you done with that era? Anyway, take good care of yourself Lady B.

A cat video when you are sick would be acceptable if you are ever worried about not having a video again.

I also agree with the idea of increasing your membership prices by $1 as many of us would be in support of that or at least putting out a vote on how many of us would be in support of that to decrease your guilt about increasing prices. I bet you would be surprised about the overwhelming support you would receive! I also like the suggestions of doing a live stream q&a on YouTube as that would be very helpful for many of us and if not on YouTube at least here on patreon so that we can solve some of our drafting problems. I, for one, know that I have so many designs saved on pinterest that I would love to tackle, but some of them do present some issues. There's just too much to otherwise bombard your inbox with!

You can actually get steel and metal like your stove professionally powder coated through a type of electrolysis method I believe so that it's not a basic type of paint job that won't ever chip or peel like traditional paint after using heat elements. The powder coating process is the same thing they use initially when manufacturing those stoves and can be done again when refurbishing them in the future so that you don't have to completely replace your unit with a smaller black stove. It would likely save you a TON of money by finding a person locally that could do this for you. There's videos of this process being done on tools and collectible items all over YouTube in case you're interested in looking up what I'm talking about.

"I used to be able to do X videos a month" - Back then you lived in a house you weren't responsible for, with your support system right there. Now you're across the country, in your own home, with no one else around. You have more responsibility and less support, plus you're already burnt out. Of course you can't make as many videos! I would never expect you to! "I've been burned out the whole time" - Take it from someone who has been there, the only way out is rest. I know you may feel like you will lose everything if you stop for even a moment, but your health and productivity will continue to decline until your body forces you to stop. I would strongly support you taking a sabbatical for several months to get some rest and do some writing. I'll still be here! You're my number one priority patreon creator because I know you have no help and no sponsorships. "It's not the house's fault" - I would 100% support a GoFundMe for you to take care of your home and set up a safety net! Once you have it, saving more is so much easier! I also donate to charity; it's not a zero-sum game, I won't stop my donations to help you 💜. One of the best pieces of advice I came across while we were buying a home was to expect to spend 10% of the purchase price every year on maintenance. Things like this don't stop happening, it's just something different every time. As a homeowner for the last 10 years, I feel like that's accurate. If you don't identify problems early when they're small, there will be many disasters in quick succession, and without an emergency fund you won't get your head above water. All in all, I just want you to feel like you are safe and happy; you deserve a healthy balance and a stable home!

Is that an american thing to strive for "some existence" instead of chasing a happy life with enough time for recreation? Maybe I'm wrong but to me it sounds almost as if you are proud of beeing overworked since 2021. Why?? I absolutely love your content and you're the only creator I pay on the internet, but honestly, I'd nevertheless rather see you beeing happy in a 9-5-Job with enough money to have real free, unoccupied weekends. There's no medal for "who burnt out the hardest". But than again, maybe my european soul just cannot understand that proudness in hussleculture. Long term stress kills. Anyway, I just rest with a lot of question marks in my brain and hope that you see my good intentions through the words. Btw: I struggle with making a bloc for blouses out of the sloper. Suddenly nothing seems to fit. But drafting dangerous #1 and #4 keep me trying again and again. Thanks a ton for these! <3

As I clean my machine, sewing machine, I am thinking about your issue with differently wound spools of thread giving your machine problems. Do you have the felt circle on the base of your spool spindle? I have had problems with older machines that have lost their felt circle. I think it has to do with the friction of the felt slowing the thread down.

Have you tried taking the train? You live in the Northeast Corridor now and you haven't mentioned taking the train once. You should try it! You could get reading or even writing done while traveling. Trains are so nice, I wish Tennessee had literally any passenger rail 😭

Perhaps you could cover up the stove with a table cloth for now, so it isn't visible and bugging you

Fireplace crazy idea: a la Moroccan brass stamped lamps, what about a rather oversized and sculptural "shell" made of brass, or some other metal, stamped, that you could encase the offensive red stove into? Almost like those giant urns you might see holding a palm tree in a fancy conservatory? When it's on, the vents/stamped design would allow the fan to work properly, it would send out a lot of radiant heat and gorgeous gentle light, and when it's off, it's still pretty? And it would be easy to make it removable if maintenance is needed. Oh and it would be a crazy DIY challenge that would be fun!

I love the rant about the fireplace. I live in a house from 1909 and there are things that have been done to this house that drive me absolutely crazy. "Just ignore it and don't worry about it." Absolutely not possible. Also, the electricity thing is so real. I have swapped out lighting in here and it's so sketchy. Like I don't even know what's happening there.

You might enjoy a concert at Tanglewood, in Lenox, MA.

Bank of Mum and Dad is the best and loveliest type of system. I have done this for my adult son and daughter when they have had an unexpected large bill. Parents always feel great when they can provide useful help, I know that I do anyway! I am glad that you are sounding better, and seem more upbeat. Burn out is a thing for quite a while.

Hooray for your Mom and Dad!!!!

Bianca! We WOULD watch you paint a fireplace. I don't blame you tho about not wanting to mess with it. Scary.

Have you thought about pushing the category prices here by a dollar or a bonus for those of us that want to help? You haven’t adjusted prices in years and inflation has severely happened. If everyone paid $1 more that would help a lot. Or maybe have a live stream “chat” à la Christine McConnell but on YouTube so you could get super chat $ and we could have a q and a on sewing tips, decorating, antiques, house Reno etc. I know you are an extreme introvert but it may even help you on an emotional level to “talk” to other humans that love your work and are your cheerleaders.

This winter has been horrendous, i have had sinus issues pretty much whole winter and so have most people I know and I am still congested.As stressful as it is, I am glad your electrician found the issue with the wire now because you definitely could have fire. consider all the issues with the house just hurdles and once you fix them you will be ok for a quite a while.

Re: the fireplace, can you build it a wooden box/case to live in?? If it is a backup, it can live inside an aesthetically appropriate box 99% of the time?

Burn out can ALWAYS get worse. You can, and will, burn out to the point of collapse. At some point something *will* have to give, whether that be biweekly videos, hiring an editor, or some other third thing. That isn't a threat, that's just what will happen when all the wax is burnt away. You will need to do less with more help or you will explode. This isn't sustainable. I hope that you can make time for writing. I hope that you find a sustainable balance soon. Also therapy. Please, Bianca, find a therapist.

Please consider wearing a N95 when you're out in public. I would hate for another germ to find you. Especially since you're schedule relies on you remaining healthy. N95s are your best bet. People make sick ass beaded mask chains to accessorize them. I think you could create some killer ones 💚

I always love to hear from you. You may be an empty husk but you sound pretty positive for an empty husk. Your house is simply beautiful, and if you stopped renovating now, you would have done more than I have ever had the courage to do. You are my hero.

Feel better soon. Love and light, Christina Ferree

I feel like I’m on a perpetual doom coaster too! Eh, one step at a time! Glad you are taking stained glass classes! It’s so much fun! Also there are great bug and moth stained glass patterns on Etsy if you have not already discovered them (I’ve been working on a trilobite piece for some time now…a lot of tiny pieces to grind!)

I hope you feel better. Check with the town/state to see if there is grant money for home repairs. May 31st - Spring Antiques Festival & Flea Market 695 MacElroy Road, Ballston Lake, NY is another antique show nearby. Warrensburg does a big garage sale/antique sale once a year in June (need to double check my notes). Also, Salem is less than 4 hours away and less people-ee during the Spring and Summer.