One good thing.

I love to sell stuff I make. I've been peddling things since I've been crafting things, which is basically for as long as I can remember. One of the things I currently make and sell is perfume...hand-blended, artisan scents (website is here.) I’ve been blending scents for three or four years now, and selling for two or three. Most of my perfumes are sold in person, at shows; that way buyers have a chance to sniff first and fall in love, which they do with some regularity. Those sales don’t worry me; after all, everyone’s got the chance to try before they buy, and if they don’t like it, well, no harm no foul. But I’m just starting to sell online, and it's exciting, but unnerving, to receive orders from strangers who have found me on Google, or through a link somewhere. I'm always worrying that the recipient will hate it, ask for a refund, tell me it’s the worst thing they’ve ever smelled. It’s never happened yet, but I know eventually the day will come.

Last week’s buyer was one such surprise: she was a total stranger who stumbled across my perfumes after reading something I’d posted. She had never sniffed my scents before–-just bought based on my copy and the beauty of my pictures (to use her words.) I sent out her perfume with a sick feeling in my stomach, sure that she’d be disappointed. She emailed me yesterday to tell me she was thrilled with the scent. She took time out from whatever else she was doing to write me an enthusiastic and grateful email about how much she loves it, and added that her husband loves it too. I was speechless with relief and pride.

In other news, I do believe that this is the funniest picture ever posted on the internet: