chimeracostumes
patreon
An Update
🕑 Added 2024-01-30 21:33:47 +0000 UTCI'm so lucky to have you all as subscribers! It's been more than a year now that I've been doing this gig, and I realized that newer members may not be aware of how we got here so I thought I'd do a little year-end update. You know, like a 90s Christmas letter. But with better photos.
I owned and ran a bookshop from 2006 - 2022, when my shop was hit by Hurricane Ian (we were directly in the path of the storm) and two MORE storms in the following weeks. There was a lot of Drama-With-A-Capital-D with the landlord. I can't give you much of an update on that because we're in litigation now, but I can say without violating any rules: in my subjective opinion, he is a bad person. Possibly the worst person I have ever known. May he get what he deserves.
The store was insured, of course, but it's been an uphill battle getting the insurance company to pay out. Yesterday I finished a massive report that should * hopefully * be the last thing needed to get them to pony up. Since there was little income and quite a few expenses since Sept 2022, I have some large bills to pay and I can't do that until the insurance comes through.
With all the damage in the area we couldn't find a new place for the shop yet so we built a satellite location in Saugatuck, MI. That means that last summer, I completed my FIFTH bookshop build. It was expensive and exhausting but worth it.
In the meantime, you guys saved my bacon. Literally. My only income this year has been patreon/costume related stuff and ya'll have been supportive, patient, and generally kind as fuck. You are the BEST. In the midst of such chaos, to be able to actually make a job out of doing what I love best (costumes and sewing and photography) has been incredible.
I am so excited for 2024 : with the project I finished yesterday out of the way, I'll be able to devote more hours to costumes, sewing, and livestreams. I have exciting things coming of age this year (including those wings that some of you heard whispers of) and I'm happy that I get to do what I love every single day instead of fitting in an hour here and there between my day job.
Genuinely: thank you. I appreciate you.
Comments
TND
Thanks for the update, I had just visited the book store the week before Ian and while I'm sad for all you've had to endure since, I'm still happy I got to see it (and the magnificent book arch). Happy to support a fellow Floridian and book lover. Came for the books, stayed for the pockets, appreciative of the spice!
HEIDI LANGE
😆
Kevin L
I will have to tell my friends who send interminable Christmas letters that they are stuck in the 90s. :) So glad things are looking up!
HEIDI LANGE
There should be more book content coming now that I'm mostly done with insurance docs. The docs were taking up 30 hours a week or more 🙄 in fact I just published a new blog on SandmanBooks.com
DarthSilentBob
I miss the booktok and bookstore stuff but I’m so happy to help keep ya going until you can get back to it (if that’s still a goal for you.)
Robert Thomson
You are very welcome. I am thankful that I ran into an amazing complex human being that seems to live on Simple principles: work hard, be creative, love art, someone real and fantasy as one and be the best always at what one sets out to do. I know, impossible impeccabilities but very real and achieved by you. Thanks HCL. Pockets rule.
Kevin Turner
I didn’t know this whole backstory, makes me feel even better to support- I hope this year goes much better. I’m starting a business myself this year after going through some health issues that have affected my ability to work like I did before.
Thunderclees
Glad we have been able to be there for you in your time of need. Im sure we are all grateful for what you share. I know I am ❤️
Omar Flores
Thanks for the update! Hope this year keeps getting better for you! Definitely been enjoying the page more and more each month!
