Public Apology and Completion Notice to Moonridge 2005 Suncatcher Winners
To the three winners of my suncatchers in the 2005 Moonridge Auction:
I'm sending this to every email address that I have a record of for the three of you in hopes that I can actually get through to you at this late date. I am also posting a public apology and notice of completion on my LJ, so hopefully if anyone doesn't get the email, they will see it here.
It is with great embarrassment (but also a certain degree of satisfaction and relief) that I can now announce that everyone's suncatchers are (once again) complete.
Behind that "once again" lies a long story involving a roll of copper foil that did not properly adhere and a lot of soldering that therefore, after I hung the suncatchers up for the first time, pulled away from the glass and had to all be stripped off, the glass cleaned of all adhesive residue and in some cases reground, and everything refoiled and resoldered. Had I assembled the suncatchers in sequence, finishing one completely before beginning the next, rather than completing the entire group in stages, the scale of the disaster wouldn't have been nearly as daunting. While I never did give up on finishing the suncatchers, I have to admit that I was so sick with frustration that it took me a very, very long time to force myself to dismantle, clean, and reassemble the suncatchers. There were a number of other factors (initial problems with backordered supplies, family health issues - my dad's heart problems, my own riding accident last January (in addition to the driving one I'd had a couple of years previous), etc. - and a number of other things) that also delayed matters. None of this excuses the delay - it has been absolutely ridiculous - but I do feel that, without going into too many personal details, you deserve some explanation along with my deepest apologies.
Along with the suncatchers, there was supposed to be a printed zine consisting of the completed Light series. While there *are*
additional, unposted, stories in the Light series, the two or three stories that I'd anticipated to wrap it up turned into more and the series is still not quite finished. I haven't given up on the final couple of stories but I haven't managed to finish *anything* for posting within the last year plus, so I can't even begin to guess when I might manage to finish the series. If you would like a print copy of the series as it stands (including the unposted stories), I would be happy to include one with your suncatchers. If you would prefer to simply have the stories emailed, that can also be arranged.
Finally, as part of my apology for the absurd delay, if you would like either a fused glass pendant or a small stained glass windchime included with your suncatchers, I would be happy to slip one in. I have several of each that are already complete so there would be no delay necessary in order to include one.
Due to the issues I've had with completing your suncatchers (and with completing the stories that I owe other individuals), I no longer offer anything for Moonridge that is not ready to ship/post. It isn't fair to the winners and it causes far too much stress for me.
Since it has been a very long time since I last requested your mailing addresses, please send them to me again. If I have them by Friday, I should be able to get the parcels mailed out on Saturday AM.
Once again, my apologies for this whole mess. Hopefully, I can actually manage to reach all of you to arrange to finally get things resolved.
Calic0cat
I'm sending this to every email address that I have a record of for the three of you in hopes that I can actually get through to you at this late date. I am also posting a public apology and notice of completion on my LJ, so hopefully if anyone doesn't get the email, they will see it here.
It is with great embarrassment (but also a certain degree of satisfaction and relief) that I can now announce that everyone's suncatchers are (once again) complete.
Behind that "once again" lies a long story involving a roll of copper foil that did not properly adhere and a lot of soldering that therefore, after I hung the suncatchers up for the first time, pulled away from the glass and had to all be stripped off, the glass cleaned of all adhesive residue and in some cases reground, and everything refoiled and resoldered. Had I assembled the suncatchers in sequence, finishing one completely before beginning the next, rather than completing the entire group in stages, the scale of the disaster wouldn't have been nearly as daunting. While I never did give up on finishing the suncatchers, I have to admit that I was so sick with frustration that it took me a very, very long time to force myself to dismantle, clean, and reassemble the suncatchers. There were a number of other factors (initial problems with backordered supplies, family health issues - my dad's heart problems, my own riding accident last January (in addition to the driving one I'd had a couple of years previous), etc. - and a number of other things) that also delayed matters. None of this excuses the delay - it has been absolutely ridiculous - but I do feel that, without going into too many personal details, you deserve some explanation along with my deepest apologies.
Along with the suncatchers, there was supposed to be a printed zine consisting of the completed Light series. While there *are*
additional, unposted, stories in the Light series, the two or three stories that I'd anticipated to wrap it up turned into more and the series is still not quite finished. I haven't given up on the final couple of stories but I haven't managed to finish *anything* for posting within the last year plus, so I can't even begin to guess when I might manage to finish the series. If you would like a print copy of the series as it stands (including the unposted stories), I would be happy to include one with your suncatchers. If you would prefer to simply have the stories emailed, that can also be arranged.
Finally, as part of my apology for the absurd delay, if you would like either a fused glass pendant or a small stained glass windchime included with your suncatchers, I would be happy to slip one in. I have several of each that are already complete so there would be no delay necessary in order to include one.
Due to the issues I've had with completing your suncatchers (and with completing the stories that I owe other individuals), I no longer offer anything for Moonridge that is not ready to ship/post. It isn't fair to the winners and it causes far too much stress for me.
Since it has been a very long time since I last requested your mailing addresses, please send them to me again. If I have them by Friday, I should be able to get the parcels mailed out on Saturday AM.
Once again, my apologies for this whole mess. Hopefully, I can actually manage to reach all of you to arrange to finally get things resolved.
Calic0cat