Once again, Wednesday finds me knee deep in paste, paper, and new journals and albums. I just spent a chunk of the evening gluing up covers for new 7×10 albums and a few small journals, and putting the finishing touches on a set of custom albums going out in tomorrow’s mail. This morning I put in an order for several new polymer plates from which I’ll print several new series of cards, too (I can’t wait to see how they turn out!).

Unfortunately for my sanity, patience is not my strong suit these days (when has it ever been?!?). While I’ve been productive as far as the sheer creation of a good sized stock of journals, albums, and cards is concerned, it seems that the more I do the more I want to do. There are pages and pages of ideas I’ve made notes of and sketched out during each morning and evening commute on the Q train and every time I finish one book I seem to have come up with about 5 more to do. This is certainly one of the best kinds of problems to have, and a sure sign that I’m doing work I love, but sometimes I wonder whether I’ll ever be able to get to it all, or whether I’m just setting my expectations high enough to make disappointment inevitable.

As I get frustrated with what feels like a snail’s pace, I often have to remind myself of the accomplishments I’ve made along the way. The major achievement is definitely that, while developing my binding skills, I’ve also managed to introduce printing processes into the equation over the last few months, and that I am proud of the pieces I’m turning out these days.

My anxiousness is all just growing pains, right? It’s not even the growing pains of a small business, though (those I understand!), but more just the way life works, as far as I can tell. I’m enjoying the level of precision I’ve come to find in much of my binding and thankful that I look at every single book and realize that there is still so much I can learn; so many techniques that I haven’t even touched that can help me so much as I create more and more.

So, the middle of the week is just that: the middle of a larger process. It’s important, as I try to curb my own impatience, to remember to see the big picture and get a sense of everything I’m doing and seeing on a daily basis for what it really is. There is so much out there, so much to learn and see and hear and do and I’m only just beginning to scratch the surface. I’m lucky to have found something that I love to do so much and here’s hoping I get the chance to keep pursuing it and have the chance to make it an even larger part of my life.