May 30, 2008

The Joy of Etsy

You know that excited feeling you get when a package comes in the mail? Even if you know what it is, you're shaking with anticipation as you rip through the envelope for the treasure that lies inside. It felt the same way as a kid getting my sea monkeys, as it does now. The reason I bring this up is that I've made some recent Etsy trades and purchases and thought I would show a few of them off here:These first two are from AardvArt! The bottle opener is so cool ~ a combination of cool and clever! The second is a pretty little mustard-colored pendant. It's a very rich color in person! I'm in love!
The third one I'm showing off this is beautiful necklace by BlestBeads! This necklace is so amazing I have worn it every day since it came in the mail!I can't wait to get some more wonderful things online!

May 29, 2008

Terrific Days Ahead

Yesterday I didn't have much that I *needed* to work on - just one pair of snake skin sandals and a custom order from Etsy. I was playing around with my camera a took a shot of my mess of a workspace.
Allen finished a business card holder that fits on bicycle handlebars for a friend at the Chopper Night Rides. Pretty sweet, huh? The pictures are actually kind of dull, since I had to take them indoors. For some reason I have yet to master the art of fabulous indoor photography.

May 28, 2008

Double Dose of Treasuries

I'm never in Etsy treasuries. Well, actually I wouldn't know because I rarely go in there anymore. It's become very difficult to snag one so I'll look around once a week or so, but never fanatically. Yesterday, however, a lovely seller, HotDish, let me know that she had included Allen's Beer Holster in her Prohibition Treasury.So I decided to take a look around and realized Allen's custom beer holsters were in another treasury! This one by EllaBearBowtique.

Beer Holsters for all!!!

May 27, 2008

Egg on your Arm

I have a new laminated cuff! Since my lamination machine has been broken, I haven't delved into the paper-leather combinations in a while. But I found a lovely recipe for omelets that had been sitting around and made this awesome wrist candy!
And since we're on the subject of eggs - Bicycleocean has these fab egg patches she makes!Where's YOUR eggs?

May 26, 2008

Happy Birthday Dad!

As we get older, certain mannerisms and characteristics begin to emerge in each of us; planted there, long ago, by our parents. I'll catch myself laughing like my mother. Throwing a fit like my father. Certain sayings that used to annoy me as a child fall out of my mouth in conversation. I'm curious as to how many of these traits were shared by my grandparents and great-grandparents and so on.
Which one of my relatives first coined the phrase, "Have a good one"?
Which ancestor of mine first decide he needed undivided attention all the time?
But I'm glad to have these quirks. Some of them are good. I can't imagine being me without them anymore.
Happy birthday, dad!

May 25, 2008

Fish Bags

Today, before I go to see the Roller Derby game, I'm reminiscing about my fish bags. I had them listed on Etsy and they didn't sell but I thought they were adorable. Then one week they both sold out of our B&M store, within a day of each other. Weird, huh? So, here they are:So what do you think? Do you love them? Not love them? Wish they were in a different color?

May 24, 2008

Working Weekend

I'm trying to get my house and laundry cleaned so I can spend tomorrow out of town. Slowly but surely I'm accomplishing it. I've also managed to make use of my amazing new Etrelle's tags!
It takes a little extra time and effort to sew them in, but I think it's worth it!
And the radio station is playing a 'flashback' weekend so I've been jamming to all the songs that I used to love when I was 12-17. No diggity. Word to your mother. Do the Humpty-hump. Well, I must make it short and sweet so I can go get my clean on!

May 22, 2008

SALE how cool is that?

I've been choosing one item each day to dramatically reduce in price.
I call it my No Reason What-So-Ever SALE.Today's SALE item is this black geometric pattern cuff. It used to be $20 - now it's $12!

Other than my sale, I don't have too much going on for the day. Our water went out again last night - it's the second time in a week. Which I can only assume means whoever came out to fix it last time didn't really fix it. Hopefully I'll be able to get a shower before the night job, but if not, I suppose for once our pool will see some action this spring after all!

May 21, 2008

good clean knowledge

Word O' the Day

umbrage

\UHM-brij\, noun:
1. Shade; shadow; hence, something that affords a shade, as a screen of trees or foliage.
2. a. A vague or indistinct indication or suggestion; a hint.
3. b. Reason for doubt; suspicion.
4. Suspicion of injury or wrong; offense; resentment.


May 20, 2008

The Newest and Best

Introducing....


My NEW Monty Tote!!

He's just like the rest - except more classy!!!
You could take him out to dinner.
You could take him to the movies (imagine all the candy you could stuff in there).
You could take him to the beach, even!

Monty loves to party.

May 19, 2008

More time for Work

Today I started a new Monty Tote bag! It's black, burgundy, and a brownish alligator print leather. Hopefully I'll finish tomorrow and it's going to look awesome! Here's a picture of one I sold a while back:AND I listed a new card case AND a superfab cuff Allen made some time ago featuring lizard stars.See my cute new Etrelle's tags? I got them from MommieMadeIt on Etsy! And soon I'll have to be at the night job.
Too bad after a big meal of Chick-Fil-A and sweet tea my belly is swollen and I'm tired.

May 18, 2008

Time for listing

I have some new things! (Finally!)This cute little cuff is one of my spliced beauties. They're very simple; no pesky sewing or gluing involved. Yet very stylish!

AND I sold this awesome Buddy Bag! I really need to make more, but I haven't had a chance just yet. I really wish I had a good way to illustrate their awesomeness online. I'd like to make some more larger Buddy Bags as well. Right now I only have two listed in my shop.
I took the third large Buddy: He's all mine! MINE MINE MINE!! BWAH-HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Oh,.... sorry. I don't know where that came from. But seriously, everyone at the night job has been pawing over him like a newborn, so I may have to make another....

May 16, 2008

Thoughts

I was reading through one of my Calvin and Hobbes collections yesterday and came across this strip:
(You may have to click on it to read it)
It got me thinking how often this scenario comes into play in my daily routine. With my family and certain friends, the phrase "did you watch ____ last night?" will never come up, mostly because these people don't watch much, if any, television.
However, at my night job, this becomes a constant means of smalltalk.
"Remember that episode where____?"

I'm not sure if it's really harmful or not, since (at night job) it seems to help a very diverse group of people find some common ground. Or does it stifle deep, meaningful conversation because we are too busy gossiping about fictional scenarios? And do I really want to have deep meaningful conversation with some of my co-workers?

May 15, 2008

Maury is boring

Since I don't have to rush screaming into work this morning, I thought I'd enjoy sleeping in, watching a little tv, and catching up on my housework. I might even try to list some things on the eBay again. Right now Maury is stuck in one of those "Wait till my crush sees my sexy new look" shows - and all the dicks these girls are trying to impress are still dicks. I think I'll have to change the channel......

Want to see my new card case?The picture turned out a little screwy, but it's a beautiful deep purple fish skin lined in black leather. I still haven't decided if I want to keep it, or sell it. Oh, I don't know....

May 14, 2008

Finally!!

I am DONE with my wholesale order. 17 awesome little watermelon sandals have left my store! Now I can work on a new card case for me! (Or I suppose I could work on those other 4 pairs of sandals that are still on the bench.)
Things to do, things to do....
1. black lizard print sandals
2. pink sandals
3. brown gator print leather-sole w/heel
4. Beige and snake
5. Post Office
6.vacuum mi casa
7. scrub floors

'Eh, I'm getting tired just writing out the list.

In other cool news, I signed up for a page of the 2009 Diary project by Fantazya!
Each page is assigned to a different artist. There's still some spots open if you want to take part! Now where's my sketchbook?....

May 12, 2008

Next Day

So, the Day of Mothers was yesterday. I had requested to work at the second job because I heard we would be busy, but unfortunately, we weren't as busy as management had hoped and were over-staffed. I ended up coming home slightly early and taking a nap before going out with mom. And guess what mom wanted to do? Bowling!

Allen and I used to go bowling every week, but years have passed since then so we were not on our top game. And the bowling alley had these strange-looking triangle-shaped keyboards to program your lane; very much unlike anything we had ever used before.
I can tell I'm going to be a crotchety old lady someday who constantly reminisces about the way things were.

May 10, 2008

Terrific


As soon as I logged on I saw BicycleOcean on the front page of Etsy!

May 9, 2008

So much for such a little weekend

I have finally finished the first of my watermelon sandals! This has been harder than I thought it would be, mostly because I'm working by myself on this project. At first I thought Allen would be able to help but he's been caught up in his own work and then I had to order leather and then there was the week I was stuck on the counter.... It would be a lot easier if I could just quit the night job, but it keeps me in spending cash so I'll stick around for now.
Today and tomorrow will be spent knee-deep in leather to sew and put together! Hooray!
And in other good news, today I sold this pouch:
I was a little surprised it didn't sell more quickly, actually, but I guess sometimes the photos can't capture the true beauty of the product. Especially when half the beauty is in the texture :)

May 7, 2008

Mansions in Mansion-Land

Monday afternoon my sister and the family went to Mar-A-Lago for their 'friends and family' open house thing. They took a TON of pictures so I thought I'd show some off here, just in case any of you were desperately wanting to sneak a peak.
My sister and Joey work at the beach club.

May 6, 2008

I smell Good

It's true. I do.
Yesterday I got 4 fantastic soaps from SpartaSoap! They are delicious! I couldn't wait to try them so I opened up the Lava Lemongrass one first! It's amazing! And my skin feels silky smooth and soft. I am SO glad I found this shop! My whole bathroom smells like soaps sweet goodness now.In other, work-related news: I have a lot to do.
Yesterday I spent most of the day cleaning in between errands and working. And today I'm definitely getting some Chick-Fil-A on my way back from Mar-A-Lago. That sweet tea will get me through the day!

May 5, 2008

Back to Key Largo

So we went down to Key Largo this weekend for the MS-150 race. Tom and Chris and Chris were riding along with the rest of Team Shift for Brains. Allen and I arrived late. We didn't take the turnpike because we were strapped for cash and taking I-95 south turned out to be dangerous and time consuming. By the time we hit the overseas highway they were already stopping traffic for the riders so it was a slow crawl the last 30 miles. When we finally arrived all but two of the riders on the team had made it in so we got some grub and drank some drinks and chatted and set up camp.
Once everyone was gathered and showered we headed out to the nearest restaurant for some fine dining. Ever see a pig fly?

After dinner we headed back down to the beach party where the beer truck was ready and waiting. Much consuming was had by all until we all pooped out and headed for bed.
In the morning, after the riders had headed back to Miami, Allen and I walked up to the beach again and were greeted by little sandpipers having a morning snack.After that we were back on the road. This time we took the turnpike.

May 2, 2008

Oodles of Fun Things

Want to see my big Buddy Bag? I made this some time ago and listed it, but my pictures were never that great so when the listing expired I never re-listed. But yesterday I managed to find the time to snap a few quick photos:AND I got my new labels yesterday!! I ordered them from MommieMadeIt on Etsy! I love them! And they're going to be perfect to sew into the mid sole for sandals, adding to my bags, even sewing into my cuff bracelets! She designed them and everything! Check out her store!

May 1, 2008

Fun with Jobs

Oh NO!!!!! I've had to sit on that damn counter for the past two days. And today. And tomorrow. I really don't know how I'll be able to stand it at the night job. Now, really it's not the most taxing thing in the world, I just have better things to do. I will say it's frustrating, no matter what job, when the customer (or guests, as we call them at the night job) won't believe simple facts you tell them. (Do you like my painting? I made it two years ago. It's called Bad Work Day)
example:

customer: "can you fix this?" (pulls on torn plastic/vinyl bag)
me: "sorry, not really. We'd have to build you a new purse. That material is rotting."
customer: "you can't do anything? Not even glue something over it?"
me: "It's won't stick. That material is rotting."
customer: "but I don't understand. So there's nothing you can do? I mean, this is a Chanel. It's not a real Chanel, but I'd like to keep the bag. You can't fix the leather?"
me: "It's not leather. It's vinyl. It's rotting. I'm sorry."
customer: "Can I speak to Terry?"
me: SIGH

Oh boy, do I look forward to today. If I'm lucky I'll get my green leather in (finally) and maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to finish my wholesale order. I was really wanting to be 100% done with it by this weekend. Darn it. Now I'll have to furiously speed through my IN box on Monday.
Want to see a new cuff bracelet?Somebody needs more coffee..... and that somebody is me.