New New New

Oh, today is full of new things.

I've been dabbling with a new design for a messenger-type bag for a little while now, sketching out the way it'll look in my doodle book. After a week of re-working it, I'm hoping today will be the day I can finally begin. That's my doodle book, resting on my decoupaged bookshelf in the bathroom.
Also, we have a new computer! Well, new to us. Hospice threw it out on Wednesday and Allen salvaged it, added some hardware, and made it work. So now we can both surf the internet, within mere inches of each other, at the same time! I think that's ridiculously cool.
And I have a new pair of sandals! My second pair of Marina sandals are up on Etsy!
The Marina sandals are all one of a kind, since the uppers are made from fish skin. They're super comfortable, too. I'm going to have to make myself a pair. (These ones are in my size but they're for sale *sigh*)

The Value of Goodies

I need to get on Amazon and just buy the book Primal Branding. (I had it checked out from the library some months ago but I shouldn't be allowed to have a library card because I don't return things, especially not in a timely manner.) I did enjoy the book and it was extremely informative and full of helpful tips and how-to's on building a following for your product/company/religion. But since they probably have a wanted poster of me up at the library I'll just have to wait for it in the mail.

The real purpose of this post is to help me judge the value of my work. It seems to me that people think I'm under-pricing. Really, I don't think I am. We base our prices on, of course, materials used, time spent, and over all quality. Yet, it seems a lot of people don't think it's quality unless I'm charging some ridiculous price.

I don't want to gouge. Maybe it sounds silly, but I grew up poor. I enjoy making things that I can keep affordable enough for everyone. Sure I could charge $300 for a pair of sandals or a tote bag. But why? Plus I feel like that I'd be alienating a huge group of people if I raised my prices. (After all, there ARE more poor and middle class than rich). But then again, I watch loads of people save and scrimp so they can buy that brand name piece of garbage bag for $600, so maybe I'm wrong.
I guess my main issue is I want people to KNOW that our work is quality, without me having to take an arm or a leg as payment. I just don't want to charge an amount I feel is obscene.
But I want to sell more. Season is ending here in Florida and things that sell really well in our B&M (buddy bags, sandals) don't translate very well online.
So here's a question: Would you pay $56 for this Buddy Bag? (You can click on the image to take you to the detailed listing with more photos)
Do you think that's too low? Too high? If you think my price should be higher, would you still be as quick about making a buying decision? I welcome any suggestions and comments at this point.

The Day After

Oh, freaking hell, it feels like someone punched me in the face. I'll never understand why every dentist I've come in contact with seems to think extractions have the worst follow-up pain. No, no, it's root canals and everything involving them. The gums are burning and itching from where I'm pretty sure they used a screwdriver to fit my temporary crowns and it's incredibly hard to focus on anything else. And nothing for the pain. I had to ask my sister for one of the pills they gave her for her extraction (which, by the way, isn't hurting her anymore). And why do I, a person with a great fear of dentistry, get the pleasure of the new doctor, the new nurse? The last thing I want is someone working on my teeth who's unsure of themselves. Actually, I take that back. The last thing I would want would be an unsure gynecologist (which totally happened to me at the free clinic once. It was terrifying).

But enough ranting and raving about things that are over and done with.
St. Patrick's Day was yesterday and I had barely a chance to think about it. After the tooth abuse I had to spend the evening at my night job, where we were very slow for most of the evening until the drunk stragglers wandered over from wherever they were getting sloshed at beforehand. I finally got out around 10:50 or so, leaving me enough time to race to the gas station to buy some beer and then making it home with an hour left to celebrate. Celebrate is probably a pretty strong word, considering it was just Allen and I each drinking a beer while watching Futurama episodes.

Tonight promises to be far more amazing. Not only do I have hours to spend with my leather but it's Tuesday which mean it's Movie Night! I have no idea what we'll be watching but I guarantee it'll be great. Hooray for Tuesdays!! (Can I get a hoo-hah?)

Fun With The Dentist

In about an hour I go to the dentist to get fitted for my crowns. I'm frightened. It seems irrational, (and it probably is) but I'm just scared to death of everything related to dentistry. *Shudder*

SO, in order to keep my mind off of of my fears, I'm trying to list some of my new and amazing basket weave cuffs.I'm really impressed with the way these have turned out. The simple basket weave embossment seems to be the perfect backdrop for the colorful exotic fish skins. I have a few in brown up in my shop right now, but yesterday I picked up the black and made three new ones. Hopefully everyone else likes them as much as I do. And hopefully I can forget about the dentist for a little bit.

Things to Do

Every Saturday that I work at my 2nd job it's always a beautiful day. The kind of day that makes you want to run screaming from work and go to the beach or to the park or anywhere but inside a building. And I'll convince myself that it's alright, and the day will be just as beautiful tomorrow. But, no, it's a little too cloudy, a little too windy...

Maybe that's for the best, as I DO have leather work to finish. And start. Many things to be accomplished today. I'll still be thinking about the beach, though.

More Jimmys and Marinas

So I've almost finished my new Jimmys. I still wanted to add a 1/4" heel and then the edges need to be finished, but all in all, they're looking good! I told you they were a little girly - Allen doesn't like the floral stripe. But I need to use the florals for something.

The only thing I don't like about this style is that it uses SO much leather due to the span of the pattern. Ah, well, they turn out nicely, though, don't they?I've also started a new pair of Marina sandals. They're made from fish skin I dyed silver and I'm pairing them with a dark blue leather. My pictures didn't turn out so great, but I really like the color combination. I have another pair I'm working on also, that's a white fish skin I dyed over yellow and gold. I'm still deciding on a mid sole color for that pair.

New sandals

Well, I'm off to work in a bit to delve into a new pair of sandals. I have a pattern that's proved to be extremely comfortable and stylish, but immediately after designing one pair I veered away from being a cobbler and dove headfirst into my buddy bags.

Even though I'm not a "slide" person (I like my flip-flops) this style really appeals to me. I call them Jimmy Slides.

It took me forever to choose the perfect materials. I didn't want something too stiff or too thick or too thin.... When I finally picked out the leathers I wanted they even ended up too girly for me! And for someone like me, who usually centers the things I make around what appeals to me (unless it's a custom order), it's an odd choice. But they're going to turn out so well! The new pair will be a deep purple with a floral stripe. They'll me similar to the pair pictured above, except where the red gator strip is, it will be extended across the entire sandal.
I still haven't decided if they need a heel or not. Maybe I should do a poll.
Alright, the cobbler in me is calling. Have a great day everyone!

scarves and things

If I were to pick up a new thing to collect it may be scarves.

Which is odd, because I don't wear scarves. Or use them in any way.

Even though it's seemingly unnatural, there's this attraction that stirs inside me whenever I pick up some brightly colored silk creation.

Usually I only come in contact with them because I sell them on eBay. Tossed aside by thrift shops, I rescue these delightful vintage goodies and clean them up. Most of the time they're still in minty condition and vibrant. But it's getting harder and harder to part with the things.

My favorites have got to be the Veras. I come across these quite a bit and they're extremely popular amongst fans of the brand. The colors and designs of Vera Neumann are bold and interesting, no matter the colors or pattern. Each one stands out on it's own as a unique piece of art. They all have the distinct Vera logo and the older ones have her distinctive ladybug beside it. Sometime in the 1980's the company that sold her designs dropped the logo.Ah, well, enough of drooling over these beautiful treasures. It's time to list them!

More Squids You Need To Know

Everyday when I log into Etsy I have to check Bicycleocean's shop to see what new amazing thing she's come up with. The past few days have been a laugh riot with her new circus freak edition squids!Meet Moe the Dirty Carnie. He likes beer and ladies. And his gold chains add just the right amount of class. Next up is Moesha the Tranny Midget. In my imaginiation she's just a little bit more of a lady than Luella. She doesn't like cheap cigars and prefers fine-dining and three star resorts.Last but not least, we have the amazing Kuthulu, the Cannibal Headhunter! I find this especially funny because I just watched (for the 100th time) the Beetlejuice movie and one of my favorite scenes is the very end where Micheal Keaton switches numbers with the headhunter and gets his head shrunk.

Back To Work

I got a little bit accomplished. Finally. It actually feels good to be back at work again. (Weird, huh?)

But I guess that's one of the reasons I like what I do so much. I'm always excited about that new great thing I want to create. My newest listing is this awesome basketweave cuff with some smokey white fish skin poking through. The combination of the two textures really has me smitten! I think I'll be doing a few more in this style.And the kitties have been extra-needy since we've all been too sick for too long. I've been giving Buddy newspaper to keep him busy, but last night Newt discovered the wonder of torn paper.