Pleasant Surprise

I got out of bed this afternoon - the kids spent the night at their grandparent's, so I slept in. It was lovely - and turned on the computer to find that one of the HipScraps has been included in an Etsy treasury! Here's a link to the treasury: Do have a look, there's some really cool stuff  there. The featured item is the Domino, a black and white HipScrap I painstakingly hand-beaded. I've actually worn it now a couple of times, giving it a test-run, as it were, at dance class, and the temptation to keep it is great. But, it's already in the store,and there it shall remain.

I had hoped, today, to take part in an open-stage art show, but didn't get my ducks in a row in time. But, its a recurring event, so I hope to participate for the next one. Basically, artists are able to go to the show, set up a display, mark items as for sale, or not for sale, and then see what happens. It sounds like a good idea. I wish I knew what kind of turnout it gets, though, because if its good, I had an idea for making a folding display thingummy  that I could slide into the jeep, drive to the show, pull it out and unfold it, and then hang my HipScraps up for all to see. I was also thinking about drilling it with holes so that I could put hanging hardware on and off as needed. I need to talk to the Viking about this. He's my favorite Boy Scout/Handyman and a good friend who has always been there when I've needed him. If I can design a  thing, he can build it for me, because he's excellent like that. Plus, it's an excuse to get him to come over and hang out, which is always a good thing. :)

Here's a link to the show's event page on Facebook.

Medallions, medallions, medallions.

As I've mentioned before, making medallions is something I can do for now because I used to make beaded jewelry all of the time, and have a ton of beads to fiddle with. Anyway, I made a new one last night:

I am a little concerned about it because it's completely floppy, unlike the others which have been completely beaded so that the fabric if stiff  with stitching and the beads. I am thinking about attaching this to a bit of thick felt or fleece to make it have some more substance.

My ex-husband and I have been chatting a bit about making use of his leather-working skills in my shop, so he went and bought some leather medallions to work with. I want to see if dying the leather black and then using cabs and studs and spikes will look good. If I know what gothic fusion style dancers like, they could possibly be a hit! Anyway, leather means we don't have to cover every bit of the medallion surface, and still maintain the shape. We can even dye them red or other colors and then add a bit of variety that way. Anyway, we shall see. I'm also noodling an idea around in my head for some belts pieced together from decorated-with-shiny-things medallions and connected with metal hardware, maybe dangle shiny stuff from them as well.

Anyway, keep your eyes open for new stuff in the shop soon - I have a couple of medallions to add and once the ex and I get moving, maybe more!

wedding related stuff..and a new item in store

In browsing Etsy for wedding inspiration, I found the most awesome thing ever: candy buttons. What better way to acknowledge my crafty sewing awesomeness than with candy buttons? When I say buttons, I really mean buttons - the kind you find on clothing, not those little icing dots you used to get in strips of paper for a penny or a nickel or a dime or whatever.

THESE.

NOT these.

Anyway the shop on Etsy wanted 12 dollars just for a SAMPLE of 15 pieces! And they even say in their description that it takes approximately 200 to fill an 8 oz. bowl. EFF THAT!

So I searched for button candy molds online and found a plastic sheet mold for $2.00.

So I can make my OWN wedding candy, isn't that awesome? These buttons aren't as fancy as the ones on Etsy, but so what? they are recognizably buttons, and that's what I like. Also, I can use the recipe that my mother's mother used to make mint treats for my mom and aunts when they were kids, and that my mom made for me when *I* was a kid. My oldest and I also made them in heart shapes with teeny heart cookie cutters for valentine's gifts  for her class once. If left to cure long enough, they become quite stiff, and they are sugary death for your teeth but oh-so addicting! I was going to get Jordan almonds in my colors for the favors, but now I hope to get several molds and go to town making mints! The recipe is crazily easy, and it will be something my daughter and I can do together.

A hour or two ago, I added a new item to the store: a second medallion!

I'm hoping that the medallions will create more interest for the store, because I desperately need sales, and at this point, all I can make is medallions - at least until those supplies run out as well...

Medallions!

I've decided to open a new section in my store on Etsy - Medallions! I really enjoyed making the first pair, and just today listed a single medallion, all gussied up and ready to be sewn onto something. Here's hoping someone wants to buy it! I've already started another, and with luck I'll start seeing some sales.

Here's the one I listed today:

so the store has been open for about a month, and no sales. I am not panicking, but have to admit that I am a little disappointed. i had hoped for at least one sale through Etsy by now. Etsy is now demanding payment for the listings...have I wasted $2.20?

obviously i can't really advertise on a budget of zero dollars, but I have got to find a way to get more sales!

Ch-ch-ch-changes...

Got tired of all the red, thought it was too violent. Welcome to a mellow, more calm version of HipScraps.

Eh. I would have kept the background pattern, but I couldn't make it black and white. Need to get a decent photo of the fabric I have that is exactly that and use it, instead.

Ugh, I'm so tired. And sunburnt, now I've mown the front lawn. I need something to MAKE! Rather, I need stuf make something with. Well, I need to go to the store.

Dance Time!

I am so relieved to say that I will be going to dance class in the morning! I haven't been able to go for a couple of weeks and I have been backsliding so much with keeping healthy...I need to get moving again.

Why I am still awake to type this now is yet more backsliding. I think I shall heave myself up, put the kids to bed (I was letting them stay up so they will sleep the entire time I'm in class tomorrow, so their father can sleep in. It's probably wishful thinking,) and then put myself to bed. After I'm done here, that is.

And tomorrow night I hope to get dancing again, because my good old friend from Dallas, DJ Joe Virus, will be in town to help celebrate Assimilation's 3rd Anniversary. He will be spinning along with a couple of other DJs, and the whole thing is being hosted by Miss Suzy, who I'm sure will look spectacular as always. I have no idea what I will wear. I told Joe Virus I would try to squeeze into my old Solemn Assembly (his band) tee, but I don't think I can quite pull it off. :(

One more thing - why do all the great opportunities come when I am broke? The site that I plan to buy a large chunk of my supplies from  is having a Memorial Day Sale, lowering prices for everything sitewide by 40% AND dropping the free shipping threshold from $75 to I think $50!

If only I had a thousand bucks or so! I'd buy the single cut limit in yardage of each of the trims I want, a rainbow of both kinds of trim, some fancy ribbons I want to work with, and some awesome Steampunk fripperies to do some HipScraps with that theme. But no, I am broke, and will be for quite some time. UGH!

Off to bed with me.....

Facebook

So Around the same time that I created this blog, I also tried to create a HipScraps Facebook page, but failed miserably at it. I deleted it, then forced myself to forget about it, since you have to wait 14 days before deletion actually happens.

I waited far longer, and my next project - until I can actually start sewing again - will be to create a HipScraps Page so i can upload content and do an RSS feed of this blog onto it as well. I hope it works; I'm not really the most savvy person when it comes to things like this.

Which is really sad considering I am Technical Support Agent that uses computers all day for my 'real' job.

Anyway, I guess this is just a heads-up: keep your eyes out for a 'HipScraps Facebook Page!' notification blog soon. Not tonight though. Or tomorrow. I have stuff to do.

...

Miss E came over today and we went over the design for her Gypsy Wraps once more, and fine tuned a couple of things, including devising a savings plan for the supplies. These are going to be very nice, I think, when all is said and done. One will be dotted with freshwater pearls and sage tassel trim, the other encrusted with tassel trim and a beaded rose ribbon, and both will have beautiful rose-shaped over-sized button closures and satin edging. I really can't wait to see them in action!

I'm also plotting a special surprise for another friend, but that will have to await a supplies run.

I also had this random idea for my wedding reception. If I lose the weight, and am a good enough belly dancer, I might do a short dance for my guy - a lot of wedding receptions nowadays involve a dance by the bridal party or even the whole wedding party...what if I replace the ridiculous garter toss ritual,  where the groom has to locate and claim the garter belt, with a sultry belly dance? I could do a costume up for myself, with a HipScrap that has a little 'something blue' in it. Heh, I dunno though. We shall see. We need to set a budget and a date for the whole shebang, or it will never happen. I have a savings account with a credit union that I have never used; I ought to start feeding it money and make it the wedding fund.

Bed. I need to be in it. G'night.

News and Tornados and Art Clay, Oh My!

So, I have news! I got a phone call and a n email earlier today offering me a job as a direct hire!

<GIANT SIGH OF RELIEF!>

In other news, I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and a line of nasty, tornado-bearing storms is heading my way. Yay! <sarcasmsarcasmsarcasm>

Also, I really want this.

This is Long. Oh the Humanity!

Ok so no, no *actual* news yet. My guy did come home from work saying that when he asked his boss, my sort-of-ex-boss, how things were coming along in the 'Miss HipScraps getting back to work department', he said something like 'tell her to expect some good news soon'. So yay? From what I understand, the account my sort-of-boss is taking over is NOT the one I'd be working if I go back as a direct hire. So if the other guy likes me for the other account, I'll be going in direct hire, meaning a raise in pay, and getting benefits (!). if not, I'll just go back to work, as a contractor, like before. Either way is good - I just need to be working.

In other news, I have been plotting and planning for years all the design and details for my second wedding. I am currently divorced, and am engaged to my guy, but I want this time around to be all I hoped for in a wedding, since the last time I got married on my parent's back porch, eight months pregnant, in a red dress and green velvet heels to my clad-in-black groom, by a J.O.P with a tracheotomy...who died shortly after. Omens, much?

In any case, this time around I want the white dress (or off white, whatever...), the fancy cake, the gathering of family and friends, the dancing, the whole shebang. So far, the plan is (in my head) for my guy and I to get hitched fast and dirty by a J.O.P at the courthouse, just his immediate family as witnesses. Then, after some time and money has been saved, I am hoping to book the German American Society's Building (it's purdy) and have a rally lovely vow renewal, with all of the family and firends there to attend, all proper-like.

I've designed the dress already, but although, yes, I *do* sew, this is a wedding dress after all, I want to have it made. I've sketched it a thousand times, but here's a few images of it..here and here , both link to my Facebook, I'm afraid...I can't pull the photos in a decent size, and I don't have them saved anywhere but there.

ANYWAY - the reason I'm on the subject is because I think I may have found the seamstress for the job. I was browsing Etsy when I found her, and I am still not 100% sure I will use her, but all of the customer testimonials are glowing, her work looks good...she may be the one! And she's amazingly affordable! I was bemoaning the fact that i would have to save up a grand or two for a decent dress, but now I may be able to do what I really want to do, which is have one ceremony gown, and a shorter cocktail version for the reception! Squee! Anyway, do have a look at YourFairyTaleWedding and see for yourselves. She also has a website here.

So although there is no date set yet, I am totally a girl right now, with visions of centerpieces and favors and flowers dancing in my head.

Because more and more venues are not allowing rice or confetti or anything to be thrown at the bride and groom anymore, for the bird's sake as well as their cleanup crews', I was actually looking at confetti alternatives when I found the dress shop. I did, later, find the neatest idea that I can make myself and that is inexpensive to use! Ribbon wands! They're basically dowels with satin ribbon/s attached to them that the guests wave maniacally  instead of throwing things at the happy couple. I even saw some with bells on them...so I think i'm going to see how much wooden dowels cost. Satin ribbon isn't too expensive, and I can buy bells in bulk. All I'd need would be ribbon in the right colors, dowels, the bells, jump rings, and teeny little eye head screws, and perhaps a can or two of spray paint and lacquer. The ribbon wands will be fun, pretty, make a nice noise, AND will make great toys to keep kids busy for a few minutes at home after the wedding, or to tease your cat with. Or even to just stick in a vase and look at or wave every now and then at.

Foe those of you curious, or the slightest bit interested, yes, I have picked the colors, and yes,  I have a 'theme'.  the colors are Labradorite and black, and the 'theme' is going to be 'Spiderwebs covered with dew.' Now, before you think, "Oh, how stupidly GOTH...ugh!" I want you to picture those dew-laden webs, the ones you see on a misty morning, perfectly shaped, the soft light that makes it through the low-hanging clouds is shining through the dew, making them appear as if they were carefully placed jewels, the web appearing to be made of silver. THAT's what i'm going after. That soft, pretty thing, not the stark black and slightly scary web that has a crouching insectoid predator lurking at its center, or in the shadows nearby. Nooo. No!

Pretty. Soft. Glowing. Those are the words I want associated with the ceremony. The reception...well that can be a little 'harder'.  Now, don't think that I plan to drape spiderwebs all over everything! This is actually the one of the photos that inspired the whole idea for me, a few years ago:

and also this:

Now, I don't want the decor to look anything like the Victoria's Secret model's wings above, but the photo reminded me that dew covered webs are prety, and that led me to dfoa web search for dewy webs, and that became my inspiration.

Spiderwebs have so much symbolism attached to them, too...they are the wheel of life, the rays of the sun, the starlit sky, the myriad choices we make in life laid out before us, they are a symbol of craft - and as someone who sews it is especially meaningful for me in that manner. I always loved the Greek/Roman mythologies, and the story of Arachne is one of the first I can remember...spiderwebs in dew just seem...right. For me.

I ask my guy often for input on the eventual wedding - he has had a few ideas....for instance he will be getting a groom's cake in the shape of K-9 - the robot dog from Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures. I am hoping to be able to find black low-top Converse All-Stars for all of the gromsmen - a nod to our love of Doctor Who AND a nod to his dislike of formalwear. Whether or not he gets to wear a German leather war-kilt down the aisle is still under debate. Methinks his family wouldn't really like it.

I found some jewelry once that I thought could replace the men having to wear flowered boutonierres:

And found matching earrings for the bridesmaids:

I even found dresses (for the 'maids) I thought fit the natural theme, but dislike the color:

There is SO much that goes into the planning of a wedding, and I want mine to be lovely. So just a warning to you all for the future: When I can't blog about HipScraps and Gypsy Wraps (yes I changed the name), expect me to blather on about wedding plans or work related whatevers. I'm very much a stream-of-consciousness kind of gal.

Still No News

I was hoping to have learned whether I would be going back to my old job or moving on up to one of the positions I interviewed for on Wednesday today, but alas, I have heard no news. <le sigh> I hope that Monday will come with some news, any news, so I can get on with life, whether it be a fresh attack at job hunting, settling back in to my desk at the office, or packing up my desk at the office to move it all to a different one.

I posted a link very early this morning to my Etsy store, hoping that some more people would go have a look at it and perhaps through some hearts or circle I might make a few sales. Instead, I got a comment form a friend I have via Facebook, who basically told me to lower my prices because I was aiming too high, and that she knew from experience that hip scarves just aren't that expensive to make.

I have to admit I worry that my prices are too high, but at the same time, i haven't found anyone else making what I make - there are shops on Etsy with somewhat similar product, but I feel that I can confidently say that my work is of better quality in some cases, and just completely not the same in others. I have found no shops that make anything that would directly compete with me, as far as product similarities.

Also, if I didn't spend so much money making the things, I'd gladly sell them for less! My first HipScrap, as I believe I have mentioned before, cost me around 125 dollars to make, and that isn't counting the cost of thread, sewing machine needles, and all of the other little things needed to make something! If I were to turn around and sell that HipScrap for $80.00 ( the price my critic suggested I stay UNDER ) I'd be losing money like water through a  sieve!

Perhaps she has access to less expensive product to make hipscarves. I recently discovered a website that has tassel trim for about a third of the price I was paying for it here in town, and so right there I will be able to, in the future, charge less for a HipScrap. But until I sell the ones I have already posted, I won't be able to afford to buy from that source.

Currently, I set my prices by totaling the cost, then multiplying by two. I don't account for the time spent at the sewing machine, or time spent locating all of the stuff needed, or the cost of the gas used to go get those supplies. I honestly felt that I was probably being conservative with my prices...now I'm having to question them.

I'm not angry at her or about what she said, but it is a bit disheartening to think that she, an experienced crafter, seamstress, and professional dancer, thinks that I'm not being realistic with my pricing.  Despite her comments, I must leave the prices as they are - I can't afford not to. I'd like to think that with the number of troupes and individual dancers in the Tulsa and surrounding areas, there are women out there who are looking for exactly what I'm selling, and are willing to pay the set price. I wouldn't have made the first one if I could have found one online to buy - but I couldn't.

I have to stick to my plan - make 'em, have the amazing Miss Suzy dance in 'em when she feels they fit her costuming needs, try to have a table at local dance performances so I can be seen by my target customers, and then pray for sales.

This is going to happen for me. I just know it! I have to stay optimistic and confident, or I'll end up giving up and allowing myself to feel like a failure.

Can't have THAT!

:)

My youngest brother came and visited me today for a couple of hours, and that was awesome. I showed him the HipScraps: he was, I think, a little bit impressed, and quite a bit blown away by how much it costs to make just one HipScrap.

Honestly, Some are just more expensive to make than others. The very first two, since they shared supplies, cost over 150 dollars just to make! But I really like making them. I'm enjoying myself, coming up with new color combinations and finding better sources for my supplies...finding better supplies!

My collaboration with my friend Miss E has led me to decide to launch a separate line of non-dance hip scarves, which will be called HipWraps. They will be essentially the same as HipScraps, except they will be larger than a plus sized HipScrap and wont have the trailing tassels or the ribbon ties. They will all be created with Gypsies in mind, with jewel tones and satin edging and coins and beads, and large oversized buttons holding them on your hips. Miss E is going to get some amazing roses carved from green quartz for the buttons on her Pink Gypsy Rose HipWrap, while the burgundy one will have something different. It also has a rose theme, so I'm hoping to find something awesome in silver for that.

HipWraps won't be making their way in to the store yet, though, so keep your eyes on it for that!

I'm also going to focus more on using salvaged poms and tassels and beads and coins left over from HipScrap construction to make earrings to sell in the shop, and in some case send along with their matching HipScraps, as in the case of the Gypsy's Tuxedo.

This last several weeks of not working allowed me to get a lot done, but I may be back to work very soon, so expect things to slow down a little bit, as I get back in the groove at the office, and catch up on the bills left unpaid here...like the water bill, that comes frst since it was cut off this afternoon. Joy.

I've spent some time researching what it takes to sell stuff on Etsy, and i have realized that I probably need to edit my existing items so that they will be easier to find by people searching for something like them. Also, I saw that people who payed attention to branding seem to do well, too. So when I can, I'll have to order some mailing labels, and some stickers, and perhaps even look into some packaging options. I also want to get some care instructions labels and logo labels to sew into the inside of each piece.

Of course all of this extra stuff depends on whether the items I have already made get sold. If they don't sell, I will have to close up shop and just make HipScraps and HipWraps for myself and for friends.

Wish Me Luck!

I have an interview scheduled for tomorrow at 3:00pm at the office with my boss...who isn't my boss anymore because of a computer glitch...anyway I'm interviewing for two different accounts, perhaps one of them will take me, and I can go back to work! I'll miss my coworkers on my old desk, AND I'll have to move all of my stuff off my old desk to a new one...and we had *just* got those big monitors, too...<whine>...but at least I will be in the same building.
So wish me luck, folks. I get to interview, and then drop the kids off at their great-grandparents for a sleepover, because we're going to a Foo Fighters concert tomorrow night. I may be having a bad-skin year this year, so I will have cake on some foundation and pray I look okay! Well, I need to eat something, then go to bed, so I can get up and make sure I have a nice clean outfit to wear for the interview. I know I don't have to go in looking like Miss Fancy-Pants since they already know me, but I'd better make at least some sort of effort, otherwise they will think I EXPECT  to get the job.
Only slightly nervous.
I just need to go in there, be confident, look good, smell nice, and keep thinking about all the awesome supplies I can buy once I'm earning regular pay again after the bills are paid up :) I gots me some HipScraps and HipWraps to make, carnsarnit!

Ho Hum

After the last two days' flurry of productivity, I am sadly without anything to do. I even cleaned up my workspace again to see if there was anything I could work on...I have seven projects that sit awaiting attention, either nearly finished but needing to have  something purchased to complete them, or in the planning stage but completely conceptualized but holding because they need EVERYTHING to be purchased before I can begin.

Waiting waiting waiting, la dee da, la dee da!

I'm bored. Going to be interviewing for two positions at work sometime next week with my boss...if I get them I'd be an actual employee of the company I currently contract for. That's great, and it will mean more money, but I really wanted to stay on the account I'm on now. Oh well, that is still a possibility too. As long as I am working, that's what is important.

The Yellow Rose of Texas

As a nod to my Texas roots, I made a children's HipScrap today that I have named 'The Yellow Rose of Texas'.
I just finished it - here's the pics:

Before I started working on it, I took photos of the finished Gypsy's Tuxedo, and I made a pair of matching earrings for it:

So at least there's progress in the world of HipScraps, if not sales. :D

Started a new one ...

...And if I hadn't been farting around online for the last hour or so, I'd probably have finished it by now. Just some hand beading left to do, and I suppose I should embroider the date on it as well.

Before I start posting pics, let me just say that I had a happy accident. I bought some black thread a while ago, and I used it today - what I didn't realize when buying it was that it was UPHOLSTERY thread - and this stuff is awesome! Its so much stronger than what I usually use is, and it feels great in my hands.

Anyway, let me introduce you to the 'Gypsy's Tuxedo'. This is what I would imagine a Gypsy woman might choose to wear with her ensemble if she were invited to a black tie event, or a Black and White Ball.

Before the ribbon and top edging is sewn on, showing the chevrons.

With the edging laid on top, but not sewn on.

I put two of the five tassels on the ribbon ends, and beaded them up a bit.

A close up of some of the trim.

Added some beads to the plain tassel trim. It needed some love.

Last step: Add the BLING.

Well...

...I *did* clear up my workspace and I *did* find something to work on. Yay! It's going to be a black and white teen-sized HipScrap using the b/w tassel and pom beaded trim that I had leftover from making Domino, on a plain white cotton base, with black edging.

Also, I refreshed my Etsy today (I stay logged in all the time, because I hardly ever turn off my computer,) and found that a complete stranger had favorited/hearted several of the items in the store! She didn't buy anything, but thanks to WashingtonFeline for liking me! It's a start, right?

I was cleaning my bedroom the other day, and trying to hang clothes up in the closet, when I realized then when all my belly dance stuff is hung up, it takes up a huge chunk of my closet! Here's a pic:

All the stuff I have for sale is in there, too, for safety's sake. I wish I had more closets! I think I'm going to have to buy an adjustable rolling clothesrack and a plastic zippered cover for it to keep in the mudroom with the rest of the HipScraps stuff. Or, if my dad does end up not working here anymore, moving the workspace into that room.

Oy, vey! Life is such a bother sometimes. Anyways, off to do other internetty things before getting to work on that HipScrap.

No news is..No news

Well, I haven't been working on HipScraps, and I haven't been working..but I have been bicycling! Just a block or two each time, but sometimes I pull the children behind me in their little cart that hooks on to my bike, and that makes it harder. I haven't been going to belly dance class on Mondays, even though nothing had really been stopping me from going. One day it was that I had JUST pressed play on Serenity when I realized the time; I wanted to watch the movie and so did my guy. Another day it was that I had mown the lawn and was dead beat, and would have had jelly-legs and been useless. This Monday, I did mow again, but only a small bit, and rushed inside to shower - I'd be late but would still have made it for half a class. Then my dad called with car trouble, so I waited by the phone for him to call me back, my hair dripping and in completely not ready for dance class clothes until it was too late to go - and then he managed to get home on his own. Poo. I have been going to Saturday class, though, so I refuse to beat myself up. And daily bicycle rides are helping to keep me active in between times.

Before I started going to dance class, I weighed in at 245 lbs. It's the heaviest I have ever been in my life, and I am honestly disgusted by myself for letting me get this way. Since I began taking classes, I have not weighed myself because my scale had no battery, and I was afraid that it would show no change. It's been a few months now, and people have told me that I am visibly shrinking, so I decided to bite the bullet and put in a fresh battery. I hopped on the scale and...245.8. No change. But i see the change now, and I feel it, so I have decided the scale is big giant poop-head and is a meanie who wants to see me fail. I put it in my dad's room, since I hardly go in there.

They say muscle weighs more than fat, and that often when you start making changes like I have, that the muscle builds up and causes your weight to plateau, before the fat really starts to melt away and reveal the healthy person in side. Well, I'm going to trust 'they'.

I have been playing a Beats Antique album in the car a lot lately, and only two tracks in particular. I've bee sort of choreographing to it in my head. Torso movements only, but I think maybe I ought to write it down. I'm hearing the base rhythm, the underlying rhythm, and some 'absent' beats in one track that could make it more fun to dance to than it is already. i shouldn't be doing anything of the sort, though, really, because I'm still an absolute beginner. But sometimes it seems like I know exactly what a certain portion of the song wants...bleh. I'm probably just being overenthusiastic.

Anyway - I'll try to keep the blog active, and I plan to tidy up my work area tomorrow, so maybe I will find something to do while I'm digging through it all. In fact...oooh, I just had an idea..I have cut all the pieces for Miss Suzy's vest, but after placing a couple of the pieces against her in person at class the other day, I know it needs to be shortened. This normally wouldn't be an issue, if I'd done it before cutting the fabric - if I'd checked the pattern and then cut, I could have folded the pattern then cut the pieces and they would be seamless. This fabric is a print - its a black and white version of this blog's border, in fact. I can't shorten in now without disrupting that print's pattern, because the shortening can't just be done from the bottom - it has to come out of the middle. But, but but but! What if I fold the pattern to lose more than the right size, cut out the chunk I don't want from the middle, then sew in a nice black band in there! I t would look fully intentional, and I could find some great way to embellish r bead it maybe, to really give it oomph. It could work. Gotta double-check how much I need to lose though, before I cut.

La-dee-da! Something to work on! yayy!

More of the same.

So yep, you guessed it. I have nothing new to say about the land of the HipScraps...well, I *did* find the perfect green quarts roses for Miss E's Gypsy Rose HipScrap in pink, so I suppose that is a step in the right direction. I'm itching to get my hands on something to work on! I could complete the Dana in no time at all if I have a few yards of black beaded tassel trim, I could finish the Cinderella if had some of the same in Delft blue. I want so badly to have a bunch of money to throw at the site I order from, and buy ten or twelve yards of each color of everything I use, so I could get something DONE!

I did  send Miss E a shopping list for her two pieces, so that's something, as well.

I think this not working and being stuck at home thing is not working out so well for me. At first it was great, because I had supplies and work on stuff. But now I'm in limbo. Booohoohoo!

Sorry for whining, I'll stop.

Nothing!

...that's right. Nothing! Nothing new, no news no sales, just nothing. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't expecting  everything I posted to suddenly sell. That would be nothing short of a miracle. But not making anything new completely sucks! The worst part about all of this is that if I don't sell anything, I can't buy supplies to make more. Blargh. I have ideas, people! Stuff I want to do! Buy my stuff so I can do 'em!

Lol. Sorry folks. Patience is certainly not my virtue. Never has been.

Not Quite Leaps and Bounds...

Well, I had a busy day today. Miss E came by and we discussed her ensembles, and made some decisions about them that mean that I can now start pricing out trims and sparkle and whatnot. I need to order that knickers pattern, and I need to decide how to create a tear-away skirt. We devised a way to create closures for these hipscarves - they won't have ties like my normal HipScraps, since they will be  very large - the point will be about knee length!

I need to measure them so I can determine the yardage needed to do what we want - the burgundy one is going to be literally encrusted with trim and rose-embroidered ribbon, and the pink one will be more minimalistic.

We also made a decision about how 'The Dana' will look - it will be a HipScrap in memory of E's mother Dana, who passed away from cancer recently. When it sells, a portion of the sale will go to a cancer-related charity in her honor. What charity that will be is still to be determined, but the HipScrap itself is going to be simple and elegant, just like Dana was. It's a caramel-colored fabric, with a black line drawing of foliage on it. it's going to have black satin edging, and black beaded tassel trim, and that's it. Each of the remaining head wraps E gave me will also have a portion of their sales donated to whatever charity we end up selecting in Dana's honor. Two of them are Black, brown, brown and white prints, and I think I've found a suitable trim for both of them.

So yay! Add to that the fact that I have now started adding items to the store, and we have liftoff! Already I have got a heart for my store from someone I don't know, so that's good :) Tomorrow I'll try to take some uncluttered photos of the HipScraps I have already completed, and put them up, as well. Then maybe once I've made some money I can afford to make more and get a decent photo shoot with Shannon Hall Photography and the lovely Suzy, who also has opened her own Etsy store, found here.

I had wanted to open the store looking completely professional, but money talks. If this does well, pro photos later. So excited for what's to come!

Eeeek!

I just listed two items in my Etsy store - just for custom jobbies, but maybe I'll get a sale in the meantime. Later I'll post some of the stuff I've actually done. I can't wait to do the shoot - having not worked for four weeks now means I'll have to list what I have with the photos I have, and do a shoot later when I can. Now, I just need the moolah or this whole thing will have to stop!

Expansions and Renfaires and Garb, Oh My!

SO my good friend E, who gave me the American Cancer Society head-wraps, has decided to claim two of them for herself. Originally it was to be only one, but then when I got inspired on another one she decided she wanted that one too. Since she is providing the base fabric, and is gonna purchase most of the rest of the supplies for them, these will never appear in the store, but i have a feeling they may end up being two super-awesome HipScraps. Unless a miracle happens and I get called back to work, she will be coming over tomorrow and we will be discussing what we're going to do with the head-wraps. And, since she intends these to be renaissance festival garb, we are also going to discuss the entire ensemble for both pieces, and make a plan to slowly work through creating the additional pieces. I'm pushing for two 10 yard skirts, a vest and a cutoff chemise for the pink, and three 10 yard skirts and a vest and a cutoff chemise for the burgundy. Knowing her, underneath the skirts will be some awesome knickers, since she's a fighter. I'm also thinking that instead of making two separate vests for the two ensembles, that really we just need one reversible one.

I have the patterns already for the 10 yard skirts and the vests, and the company that makes those also produces a fantastic knicker pattern, so I'm thinking that since we're going to all the trouble of creating these costume pieces, I should go ahead and consider making up some of these for the store too.

10 yard skirts are simple and a faire basic, as well as being a belly dance standard, so once I have figured out the best way to make the, it should be easy to zip those out. The knickers are really not belly dance friendly, but will suit those coming to my store with faire garb in mind. I'm actually already trying to figure out how to make tear-away 10 yard skirts, so the fighter girls can extravagantly fling them away to reveal their knickers, swords in hand.

I used to make chemises all the time, so there should be no problem getting those out and ready to go too, although I may use a pattern this time around ,for sizing reasons.

I honestly can't wait to get started on these! One of the things that bugs me about sending the HipScraps out is sending them off without skirts and vests to be worn with them...maybe having the pieces available for creating ensembles will encourage shoppers. I may not make any money on these two, but it will be, I expect, a great learning experience as well as a good start for truly deciding whether I want to carry ensemble pieces in the store.

If these come out really well, I will definitely have to shell out the cash for a photo shoot for E in her outfits. She'll love them, and they will be great advertising!

A Suitable Quote for the Time

‎"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." -Martin Luther King, Jr

Frustrating!

I have been, for over a day now, trying to pin a choli pattern to some 4-way stretch velvet in green. I would advise avoiding such activity in the future to anyone interested in trying. Stupid velvet being all slippy! Every time I think I have a portion of the pattern pinned without buckling, I discover it has magically become not-flat. Augh! Next one will NOT be made of velvet, That's for sure. I'm tempted to scrap the whole thing, except I really need to add a choli to my ensemble.

Blargh!

Hippy-news of a sort.

So I made myself a new hip-thing, as a sort of test-run for a new kind of HipScrap.

It's my medallions, attached to a belt, with extra ribbon.

 I showed you all the medallions I was working on in an earlier post - this is what I have done with them so far. What I did was hand pleat some satin blanket binding in black, and attach that to the medallions, as a second layer of ruffle, making them larger. Then I hand pleated and sewed some green ('dark peacock') satin blanket binding to an existing camel-colored sequined belt that I was given recently. I attached the medallions to each end, and also added a length of the same green grosgrain ribbon I used for the first layer of pleating on the medallions. I added the ribbon because the existing ties, although tie-able around my waist, weren't long enough for my taste. I made matching bead accents for each tie-end, so that the camel ties can just dangle prettily, and not look totally incongruous. This piece isn't totally finished yet, but I did wear it to belly dance class on Saturday morning, to see if I liked how it looked at work. It looked good, but I think it is also going to become a chainette belt. I'm now trying to decide if I want to go with hand-stringing chainette to the belt, to get the look i want, or if I want to just buy some of the door-length chainette trim I've seen, dye it to match, and then just sew the strip on and trim it to the desired length. I can always save the cutoff bits for other projects. I'm thinking I want camel colored chainette, maybe with a mix of the dark peacock color and black as well.

Two posts ago, I showed you all a photo of some bandannas that a friend gave me to use for HipScraps, with the condition that she get to keep a particular one for herself. Since then I have been inspired as far as what I want to do to both her HipScrap, and another one. I posted a pic of the trim I wished to use  for the one she hadn't chosen for herself, and now she wants both! These will become side projects, since I won't be able to spend a bunch of time on them that should be devoted to ones I plan on actually selling, but that's okay since she's going to help purchase all of the trims, and that means she has to save up.

Both of them will by Gypsy-inspired, and may end up being far larger than the regular HipScrap - larger than the Plus. She and I will have to have a fitting to be sure. These will be renaissance garb for her mostly - though she has mentioned that she might come to belly dance class if she has a HipScrap! (Muahahah! She WILL be assimilated!)

There's a belly dance workshop coming up with Ashara - I'm trying to decide if I ought to go - am I ready for a master class? I feel as if I barely know belly dance basics. But it might be a lot of fun, and I will learn a lot, no doubt. I just worry that i fI do go, will I be able to cope? As it is I usually can't stay on my feet for one hour of regular class, and I don't want to be rude and constantly run and sit down while she is trying to teach.

Oh, to close this post I will leave you with a sketch of an idea I have for a new HipScrap style/shape:

This would be a two-piece HipScrap, with an abbreviated regular HipScrap back, and a rectangular front panel. it would tie at the sides with D-rings for loops. The double lines are where tassel trim would be attached. Let me know what you think - I'm always willing to hear your input!

Aargh!

It is so frustrating! I want to make new stuff. I have some that I can make new stuff with, but not enough stuff. I need more stuff! Gimme stuff! I want stuff!

Where's the stuff!?!

In more positive news, late late last night I found a place that sells some of the stuff I need for less than the other place I usually get the stuff.

Do you think I might have used 'stuff' enough? Maybe I should say it again: stuff.

Hehehe sorry y'all. think I'm starting to get a touch of the ol' cabin fever, maybe.

I do, actually, have some good news. The Frog Princess reached its destination! According to Kaelyn's mom via a Facebook post:

"We got mail! Kaelyn is gonna freak out! I think I am going to get the whole outfit together before I show her though :) love it love it love it. I'm jealous, lol"

So now we have first invoice, first sale, first shipment, and now first testimonial! Kaelyn's mom will send me photos as soon as she has some to send.

I am reaching milestones now so quickly! I mean, I haven't even launched the store yet, and already one sale and glowing review...I hope I can keep it up.

Speak to me, O Muses!

If I have a Muse, she whispered in my ear sometime this morning. After making those beaded medallions, and then pleating that green ribbon and sewing it to them, I laid the medallions on either end of a belt I'd been given and thought to myself, "Now WHAT?" Well, I think I know! I have some green satin that I could pleat and attach to the belt, framing it on one side, and then add some camel-colored chainette fringe (the belt is camel-colored) and voila! I may have a sell-able piece! <sigh> if I can part with it. I really do like those medallions...

Well, come on, May! I think you're going to be THE month. I hope to maybe at least schedule that photo shoot for the store this month, if not actually have it - I just need to coordinate with work, the model, and the photographer for that to happen. I have 6 pieces at the moment that are priced and ready for adding to the store - I just want them to look great when I post them!

I was given some beautiful fabric today for making HipScraps with, and after a tiny bit of research I learned that the fabric actually are head wraps sold by The American Cancer Society of America at their site, tlcdirect.org. They are far too big for use singly as HipScraps, but I think I can make each one into two or more (depending on size) HipScraps. They were given to me by my very good friend, Elena, whose mother recently passed away from cancer. The head wraps were hers - Dana's. Per Elena's request, one of the head wraps is reserved for a Gypsy costume she is building, and another she has asked I name the resulting HipScraps after her mother. The fabric for what will be come the 'Dana' is a lovely camel color, with a line drawing of twigs and leaves on it in black. I happen to know where to order some great beaded tassel trim in a matching camel color, or in black, so I think I'll be able to do Dana justice when I create the 'Dana' HipScrap(s).

Each of these head wraps sells at the American Cancer Society site for $18.00, and the price of the resulting HipScraps will reflect that. I have thought about it, and think it would only be right to make a donation to that organization, or one that Dana preferred, from the proceeds of any sales from HipScraps made from these six head wraps. Here's a photo of them all together:

I'd write more, but honestly, I want to get to work on that medallion belt idea - it's kinda burning my brain right now! More later, I'm sure.

Shipped!

Wow, I feel like an official business now! My first sale is complete! I went to the post office about an hour ago and shipped the Frog Princess. Miss Kaelyn will get it on Thursday, most likely, and I am sure she will love it. She's big into princesses, I hear. I really hope I get photos of her wearing it at Scarborough Faire - she and her mom live in Texas, home to many awesome renafaires, and Scarborough Faire is my most favorite. Then again, it was also my first renfaire, so I may be a touch biased. :P

An Apology

Everyone, I apologize. There's nothing less professional than venting about one's personal life on one's business blog. I hope you will forgive me.

So I received payment for my very first sale today, and tomorrow when my guy gets home from work (yes, work, he got called back in,) I shall hie myself off to the post office to send it off. I'm so excited! I really hope miss Kaelyn likes it! Ooh! That reminds me! I had planned to embroider her name on the inside of the band, next to the month and year that I already put there.

Now where's that pink embroidery floss?

Take a Deep Breath...

...and just breathe. Things will get better, we will be OK.

I need to 'ohm', I think. In the land of HipScraps, everything is chugging along nicely, things look good. I've made a sale, I have 'spec' inventory that I simply need to get photos done of to post to the store to launch it, there seems to be a modicum of genuine interest in the product...I'm positive, I'm optimistic.

Outside of the HipScraps world, things aren't so good.

I have a full time job, as a contractor, working for a very large, well known company, for their client, also a very large, well known company. I was hired originally last year on a one year gig with the expectation that I may be hired on full-time after a year or so. I'm not being hired on full-time - yet - and my contract ended on, of all days, my birthday. My boss tried to extend my contract, but there have been...issues...and I have not worked for two weeks now. I get paid weekly, so I have now not been paid once, and even if I get to go back to work this week, I won't get paid this coming payday, either.

Compounding this is that my fiancée also works with me, and is also a contractor, and also has been out of work for two weeks while they sort out the whole deal.

This means that as of today we have less than 25 dollars between us, and his bank will be charging him two overdraft fees by the end of the day today.

<sigh> Things will get  better, we will be OK.

I try very hard to be positive, but sometimes I just want to scream and curl up in a ball in a corner. We filed for unemployment, but waited a week before we did, thinking we were only going to miss a day or two.

I am trying to keep myself busy, work on making more product, trying new things, but soon enough I will run out of supplies altogether and then I will likely freak out.

Sorry for dumping all this here, but I needed an outlet today.

In lighter news, I made a thing last night. Not sure what it is...sort of a flower/tassel thingie made of beads and fabric circles...I was just fiddling around. Here's what it looks like:

If I were to use this idea for tassels, it could possibly work. I could also see it as a hair thing, I dunno.

Well, that's all I've got for now, y'all. Laters.

Happy Easter, Eostre, Beltane, Whatever...

...or Zombie Jesus Day, even. I don't care. It's raining, so I can't give the kids their egg hunt like I want to. We're heading over to a family shindig...an Easter/Cousin Holly's Birthday Party - Party. So probably no HipScrapping for me today, just kid-wrangling and face-stuffing. Whee!

Have a good day today, everyone. Bite the ears off a chocolate bunny for me. Make sure it's a dark chocolate one, though. I hate milk chocolate.

Major Mental Malfunction

So I just realized that I apparently have a major mental malfunction. Instead of rambling on and on as I did in my post yesterday, I should have been gushing and squee-ing my little heart out because...

I MADE MY FIRST SALE!

I knew I'd made it already, but it wasn't truly a real sale until I sent a PayPal invoice out. Wow! I did it! I guess it really really won't be true until I get the money and ship it off, but I'm still so excited! Oddly enough, it wasn't an Adult Standard HipScrap - it was a semi-custom Teen/Child sized one that was initially going to made on spec., but an old friend from many many years ago in Texas saw it, and thought her dancing toddler daughter would love it, and so we chatted a bit and she agreed to the price it set! (Bless her!)

This is what it looks like:

Three chevrons of pink beaded trim laid under three rows of pink, sage, and butter tassel trim, with silver sequins on a pink cotton base with sage cotton edging and grosgrain ribbon. I managed to squeeze a teeny bit more of both trims into the very top, too! 

I embroidered the month and year in to the wrong side of the sage edging at the top, where a label might be, just to make it special. I think I ought to start doing that on all of them.

So that's what all the delayed excitement is about.

Last night I found myself at odds. i don't have a lot of supplies, and having been out of work for two weeks while my temp agency and the company I work for sort out contract stuff, I cannot afford to go get more stuff...it's very frustrating. So after trying to distract myself from lack of work and lack of supplies by playing some Little Big Planet 2, I was looking at Facebook on my phone and saw some work that Benne Gezeritt DesignsCo was doing and thought that I ought to try it out, just to have something to do. I have a bunch of beads and stuff just sitting around from when I would make jewelry all the time, and  I had a couple of interesting buttons that I'd bought because I couldn't not buy them when I saw them, so I did this:

I didn't sew them to the belt - I'm just playing around with what to DO with the darned things, now I've made them.

So yeah. Made a couple of beaded medallions, but dunno what to attach them to. I've seen things like this used in several different ways in the belly dance world; headpieces, belts, and bra centers. I'm nowhere near making bras, so that idea is out of the question, but a belt seems more up my alley. Benne Gezeritt does lovely headpieces, and I couldn't even think of coming close to doing what they do, so a belt it is! ( I'll have to put links to everyone in a sidebar, as I expect everyone I have linked so far will get multiple mentions as we go on)

Today, I started working on another HipScrap - a Toddler sized one. Here it is so far:

I can't go any further without a certain blue beaded tassel trim that I don't have, so here it sits, pinned and ready for more embellishment. I really liked the way the gold metallic velvet worked out on another piece, so I'm considering getting silver or blue metallic velvet for this one, instead of sequins.

All, in all, it's been a rather productive 24 hours in the world of HipScraps, so yay! It started out with going to belly dance class, which is always a good thing, and ended with me at least getting something done. Oh! And and and, my dance buddy and fellow crafter of belly dance accessories (and other stuff, too!) was at class today and she's been a busy bee, as well. You will be able to check out her stuff on Etsy soon, but for now you can see her here.

Time to eat something, as I've not had supper yet. Taraa!