Time Flies, Whether or Not You're Having Fun.

So. Other than last night's post announcing the Twitter account, @hipscraps, I haven't posted ANYTHING since JUNE. Of  LAST year. Sorry.  Since opening the Etsy shop in April, I've struggled with a lot of personal stuff, like 'real' jobs and kids and ex-husbands and fiancee's and all of that, and although I hadn't stopped working on HipScraps, I certainly wasn't thinking about BLOGGING about it.

So...many many 'favorites' on Etsy, and I think a whole two or three treasuries, and finally, FINALLY, I made a sale!  I listed, quite out of desperation, a bunch of jewelry I made a million years ago, in hopes of getting more attention on the shop, and a couple of weeks ago, while wandering around the Tulsa Wedding Show with my ex-husband, I got an email from Etsy saying I'd made a sale!

It was only a two dollar item that had a one dollar shipping charge, and after shipping it it I only made a whopping 80 cents, but it was a SALE. And the purchaser was very nice when leaving feedback, so this is really a great triumph and a major milestone for me and the store.

On May 1st, I blogged about a hip belt I had made, and I think at the time I thought I might have been finished, but I really wasn't.  After about 25 hours of work, and a generous donation of as much of three spools of chainette string I needed and the tool to string it with from Suzy Specter, I finally finished it. It's MY belt, not for sale, but I *am* using it as the example work for my most expensive listing in the store. This belt is crazy awesome, though, and I have gathered some supplies already to start working on several more.  I need to order more chainette, because I simply can't presume to steal from Suzy again, and I need to buy a set of the needles for myself so I don't have to borrow hers.  I need beads by the bucketload, as well as sequins and pearls and coins and spools of chain, too. The shop listing is for a custom string belt with medallions, and I've attached a huge lead-time to the listing as well so I can gather supplies and collaborate with the buyer. The ones I'm working on now are just going to be freaking spectacular when they are finished, I am so excited to get the stuff together to make them!

This is the finished belt. SO not for sale. MINE!

The best part, though, is that since I started the HipScraps Facebook page, I have been getting more local attention, since there's also a local bellydance community Facebook page. I've actually JUST been asked to make some medallions for another costumer who isn't as handy with beading as I am - AND she wants a set of the new medallions I'm working on for herself as well, I think. :) Baby steps, baby steps.

Oh! And I was finally able to share photos and video of Suzy Specter in the costume she and I collaborated on, furiously sewing and beading at our desks while at work, so I will post some of all of that below:

The collar that, while still under construction, many people asked if it was underwear.

This was made entirely AT work at my desk,  with no pattern, and was completely hand-stitched.

The collar and one of the sleeves.

A closeup of the sleeve's jewelry - which later Suzy added danglies to, I think.

The bra top. I'm responsible for the ruffles along the neck, the button details, and for pushing Suzy to get her bead on. Oh, and I added the second layer of beaded trim along the bottom, and later sorted out the extra lace and added a lace tie to cover the back strap.

The belt. Suzy made the base panel belt, I added the lace ruffle, and suggested the 'tin cup' style for the pearl beading. Suzy Did the beading and added the danglies (these same danglies made it onto the sleeves as well.)

YOu can view her wearing and dancing in the completed outfit - which included a spectacular Victorian styled ruffled skirt and an AMAZING headdress by Benne Gezeritt Designs Co - on YouTube here, here, and here.   You can tell *I* took the last video because it's sideways. I am one of those people who do stupid things and even though I KNOW my cellphone's camera doesn't like being turned sideways, I still do it, and then when I lack the skills to turn the video on its side, I post it anyway. Actually, I'm pretty sure when I posted it on Facebook, I was able to turn it there. YouTube does not have a simple video editor built in for morons like myself to use. So you get the wonky side-ways one. Just tilt your heads. If you get a cramp, I cannot be held liable. Remember? You signed those papers, waiving liability..remember?