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.