< / era >

I sent those potholders off yesterday as part of a trade with knittydirtygirl, an old Etsy chat friend. They were the last ones. So ends an era.

I started making potholders years ago, when I was about 7. My mom used to make them when she was little and figured I would like to as well. Those are the woven kind, made on a square loom. We were buying loops to make them at a craft store/nursery. That closed but she wrote the address on the bag and we got the directly from the company. That was exciting.

I don't remember how or why, but I started selling them. I sold some to my mom and her friends. My grandmother acted as my broker to her friends in NYC. She would order a whole bunch and sell them for me. I think my biggest order was 10 sets. I would weave while watching TV, scrunching the loops down when they got tight. I had dreams of having a potholder-selling store, figuring out how I could sell a set to everyone in the world. Yeah, I didn't know how to dream small- I wanted world domination or bust.

I had a book of patterns. I named them, had style numbers and wrote down the colors I used, how many of each, the layout, if the laying was different from the weaving. I still have that book actually. The potholders above were made later and therefore aren't in the book.

I don't really remember why I stopped. I got involved with sports and after-school things and just didn't have time I guess. I picked it back up when I found Etsy. Surprisingly to me, they didn't sell as well as I would have liked.

So when I tell people that remember those days they smile and say, "I still have the potholders you made me. Do you still make them?" It warms my heart.

I was an entrepreneur of handmade things from the get-go. They were other things I made and sold along the way, popsicle stick frames, angel ornaments. Guess that explains why I can't give it up.

Weekend Blurble- [tomne]

[tomne]
Originally uploaded by lpdesigns

This Monday has started off nicely. I -posted on Sweet Figments. I signed myself up as guest writer. Today I featured clocks.

Today, I'm also featured on the Etsy Spolight On blog. It's an interview post. I think I sound confident, more than I have. I'm also having a sale associated with that post. Do read it and find out.

The Olympics are over. I watched pieces of the closing ceremony. I don't think I like the closing ceremony, like ever, as much as the opening. The opening is more a grand welcome. The closing more a grand party, that's slightly confusing and this year, felt very long. The opening was so concise and well-thought out. I was riveted. The closing lost me shortly after the athletes came in. Though the London bit, prior to Leona Lewis twirling out of the bus, was pretty interesting.

I hope to get some sewing and wood-cutting done today. I also must go to the Post Office. I have trades to mail.

Post Picture: The tomne bracelet. I made a necklace like this as well. I have an idea for earrings. I seem to be consumed with making sets. Getting a color scheme, however basic and running with it.

Thinkin' 8.23

When I was 16, my dad lost his job. He ended up being out of work for 2 years. During that time he had an offer to transfer to Michigan. If we had, the brothers and I would have gone to public school. We were homeschooled at the time. My imagination ran away with me at the thought. I could reinvent myself. I had no fear of being the new kid. I'd done it before.

For some reason, while cleaning up the kitchen tonight, I was wondering what would have happened if we had moved. We didn't. He found a job here. The sudden recollection was just so sudden and random. Maybe it's my subconscious screaming at me, I need to move on.

Finding Me 8.22

[elle] short
Originally uploaded by lpdesigns

Hello, g'morning, yeah!

I did the market yesterday. I made three sales, met an Etsyan, LAAdesigns, and generally had a good time.

Yesterday did mark the first time that a person complained about my prices in real life. I had a feeling it would happen soon, just to get that experience out of the way. It was weird. At the time, I was fine, but I keep hearing her comment. She took a business card anyway.

I also found out that my mother and I are pretty much opposites. She doesn't see the stress of shows, thinks they're easy. I'm not of that opinion.

Semi-incredibly, I won't be able to do a big show in a nearby town because...my temp job called me back. I really need that money, so, it's 'no' to the show. I'm more okay with this, I don't think my display is up to do an upscale craft show. Not in 3 weeks. Not a two-day show.

Maybe I'm a wimp. Maybe I shouldn't say that. It's not easy having my mom as a boothmate. It's wonderful at times, she talks about my products superbly. But...I don't know. It's all very confusing. *sigh*

Post Picture: Short Elle earrings. Long ones are also available. Part of the Elle subset of Minta.

Fill in the Bubble

You can now make your own stick person magnets. Okay, I make them, but you choose what goes in the bubble. (short words work best)

I've always accepted custom orders. I just finished two requests I got off-Etsy. But I'm not sure how clear that was. Hopefully, this listing makes it clear. (The picture is clickable.)

I'm contemplating cutting the market on Wednesdays. This will reduce stress on me but really it's not just that. Location is important and I don't fit in there. Though I do love the market manager.

Working on new bracelets, wristlets, woodburned items that are bigger than the magnets I offer now. Oh, and I applied to Trunkt again and got rejected. :)

Post Picture: First photo for the custom magnet listing.