Zandperl's Fancies

Ravelry!

2009-02-15T10:07:00.003-05:00

If you haven't heard of Ravelry, it's a social networking site for knitters, crocheters, and other "fiber artists". It allows you to post patterns and pictures of things you're working on or completed, you can post information about the yarns you use, or want, or want to get rid of. You can search for other users or patterns. I'm not yet using the site to its full potential, haven't done that much knitting yet to warrant posting, but if you're on there, feel free to friend me - I'm zandperl there as everywhere.

Knitting!

2009-01-29T10:24:00.003-05:00

For Christmas I learned how to knit! The first thing I made was a hat that I really didn't like because I had no clue how to keep to a gauge and it ended up waaaaay too big. I'm currently working on my second project, gloves. This time I ripped the first one out five times before I was happy it was going to be the right size. I've finished the first hand and I'm just starting the fingers on the second hand, and I'm so much more happy with it. Afterwards I think I'm going to rip out the hat and redo it. I also want to learn how to make "glittens" - gloves with a mitten flap over the fingers - and socks.

Halloween choker

2008-10-19T13:23:00.002-04:00

Here's a nice little choker that might compliment your Halloween costume.

Winter Goodies!

2008-09-27T11:58:00.003-04:00

Now that it's officially Fall, it's time to start thinking about Winter!

In my Etsy store I have fleece scarves on sale - they're not only great for you, but also as gifts for friends with Fall birthdays, or for upcoming winter holidays. Browse around the store for more holiday gifts too!

Plastic Bag Yarn

2008-07-17T11:29:00.003-04:00

I just saw an interesting idea for "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle": plastic bag yarn! Instructions on how to make it are here, and some examples of final products are here.

Now, I'm not a big knitter or crocheter, but I think making such "yarn" could be fun, so I'm curious if anyone would buy the yarn to make their own things out of. What do you think?

X-posted to Modern Science

Plastic Beads for Pegboards

2008-06-06T21:44:00.002-04:00

Anybody know the real name of those plastic beads that kids put on pegboards in different shapes? I want to buy some for my bird to play with - I love making her toys. It's a little bit of crafting, a little bit of entertainment, a little bit of bonding with my bird, and a little bit of thriftiness.

Origami Instructions

2008-06-05T14:27:00.003-04:00

Thanks to a comment on a previous post, I've just found the website Origami Instructions. There's some tips and hints in words, some line drawing images (like you'll see in books or sometimes come with origami paper), but most interesting to me is all the videos posted! There's nothing like watching it happen in real time to give you a good solid sense of which way to make certain folds (I never remember which symbol means mountain and which valley, so I always have to look at the next step to know which they meant), and to give you a three-dimensional feeling of what's going on - when doing origami you often have to keep mental track of the multiple layers of paper, and a line drawing never does that justice.

If you're new to origami, I suggest you start off by watching the video you want to try once through, then take it slowly, pausing after every single last step during the process.

Summer!

2008-05-27T19:23:00.001-04:00

So now that it's summer, I should actually start having some time to actually DO crafts again. Too bad my brain's still fried from the Spring semester and I don't have any ideas right now... :-P

Lack of updates

2008-05-04T12:20:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the lack of updates. This spring has been hectic for me, I'm teaching a new course, teaching an additional course, and also personal issues going on - my cockatiel Gabriel sadly passed away (seizure suspected) during the holiday season, and I spent a few months searching for a new bird, and then the last few weeks bonding with her. The full extent of my craftiness lately has been spent on making her new toys. Her name is Kappa, and she's a dusky conure.

As you can see, the toys I make for her aren't all that pretty, but she tends to like them. I just dropped some more money on toys from Birdy Booty, and they're really awesome toys, but so far Kappa's remained entranced with the simpler toys that she already has. I'm sure that'll change with time, but it's just silly. :)

So, my summer break's coming up soon, so expect more crafting from me as it moves into full swing at the end of May.

Origami!

2007-12-02T10:39:00.000-05:00

I've been doing origami lately. I range from paper 1" wide, to 4" wide. I did finally figure out how to make the turtles, and have been filling a plastic container with the little ones. I recently picked up the larger paper and I have plans to make strings of origami to sell as Christmas decorations - growing up this's how my mother and I decorated our Christmas tree every year. :)

Photos!

Doing it production line-style makes it go faster, but is less rewarding.

Jug'o'origami, and some tape for a size comparison.

"A little bit of this, a little bit of that..." Pieces of everything!

Once I get enough of the big ones, I can start stringing them together for trees, though I may put loops of string on some of the existing small ones so they're ornaments too. Too bad I can't take the fumes of shellac (and they'd probably kill my bird too), otherwise I could make really solid ornaments. Anyone know of similar material with less fumes?

Technorati

2007-11-17T20:51:00.001-05:00

I'm finally trying to figure out this Technorati thing. I just joined and am now "claiming" my own blog. Check me out below.

Technorati Profile

Fleece Scarves for Winter!

2007-11-11T17:59:00.000-05:00

I just sold my last brown fleece scarf with dandelion embroidery, prompting me to relist some more scarves in my Etsy store. I currently have 1 black with white Chinese calligraphy, 2 brown/gray plaid, 3 green with white/gray roses.

Origami Turtle?

2007-10-07T12:39:00.002-04:00

I'm freaking out b/c I can't for the life of me remember how to make this origami turtle! It was one of my faves, and now I'm blanking totally!

I learned how to make it from instructions on turtle paper much like those in the above images. And now I can't remember... Anyone either know how and able to describe it - I'm thinking it starts with folding opposite edges to the center - or have directions they can scan in, or able to find them on the net (*cough* "oh_chris *cough*)?

Edit:
Thanks to so many people for the advice! I did find the instructions and now remember how to do them. ^_^

Origami

2007-10-02T13:06:00.000-04:00

After my recent move, I lumped all my crafts supplies together. I have LOTS of them. This included a bunch of origami paper and a few completed items. I'm thinking of selling small paper cranes - finished cranes are less than an inch across, and the paper starts off between 1" and 3" across. The smaller cranes tend to be solid colors, while the larger ones are mostly gradients of color. They are intended to be used as materials for others to do more to them, such as making pairs into earrings, putting loops on them for ornaments, stringing a bunch of them together to hang from the ceiling, or filling a favorite piece of glassware, though people might like them as is.

How much do think I should sell them for? Price and how many together? I need to take pictures of them too.

Etsy Expirations

2007-08-30T11:11:00.001-04:00

The problem with Etsy is that ads eventually expire - four months after posting them, I think. Unfortuantely with school starting up again, I don't entirely have the time to keep creating new items, updating posts, or even reposting them on Etsy when they expire.

If there's something on this blog that you like, please leave a comment or shoot me an email (zandperl-AT-gmail-DOT-com) and we can work something out - at a minimum I can repost the Etsy ad for you, or you can purchase it via PayPal if you want.

Moving...

2007-08-12T10:15:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the lack of updates... I recently moved, and am still cleaning and unpacking. OMG, I have so much crafts stuff, it's insane! So as to not leave y'all entirely high and dry, here's a photo of the new apartment - the furniture inside it is not mine, it's an image the landlord sent us when we were considering the apartment.

Sale!

2007-06-15T21:44:00.000-04:00

I've lowered the prices of three items on my Etsy store.

Pink/Maroon Glass Wire-Wrapped Earrings
Hand wrapped with silver wire, these are around 1" long and are made of glass tiles in pink and maroon. Hook earrings come with a backing so you won't lose them, and a maroon silk bag so you can gift them.
~~Was $15,~~ now $12.

Green Glass Beaded Necklace
This elegant green necklace has a dichroic glass centerpiece set off by antique green seed beads (~1940's) and plastic light green square beads with flower patterns. Beads are strung on a 22" nylon coated steel wire, with a metal toggle clasp. The combination of old (recycling at its finest!) and new (dichroic beads involve an internal thin film surface) is sure to accent any outfit and draw compliments.
~~Was $20,~~ now $15.

Pink Glass Beaded Necklace
This necklace is composed primarily of glass beads in varying shades of pink and clear. The faux pink pearl seed beads are antique, dating to approximately the 1940's - recycling at its finest! Beads are strung on a 22" nylon coated steel wire, with a metal toggle clasp. The central pink and black bead is approximately 3/4" long and hangs from a silver plated wire.
~~Was $20,~~ now $15.

Clear Glass and Black Ribbon Choker

2007-05-30T18:40:00.000-04:00

A clear/white glass drop 3/4" in diameter is hand-wrapped with silver wire and affixed to a wide sheer black ribbon designed to be tied at choker length. This romantic piece evokes Victorian-era luxury combined with elegant simplicity.

Payment is via PayPal only.

Shipping is free via USPS First Class within the USA, or $3 (US) via USPS Global Priority Airmail to UK.

Buy it here!

Green and Purple Glass Pendant

2007-05-30T18:10:00.000-04:00

Green and purple glass beads are hand wrapped with silver wire and hang approximately 1" long from a silken cord. Cord can be tied at whatever length you desire, or you can replace it with a chain of your choosing.

Payment is via PayPal only.

Shipping to the USA and UK is via USPS First Class mail; free with in the USA.

Buy it here!

Etsy Question

2007-05-30T15:51:00.000-04:00

Anyone else use Etsy? I just had an interaction with a buyer that went as follows.

Thurs May 24: Buyer buys item. Etsy informs me that item is bought. As a new seller, I misinterpreted this to mean that the seller had also sent me the payment.

Fri May 25: I thank buyer for the transaction and inform the buyer of intent to ship.

Sat May 26: I ship the item

Sun May 27: I realize that the item was not paid for

Mon May 28: I send first notice to the buyer, via email and Etsy convserations, that the item has not yet been paid for.

Tues May 29: I send a second notice to the buyer, via email and Etsy convserations, that the item has not yet been paid for, should be arriving any day now, and that the buyer should pay me to avoid receiving negative feedback and such.

Weds May 30: Buyer sends payment, says never received the first email, assumed that since I sent the item that the buyer had already paid for the item. I reply via email that the Etsy buyer FAQs indicate that the burden of payment are on the buyer, and that the seller is not required to send an invoice or payment request.

The relevant Etsy buyer FAQ is as follows.

How does buying on Etsy work?
To buy items, you'll need to create an Etsy account (it's free and easy – see the General FAQ for details). You purchase items on Etsy directly from the seller, using whatever payment you specify when checking out (e.g. PayPal, money order, check etc.). Keep in mind that every seller must be paid individually, and all payments must be made within three days of checkout. We ask if you choose to pay via PayPal that you submit payment immediately to the seller. Each seller will have their own return policy (if they have one at all), shipping options and payment terms. If you have any questions about any of these, it's best to contact the seller directly before making the purchase.

http://www.etsy.com/faq_buying.php [Emphasis added]

Did I do things wrong? *Should* I send an invoice each and every time if the buyer does not immediately send me PayPal payment? I guess maybe I will if they don't pay me, but I really honestly didn't realize. What do other sellers do? I know that in the future I will not ship until I receive the PayPal notification, that was my bad, but I don't see that the buyer should be blaming me for their thinking they had already paid me - it's in their PayPal account, for 'sakes, and they wouldn't've had a receipt anywhere. The buyer has more experience with Etsy than me, I would think that paying should be automatic on the buyer's part. *sigh*

And to top it all off, I'm sure I'm going to get bad feedback now.

Green glass necklace

2007-03-27T09:11:00.001-04:00

Another one! Put up a few days ago, it's quite sparkly. Unfortunately, the main photo is cropped funny when Etsy does a thumbnail, but I don't feel like fixing it.

This elegant green necklace has a dichroic glass centerpiece set off by antique green seed beads (~1940's) and plastic light green square beads with flower patterns. Beads are strung on a 22" nylon coated steel wire, with a metal toggle clasp. The combination of old (recycling at its finest!) and new (dichroic beads involve an internal thin film surface) is sure to accent any outfit and draw compliments.

Free shipping is via USPS First Class mail.

It's listed for $20. What do y'all think of the prices I'm putthing these things at?

Bird Toys - for sale

2007-03-18T23:20:00.000-04:00

And now for something completely different, I've decided to throw away a couple bucks listing a whole bunch of bird toys on my Etsy site. Who knows, maybe someone will actually care and buy one! :-P

Pink Glass Necklace

2007-03-17T17:34:00.000-04:00

Another necklace listing on Etsy.

This pink necklace is composed primarily of glass beads in varying shades of pink and clear. The faux pearl seed beads are antique, dating to approximately the 1940's - recycling at its finest! Beads are strung on a 22" nylon coated steel wire, with a metal toggle clasp. The central pink and black bead is approximately 3/4" long and hangs from a silver plated wire.

Free shipping is via USPS First Class mail.

Green Glass Leaf Necklace - Updated!

2007-03-17T17:32:00.000-04:00

I've updated the Etsy listing for the Green Leaf necklace with a couple more photos. Check it out!

The economy of crafts

2007-03-16T23:45:00.000-04:00

Making clothes used to be a necessity - people did it because there was no other way to get clothes. In my parents' generation it was relegated to something poor people did, because it was cheaper than buying your clothes. Today, it appears to be an idle passtime of the well-off. I mean, just look at the prices of patterns! And even if you're not working from a pattern, the material itself usually costs on par with buying the item already made.

Working with remnants, as I have been doing lately, seems the only economical way to go. However, you can't always get sufficient amounts to make things. Or the properties of the material are not what you expect - this afternoon I finished off a shirt I started last night. The material was a beautiful shiny pale blue, and the form-fitting cut of the shirt - copied near-faithfully from a cotton T-shirt I own, the modification being extra length - would have made a great shirt to wear to work. However, cotton stretches, and this material does not. It is now essentially a size 0 or XXS shirt (I wear size 4 or S). The material only cost a couple bucks, and I was creating it primarily as entertainment, but I am still disappointed I do not get the payout of a nice shirt afterwards. Perhaps I'll try selling it on Etsy, or else donate it to Goodwill.

Brown Fleece Scarf

2007-03-15T17:04:00.000-04:00

Posted one of the fleece scarves I made to Etsy.

Green Glass Leaf Necklace

2007-03-14T17:30:00.000-04:00

I have a new item up at my Etsy Shop, a green glass leaf necklace! Go check it out.

Pink/Maroon Wire-Wrapped Glass Tile

2007-03-11T00:04:00.000-05:00

And I've also now listed the pink glass tile on Etsy.

I edited out the hair for the Etsy listing. :-P

Etsy: Dichroic Orange/Green Set

2007-03-10T23:34:00.000-05:00

I have now listed my first item on Etsy! It's the dichroic orange/green set from a while ago. Check it out!

Etsy?

2007-03-03T14:32:00.000-05:00

Anybody use Etsy much? I found them through teacherspet. It looks like it's a community just for selling and buying crafts items, but I'm not sure how effective it is.

Hat!

2007-01-21T15:54:00.000-05:00

I finally made the hat to match my scarf and socks! I haven't yet made gloves though, or mittens.

2007-01-19T18:10:00.000-05:00

Oooh, I found something I can do with the leftover scarves, and any future ones I make that I don't try to (or don't succeed in) sell: my union had an auction with donated items this past Fall. They're going to collect donations in perpetuity for future auctions. Wouldn't that be a great use of the scarves? :) And if I'm lucky, people will start coming to me directly to buy some. ;)

More Scarves!

2007-01-06T10:54:00.000-05:00

I made a bunch more scarves for friends and coworkers for Christmas (and other holidays).

I'm thinking about selling the leftovers. Do you think people would be interested in buying them? How much do you think they'd want to pay? Would you buy one, and how much would YOU pay?

Socks!

2006-12-10T22:33:00.000-05:00

I just made the best darned fleece socks in the world! They better be after I broke two sewing machine needles on the second one, and by golly they are. ^_^

[I was using pins to mark where to sew, and ran the needle right over the plastic head of the pin. The first time the needle broke at the eye and so fell apart, the second time it broke right over the eye, leaving the end of the needle around the thread. Thankgoodness nothing else in the machine broke, and I have a goddess for a mother as she gave me 15 replacement needles with the machine itself.)

I'm awesome. I now have matching fleece socks and scarf, and I'm going to try a hat and gloves soon. It took me around 2 hours to make the socks. :( I'm sure I'll get faster, but I don't know how much faster, or faster enough to be worth it, or how fast I'll get faster... Man, if a half-hour scarf is worth $15, these things shoudl be worth $60 all by themselves!

The top edge is a bit messy...

... but not as messy as the heel joint. I'm going to have to sew one of them up by hand already.

And here's a self-portrait in my socks and scarf. :-P

More scarf info

2006-12-09T23:00:00.000-05:00

It takes me around 30 minutes to make a scarf, and on average a dollar's worth of material. I've been folding them up small and then rolling and tieing up with a scrap of the same color and putting them in gift bags. All my friends are going to get them for Christmas! :) These things usually run for $15 in stores.

Scarves

2006-12-08T01:11:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week I was thinking about crochetting scarves, and how long it takes, and how I find the simple yarns boring and the fancy yarns make me lose count. Then I looked at the scarf I'd been wearing for a while - fleece - and a lightbulb went off. A couple days of searching later, and I'd found a fabric store with a convenient sale on items! Solid color fleece that normally went for $8/yd was reduced to $4/yd, and I found a yard of black in the remnants bin, along with some fancy cloth that will make fancy scarves.

To make a fleece scarf:

Cut to 12" wide (and as long as the fabric allows). Make sure the edges are straight and not ragged. (I'm a n00b, and don't have fancy equipment so this's a challenge for me.) If you're lazy, your scarf is already done.

Measure around 4" from each end, and stick in a pin to mark it. This will be the tassels.

Using a thread color that matches or contrasts (your preference of course!), hem up the long edges, and across the short edge where the pins are placed.

Cut fringes/tassels into the unsewn ends, I make them around an inch wide, and stop cutting around 1 cm from where the thread is. Now you are done for my fancy version.

Other options include making it double thick (if the pattern is one-sided), folding over the edges before sewing it up, and other forms of tassels.

The hardest part of this all was figuring out how the sewing machine worked. I'd last used it some 8 years ago...

I'm going to gift a few of these scarves to friends, but I'm going to have leftover fleece. Anyone ever try selling on eBay? I'm worried I'll waste my money posting about them and not actually sell any.

Earthy Glass/Wirewrap Pendant

2006-06-09T00:04:00.000-04:00

This pendant shows off silver hand wirewrapping around three earth-tone glass tiles. The whole pendant measures about 1.2" wide by 2.5" long and is worn by a black ribbon.

Price of $13 via PayPal includes S&H by U.S. First Class Mail.

Orange/Green Dichroic Glass Earrings

2006-06-07T14:05:00.000-04:00

The simple design of this earring and necklace set allows the multi-colored glass beads to shine through. These are black in background, with a "think film coating" applied on top to give the shimmer. One side is sparkling green, the other sparkling orange. Earrings measure 3/4" long by 1/2" wide and hang from hooks with bright orange beads beneath the main bead. They come with backings so you won't lose them, and in a white silk pouch for safe-keeping or gifting. Necklace is the main bead in the center with orange beads on the side, all strung on an adjustable "invisible" string.

Price of $25 via PayPal includes S&H by U.S. First Class Mail.

Pink/Maroon glass tile wire-wrapped earrings

2006-05-24T21:16:00.000-04:00

The 1"-wide pink glass tile has a 1/2" maroon glass tile attached to it by criss-crossed layers of wire wrapping.

As usual, these hook earrings come with a backing and in a maroon silk bag. Price is $10 via PayPal, S&H included.

Now with PayPal!

2006-05-20T11:26:00.000-04:00

I think I've figured out the PayPal thing. All my items for sale should now have PayPal buttons on them. Please note: although you can manually change quantities for any item to more than one, there only exists ONE OF EACH ITEM! Hopefully I won't have two people buying the same item, in which case I'll send it to the first person, and learn how to refund the second. Anyone know how to set the quantity of items in PayPal?

eBay: didn't sell

2006-05-20T10:31:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately, the first three items, which I listed on eBay, didn't sell. Not too surprising I don't think, but I'm not sure how I would get them to sell. Anyone else sell things on eBay much?

I can relist them if anyone wants to buy them, or leave a comment or email zandperl-AT-gmail-DOT-com and we'll arrange it through PayPal instead.

Orange glass set

2006-05-19T01:13:00.000-04:00

This orange glass set is not currently for sale - I made it for myself to wear with a dress for a couple weddings this summer - but I thought I would show it off.

Neclace consists of a glass pendant in the shape of a heart. Half clear/white, and half opalescent orange, it hangs from a sheer golden ribbon cut to choker length that fastens with a bow. The earrings have one larger opalescent orange glass bead in a rounded tetrahedral shape, two smaller orange and yellow beads, and then one disk-shaped pearly pink/white glass bead. Beads are threaded together with a fine silver wire that also wraps around the beads. Hook earrings with a backing, currently hanging in a gold silk bag from the same hanger as the dress.

Maroon glass tile Earring and Pendant set

2006-05-15T22:13:00.000-04:00

This one is my favorite yet, and I won't be sad if it doesn't sell. One-inch square maroon glass tiles are hung diagonally and wrapped three times each way across the face for a secure hold. Above are smaller white with pink glass tiles wrapped similarly. The pendant has an additional white and pink tile beneath the main maroon one.

Hook earrings come with an included backing so you won't lose them. Necklace not included - I would recommend a simple silver box chain, or lightweight black silk, though you could try leather or a silk ribbon in various colors. The set comes with a matching maroon silk bag to keep them safe in a drawer, carry while traveling, or to use as a gift bag.

Maroon set on the table.

They're translucent.

Size compared to hand, showing off the colors more.

All three pieces come in a garnet-colored silk bag for protection, storage, or gifting.

Price $25 including shipping by U.S. First Class mail, via PayPal.

PayPal to eBay

2006-05-15T21:51:00.000-04:00

I'm afraid the PayPal "Buy Now" buttons seem to be giving me issues. Anybody else use them and want to help me out?

In the meantime, I'm going to remove the buttons from each item and put a link to the eBay auction. If that ends without a winning bid, I will put up static prices, and if you wish to purchase an item, leave a comment on that item's comments, and when I reply with confirmation you can use the "Donate" button in the right sidebar. All my eBay auctions are available here.

Aqua Glass Earrings

2006-05-14T20:40:00.000-04:00

These blue-green earrings are made from glass tiles hand-wrapped with silver wire. They measure 1.25" wide and around 1.75" long, and hang from hooks. I've included backings for the hooks so you'll never lose them, and a dark blue silk bag to keep them safe or use as gift-wrapping.

Cost of earrings is $15, including shipping and handling (via U.S. First Class Mail).

Handmade Pink Glass Tile Wire-Wrapped Earrings

2006-05-14T11:18:00.000-04:00

Pink glass tile hand wrapped with silver wire along the edges to display to opalescent shimmer. Comes with a backing for the hook so that you'll never lose it, and a gold-colored silk bag to keep the earrings safe, or to use as a gift bag.

Earrings measure 1.25" wide by 1.5" high. Price $10 including shipping by U.S. First Class mail, via PayPal.

Welcome!

2006-05-14T10:20:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Zandperl's Fancies, home of handmade jewelry and other creations. I'll be posting new items as I make them, and all are for sale through PayPal. I hope to have reasonable prices - I make these for fun, not profit, but I don't really want them sitting around the house when I'm done making them.

Comments Rules
I welcome and encourage comments, including feedback and suggestions (though I am not yet taking commissions, if I ever do).

No comment spam. Posts that appear to be for no purpose other than to provide a link to another webpage will be deleted. Comments with links to executable files will be deleted, as they could contain viruses and I do not want my blog to inadvertantly compromise anyone's computer.

No profanity, insults, or flame wars. I would like to keep this site PG-13, apolitical, family friendly, safe for work, accepting of all individuals, and respectful. I do understand that these things sometimes slip out, and even PG-13 movies aren't 100% pure, so I will not delete every such post, just when they become excessive according to my own standards. I don't expect that I'll ever have to actually implement this policy.

That said, feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions, or comment just to say "hi" and who you are!