Ravelry!

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!

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

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

Winter Goodies!

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

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

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

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!

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

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!

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

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!

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?

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

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

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...

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!

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

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

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

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.