Accomplishments, or Lack Thereof

This week I've been fairly distracted by spinning, as evidenced by the volume of spinning natter over on my personal blog.  

I could claim that my hands and wrists were tired of hand-sewing and lacing, and I've been giving them a break.  There would even be some truth to that statement.  It would not, however, explain my lack of Etsy/ArtFire updates (insert guilty look here).  

I did get an order directly attributable to the craft fair, so I'll be starting that (and finishing, with luck) this weekend.  I just need to find a book of the appropriate thickness at home so I can figure out how much leather wrapping a cover around it will take.  Oooh, I dunno, finding a book in our house . . . 

I also need to do the books from the craft fair (which shouldn't take long), and do the inventory update and price-tag new-ish finished things (a larger job).  Which I'm not making any promises on.

On the Design front, this week we started our big project for the term in GRA102 - Graphic Arts 101, but more so.  (yeah, I'm just a liiiitle bored, I'm not sure we've done much new yet, except for things I already am familiar with in InDesign.  Sigh).  It's a folder, business card, and inserts for a business or organization.  Can you guess what business I might possibly do?  

When we were supposed to do sketches of several possible logos I asked if I really needed  to do that, since I have an established logo.  The instructor said no, but please sketch what it is.  Thank Ghu she's wasn't expecting a good sketch.  

My plan is that the overall package will be for Otter Necessities Design Services.  I'll include not one, but two business cards - Otter Necessities Design Services, and Ron's photography business cards.  We have an option of doing a set of 4 insert sheets in stepped heights, or a mumble-page insert stapled into the folder.  I'm thinking . . . both.  The stepped sheets in the left-hand pocket of the folder, and then making the stapled insert a mini-portfolio.  Yeah, I think I can generate that much content, especially if I include things like retouching work Ron's done on old family photos, and re-purposing old advertising posters I've done for MuseCon, and custom leather presentation folders/binders.  The only hitch may be time.   

Also been poking at Publications stuff for both MuseCon and Windycon.  A week after MuseCon I get to put the Progress Report mailing for Windycon.  Wheee!  Nothing like a packed schedule!

I've decided not to take any Graphic Arts classes over the summer, still waffling about fall.  But I can wait on that.   

Craft Fair Report

Sorry about disappearing again.  Besides getting ready for the craft fair, I had to do a presentation at the floodplain managers' conference pre-conference workshop last week, and I kept getting distracted by a new spinning wheel in the house.

I still haven't gotten ArtFire and Etsy updated, and I'm not sure I have sufficient brains tonight.  It was a long week - Tuesday morning I left for Normal and didn't get home until Thursday evening, then had the craft fair yesterday.  Fortunately, Ron and Robin did most of the packing, all had to do was mark straps for the last three new purses, and assemble tools. 

The craft fair was at Palatine High School, so it was nice and local.  It opened for setup at 6:30 am, but we didn't get there until 7:15-ish, since it didn't open until 9:00.  We were set up by 8:00.  Yeah, we're fast, but we also didn't put out all the pouches or belts.

I'd only gotten one 8' x 10' spot, so I only brought one 6' table, and two 4' tables, and figured one of the small ones would stay in the truck.  But we got lucky, and got a corner!  Woot!  So we had a nice L, and the person on the other side wasn't crowding, so we had comfortable space to get in and out, and for Ron to play with his spinning wheel.


I only put out a selection of buckled belts, and a couple (black) tied belts (just in case...), so I didn't bring the belt rack.  I did put out all the purses, satchels, book covers, and a selection of belt pouches.  I didn't bring the alpaca or knitting patters.  I probably could/should have.

Last Saturday was Fremd HS's craft fair, and they did a *MUCH* better job advertising.  We're about midway between the two schools, I saw lots of signage for Fremd's fair, nothing for Palatine's, until yesterday, and only right near the school.  Robin said he didn't see any signage at school.  This may explain why Fremd can charge more.  Fortunately, there was a gymnastics meet, a concert, and at least practice for lacrosse and swimmers yesterday, which probably brought a few people in besides students directly involved.

I wish I'd gone to Fremd's fair, to see what their spaces and vendor selection was like.  A good half the vendors yesterday were re-sellers. And not re-seller's of somebody else's handmade goodies, resellers of Longaberger baskets, Tupperware, ugly but fashionable purses, and Ghu knows what other carp.  Which explains why people seemed so pleased to see me working on purses, and/or when we responded that yes, it's all our own work. The only other vendor I spent any time looking at was a couple guys with very nice woodworking. 


Our neighbor was the one selling Longaberger baskets.  She was nice, and I must say that her table looked nice, too.  Grumbling about resellers aside, I'm glad we were next to her than some of the junk that was for sale.


Sales were not great, but since there were no travel costs to speak of, not bad.  All those purses?  Sold none.  Belts?  None. A belt pouch, and two satchels.  OTOH, the belt pouch and the fabric satchel covered booth costs, and the fabric satchel was one I thought was never going to sell.  The third sale was a leather satchel, so in the end it was a day that would have been decent when I was a new-ish SCA vendor. And considering that I only had out limited stock, that's a fair comparison for sales levels.


And I think I did generate some more potential business out of it.  One lady was very interested in a custom-size book cover.  The lady that bought the fabric satchel for her daughter said they were very into Etsy when I mentioned that I'm local and have an Etsy shop.  There's also possibility of a couple belt sales, etc., especially since I'm local.  


I'm thinking a couple of the high school craft shows per year might not be bad for business, especially if this one seems to result in after-business.  I'm quite willing to lay credit for after-sales to the worth of attending a show.  

In any case, we need to re-build parts of the belt rack.  The bits in question are 2x2s with 3/4" diameter holes near the ends, and they're suffering chipping around the holes from years of use.  I'm not sure if we want to just replace, or go with a partial re-design.

I'm also considering if I want to come up with a smaller belt display option, especially I do decide to do "mundane" shows more often. I'm mulling over the idea of some grid panels, like the ones Windycon owns and loans/rents to Capricon, Duckon, etc.  

Progress Progressing

I cut out two more smaller purses Thursday, one in chestnut (red-brown), and one black, both to have black gussets.  

Then while I was working on them yesterday I made what may have been a tactical mistake.  I put the chestnut back/flap with the black front, and the black back/flap with the chestnut front.  They look really good that way, but that's not what I meant to do.  Ron said I should go for it.  They're ready to stitch/lace.

So yesterday I tried again at cutting out a black new small purse.  All that's left to do with that is the stitching holes, and the actual stitching and lacing.  I forgot how little time one thing takes, I've been doing mass production so much.

This afternoon we finally got pictures taken of the newest purses and some pouches I'd finished.  Here's a picture of taking a picture:

Sorry about the funny vertical bars, Ron's guess is that they're caused by a strobe effect from his flourescent photographic lights.  

Yes, the pouch is levitating.  Kinda.  No, there was no photoshopping, rotating the picture, etc.  

Magnets, however...

Cutting cutting cutting

I went ahead and cut out two more of the new smaller purses tonight: another black one, and one with a chestnut (red-brown) front and back/flap, and a black gusseted. That one will probably get a black strap.

Ron doesn't think I'm crazy for starting these with the intention of finishing them for the craft fair. I have 2 weekends plus weekdays including 2 nights away from home.

But now, off to the tub.

Sticker Shock

Last night I investigated overseas shipping prices.

To a large far-east city, FedEx would be $90 or $170. Ouch!

Then I checked UPS: $215. Aaaaiiiieeeee!!!!

I think I ranted something at the computer about not needing fast service.

Not expecting much better luck, I tried the Post Awful.

A medium-size flat-rate box, limit 20 lbs: $45.

Blink blink.

Pricey, but not completely barking mad, and 8-10 days (presumably not including Customs) isn't slow-boat to China-slow, either.

Now we'll see what the customer thinks.

Planning Natter

I did some poking sbout yesterday, the default search result order on both Etsy and ArtFire appears to be by most recently listed. I can see from that listing bunches of items at longer intervals is not optimal. Listing one or two items at a time more often is going to be better for search result placement. It's also probably better for getting people to check your shop on a regular basis.

So, I think the plan for listing belts is going to be one style every day or two or three, probably starting with 1" buckled, 1.5" "mundane" buckled, or the kilt/Sam Browne (w/out shoulder strap) belts. I have a picture of the 4 colors of harness leather/latigo I use for belts, and a measuring diagram (because clothing size is abso-stinking-useless), I just need good shots of some of the hardware, and some finished belts.

Last night I was debating cutting out a couple more of the new smaller purses, since I'll be away from home and bored for 2 nights at the annual floodplain managers' conference. And this morning I was thinking that it's about time for another web sale.

From my mouth to the FSM's noodle appendage. This morning I had a message from a customer about a custom order. To the far east. Erm. Must check shipping options & rates. And design a pouch big enough.

iPouch Pics Plus

First up, the iPouch, sticking it's tongue out:




And here is my iPod, standing in for my iPhone (which I was taking the photo with) in a shot showing the lift strap in action:




Ron had a splitting headache last night, so I didn't ask for any photography. I did do dishes and got the Lace Mania purses ready to lace, and I think I have a plan on how to list belts for sale, so that was sufficient accomplishment.

Posty Nattery Thingy

A week ago (that long?!?) we tried waxing some pouch fronts, and discovered that the heat gun was dead. At first Ron thought it was being crotchety about running on a 20-amp circuit, but it wasn't any happier on a 12-amp.
So Ron finished up the iPouch front he'd started and did the pouch front the order with the hair dryer, which is slower, and noisier. And has a broken on-off switch, making it a pain to use.

Thursday we went to Berland's House of Toy...er...Tools and got a new heat gun.

Friday night and Saturday morning I worked on the ordered pouch, and laced it together before and after Saturday afternoon's MuseCon meeting. We made the belt yesterday morning, and shipped them off (we all had the day off). The pouch is brown with a havana (dark brown) harness leather back/flap and dark brown lace that almost matches the havana, and the belt is also havana. The pouch has an added pocket, which came out pretty well. I've done pockets in purses before by making them just a bit wider than the back of the pouch, but the customer wanted a larger pocket, so I worked out where and how to accordion-pleat the pocket to add space and leave margin for lacing it in. It came out rather nicely, and I should have taken a picture. Oops.

Saturday evening I finished the large black purse I was working on last week, and yesterday we made shoulder straps for it, the two new smaller purses, and the two Lace Mania purses that are in progress, and put the straps on the purses that are done. The other straps two have all the necessary holes, and just have to be riveted on once I lace the purses up (mass-production for the win). I got the lace mania purses glued together last night, I have to do is mark/punch the lacing holes in the gussets and finish installing latches, hopefully tonight, then I can lace them together.

I also finished my first iPouch. It was designed for old Nokia N810 devices, which are a little different in size than iPhones, but I'd taken iPhone size into account in the design. The iPouch is a little deep, so I added a lifter strap to go under the phone to help pull it out. It's a snug fit with the cover I have on my iPhone, but not as bad with a naked phone. I still have to trim the end of the strap, currently it looks like the pouch is sticking out its tongue. I'll try to remember to get a picture tonight.

Didn't get pictures of the new purses or belts this weekend, I may send Ron upstairs to do that while I work on the Lace Mania purses. I'd like to get belts posted to Etsy and ArtFire. Which reminds me, I added sales tax handling to my Etsy and ArtFire shops. Hopefully it doesn't cut into sales, thankyouverymuch Todd Stroger, I just looooove 9.5% sales tax. (Yes, I'm charging my local sales tax on non-local purchases, although I explain on both sites that I will adjust for other Illinois rates if contacted pre-sale. I'd rather not perturb the Illinois Department of Revenue, thanks).

Downloaded a blogging app, Blogpress, to my phone. I'm typing this in mail on a real keyboard, then I'll try posting via cut and paste through Blogpress. Initial poking at the app looks promising.

A Quiet-Ish Day

We took today off as a post-Capricon recovery day.
 
Worked on the new smaller purse in brown yesterday and today, now it just needs the shoulder strap.  Also figured out how much they cost to make, and I think the selling price will be $35-40.  

Got another internet order today.  A belt and a custom-ish hard pouch (particular colors, and adding a pocket).  Fortunately, I have a front for that size pouch molded, which cuts the time needed to make it.  The front does need to be waxed, which we'll probably do tomorrow. 

I'm wondering if my Etsy store is generating non-Etsy traffic.  You have to join Etsy in order to purchase through Etsy, I'm wondering if there's some people who don't like that "feature", and look for the same vendors outside of Etsy.  I suppose I could add an optional box to the web contact form/verbiage on the website "contact us" page asking how people found us.  

I have a bunch of other pouch fronts needing to be waxed, too.  We haven't done that job in a while.  Did some trimming prepartory to waxing. Also went out and dyed some of said waiting-to-be-waxed fronts black this evening. 

Today I also worked on lacing together the large purse I'd gotten ready for working on at Capricon.  I thought for a little while today I'd lost the gusset, which would be a royal pain in the backside, but I found it - if it had teeth, it would have bitten Robin when he didn't find it.

Also drew up a hard pouch back in CAD - IIRC I'd originally done it with pencil and paper, and I'm not sure where the original is.  But I had one cut out of leather, so I was able to reverse-engineer it. 

Sounds like I did a lot, but it didn't seem like it.

New Purse

Here are a couple pictures of the new purse.  The body is about 5" tall, 7" wide, and 3" thick; with a wider flap, and with the curve in the flap it's actually about 5-1/2"-5-3/4" tall.  I wanted to pull the flap down a little farther, but I screwed up and punched holes in the flap for the larger rotary latch.  Oops.  

Yes, I know my backdrop has dog hair all over it.  It isn't a backdrop so much as a chunk of fabric left over from a mending job, propped up on a water bottle and a pile of other stuff that was sitting within reach of my seat on the couch.  And the pictures were taken with my iPhone camera (which really isn't a bad little camera). 

Once the purse has a shoulder strap it'll go upstairs to the light table and have a proper portrait taken under the for-real photographer lights with a DSLR.

Still Not at Capricon

Still not at Capricon, but feeling better.  I think I may be pretty much done with the fever nonsense.  On the other hand, I'm tired and crabby.  I tried to go to bed about 8:30, but I didn't get to sleep until some time after 10:30, and then didn't sleep well.  Hmm.  Part of my problem was comfort temperature-wise, maybe it was a fever thing.  Anyway, I think the tired and grumpy is related to the not-sleeping part.  

Got the 2011 books started.  I think I've figured out record-keeping for mail-order (ie: internet) sales that will actually be useful. We've had 4 already this year, which is at double what I've done in previous whole years.  And as I said previously, I'd like to increase the volume of internet sales.

I did realize this morning that there is some more internet-sale record-keeping that I need to deal with: membership and/or listing fees for ArtFire and Etsy.  Artfire charges a flat monthly fee, Etsy charges listing and sales fees.  I'll can roll the Etsy fees for items that sell into the sales record-keeping, but I need to account for costs associated with items that don't sell, and the ArtFire fees.  Must think about how best to do this.  

Trying something new this year to keep paperwork from floating around the house.  I've got one binder for all my paperwork from purchases, and another one for on-line sales paperwork (in-person sales don't generate as much paper, and I've been dealing reasonably successfully with them for years).  Hopefully the binders I got are too small, at least for the sales paperwork.  

Yesterday in the afternoon/evening I put away some patterns, and then printed out and put away some of my own designs and binderized them, too, to hopefully limit the re-re-re-printing from the CAD files because I mislay them.  A few months ago I got one binder to store my bought patterns, now there's a matching one for paper patterns of our own design.  Lexan/plexiglass patterns have a drawer of their own.  Which reminds me, I need to get some more plexi and get Ron and/or Robin to make me some more templates for things I'm still using paper patterns for, but I make with some regularity. 

And now, Ron says I need to go see if more food helps my temper.  And then I think I'll finish sewing the body of the small black purse prototype.  Then I have to decide if I want to rivet the shoulder strap on, or sew it.  I'll probably rivet it.  

The Not-At-CapriCon Report

As I whined over on my personal blog, I'm not at Capricon this weekend. 

I had two little pouches, the two new smaller purse prototypes (two prototypes of one design), and a large purse ready to work on while hanging out at the Cafe and various places, as well as some pouches.  I got the flap laced and most of the sewing done on one of the new purses before I came home yesterday.  After I got home I was too out of it to work any more.

This morning I figured I'd work on pouches and purses, since I wasn't all better.  But then I remembered the pile of Otter paperwork that needed sorting, so I've sorted that, and been poking at the books.  I've got the last bits of 2010 transactions entered, but I left checking my aggregate-all-numbers spreadsheet formulas to make sure they're pointing at the right places until I'm a little more clear-headed.  

Now working on 2011 transactions - I've been procrastinating on putting the internet sales in until I decided what I was doing for record-keeping (mostly format thereof), and making sure I was doing sales tax on internet purchases correctly.  

Making progress there.  

However, I think once I finish the last couple spoonfuls of my yummy yummy Avgolemono soup, I'm going to chase the dogs out for a few minutes then go sit in the tub.  


And I'm afraid that the eye infection from hell I had a couple years ago, which took months and months to clear completely away, may be trying to make a comeback.  This distresses me even more than missing Cap. 

State of the To-Do

Went in to my Etsy store, picked a half-dozen-ish items, and re-listed them, and realized I need another picture or three to list belts.  I have one picture with most of the hardware, but not our "mundane" belt buckle & keeper set or our kilt belts.

In the process of responding to an inquiry from the website, I went to the basement to see what leather I had down by the formerly-cutting table (lately a beekeeping equipment table - must figure out how to rectify that). 

While I was in the basement, I had Robin bring me the leather and dies to cut dee holders for the purses.  And then I put Robin to work cleaning up the basement workshop area (since much of the mess is because of his not putting things away), and started die-cutting scales out of the great big bin of scrap I sent down during the dining room cleanup.  Like most of us, Robin works better with company (and encouragement and suggestions).  He found a significant section of floor!  Woo-hoo!

OTOH, I don't think I'm getting around to further paperwork sorting today.  It's a fair tradeoff for getting some basement cleaning and scale cutting done.  Now I really need to market said scales.  It would also be nice to figure out some other product for small scrap, but haven't come up with one.

I finished the Capricon Cafe and Musecon party signage and flyers yesterday, just need to be uploaded for printing.  I also did a new business card design for Otter Necessities, which has the current e-mail address (otter at our domain).  The old cards had my old e-mail address on it.  I also need to consider pointing the web contact form to the Otter Necessities mail address instead of my personal gmail as it does currently.  I check my personal gmail more often, but pointing it at the other would make some sense, and I can get into the habit of checking it more than once per day.

Oops, rather a digression there.  Anyway, the new business cards have the "new" e-mail address, I cut down the amount of verbiage on the front, moving a line or so to the back and also referring customers to Etsy and ArtFire.  I decided to spring for full color, and Ron said get glossy.  So in a week or so I should have 250 shiny new pretty business cards.

Now, off to do dishes and then work on purses.  So, even though the paperwork sorting doesn't appear to be happening, I'm doing pretty well on the to-do list.

More Current than Catch-Up

I have, IIRC, 5 purses cut out now: 2 of the new smaller purse, in brown and black; a black large rectangular purse; and 2 lace mania purses, again one brown and one black.  I also cut out replacements for the little pouch I sold this week, and finally got to FedEx yesterday - a brown one and a black one of that (although I'm mentally classifying that one as Steampunk/Sam Browne Project, which is Not-Black, but brain said "make black" and I did). 

The little pouches are in final assembly, still working on getting all the parts made, etc. for the purses.  I was waffling about the purses on stitching vs lacing; I decided to stitch the bodies and lace around just the flap.  I do have one concern about my design, but if it turns out to be valid I think I also have a fix.

My Etsy listings have all fallen off due to length of time, so I have to either re-list and/or list some new things.

This morning I sorted through various mixed bills, statements, and paperwork, making one pile of Otter's stuff.  Later today or tomorrow I'll go through that and sort it.  This is the first part of closing the books for 2011 and doing taxes.

OTOH, I did my sales tax filings back in December. Yes, there was a small risk of internet sale(s) after I filed them, but there is a process for filing an amended return if that had happened. 

The schedule for this weekend is to work on purses, finish up signage for the Capricon Cafe and flyers for the MuseCon party, and to continue on with paperwork/bookkeeping. 

More Catch-Up

Our next event is the Spring Craft Fair at Palatine High School, Saturday March 12th.  Yes, our previous craft fair attempts were failures, but the last one at the HS was, I heard, awful for all the vendors, in part because it was the same day as the Fremd craft fair, and one at, IIRC, Arlington Park.  Fremd's is a week before this time around, so we'll give it a try.  

The Palatine craft fair is $55 for one spot, without electricity or tables.  I looked at the information for Fremd's, IIRC the spots start out at about $80.  That was over my mental limit.  Maybe another time, if we do well at Palatine.

Not sure when the next SCA event will be, I don't see the one that's been held at Glenbrook North HS the last couple/few years in March-ish - around Mardi Gras, I think it was.  

We're also looking at doing fewer events, and trying to do more web sales.  Ron's back appreciates that business model, and one of these years Robin will be moving out (although the current plan is for him to live at home and go to Harper for his first couple years of college).  And since Ron cleaned up the spare bedroom to use as a photography studio, he can keep his light table and lights set up, which makes getting pictures of new merchandise a simpler thing. In theory.

I haven't had any ArtFire sales.  I had one sale of two belts on Etsy, but I haven't actually listed belts there yet (need pictures - that theory with getting pictures is still not working perfectly), it was a friend of a friend.  


Besides those two belts, this year already I've gotten (and filled) an order from a previous customer for a cover for an artist's spiral notebook; and from new customers for two belts, and a pouch.  The pouch has been boxed up and ready to go to FedEx since Tuesday night.  But the cars only got out of the driveway far enough to get the driveway plowed yesterday, and I'm stuck home with car trouble today.  I called to see what a pickup would cost, but it wouldn't be until tomorrow, so I'll drop it off tonight or tomorrow morning, and save the fee.


Yes, I like FedEx.  I've been content with their service, they have tracking, and I can do all the shipment hoo-ha and even print the label from home, and the 24-hour FedEx/Kinko's office on Roselle is on a reasonable alternate route to work. UPS is #2, tied with FedEx for reliability and tracking, but not quite as convenient.  USPS is close to home, but fails on tracking, and I think they're slower than the other two, but not particularly cheaper.  


Monday I picked up some spiffy Avery sheets - top half is a sticky label, the bottom half is plain paper, with a perforation between, so you can print your shipping label and a packing list/invoice in one go.  Got that set up Tuesday night.


Looking ahead to the craft show, I designed a new purse last night.  It's gusseted, debating if I'm going to lace around the flap or not.  I have one cut out in black, I think I'm going be be brave and cut a brown one out also, before I do the black one.  I also need to make a big rectangular purse in black, and some of the "Lace Mania" (rounded, laced) purses.  Once I find my pattern.  In cleaning and rearranging the dining room to be a usable workshop again (see the "cleaning fits" tags on the Otter Blog, I seem to have mislaid some patterns...


And now, off to do work-like things.  Besides the purses, I also owe Ron and Robin some Sam Browne belt parts. And since I'm home today, I can do something not-so-quick for dinner.

Another Hiatus

I did it again.  Another long period of silence.

Part of the problem is (or was) that Blogger wasn't playing nice with my iPhone.  I should re-check and see if that's been fixed and/or if there's an app for that which works politely.

The other part is that we haven't been doing much with Otter lately.  As in only one event all of last year. 

No, we won't be in the Dealer's Room at Capricon.  Ron is exapno's second for running the Cafe, aka Caffeination Station, so he'll be busy with that, and doing the tables by myself is not fun.  I'll probably be unofficial cafe staff.  


I have been doing design stuff.  I had one discussion about a possible document-layout job, and even put together a quote, but I suspect it exceeded the customer's budget.  I also did Publications and kept Ron (the Chair) sane for MuseCon, which was in August, and Publications for Windycon, which was in November.  I also said I'd do Windycon again this year.  We'll see how doing Pubs for an established convention not starting late goes, I took Windycon over on the late side last year.


I had joked that by rights I should end up doing Capricon's book this year, so that I'd have bailed out Duck (2009), Windy (2010), and Cap in consecutive years.  OTOH, I'm not complaining that it didn't happen.


I was asked to work on the Publications team for Chicon 7 (WorldCon 2012), but explained that my first loyalty is to MuseCon, and they're too close together to work both.  The Publications head at the time did point out that they'll be needing people for plenty of stuff earlier in the schedule, but I didn't give a definite answer,  he had to step down due to work reasons, and I don't know his replacement. 


Most recently, design-wise, I've been doing flyers for the MuseCon party at WindyCon.  They're old advertisements from Dover books, edited and re-built into flyers.  It's been fun.

In the fall term at Harper College I took Graphic Arts 101, Introduction to Graphic Arts, and this term I'm taking GRA 102, Desktop Publishing, aka GRA 101+.  I'm learning a bit about Photoshop, Illustrator, and Quark XPress, but mostly these are prerequisites.


OK, I think this is long enough now.  I'll call it done for design-natter, and put leather-natter in another post.

Otter Necessities on Etsy and ArtFire

Oops, looks like I wandered off again and didn't post for a while.

I did get Ron the shooting table, and he's been taking pictures.  He also talked me into a ring flash so he could take better ones.  Yes, that is a "sucker" stamp on my forehead.  OTOH, we paid for most of it with bank card reward points. 

My Etsy and ArtFire shops are not only up and running, but now populated.  OtterNecessities all squished together as one word on both.

If any of you, gentle readers, have accounts at either place, please let me know and perhaps a hint on how to do a friends-linky type thing?

Off to work on the WindyCon program book.  Also a block party this afternoon.  Making a couple turkey breasts for that.  Initial plan was to do them on the grill, but we decided the weather was a little too chilly, so they're in  the oven. 

Not Quite Day Off

Too many nights up past my bedtime this week makes for a very tired Otter.  Tired enough that I didn't go to work yesterday.  Ron said I could stay home as long as I came up to his office to go out to lunch with him.  Seemed like a plan to me.

After breakfast I checked Google Reader, which is how I follow a bunch of blogs, and found a post with information on a special at an Etsy-alternative, ArtFire.com.  If mumble people sign up for special deal, they get a Pro account for only $6/month for life, instead of the usual $16/month, and you can cancel any time after the first month. 

This inspired me to take a look at both ArtFire and Etsy.

Etsy is the better-known, at least for me, but does not have a "leather" category, although you can search for "leather".  No monthly fees, they go with a listing fee and percentage.  ArtFire, OTOH, has the flat monthly fee, and there's a link to a "leather" category - I think as what material.  But not as well known.

Well, what the hey, neither of them are exactly expensive, we'll try out both and see where I do better.  OtterNecessities on both, although neither one has anything actually up yet.  I also started the process of getting a GoogleCheckout merchant account, although I'm not sure Google is any less evil-empire-ish than PayPal.  But it's a choice for people that absolutely can't stand PayPal; and I can't blame those that feel that way.

Ron, obviously (?) agreed to this experiment, and made an offhand comment about not doing events.  Not unless on-line business really takes off.

Ron also said he might petition for this very spiffy shooting table (http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/rm1018/) which we've drooled at before.  The surface is transparent, so you can get diffused lighting from below.  Nor is it outrageously expensive.

Well, something must have been very soft and smooshy inside my head, because I called Calumet, then set off.  After coaxing Eowyn upstairs to her crate: she did not want to wake up and climb up the stairs, dammit.  Shooting table procured, along with two shot bags - those are for something completely different, I've had the shot to make some for a year or two, and decided $10 each for Calumet's were worth mumble month of further failing to find Round Tuits to make my own.

Road construction made the trip down to Oak Brook slow, and was spotty on the trip from there back up to Vernon Hills.  And some back down to Palatine after lunch.  'Nuff said.

The table comes in a nice sturdy carrying bag, with a second lighter-weight bag to contain all the hard bits, which fit inside the rolled-up white semi-flexible tabletop.  The angle of that back bit adjusts, too.  So now Ron's agitating for a ring flash, sigh...

Anyhoo, after I got home I started doing the books from Saturday's event.  Finally, that is.  I'd meant to start them right after checking Google Reader, see way back above.  I hit some snags:

1. Our cost for the black cartridge pouch (see the relevant SB project posts for pictures).  I'd never figured it out.  
2. An entry for a "brown belt" in Ron's handwriting.  That . . . covers a lot of territory.
3. An entry for something unspecified sold with a pouch, in my handwriting.
4. An entry for a pouch that we sold last year.

#4 I've dealt with a couple times before.  Usually it's an oops in either the tens or ones place, sort the inventory list by price and scan for likely suspects.  It was the tens place, this time.
#3 I decided was a plain black belt, based on price, and the color pouch.
#2 we decided was a havana belt - havana is a brown-brown, the other two are a golden brown and a red/burgundy brown.  Price and memory supplied hardware details.

#1 is still not completely resolved:

Robin and I couldn't find the original pattern, or the photocopy that was cut up for actual use.  We have the pouch made in two colors of brown, at worst, but measuring an assembled pouch is not a fun way to figure costs, especially one that complex.  And we want to make another one.  Aaah, the problem with using Someone Else's pattern.

I checked the Tandy website, but no luck.  It isn't standard Tandy stock, it was something GDI manager Bill carried because he liked it (as I thought).  Sadly, Bill has retired, and when I was last in the new manager is toeing the company line.  Then my google-fu was not helping.  Lots of hits, but all for completed pouches, and the designer's website is really deficient.

Finally, I had the sense to ask Robin to check the other patterns we have by the same designer.  Distributed by Hide Crafters (who I don't normally shop with, since the first few times I tried over a couple/few years I experienced found  not-low prices, when I could even get their website or PDF catalog to work at all).  Success!  I went ahead and ordered the missing pattern, and three more (different) patterns (tries to look innocent).

My logic?  The missing pattern is, at this point, not going to show up unless/until I replace it.  I could prolong the process, but by ordering a new one ASAP I can get on with finding my old one sooner.

Robin suggested that the missing pattern would show up last night.  We explained no, not until the new one ships, at best.  Probably not until the new one arrives and is opened, and maybe not even until it's in use.  If it had shown up last night, I could have called first thing this morning and cancelled the new one.  Murphy's Law does not work that way.

Anyhow, except for the cost of the cartridge pouch, the books for Saturday's event are done.

Back to Etsy and ArtFire, my plan is not to spend much time rooting through merchandise bins.  I think we'll start out with new pouches, etc., as we get them done.  I think I'm going to keep comparable selections on both (some items can be identical - like X-style all-black pouches or belts) for a while and see where the best return comes from.

Back in the Hunt at Fox Hunt

Friday and Saturday were mostly successful.

I got out of work a little late Friday afternoon, and thus didn't get 
home until about a half-hour after Ron and Robin. But I'd sent Ron the packing list, so they had started packing the truck. I went through some of the bins in the trailer and the bin of finished pouches from in the house, deciding what to leave home and what to take, and consolidating where I could. Taking the 2 Easy-Ups meant that much less space for other stuff. Truck packing was accomplished without incident, or even snapping at each other.

Then we moved inside, and I started packing up tools and the other things in the house, like price list sheets, receipt books, etc. I once more went through some bins of odds and ends that had been going to events and decided what we really needed and what we didn't, and consolidated.  Still no snapping.  We must be growing up or something.

Robin took the results of the indoor packing out to the truck, and then we went off in search of dinner. On the way home we stopped for snacks - getting up at 0-dark-thirty AM generally means the hungries before what most people consider lunch time.

Up at 5 am, and off for Earlsville, IL. The site is waaay out in the boonies, a place called Stonehouse Park, which bills itself as being a dedicated site for re-enactors. From a very quick glance at the a month or two of their calendar it looks like LARP groups use the site about half the weekends, also saw this SCA event a WWII event, and an Airsoft event. Some things the park is closed for, it looks like others it's open, altohugh I'm not sure what exactly they mean by open. Website is stonehousepark.net

We weren't too far from the front entrance, across a dirt road from a big old barn, which was used for morning court, A&S, and feast. Down said road was a house/cabin where I think feast was being cooked. Down a little further was the bathhouse with flush toilets. There was a port-o-let by the barn, which was taken away presumably for cleaning, and returned Saturday about mid-afternoon. Some areas were paved with cobble-ish pavers, and on the way in there were several pallets of additional pavers and retaining blocks. Nearer the entrance was a shed-ish building with windows (think farmstand) that had a "Troll" sign, although the SCA group wasn't using it. Looking at the website there's also an old inn/farmhouse on the property, but I missed it.

The campsites where merchants were had water and electrical taps. The water tap by the breakfast/lunch pavillion was marked as non-potable, but it appeared I wasn't the only one who used it for hand-washing. There was no hand-sanitizer dispenser in/on the port-o-let, which I've gotten used to seeing. I didn't get any farther than the bathhouse, can't comment on the various fields.

All in all, it seemed like a decent site.

The morning was drizzly, but the out-and-out rain held off until we were set up. Happy happy. We discovered that a mouse had nested in one of the EZ-Up bags. In 20/20 hindsight, leaving dog betting and rope toys in the trailer in folded-up wire crates was pretty stupid. (They were sent to the garbage or washing machine as appropriate on Sunday) The rain and later sun and wind seemed to have quickly eliminated the bit of mouse-funk. Turned out we could have left the handtruck at home, we could pull right up to our space and the ground was not squashy.

After morning court everybody seemed to head out of the barn and across the way to the merchants. Specifically, to us. I'm not complaining, but I wouldn't have minded people browsing at other merchants or otherwise spreading out the busy-ness time-wise, so I could pay more attention to everybody.

Packing, it turned out, had been deficient. I grabbed the small bin that looks just like the one that holds hole punches, even though it's clear and you can see that it does not. Nor did I pack the rotary punch, or a mallet. So we may have lost a couple sales of buckled belts, since we had no way to put the holes in them. Although we did still sell a couple, to people who had or could borrow hole punches. We also forgot to put out the dog leashes and collars, which was a D'OH moment, as the Queen had said she wanted hounds at the event.
Note: a half-grown Borzoi has a wonderfully soft wavy/curly coat and is very good at the "nobody loves me" face.

By lunchtime the sun came out, and in the afternoon the breeze picked up. By mid-afternoon I'd taken down the walls we'd hung, because of the wind. The scaffolding/belt rack attacked Ron in the afternoon, because non-centered loading (intrinsic to how we have the actual belt-rack part of it), gravity, and wind pressure are like that. A nice customer helped stand it up and hold it while Ron made the short walk to the parking area for stakes from the truck.

I had a minor fail and bought some "butter" amber. Need to take it with me tomorrow night and see about getting it re-strung with a clasp, currently it's on two separate bits of fishing line.


Very tired when we got home, but happy.

Sunday Ron supervised Robin unpacking the truck, while I ran out for more small bins, to re-pack some of the things that are in big bins, which just get too heavy when full. We also retired our very first merchandise bin, which is about the size of a footlocker trunk, but maybe 2/3 as tall. I remember the days when it held *everything*, sniff sniff. It's still in good shape, just has that heavy-when-full problem, and it really isn't modular with the rest of the bins. Now we're down to two heights of Rubbermaid Roughneck bins.

I didn't update inventory with the new pouches before we left, but I did print out the list of pouches, so once I got everything else put out, I went through the new stuff, and got it on the list. Ron and I had the price list and sales tax cheat-sheets as PDFs on our phones, but I also need to remember to bring a paper copy of the price list, in case of low batteries, etc. And pack the hole punch and a mallet.

Haven't done the books from the event yet, but I need to get working on making more stuff. Some of the types of pouches were looking rather sparse by the end of the day...

Waffle waffle

My incentive to work on the pouches kinda fell off - I think finding the stash of finished ones had something to do with that.  So did the whole truck question, even though I had a contingency plan (and friends offered a contingency plan to my contingency plan).  Most of the pouch cutting-out binge is still unfinished, never did look any more for the frogs, and I didn't even go through the finished pouches (both recent and the found stash) and update inventory.

But we did get the truck back in time!  Wednesday afternoon.  There was much happy.  I think Ron was secretly disappointed not to have it totalled and try to replace it with a big pick-em-up truck.  But there we are.

And even once we got the truck back, there was more waffling: 

• Who would go, who would stay home?
• One-day, or stay tonight?   Where and how stay, if so?
• One person stay, other commute?
• Whole big damn trailer, or just a truck load?
• Weather 
• Ron and I don't actually like spending our weekends apart

The staying home question is dog-related, in part.  Too long a day for them to be home alone, and taking them requires either taking both vehicles or the big damn trailer, provided they're even welcome.  I'm not assuming they are.

At one point my preliminary plan was to take Robin and a truck-load of merchandise and two easy-ups, and leave him overnight.  Then I looked at the travel time - closer to one hour than two.  Plus the weather thing: easy-ups are not good when it comes to wind and any but straight down plain rain.  Leaving Robin alone overnight to deal with weather could be Bad.  Hotels can get expensive.  Ron and I are getting too old for this camping shit.  Yadda yadda.

And we still haven't packed the truck, or even started hauling stuff out of nooks and crannies and sorting.  Although we finally did decide that Ron and I would do a get up ghu-awful early daytrip and leave Robin home.   

Yesss, precious, it's gonna be an interesting evening around the Otter den, oh yes indeedy...