New Kanzashi and a Conundrum…..

Made a cute set today that made for some fantastic pictures. Check it out!

I’m also looking for a creative, clever, and portable way to display my hairstick and prong kanzashi pieces. They don’t exactly fit neatly into a small box without crushing the petals. Not good. The best way is to stand them up somehow, but the question of the day is how?

I don’t want anything heavy or clunky that would take up much needed space in the car when I’m traveling to shows. I’ve seen a wonderful shoji screen display but I’m not quite sure how to accomplish it (and for cheap!). The kanzashi looked to be tucked into strips that ran across the rice paper areas. It gave it a nice authentic feel. ^_^ Like they came straight from Japan.

Looks like I’m just going to take off the artist’s hat and put on the “carpenter’s” one. This’ll be fun. It means I get to play around in salvage yards and Lowes until I find what works. Creativity ho!!

A Simple Delight

It’s amazing how such a simple work can be a delicate, fanciful work of art. This beautiful wrap shirt made my night. I found it on Etsy (of course) and boy, do I wish I had the money for it.

A Few Newbies

I’m always looking to improve my skills, as all artists should, and learn how to make new styles of flowers. Surprisingly, the simple six pointed petal flower was the hardest for me to manage. But now, I have it! And I think I rather like making them. ^_^

I Must Learn To Sew Better…

so that I can make things like this!

Both items can be found on Etsy, by the way.

Back in Business!

Hey there all you Randomcatgirl fans!

I’d love to say that the website is up, but due to compatability issues between my program and my hosting site, it’s delayed… again. I’ll have to upgrade my software if I want to do this the easy way or wade through tech service if I want to do this like I’ve been doing for years. *sigh* Technology.

On a happier note, I’ve finally gotten some new kanzashi online. It’s been ages, right? ^_^ So here they are!

I’m really happy because I’ve finally found a yellow fabric dye that I actually like. The others I tried all had a sort of school bus yellow tint to them, or worse yet, straight up orange. I started experimenting with mixing some of the dyes and have learned that they don’t neccessarily work like paint. I’ve managed to create some pretty funky colors! I think I’d call one, greenish mud.

I’ll have to show you all my sewing projects next time. There’s a LOT of photos to be taken!

Until then, later!

Beware! Beware! Website jacking!

To all my buyers, please be aware that my old web address, randomcatgirl.com, has been taken by a domain squatter. They scooped it up as soon as it expired. Now, instead of my store all you will find is a rambling blog. I will have a new domain and website very soon. Random CatGirl will be even bigger and better!

Thanks for being so loyal!

Sarah

Craft Show Report – Lexington, SC

Hello all,

Long time no see. Sorry it’s been a month since the last post. I’ve been extremely busy. I had to get ready for a craft show last week so I’d been sewing like a mad woman for nearly a month. It took place at Pleasant Hill Elementary School in Lexington, SC, not too far from me. It was a great set up, great location and times. The building was well lit and in great repair. The only problem was that Tropical Depression Ira came through, drenching the whole state. I mean, it rained for three days straight.

The traffic was pretty good. There were lulls, just like any other venue so I didn’t mind. It gave me a chance to look around at all the other great items being sold. I was told that the traffic wasn’t even half of the attendance they had last year so that gives me some great hope for next years show.

I also learned a LOT from selling here. Purses weren’t a big seller, but goodness gracious, my kanzashi were. I nearly sold out of all of my cheaper, single flower designs. Everyone loved my headband with the red and beige flowers, but I don’t think anyone had an outfit to go with it. The kanzashi went mostly to mothers with daughters who took ballet. They wanted something unsual and unique for them and I was proud to be able to offer it.

While I shied away from craft shows in the past, I’ll definitely be doing more in the future. So many people took my card and said they would pass it on that I couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear. Which reminds me, I need to finish up that website of mine!

Ciao people! I’ll be back with more news soon.

 

A Prototype – Black Swallowtail

This is something I created over a recent gloomy day. I couldn’t sew (people were still asleep. Night shift folks.) so it was back to kanzashi for a bit.

I’ve been itching to use the peacock feathers I’d bought for over a month now, but couldn’t come up with a design that I truly liked. Then this one came to my head. I really, really like it and don’t know if I’d be willing to sell it. It’d be so classy in a bun or updo, but I don’t have the hair for it. Heh, unless I get a wig. ^_^

I may change the shape of the wings, making the top two wings the same as the bottom two. But hey, this is just a prototype so I’ll have much to work on. Can’t wait!

Practice Makes Perfect

I’ve gotten back to sewing. It felt so good working with fabric in a different way. A non intricate way. And breaking out the sewing machine was delightful. On the other hand, when I blew off the fine layer of dust that had accumulated, I’ll admit, I was a bit ashamed. Had it really been so long since I’d sewn? Nah, can’t have been. I sewed up a new tote just last….

Oh.

Well, nevermind that. It was time to start that little engine up again. So, I’m sewing. (Gosh, I’ve gotten slow!) This is looking to be the best tote I’ve made in a while. My color coordination is getting better. And I’ve found a great new interfacing. Everything’s working well and in good time I’m almost through. Then something starts bothering me. There’s this nagging feeling that I’m forgetting something.

Oh well. Moving on. Stitch, stitch, stitch. I’m through! And realize that the tote won’t close. (HUH?) There’s no clasp. And the bag is completely sewn.

&#$%@#! My seam ripper and I got to know each other intimately for the next half an hour.

The moral of this story: Never let your skills get rusty, and if they do, apply oil first.

On A Shoestring – Paying Yourself

When I started out with my business, I figured up the cost of my materials, thought about what I would pay for my items and there was the price.  Needless to say they were pretty low. Then, I started reading more about business, studying what other successful entrepenuers were doing to figure out their prices and saw that I was missing one vital thing. I wan’t paying myself.

It struck me dumb. All the years that I’d been working for someone else, all those years of making sure I was given every due cent on my paycheck, and when the time came to finally work for myself I forget to factor in my own labor. I wrestled with that for a while. What should I charge? Is my talent really worth that? My prices will have to rise! Then nobody will buy from me! Oh woe is me!

But I ran across a post someone made in one of the forums I frequent: Isn’t your talent worth just as much as someone with a “regular” job? Why yes, yes it is! For me, my talent/craft is sewing, something that was done regularly way back when, but not so much today.  I thought to myself that if my sewn items are just as good as a seamtresses, then why can’t I be paid like her?

Paying yourself is one of the most important things to remember when you start your business. No one started out wanting to work for free, but if you just charge for your materials that’s exactly what you’re doing. Now, don’t start comparing what you want to be paid to what other crafters are doing. Everyone has their own separate needs and goals. Also every region is different. What would be a normal wage in a small city in Georgia would be laughable in say NYC or LA.

Once you figure out what you want to be payed for your time and labor then your prices should reflect that. And your prices will show buyers what that lovely blanket that you spent all weekend knitting is really worth. When you know what you’re worth, so will they.