New baby shoes!

Hooray! I sold a pair of dragonfly baby shoes and made another pair. I also just listed these really fun and colorful yellow shoes:


(Click photo for more info)

I cut the fabric for 3 more pairs of shoes and another pillow last night. I plan on sewing another pair of shoes tonight and the pillow tomorrow morning. I have a Showcase date on Etsy starting at midnight EST tonight. I hope it generates some good views and maybe even a few sales!

<3 Always,
--Taina

I heart custom orders!

A few weeks ago, a former coworker of mine asked me if I could make a makeup bag for her friend's birthday. I was so excited! She picked out the fabric (Alexander Henry's 2D Zoo in Sage), and said she'd love turquoise or yellow for lining and zipper. Well, I thought turquoise and yellow might be a bit much, so I used a white zipper and turquoise canvas for the lining and I love how the finished product turned out! I will have to make more of these for my shop.



Today? I'm off to drop the bag off at work even though it's my day off. Cara doesn't work with me anymore, she works in a different department in the same Museum. Then I'm off to Mood to buy some muslin and a 20" zipper for the dress I want to make and then to my parents' place, as my cousin Andy is home on leave from Afghanistan and I want to give him a huge hug before he goes back.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Inch by Inch, Row by Row...

A month and a half ago, I posted photos of what I was hoping would be my little kitchen-window garden? Well, most if it is still just dirt.

I have managed to somehow grow and kill 8 tiny 1/2" oregano plants and four 2" cherry tomato seedlings. Only two basil seeds sprouted out of the packet I planted, but neither have died...yet! I have one little tomato plant that seems to be trying it's hardest to stay alive. I may have to suck it up and go out and actually buy seedlings instead of trying to do this from seeds.


(the red arrow is pointing at the one lonely cherry tomato seedling.)

I wonder if my community garden leader reads my blog. I've been waiting for my replacement key for 8 days now and it still hasn't come. I'm in the mood for some composting action! I wonder if it's because she knows I have a brown thumb when it comes to herb growing and is very afraid. lol.

My potted dafodils? Still alive and kicking, as are my bamboo plants, aloe plant, calanchoes. Herbs just don't like me!

Also, I seem to be stuck on 220 sales. I was hoping to hit 225 by the end of March, but that's a mere two days away. We shall see. I plan on coming home after work today and sewing a ton. Migraines and a pulled back muscle set me back quite a bit this past week. We shall see! I'd love to have 65 items in my shop by April 1st.

Below is my 60th item, I listed it yesterday. I love it because both sides are similar but different color schemes. If you click the photos you will see the listing and note that the bottom of each fabric actually matches up!


(click photos for more info!)



In other (exciting!) news? Operation Dreamseed found me! On Friday I was contacted by one of the people on the Board, asking if it was okay to send my shop's link out to her friends, and yesterday the Exec. Director contacted me asking the same thing. I wrote both of them back saying I'd love to extend my donations through the month of April, since March is almost over if they want to spread the word.

Apparently the Exec. Director found me through this blog! Hooray! I should e-mail my marketing instructor to let her know. It would be awesome if I could sell a few more things and make a larger donation to Operation Dreamseed. I love the idea of purchasing school supplies and sending them out myself, but I think the money would go further if the organization purchased the supplies, since they are tax exempt.

<3 Always,
--Taina

a relaxing weekend.

Good Afternoon!

I have no social plans for today or tomorrow and I'm actually kind of thrilled about this. I went out last night with 5 coworkers for Mexican food, got home before 11pm and slept. I really needed the rest.

Today I haven't made anything yet, I'm still in bed, I've been awake since 8 this morning. I'm catching up on last night's episode of "Lost" and thinking about all the things I want to make. I'm waiting for my roommate to leave this afternoon. Sometimes I don't like to be watched while I sew or knit. I really just want some quiet time in front of my machine.


(click photo for more info)

I listed my latest makeup pouch, made from the cool fabric I purchased at Mood Fabrics a while back.

I've read somewhere around 8 blogs so far. I love reading crafty blogs, they are so inspirational. Two Etsyans started a daily forum thread called "The Original Blog Love" where bloggers can post their links and everyone else can browse all the daily entries in one place. So much fun.

The only four things I MUST do this weekend (Fri/Sat, I work Sundays) are go to Target, the Farmer's Market and the library. I already forgot what the fourth one was, but I have it written down somewhere.

I usually have much more to do than that, so this seems pretty darn relaxing!

Spring knit dresses are on sale @ Target and I finally found out I got Easter Sunday off from work so I want to go and see what they have. I have been eyeing certain Sparrow/Swallow necklaces on Etsy and think Easter is a great reason to purchase one. I sent a message to a seller asking about shipping policies, as I really only have a week to receive it in time to wear with a new dress. I hope to hear back from her soon!

My family is really not religious, but we use religious holidays as good excuses to share a meal and good conversation. I also use it as an excuse to buy a girlie outfit to wear.

I will probably do Target and the Farmer's Market bright and early tomorrow, on the way to the Farmer's Market I can return some library books. Sounds like a plan!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Friday Morning Ritual

Today starts my first day of my 9 day vacation in NYC. I was hoping to get out of the city but I have class in the middle of the week.

I think I am coming down with a bit of a cold, at least I hope that's all it is. I'm going to the Dr. at noon today. I have this terrible fear of feeling under the weather on Friday, getting really sick on Saturday and waiting until Monday to see the Dr. People in large U.S. cities know that you don't go to the Emergency Room unless you are near death, because odds are you will die waiting terribly long to be seen. (Violent crimes and horrible near-death accidents are first, strept is way at the bottom of the list.)

After the doc I have to hunt down some heavy duty interfacing. I've never found it in NYC before, only the medium stuff, but it won't do for the very large makeup bag I have a custom order for. I usually order online but don't want to wait for it.

I had Valentine's plans to go to Blockheads for strawberry margaritas and mexican food w/ two of my friends/coworkers but one of them was really sick yesterday so plans were postponed. Le sigh.

So...Friday Morning Ritual? First? I photograph and list the item I made on Thurs. night. Second? I pay all of my bills online and figure out how much I have left after being paid. Third? I balance my Etsy Paypal acct. and transfer my actual earnings to my bank account.

This is how it works for my Etsy shop:
Listing Fees now are .20 for each of the month's 20 items = 4.00.
Etsy transaction fees once something sells = 3.5% of selling price
15% of selling price of each item - charity of the month
Paypal fees = 5% of each transaction.
Remaining? Goes to my savings account for my education fund.

I use money I make from my fulltime job to purchase supplies. I like the idea of my fulltime job investing in my education.

So this morning? I'm listing another turquoise sugar skull coin purse. It's one of my best sellers and I absolutely love the fabric!



Okay, I'm off to knit and catch up on the latest episode of Lost. Happy weekend, everyone!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Nothing handmade to update with...

...but I'm doing it anyway!

I didn't make anything last night. I went to Whole Foods after work, bought organic strawberries, gala apples, a bosc pear, baby spinach, parmasean and mozzerella (all organic! hooray!)

Yum. I had an apple and some cheese for dinner and it hit the spot. I'm bringing an apple and a pb sandwich for lunch at work and I couldn't be more excited.

I sold the little umbrella coin purse yesterday! yay! It was one of my faves, I'm so glad it's finding a good home. =)

Today after I eat my sandwich and apple, I am going to the Post Office to ship out the makeup bag I sold 2 days ago and the coin purse I sold yesterday, as well as my latest letter to my penpal. I hope I get something in the mail soon. I am so excited about my penpal. I love receiving things other than bills!

I'm saving the organic strawberries for the extra white chocolate I have in the apt. from when I made all of the peppermint bark for my family. Hopefully I will have someone to share it with this week.

Tomorrow I get out of work at five, part of me is really hoping I get to hang out with my new work friend Omar, but part of me is hoping he cancels so I can come home and sew a ton. I have the fabric cut for 4 more makeup bags, and hopefully my wholesale zipper order will arrive in my mailbox tomorrow.



Oh, I bought a really great V-day card from SpringCartDesigns. I can't wait for it to get here. My mom's been thinking about learning sign language for a while, she flashes me the "ILoveYou" sign from her kitchen window when I leave her apartment, I think the card would be perfect for her.

My from SpringCartDesigns is super friendly, communicative, quick to respond and quite helpful. She's shipping out my card immediately, too. I love great etsy service!

Time for work!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Blue Skies

Today is a new day...

(Click photo for item info.)

I woke up at 7:36am today. My phone rang 6 mins later. My phone only rings that early in the morning if a) there's an emergency or b) My cousin Andy is calling.

Andy is in the Army National Guard. He's like a brother to me. We grew up down the hall from each other and he's only a year and a half younger than I am. He's in a tent in North Carolina right now, awaiting deployment to Afghanistan. He's already been to Iraq.

Talking to him this morning made me want to do something handmade and spectacular. I was thinking maybe "Afghans for Afghans" or items who's entire sale price went to Doctors Without Borders. That's when I remembered...



Doctors Without Borders actually had to pull their medical personnel out of Afghanistan after 5 aid workers were killed there. I don't know if they have returned to the country since then. I will have to do some research.

I used to have penpals who were deployed troops, one of whom was in Afghanistan. He decided to do something for the country upon his return and started Operation Dreamseed. I think it could be fun to donate money to his organization, which gives school supplies to Afghani children.

So while I am worrying about my cousin being safe at war, I will keep myself busy by sending him care packages, donating some money to Operation Dreamseed and knitting something for Afghans For Afghans. Sounds like a plan.

In other news? The sun is out, the rain has gone, and today is a new day. I've already sold a makeup bag! (Sarah, I hope you adore the makeup bag as much as I adore you!) So I'm off to make two more. One for my cousin's wife and another to list.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Rainy day off...

It's been pouring nonstop since at least 8am. It's now 5:30pm EST. I had plans to go to Target for OJ, bread, yogurt, and a few other essentials that are much cheaper than my supermarket sells them. Afterwards, I was going to go down past Chinatown to purchase more zippers. I woke up to the sound of rain and wind beating down on my window and decided that I'd rather stay in bed for a few more hours.

I purchased zippers at wholesale prices online. From the same family-owned business I was planning on purchasing from all the way downtown, no worries!

SEVENTY-SEVEN zippers! Intense! I bought black, white, yellow, green, blue, red, and pink zippers in various sizes.



Jeff from ZipperStop contacted me to say the zippers would be in the mail this afternoon. What service! He also said I should check out the store and gave the hours. I've only purchased from them online. He says the store is actually a three floor building. I have a feeling I'd spend TONS in the actual shop.

I stayed in bed, caught up on the first episode of this season's "Lost" (I watched the Democratic Debate last night, which aired the same time as Lost), and photographed items 19 and 20 of January, and 1/20 of February.

I decided I should stay in and do handmade things. I mixed the ingredients for cornbread, placed it in the oven, set the timer and...voila! I completely forgot about it and burned it! eek. I will eat it anyway. It's not black, just a bit more brown than I'd like.

Tonight? I am making more peppermint bark and a makeup bag for my cousin's wife, who's 40th b-day is tomorrow. I was thinking of making one out of the same indigo fabric as the coin purse I just listed today. My parents will bring it to her when they go to her party without me. I am working the Family Festival at MoMA tomorrow, reading kids books of my choosing.



Oh, I got paid yesterday! So I have a few bucks to spend on Etsy. I was thinking about purchasing a fun handmade v-day card for my penpal. I've been searching for a little while now. I should check my mail and see if I received anything fun today.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Tropical Flowers

Hello readers!

So two weeks ago I went to the NY Botanical Garden and took some really fun photos of plants in the tropical and desert sections of the Conservatory. The smell of summer, flowers blooming, the warmth, it was all incredibly uplifting on what was a cold/dreary Winter day.

Two nights ago I was going through my fabric and was drawn to this black and white tropical flower print. I matched it up with a red zipper, red thread and red lining and instantly fell in love with the result, which I just listed this morning:

Item #10 of January's 20:


(Click the photo for the listing on Etsy.)

Oh, and I now have an Etsy penpal! Her name is Nadine, and her shop is: http://theseawithin.etsy.com

I sent her a postcard and she sent me a notecard. I'm trying to think of fun handmade things to send her. For a while I was making envelopes out of fun paper, so I think I will send her a note in one of my sushi envelopes.

I love receiving things in the mail! One of the many reasons I love Etsy, purchasing things and having them arrive in my mailbox.

<3 Always,
--Taina

cold day...

Sundays are especially hard for me to work at my FT job. It's been pretty dead, European tourist season has come to a halt, and because of the recession here in the states, we have fewer visitors than usual.

Sundays are also hard for me to go to work because a) the trains are all sorts of wonky on weekends with trackwork and b) So many people are off on Sundays. Cold Sundays are especially hard to get out of bed and go to work, even though I love what I do and all of my coworkers.

Today was a cold Sunday, but I was still pretty productive. I did four loads of laundry this morning and once I finally got photoshop to recognize my camera was plugged into a USB port, it was time for me to head to work. At work, I went through the low sales report and priced a ton of kids books at 50% off. It was good, but after the project was done, veeeerrryyyyy sllllloooowwww.

I just got home and now I am finally listing item number 9 for January!


(Click the photo for more info/pics.)

Somehow, every item I make out of this fabric, I happen to cut bird heads/bodies for one side and bird bodies/butts for the other. I like to consider it front and back. lol. I actually have this fabric in a few different color schemes, I should pull it out and cut it. It's such fun, peaceful fabric. =)

I'm preheating the oven to heat up my left over baked ziti from last night, then I will plop down in front of my sewing machine and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and sew my little heart out.

I will list item #10 before bed.

<3 Always!
Taina

a little behind...

Everyone who has seen me in real life knows that the subject is pretty ironic.

I am currently:
a) doing laundry.
b) getting ready for work.
c) listing a new zipper pouch.
d) updating this blog.

eek! I have to be at work in an hour and 45 mins! Can I do it?

Last night I made items 9, 10, and 11 of my goal of 20. 3 more makeup bags. I'm trying to list one before work, but photoshop is giving me problems. Actually, my archaic computer is giving me problems.

Here's the item I posted last:


(Click the photo for more info!)

More later, I promise!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Exhaustion!

It's Friday night. I just got home a little bit ago. My new phone cost 238 bucks since I was mid-contract. It would have cost 100 if it was 11/08 and I'd lost my phone. Good news? I have 30 days to return it for full refund if my old phone turns up.

I called Lost & Found today, I had to be patched through via the Security Console. The first time I called, nobody picked up when they transfered the call. When I spoke to Security again, they said "We can't find the Lost & Found employee, can we take your number?" I wanted to be a smarta*s and ask "Did you look in the closet?" (That's where they keep all of the items they find, a huge locked closet.)

When L&F finally called me back, they hadn't seen my phone. None of my coworkers have seen it either.

::sigh::

It will keep me listing new things regularly in my shop, that's for sure!

Tomorrow? I list my apple & pear zipper pouch! I also have to do laundry and sew more things.

I'm super thirsty, I'm going to go drink a few glasses of water and fall asleep early.

<3 Always,
Taina

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday, everyone!

Because I don't my workplace is busiest on weekends, my schedule is Su-Th. I have Fri/Sat off. This means today is a sewing day.

I was an emotional mess yesterday, went to bed early, woke up at a decent hour, called MoMA's lost and found, but nothing. I called my boss to see if they'd found my phone, but again, nothing. So I called my cellphone company and suspended service. After I post this, I will be going downtown to the phone store to pick up a new phone. The good news? I have 14 days to find my old phone and return the new one for a full refund.

So today I made items 7 and 8 for my goal of 20. Two zipper pouches, the perfect size for makeup or pencils/pens/art supplies.

I photographed and listed 7. I will photograph 8 while it's still light out and list it this evening.

Here's January's item 7:


It's a koi pouch, made of my all-time favorite fabric. The fabric has been discontinued and I have such a tiny amount left that I couldn't even make two pillows for my own couch out of it. I do have a coin purse I made out of the fabric that I use as a wallet, business cards, credit cards, ID, coins and cash all fit comfortably in it. I hope someone finds this pouch as thrilling as I do!

Since I know practically no one's numbers by heart, I figure I will be staying in for the weekend until my friends text message me once my new phone is activated. This means way more sewing/knitting time than expected! How very exciting!

<3 Always,
Taina

What a crazy crazy day...

Today while I was at work, a contractor fell, broke his neck and died.

I was so spacey and distraught that I somehow lost my cellphone. I don't have a landline, so now not only am I really upset about the loss of this guy, but feeling quite anxious and naked without my cellphone. My mother is undergoing a series of neurological tests, so I would like to be her emergency contact if she starts really worrying. She's more worried about the tests than the results at this point. I am worried about her because I don't have a phone tonight. I am so thankful I have a roommate! I used her phone to tell my dad I'd lost my phone and if there is an emergency, to call Federica. My mom was sleeping, as I'm sure it's been an exhausting day. Today was her MRI and some other test with initials.

Tomorrow I will call Lost & Found to see if they have it, and if not, I have to buy a new one. I'm not thrilled about this, as I was hoping the money I had saved up so far from Etsy would go towards a laptop, not a replacement cellphone.

I really hope they have my phone when I call tomorrow morning.

In other news? I got my internet up and running and better than ever, so here is the 6th item I have listed in January:


A tattoo makeup/pencil case! Hooray!Like always, click the photo for info on the item.

I was hoping to come home and make things tonight, but after spending an hour turning my entire work world upside down looking for my phone, I'm completely exhausted and probably should not be operating a sewing machine. Tomorrow! Tomorrow I will make a bunch of things. I have 7 days left to make 14 items. We'll see if I can do it!

<3 Always,
Taina

computers...

Oh! I am so proud of myself for keeping up w/ my blog this week. So exciting.

So I am up to my 6th item to list on Etsy for January out of my monthly goal of 20 this year. My fifth item was listed two days ago:


(Click the photo for the listing and more info.)

I made my sixth item last night, a makeup pouch out of the tattoo fabric. I was hoping to list it this morning but my internet connection has been wonky for the last 12 hours. Quite frustrating!

I spoke to the cable company after being on hold for an hour (no joke!) last night and they ran a speed test and said there was nothing wrong. My complaint was that my roommate's skype video chat w/ her mom in Italy gets disconnected and that occasionally even the shortest youtube video stops loading. They said streaming video wasn't really their problem. What???

After speaking to them, the internet gave out altogether. At this point, it was nearly midnight and I was too tired to be on hold for yet ANOTHER hour. I figured maybe it would fix itself by morning. No such luck. After work today, I intend to go home and sit on hold for another hour. I really wish I had a handsfree headset for my cellphone, so at least I could sew. Maybe I will try putting the cable company on speakerphone until someone actually answers the call. Hopefully I can get some more work done in the meantime.

I am feeling quite impulsive and looking at my favorite fabric suppliers for buying more fabric. It's very addictive. I still have two full yards of fun prints I haven't used, so I will try to use those first. I need to buy some more blue sugar skull fabric, as items made from it sell almost immediately through my shop.

If I can't do the speakerphone sewing, I will at least unpack my new harddrive and start moving all of my etsy photos and spreadsheets over to make room on my archaic desktop.

Here's to hopefully making items 7 and 8 tonight. I have 8 days to make 14 items and keep up my etsy new year resolution!

Time to go back to work at the fulltime job!

<3 always,
--Taina

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year, Bloggers!

I was side-tracked with my fulltime job, putting in extra hours, holiday chaos on the homefront, family obligations, the works! Then I battled being super sick for 10 days. But...

I'm back (and hopefully better than ever!)

I sold my first item of 2008 a couple weeks ago. It was to a new Etsy user, her first purchase. She sent me a really sweet convo (short for conversation or private message on Etsy) saying she was thrilled with the makeup bag. It was this one:



I get so excited when people leave me feedback or go out of their way to send me a 'thank you' note!

This year I've listed 3 things and in the process of listing my fourth. I'm a little behind schedule, as I am aiming for listing twenty new items each month. I have set a goal of 5 completed items before bed tonight. We shall see! Thankfully, all the fabric is cut already.

Just because I haven't been listing things as often as usual doesn't mean I haven't been making things by hand. I've actually been quite busy!

I made my friend Dorian a squid coin purse, since she's obsessed with squid. I also made her earrings out of scrabble tiles: D & V for her initials, that she loved. I've been working on a knit tie for my dad, made out of a silk/wool blend yarn, on tiny size 1 circular needles. I only have a few more inches to go, then I have to block it and line it. He has no idea I'm making it for him.

I also have been switching it up, I'm working on a headband for myself, based on the Calorimetry pattern from Knitty's Winter 2006. I made one before and loved it until one day it went missing. It's great for covering my ears and not messing up my hair in winter weather.

My computer is about 6.5 years old now. It's super slow, so uploading photos takes a bit longer than I'd like. My Etsy goal is to buy a fancy new laptop w/ my 2008 sales. I should probably start backing up all of my files now, though, in case it spontaneously combusts. le sigh!

Here's to a new year, and hopefully some great sales, good etsy friends, and keeping it Handmade!

With <3,
--Taina