Friday, May 22, 2009

Memorial Weekend Sale!!!

Today through Monday, 5/25, save 20% on all regularly priced (non-sale) items of $25 or more! Item discount will be refunded after you pay with PayPal. (Discount does not apply to shipping.)

Also... I'm having a CLEARANCE SALE!

My product line has developed considerably since my early work, so I'm clearing out my earlier inventory! Check out the SALE section for great price reductions! I have 14 items reduced to around 30% off!
To check out the sale, go to http://www.glintgear.etsy.com

Sunday, May 17, 2009

It's the little things...

Sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference! I got my labels in from Jennifer's Jewels this Saturday, and they are great quality and just perfect! She can do full color labels, but I preferred to keep mine simple and let the color of the Glint Gear do all the squawkin'. But the excitement of getting the labels in the mail inspired me to get back to the sewing machine! I was SO thrilled to sew on my very first one on this adorable pink clutch named Pink Sunrise. It's funny how something so small can really take your stuff to a new level of professionalism. I can't believe I waited so long!

I was very sick Wednesday through Friday of last week and stayed home from work. I slept all Wednesday and Thursday. Friday I was up, but still feeling bad, so I layed low and rested. Saturday I was feeling good enough to do a little bit of sewing and even go out to run a couple of low-key errands with Ocean. But I didn't have the capacity to work much on the special order bag I've been working on for a while. I did a little, but it got to a complicated part and I decided I'd better wait to continue when I was back to 100% since it took some calculations and precision. So... I came up with the new clutch design. They are really a whole lot of fun to make and don't take a lot of mental brainbusting. And I can have fun with the appliques and design. I made two of them this weekend and cut out/designed 3 more. Cutting out and designing the clutches didn't take a lot of physical exertion. I really do need to finish that special order bag. I know she's not in a hurry, but I've been working on it a while. I finally busted through my sewing block, so I think the progress will be much better. She's a friend and co-worker, so I've been able to share my blocks with her and she gets it.

Other little details that will make a big difference... I found a postage scale on EBay for under $20 and ordered it. That way I can box up each bag as a weight sample and finally calculate international shipping for my Etsy shop! Another little thing, I found the 2" metal tri-glide buckles
I had been hunting for messenger bags also on EBay and ordered a batch of 100! LOL! The D rings were working fine, but the tri-glides will add another level of "finish" to the messengers.

For Ocean, we got his mannekin ordered and I believe it's waiting for me when I go back to work tomorrow along with the natural colored organic tees we ordered for him! That will take his SquidInwear t-shirts to a new level as well.

Once I get the international shipping profiles done, my next big project will be to design a press release to send locally and to on-line blogs.

Onward and upward!

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Live Long & Prosper!

We went to see Star Trek today.... WOW! It was perfect - perfect cast, story, effects - it had it all! It was amazing and we recommend seeing it on the big screen. Don't wait for DVD!

In other news, we finally got
all of the photos on my Etsy shop updated! I think it looks amazing! Let me know what you think. I'm sure it will get even better as time goes on. Yay Ocean!!!! I think it is making a difference for sure. I've been have more page/items views and had 2 sales at the end of last week.

I worked on that special order bag a little. Didn't get as much sewing done as I wanted this weekend, but doing the rest of the photos took quite some time.

We also got Ocean's mannequin ordered! We found it on Ebay. He has a black female mannequin but needed a male. We ordered some natural colored organic t-shirts for SquidInkwear too! And, I finally got my garment labels ordered from Jennifer's Jewels on Etsy. She came highly recommended by team members of Etsy's Carried Away Bag Team. So, writing all this out made me realize that we got more done than I thought!

Working on writing catchy product intros on my Etsy product pages had me pull out of my old poetry journals. I used to write a lot and would write in my own rhyming style and not following any formal for or contemporary trends. I think it's giving me the writing bug. The last poem I've written was 2004! I thought I'd share a couple of them with you.

This one below was written March 1997. It's expressing the quest for individuality, navigating the challenges of societal and social pressures and influences and the need for self expression.

Am I, Am.

A warm trickle fighting the flood
cooling the coals within my blood.

A flutter twirling in the gale
blowing the comfort of my veil.

A dim ray sparking ebony
hiding answers eluding me.

A sole whisper above white noise
reaching for hearing life destroys.


The following, written March 1999 portrays finding my voice...

Windswept

I breath a picture with my words,
An ever-changing memory.
Capture my essence, then it blurs.
My voice is spirit flying free.

Eternal voyage through your mind,
Once I am heard your soul must move.
My origin you'll never find,
For who has dared the Wind's source prove?


Make a great week!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Checking In

Hello, everyone! I know I haven't posted much lately. I'm still working with Ocean on retaking and uploading new photos. I have about 10 or 12 left to go, he's doing an awesome job! I think it's taking my Etsy shop to the next level!

My next project will be to buy a postage scale and boxes for some of the larger bags and take the time to set up international shipping options on Etsy! The Etsy admin said that 1 in every 4 buyers on Etsy is international, so I've been withholding Glint Gear goodness from a lot of people by not getting those international shipping profiles up.

And I must say, the bags are jittering with excitement at the thought of getting to leave the continental US and travel all over the world!!!

What else is new... I hadn't felt like sewing much, so I finished a couple of coin pouches, the Orbit bag, and started a special order bag. I think I needed a breather from sewing and am ready to get back at it!

We will be ordering a mannequin for Ocean to use for SquidInkwear t-shirt photos soon.

In other news... the new Star Trek film premiers this weekend!!! Can't wait!!!!

Not much else to report. More later!