This n That.

 Eldrich.

OK, here's something I've been meaning to mention and keep forgetting: I notice tons of people answering their blog comments in their blog comments. Have you ever gone back to a post you've already commented on and re-read the comments to see if yours has been answered? Cuz I haven't. I'm concerned that this practice is wasted effort is what I'm saying. Let me know if you think otherwise.

The closure to this is a clip from old Christmas Tree candle-holder things that elertsted sent me here.

Also, y'all know there's no rule of etiquette that says you must answer each comment. I usually will only answer if there's a specific question asked- or that's my intention but then I forget. So please feel free to pester me a bit by repeating your question. Pestering works, I find.

What Makes the Universe Exist. 

If you want to blog more but when it comes time to, you can't think of what to say, responding to comments can be a great writing prompt.
For example, potterygirl1 asked if it's "toot" or "tute". So I can answer by saying a toot is stinky, whereas tute is short for tutorial. OK, that didn't trigger a ton of introspection or anything... Oh but also stillpointworks had a good tip she commented, which was instead of listing my way, she keeps several generic listings in her drafts section, clicks 'copy' when she needs to list something then adds the pictures, etc...
So.
I've been spending lots of time thinking of the next tute. I know what it's going to be, though I can't say when.
Here's a very simple necklace I made from these glorious beads of dark indigo and ivory infused with fine silver. They're made by adornedintreasure who is having crazy sales which allowed me to get these for half off. You can wear it with the clasp in front or back.
 

Here's a cuff for slender wrists:

What I Was.
I'm kinda hopping up and down in glee over the closure. Cuz even when I put two hooks on it, it would still slide and wobble all over. But this wide thing! *hops up and down in glee*

Listing tips with unrelated proud momma photos of bangles.

I make listing items on etsy easier by writing the text previous to listing, with its title on top. I have a simple program called TextEdit, you all proly have something similar on your PCs that is just the simplest thing for writing up notes with minimal frills?
OK, once you have that text ready and your photos all edited and good to go, find the item in your shop that is most similar to the one you're listing and click it. On top you'll see a blue bar with several options. Click 'Copy.' You can also do this with sold items.
Now you will be in the 'list item' page of that item- but it won't be that item! That item is still safe in your shop. Now remove all the pictures and upload the pictures of your new item you're listing. Remember, etsy gives you 5 chances, use them all. Show the backs of your items, show a size comparison, let the person really know what they're getting. Also, the 1st picture has to be your 'eye-catcher.' This might be a portion of the item, it might be the item in a rumpled pile- it just has to be your prettiest picture.

Beatnheart

Next go to your text where you have it opened in a window, highlight it and click controlC to save it. PC users I think also have a right-click way to do this. Mac users will actually click the apple icon and C. Go to the description area, highlight all the text with title and press controlV to paste all the new text. This is also useful if there's a part at the end that you like to include in all your texts. Some people like to mention shipping, a sale or maybe there's a description of the piece that is similar to your new and copied listing. This way you can just not highlight that part when you paste your new text. Don't forget to change your title too! Triple click the title section to highlight it all and press delete. Go to your text where the title is in the beginning of it, and triple click it, drag and drop it into the title slot. Can someone please remind me what the little boxes you write shit in are called?

readbetweenlines 

Now go to the tags, remove what doesn't fit, and add whatever needs adding. This will be especially easy if you have a series of similar pieces or if you make a lot of beads in the same style or material.
Anyways, then click Preview and then Publish. Das it!

By the way, if you make beads and sales are slow, try splitting your beads into smaller lots. Remember people are cheap! buying a whole strand for $20 is a big commitment! Also, the reason people always need to destash is from having to buy whole strands of beads but only having plans for, say, 3 of them. So try selling in batches of 3. You don't need to change your pictures or description, just add '3PCS' to the title and in the description, include "You will receive three (3) pieces."

potterygirl1

NIPPLES!!!

That title was for kathy:
Kathy Barrick said...
" Like the word (((nipples))) (I'm cringing), I HATE the word brooches. . . "

(There's a newer version of this here but it's not letting me embed it.)

It's been forever since I shared some music. Here's some awesome hipster artists.

[What I've never admitted is that I'm crazy for hip-hop. I love a tune you can dance to...]

So here's some earcandy to tide you over til next time.

AW CRAP.
Happyfallout has uncovered my retardedness again- I said the filler bangles were 7" in diameter in the tute. Diameter is the line going across. I meant circumference. Thats measuring it around. I took geometry in high school, promise I did. Now I don't know how to fix it since it's all already on line... Poopshoots. I mean, sure it took an astrophysicist to notice!!@!!


Pinchbeck.
Well, plus I found another way to share PDFs online since I broke the first site.

 At first I was jumping around in celebration over the success of the tute but now I'm just stunned and shaking my head. Clearly tutes are the way to go. I mean to enable me entry into the middle class as we were previously discussing what with my selling out and all...

Can They.
Oh but guess what? I made things! First some rings, and then a whole different set of rings that look exactly alike.

I love that these are all adjustable.
And then I went a bit nuts with the brooches.

Poverty.
How long has it been since there's been brooches in shop? (The word brooches makes me nuts! Cuz it looks like it would be pronounced bru-chiz, but its actually broaches  or bro-chiz... Oh nevermind!)

Y'all remember ages ago when I said I had a bunch of brooches to use on brooches?


Delusion of Evil.
Well, see, I wasn't lying. Even though it was 30 years ago.


The fabric is all coated in tons of wax.


Blunderbuss.
It makes it look all leathery and awesome, and makes it really strong too.


Cuz it's not really. But now it is.


Free Will.
What else did I want to share? How about this comment excerpt:
Beatnheart said... I’ve been banging all day.3/18/12 6:46 PM
Beatnheart said...bangling all day....bangling ...making bangles.3/18/12 6:47 PM

 HAHA- beatnheart, you slut.           Everyone's finding cheap filler bangles and spending all day on these super easy things.                 Everything That's You.

This makes me very happy. Because finally! Everyone's just as hooked as me.

And I'm doing my part to clean up stashes all over the world.

Quick note:  48 hours have passed, coupon is off. Thank you guys so much for your participation, purchases, support. 

This is how I feel while making a tute:

This is how I feel after getting the PDF site to work and then selling a ton of them:

Even though a handful of you had issues with the PDF hosting site...  or are still having issues. That part is stressful. Maybe I'll find a better site next time or something...

Yesterday I got the best comment ever.  Jackie was stressing because all the tutes I'd listed the previous night had sold out and Happyfallout said:
Jackie, you'll have to wait until Fanci gets up!
I crack! I totally lost it I crack so hard. You gals really do know me!  My buddies understand that it's noon in Chicago and I'm just not awake yet. AND that as soon as I wake up I'm right back at the computer again... hee hee. Man that was too awesome.

Alice asked: Do you make your own bangles or start with ready made ones and embellish them?
Your question is addressed in the tute. And the answer is both, though mostly I make them.

Also, everyone: YOU GOTTA CLICK "APPLY COUPON CODE" IN YOUR ETSY SHOPPING CART! It's right under where it says "How will you pay." Just telling it to me the code in the notes to seller doesn't work because then paypal charges me if I try to give you the refund manually. On etsy its automatic.

I realize the word "manually" makes no sense in that sentence since we're talking about the virtual world...
OK, now for what's making me squeee and wiggle-jig in my chair. A blogee from Finland, inkku, sent me a picture of bangles she made for her 12-year-old girl! Who loves them!


Needless to say, they look nothing like mine. I feel like these are my grandkids. Cuz the bangles were my babies, the tute was my... baby's... reproductive system... and these are my baby's reproductive system's babies.  Yup. I really went with that metaphor, hu?
Anyways, you guys are awesome and you make my life redonk.