Interesting Weather We're Having

Okay. Not the most interesting of blog topics, but when I woke up this morning, the temperature in my place was 58 degrees. That happened yesterday too! The thermostat is set to 68, but I guess it goes off during the night? Makes sense to me ... plus I hate when it's too hot at night (can't sleep). But 58??? Here in California, I'm pretty sure thats nearly freezing. :)

P.S. Here's a custom order I finally completed yesterday. The picture was taken outside (um, obviously). I love outside pictures, and this plant isn't bad either.

The Non-Responsive Interview: PaperRoute!

Welcome to the second installment (but first real installment) of the Non-Responsive Interview! PaperRoute graciously agreed to go second/first. :)

Here's a wonderful little excerpt from her profile (which is worth a read!):
My mother taught me the value of the handwritten thank you note when I was very young and I've had an affinity for paper and stationary for as long as I can remember.

She makes the neatest, eco-friendly envelopes. She also happens to be an avid poster on the "Lets be non-responsive" thread. As far as I can tell, this was the first thing she ever said there:
I have 21 buttons on my remote.

Without further ado, the interview ....

1. If you could pick a celebrity buyer to shop at your shop, who would you want?
Lately I've tried to add some envelopes for the Christmas season but really, availability of materials has the biggest effect on what I do. I love finding a big old atlas at a thrift store that is prefect for my envelopes. The brighter the water the better! I've worked a little bit with used children's books but I'm a bit limited by size. I have a lot of ideas for new items (other than envelopes and cards) but time definately is a factor (I teach high school during the day).

2. If you could drop everything else and become a full time Etsy seller right now, would you?
My friends and family are probably my biggest fans. It's cool to share something new with them and they really encourage me to do what I love (working with my hands and creating paper things).

3. If you could no longer do what you do now, what would be your next profession?
I just moved into a brand new house with my husband and I get to have my own office/workspace. It is currently a work in progress but it has three glorious windows and a decent closet. I'm working on furniture, storage and organization. Before this I worked on the couch or at the dining room table so this is a welcome change. I'm excited to put it all together.

4. Do you listen to anything while you work? If so, what?
My avatar is a rock sculpture or inukshuk in Iceland. My husband took the photo at my request when we visited in 2007 and I just really love it. The inukshuk is a friendly symbol of direction.

5. Am I talking to myself here? What questions are you answering anyway??
I suppose the obvious answer is Disneyland/World. And yes, I will take the obvious route. I love Disney. I worked at Disneyworld briefly when I was 21 in World Showcase (the Canadian Pavilion). I have not been back since (I'm 34 now) and I would love to take my husband.

Thanks, PaperRoute!

Thrifting Goodness

I absolutely adore going thrift store shopping. I love old things and used things and things with a story and finding great things for pennies on the dollar. I joined my Mom for some thrifting this past week and here's what I purchased ...



A great collection of vintage (and not so vintage) buttons. For the holidays, I'm making rings and other fun jewelry for all the younger girl cousins, and these will work perfectly.






A cheese dome thingy. Or at least that's what Mom say's it is supposed to be. I see a perfect little cupcake stand! I'm going to paint the base, seal it, and then fill it with a couple gourmet, holiday-inspired cupcakes and give it to a friend of mine.





A quartet of small, hand-embroidered, foliage themed wall hangings! These were my absolute favorite find (thanks to Etsy's newish emphasis on vintage embroidery pieces). And the lady at the shop gave them to me for an absolute steal! That's the best :)

It's Official

My name and all of my personal information now shows up on the Bar website under "attorney search". And I have a bar number! Yay!!!

In celebration, I'm inviting everyone to leave a lawyer joke ... come'on, I know you've got one ...

'Tis the Season for Moving

I'm not entirely sure why, but several people I know are moving right now. I just moved last week. My brother is moving today ... and we get to help! And my BF's grandparents are moving tomorrow ... and we get to help again! Good thing we're both unemployed at the moment :)

Here's myself and my brother back in the day. Awwwwww.

The Non-Responsive Interview

One of my very first blogs was about the "Lets be non-responsive" thread found in the Etc. Forum at Etsy.com. It's a riot and if you haven't wandered in there yet, you really, really should.

Because that thread is now on page 744 or so, with over 7400 posts, I decided it was prime time to try a new "non-responsive" tactic. Such was the birth of the Non-Responsive Interview!

Its a simple premise. I will feature one seller a week (hopefully). I will send this seller a list of questions, and then he or she will send me a list of answers. If all goes right, the questions and the answers won't match in the slightest. The final interview will be posted here on a Tuesday.

This is sort of an odd idea (I have a very odd sense of humor), so I'm going to illustrate with an "interview" of myself. Consider this the beta version - everything that comes after will be much, much better. :)

1. Remember back to the first time you ever came to Etsy.com and share the story with today's readers.

Yes, I do have pets. They are a joy and I wouldn't have it any other way. To ensure that my products are pet hair free, I keep all of my materials in plastic containers. The finished products are kept far out of reach and every creation gets a thorough and intense roll from my tape/lint/hair roller thingy before being shipped out. So it's all good.

2. If you could see one thing on Etsy.com changed - anything at all - what would it be?

The first piece I ever made was a scarf for myself out of a felted wool sweater. It was actually my BF who came up with the "scale" look. I was going to do something much more mundane, but he swooped in and showed me "the technique". My life was never the same - haha!

3. Be honest now. The "Lets be non-responsive" thread is the best thread in the Etc. forum ... true or false?

I use bright colors because, as much as I can appreciate the nice, put-together, and versatile look of more neutral colors, nothing beats a bright, in-your-face color for accessorizing. Or at least that's my fashion. Accessories - be them in a house or on a person - are an inexpensive way to totally change the feel for a room or outfit. Living on a very modest budget, I've come to embrace accessorizing.

4. What was your motivation for joining the handmade movement and becoming a seller on Etsy.com?

I've only actually had one sale. It was yesterday, for Cyber Monday, and I didn't sell a thing. Ha! In all fairness, my shop isn't as stocked as I would have liked, and I haven't had time recently to make anything new. So I'm not disappointed. My birthday is in February ... maybe I'll do another sale then?

5. I have a sneaking suspicion that you're not listening to me. Soooo ... I'm naked right now. Thoughts?

I truly envy people who work with their hands on a daily basis. If I could do life all over again, I'd probably become a furniture upholsterer. It seems meticulous and difficult, but oh so rewarding in the end. I'll probably end up taking a class one day. For now, my fleece creations will have to suffice.

*** And there you have it! I'm hoping this will be a fun and silly way to feature really great sellers on etsy. And I promise all future interviews will be significantly less schizophrenic. :)