Happy Birthday To Me

Okay, so I wasn't sure until this very moment that I was going to go ahead and celebrate my birthday in a public manner. You see it's one of those 'big' birthdays. You know, the ones with a zero at the end that card companies have a whole section devoted to. I know it's not really a big deal, but it's made maybe not worse, but more prominent, by the fact that I am the oldest child in my family and they are all making a big deal out of it. So if I'm going to suffer the slings and arrows of the birthday anyway, might as well be in on it too, right?

So while I'll gladly accept gifts(address provide upon request, or amazon/etsy gift cards to totusmel[at]gmail.com), I'll just default to my traditional birthday celebration of an etsy sale. Get 30% off this year, partly because that's how old I wish I was, with the code HAPPYBIRTHDAY30. The sale will run through Friday to give everyone enough time to see this and take advantage of it if they choose.

As a bonus I thought I'd do a really small giveaway as well. Just leave a comment here on this post to win a fusion lace pendant in your choice of colors. I'll choose the winner of this on Friday as well. I guess it's off to face the day now, goodbye 30's, I'll miss you.

Weekend Recap

It was quite the whirlwind weekend I had around here. First of all, Thank you so much for all the pattern and pendant orders on Friday! While I don't think I'll ever match the volume I did on the first couple of ITD events, it was much better than anticipated. I couldn't work on much of it until Saturday though. Friday was for cleaning and errand running ahead of my youngest daughter's birthday weekend.

Saturday was the family birthday party. That meant more cleaning, decorating and setting out food. I even baked a bit. Then there was a couple of hours of chaos, followed by more cleaning and then I finally got to sit for a spell. I started in on the stars, but I still have all the outlines to do as well as a few more middles. Hopefully I'll have them all done by tomorrow.

Sunday was the actual birthday, so the day was given over to family birthday adventures. We started with a trip out of town to the zoo. This is us waiting for the bird show to start. The birthday girl is wearing her brand new top hat. This was followed by a trip to the toy store. Then there was the mall because she had asked to get her ears pierced. Then it was out of town once more for dinner. To say it was an exhausting weekend is a serious understatement. I hardly even touched the Armenian lace. But we're back to Monday now, so tatting, then knotting and hopefully just a little extra sitting time.

Almost & Sale

Oh, how I thought I would get further on this yesterday. I was certain that I would speed through the square loop round, but not only did it take most of the day, I had to add thread three times. Then I thought the simple loop round would fly by, but then after a closer look at the photo I realized that there were two simple loop rows, not just one. The result of all that is it was quite late in the day when I was finally faced with any math.

The counting was scary too. I mean I was so off by the outside round that I'll need ten more medallions on the outer edge than the pattern I'm trying to replicate. Of course since I was on my own for most of it, just guessing what was to be done next, I suppose I shouldn't be too hard on myself. I was afraid that I wouldn't have enough thread to finish it though. The thread I'm using is a vintage ball of Clark's size 30 thread that was bought for me at a second hand store. I had already used much of it on the Armenian lace pieces I tried before this. So I ended up making one medallion, measuring the thread used and then doing more math to see how much I would ultimately require. Then I actually measured out that much thread. Yes, it was tedious. The result was that I do have enough so I share start on the medallion edge today. If history is any indication I'll be at it for quite some time.

One last thing today, tomorrow is my BIRTHDAY! To celebrate I'm offering a 25% off coupon code and a free surprise gift with physical purchases through Sunday. Use the code 'HappyBirthday25' to get this deal in my etsy store.

Another Year

Well, everything I was working on is finished. All the Tatting Day pendants and orders are packaged up and ready to go out today along with the custom order I got the day before. I'll get them in the post early because we'll be out adventuring for the youngest child's birthday. As always the kid's birthdays make me reflect on how old I'm getting and how long I've been tatting. I still feel like I'm a beginner some days and I started when I was pregnant with my first child over a decade ago now. Ah, time flies when you're tying knots in string, or raising kids.

I'm fairly certain I'll get up to no tatting this weekend as the birthday is just the first event in a series that will require me to clean up the house a bit, repeatedly. So have a lovely weekend all, I'll see you again on Monday.

Weirdness

Sorry, I've got nothing for you this morning. I had a rather odd day and that killed my urge to mindlessly tat the day away. I will share the odd because I'd love if someone could make any sense of it.

I was a bit unnerved when a life insurance agent came to my door with my address, name and phone number saying I had made a request online for Insurance. The other info he had on his paper was all wrong, but the email address was a hotmail address that started with my name followed by a bunch of numbers. The agent appeared legit, I looked him up later as well, and said this is the fourth time he's had this same thing happen with different people.

I'm just trying to figure out what the angle or scam here is...I mean sending an agent to someone's door using just their address and phone number isn't going to get you any more personal information, so why do it? I just don't know and it honestly drove me crazy yesterday online trying to find answers and getting none. Needless to say after that strange encounter and the subsequent and fruitless google searches, I did nothing.

Today is my birthday, so the husband is playing hooky from work. Hopefully I can relax enough after yesterdays weirdness to enjoy the day. I was going to do a sale in the shop, but I just don't think I have it in me to do one this year. I will offer up a free gift with any physical purchase today though(patterns are excluded since they don't get shipped). Just mention my birthday at checkout and I'll send a little something extra with your order. Here's to a less weird day today.

Weekend Recap

Oh, so little of consequence got done over the weekend. We went to the movies on Friday to see Captain America, great movie. Then there was cleaning to prep for having family over for the little one's birthday party on Saturday.

Saturday morning was mostly more cleaning and decorating. We also managed to head to the college plant sale early to pick some plants we probably don't need before the party. I say party, but really it was just family over to run around with the kids and eat food. It was a  pretty good time and then the rest of the day was cleaning up after the party and relaxing a bit. And yes, the horn stayed on her head the entire weekend.

Sunday morning we went outside and I pulled weeds and put those new plants in the ground. I was exhausted afterwards and my hands were sore. Now we cross our fingers that they live. I did manage to get some tatting done after that though. It was slow going with the sore hands, but I felt like I actually accomplished some things over the weekend. Just not anything to share, or for the shop.

There were no orders to deal with really, so I start the week with no major tasks. Well, except that the girls are back to schooling after a week off. Just getting them back into routine should take all my patience today. Well, I guess that's it then, one birthday down and one to go. At least I have a month and a half before I have to do this all again.

Birthday Unicorn

As expected I got no tatting done whatsoever. We spent the entire day going and being somewhere else. Since I can't show you any tatting, I'll show you the one gift I made for my daughter's birthday. She love unicorns, both my girls do, but they don't love them because they're girly and cute, they love them because who doesn't love an animal that can impale you on a shiny horn and then run off into the sunset farting rainbows. Yep, not kidding.

To that end I made her a unicorn headband that she proceeded to take out of the box and put on her head. It stayed there all day until we got home for the last time and we were all ready for bed. It went over rather well everywhere we went too. All over the zoo, we heard children and adults whisper about the unicorn. It really paid off at dinner when both a custom and the restaurant manager came over to talk about it. You see, our server forgot to put in our order, so our dinner was late, but thanks to said manager, free. I'm not sure we would have been offered that so freely, especially when we didn't even complain, without the unicorn magic.

When I decided she needed this gift, I trolled etsy for it, since I assumed someone had already got this market covered. They had. Looking through both low end and extremely high end pieces, I realized that I actually had the skill sets needed to make it. Air dry clay on a support structure, hot glued to a head band, wrapped in ribbon and finished with glitter modge podge. Easy and perfect for my little evil, birthday, unicorn girl.

Not certain I'll get to any tatting today either. We've got a movie to see and a party to get ready for on Saturday, but I do have a couple of pieces I need to get remade. I'll certainly try to get some work done. I do have bills to pay.

That Was A Surprise

What a weekend. No, really, it was quite a departure. Friday was quiet. School went quickly and then the kids spent the afternoon with their grandma, so I played birthday acquired video games. The rest of the weekend is where is got interesting. The husband pulled off a surprise birthday...I'm going to go with get together. In fact, the kids were in on it and though I thought something fishy was going on, I really didn't think he would have gone this far.

I have to tell you, I feel pretty darn lucky to have what I do. I mean, sure I'm not rich, surrounded by hundreds of friends, nor famous and I certainly have dozens of small things to whine about, but what I do have is wonderful. I have a small handful of friends and family who are wonderful, honest, supportive, funny and just the right amount of...let's say odd, or maybe crazy...how about off. The point is I love them all and they gave me a great Saturday with legos and Doctor Who toys, food and lot's of chatting.

I spent most of Sunday recovering, but there were a few small orders over the weekend, so I worked on those as well. I also put together my Ghost Train Lego set. It glows in the dark. I only managed to get one picture that looked alright, but it's much bigger and cooler than just this one section.

So today, we're back to the school week and I have one mask in queue that needs to be remade. I was going to do that on Saturday, but the best laid plans and all that. So I guess my birthday wasn't low key after all. Now I just have to remember what age I am when people ask and move on with my year.

Another of 'Those' Days

Yesterday was mostly routine save for a teacher meeting in the middle of the day, but even that was nice and familiar so I'm starting to feel a little more relaxed about the school year. Don't get me wrong I'm still worried about the increase in work load for both me and the kids, but it's all doable. I didn't get any orders during the day though, so it was just spider tatting in the afternoon. Hopefully I can think of something else to occupy my time going forward because August has always been a slow month in the shop for me and I've no reason to think this year is going to be any different.

Every year I debate internally about whether or not I should mention, celebrate, or even bother with my birthday. Then I generally fall back on the old habit of at least mentioning it so that I can dull that 'I feel old' sensation with happy comments from friends. Of course I should be glad to be see as many birthdays as I can, but I still remember when I was the 'young' tatter in these parts and that just isn't the case anymore. Which is, again, a good thing, but I am going to still lament getting older until I reach that magic age where I can be proud of it. That exists right?

No special plans today though, except my standard birthday sale, which is 25% off in the shop with the code 'HAPPYBIRTHDAY25' because selling things always puts me in a better mood. Otherwise I still have kids to school and laundry to do and that feels about the same as yesterday. So here's hoping for something interesting.

Last One...For Now

Another action packed day. Well, I'm not certain you can use that phrase for a day with as much sitting as my days typically possess. I mean I do my best work sitting down. Standing whilst tatting is a tad more challenging than its worth really.

I started the day with weed pulling and planting seeds for the windowsill. The kids are always picking out new plants to try and they come in these little covered egg shaped containers like mini greenhouses so they have a pretty good chance at survival. After that it was errand running and listing the newest red necklace, which I'm happy to announce is already off to it's new home as well. Two days in a row, I sell something the day it's listed. I feel downright spoiled. Anyway, I rummaged through my findings and came up with enough copper bits to make another piece in green. Again I tried to make sure it was different than the others, but it's getting more difficult for me. Luckily this is the last one for awhile. Even if I do run across more of those center filigree pieces, I'll save them for another time.

Today is the husbands birthday and he's got many plans for the day. I'm going to try to get this necklace listed, but it's quite possible that I won't. In fact it's quite possible that I won't get any tatting done today at all. It's a good thing I got all those earrings made up yesterday as well or I'd feel neglectful. It should be a nice day though, out to lunch, the movies and whatever else he'd like. Of course it'll likely make for a boring blog post tomorrow. My apologies in advance, but I hope you day is nice as well.

One Down

I know I say this a lot, but what a day. I'm afraid I never did get the time to pick up a needle and thread because we adventured so completely for the the child's birthday. We started the day with a trip to the zoo a few towns over. We got there early securing prime parking and enjoyed the single best performance of their bird show ever. Not because it was flawless, but because the mistakes and bird incidents were many and hilarious, from the hawk who landed next to us refusing to complete his mission to the Black Vulture that chased an employee until she fell spectacularly. I should note she was fine afterwards, we asked, but just so very funny. The rest of the zoo trip was wonderful sighting things we'd not seen before and the weather was very nearly perfect.

After the zoo it was a trip to Toys R Us where they give the child a crown and balloon and announce her birthday while we shop. A few small toys later we're on our way home. I think we were home for maybe two hours when we headed back out of town for dinner. After dinner we were treated to our very first sighting of a hawk moth we mistook for a hummingbird initially. It was feeding at the jasmine outside the restaurant. The only giveaway to its true identity was a pair of antennae. We stayed and watched for quite some time before finally heading home and crawling into bed.

So today I have much work to do. I still have that custom order to finish and a house to clean. We're doing the birthday party on Saturday which would usually mean cleaning on Friday, but I am babysitting two nieces and a nephew overnight tonight and all day Friday. While I think I might be able to get some slave labor out of them for cleaning, I don't want to rely on that, so today I must clean and get things ready for the party and hope that a house full of 5 cousins doesn't result in complete destruction. All this while still getting regular schooling done both days. I'm starting the day with deep breaths and determination.

The Fake Tatter's Birthday

I made the mistake of reading something yesterday that I really should not have. I mean, I really do know better. The person whose words I read is known for such rants and I don't even rightly know how I ended up there to read them in the first place, but once read, words cannot be unread and I was put off much of the day by being called, indirectly, a fake tatter whose chosen craft is apparently false and driven by profit. I said indirectly because I wasn't named or anything, but it sure feels like it was specifically aimed at me. If you don't know who or what I'm talking about I'm not going to subject you to it, but if you do, well then you probably understand. Suffice it to say that I don't believe that needle tatting is fake, their definition of tatting is unnecessarily narrow and belongs only to them and few others and they use so many beads that their admittedly pretty work it should be called beading not tatting because I can rarely see any lace. Okay, I'm done now.

No more effort shall be wasted in that direction because it is my birthday. Now, to be honest I have fallen out of love with my birthday over the years. Not because I'm getting older, I'm okay with that, mostly. It's the days themselves that haven't held any wonder in fact they've held a lot of stress and annoying events including, most memorably, the year we moved into this house which was horrible. The last truly awesome birthday I can remember was in high school when my mother took us to Great America and we saw the Star Trek TNG Earth Tour thing and I got my picture taken with a couple of Klingons. Sure, I've had good, happy birthdays since then, but that was the 'I'm not going to forget this experience' birthday. Though I'll likely remember something else awesome before the day is out...all these added years are clouding the memory a bit.

So just as a small token and even though they rarely get used, I've created a coupon code for the shop. Use the code HAPPYBIRTHDAY25 at checkout for 25% off your entire purchase today only and give me the gift of sales. Each sale today will also get a surprise free gift with purchase, but I haven't decided what yet...probably a nice pendant, but I might just make something to match whatever is bought. It'll be a surprise. So here's to a good day with no big plans and no big disasters and no reading anything mean on the internet.

What Day Is It?

You know, most people inform others that it is their birthday for the sole purpose of receiving special attention or treatment. I thought about how it's really the same as saying 'hello, how are you?' to someone so that they will return the greeting so you can vent about your day or fishing for compliments by insulting yourself. I thought about how it's kind of manipulative and a very large percentage of that 'special' treatment is less than sincere, but then...you know, I don't care. Hey world, it's my birthday...so happy birthday to me!

I was thrown a lovely party by my husband on Saturday. He was trying to make up for a run of bad birthdays I've had that's lasted a few years now. He did. I received a few very lovely gifts from friends and spent the evening in great company that even the children enjoyed. So, here on my actual birthday I actually feel pretty good even though today is the first official day of school so I couldn't really plan anything good for today. Oh, just in case you're interested I did plan one thing, a coupon code, one day sale for the etsy shop. Use the code 'HappyBirthday25' to receive 25% off. No, I did not turn 25, you can add a decade to that number, but if I kept giving out discounts based on my age, things would get ugly pretty fast.

I have two custom orders in queue right now but before they came in I had started on an unexpected project. Well, not really unexpected, more unplanned. It started with this motif that made up what the antique pattern book called, a beading. I don't know what that is, but I liked the shape so I made one up. I initially thought I was going to continue the pattern as written, but instead I modified the stitch counts and started a new circlet design using this and a small flower tatted around a steel ring. I think that it's done at this point save for the hardware. It makes a lovely necklace as well, so I'm going to try and make it convertible with some chains, Obviously I failed to take any more pictures as that's the same time when I got a mask order in followed by one for a custom length choker. I've still got both of those to finish today before I can spend anymore time on this piece.

I also took a trip to Michael's yesterday and picked up some frames for some art prints I've been hoarding and some crystals and shirts for the kids to play with. That turned into our Sunday afternoon project. They designed shirts that I hot fixed together for them and yawned a lot. Yes, I stayed up too late on Saturday and no, I still haven't fully recovered, but it was worth it. So to recap, birthday, coupon code, custom orders and schooling...away I go.

Grand Daisy Ankle Corsets

A good Friday the 13th to you all. This was definitely my favorite non holiday when I was younger. I would dress all up in black and try to scare or at least disturb everyone around me. Of course as I got older I was dressing black most days anyway and it sort of lost any sense of strangeness. This Friday I do have something in black to show you though. The newest ankle corset design was completed after some trial and error made possible by my Internet friends.

After the first one was done I asked for opinions as it didn't feel finished to me. After some opinions on facebook and twitter I decided to make up the second with another flower at the side. Then it was proffered to the people again for further analysis. It was much better filled in. Here's where making it almost entirely out of separate motifs came in handy, I just cut out the last bit of the first and made it exactly as the second and I was done.

I also placed one of the corsets on my neck and realized that along with the bracelet I had already decided I was making, this would make quite a dramatic choker. So as you might have guessed that is on tap for today. The bracelet I already made up, but haven't listed yet as I like to keep new pieces to one a day.

The last thing I'd like to share is the birthday deal I decided on yesterday as I accidentally made a few too many daisy motifs. We're going to go with a gift with purchase. Every order from today through Sunday the 15th, my actual birthday will come with a free small daisy pendant. I'll be announcing this on twitter, facebook and in the announcements of the shop. To get the free pendant you must wish me a 'Happy Birthday' in the notes to seller. No 'happy', no freebie. I will talk to you again when I am another year older...sigh.

Of Birthdays & Easter

I remember as a child, how fun holiday weekends were. Sleeping in, lots of food and candy, television and playing hard. Flash forward to adulthood and they are full of the same things...for my kids. For me, there is cleaning and decorating, more cleaning and making sure all the normal tasks get completed at the same time. There are children hopped on on candy not taking naps and whining. Add to all that the child's birthday the day before the holiday and you've got a double take of all of the above. Ooh, ooh and don't forget that that I'm still bloody sick. Ah, adulthood, everything I though it would be.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I am tired, epically tired. Sure, the kids had fun and I do enjoy the time between all the tasks when I get to run and play a bit too, but man...the tasks. Anyway, my older child has this coming week off from homeschooling, though that only means I'll have a bit more time to catch up on all those pendants that didn't get made this weekend. I am really glad that I told the customers to not expect them to ship until early this week. By my fuzzy math, that gives me until Wednesday to get them in the mail, so barring any unforeseen circumstances I will not become a liar.

I come to you this morning with nothing of significance to share. I probably tatted all of an hour over the weekend and that was on a rush ordered mask. I had two other inquiries into custom masks, but I think my responded wait time might have frightened them away. Sure, I could have told them I'd have them done faster, but then I would have to give up food or sleep to get it all done and even though I love the lace, I love my sleep more. I know I am a bucket of sunshine today and you're wondering why you wasted five minutes of your life to read this. I'm sorry, really. I'll try better tomorrow.

Out of the Bag

I guess I'm still a little wiped this morning. You see, for the last month we've been planning a surprise party for my mother-in-laws 60th birthday. The event was on Saturday afternoon and my house filled with people I may have met once and a few that I knew well. The surprise went over well and my husband ran several tours through our house. I have to tell you I'm equally proud and embarrassed by all the compliments we received on the house. Sure, we got a great deal and yes, it's a nice house, but dang, I think they all wanted to move in. Aside from a pink and purple icing incident on the berber, the house survived fairly well.

I've also been tatting up a storm. While masks haven't been flying off the shelves, they are moving as are ankle corsets for some reason. The only issue this creates lies in the creation time needed for these pieces. I've been trying to avoid listing unmade pieces, but as I keep saying, if it's not listed it can't sell. So to that end, I keep re listing the sold masks and whatnot hoping that I don't end up with twelve projects at once or some such craziness.

I know that there was something else I wanted to share, but now I can't remember what. So, I suppose I'll just let it go and move on for the day. Of course this means that I'll remember it in a few hours and kick myself. Oh, well.

Happy Birthday To Me

This is a rare Saturday post because its my birthday and I'll whine if I want to. Plus, I'm not certain when I'll get a chance to post again. Things did not go according to the best case scenario yesterday and we did not receive the keys to the new house. I am of course annoyed although a relatively good nights sleep has taken the edge off of the rage. This means that the earliest we will get them is Monday, I imagine afternoon as they must still fund the loan and get it recorded. I have no idea why those tasks should take many hours but I have learned the art of pessimism throughout the home buying process.

On a good note, I woke to a few more Wunderkammer entrants which unlocked the sixth prize. This means that within the next week, we only need 23 more people to enter and we get the last prize unlocked. I however will most likely be offline until Wednesday or Thursday, so I won't be of much help in that regard. I went and scheduled Wunderkammer posts all the way through Thursday so I don't have to worry about that, there will be fresh finds all week.

Normally, I'd have a sale or something on my birthday, but with the move looming, I have closed the store. So, sorry about that, but it really couldn't be helped. Perhaps, I'll have a blog reader special after I get up and running again, but no guarantees. Alright, that's it for me. I'll be packing and getting ready for the move on Monday. Cross our fingers that everything goes smoothly from this point further, 'cause I really can't take many more setbacks.

Yo Gabba Weekend

Well that was a heck of a weekend. It all started Friday with my daughters actual birthday, her party on Saturday and a recovery period on Sunday. I spent the majority of the weekend off the computer which caused a bit of withdrawal in all honesty. I've never blogged on the weekend, but ever since I enter the twittersphere I've spent most of my down time online. When I'm not posting you can be certain that I'm simply letting the tweets scroll by like a low rent sitcom in the background. Entertainment sure has changed since the Internet. Not this weekend though, I didn't even get any good twitter stalking in and I'm sure I'm out of some loop or other.

Saturday's party was a Yo Gabba Gabba theme, since we all like the show, mock me all you want, it amuses me. My daughter received not only the DJ Lance Rock dance hat, but also a Muno guitar. Suffice it to say, the house has been filled with Yo Gabba music ever since. It's not so bad really, she could like Elmo or something.

I did manage to finish my latest steampunk necklace that I teased on Friday, but I haven't ironed and taken pictures yet. I really like the way it turned out, but I think I'll be saving it for the Maker Faire rather than list it on etsy. I think I am going to make another in black as well, with silver gears this time. Of course the last time I got really excited about a new design and made a bunch as a "line" I never sold a one of them, so I don't want to get too far ahead of myself.

I'll try to at least get pictures up for tomorrow, but I really should start making some masks. I don't like have things listed for sale that I don't have ready to ship, even though I want to make sure people know I can make them again. Speaking of that though, I think I still need to make up a pair of ankle corsets and a few other things. Oye, one weekend of childhood enjoyment and I feel like I'm two weeks behind, off to work then.

The Little Imp

Today is my baby's second birthday, so as you might imagine, I'll be a bit busy today and through the weekend. I thought that I'd try and get a few things made up before my slightly unproductive weekend begins, but the children had other ideas. People often comment to me that my youngest is going to be a handful and unfortunately this is an understatement. She enjoys exploring and getting into everything. She knows how to climb and use stools, so absolutely nothing is safe. To top it all off, she is determined to do everything her big sister does and her favorite new phrase is, 'I can do it myself'. If only that were actually true. Oh, well. We love the little imp just as she is.

I am also feeling a bit better thanks in part to one of the most revolting things I've ever done, nasal irrigation. If you've not experience this joy, I'll just say ewww. It did however make me feel almost instantly better. This would have resulted in me completing my newest necklace if not for the previously mentioned imp. I did get the piece about half done. It is another necklace based on that 70's era book. Like the Hands of time choker it is made with sections of split rings, but this time I made it in brown and began joining the pieces together with gears and brass rings for that distinctive Steampunk vibe. I doubt I'll get anymore of it done this weekend unless the children decide to sleep excessively.

This also marks the first full week of the Wunderkammer blog. If you'd visited, thanks and I'd love to here you opinions so far. Anything I should feature more or less? Is the picture layout interesting or are my limited gimp skills showing? If you've not visited I'd love for you to stop by, especially if you love dark, romantic, steamy handmade creations. It's mostly eye candy, so it shouldn't steal too much of your time!

Just Breath

It going to be one of those weeks. I just spent the better part of the weekend attending birthday celebrations, from parties for two 4 year olds on Saturday to the 70th birthday dinner of my father-in-law on Sunday. I got little rest with which to begin this week of chaos. We have volunteered to host thanksgiving at our house. As I don't do any of the cooking, aside from babysitting the turkey this simply means that I must clean the house. More importantly I must keep the house clean despite the considerable efforts of my children to keep the house otherwise. Normally I would simply wait until Wednesday night to clean to keep them form undoing it, but we shall have guests on Wednesday as well, so I might as well get started.

I also got back all the pieces I sent to the Steam Powered convention this weekend. I only sold three at the event so the stack was considerable. I relisted all the pieces that I had just taken out of the shop, but there were many pieces that I made just for the show that I need to take pictures of to get listed. The weather is not nice enough for live pics outside so I'm just having to settle for light box ones. If nothing else this is making me appreciate the live pictures I have taken a little more. I'm trying to space out the new listings, but I still feel like I'm listing too much too quick. I suppose I can't sell it if it's not listed so it really is better to get them up. I even got the tatted cuffs I made for Belle Armoire back too, so I'm listing those as well.

All this and I still have one big custom collar I'm been working on for what seems like forever and it is showing no signs of being finished as each row is longer than the last. I want to get a few of my recently sold items remade as well, especially my new Victorian corsage piece so I have as many pieces listed for the weekend as possible just in case I get any of the famed Black Friday or Cyber Monday traffic. I'm not planning any sales for the occasion mostly because I've never had any luck with sales. I usually end up with no one biting at all and a guilty feeling about any sales that occurred right before or after the sale. So yeah, it's going to be one of those weeks.