New Ornaments On The Way

Its been a busy week.

I put the finial trims on 5 satin brocade ornament balls tonight.  I hope to have pics as early as Monday.  I am going to make a few more, more seasonally designed.  Less brocade, more solid satin colors.  I need a few for valenties day that don't involve black, and a few for Mardi Gras and Saint Patrick's day.  Amazing how this craft business goes.  Last week I didn't want to touch an ornament for the next 6 months, and now I pinning satin balls like a fiend. 

I went shopping today! WEEE!!!  Found a deep teal and fuchsia satin brocade that just screamed buy me. I also picked up some very pale pink satin and the super shiny gold stretch satin of which I had run out.  I also picked up lots of ribbons and trim for the new balls. 

I also have shipping confirmation a large chirimen order on the way, lots of new colors to help complete my inventory book, and of course new kanzashi. Theses were all solid colors though, I will pick out some prints next time.  Prints are far more expensive because the pattern must be literally pained on the fabric.  Rayon cannot be washed in water, so the thread is dyed before weaving, and any pattern is put on as paint, which makes the fabric actually easier to use since it is less plush and more stiff.  But the chirimen squares are folded so tiny, usually the pattern gets lost and it turns into a mottled multicolor effect. A tiny print will still be visible, like the kanoko dot kanzashi.  The print must be VERY tiny to get this effect, but it is achieveable.  That's why I am going to still include it on my inventory catalog, though it will be some of the last pages I fill in.

Meanwhile I am still tending to several personal matters for the family that demand my attention.  Hopefully I will have those wrapped up soon and can get back to work during the daytime as soon as my chirimen order arrives middle of next week.

 

Back to the Ornament Balls

*sigh*

I really didn't want to pick these back up until June or July, but I would be a fool to wait that long.  I just sold 10 balls, almost everything that wasn't christmas related went, and I only have 6 listings left.  So I need to restock, which means I need to make more ornaments. 

I am open to suggestion as to color combinations.

I will remake one or two, and I have one that half finished, and a few holiday ones in mind.  But the truth is I am dreading the work and the time away from kanzashi.  Especially since I am already putting inquiries out to start the anime convention circuit in dallas. 

But with this new sale I do have the opportunity to put in a rather large chirimen order, enough to get most of my book completed for color swatches.  Which means I can do color scans and have a pdf listing for all available colors in my inventory.  It is something I get asked for occasionally, and I just don't have anything like it.  And if I am going to take custom orders at a convention, I need to be prepared with color swatches. 

This year is going to be a LOT of work.

New Kanzashi

Ok they are photographed and up, and probably the last few pieces I am going to do for 2 weeks or so.  I have a pillowcase to finish embroidering, and another set I just purchased.  I need the break.

I also want to work on something new, I just haven't decided what yet.  I have a wide variety of projects and books, deciding on just one is very difficult for me.

Last Piece of This Series

Navy Blue Kanoko Dots

I've decided this will be the last piece I make of this double cherry blossom large flower style. I have enough examples of this piece to just go with custom orders from now on. I managed to get it on the hairstick, and it is securely in place.  The shidare falls are rotational so you can wear this piece on either side.

I have been working diligently on my color swatch book.  It is really about 40-50% filled in, but that gap is a great financial burden.  It means I am going to have to purchase the smallest amount of fabric they offer for the colors I have missing, which is really getting into the $200-$250 price range. 

So to meet that goal I am going to be making some changes.  More smaller, less expensive pieces.  More flower variety, and style of hair attachment variety.  I am currently trying (and think I finally figured out) the peony, and I have instructions for the spider mum I have not attempted yet.  I can go on. 

The photography department is lacking as well.  I have several photos that just haven't turned out worth a flip lately, and I need to reshoot them in better light.  Unfortunately the light today is overcast and dim, so I am here writing on the blog instead of taking pictures of the new pieces.  Tomorrow is another day.

More New Stuff

I have done several in this style, and I am making one more before I stop. Another kanoko dots in navy blue.  I was going to do them as a set or a tiara or something as long as it was different. I tried for a hair stick on this pink one, but the wire didn't wrap properly and I had to scrap it and go for the traditional hair fork. 

Honestly I have just been working hard enough to keep myself distracted. The real world is very difficult for me these past few days, I have been emotionally sick. Though I am hoping soon I will pull out of this funk,  I am only doing small pieces and projects until then.  

Today I am hoping to at least photograph this pretty pink girl, and maybe finish up the Navy kanoko dots (hopefully on a hair stick). 

New Pieces

New pieces are up, deviantART has been updated, Facebook has been updated, blog is now updated. 

No new pieces for a while.  Now it is time for making some inventory lists and getting better prepared for custom orders.

Back Up and Rolling

Not much news from the "new pieces" front.  I have actually been away for a while doing business-y things like taxes and accounting. 

Though I did manage to catch the eye of a very nice lady at Space City Con in Galveston, TX over the weekend.  I was sporting the pink and white cherry blossom double bouquet and she stopped and approched me about making a piece. I also wore the purple hydrangea on Saturday.  It rained on Sunday, so no kanzashi. 

But if there is one thing that place taught me, its that I need to start making enough pieces to get into a convention circuit. I also need to build a portfolio, a price breakdown, a standardized inventory, color grid for what I have in stock.  Etc, Etc, Etc. The list goes on and on.  But I think I could manage it with a lot of work.  Maybe a little help.

Kids go back to school tomorow, and after I get my house that looks like a tornado struck it in a direct hit kind of way, I will get back to kanzashi and photograph those pieces I have waiting.

My mother in law, whom I love to death, gave me a new book on chinese knotting, and all the supplies i could need to get started.  I suppose i will have to put it on the to do list this year, but who in heck knows when I will get around to it.

Though honestly, I'm just greatful to be done with ornaments for the next 6 to 9 months.

Ok, that's it for now.