Tophatter Update! They let me schedule my 2nd hat finally!!!

I don't know if it has anything to do with the fact that I posted the blog I did yesterday but when I logged on to Tophatter this morning, even though it was after 8am PST they had a slot open for me to list my hat on March 19th at 5pm.  To me it is so silly when everything I have tried for the past 2 weeks didn't work but then I write a blog post that gets like 50 hits and the very next day I am able to schedule my item for an auction.  Coincidence?  Maybe.  I just hope that it sells because I really need to make a sale or two this month to cover all the costs that I have been putting out. 

People think that yarn isn't expensive but it really is.  Good quality yarn can be extremely expensive but it is worth it when you can get your hands on it.  Lately I have been relying on donations and whatnot to fund my yarn collection, and it is running scarce.  I am so happy to see one of my favorite sites doing a yarn give away. 

If you haven't heard of them before you should check them out,  www.HookedonCrochet.com which is a free email newsletter sent out by www.AllFreeCrochet.com.  I have found some amazing techniques and patterns that I would have never thought of before.  I am not one to TAKE someones design that they have posted for free and use the whole pattern.  I am weird I guess because I am really REALLY BIG on not wanting to COPY anyone's work unless I paid for the pattern and they get the credit for designing it, so I will always change things, and make it my own.  I find that a lot of the patterns need a little help anyway in getting them to make sense and work correctly so my years of experience come in handy in those cases. 

I mostly signed up for the site's emails because they run contests for yarn give aways, and this month they are giving away Bernat Mosaic's and I WANT IT really bad!  I don't know how many times I have been at Michael's and just sat and felt how amazingly soft and luxurious this yarn is but couldn't bring myself to pay the $7/skein it costs when it's only about 100 yards in each skein.  WAY out of my budget if you ask me.  I couldn't sell anything I made out of it because I'd have to charge like $40 for a hat which is too much in my opinion.  I know that there are people out there selling them for that, but I can't justify it to myself.  I want my hats to be affordable as well as fashionable.  So I always look for good sales, or promotions where they are giving it away. 

I won't use poor quality materials.  Some people would argue with me and say that Red Heart Supersaver Yarn isn't of good quality but I will tell you that I have always used Red Heart Supersaver and ALWAYS will because it is durable, washable, and you can find it in almost any color you want.  It may NOT be the softest yarn, but if you want something that you can SEE the details of your work in, this is the perfect yarn.  Yes it is acrylic but it's not itchy unless you don't keep up on the maintenance and shave it periodically.  (Shaving a sweater or hat made out of ANY yarn is necessary after a period of time if you want it to remain looking nice and not like a fuzzy, frizzy mess.)

I feel really scatter brained today for some reason.  I had started this as a post to update you all on my tophatter situation, which is hopefully going to get better soon, and it has progressed into talking about the quality of yarn I use.  It always amazes me how a tangent can take me on a path that I never would have even thought of in the beginning of when I started typing.  Anyway, if you get a chance to check out the Auction on the 19th at 5pm check out my hat.  Or if you just can't wait, you can always come and check out my stuff on my Etsy page.

www.etsy.com/shop/mrzjaquescrochetedit

And don't forget to "like" me on Facebook

www.facebook.com/mrzjaquescrochetedit

Wishing you all the best and happy hooking!

Mrz Jaques

Tophatter Frustrations!!!! Am I the only one???

Many of you know that I recently joined and started selling my stuff on a site called Tophatter.

TopHatter Auctions

They are a live auction site where you can list your goods and then schedule and attend their daily auctions to sell your stuff.  Or so they say when you sign up.  What they didn't tell me at first was that I would only be able to schedule one item at a time for sale.  That part is not that big of a deal, it's not like I have a TON of stuff to list.  Plus if it all sold, I would have to completely re-do my Etsy site, (not that it would be a bad thing to have to do that) but they also don't tell you that they don't have a lot of "open" slots for their auctions, so it is really hard to even get a chance to schedule something. 

Of course, they will immediately let you schedule your first item, I'm sure they have PLENTY of slots open for "new" members, but once you sell something, good luck trying to get another item scheduled. I sold my Light Purple Open Weave Slouchy Beanie with Sparkly Bow on Feb 29th, 2012 and haven't been able to schedule anything since.  I have been trying to schedule my Light Blue Homespun Open Weave Slouchy pictured below with absolutely no luck.

I have been trying for 2 weeks now.  I finally tried "chatting" with the auction staff today and a very UNHELPFUL lady named Aimee just told me that they have limited slots and if you want to check on a new slot you MUST be signed into your lot at 8am PST everyday morning to even get a chance, and even then the slots are first come first serve and very limited.

The totally awful part about that is I have to get my daughter on the bus for school at 8am PST everyday.  I'm never gonna get a chance to list another item.  The only good piece of advice she gave me was that some auctions go "outdoors" after and then you can schedule an item that day for that auction if you are currently attending it and catch one of the slots.

So I'm gonna try that today because I have to wait for Comcast to come and check out my whole internet connection again.  Something happened with the wind and snow from Monday and Tuesday and it is making me have to blog from my phone.  This sucks!  Believe me,  for a post that would usually take me less than 5 minutes to compose it has now taken me the better part of an hour.  The joys of technology!

I just don't know what to do, I haven't sold a single hat this month, and I'm starting to get really sad.  I have had a lot of compliments about how nice my work is, but no one wants to buy my stuff.  I don't get it.  I can't let myself get down in the dumps about it because then my creativity gets put on hold and it turns into a vicious circle that I can't break free of.  I have to keep myself busy and trying new things.  I bought a pattern from the Tophatter site, it's an Ammigamuri Turtle that is so cute.  I've never tried to make animals before but this pattern seemed really fun and my sister is OBSESSED with them and her birthday is on the 10th of April which is coming up.  I know she would love it if I surprised her with a cute stuffed turtle in her favorite colors.  She has two kids who would go nuts over it.  I might have to make two come to think of it.  :)

Plus I found my HUGE bag of yarn that I bought at Michael's when they were having their yarn sale and found some really pretty colors that I could make things out of.  Not sure what yet, but I'll just have to see where my hook takes me.  You see that is why I love this art form so much.  I have no idea what I'm going to make half the time, I just grab my hook and start going, but by the time it's finished I am always happy with what it turns out to be, and in the off chance I'm not happy with it, I can always take it out and start over with something different.  That's the beauty of it.  It always turns out to be what YOU wanted it to be, nothing more, nothing less, as long as you put in the work.

That's all for me this morning, I have a ton of things to do around the house before the Comcast guy gets to come and track dirt all through it.  FUN!



Wishes of Love and Crafty Creations Always,


Mrz Jaques

www.etsy.com/mrzjaquescrochetedit

www.facebook.com/mrzjaquescrochetedit

The best idea's can come from the strangest places......:)

      In a nutshell, I am not naturally very good at putting colors and things like that together in order to make something fashionable and trendy.  I never have been, even as a kid.  So as you can imagine when it comes to trying out new designs and things for my hats, I have to get a second opinion most of the time before I will put together a new set of colors, or match a ribbon with a certain hat.  You can see by some of my hats on my etsy site, I still tried to "wing it" a couple of times and haven't have a chance to correct those monstrosities.   :)

     So when I get an idea in my head about a new design, I will usually talk it over with a few friends, my sister and even my daughter before I actually put it into a finished product.  My best friend Shaunney came to me the other day with a few hat ideas and this color combo was one of them.  She has placed an order for one of my "Ear Flaps and Pom Pom" hats in these colors, but I want to work with her on a possible new design before I put it together because I know she will want something truly "Unique" for her sister.  So while off on my little tangent and wanting to see exactly how the colors would look together, I started making this one.  My wonderful sister called me in the middle of making it and asked if I had ever tried to make ears to go on the top of my hats, which I hadn't so that was the first new addition to this design.  They are so cute, and sit right on the top of the crown of your head right where real ears would.  I was super happy with how easily they came together too!  

     I make these all during my work day, which I do from home.  I work for Enterprise Rent-a-Car and take phone reservations all day long, so most of my time is spent sitting in front of a computer screen typing and talking to the person on the other end of the phone line.  There can be a lot of "down" time where you are pretty much doing nothing but waiting for the next call to roll through, so in order to keep myself from going completely crazy, I crochet.  

    Today when I finished this hat it was perfect timing because I was just logging out from work, and my wonderful husband hadn't started making dinner yet so I had a moment to reflect on it and show it off to him.  I had wanted to put a bow on it, and the pink and purple together was just awesome, but I didn't want it to be like my other hats with the bows.  This was a completely new idea, and it needed a new place for the bow too.  I just couldn't put my finger on where it needed to be, and THAT is one reason why I LOVE MY HUSBAND SOOOOOO MUCH!!!  He takes one look at the hat on my head and the bow in my hand and says, "Put it on top, between the ears like Minnie Mouse does."  I don't think he expected my reaction because I ran across the kitchen and kissed him and then ran to get my darning needle and a piece of yarn to attach the bow with.  I NEVER would have thought of that without him!!!  

     You know, there are a lot of us out there who really don't appreciate what they have in their lives.  I am one of them 6 out of 7 days a week, for sure, but today I really TRULY realized how much I appreciate the man in my life!   He is my rock, my bridge, my wind, my sail.  Without him, I know that I would still be here, but I would not be the person, or the Mother I am today.  I love you Zach!  So much!

     Okay, enough mushy stuff!  To get back to the hat, I am thrilled with how it all just looks so darn cute!  I have a feeling that this one might get a lot of attention at the Pic-a-dilly next month.  I decided to postpone my first Market until the 1st of April because I want to have at least 100 things to bring with me, and right now I'm about 38 things shy of that goal.  I am up for any suggestions if you many have them on new ideas or color combo's that you would like to see. 




Buy me on Etsy

GO Ducks! Green and Yellow Ear Flaps and Pom Poms!

 If you live in or around Eugene Oregon you have at least heard of the Oregon Ducks!  Almost anywhere in the country if you follow college football has heard of us in recent years because of our amazing new Head Coach Chip Kelly who has brought our team to new levels!  Just this year, he brought us to our first Rose Bowl Championship since the early 1900's. 

I myself am a HUGE Duck Fan, same with my wonderful husband and all of our friends.  Each year during football season we have huge Game watching parties, where we rotate houses and bring goodies to eat, and we all watch the games.  It's been a while since I made it to an actual tailgater but they are an experience all their own.  The games are amazing but it's super cold most of the time, so I decided to coin in on that and start making Duck inspired hat's.  You have already seen my 'Duck Stripes" beanie, which I have now in Youth, Teen, Adult Female, and Adult Male sizes.  They are a super hit with my sister and her family, as well as all our guy friends. 

The other day I was looking at my Pink and Brown Blended Ear Flaps Beanie and just had an epiphany.  Duck Beanie's with Ear Flaps and Pom Pom!  This is the finished product.  I love it!

Ear Flap Beanie #2 Pink and Brown Pom Poms!

 This is another one of my new Pink and Brown Ear Flaps Beanies.  After talking to my friend Tanessa who was the one who inspired the whole idea in the first place she said that she was looking for something with the colors more blended together, so I tried doing just that.  I took both strands of the yarn, one brown, one pink, and made the hat using them both at the same time.  It came out amazingly good!  To my wonderful husband it is a little too "generic" for what I usually make but it's cute all the same.   He is one of my biggest inspirations sometimes.  We will be out somewhere and he'll see some yarn in a new color or something and he'll just grab it and buy it, and tell me that I need to make a new beanie, or a new pouch, or something else that is totally amazing and I would have never thought of.  I don't what I would do without him sometimes.  I have been in a slump for weeks I feel like, and the other day, he bought this pink and brown yarn, and I have sort of come out of my funk.  I am dreaming about new hats again, and I want to make one out of green and yellow a lot like this for MY new Duck hat for this football season.  I know that I will have to post it on here when it's done because I love sharing stuff.  So stay tuned. 

I'm for Sale on Etsy. Buy Me!

Wednesday is hump day.......

I guess they call this day of the week hump day for a reason right?  It not only is the exact MIDDLE of the work week but it is also that day that seems to take FOREVER!!!  It to me is the longest day of the week by far.  At least that seems to be how my brain likes to perceive it.  Today I am finding it hard to get motivated to do anything productive.  I thought that I would have a lot of success with my last hat, the pink and brown one, and yet it seems that no one is interested at all.  My moral for wanting to keep going is depleting more and more each day with no sales, and less and less views of my stuff.  I know that building and audience and clientele takes time.  I just really wish there were something that would happen that would make it easier to wait and be patient.  Patience is my worst character flaw.  I have absolutely none when it comes to getting something I really want.  It helps when I use that motivation to do something good, like create new and beautiful things, but it can play the other angle and completely ruin my ability to think of new things until I get something I have already made sold again.

That Tophatter auction site I joined, sold my second item for a pretty decent price.  It was my Light Purple Homespun Open Weave Slouchy with Sparkly Bow.

  But now I can't even list my other items on there for another auction for some reason.  I can't sell anything if I can't list it, so I'm super bummed and frustrated about that.  I opened a new site thru Copius which has gotten a few hits but no one buying.  I have begun work on a new hat, Pink and Brown again but a totally different design.  More even with the colors.  I'm just hoping that after a few more weeks, when the weather gets nicer and I have more time to work on my stuff, I will have more people interested again.  I am doing the Pick-a-dilly flea market in Eugene on March 19 so if you live in the area, come by and see my stuff in person!

Monday Blues......bring Tuesday Beauties!

I have been dreaming about a pink and brown pattern since my friend Tanessa came to me with the idea a few weeks ago.  I had looked and looked to find the perfect shades and couldn't find them anywhere until the other day at Wal-mart of all places I see the two sitting right next to each other.  Funny how that works out huh?  So I am trying this new pattern out.  And I really hope it turns out good.  So far I am losing interest in my Etsy site and I  don't know why.  Is it because I don't have any new stuff?  I have made new stuff and posted it but I used to get like 100 views in a day and now it's more like 20.  I hope that having something new and cute will make people interested again.  I'm not sure what else to do.  I have my Facebook page.  I have this, and I also have both a Google plus page and a Craftsy site but they all seem to be not getting me the attention I need.

Ok so enough complaining, that's not what this is about.  I want to explain to you how this new pattern came into my head.  I have this weird obsession that makes me dream about the things that I am passionate about.  At work with Enterprise, if I have a bad day or a bad call that sticks with me, I will have a dream about it and figure out a better way to handle the situation in the future.  With my yarn, it shows me patterns and beautiful creations.  Sometimes they work out exactly like I had imagined, and then sometimes they take a little playing with, like I'm finding out with this one!  I have restarted this thing for the 3rd time now.  At least with each new start it gets better.  I am finding that doing the pink diamonds is a little more complicated than I had originally thought it to be.  No worries that is what years of experience has taught me.  Patience is the key with beautiful yarn creations.  Sometimes you have to take it out 10 times before you get a pattern to work right.

For instance,  this one I ended up taking out 5 times before I figured out exactly how the pink was going to lay correctly.  You can see in the pics the design of the pink in contrast to the brown.  I was going for more of a diamond shape but it didn't quite work out as good as I wanted.  The top looks like a five pointed star under the poof-ball I put on top.  I had no idea that making a poof-ball would be a complicated as it ended up being too!  So after much hard work, I have completed my newest hat.  I will be posting it later on this afternoon so stay tuned!  Now I am off to think of another beautiful idea to create until I have to bring myself to work on that afghan again.  It'll be done.................someday  :)