Thursday, July 23, 2009

Sneak Preview of my new Punk/Goth Rock Star Line


I wanted to give everyone a sneak preview of my new line. Having been enmeshed in the punk/goth subcultures for many years before I settled down and had my son I have decided to go back to my roots and add a smattering of goth and punk style baby items to my shop. This picture shows 4 of the new bibs coming soon. I will also have receiving blankets added soon thereafter. If you have any slogans or special requests please ask, I have many designs and alphabets available for boys and girls. I also have colored bibs.


Wednesday, July 22, 2009

More info on Uleen in the news

http://www.cftktv.com/node/964447

http://www.terracedaily.ca/show4493a/SKEENA_VALLEY_EXPEDITIONS_ADDRESS__LOSS

I have to say, I don't know what the usual is for that big of a party but I would think there would have been more than one certified guide there. Also, considering the conditions and the fact that the party from the previous day also had several rafts overturn I don't think they should have allowed the tour to go on. I realize that they could not help the fact that satellite communications were not working at the time but it seems to me by the way the articles were written that they took too long to decide to go for a land line. It almost makes me wonder if she could have been saved if they had acted faster. I am still very angry, even more so now that I know more about what happened. It is awful to know the details I guess, because now I have mental pictures in my head. I don't know what else to say except I will continue to look for more info on the accident as time progresses.

Monday, July 20, 2009

So sad and also a little mad

As you may have seen in the comments on my last post, Uleen's passing was confirmed as I suspected it would be. There were two news articles posted today, although they did not release her name.

http://www.cftktv.com/node/962898

http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_north/terracestandard/news/51238447.html

Now this is where I get kind of mad. I realize many people did not know her or her character but there were a lot of people yesterday in Etsy chat who tried to make a conspiracy out of this. I realize that you can't know who is really behind a name on the internet, but as I said before I knew enough about Uleen and her family to believe it was truly her mother who was on her account informing us. I knew that she and her mother started the shop together so it was only natural that her mother would have access to the account information and was professional enough to come take care of her affairs. It pained me to think there were people who thought it was some elaborate joke or hoax. A few people offended her mother by asking some things they really should not have and I feel horrible for her and the rest of her family. There were others who then turned the events into a "what if" scenario and made the focus all about them. Comments such as "If I died no one would tell you and my listings would be up until they expired" is not an appropriate response to just hearing of another Etsian's passing. I was completely disgusted by this behavior, just as I was this moring when I saw people become forum police when another member tried to collect charitable donations for the family. People in general are very self-centered and some true colors are really shining through.

It has been very hard to bite my tongue on this one so I now write about it without any calling out just so I can release some of the anger and frustration and overwhelming sadness I am feeling. And lets not forget about the guilt. I feel guilty because I hadn't talked to Uleen as much as I normally do lately because my mom has been visiting. I didn't even know she was going rafting this past weekend. The last time I saw her in chat was on friday and she was upset about something but I wasn't sure about what because I kept getting distracted by my own life. The last real conversation we had was about my purchasing some logo stickers from her. Which brings me to another another regret, that I never bought the chinese animals and military ribbon designs from her. I had been putting it off until I had some more money but now I will never be able to get them and that makes me very sad. I would ask her mother if I could buy them but the timing isn't right and it seems very tacky. So I have nothing from her and that pains me. I would like to have something that she made to remind me of her. She was such a talented graphic artist and such a wonderful person. She was a great friend. I'll never forget her kindness, especially when I was facing a possible volcanic eruption from Mt.Redoubt. She offered her home to me even though she had never met me in person and I had a baby and two pugs to tote along if I came. That is the kind of gesture one cannot forget and I love her for it and the other gestures of kindness she gave to others as well as myself on a daily basis. The world is a much lonlier and sadder place without Uleen. She touched so many people without even knowing it. I will love her and miss her forever. I hope she is happy whereever she may have gone and again I say I hope to see her again someday in another time.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

A Sad Day for Etsy, My Etsy Friends and I

I found out today that a really wonderful person, a great friend I had met through Etsy has passed away. Uleen Ann Toovey aka ChromaSmear died in a white water river accident yesterday in British Columbia, she was 34. Apparently she and members from her work (her boyfriend may or may not have been there I am not sure) went rafting and two of the rafts overturned and they were not able to revive her. I am in a state of shock and disbelief. I had a brief online conversation with her mother who informed us all. As you can guess many people are skeptical, but because I know enough about her family and her character I do believe this information to be true. I am deeply saddened and will miss her greatly. I love you Uleen. I hope to meet you again someday in another time.

Nicole

Friday, July 10, 2009

Shop update 7/10/09

So I keep telling myself I need to use this more often. I recently changed prices in my shop and figure I could use this to explain why. Many people do not know the cost of fabric, especially designer fabric. I just had to raise the price on my new wipeable changing pad because once I sat down and figured out the actual cost of materials it was more than what I had listed it for and that wasn't even including the time it took to make. Then there is my competition. I just lowered all of the prices of my receiving blankets because my competition is wiping me out. I don't know if it will help or not. I have been playing with prices since I started selling at the end of December. I just thought an explanation was due to those who have been buying from me since the beginning and those who may have viewed the change pad and wondered why the sudden price increase. I hope everyone understands. I'm not getting a lot of business so there may still be more changes to come. I'm trying to price fairly and be competitive but sometimes being competitve isn't practical, since I don't know what price they are getting their materials for. I had originally based my changing pad on the price of other changing pads, but then I discovered I was seriously under charging and adjusted the price. I am the only one on etsy who is making them like this at the moment (though I'm sure others will eventually) so I feel if someone really likes it and values the quality they will be willing to pay the price for it. I see blankets that are smaller going for more.

As for my products there will be a lot more to come in the next month. My mother is here to visit for a month and will be spending a lot of time with my son so that opens up time for me to start making a lot of items. So be on the lookout for all kinds of new items in the next month!