Adjusting International Shipping

I just sold four yards of the above fabric to a Canadian. I'm grateful and glad for the sale.

I'm finding I only make sales when I price very low, which is not surprising considering the worldwide economy. So, I priced with only a $4 profit on this item.

When I had the inquiry from the UK about shipping, I discovered that the nearby postal substation does not handle international packages. That's painful, since the substation is at our grocery and on the way to the gym. Today we figured out how much the gasolene will cost to drive to the main post office: $3. I'm making $1 on this sale.

Oh yes, I'd forgotten my etsy and paypal fees. Sigh

Live and learn

So I'm adding $3 to all my international shipping costs. Besides being unhappily time-consuming, I suppose it will tip the scale to the wrong side for international customers. I had dreamed of having an international business.

Of course, that whole topic brings up a question I've wondered about. What are the regulations about selling and buying internationally on sites like eBay (feeBay as it's known among sellers) and etsy? If you have a business involved in import/export, there are a ton of regulations. A few sellers on etsy are getting a large volume of sales by sending items from Asia.

I'm all for free enterprise, and I can't imagine a government agency with the resources to track down all us little guys, so I suppose we're safe, but it's a scary thought.

A Print That Tickles Me

Look what's peeking out of her kimono.

Mr. P says it would be cuter if it were a rabbit.

New Items in Etsy Shop Soon

Delete

I love the delete key on computers,

I've deleted a post about people bombing researchers who use animals in labs and how I managed not to bomb the perverts in Japan. I'm sure there are many perverts in America, too. I just get to ride our private car here, and never meet them, thus saving my soul from the sin of wanting to do away with them.

God bless us, everyone.

Above is a photo of fabric with a printed portrait of a beautiful Japanese lady.

I love playing with fabric. Here are some new arrivals.

MSOE Team Challenges,etc.

I'm happily working on a set of items for the August challenge, which is microbiology, my favorite science. It's meant to hang on the wall. Or maybe ACEOs. Those are little trading card size pieces of art. As Andy Warhol said,"Art is anything you can get away with."

A couple of weeks ago, I looked at some issues of Art in America. People are getting away with a lot.

A different endeavor, an idea I think I'll discard, was an embroidered wall hanging:

This is a test.
Explain Life.
Be complete.
Be concise.

It was my nightmare in graduate school. I tried it out on fellow students, and they didn't seem to think it was funny. It tickled me.

So I tried it out on Mr. P. He gave a negative response. So I said to go ahead and try it. He said, "The Holy Bible." I said that's just the owner's manual. He agreed. He still didn't see the humor.

The funny part is the BE COMPLETE, BE CONCISE part. Sigh

The Birthday Dress

I took the above photos yesterday, thinking I'd sell the vintage dress in my etsy shop. I bought it off the rack in the late '80's when I could still wear size 20. The styles in the Kansai were quite similar then, so I was glad to wear it there. Kansas styles, in my size, seldom paralleled the high fashion in Japan.

Then, I outgrew it. But for the last five years or so I'd put it on for my birthday. I figured if the buttons still closed decently, things weren't too bad. This year I looked in the mirror carefully and said," Patti, give it up."

So it was going into the shop. I considered what to charge. The price in my head kept going up. It's in such good condition, and washes so nicely. The price in my head went up some more. I finally realized that I just don't want to give up that dress. It's like admitting I'll never get smaller. I won't even talk about losing weight. When I bought it, I weighed about what I weigh now. I've just expanded. In some areas.

So I did aerobics in the gym for 55 min. today instead of twenty, and increased my reps in weight training. We'll see. I have ten months until my next birthday. (Disclaimer: talk to your exercise or health professional before increasing your exercise level.)

As others have said, Ebay is a bad, bad place. I had purchased a couple of patterns there, happily, but I over-reached my budget when buying fabric this last week. If I'd just waited... Today I went thrifting, and found six yards of fashion fabric, in one of my colors for, ah, well, a lot less than I could have bought it online. I may make a second dress from it, to sell on etsy, and vow to pass on the savings.

In more important topics, I have recently been invited to join Ruebee, a Christian crafters group. I think we all sell on etsy. I'm overwhelmed by the number of women I'm meeting with such beautiful testimonies of God's love and salvation.

Not to be silly, just exuberant, YAY GOD!