HandMaiden NY HandMaiden NY A chronicle of one woman's business adventure Articles
Happy Handmade Father's Day
2008-06-08 00:51:00 I?m not sure whether it?s simply the male DNA to blame, or some chemical/biological change that occurred the moment he became a father, but either way, my dad is impossible to shop for. He doesn't want for new clothes (still wearing t-shirts from well before I was born), has no hobbies really (unless you consider his clarinet playing, but he does that professionally so it doesn?t count), and is generally pretty content with the stuff he already owns.So what to buy the man who doesn?t want or need anything? Well, he already has a lamp made from an old clarinet - seriously - so anything from the likes of Yours truly is out the window. I looked to my fellow New New?ers for ideas, and here are some of my faves?A new tie from ikyotoMessage to dad: Stop wearing those awful clarinet ties! They are even dorkier than a piano tie, and most people wouldn?t have even thought that was possible. Now THIS is a tie! I have no idea what the text on it might say, but as a tie, it practically screams... More About: Happy
Who's that hangin' out in the Treehouse?
2008-05-24 03:56:00 Why...it's none other than Yours truly! A special selection of original lamps from Yours truly is now available at Williamsburg's favorite cute little shop for vintage and handmade stuff, Treehouse.Whether you need a new lamp or not, you should definitely stop by...you're sure to find something you want/need/want badly enough to rationalize it as a need. Plus they offer classes from time to time, as well as their latest feature, online shopping (courtesy of Etsy naturally).Treehouse is located at 430 Graham Ave., Brooklyn, open Wednesday - Sunday.
Ya win some, ya lose some
2008-05-19 03:10:00 Today marked my first appearance selling at Williamsburg's Artists and Fleas, and as much as I might enjoy shopping there myself, it was sort of a bust. Nothing against the venue per se, I think it was simply an ill-fated planetary alignment and/or the following: a. While the weather held out for the most part, it was rather iffy most of the day and foot traffic was LIGHTb. In general, I'd say it's a venue that caters best to vintage clothing, jewelry and t-shirts (that's what is usually there, and that's what people expect)c. Except for one super awesome lady, people apparently weren't in the mood to buy lamps todayOh, but here's something fun...take a step behind the table ladies and gents, and experience...The Seller's Perspective
Grandma Chic
2008-05-16 01:22:00 I, Yours truly, hereby coin the term "Grandma Chic." I've been using the term casually for some time now, but I've finally decided to make it official.And what you may ask is "Grandma Chic"? Well, that's the beauty of it; I believe the term is quite self explanatory, and does a superb job of calling to mind the precise qualitative nature which it is meant to denote. You see, it refers to a certain type of vintage aesthetic that while reminiscent of a bygone era and a doting motherly figure, remains thoroughly 'en vogue.' Examples of Grandma Chic:Let it also be noted that the entire modern craft movement could in fact be characterized as grandma chic.
Can't...stop...buying...fabric
2008-05-12 21:49:00 I exaggerate. My fabric purchasing habit isn't nearly as severe as my Target or Forever 21 habits. However, like most crafty persons I know, I just can't help buying a fabulous print, even if I have no idea what to do with it.But fortunately, I know exactly what I will do with these new purchases - lampshades! - that is, unless I just can't help it, and use them for my own selfish desires. More About: Buying , Stop , Fabric
So new?
2008-05-05 20:57:00 My goodness...so much time has passed, and yet I don't have much to report. Yesterday I took part in another lovely installment of the Hearts & Crafts Affair over at Cafe Grumpy, and not only did I pick up a few new goodies for myself, but I also sold a handful of lamps along the way. Thanks to KimmChi for stopping by and snapping a pic of my display! Please ignore the fact that I look like a weirdo however...I don't think I knew my picture was being taken (yeah...that explains it...).Yours truly can be spotted next at Artist & Fleas' Etsy Day - Sunday, May 18. Hope to see you there!
My debut as a guest blogger
2008-04-07 19:25:00 In honor of April being Earth month, The {New New} York Etsy Street Team is featuring an entire month of articles dedicated to the themes of environmentalism on its blog. Today it was my turn to contribute a little something, so I put together a lovely little piece (if I do say so myself) entitled Lamp Making: shedding new light on used materials. Looking for a new read (or a way to pass the time)? Check it out. More About: Blogger , Guest , Debut
Don't forget...
2008-04-04 19:34:00 This Sunday is the debut of the Brooklyn Flea. Check out their web site for the most complete directions ever on how to get there - www.brownstoner.com/brooklynflea. And guess what...the outlook for Sunday is about as good as it gets for the first weekend in April - sunny and mid-50's.
Craft Diaries: Part 3
2008-03-29 21:39:00 Dear Craft Diary,Where was I? Oh yes, when we last met I had just finished reminiscing about my forays into crafting during my Chapel Hill days. (Speaking of Chapel Hill, I just received an Etsy order from Chapel Hill ? how funny?)After Chapel Hill I found myself in Boston for what I like to consider my graduate school of life. It was a period when although I had finally matriculated, there remained much to learn, and I am grateful that I got to live it instead of reading it in a book or discussing it in a classroom. Anywho, crafting...my impetus for crafting in those days was my discovery of the store Beadworks. I was in need of something special to where for a special occasion, and like so many other beaded jewelry makers, I decided to make it rather than search endlessly for just the right thing. I had no idea what I was doing, but through trial and error eventually developed some technique with wire wrapping and such, and if I do say-so myself, a certain knack for bead shopping.... More About: Part , Part 3 , Diaries
Patting Yours truly on the back
2008-03-25 16:16:00 I have to say, I have been very pleasantly surprised by the initial success of my Etsy shop. All of my previous selling endeavors have always been met with a very luke warm reception, so it is just fantastic that I seem to have finally (although I don't want to speak to soon) hit upon something that strikes a cord with folks. I want to give a huge thank you to The Broken Plate who expressed great enthusiasm for my items right from the start, and was pretty much responsible for my adding a custom lamp shade listing to my shop's offerings - a great idea that I hadn't thought of yet. And best of all, she was kind enough to give me a nice little write up in her Craft Therapy blog. From the looks of her blog, she is definitely an all-around super crafty lady who is up to all types of worthy endeavors. I love that she also has a focus on upcycling and making use of the old and discarded. It's called The Broken Plate for a reason - check out this piece that I've already bookmarked as ... More About: Back
And I'm back...
2008-03-23 01:13:00 I had the flu, and then it was house guests, but I'm back and ready to start living my life again. More coming soon... More About: Back
Hooray
2008-03-11 00:20:00 I had my first sale on Etsy today! And not only that, but I sold 2 of my 3 items listed (to the same kind woman in CO). My store is pretty empty now, but it's for a good cause - me!
What's in a name?
2008-03-07 18:40:00 I am going crazy and stressing over business names currently. A little background: My first commercial craft venture was done under my actual name (because my parents did a great job in that department) "Ilana Rose." But then I got started with the craft store business, so I came up with the name "HandMaiden NY," and started doing everything under that name. But then reasons arose for me to abandon that name as well (as previously discussed), thus I have just about completed my latest name change. Presenting...*drum-roll please*..."Yours truly, Brooklyn."HOWEVER, I am sort of already suffering a terrible case of buyer's remorse. Is this name the one? I still really like the name "Brooklyn Belle" which I dabbled with briefly a year ago or so. But that doesn't lend itself to a store name for down the road, and all of my crafting is done with an eye toward the future. Argghhh, I just don't know. Oy, my head is spinning...have I ever mentioned that I am very indecisive?Here's a rund...
Craft Diaries: Part 2
2008-03-01 00:34:00 Dear Diary,After my first dalliance with sewing, I didn't do much more for a while. My mom would sew stuff for me here and there, and I usually helped out to an extent, but not enough to advance my skills much. Sure, I enjoyed craft related stuff, and liked to assist my mom with her various projects around the house (she has pretty much done everything in our house - paint, refinish, tile, embroider anything from cornices to throw pillows, make curtains, the list goes on) but I was way preoccupied with competitive swimming. I spent all my free time from about age 10 until 21 starring at the black line on the bottom on a swimming pool, and I was fairly blind to everything else (except boys - want to know who I had a crush on when I was 10, and then at 12, or how about at 16? I could list them all).I never gave much formal thought to making stuff until college when I discovered a lovely little bead store adjacent to an upscale fabric store in the same strip mall as Harris Teeter. I m... More About: Craft , Part , Diaries
Craft Diaries: Part 2
2008-03-01 00:34:00 Dear Diary,After my first dalliance with sewing, I didn't do much more for a while. My mom would sew stuff for me here and there, and I usually helped out to an extent, but not enough to advance my skills much. Sure, I enjoyed craft related stuff, and liked to assist my mom with her various projects around the house (she has pretty much done everything in our house - paint, refinish, tile, embroider anything from cornices to throw pillows, make curtains, the list goes on) but I was way preoccupied with competitive swimming. I spent all my free time from about age 10 until 21 starring at the black line on the bottom on a swimming pool, and I was fairly blind to everything else (except boys - want to know who I had a crush on when I was 10, and then at 12, or how about at 16? I could list them all).I never gave much formal thought to making stuff until college when I discovered a lovely little bead store adjacent to an upscale fabric store in the same strip mall as Harris Teeter. I m... More About: Craft , Part , Diaries
Let's be renegades together
2008-02-26 17:25:00 I made a feeble attempt at applying to last summer's Renegade, but this year I want to do it right. I'm trying to pull together a group of perhaps 3-5 folks, depending on how much stuff everyone has, in order to submit a super strong group application full of variety and panache.Pretty please, if you're interested, or know someone who should be, put them in touch with me, and pronto - info@handmaidenny.com. More About: Renegades
Let's be renegades together
2008-02-26 17:25:00 I made a feeble attempt at applying to last summer's Renegade, but this year I want to do it right. I'm trying to pull together a group of perhaps 3-5 folks, depending on how much stuff everyone has, in order to submit a super strong group application full of variety and panache.Pretty please, if you're interested, or know someone who should be, put them in touch with me, and pronto - info@handmaidenny.com. More About: Renegades
Any ideas?
2008-02-23 18:22:00 So, I got this really cool decanter that I'm going to use for another lamp, but I'm wondering what I can do with its stopper. I don't have any use for it as far as the lamp is concerned, but it's super cool too...anybody have an idea? It is sort of heavy and chunky, FYI. More About: Ideas
Any ideas?
2008-02-23 18:22:00 So, I got this really cool decanter that I'm going to use for another lamp, but I'm wondering what I can do with its stopper. I don't have any use for it as far as the lamp is concerned, but it's super cool too...anybody have an idea? It is sort of heavy and chunky, FYI. More About: Ideas
BUST is doing it again
2008-02-22 19:08:00 Seems they've decided to get back in touch with their Craftacular roots by bringing it back to Brooklyn with the first ever Spring Fling Craftacular, to be held at The Warsaw in Greenpoint (even though their web site claims Williamsburg). Very exciting, to me at least.The event is scheduled for Sunday April 27, and its line-up includes all the same fun and games as their hugely successful Holiday Craftacular - over 50 vendors, DJs, dancing, drinks, and a 90's themed dance party!Vendor applications are due March 30, and can be found at http://www.bust.com/craftacular/spring.fl ing.apply.html. FAQs are also available at http://www.bust.com/craftacular/spring.fl ing.faq.html.Miss you there - I'll actually be in FL celebrating my grandfather's birthday with the fam. More About: Bust
BUST is doing it again
2008-02-22 19:08:00 Seems they've decided to get back in touch with their Craftacular roots by bringing it back to Brooklyn with the first ever Spring Fling Craftacular, to be held at The Warsaw in Greenpoint (even though their web site claims Williamsburg). Very exciting, to me at least.The event is scheduled for Sunday April 27, and its line-up includes all the same fun and games as their hugely successful Holiday Craftacular - over 50 vendors, DJs, dancing, drinks, and a 90's themed dance party!Vendor applications are due March 30, and can be found at http://www.bust.com/craftacular/spring.fl ing.apply.html. FAQs are also available at http://www.bust.com/craftacular/spring.fl ing.faq.html.Miss you there - I'll actually be in FL celebrating my grandfather's birthday with the fam. More About: Bust
Let there be lamp!
2008-02-18 01:38:00 Deciding to step away from jewelry for a while (with the exception of a few things for myself), I had the idea a while back to try my hand at lamp making, and...Ta-da!While definitely a 'learning piece,' I'm still pretty happy with the results of my very first lamp. It's going to be my new desk lamp at work since there's no space for it at home.Lessons learned:1. Wine bottles are maybe too tall, maybe not.2. Entirely do-it-yourself lamp shades = way too labor intensive. Apparently there are a lot of pre-fab, self-adhesive ones available that ought to make things much easier. And if stenciling or something like I did on this one, a cheap, ready-made shade would again be way easier.Techniques to try in the future:1. Etching2. More interesting bottles3. Putting stuff in the bottle4. Something other than a bottlep.s. Those of you that have been with me for a while might recognize that stencil...have totally gotten my money's worth with that one :) More About: Lamp
Let there be lamp!
2008-02-18 01:38:00 Deciding to step away from jewelry for a while (with the exception of a few little baubles for myself), I had the idea a while back to try my hand at lamp making, and...Ta-da!While definitely a 'learning piece,' I'm still pretty happy with the results of my very first lamp. It's going to be my new desk lamp at work since there's no space for it at home.Lessons learned:1. Wine bottles are maybe too tall, maybe not.2. Entirely do-it-yourself lamp shade = way too labor intensive. Apparently there are a lot of pre-fab, self-adhesive ones available that ought to make things much easier. And if stenciling or something, like I did on this one, a cheap, ready-made shade would be the way to go.Techniques to try in the future:1. Etching2. More interesting bottles3. Putting stuff in the bottle4. Something other than a bottlep.s. Those of you that have been with me for a while might recognize that stencil...have totally gotten my money's worth with that one :) More About: Lamp
Craft night
2008-02-15 18:25:00 Gal pal R. Vine hosted a lovely craft night this past Tuesday, and I'm happy to report that it served as the impetus for me to finally make good on a promise to myself to learn how to crochet. Apparently even a children's crochet book is too difficult for me to follow, so with the aid of new friend Lindsey, I successfully put together a nice little practice swatch. Why are needlework instructions so difficult for me to follow? Am I the only one with this problem? It's like, in an effort to be so thoroughly explanatory, they make it more complicated than it needs to be. Just say: "wrap yarn under hook from back to front. Pull slip knot off and over hooked yarn." But they muck it up with so many superfluous details on exactly how to hold the hook, and balance the hook, and which fingers to use, and how to hold the yarn, and how you should be sitting, and which hand to use for grabbing your wine glass (well, maybe not that one)...enough already, just tell me what I need to know in p... More About: Night , Craft
Craft night
2008-02-15 18:25:00 Gal pal R. Vine hosted a lovely craft night this past Tuesday, and I'm happy to report that it served as the impetus for me to finally make good on a promise to myself to learn crochet. Apparently even a children's crochet book is too difficult for me to follow, so with the aid of new friend Lindsey, I successfully put together a nice little practice swatch. Why are needlework instructions so difficult for me to follow? Am I the only one with this problem? It's like, in an effort to be so thoroughly explanatory, they make it more complicated than it needs to be. Just say: "wrap yarn under hook from back to front. Pull slip knot off and over hooked yarn." But they muck it up with so many superfluous details on exactly how to hold the hook, and balance the hook, and which fingers to use, and how to hold the yarn, and how you should be sitting, and which hand to use for grabbing your wine glass (well, maybe not that one)...enough already, just tell me what I need to know in plain an... More About: Night , Craft
New name coming soon...
2008-02-09 04:10:00 Handmaiden NY was the first name I came up with that I liked, but I never loved it. Plus, when I began talks with a potential partner, she didn't love it either, and since I wasn't sold on her proposed business name, we decided to start from scratch. I've stuck with Handmaiden all this time on account of that business plan competition (so as not to confuse things, since that was my working name at the time the competition commenced). So anywho, now that the competition is over and done with, I figure why not roll out the new name that I am in love with...Why not? Well, I do have a new domain purchased, and the logo you may have now become accustomed to was inspired by, and works much better with the new name (at least I think so), however, I can't do anything about my blog URL. I can change its title and all (I think), but the URL will still involve handmaiden. And so will the MySpace, but I haven't done much with that anyhow, so whatevs.Oh well, I'll just have to not worry ab...
New name coming soon...
2008-02-09 04:10:00 Handmaiden NY was the first name I came up with that I liked, but I never loved it. Plus, when I began talks with a potential partner, she didn't love it either, and since I wasn't sold on her proposed business name, we decided to start from scratch. I've stuck with Handmaiden all this time on account of that business plan competition (so as not to confuse things, since that was my working name at the time the competition commenced). So anywho, now that the competition is over and done with, I figure why not roll out the new name that I am in love with...Why not? Well, I do have a new domain purchased, and the logo you may have now become accustomed to was inspired by, and works much better with the new name (at least I think so), however, I can't do anything about my blog URL. I can change its title and all (I think), but the URL will still involve handmaiden. And so will the MySpace, but I haven't done much with that anyhow, so whatevs.Oh well, I'll just have to not worry ab...
Craft Diaries: Part 1
2008-02-07 03:06:00 Dear Diary,OK, so you're probably wondering, "Does this girl even make anything, or is she all talk?" A fair enough question; I've devoted very little space to discussing my actual, nuts and bolts craft ventures. I'm here to rectify that. What do I do? What have I made? How did it all begin? I think my penchant for making things myself can be traced back to fourth grade when my mom gave me free reign with her sewing machine to make a skirt. I had no idea what I was doing. No pattern, no idea of how actual clothing should be constructed, just a picture in my mind of what I thought the 'it' skirt of the day was - a mid-calf, pencil type thing with a slit in the back from which some lace peeked out. I managed to put something together (probably with at least some help from my mom), and although it promptly ripped the following morning when I was getting on the school bus, it was wearable enough to make it out the door. It was pretty terrible, but I was mighty proud.Regretfully, m... More About: Craft , Part , Diaries
Craft Diaries: Part 1
More articles from this author:2008-02-07 03:06:00 Dear Diary,OK, so you're probably wondering, "Does this girl even make anything, or is she all talk?" A fair enough question; I've devoted very little space to discussing my actual, nuts and bolts craft ventures. I'm here to rectify that. What do I do? What have I made? How did it all begin? I think my penchant for making things myself can be traced back to fourth grade when my mom gave me free reign with her sewing machine to make a skirt. I had no idea what I was doing. No pattern, no idea of how actual clothing should be constructed, just a picture in my mind of what I thought the 'it' skirt of the day was - a mid-calf, pencil type thing with a slit in the back from which some lace peeked out. I managed to put something together (probably with at least some help from my mom), and although it promptly ripped the following morning when I was getting on the school bus, it was wearable enough to make it out the door. It was pretty terrible, but I was mighty proud.Regretfully, m... More About: Craft , Part , Diaries 1, 2, 3 |
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