Tophatter

Over the last few weeks, I have been exploring every possible avenue to make a little extra cash. I took the remainder of term off, and will be starting fresh in the spring (April 2) and decided to take this extended spring break and get my business moving a bit more product... Well, good on me. I have gotten several custom orders, which is fine, except that I can't make enough orders to keep up...

So to sell some of my other crafty skills, a couple of crafty friends suggested Tophatter, an auction site that is similar to etsy and ebay, but faster than both. The only major problem is that Tophatter is only about 3 months old, and is still having some issues. Such as there being too many sellers, not enough buyers, or most of the buyers being sellers of another product.

One would think that being a maker of crafty goods, one would understand the time that goes into the work, but many seem to think that if their craft is fast, all crafts are fast... not so much!

It is still a great little program. You go on as a seller, list an item, schedule it into a category, and you are given an auction date and time in which to go talk to your buyers. You build an avatar, and you bid, as if you were out in that cold world at a real auction house. The only issue with this piece of the puzzle, is I am not 100% sure everyone understands that it's a real auction, it kinda looks like a FB game.

Once the auction is over, you use paypal to receive payment (or send it) and to print shipping, package up the goods you sold, and send them on their way.

Tophatter Pros:
*Quick(er)
*"Face-to-face" chat with customers/artists
*Faster payment (usually)
*Newer artists
*More variety (sometimes)
*Easy to use (most of the time)

Tophatter Cons:
*Still a bit glitchy (because its new)
*A lot of bickering from sellers who think they know how to run it better than the staff (try their job for a day, you'd be a lot nicer)
*Some of the features are intermitantly available on most browsers, but not all (speak with staff only sometimes shows up with Google Chrome)
*A few people still think it's a game, and you never get paid
*Shipping costs are OUTRAGEOUS
*Many international customers (read: Canadian) are discouraged from buying because of shipping
*Products are often not well represented because sellers are not present for auction, so you can not ask ????'s

All in all, great site. Needs some improvements

Also, check out my seller page, I have a ton of stuff ready to put into auctions!

 

Don't Panic: It's Midterms Week!

While I have been working my but off to get a few posts done.. I have not gotten very far!

I am busy studying for midterms! But, that doesnt mean my crafting is ont he back burner, I gotta give myself a break every once-in-a-while... So I have designed a pattern for some ear-warmers head bands and some wrist warmers... look for those in the next few days... in the meantime.. back to business seminar and accounting!
 

HATS HATS HATS HATS! And a Hair clip or 20!

I have been a hat making maniac the last few days... I took a look around the WWW, and didnt find ANYTHING I liked. So what's a girl to do?

MAKE HER OWN PATTERN!

This is what I came up with:

This is Tundra, crocheted with Lion Brand Tweed Stripes... a super soft, super warm 100% acrylic striped tweed... (go figure read the name) I bought it at Wal-mart for 3.95 a ball or so.

This is Caramel, same details as above, but in the Caramel colorway (discontinued)

This is Woodland, same details as above, slightly different pattern (not by much) and this yarn is also a discontinued colorway.

That's what I have for now, however, I will post the patterns over the next week or so.

I have another pattern all together on the hook now. Still need to try to knit this yarn, just to see how it looks that way.

Tomorrow, you'll see my hairclip madness. I have 4 shops in the local area who want to consign my hair clips, so I am crocheting them up like a crazy woman! I'll have a pattern for the clips, and a tut for the boards I have backed them with in just a day or two.

A lot going on...

Consumer behavior: Boring

Core Fusion: Exhausting, but invigorating

A wedding:

A gas crisis: ran out of gas, and out of money to get gas, and needed to be in school, but couldn't afford to get there... a friend rescued us.. again. Thanks Amy.

A stress induced panic attack: See above

A painful chiropractic adjustment: Just as it sounds.

First hot temperatures in several months, and they are consistent.

Salsa, beans, and jam galore... Pictures on hubby's comp, will link when I get them from him.

New feather earrings:

Chicken and dumplings for the first time:

French Onion Soup, for the first time, ever, making or eating:

And much more...


See? A lot has been going on.