Finally added the Crafty Book Addicts community on LJ.  You may not be aware of how much I like to plan things, but I really like to plan things.  So instead of planning, I decided just to create it now (instead of sleeping) and worry about the fine print later.  that’s what happens when I don’t go to bed at a decent time!  So if you are a Book Addict (ie person who loves books) and a crafty one at that, then please go join up.  You must also be a member of the Book Addicts Book Group since we are a community for Book Addicts (and there would be no point if you weren’t now would there) and you must be crafty.  See the community for more info.

Zazzle has *finally* sorted out their email notification system and I got 267 emails from them today :p  Oh joy!  Every email I should have had since it “broke” arrived in my inbox this morning, and they just keep coming, so quite possibly it’s still not working quite right, as I know for a fact I have not had 32 new orders today lol but they keep insisting I’ve “just made a sale” *head spins*  Anyway, nice to see some emails instead of nothing.  Now I don’t have to keep checking manually to see if anyone has bought anything, or commented or “joined my fan club”.

Christmas mail delays are irritating me no end.  I am waiting for presents I ordered online to arrive in time for me to post them elsewhere, and I am (and this is a BIG worry) waiting for craft supplies to arrive in time for me to make other presents *chews lip*

Speaking of Christmas, I currently have negative money, and I found out today that I might also not have any heating for Christmas.  It is beginning to sound a bit like a Dickens novel, but I rang the oil company today and due the the “Christmas rush” they might not be able to get to me by Christmas!  Who’d have thought there would be a Christmas oil rush, it’s not exactly like a gold rush I suppose *strokes chin*  Anyway, should there be no heating, then I may be offline due to it being too damn cold to type, or sew or knit or read books.  I will be hibernating or perhaps moving me and the kitties in with the rele’s.

I bought one of these last night in the supermarket because a. I liked the colour and b. it was pretty cheap. It occurred to me once I got it home and examined it that this would be quite an easy craft project to do yourself.

All it seems to be is a simple box file covered in fabric on the outside and paper on the inside and padded on the top. You just need to get hold of a new or old box file, some fabric scraps, some paper – maybe the thicker handmade paper – and something to pad the top with and a little ribbon for the side and fastening. It could be a gift and also a box for a gift.

Photos under the cut/more tag
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I saw this a few days ago and I think he’s really cute.

Check it out here at the Etsy DarkSide Team LJ community There are some cute photos of the little guy and while you’re there why not check out what else the community are making. There’s a cute little pink monster that’s just adorable.

Day 5 in the big blood eye house.

Ellie is turning into a vampire

Yup I can actually feel when it’s bleeding now, and it seems to bleed a little more every night.  Hmm usually after talking to Jack *wonders if there’s a connection* *eye starts twitching*

Went a bit mad last night on a fabric shop that someone from Etsy linked me to because I wanted to know what fabric she had used on something that I ended up buying.  OMG the shop had a sale and shipped internationally.  Many dollars, a seven page wishlist and some hours later, I logged out and went to bed dreaming of all the prettiness and ruby slippers.

This morning the postman delivered some parcels but still not enough (!) and also a card demanding more money for customs charges for something they haven’t/won’t deliver until I pay *sigh*  I think it’s probably my sexy topless men fabric.  I hope they didn’t open it or they may think I’m some kind of pervert.  I guess I can look forward to at least another 3-4 similar cards for all the rest of the stuff that is on its way

On the bright side, I did the rest of my Christmas shopping online this morning and it should all arrive this week.  Then it’s only a matter of me making the rest of the things I want to give people – once the supplies arrive from the four corners of the globe.  Hopefully I am not cutting it as fine as I think I might be.

Also thinking of throwing in free tablet with orders on Etsy once I get organised and make stuff to sell there.  So far it’s only book covers and mousepads.  It should be many other things which should be easier now I can see the room I’m supposed to be working in, but probably too late for Christmas orders.  Timely for January sales though!

Oh and later I will post some photos of the new improved sewing room now that I can see it lol

So my eye has been bleeding again. It seems to bleed at night when I’m sitting down doing nothing and not exerting myself, sneezing or being stressed – unless of course it’s just a delayed reaction to what I’ve been doing during the day!  I took more photos of it this morning, it’s looking more vampiric by the day and the good news is I will probably still have it at Christmas and I will be able to scare small children and repulse people while they’re eating their Christmas dinner – see everything has an upside!  I made another batch of Tablet last night but I’m not eating it, nuh huh.  I will have to hide it from my sister though lol

When I stocked up my Zazzle shop a few weeks ago (3 almost) I set myself a little test target just to see if anyone would want to buy anything that I created, and also because statistically less people know about Zazzle than Cafepress.  Well I exceeded the target I set for the month in just under three weeks, so thank you everyone who bought anything from the shop and especially to all the crazy Twilight obsessed fans who are just buying everything I have.  Thank you all!  I’m really surprised at the popularity of keychains btw, I guess they make good stocking fillers.

It might be a bit of procrastination on my part but I am still trying to reorganise my sewing/craft room workspace instead of doing any actual sewing.  I’m taking a break for lunch (even though it’s 3pm) as I just managed to dig my way out of mountains of fabric. Remind me why I think I need more fabric?  Speaking of more fabric I am fretting quite a bit that some things I ordered at least 2-3 weeks ago have still not arrived from the US, whereas a beautiful bracelet (a present and unfortunately not for me) I ordered via Etsy arrived today, also from the US.  I just hope they aren’t holding my fabric up in customs as I REALLY NEED IT and it’s very sexy.

Still also waiting for my recent ebay purchases but since some of them are from Saturday I know I’m being unreasonable.  I just want them now. (like I don’t have enough fabric lol)

Photos of the new and improved sewing room will be posted – maybe a before, during and after makeover lol.  I found stuff up there buried deep within the depths of the spare room that I forgot I even had, but also I found fabric that I bought in Glasgow last Christmas and that reminded me that the shop (Mandors) will be having another sale this Christmas so I definitely need to put that on my to-do list.  I seem to remember last year having to enlist the help of a couple of family members to carry everything I bought.  Fabric is heavy you know.

Book Group

Just a quick mention about the book group since this isn’t the book group blog!  1984 – George Orwell and Into the Wild – Jon Krakauer are the books for this month, and in the Paranormal Social Club we are reading Pleasure Unbound – Larrissa Ione.  And of course you can read whatever you want and come talk about it with us.  Virgin Suicides and Time Traveler’s Wife discussions are still going if anyone wants to jump in.  Plus also we have very sexy Rules of Book Club designs on a bunch of items on both Cafepress and Zazzle.

Out of curiosity, requested an invitation to Ravelry.

You’ve been added to the invitation list!

You were added to the list on December 6, 2008 at 05:35 PM
When it is time, we’ll send your invite email to xxxxxxxxxx

There are 4969 people ahead of you in line. Your invitation should be sent in about 4 days.

Like wow, that’s a lot of people interested in a knitting and crochet site right?

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I had some success on ebay today.  I generally don’t like to bid, I prefer to buy things that have a “buy now” price, mainly because I don’t have time to fart around with bidding and because I want it now!  However, I did place some bids last night (during the whole bleeding eye incident) to distract me from the whole bleeding eye incident, and today I was successful.  Yes I bought more fabric.  I was in a fabric frenzy so I can’t remember what I actually bought lol.  *racks brain*  Oh yes, some organza (a bugger to sew), some black stretch lace (have plans for that!) and some kimono silk.  I got pipped at the post for some tartan fabric but then I got a second chance offer from the seller so I’m mulling that over.  More kimono silk later tonight, hope I get that one as I love the colours.  Then I bought some yarn that I needed to complete some presents and now I think it’s time for tea.

Of course I should be studying today and that’s not been going very well.

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Oh and I keep meaning to post this but forgetting.  I wonder if that cat is really pissed off or just a little?

I am not amused

Looks great with the cat though, very matchy matchy.

I make stuff for presents and more so this year because of money issues, it’s more thoughtful, it’s something unique etc and I love getting handmade presents myself.  However, I have four males to buy for this year and it occurred to me the other day that males are not as well catered for in the handmade department as the girls!  I even looked on Etsy yesterday in their gift guides section and under presents for men/dad/children etc, there was not much on offer.  In the children’s/teens section it was all geared towards girls.

So what about the boys?

I talked to a male friend last night and casually mentioned handmade presents and he said “it’s a girl thing” so I asked him to think of something he might like someone to make for him.  He wasn’t interested in getting something knitted, or some kind of man bag (hinted that was a bit “gay”), or any of the other suggestions I threw out there.  In fact he said “all these things are what women think men want, not what they actually want”.

Now I read the handmade posts on my friends list this morning and they are all about what presents to make for dads, boyfriends, brothers etc.  I have also read the generic boyfriend thread on craftster (approx 800 posts).  I still can’t find something that I think my nephew, cousin, friend, BIL would be excited about opening up on Christmas day.

So why are there not more options for the menfolk?

I have a 12 yr old nephew, he’s at that stage where he’s tool cool for kids stuff and he’s in to rock and skateboarding.  I’ve made him personalised stuff via cafepress before, but I don’t want to do that every time.

I have a friend in his twenties who doesnt want knitted anything, or a man bag/messenger bag, or a handmade ipod cover etc

I have a cousin in his 30s also sans ideas for him and a BIL who doesn’t seem to be into much although he might like an ipod cover (maybe)

I need help and I’m not the only one.  I think there’s a serious lack of handmade present options for men.

Suggestions needed, ideas appreciated.  Hopefully we can help each other

What do men want?