The Enemy, or How I Got Involved in the Petti Romper Wars Without Really Trying

This droll posting appeared in Etsy's Business Topics forum today. For those of you unfamiliar with Etsyland, it has its own language, its own bylaws, and its own national costume (over-sized glasses and skinny jeans).

NAME REDACTED from SHOP NAME REDACTED saysI'm working on expanding my line into lace petti rompers, petti dresses, and that whole line of frilly girly stuff. I'll be making my tutus, but I have a high quality wholesale source for petti skirts, dresses, and rompers. I will be modifying them by putting them in a set with a matching headband, sash, and possibly legwarmers. I will probably also so some cutting and sewing to make striped/two-toned rompers/dresses, etc. I'm just curious as to how little modifying I need to do to still keep it handmade. Will including it in a set with a handmade matching headband and sash and hand embellished matching legwarmers be called handmade?

Did you get all of that? I wouldn't blame you if you didn't make it past "lace petti rompers." The real issue is that this seller wants to market her items as handmade while not actually making anything. 

"Wait!" you ask. "Isn't Etsy all about handmade, unique things?"

Here is how they define "handmade" in Etsyland. Enjoy digging through the text for a coherent answer. 

Here's the reality. In Etsyland, "handmade" includes: 

1. Hand-assembled: i.e. mass-produced octopus charm looped onto mass-produced chain

2. Minimally altered/"upcycled"*: i.e. mass-produced clothing with a ribbon "sash" that you cut yourself tossed into the box with the dress that someone else made

3. Objects made by a "collective": i.e. furniture that you have imported from India and Mexico** 

If you have a problem with an Etsy shop, you can flag them for review. They will either do nothing or put a freeze on your account for being a meanie. 

I had the nerve to post my honest feelings about this topic in the forum. I await notification of the suspension of my account. But that didn't feel like enough, so I added the following to my Personal Profile:

When you choose to purchase from Very Sage, you are supporting Molly, a real, live person! Molly, who bought her yarn at a local shop, designed your hat in her little apartment, chatted about stitches with an old Russian lady on the subway, and ran to the post office during her lunch break to pop your hat in the mail. And why should you settle for anything less? After all, you're a real person too. 



*This word makes me want to barf. 

**FURNITURE RESELLER (not their real name) says in their profile: "As a company we are dedicated to preserving and experimenting with styles and techniques which transcend time and cover the globe. Our skilled artisans come from century old centers of furniture making excellence in India and Mexico. Your purchase help these traditions flourish." 

Meditations from the Tube

I had an MRI of my back today. I'm in the process of ruling out all the things that could be causing a loss of feeling in my foot and lower leg; something that scares me a whole lot if I think about it too much. Considering the amount of energy I devoted to being anxious about the MRI, things actually went pretty well.

I liked that they had me fill out a sheet that included the question "do you suffer from claustrophobia?" I answered "no." Had they given me the same questionnaire after the MRI, I probably would have written "only when shoved headfirst into a tube slightly larger than my body and forced to hold still for 25 minutes while someone operates a jackhammer very nearby." I quickly decided to keep my eyes closed, because the ceiling of the tube? Pretty much touching the tip of my nose.

As I lay there, pondering the many horrible diseases I probably have, some of which have probably yet to be discovered by science, I decided that this could be a good time to put my nascent meditation and chanting practice to work. I figured the technician couldn't hear me over the jackhammering and the background music (I love that he immediately asked me if I wanted him to switch the radio station to NPR before we started. How did he know? Is it my glasses?). I think I chanted the om saha navavatu about 100 times, first out loud and then to myself. Whenever I started to freak out I would re-focus on my breath and pick up the chant from the beginning. I'm not going to say my time in the tube turned into a fun-filled experience or anything, but chanting certainly made those long 25 minutes more bearable.

ॐ स॒ह ना॑ववतु । स॒ह नौ॑ भुनक्तु ।
स॒ह वी॒र्यं॑ करवावहै ।
ते॒ज॒स्वि ना॒वधी॑तमस्तु॒ मा वि॑द्विषा॒वहै॑ ॥
ॐ शान्ति॒ः शान्ति॒ः शान्ति॑ः




More crafty stuff soon,
Very Sage

Seeking Order in Chaos, One Stitch at a Time

Hurricane Sandy hit my city, and boy, did she hit hard. The last week or so has been a blur. My fiance and I are keenly aware of our good fortune. We live in a pre-war battleship of an apartment building, and while the storm was terrifying, we did not take any damage. Several of our friends and coworkers have been displaced by flood, fire, falling cranes, and unsanitary conditions. Most of the people that I interact with on a daily basis are distracted and anxious, but trying to remain optimistic.

Daniell rocks a Black & White Jaunty Newsboy cap

In the face of this chaos and uncertainty, it was a relief to attend my yoga teacher training classes this past weekend. We were very conscious of the absence of two dear friends who remain isolated in a devastated area of the city. At the same time, we were touched by the outpouring of generosity from the members of our yogic community, so many of whom donated time, talents, and desperately needed supplies in an attempt to bring a modicum of sukha (ease) into the lives of others.

As part of my personal efforts to find a bit of internal order in chaos during a week without work, trains, or communication with the outside world, I (surprise) crocheted. It became something of a meditation -- I gave thanks with every stitch. I also gave thanks on Saturday morning, when a few new friends from yoga teacher training volunteered to model  for me in a quick hat photo shoot before class began for the day.

Rebecca's welcome post-storm smile

This was an especially exciting shoot because it was my first time working with a professional photographer! The impeccable Daniell Cohen is not only a talented photographer; she's fantastic on the other side of the camera as well. We had a great time: Daniell would deal with all the un-fun stuff that I don't really understand, like light levels, then pop a hat on and pose. All I had to do was push the button. Very easy.

When we were joined by some other yoga friends, I happily ceded full control of the camera and let Daniell do her thing, which involved a lot of laughing and smiling for everyone -- what a relief after the week we had all been through.

You can see more of Daniell's photography at http://daniell-cohen.com/.

Crocheting in Bars: In Defense of Mild Social Awkwardness

If you know me, chances are we've acted out this scene together:

The setting: a bar in Brooklyn or Manhattan
The cast: yours truly, and a few friends/acquaintances

Work Guy: Man, today sucked. I'm really glad we came out.
Me: Yeah, me to. I'm going to drown my sorrows in guacamole.
Work Guy: Give me the biggest beer you've got.
Work Friend: Hell yeah on that guacamole. 
Work Girl: God, XYZ is such a bitch.
Work Guy: Man, everyone we work with totally sucks.
Work Girl: Yeah, what a bunch of ass-holes.
Me: (removing hook and half-made hat from oversized purse) Mind if I crochet?
Work Friend: Cool, what are you working on?
Work Girl and Guy: ...

Fin

Here is why I crochet in bars. It's not that I'm not interested in conversing with you -- I am. It's not that I don't want to get to know you better -- I do, or else I would have gone home. It's not that I'm so anxious about social occasions that I have to keep my hands busy (although admittedly, that has something to do with it). It's this: I really like to crochet. In fact, I freaking love to crochet. I love that it makes me feel productive. I love that it allows me to create something tangible. It gives me a sense of satisfaction that I can't find in my work, because me work does not produce anything tangible, ever.

It's been interesting to discover that a lot of the people that I know professionally do not have any hobbies. Granted, being an attorney does not leave you with a lot of free time. I'm always really excited to learn about other people's unexpected non-work activities. Some people gently mock an older, somewhat awkward colleague for being involved in community theater. The other day, I found myself deep in conversation with this gent about the relative merits of Crazy For You versus My Fair Lady. And guess what? It was delightful. He morphed into a newly animated, considerably less awkward person. This guy probably would have understood why I crochet in bars. He sneaks off into vacant hallways to sing show tunes between trials.

Maybe I'll design a hat called the Eliza Doolittle. We can talk about it over a beer if you like. I'll multitask.

P.S. New inventory coming soon!

What to Give the Person Who Has Everything?

Well, the obvious answer is a hat from my shop, but that's beside the point in this particular post.

I love giving gifts. I get so excited about giving them that I have to talk myself out of giving them immediately. Getting gifts is swell too. We all have things we want. New salad bowls, new jewelry, new sheets, new gadgets. It's okay to want things, and it's okay to give and receive gifts. But sometimes I think the holiday season makes people forget that there are many wonderful ways to be generous. Here are a few suggestions:


Very Sage's Non-Traditional Holiday Gift Guide (2011 Edition)


1. Let's start out with a big "duh." A unique, high-quality handmade item makes a wonderful gift. Whether you made it yourself or found something perfect at a craft fair or on Etsy, rock on.

2. Food presents. The first time I gave my friend Sara my peanut butter bon-bons she said "oh my...you have ARRIVED." Of course, make sure your food present is appropriate to the recipient's dietary restrictions. If you are giving goodies to someone you don't know very well, it's nice to wrap different things separately within the package and note important ingredients. This also gives you a chance to make cute labels with silly names like "Gluten-Free Coconut Snowflake Extravaganzas."

On a related note, do you have a great family holiday recipe that could use dusting off? Make it as a present. Every year my mom reminisces about her grandmother's Christmas cookies and laments not having time to make them. My boyfriend and I banished her from the kitchen on Christmas Eve Day and made a huge batch of cookies using the original splotchy index card recipe. It was a little hard to understand what Mom was saying through all those cookie crumbs, but we're pretty sure she loved it -- both the cookies and the idea of restarting a family tradition.

3. Old stuff. I don't get why antiques and vintage goods get all the glory, while regular old used items are uncool until they've had more time to age. Sometimes you really find the perfect gift in a flea market or thrift store. Does that beautiful coffee table book deserve any less respect because you got it at a stoop sale? Is that funky glass candy dish any less gift-worthy because you found it at the Goodwill? Of course you'll want to check your find for stains, mysterious odors, and all the usual practical stuff. Of course, that's something you often have to do with brand new items at some stores (ahem, Brooklyn Target).

4. Memories. When I graduated from college my grandfather gave me a little book of memories. It was something my parents had found in a bookstore, with a different question on each page. I learned so much about him from that little book, and it prompted some great conversations. You don't need to be elderly to share your memories, and it doesn't have to be a full on memoir. Consider writing a letter about the first time you and your loved one met, or a meaningful moment in your relationship. Too many to choose from? Write a bunch of memories on slips of paper and stuff them in a pretty box. It's like a reverse fortune cookie -- every time your loved one pulls out a piece of paper, he or she gets to relive something that you two shared.   

5. The Two-Person Book Club. We're all busy people with lots of things to do. There are people we want to talk to more often, there are books we want to read, and it never feels like there's enough time for either of those things. Enter the two-person book club. It has all the benefits of a real book club (exposure to new books, intellectual stimulation, great conversation) and none of the drawbacks (pressure to read quickly, scheduling difficulties, that lady who only picks romance novels). Since it's just the two of you, you can pick the books you want to read and meet by phone or in person whenever it is convenient. It gives you an added incentive to keep in touch and lets you learn new and interesting things about your reading partner.

6. Charitable Giving. Perhaps more than any of the gifts on this list, this one needs to be tailored to the recipient's special interests and values. It's best to research where your money actually goes, how the organization acknowledges gifts (i.e. if their card could spoil the surprise), and whether the organization's mission and actions are in line with your friend's beliefs. Just to get you thinking, here are a few that I like:


Charity:Water helps to bring clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations: http://www.charitywater.org/

Bideawee is a New York-area animal rescue and veterinary facility that rescues animals from kill shelters and finds them loving homes: http://www.bideawee.org/index.php

Heifer International provides livestock and training to families all over the world, helping entire communities to improve their nutrition and their lives: http://www.heifer.org/homeview

Have you made it this far? I applaud you. Happy giving!

Wherever She May Be, It Will ALWAYS Be the Emily Hat

You may not know this about me, but my go-to Very Sage model has been my best friend since we were 12. Emily is lovely, of course, and she has always been wonderfully amenable to letting me take hat pictures on a moments' notice. She is even the inspiration behind a Very Sage hat style.

After a few years of living wonderfully close to each other here in Brooklyn, Emily is now on a trip around the world! (You should really check out her blog.) As happy as I am for her, I miss her like crazy. I also found myself in a bind when the time came to photograph my new inventory.

Luckily, I have lots of gorgeous friends -- although I still plan on telling Emily that it took three ladies to fill her shoes during our recent photo shoot in Madison Square Park. Here are some highlights.

Val rocks the Organic Cotton Sapphire Blue Emily Hat (left). I'd been wanting to make a cotton ear flap hat for a while, but cotton is kind of funny. It has a stretchy texture that doesn't lend itself very well to hats, and the actual yarn ranges from slippery to bristly. Also, the color selection is usually terrible. I guess the assumption is that people only make cotton things for babies, so unless you want to sport a cotton hat in rubber ducky yellow you're up a creek. When I found this silky organic cotton in an actual grown-up color, I pounced. I only wish they had had more colors! I would have loved to make one in green. 

 

This may be the greatest picture I have ever taken of anyone, ever (right). Zehra is glamorous and elegant, but she's also a total bad-ass. If this picture doesn't make you want an orange hat of your very own, you must be blind. It obviously imbues the wearer with a special brand of awesomeness. I could use some of that awesomeness for myself.

And what is a Very Sage photo shoot without a Jaunty Newsboy or two?

As you may have noticed, I love bright colors. I think New Yorkers are entirely too interested in neutrals. Why not take a leaf out of Morgan's book and spice things up with a bit of bright red (left)? 

Then again, I also think that a really great hat doesn't have to match your outfit, and that idea shows no sign of catching on. The first Jaunty Newsboy I ever made was a mix of three different shades of green and two purples. It goes with absolutely nothing, and I wear it all the time. 

Last but not least, here is my favorite from the day. Many thanks to my lovely ladies! Check out the shop for more new stuff.

Very Sage, where have you been?

Nearly a year without a post? Absurdity!

I have kind of a good excuse, though. Not long after I posted my last update I became a real, live attorney. Like, the kind with a job.

The pros: A salary (it's nothing like what you're thinking. I'm not that kind of lawyer). Learning new things. Meeting new people (also sometimes a con). Health insurance!

The cons: long commutes all over the City (sort of a pro, although my yarn sheds all over my suits and I look like I have a multicolor dog), not enough sleep, working nights and weekends waaaaay too often, and not enough time to design new things. But still -- a salary! Health insurance!

In other good news: I went in for a 6-month check up and had a chest x-ray, and the pneumonia was fully resolved. Let's hope that never, ever happens again.

On to more business-y things. Very Sage has been resurrected for the holiday season. Things have been quiet so far. I'm having a hard time standing out in the crowd (see previous post on "made in China"). I'm having an even harder time with the realities of business: to succeed, you have to make what the people want. And the people want...baby booties.

Baby booties. It started as a way for me to give a homemade, heartfelt gift to the bazillion people in my life who are reproducing. It became a monster. Sure, they're cute. But they fit for 10 minutes, and they take way too long to make. I only have one design that I really like (suitable for boys and girls, not too fussy) and I haven't perfected my technique yet for speedy production. It's often more difficult to make something small than it is to make something large because of the detail involved.

It comes down to this: hats are fun. Booties are work. Just like children, right? So...what do I do now?