Sunday, January 26, 2014

Cajun Corner – Vol. 6, No. 4 – January26, 2014


 
 

Cajun Corner – Vol. 6, No. 4 – January26, 2014

 

Bon Jour!  Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

 

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Don’t forget to visit us at www.cajunstitchery.com, www.flickr.com/photos/cajunstitchery, and, www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often.   We are also on Twitter and Facebook. 

Visit our on-line catalogs at:



Great news!!  The Mardi Gras Store is now selling Cajun Stitchery masks.  Parade People a/k/a The Mardi Gras Store is in Pensacola. They are located at 9100 Hamman Ave. Suite A -- Take N. Davis Hwy (past the hospital) to Copter Rd. Turn right onto Copter Rd. Turn left onto Hamman and it is directly in front of you.

Mardi Gras is a big item in Pensacola and grows every year.  In the past when we wanted a real good variety of Mardi Gras throws, attire and what nots, we’ve had to go to Toomey’s in Mobile.  There are so many times when we are working on the float or costumes and we need this or that.  One of our krewe members lives in Mobile and she gets whatever we need from Toomey’s and brings it to us the next week.  Now we have a store in town.  No.  It is not as big as Toomey’s.  No.  It doesn’t have the huge selection that Toomey’s has, yet.  It does have a decent selection and they are growing.  I really think the krewes and people in the area need to help this store grow.  If you are local, please buy your Mardi Gras items from The Mardi Gras Store.

By the way, we solved the issue with the thick armed glasses for the masks.  George got ponytail elastic bands and stapled one on each side of the mask by the holes for the glasses arm.  If your glasses arm is too wide to fit into the eyelets, just slip one side of the ponytail holder into one of the holes, the other side into the adjacent hole and they will stretch to whatever side the arms are on your glasses.  Otherwise, the mask is put on the same as with the eyelets.

Of course, you can always come directly to me to purchase a mask or create a custom mask.  We will be creating and making two additional styles this year:  fleur de lis and jester.

Last week I ordered several jewelry items that would make fabulous gifts.  I’ll let you know when the shipment comes in.  In fact, I have purchased a few Mardi Gras “toys” that can be purchased at Cajun Stitchery’s studio.

George finished doing our inventory.  This week, among his other chores, he will be pricing items in our little studio store.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK
If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list. 

No time to read Cajun Corner?  Visit our blog at www.cajunstitchery.blogspot.com and click the Odiogo button to hear the computer read the blog.

Thank you Bob for the following:

John received a free ticket to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately. John's seat was in the last row in the corner of the stadium. He was closer to the Goodyear Blimp than the stadium. He noticed an empty seat 10 rows up from the 50-yard line. He decides to make his way to the empty seat. As he sits down he asks the man next to him if anyone is sitting there. The man told him no, it was empty. John is very excited to have a seat like this at a Super Bowl and asks why in the world no one is using it? The man replied that it was his wife's seat but she passed away. He said this was the first Super Bowl that they have not attended together since they were married in 1968. John said that it was really sad and asked if he couldn't find someone, a relative or a close friend to take the seat? "No" replied the man, "They're at her funeral!"

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462
P.S.  You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.
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Monday, January 20, 2014

Cajun Corner – Vol. 6, No. 3 – January20, 2014


 

Cajun Corner – Vol. 6, No. 3 – January20, 2014

 

Bon Jour!  Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

 

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Don’t forget to visit us at www.cajunstitchery.com, www.flickr.com/photos/cajunstitchery, and, www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often.   We are also on Twitter and Facebook. 

Visit our on-line catalogs at:



My time is split between our krewe den and Cajun Stitchery.  Mardi Gras masks are a blast to make.  Then I discovered that several of the girls have thick arms on their glasses; much too thick for the little eyelets in my masks.  Back to the drawing board.  I think I have made the proper adjustments for the thicker holes for the glasses.  I cannot seem to figure out how to make one design fit all glasses without have masks for the smaller armed glasses and another for the larger armed glasses.  The masks with the smaller holes can still be worn by those who do not wear masks, either with an elastic cord or bobby pins.  The larger hole mask won’t work for the smaller hole glasses because the design requires the eyelets, openings for the eyes, and the nose cut out to be in specific places on the mask or it won’t work right.  For right now I guess I’ll make the larger holes special order. 

Gift giving hits a fever pitch during the Mardi Gras season.  Aside from the usual birthday presents, there are presents for royalty.  Not only for our own royalty but friends who become royalty in other krewes, as well.  Many of our embroidery projects right now are secret presents that cannot be divulged until the gift has actually been given.

Back when I first opened our Etsy store, I looked into selling international.  A lot of businesses on Etsy sell international.  Everyone I asked said it was really easy but then I started reading online about each item going through customs and a special form and potential cost for customs.  I then decided we would only sell in the USA.  This past week a lady contacted me from Canada wanting a special ordered handkerchief.  Rather than saying, “No”, I explained that I’ve never sold anything outside the United States but I would give it a shot.  It really was a piece of cake.  I went to the USPS website for international mailing, plugged in our addresses, and followed the instructions through the simple form, until I ran across a question about what custom form I wanted to use.  The site said to call an 800 number to get help.  I called the number and left a voice mail.  The number was to the Census Bureau. Yep, there is a department in the Census Bureau for Customs.  Go figure.  Anyway, a very nice gentleman returned my call the next day and said one of the forms is for items valued at more than $2,500 and the other form is for less than $2,500. I found out the form that I needed to use and was able to print out the form which turned out to be special labels for the package.  It only cost about $2.40 to mail the package.  Not bad.  I’m changing my Etsy store to include delivery to Canada.

We have been looking at our poor garden.  The raised bed fence that George built several years ago has deteriorated and is falling apart.  Only a few garlic plants remain in the garden.  Oh, so sad.  When it gets a bit warmer, George will rebuild the garden/fence.  In the meantime, we have been looking on Pinterest and elsewhere online for new ideas.  I just can’t wait for the weather to warm up so we can plant our spring garden.

It has been very cold here, and then it warms up.  Our poor plants don’t know if it is winter or spring.  The camellias have bloomed and then froze.  The temperature got down to 16 degrees and then in a few days we were enjoying weather in the 60s and 70s.  Today was absolutely beautiful and in the 60s.  Tomorrow our low will be 25 degrees.  Don’t get me wrong.  I am not complaining about the weather.  In fact, George and I felt that since winter 2013 was so mild that our fall garden continued growing into spring, this year we need a cold winter.

George has been busy taking inventory at the studio and online.  I do tend to be messy.  I always seem to interrupt him asking him to hang this picture or put a hook over there.  He does the deliveries and errands.  I am certainly lucky to have him helping.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK
If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list. 

No time to read Cajun Corner?  Visit our blog at www.cajunstitchery.blogspot.com and click the Odiogo button to hear the computer read the blog.

Thank you Bob for the following:

While getting a checkup, a man tells his doctor that he thinks his wife is losing her hearing. The doctor says, "You should do a simple test. Stand about 15 feet behind your wife and say "honey?" Move 3 feet closer and do it again. Keep moving 3 feet closer until she finally responds." Remember how close you were when she gives you an answer. That will help me know how bad her hearing loss is.

About a month later the same guy is at the doctor again complaining of his wife’s hearing problem and the doctor asks, "Well, did you do that experiment with your wife's hearing?" The man says "yes". "How close did you get before she answered?" "Well, by the time I got about 2 feet away she turned around and screamed "For the FIFTH TIME... WHAT???"

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462
P.S.  You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.

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Sunday, January 12, 2014

Cajun Corner – Vol. 6, No. 2 – January12, 2014



 
Cajun Corner – Vol. 6, No. 2 – January12, 2014

 

Bon Jour!  Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

 

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Don’t forget to visit us at www.cajunstitchery.com, www.flickr.com/photos/cajunstitchery, and, www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often.   We are also on Twitter and Facebook. 

Visit our on-line catalogs at:



Yesterday was our Krewe’s King Kake Party and it was fabulous.  Laissez les bon temps rouler!  And it starts.

Last week when I could get some free time Boudreaux was busy embroidering Mardi gras masks and everything purple, green and gold.  We have turtle masks done.  Now I’m working on the butterfly masks.  I still need to get the mermaids and fleur de lis masks made.  There are so many more ideas in my head.

I took several pictures of how to put the new mask onto a pair of glasses.  The photos were posted on FaceBook and a few other places on the internet but I’m still trying to figure out how to post in our Etsy Store.  I will figure it out and see if we can get some mask sales.

The new pouch that I made to replace my older denim pouch that I use to carry my cell phone and items has worked out beautifully.  I carry it with me everywhere in place of a bulky purse.  Of course, if I have a lot of stuff to haul, I put the pouch in my big purse.  There are just a few items that I need to have on me at all times and they all fit in the 4.5” x 6.5” pouch.  It is just such a hassle to carry a big purse to a restaurant or bar or wherever because you have to watch it when you are in public and you usually have to put your purse under a table or next to a chair.  The little pouch doesn’t take up much room and can be placed on a table.  A tab is built into the side of the pouch to carry my keys and to hold the pouch.  A friend of mine said she would prefer a shoulder strap and says that would be even more convenient.  I would be interested in everyone’s opinion on whether or not a shoulder strap would be a needed addition to the pouch.  A cord could certainly be attached and when you aren’t using the shoulder strap, it could be tucked into the pouch.  Let me know what you think.

 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK
If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list. 

No time to read Cajun Corner?  Visit our blog at www.cajunstitchery.blogspot.com and click the Odiogo button to hear the computer read the blog.

Thank you Bob for the following:

A senior couple decided to go shopping one day, and split their efforts by going separate ways. Near the end of the shopping event they decided to get together for lunch. As the woman was on her way to the rendezvous point, she heard a traffic warning on the radio that a car was driving in the wrong direction up ahead. Knowing that her husband was near the point of the warning, she decided to call him on the cell phone. When he answered, she explained, "I just heard on the news, someone is driving in the wrong direction on the highway!" And the husband replied, "One? There are hundreds of folks going the wrong way where I am!"

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462
P.S.  You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.
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Sunday, January 5, 2014

Cajun Corner - Vol. 6, No. 1



 
Cajun Corner – Vol. 6, No. 1 – January5, 2014

 

Bon Jour!  Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

 

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Don’t forget to visit us at www.cajunstitchery.com, www.flickr.com/photos/cajunstitchery, and, www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often.   We are also on Twitter and Facebook. 

Visit our on-line catalogs at:



Happy 2014!  We are now on Volume 6.  That means that on March 3rd Cajun Stitchery will have been in business for 5 years and starting on our 6th year.  Yay!!!!! 

Insofar as Cajun Stitchery is concerned, we are now in Mardi Gras season.  We have already received our first krewe jacket to embroider.  More masks are being created.  We are looking into shinier, blingy, materials to use.  Bring it on.  We are ready.

Over New Years we looked at a whole lot of statistics on our online business.  This year we may venture into a second Etsy store for just handkerchiefs and wedding accessories.  The final decision hasn’t been made yet but it is looking more and more that way.  It will be a lot of work but should pay off in the end. 

We had an issue with our website host over the holidays and the website was down for about 15 days.  It is back up and running now.  In the future we may change hosts and if we do, we are considering having our own shop online, separate from our Etsy store(s).  All of these stores entail a lot of work and upkeep.

Another item discussed over the holidays was placing our embroidery with a company who does have a store front either on consignment or wholesaling.  All of these ideas are options and entail lots of work.  Picking one option is difficult.

Enough of that.  Let’s get onto fun stuff.  Mirrors have been on my mind lately.  In fact, I have just ordered a bunch of craft mirrors.  George mentioned to me that I might prefer having plastic mirrors.  Plastic mirrors?  I never heard of such a thing.  Only I could lack so much knowledge.  Yes, there are plastic mirrors, acrylic mirrors, and Mylar mirrors, in addition to the usual glass mirror.  eHow has some pretty simple instructions for making these mirrors and one article even talks about sewing on them.  Wow!  Project ideas began swirling in my imagination.  So far nothing has been created, only ideas.  Right now I’m too busy filling orders.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK
If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list. 

No time to read Cajun Corner?  Visit our blog at www.cajunstitchery.blogspot.com and click the Odiogo button to hear the computer read the blog.

Thank you Bob for the following:

Seems an elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for a number of years. He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100%. The elderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, "Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased you can hear again." To which the gentleman said, "Oh, I haven't told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I've changed my will five times!"

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462
P.S.  You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.
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