This and That
Over the years I have had many many many jobs. Both independent and big corporation. Me being me, I loved working for the independents best. My first job in Ann Arbor was at Liberty Street Video, I had transfered from a sister store up in Mt. Pleasant. I remember my coworkers in Mt. P. asking if I really wanted to go work at LSV, because the place was full of freaks. I loved it… and hated it, like most jobs. Some of the best work stories I have were from the LSV years. I left the store for about 7 years, but went back after the bookstore I worked for closed. We had ups and downs like any business, but things seemed to be on the right track, but just this Wed. my boss told me that he is closing the store. I am not looking forward to the “whys” and “whats” that people are going to ask. Or the way people are vultures when it comes to getting deals at a business that is dying. My first response is going to be “If you loved the store so much, why didn’t you rent here”.
On a more positive note I am taking a workshop on making notebooks in the “Cartonera” style this Monday. They are made out of found cardboard and paint. I hope to have something to show you next week and that this helps jump start my creative juices. I have been in a bit of a rut lately.
k
Open Letter to Target
Hello. I have to start off by saying I love Target. It is one of my favorite places to shop. I become happier just walking through the door. But recently I have come to the conclusion that my love isn’t returned. I walk through the clothing aisles and see lots of cute items, but when I look for the Plus Sized section I see it crammed in to the corner behind Maternity. The selection is minimal, and if I find something I think is cute 9 times out of 10 it is actually Maternity and not Plus Sized. Is it that you hate fat girls? Or is that your designers hate us? I can’t figure it out. Women on average are a size 12-14 and most of your clothes stop at that point (even if they say XL, they are not). I know that stores have a limited amount of floor space, but I think a little more could be devoted to the big girls. Even in the Intimates section it is difficult to find anything that fits someone more than a size 12. I know a number of plus sized girls, myself included, who would love to buy their clothes from you, but are unable to find anything. Target is alienating a sizable percentage of their shoppers. Big girls need clothes too and where I live togas are not an option.
Thanks,
Kate
Why
Over the last week I have been getting stock together to take to Birdsnest Boutique for consignment and for my show in E. Lansing on Saturday and Market on Sunday. Yikes! I have matted close to 100 photos and made about 30 bowls. Thursday night will be all about making notebooks of all sorts. I have a box of paper to bust in to for the album cover notebooks. I also have to make up some coasters and mirrors as well. This is what I get for procrastinating. Why couldn’t I have had some of this energy a month ago?
I also have a stack of laminated photos to trim up for my new notepads. I am loving how they turned out. Let’s just hope other people love them as well. 
Manditory
I have been working customer service jobs almost non stop since I was 15. Everything from food service to big box stores to little indie business. Over the last 20 years I have witnessed a large change in people’s attitudes towards the people behind the counter. Several years ago I was helping a customer who looked me dead in the eye and asked if there was anyone in the store who knew more than me. Just because you didn’t get the answer you wanted doesn’t mean that I am not knowledgeable. I responded “I am the goddess of books as far as you are concerned.” This exchange only solidified my belief that everyone should have to work a year in customer service just so that you could have some idea of what it is like to be on the other side. Sort of like the countries that have required military services.
Here are a few more examples of things I have suffered through…
- Being propositioned while working late night drive thru (too many times to count)
- A woman telling me that her daughter had cancer so she could get a better price.
- Being told by a customer that he found my picture in a book of foot fetish photography
- Working at a public library and being asked to come fix a computer that was frozen because the patron was looking at adult sites (too many times to count)
- Asked by a customer “If you were a woman which gift would you want” when I am a woman, no doubt about it.
- Being called stupid (numerous times)
- People getting mad if I refuse to wait on them if they failed to get off the phone.
Don’t get me started on doing craft shows. The things I hear people say about my art still has the power to amaze me. Think before you speak people!
These are just a few, but many of these could be avoided if the customers in question had worked a few shifts in my shoes. I have had friends that I stopped going to dinner with because they were such bad tippers. It wasn’t that they couldn’t afford the tip, they just didn’t think about it. Which in my mind is worse.
I think part of the Rudeness Issue results from many years of prosperity where kids didn’t have to work the grunt jobs like food service or mall jobs during high school or college. Learning how to deal with people is an important skill that serves us through out our lives. But right now it seems to be a “Me first, then you” sort of attitude.
Now, I don’t think this would make everyone nice to the people who wait on them, but I think it would help. And if it didn’t maybe we could send people back for a refresher course. Yeah, I think that is the ticket.
Hot of the press
I got an email last night from my friend Ann telling me that my notebooks were mentioned in the Ann Arbor News in an article about what to buy people who are hard to shop for. They don’t mention me by name, but they mention that the notebooks are at Liberty Street Video. It is also on the A2 News blog.
In other news I am still working on getting over the Plague. Every year, no matter what I do to avoid it, I get sick for about a month. It is enough to drive a girl batty. On the plus side I have stayed home and been super crafty which I think is why I have had such an amazing month on Etsy. Actually, November was great for me too. It makes up for not making it to the Artisan Market the last few weeks.
The next 2 weeks will be spent organzing my work area, reading, watching movies and hanging out with Moose. And the occassional visit to see the family. I hope everyone has a merry christams and a happy holiday season.
Love my friends
I recently celebrated my 35th birthday and was very lucky enough to get not one, but 2 birthday cakes. And yesterday I got this rockin’ scarf from my friend Minerva. I love it. It came just in time for the colder weather. It will make my Market days better.
Ann Arbor Chronicle Article
I talked to Mary Morgan of the A2 chronicle on Friday for an interview about the Etsy Show at the Artisan Market this Sunday. She stopped by this weekend and took some pictures of my set up and talked with me a bit more. The end result was this article on the A2 Chronicle site. I was really happy with how it turned out.
There is so much still to do, but I am feeling pretty good about the show. I think the weather is supposed to be nice.. cool, but nice. So I am just going to do my Sun Dance for the rest of the week and hope it works. And that I don’t look too silly doing it.
Partial Show List… just a few more to add.
*Chicalookate Photography & More
*Beadbug Seed Bead Jewelry
*Christine carol mixed media
*Marta England Designs Jewelry
Mindseye cards cards magnets & buttons
ElleMBee Hand Printed t-Shirts
HFoco Jewelry
Mimi & Boo Crochet originals
Enamored jewelry & Accessories
Siouxsane Bath Beauty & Art
AllThingsGrow Screen Prints & Woodcuts
ChainChainChain Jewelry
Susan VanCamp Art
GazedUponGlass Glass pendants & Bath/Body
Lara and me Dolls
Stories Divinations Mixed Media
Sugarcreekstuff Purses and Totes
KellysSewingBasket Textiles
MLouIsPink.etsy altered art
TheJuneBride textiles
LilPeanutDesigns Hair clips
FiberToDyeFor Fiber arts
QuenchEssentials Soap
KPGlassJewelry1 glass jewelry
Stefanie With Luv Textiles
EveStarFire leather handbags
Marcyanna art
PKHouse45 Rosaries, purses
WeeWalloon Ceramic Tiles
StickNymph Art
KaRePackage Kids Clothes
*Suchprettycolors patchwork & more
*Basketsbyrose handmade baskets
*Beadingnutritionist jewelry
*art with Annie Jewelry
*Bettula birch bark jewelry
*=Market Seller & Etsy Seller
M.I.C.E. @ the Market
Less than 2 weeks until the 2nd Annual Etsy @ the Market show. Over the next few days I will be posting some of the people who will be attending the show. I am really excited about the show and think it should be a great time.
Soul
I haven’t been taking many photos lately since my trusty Pentax needs a little TLC and the Time really isn’t on my side these days. But yesterday I took my little digital camera out at lunch. I miss taking long photo jaunts. I am going to have to make time to get out and wander. It make me happy and I need some smiles these days.
