Chat Thread

[#1]

Here you go. Private and all.

[HowCuteAreYou]

Crochetgal ~ Sorry to hear you are still under the weather and you are having difficulty with your lung capacity. Hope they find out what it is.

Sending you hugs and prayers!

[KnitAndCrochetPalace]

Crochetgal, hope they find out the problem soon and you get to feeling better.

[Former_Member]

Thanks gals. I'm just taking it day to day right now and trying to deal with the yarnzillas who think that I should have every colour of every brand of yarn in stock at this time of year. At this time of year the doc's diagnosis for everything is flu.

Or the ones that think I know where to find that discontinued ball of yarn that they need to finish the project that they started for Uncle Jeff over 10 years ago and now want to give it to him for Christmas this year.

Can you believe it?? Someone actually complained about the way the yarn they received was packaged. It was three small balls of yarn, each with my shop label on them and packed in a zip bag with packing slip and then in the mailer. Apparently it wasn't 'fancy' enough for her. WTF??? Who knows!

I think all the crazies have been let loose here at the mall. I was out for a scooter ride this afternoon just to get out of the house and it was nuts!!! The mall is about 3 miles from the house and as I got close I decided to turn around and take the creek trail instead. I don't need to be put in the loony bin!

[KnitAndCrochetPalace]

Okay, crochetgal!!! The next time I order yarn or thread from you I will expect it wrapped in gold and delivered by Prince Charming!!!!! Hard to believe what some people expect isn't it????????

[HowCuteAreYou]

Good Evening Ladies!

Crochetgal~ I think people get crazier and crazier every holiday season!
I was speaking with the cashier at Michaels today and she said the customers are becoming horrible and angry when things are sold out.

What was wrong with the packaging that she thought it necessary to complain? I've received yarn from you and it's always packaged nicely,
Clean and in plastic bags, what more can you ask for....ribbons and wrapping? Sheesh!!

I always try and avoid the mall. This time of year is insane. I did all of my shopping online. Whoever offered free shipping got my order. Nordstrom had an amazing online sale and I got everyone their gifts and they have already been delivered.

I bought a bunch of things on Etsy i.e. ornaments and a beautiful handmade guitar pick for my nephew. I love ceramic ornaments and Etsy is the best place to find them. I had a few personalized for my kids
and Jimmy.

Good luck finding out your diagnosis.



Sue Ellen ~ I stopped selling crocheted items yesterday. I am usually closed by this time of year and now I remember why. The customers start getting more and more frantic about delivery times. I will be finished with work by Thursday or Friday. I reopened last week to keep busy and make some extra holiday money but I am SO done.

Off to bed, totally pooped and my shoulder is still hurting and now my neck is acting up. I must have slept in a weird position last night. Neal was talking to me today and I couldn't turn my head away. I told him I wasn't all that interested in what he was talking about but I can't turn my head so I am forced to continue to listen. Thank goodness he has a good sense of humor and just laughed.

[KnitAndCrochetPalace]

I was going to say LOL Debra but then I thought that sounded like I was laughing at your sore shoulder and neck. But it did bring a chuckle when I thought of your husband enjoying you being forced to listen to him. Wouldn't most men enjoy that?? LOL

[craftykittycrochet]

Hi everyone! OH MY GOSH! It's been forever!! I'm so sorry guys....it's been crazy here! We finally closed on the house, did a ton of work tearing out walls, painting, etc. and are now starting to settle in a bit! I'm getting hired on at my job so that's been exciting. Haven't had much time for crochet but have made some consistent Christmas sales over the last week or so!

How's everyone doing? Crochetgal, I'm so sorry to hear you're not feeling well! I hope it's just some fluctuation due to the changing weather and nothing serious. Mary Alice, so sweet about the kittens, and glad to hear you're keeping busy! Deb - good for you for drawing the line and cutting off your Christmas orders! Hope you can just relax and prepare for the holidays now!

Miss you guys! Have a great Tuesday!

[HowCuteAreYou]

Sue Ellen~ Neck is better today so I don't have to sit and listen to Neal, I can turn away. YAY!!

Kitty~ So glad to see your post!! Sounds like you've been uber busy. Congrats on the house and all of the sales. Your shop looks amazing and looks like your closing in on 1,000 sales!! Way to go.

Have a wonderful holiday season in your new home. Best wishes!!!

[hooknsaw]

Hi everyone, it has been a crazy busy holiday season for us. Thankfully the customers have been great to work with. Plus I have become more skilled at saying "no" to the too complicated orders.

Omg Crochetgal! I have been telling buyers that I can't get yarns in until after the Holiday season! I appreciated you sending the unforgettable yarns, but the buyers wanting scarves would just have to wait if you didn't have the yarn available!!! I did place a hershnerrs order last week and they are sold out of a lot of colors until the new year. I can't believe you got a complaint over packaging?! When I order from large companies I always order in 3's so the yarn will be wrapped. I appreciate that you wrap everything as our postal worker will drop off at our gate in any kind of weather!
I hope you are feeling better! I've been up and down with the weather and just taking it easy on "down days". We went from the 70's at Thanksgiving to days in the 30's this past week.

Debra, I hope your neck and shoulder are better! Lol to Neal! I bought Don a re-curve bow for his birthday this month and pulled a muscle in my neck trying to pull the string on the bow today! I remember archery being fun decades ago, but it may prove to be a challenge for me now!
Good for you for sticking to your "vacation plan" for your shop during the holidays. I have caved and taken a few more orders for really good customers and that will keep me busy through next week. I am my own worst enemy at times:)!

Kitty! It is so good to hear from you! I imagined you being busy with a new house and job! Congrats on everything you and your husband have accomplished this year!!!

Lucille, prayers for your daughter and the baby! Are you going to be with her when she goes into labor?

Sue Ellen, congrats on the sales!

Sandy, I hope everything is going well for you!

Have a great rest of the week everyone. I will chat more soon. Between our shop, the Holidays, birthdays and long - distance family visiting this last week it has been crazy for us!

[craftykittycrochet]

Hey everyone! Happy Wednesday!

Deb - so sorry you were having neck issues, those are the worst!!! Thanks for welcoming me back, for the compliments, and for all the good wishes!!! I didn't even realize I was closing in on 1000, whoa!!! :D It's so good to chat with you again!

Lisa - good for you for learning to say no to the doozy orders!!! It's a tough thing that I've been dealing with also....but when you look at the stress and headache you save yourself, it's totally worth it! Thanks so much for the congrats and compliments ^_^ Sounds like you have a pretty busy schedule going on there, good luck and don't forget to take some "me" time!!!

Have a great day ladies!!!

[HowCuteAreYou]

Good Morning!

Lisa ~ I am also my own worst enemy!!! I finished packing up the last of my orders today and then immediately re-listed a few. I figure I can stay busy for a few more days. Sales were great last week and just want 6 more to reach the 5,700 sales mark in my shop.

Last year or so ago I had thought about taking up archery. I had watched the summer olympics and saw some older olympians shooting and thought..."I could do that!". I don't know what would make me think I could be an archer, I was never great at it even when I was young. I always had a hard time with the bow. Needless to say, I have not taken up archery.

Next week should start get busy with family obligations. Family in town and my dad's 95th b/day party. Lot's of b/days this month. I think I still might have some holiday shopping to do but can't even remember. I think each year becomes more of a blur and I have trouble keeping up!

Kitty~ Neck is better today. Some aspercream and a heating pad and all is normal.

Fingers crossed that part of the 6 sales I need are for patterns and I don't have to do a darn thing!!

Have a great day ladies!

[HowCuteAreYou]

I did it!! I reached my goal number, worked around the clock yesterday and today and shipped everything out. I am officially on vacation till early January. YAY!!!!

Hope everyone is doing well.

Have a great rest of the night and week.

[Former_Member]

Congrats on the milestone Debra!!! Way to go! Hurrah for the neck feeling better! Now at least you don't have to look at Neal when he speaks. Why not take up archery for a while? Its probably a great stress reliever. Partner has a couple of hunting bows but I've never seen them out of the cases. Its been a long time. Waaay back in high school I took a semester of archery and enjoyed it immensely but never did anything more with it. I'm not even sure if I could shoot straight any more.

Great to see you Melissa! You are so close on your milestone as well. Congrats! Sounds like you've been really busy with the house and new job. What do you think of the weather in New York? Are you missing the Texas warmth yet?

Lisa, glad to hear you are busy as well. I wish it were cooler here as I would love to be able to wear one of your scarves. Good to hear that you are backing off on the more crazy orders. You don't need the stress!

Sue Ellen, I've put a note against your name to remind me that your packages need to be tied with gold braid. I can't promise a Prince Charming to deliver though!

Our temps have been all over the place this past week. One day it will be 70F and the next it will barely reach 60F And the hospital still hasn't decided whether it should be heat or cold that is on.

So much for going to the rehab center for the next few weeks. Doc has determined that the 'crud' is actually the first stages of my body rejecting my lungs (again). So I'm to stay away from anyone who may have any sort of bug, virus or whatever and stay away from crowds. No more than small groups. Anti rejection med doses have been increased and that's screwing up my vision. My new glasses aren't quite strong enough and my old ones are a bit too strong. Hopefully that will straighten itself out in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime a hot pad across my forehead works wonders. My sugars are still super high as a result of the meds so I've got to really be careful there as well. But life must go on. I can't just sit around and do nothing as it would drive me totally over the bend. Saturday is the Church Womens luncheon so I'm hoping to go at least for a short time. Temps are supposed to be in the high 70's this weekend!!

[HowCuteAreYou]

Good afternoon!

Crochetgal ~ Sorry to hear you are going through the rejection stage again. Is this common for organs to start the rejection process a second time? Hope it all gets straightened out. I am sure the meds are very powerful and there must be a huge list of side effects. Stay strong and enjoy the church luncheon.

I suppose you'll need a surgical mask to keep the cooties away.

Today is day one of my vacation. I dropped off all of my packages at the post office and felt like a kid when it was finally Christmas vacation.

Hope everyone has a fun and relaxing weekend.

[Former_Member]

Thanks Debra.

The church luncheon wasn't bad but it reminded me of why I don't hang out with that bunch very much.

I've been wearing a mask every time I leave the house ever since I've had my transplant so it really doesn't bother me. The biggest problem is that my glasses get all fogged up.

Yes, you can go through rejection any number of times. Its like when you get a cold - the body sends the antibodies to fight the cold bug and kills it, until the next time. With my lungs my own antibodies were fighting my lungs because they thought that the lungs were some sort of foreign body (which they are). But with the meds I was taking told my antibodies to 'back off' and leave my lungs alone. But now the antibodies are back at it trying to tell my lungs to 'get out' again so the meds dose has been upped slightly.

The worst thing about it is the massive doses of steroids that the docs give to fight the crud.

[HowCuteAreYou]

Crochetgal~ Hope your doing better and the meds are beginning to do their job. It's got to be wrecking havoc on your system. You have one of the best attitudes of anyone I have ever known so that has to be a big help to your well being. Sending you hugs!!

I'm a couple days into vacation and the withdrawal is getting easier. Last night I crocheted about 4 sets of booties for photos. I have new leather tags for my booties so I want to have them photographed and ready to go for January. Not sure when I'll get to photograph them but at least they are ready.

Next week is a big family week. We are having my dad's 95th b/day party so it will be a very busy and fun week.

I haven't even put up my Christmas tree. I better get a move on or the holidays will be over!!

Hope everyone is either busy with sales or just relaxing and enjoying the holiday season. Not sure relaxing is possible during the holiday season but I hope everyone gets a moment of relaxation!

[BuytheHook]

Hi all, sorry to pop in just to ask a question, but....I'm having trouble getting a response from a customer through convo. I've sent her two convo's and I can only assume she doesn't check her Etsy site. I checked the forum and they say to contact her directly, but I don't know how to get her direct email address. What am I doing wrong.

Sorry to write and run, but it's been hectic here.

[SandyCoastalDesigns]

Lucille, If she has placed an order with you, you can click on her name that is highlighted in blue next to her icon and it will give you her info.

If not, I really don't know how to find that out.

[HowCuteAreYou]

Lucille ~ That's what we're here for, to help. If you look on the invoice you will see, on the right side, the buyers name. Under that will be their personal email account. Click on that and you will be able to send an email directly to them and not through Etsy. If I have a customer who doesn't answer through convos then I will send a direct email. Happens all the time.

[BuytheHook]

Sandy and Debra, Thanks for the info.

I never noticed the email on the invoice until you told me to look. I kept thinking it would be on the Etsy site in the order section. I found out quickly that is only the convo link.

Funny, I always thought the convo and email were the same. Linked somehow to the customers email account, not a separate way of communicating.

Well, the good news is I have now sent an email, hopefully she'll respond now. Otherwise, I don't know what to do.

I really miss not chatting, but things have been hectic around here.

[HowCuteAreYou]

Lucille- the Etsy convo and the email go to the same email address but some customers will have Etsy email marked as junk and never see it since it goes right to their junk mail.

[Former_Member]

Lucille, you can also find the customer's email address on the confirmation email that was sent to you.

Hi Sandy! How are things with you? Hopefully you are getting things straightened out and can have a good Christmas.

Debra, no Christmas tree up here either as of yet. I'm not sure if we are going to put one up at all this year. If we do it will just be the small 3' one. I've found that you either have to have somewhat of a positive attitude or just sit around and mope and feel sorry for yourself. I'm a fighter and have met some wonderful local people who are also dealing with transplant so there is always someone to lean on.

I feel truly sorry for the people who have to start IVs for me as my veins are virtually hiding and the ones that aren't are pretty much shot.

I'm not sure what's going on in the shop this year. Usually my sales will taper off the first week of December but people are still buying. I'm not going to complain!

[HowCuteAreYou]

Crochetgal ~ You are a fighter!! Love your spirit. Always good to have others around who have been through the fight.

Congrats on the sales. You have such excellent yarns and choices, you are an Etsy staple!!

I spent this afternoon working on some photos for my new booties. The sun was working with me and all the photos are taken, edited and new listings are done. I have to hold myself back from pressing the activate listing button!!

Neal starts vacation on Friday afternoon so I am done now till January 3rd. Time to get the tree out. We had three sizes, small, medium and super large. We gave the super large one to my son and his wife. I don't have the energy anymore to decorate a 9 foot tree. Four foot medium is more my speed.

Everyone have a great day!

[Former_Member]

Debra if you are in the mood, why not head this way some day next week and take photos of the piles of yarn for me? I've got at least 2-3 dozen yarns that need photos and on the sunny days I've been at the hospital or too tired to do the photos while on the bad photo days I've been ready.

Its supposed to drop from the 80's this week down into the 60's next week but that shouldn't deter us. The sun will be shining again after Friday's storm passes through.

[HowCuteAreYou]

Crochetgal ~ If I lived closer I would definitely take your photos for you!
Yarn color is so difficult, especially blues, greens and purples. If you have any trade secrets please pass them along.

I happend to get lucky yesterday, everything cooperated with me, from Neal not pestering me about something to the dog just lying there.
I even took photos in the room where everything comes out too blue and they came out nicely. It was a very rare day indeed!

Once I had the lighting and setting correct I just kept changing out the different booties. It was like a fashion shoot! Now I can't wait to hit the activate listing button. But, I am being good and will wait till after the holidays. No time now for boxing and dealing with hysterical pregnant women.

I have a pet peeve with customers, well actually several, but my newest pet peeve is when a customer says...."I need you to 100% guarantee that the booties will arrive by a certain date." And, this is always from customers who are ordering last minute. I don't usually accept those orders.

Anyone else have any customer pet peeves?

Have a great day!