Officially Unemployed.

So it's official, I am unemployed.

It may seem like an incredibly bad decision quitting my job when I'm actually looking to find more money but with the hours that I had been getting I'd had to rely on government benefits to survive anyway. And they way they compensate for your working income I was working my crappy old job for less than $10 an hour. It just wasn't worth it.

A little confusing but I think that made sense. So anyway, It doesn't really give me a whole lot of extra time (5 hours more a week) but at least I don't spend the rest of the week dreading having to go there! My week is now divided between making beanies and uggs flat out and hunting for that ever elusive full time job. I had an interview for a dental assistant position on Tuesday but I didn't hear anything back so I guess I didn't get that one.. But since then I've applied for another two positions. Fingers crossed. I'll keep applying until someone gives me a go.

Got a busy weekend coming up, trying out a new market in Epping - Not sure how its going to go but its worth a try! Then on Sunday if its not raining I'm going to head into Esk on my own and mum's going to head out to Evandale. Splitting up has always done wonders for the pocket in the past so hopefully doing the 3 markets this weekend will provide us both with some much needed extra cash!

Hopefully I can start up the safari fund soon!
♥ Amanda

Due to lack of interest, tomorrow is cancelled.

My life seems incredibly repetitive and ridiculously mundane at the moment. I'm still applying for ridiculous amounts of jobs to no avail. Still getting the unapologetic rejection emails, one after another.. I'm desperate to get out of the job I'm currently in - 5 hours a week just isn't enough to survive.

So I'm spending my time building up my Ugg boot stock - So far I have sizes 10, 12 & 14.. Thinking about attempting 16s although I'm not sure they will work but that will have to wait until I have a decent amount of stock in the other sizes.

I've also been building up more self covered button stock especially in the snap clips I've found a lot of posts that state that hot glue does not work for them and when you snap the clips open the buttons fall off but after some experimentation I've discovered that if you use enough glue they stay on fine.


I REALLY want to get started on my wrap bangles again but I just don't have the money to buy the bangles OR the ribbon at the moment. Especially when there is no guarantee that I'll get my money back. My self covered buttons look great but even they are not covering the price of materials at the moment. I guess they will eventually - maybe once the website is up and running but I'm not holding my breath.

I guess its time I started on the boots again for the day.. At the very least I'll have quite a few to choose from for the market on Sunday. Next week I'm going to have to start on some more beanies - running low on some colours.

♥ Amanda

Creativity Abounds.

I have been so creative lately!

I've started on the kiddy uggs - which are still in progress but I'm pretty sure I have the pattern down finally. Soon to be available in 10, 12, 14 and MAYBE 16cm.

I've also decided that I'm going to start making bangles again - Ribbon wrapped ones which I was making some time back as gifts which I'll add as part of my 2pm at the button factory range. Not technically a button but it fits with the rest of my products.

Also, tonight i got all my self covered buttons sorted to make up some snap clip ones. I tried this a while back but i couldn't get the buttons to stay on - the wire technique wasn't working for me and hot gluing them wasn't secure enough. I've read a few posts online that recommend a product called E6000 which I'm going to attempt to track down tomorrow and try. Along with the snap clips i have bobby pin and hair tie buttons that I'll photograph as soon as i can get back to the market to pick them up (I forgot to bring them home with me Sunday).

I've had a bit of a look online and i've found a couple of tutorials on how to photograph stock and have it look professional - You know, those photos of products you see where it appears to be floating on a white background.. Well I'm going to have a bit of a try at that and see what happens.

Unfortunately I jumped on to my website today for the first time in quite a while (too long considering its under construction) and it appears it has been reported as an attack site - bloody hackers uploading shit onto it because its been idle for so long i assume. Going to have to get the mother onto this pronto! Not going to sell anything from a website which no one can access!

Anyway, once its back up and running, check it out!
www.2pmatthebuttonfactory.com

♥ Amanda

Uggs

Yep, So I've been trying my hardest not to become a blog whore however, I have exciting news! A lady came by the market this morning and wants approx 25 products to display in the Tamar Tourism Center in Exeter =) That's a big order for us and couldn't have come at a better time! I'm still getting no work so money is tight and a few hundred $$ from this sale will be a BIG help.

Included in that order are my newest products. Some gorgeous little Uggs (Pattern available for purchase on ravelry.com by Mon Petit Violon) They seem to be pretty popular so far.. Not entirely sure about the price I have on them but I'll wait and see how well they sell before I change it..


This means I'll be flat out this week making more! To fill the order, stock the stall and quite possibly a few to list on Etsy, madeit, and Oztion. I've also found a pattern for a crochet button and because I'm having so much trouble finding suitable buttons for the uggs without paying a fortune for them so I'll be working on making those too and depending on how well they work out i might sell them individually or in packs also =)

Its going to be a busy busy week!
♥ Amanda

Faceless Triumphs.

I've decided that due to a disturbing lack of craft supply stores in Launceston and my inability to locate ANY 6mm eyes, my amigurumi creations shall be faceless. This and the fact that i really haven't mastered mouths - they tend to look somewhat sinister..

But i think they still look pretty damn cute without faces.. It just makes them a little different!

On a more positive note, i've finally found some wide leg jeans! The search is over and I didn't even have to buy second hand! This is such a triumph.. Thank you Just Jeans, you have forever enriched my life. It has been impossible to find wide leg jeans which have a high enough waist to not display a significant portion of crack every time you bend slightly. The only down side is that they are a fraction too small until i wear them in so for the moment, they are almost cutting me in half! Well, as they say - No pain, No gain... Or something..

♥ Amanda

The Finished Product.

He's done! And a lot sooner than i expected..


How cute is this little guy? I'm really proud of my efforts here despite the fact that he took me almost 8 hours (on and off) to produce.. I may give him a go in a few different colours as hopefully it should take half the time now I know what I'm doing!

A big shout out to Owlishly for the pattern and opportunity to make such a cute little man.

♥ Amanda

Little Dinosaur Boy..

This little man is going surprisingly well.. That is after I made half of it having confused my sc with hdc - really, how does one accomplish this? He has the cutest little arms! I'll throw up some photos when he's finished.. Its looking like its going to be a veeery late night. I must finish this!

Unfortunately Spotlight didn't have the right eyes when I went in today so he will be somewhat eye-less until I can locate some..

♥ Amanda