I Don't Understand

This morning: I woke up, fed the cats, got coffee and checked my email as I do every morning. I found to my delight, another order for a pattern. I processed it right away and sent the pattern. I moved on to check my Etsy Shop....

And found that the above mentioned customer had left me negative feedback, but no commentary as to why. I was stunned. I immediately emailed this person asking what was wrong with the order.

As I delved deeper, I noticed that this customer was from Portugal and new to Etsy. So, perhaps being new to Etsy and perhaps not fluent in English, this person clicked on "negative" instead of "positive". At least I hope that was what happened....

I take pride in my work and in providing good customer service. Of course, I am human and therefore not perfect so I do make mistakes. I try to correct them as soon as I find them.

I ask that, if you are unhappy with my product or service, to please contact me and allow me to fix the problem. I certainly cannot fix something unless I know about it...

This seems the week for problems. First, my other website got hacked. Then, my Sweetie has had some frustrations at work...and now, this. Hopefully, this constitutes Murphy's Law of Three - "Trouble comes in Threes"...and this will be the end of this spate of problems.

A little while later...

All is well. I have heard back from the customer and I was right - she is new to Etsy and clicked on the wrong button...whew!

I had posted on the forums and as a result, I found a great Free Translation Online service and I found out about an Etsy feedback function called "Kiss and Make-up". Clicking on it initiates a process to have negative feedback changed (if it was in error and with the agreement of the other person)

So, I have learned some things today!

All's well that ends well...

Fans Bracelet PATTERN Revised

I have received feedback from some customers that "Fans Bracelet PATTERN" was confusing. I answered their questions, but having more than one person with a question motivated me to take another look at the pattern.

I have just finished editing and rewriting the pattern to incorporate a cord numbering system (as suggested by one of the aforementioned customers). I have never worked with the numbering system, but I think I figured it out.

Please, if you ever buy one of my patterns and have questions, ASK! I can only improve if I receive feedback. I am too close to my work and therefore am not very objective. I don't see all of my mistakes because I see what it is supposed to be. I have been doing micro macrame for over 10 years and sometimes I don't remember which parts are more difficult to learn. Also, with years of experience, you develop the ability to just look at a piece and know what was done - it seems obvious to someone so experienced. I don't always remember what is not obvious to a beginner. I am always hoping to improve my teaching skills and feedback is the best tool I have.

In the next week, I will be collecting an email list of those who have purchased "Fans Bracelet PATTERN" in the past and will email them with a new improved copy. I apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this pattern has caused anyone.

Will the Student Soon Surpass the Teacher?

One of my customers, Beverle Sweitzer of Silver Spring MD, completed her first micro macrame project just last month. (See her first results here.)

Today, she emailed me a photo of her most recent creation. She has apparently caught on to this technique as she created her own design for this one! I am impressed and so proud that she got her start with one of my patterns. In fact, she gives me an idea...

Here is the necklace she just finished. (Posted with her permission, of course.) She is also improving in her photography of her jewelry. Practice makes perfect.

Customer Survey

Here is an opportunity to provide me with some feedback on my patterns. I originally posted this survey on a forum linked to my previous website. I am now integrating that forum into this website. If you have tried one (or more) of my patterns and would like to participate in this survey, just leave your answers in the comments section of this post. I appreciate all feedback as it helps me improve my patterns.

Here it is:

1. Which pattern (tutorial) did you try?

2. What part was the most fun for you about the pattern (tutorial)?

3. What gave you the most trouble?

4. Do you have any suggestions for improving the pattern (tutorial) you tried?

Thank you for your feedback.

Knot! News - Weekly Update

What a week! But then, every week seems to be an adventure.

I have finally finished the pattern for "Lacy Ripples Bracelet" and have listed it in My Etsy Shop.

Most of the week has been devoted to household chores - trying to get caught up. With Fall bringing us some cooler temperatures, I have been in the mood for baking. I made a cake and some lovely French Bread...But I digress. You are more interested in jewelry, aren't you?

One of my customers, Beverle Sweitzer, is a metal refinisher by trade (webpage). She is fairly new to micro macrame. Rather ambitious, she began with my "Fans Bracelet" pattern. See below for the result of her first effort. I think she is off to a great start. She is also new to digital photography of jewelry, but states she is excited to be learning new things.

I have probably mentioned that a good friend of mine has bought a space at the famous (at least in this part of Texas) Wimberly Market. She has invited me to share her space. So, this past Sunday, I went to see the space with her. We took some of her stuff to leave in the space because the space comes complete with a building with locking doors and windows. It is rather nice. I think we will be happy there. We will be setting up the first weekends in November and December. Just in time for the Christmas rush...

I am feeling the need to bead, so take care and have a great weekend.

Micro Macrame Bracelet made using "Spirals Anklet" Pattern

I just received an email from another customer with a link to her blog, "All about jewellery making". In her recent post "Micro Macrame" she shows the results she got using my "Spirals Anklet or Bracelet Pattern". In the spirit of creativity, she took some liberties with the pattern and turned out a beautiful bracelet! I hope you go check it out.

I also enjoyed browsing her blog. It is very informative with a variety of techniques featured, including tips on stringing beads onto yarn for knitting or crochet and how to make jump rings. I am putting a link to her blog on my sidebar, so we can all find it again whenever we want!

Look What Someone Did with the "Waves Bracelet Pattern

One of my customers made this wonderful beaded micro macrame watch using the pattern "Waves Bracelet".

Angie Thunker Aug 2007

What a great idea! Perhaps I should make some watches...

Poll

I am gearing up to work on my next pattern. So, if you want to help me decide which pattern to make next, check out the candidates below and then in the sidebar (left) find the "Which Pattern Do You Want Me to Make Next?" voting block and cast your vote.

Voting will continue for 6 days. As soon as I get some results, I will begin work on the most popular design. Keep voting, it will help me decide which one to do 2nd, etc. If this works out, I may use this poll idea again.

Candidates are as follows (remember you can click on image for larger view):

Criss Cross

Fans

Nouveau

Lattice

Ripple

All of the candidates (except for Ripple) will also include instructions for matching earrings and all of them including Ripple can be expanded to make a choker.

Feedback from Customers

For a quick look at what my customers have to say so far...

I am very pleased that people find my tutorials (or patterns if you will) to be clear and easy to follow. Although I encourage people to contact me with any questions or difficulties, so far, there have been none.

Recently, one of those customers asked me where she could find the C-lon nylon beading cord in 10 - 15 yard segments instead of the 86 yard spools offered at Jewels in Fiber. She said she wanted several colors, but was not ready to buy complete spools in all those colors.

I don't know of any places to get just segments of this cord. So I offered to sell her some 15 yard segments from my stash. I wonder, does anyone else want a "sampler pack"? I am going to list one at My Etsy Shop to find out. If there seems to be a need, I would be happy to make up sampler packs of the cord.

Tutorial for Beaded Micro Macrame "Spirals Anklet" Now Available

Yes, the testing, the feedback, the final editing are all done! I have just listed this tutorial (in either paper copy or eCopy) at My Etsy Shop .

I also listed a few kits of materials for those of you who just want to try one out. There will be more kits as I put them together and get them photographed.

I am listing tutorials separately from kits for a couple of reasons. One, the category system in Etsy requires commercial supplies to be listed separately from hand made items. Since I made the patterns/tutorials, but bought the supplies; it makes sense to list them separately. It may seem a little awkward, but I admire Etsy for maintaining their integrity. They are a site primarily for hand made items, and they keep it that way. As I thought about it, it occurred to me that it would be better this way. What if someone wanted 2 kits? Why should they have to "buy the pattern twice"?

I want to thank all the volunteers who participated in the testing phase of this tutorial. The majority of them came from the Bead and Button Community Forum. They are a really great group of friendly and helpful jewelry and bead crafters and artists.

Except for a few editing tips, most of the feedback I received was very positive. They said it was an easy pattern to follow. One woman reports her 12 year old daughter was even giving it a try after having seen Mom do it.

A couple of beaders sent me photos and gave me permission to publish them. So I will. Right here. I think you will agree that both are tributes to skill and creativity. And it was the first time either of them had even tried micro macrame! They both reported that they did not have the recommended supplies, but, as both are beaders, had a bunch of other beads and cords laying around. So they improvised. Beautifully, I might add. Unfortunately for the rest of us, neither of these two beaders has a website I can link to. Hopefully, one day they will.

This first one is by Joy Palmer from Adelaide, Australia.

This 2nd one is by Karen Conn from Athens, Alabama.

What do you think? Did they not do well?

Later, when I have some time to work on my Workshop site, I will post them there. I want to have a page photos of projects done by people who used my tutorials. Oh, I am so very excited.

Well, now I have chores to do, and cannot linger here...