How to Pour Money Down the Drain...

Miniature Parfum Necklaces, How to pour money down the drain!

The Challenge: Multiply existing inventory for the Shop without spending money. Uh, okay....Right up my alley.  You know, that dark, dreary, graffiti covered wall and shadowy-figure-lurking alley where I seem to get stuck between evil strangers and headlights belonging to an unknown car headed straight for me....yea, that alley.  Anyway, there I was. Sorting through the garage-store-all stirring up a mess and leaving it looking like a hurricane hit it.  But I did find some new possibilities!

The furniture will get their due but this week I would be creating items that can be easily sold as one of a kind Christmas gifts.  I pulled collectibles I've held for years that either didn't sell, passed their "trend" for collecting or just needed "tweaking".  They'd all passed my RESELLER'S RULE" (being: NEVER RESELL UNTIL INTERNET OR BOOK RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE!) so off I went with armfuls of candidates.  Beginning with 4 boxes of vintage parfum bottle sets, I left for the kitchen.

 

 As I opened caps, nearly gagging, my mind travelled down memory lane.  How many shelves these little cuties had rested on? The Antique Store we once owned, the many Show booths, and even the ebay "will get to listing it" shelf in my closet, all held these "forgottens". I also imagined the original recipient. A woman, probably received the gift for Christmas or another holiday as a romantic measure from her "love".  As I toyed with ideas on how to re purpose, I glanced at my dated price tags on the boxes, $25. Remembering the research on ebay, I knew I'd checked them all years ago so I passed on a recent inquiry.

 Using Dawn Dish Detergent, I filled one side of the sink with 4 inches of soapy water.  The other side of the sink served as the drain where I poured one by one down the pipes.  They then rested for awhile in the soapy water.  Following a soaking, pipe cleaners borrowed from my "pipe smoking" husband, were used as tools to clean the chemicals from the inside of each tiny bottle.  After drying, I took a few for practice.  By using thin jewelry wire, broken chains, vintage jewelry remnants, jump rings, and lace pieces for opposing texture.

 

I had my visual.  Now that my supplies were assembled, I gathered my tools.  They aren't the ideal "jewelry designer's" tools because I would rather stab myself in the eye with the needle nose pliers than design something as intricate as jewelry.  However, I do know in retail, women are 4 times as likely to buy jewelry than anything else a reseller has to offer.  So off I went!

Scissors, small needle nose pliers, small wire cutters, super glue, hot glue, hot glue gun, and a few stick on embellishments from Hobby Lobby for extra character. (Rhinestones would've been awesome!)

I began with what I felt would be the most challenging part of the project, attaching the wire to grab onto the jump ring where the pendant would dangle from the chain without tipping forward or backward due to weight.  I took the bottle topper off and laid it aside. Then I took wire and wrapped it around the neck three times and twisted it for security
 leaving approximately 2 1/2 inches on each wire for creating a loop.

 

 Once the loop is twisted for strength, I attached the Jump Ring, leaving it open for the chain's link to catch.  I took several broken chains with varying weights, design and color finish. This would give extra character while focusing on the vintage look as well as recycling what I already have.  Afterwards. I attached them together with a jump ring securing each fragment of metal.  With a desire to keep each piece of jewelry extra long, the length totalled approximately 28 inches.
Now, I gathered a few items for an inspirational bottle that wouldn't only be pretty but have a message.  I chose "To Hope" for this one.  The words were scissor cut from an old newspaper and hot glued to a piece of cardboard off my super glue package. 

"To Hope" then was placed on a tiny lace doily remnant and affixed with a dab of super glue to the glass.
 Too bland, but vintage bling would then accent! (I always split designs into 3 visual parts: 60% Focal Point, 30 % Secondary Focal, 10% Highlight.) Next, came delicate vintage chain remnants.  Super glue and wire caused them to dangle from the neck.  Now, It was taking shape, much like this photo of another I created on  "PROMISED LOVE".

The last detail is the bottle stopper.  The original lid must be super glued and attached. I was tempted to embellish the stopper but soon realized the beauty of the glass could diminish with too much embellishing! Simply gluing the stopper in place was a better choice.  Some did seep over the edge, but additional remnants can cover that and it just further secures the project's details. (Some bottles even got filled with seed pearls and rhinestone flats). FUN!

Now, I had several pieces completed but all 26 had been started and were drying when I decided to research ONE MORE TIME!  In search of a price range on this finished product, I checked etsy.  A regular seller retails beautiful bottles with less detail and plastic caps for $16.  I then checked ebay.  The search turned up Miniature Vintage Perfume Bottle (undecorated as is with perfume inside)SOLD PRICE $57!  and again, $64, $110, $105, $75, $46, and $98!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                       UH OH!

Well, I messed up on the one thing I've always known better than!  I took the bottles and showed them at a party to get feedback on pricing and preferences a few days before placing them in the shop as Christmas Stock.  The feedback was astounding and will continue to design the necklaces as now I find it therapeutic to recycle with oddities found just laying in junk drawers and garage boxes.  But I do believe I'll do better research before they hit the sink....as this is how you, beautifully, POUR MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN! 

 

 

Once the collection was complete, they became Christmas Stock in the FrillSeekerz Winnie Trade Days Store.  The first customer, Ashley, posed for us wearing one of the two she purchased.  She's so darling that anything she wears is a statement about how to wear recycled with pride!

 Thank you, Ashley, for the encouragement on our continuing efforts to recycle the old with soulful inspiration!

 

Are you stealing?

In any workplace, you stand the risk of having your hard work stolen for another's gain. Is it simply enough to get paid and look in the mirror and know you did your best?

Recently a lawsuit against Pinterest proved that, "no", its not enough. A person has the right to protect their intellectual property, whether it be their craft or their process tho reach the end result, otherwise face the charges.  Pinterest implemented a program, according to reports from the Washington Post, where the up loader (or owner) has the ability to utilize a "opt out" position when posting their original content.  This means they can prevent their image from being re-pinned to another's board. There's also a 500 word limit on the thread attaching to "pins" so a DIY or blog regarding the manufacturing details won't be easy to do.  The debate continues over whether this is enough protection for the intellectual property owner.  My thought? The jury's still out on this one.

I've always been bothered by copycats.  I'm not saying people have always copied me. I'm saying its always bothered me.  So many have said, "feel flattered"! Well, when someone steals your wallet, are you flattered? 

A sweet lady came into my FrillSeekerz shop about a year ago and bought several purses. She came in again and shared her love of the bag but ALSO how much she'd enjoyed making some just like those I'd made.  She stated how she was also looking forward to the extra income her new purses could provide for her.    Realizing how much income these bags have produced for me on etsy, I wasn't  excited for her but instead surprised at her naivete'.  Was it nerve or ignorance?  Why should I care?  After all, I don't do the same design for long at all. Trends change and truly creative souls evolve as does their craft.  It still bothered me. I gave her a "gentle" warning by using reference to copyright "umbrellas". She brushed it off as did I.

A year later, I was approached by a regular client who I supply her bridal shop.  She discussed with me our "no compete" clause on our contractual agreement.  This is when Angel informed me of my purses being carried next door to her shop.  After assuring her I would protect her interest and honor my contract, I did my research.  And yes, this same individual is, indeed, doing my purses as well as bridal sashes, table runners and flip flops and selling them next door to my commercial client. After contacting the mall owner, I was given the woman's contact information and left mine. She called. I was firm and definite with my intentions to sue and the grounds.  The merchandise was removed but now has appeared under her name in other locations.  I do plan to follow through with legal actions.

My question is this, when we've all been inspired by others, when is it crossing the line?  I believe when it is for financial gain and the product has more than 90% likeness, the reproduction belongs to the original designer.  If credits are not given, its the same as stealing.  The profits gained from another's design do not belong to the copycat.  I do realize the original designer takes a chance when posting images for the world to see BUT they should have that right.  I should have the right to display my goods in my store and believe that another creative soul will acknowledge the difference between admiration, inspiration and theft.  And quite frankly, nurturing that creative part of my soul means taking pride in the fact that I did it!

What's your take? Do you simply get inspired or do you steal?

From Pageantry to Pasture

A well rounded girl has nothing to do with body image! From soft and feminine to bold and edgy, I want it all!

Years ago, a cause close to my heart screamed for help. I knew I could do something and state level politics stirred my interest as an outlet to open ears. However, my education level, (or lack, thereof) left yet another question. After sharing these concerns with a 76 year old co worker, a suggestion absolutely floored me! She suggested the Mrs. Tennessee pageant system for married women. She explained to me the pageant's focus wasn't beauty but civic and charitable duty as well as views on marriage and motherhood.  Simple involvement could, indeed, raise awareness for my cause, Special Education in the Public School System. Realizing Tennessee's SE programs ranked 44th in the US, I knew I had to try.  Several years, a win, and a move to Texas came and went and I still see the results. Not only in the program's progress, but in myself. How coaching and networking with women in the fashion industry have shaped my futurewho I want to be as an individual.

I founded FrillSeekerz based on one simple element.  Find beauty in what is not.

Round Top Antique Festival has become my stage twice a year for showcasing what I find beautiful.  Salvaging junk from estate sales, garage sales and flea markets, I sell the repurposed goods as apparel art and furniture designs repurposed for future junk lovers.  The tent is, of course, a "less than" prestigious gallery wall but has its own charm, nevertheless.  The best part is the red carpet stage that's actually a combination of red mud clay and straw! This redneck beauty queen has been repurposed into a "redesigner" with love of nature, history and of course, reinvention!

                                                      DENIM JEAN JACKETS
Frayed, torn, tattered, bleached, embellished and embroidered with straight stitch simplicity, the jackets were embraced with great enthusiasm this year! 

Loving the look? Check out our etsy store or FrillSeekerz on Facebook. We take credit cards and Paypal and ship!                               
Jacket Prices: 60.00
Sizes: 6-22 in Women's