Pssst.

You can win a Traveler from my shop on Nerdlike.com. :)

Friday Finds: Valentine's Pounce

I recently arranged a little pug playdate with two of my pug-owner friends Christine and Valerie. Boy did I learned new things. Turns out Hubert is not the only pug who snores constantly, eats every little thing off the floor, is constantly passing gas, and does not stop shedding. It's a pug thing. The good things they have in common? No attitude problems. Our boys have been easy-to-train and obedient little fellas who will do anything to abide their mothers' rules. :)

Now I know why mommy blogs like Dooce, Scary Mommy, and Mommy From the Midwest are so popular. When you're new at something, you want to know other people are experiencing similar things. And I felt that way when I met two other pug owners. This is my closest experience to being a mom.

As I was thinking about being new, I thought about being a new seller. Remember the first time you listed something, you waited and waited and waited for your first sale. And when you finally made the sale, you didn't know how to print a shipping label or how to package it?

It was months before I learned the ways of selling, and now it's much easier. Though I still do a celebratory dance every time I get an e-mail from Etsy Transactions about a sale. Then I text The Boy to tell him so I can get some praise. :) That feeling of making a sale NEVER gets old.

Yesterday morning as I assembled this collection of Finds for today, I received my Etsy Finds e-mail and noticed that Etsy, too was celebrating the n00b seller. Great minds, right?  The sellers I found were different from the ones featured, so that means that there are TONS of new sellers on Etsy. And all of these featured sellers have not made their FIRST sale yet!

Will you be their first sale?




 a. POLKA DOT Heart box, Mmim
b. Cupid's Cutie, jstillion
c. 8X10 Scarlet Jewels, andromedia
d. Red Heart Small Acrylic Valentine's Gift, JollyDogGoods
e. Baby Robot Valentine's Day Theme 1, rjgazray
f. Feather Cascade, CompassandStars

Mint Chocolate

I love Mint Chocolate anything. It's one of those go-to flavors when I have a sweet tooth. I made a Treasury to match the mood. Enjoy!

I took a snapshop as someone was clicking through it. Hence the little yellow boxes. 

Monday Finds: Dusty Rose

I finally received my new HDD for my iMac. I cracked it open this weekend and replaced the HDD, re-installed Adobe CS3, and now I'm back in business! :)

If you're interested in what the inside of a 24" iMac looks like (the older white one), here's a series of pics I took during the process.

In other news, because I was so excited to have a brand new blank slate to fill, I started a "Monday Finds", where I'll flank the week with two days of my favorite Etsy finds!

a. Dusty Pink Rose Satin Belt / Hairpiece, mojospastyle

b. Blush Rose Buds, ShySiren

c. Your Heart 8x8 Photograph, Raceytay

d. Chloe Secret Salvage Necklace, VintageMusings

e. vintage LOLITA dusty rose 1970s mini dress, principessaemicranie

f. Textured Tube Scarf in Blush Alpaca Blend, tortillagirl

g. Dusty Rose - 5 piece party set, PartyPoms

My Chief Financial Officer

I've been meaning to hire help for taking care of bookkeeping and accounting. If you run a business, you can understand how tedious it is to keep all of your receipts, track outgoing payments, incoming payments, and invoices. I've finally expanded my business (to two members) and hired a CFO.

Please welcome, Tocan to the Jenny N. Design family!

She earned her bachelors in Business Finance from The University of South Carolina and has over 30 years of business finance and accounting experience. 

She's my mom. She's also my father's accountant and is very good at what she does!

Now I can focus 100% of my attention to customer service, design, and manufacturing. :)

New in the Shop!

Briefcase in Army Green leather



Clutch in Maize Yellow leather


Baby Ruche Bag in Plum leather   

Lessons Learned

Well, this weekend was full of lessons.

1. I got the verdict on my iMac --it's a mechanical failure on my harddrive. 

Fortunately for me, it's an easy fix for me to do by myself for under $50 (compared to a $364 charge if Apple did it without tax. Can we say, car dealership charges?? But the diagnosis was free, so that's good!). Unfortunately, I didn't have any of my files backed up. But I'm not too heartbroken about it as I don't really remember anything super important on my harddrive --I'm not a big sap about pictures and things as everything can be replaced or just forgotten (hah!). Everything important is in my e-mail, somewhere online, or capable of being recreated. As far as my hundreds of dollars of iTunes music, I will compile a case of all my receipts to Apple Customer Service and hopefully I'll be able to redownload all my music without any charge. If not, that will be another blog entry.

If you're curious, I purchased a Seagate 320GB HD from Newegg for $49.99 with free shipping. I also purchased an external HD so I can mirror the two and backup my files. :) These should be arriving in a couple days, so I'm excited to have 24" of beauty back. It's hard to work on such a tiny 15" screen of my brother's laptop (I'm not complaining, Chris! I appreciate your generosity, I'm just saying...). :) :)


2. I finally applied for a business tax ID.
I'm not sure why I never did this before, but I finally did this weekend.


3. I got some new equipment for the shop.

One is a really really great oak table from a thrift store for $40! It's the same dimensions as the table my dad and I built (60"x36"), so it's perfect for cutting fabric and leather! The other table (which I still haven't sanded and finished) will be used for installing hardware and photography because it's located nearest to the window which floods all the sunlight.

The second is an industrial press for installing hardware. That means I won't be disturbing my neighbors with hammering in the middle of the night. Or early in the morning. This also significantly improves the quality and speed in which I can install the hardware on my bags.






Lesson #1: Back up your harddrive, otherwise the computer gods will punish you.  
Lesson #2: DIY before paying for services that are easily resolved with little homework. 
Lesson #3: If you plan on running a business, apply for a tax ID so you can save $$$! 
Lesson #4: Thrift before you buy new. You'll be surprised what you can find! 
Lesson #5: Investing in equipment to improve the quality and efficiency in your work is priceless. Actually, it does have a price, and it will show up in your increased profits and customer loyalty. :)

One of 'those' weeks

Have you had one of those weeks where it seems that most things go wrong?

I started the week with a severe allergic reaction to some unknown allergen which left me popping two Benadryls twice-a-day and covering my body in the pink calamine lotion stuff. The Boy said I smelled like a grandma. Gee, thanks. 

It lasted a good two whole days. Wearing anything with elastic made it worse. Cold weather triggered it. Hot showers exacerbated it. Working out was out of the question. And I couldn't focus on working on anything. So I sat around for two days doing administration work for my shop. Boring stuff.

By Wednesday, I was 100% back and I spent the ENTIRE DAY making most of my orders from after the New Year. Did you know I've made 22 sales since the new year? I thought January was the slow month! I'm so excited! This really does mean that I will be able to feel a little less like a "starving artist" and I think I can actually start looking for health insurance. And not to mention I can pay my brother rent at the BEGINNING of the month rather than two months late. Nice, huh? Things are turning around for this little engineer-turned-fashion designer.

Thursday morning I realize I left my computer on all night, and I go to restart it....

I get the Apple white screen to death, with the grey apple and a spinning gear. I try again the boot into Windows and everything works fine, so I don't think it's a hardware issue. I put in the installation disc and try to repair in Disk Utility. Error from the beginning. I try to reinstall the OS and fail at start.

What the eff? 

Keep in mind, this is a 2.5 year old 24" iMac that I paid nearly $3K (it's heavily upgraded). This should NOT be undergoing hardware issues. Granted I run two businesses with this computer (graphic design and making bags), and I haven't backed up my harddisk since... I got it. Oops. Bad. Weird because just two days prior, my brother and I were discussing the importance of backing up your harddisk. Bah.

I'm pretty frustrated for two reasons:

1. My computer is relatively new, and my boyfriend has this 7-year-old HP desktop replacement laptop that he hasn't properly shut down in 7 years and it still runs smoothly. Ugh. 
2. I am an engineer and I can't take apart this computer and fix it myself.
   

I'm such a dedicated fan of Apple. I have an iMac, an iPod video, an iPhone, and I buy all my music on iTunes. And then this happens. I almost feel betrayed. I could have built my own desktop for 1/10th the price, purchased a cheaper smart phone with cheaper services, and shopped elsewhere for music, but Nooooo, I believe in the design and capabilities of Apple and am blindly infatuated with its super simple design and pretty icons. And this week, Apple let me down. Feeling alone. And vulnerable. And naive.

I have an appointment to take my computer to the Apple Geniuses this afternoon, and I'm hoping this will all be resolved and I can patch up the relationship between Apple and me.


The Good News

My parents are coming in today for the weekend and Mom is teaching me how to make Bun Bo Hue (she's a Hue Vietnam native), so I will be photographing that adventure and posting it on my blog after the weekend. :)

I signed up for my first 10K - Cap10K, so I will be starting training on Monday! I bought two pairs of running shoes from SmallEarthVintage's ebay shop. I'm really excited!

I'm getting some fancy new equipment for my shop to improve the quality of my products and the efficiency in which I work. I'll keep you posted on the new stuff!

I'm attending a Pug Crawl on Sunday with Hubert (and dragging my brother, my boyfriend, and my friends along) to Gingerman to meet a bunch of Pugs in Austin!! :) Yes, pictures will be posted!

I'm 3 sales away from my Etsy 400 sales mark! Remember, I went full time with this business on September 1st, and made my 200th sale on September 8th. It's been a great 4 months! :) 

All-in-all, a good week, but ran into some hurdles. I just really want my computer back!


Just 4 more days left to enter the GIVEAWAY!! Hurry hurry!


Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! :)

New! In the Shop!

Ready to Ship! Just in time for Valentine's Day. ;)

Traveler in Blush Pink Leather

Clutch in Russet Brown Leather




Baby Ruche in Dark Plum leather

I found more of this beautiful dark plum leather! Not to be confused with the plum leather for the Clutches (SOLD OUT). This leather does not have the "spots" of light plum, though it is pretty dark. This is a uniform-colored leather with visible grains yet a smooth hand. It's really beautiful.

Etsy Friday Finds: Recycled Robots

Friday Picks are back for the new year, with an upgraded title! :)

As you know, yesterday was a big day for the Longhorns.  Except we start out a little slow with just 2 field goal kicks. Then Colt McCoy injures his shoulder, and Alabama scores a couple touchdowns. We've got freshman QB Garret Gilbert to lead.  We were a little skeptical (who wouldn't be) -- this is a kid who was born in the 90's and he's only 18 years old, leading the No. 2 college football team. We felt pretty bad that his FIRST football game had to be the National Championship.  It's a lot of pressure.  There were some incomplete passes here and there, but momentum started to pick up after he threw two touchdown passes to Jordan Shipley (who is a god).  Then we get a two-point conversion, leaving the score 21-24. Not bad.  But then, that blindside sack... and the 2-15yd penalties.  It all went downhill from there.

But all-in-all, we're all proud of Gilbert. He did good.  :)
I'm looking forward to a great season from the Longhorns with Gilbert as QB. 

But really, we all kind of wished that McCoy could have come back in the second half with a BIONIC ARM!

a. ROBO DOLL Handmade Robot Sculpture, gabelanza
b. TIN TYPE ROBOT 55 BIANCA, Reclaim2Fame

c. Motorola Found Object Robot Assemblage Sculpture, Adoptabot

d. Little Goldie Short and Stout Bot, onlyRemnants

e. Miniature Handmade Eco Canbot Robot Figure, sage12888

f. Punk Blocker a robot made from reclaimed wood, WilliamDohman

Texas Football Day

Well well, look what arrived just in time for the big game today.




Custom order your Traveler in Burnt Orange Canvas today!  Just purchase this listing and indicate "Burnt Orange Canvas" in the "Message to Seller".

Go Longhorns!

See more of my Texas Football pictures on my Flickr.

Food Stuff: Pulled Pork

I was reading Smitten Kitchen's Southwestern Pulled Brisket recipe and I immediately e-mailed the entry to my brother and The Boy at work saying "We need a slowcooker!". My brother responded with,

"Don't we still have that $5 slowcooker from Target?" 

I ravaged through the pantry and found it! A tiny 1.5qt slowcooker, ready to make pulled...well the only thing I had in the fridge were pork carnitas that were going to be used for Asian BBQ Pork, but oh well, I'll take half of it and make pulled pork.

I don't have any recipes up my sleeve but I just figured I would toss in all the spices that I have in the cabinet (excluding the really Asian ones).

I dice up onions and lay it on the bottom, stuff as much pork as I can fit in the little contraption, and pour in some garlic powder, kosher salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, paprika, and some Italian seasoning. Add a bit of chicken broth and close the lid and set for "HIGH".  I continue the day doing laundry -- with ONE machine available! It took me FOUR-EVER to complete it. Four hours.  I had three loads.  Haven't done laundry since Halloween. Yes, I have a lot of clothes and underwear. Half-ass resolution #2: No more clothes.

Four hours later, I open it and smell the wonderful scent of Awesome.  At that time, the meat had shrunk and juices filled to the top. I ladle out some of the juice and pour in half a bottle of Jack Daniel's Original No.7 BBQ sauce, close the lid, set on "LOW" until the boys get home for dinner (5 hours later).



Before the BBQ sauce.

With 9 hours of slowcook time, it was like an angel fell from heaven and landed into a crockpot and was destined to be slathered on a lightly toasted buttered bun.

By the way, I'm having a giveaway.

ENTER HERE!

Giveaway!!

** Update: 1/20/2010 **
Congrats to lucky #157, Wendi!
You will be receiving your new Saree Silk Clutch soon! :)

You've heard about the story how I walked into the most glorious closet full of beautiful silk sarees from Mumbai. Well, here's the first clutch of the series! And it's up for grabs!





Just FOLLOW my blog and COMMENT below the post.

And there's more! I'll give away

1 Clutch for EVERY 100 Followers

200 followers = 2 clutches. 1000 followers = 10 clutches.  Nice, huh?



Up to FOUR entries!

1. Follow my blog & Leave a Comment under this post and tell me something. Anything. How you found out about my shop/blog, or what you'd like to see in the future, or what you love about my bags, or why you love me so much, etc.
2. Tweet about this giveaway. RT me at @imjenny and comment AGAIN on this post telling me you've tweeted about it.
3. Facebook about it.  Fan me on FB and tag @jennyn.design in your update so that I can see. Share this link or update your status.  Comment again and that's a THIRD entry! 
4. Blog about it. Comment again and leave a link to your blog entry! That's FOUR!

Contest ends in TWO WEEKS:  Tuesday, January 19th 11:59pm CST. 
Winner(s) will be chosen with random number generator (random.org).

Austin Monthly Magazine Feature!

A great start to the new year! :D

See a larger size on my flickr!

p.s. Mom, your copy of the magazine is in the mail. See? Now everyone knows that I'm also an engineer, so not a waste of a tortuous five years after all! :)

New Years Photobooth

We set up a photobooth for my friend's New Years party. I brought over my old set-up I used to photograph my bags before I moved into a new space with lots of natural light.  My tripod, some panlights, fabric to drape over the curtain rod, bedsheets to soften the light, and a pretty inexpensive point-and-shoot camera (even better a DSLR, but I don't have one). Voila! Instant "photobooth" for your next party!



p.s. The Mustache on a Stick party kit from Something's Hiding in Here was a HUGE HIT at the party. :)