Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Stocking Stuffers

1.) Until someone tells me that Avatar is an incredible story with amazing acting I'm not going to see it. Whiz-bang special effects will not carry me through nearly 3 hours of James Cameron's ego.

2.) Today is the official moving day for our office and Chiquita's brother Chuck is helping out. He brought along his friend Mr. Rick. That is what everyone calls him. Mr. Rick. He is sixty if he's a day and every time he comes back up the stairs he huffs and puffs and says, "Boy, I'm tired." Mr. Rick calls Chuck Charles. Chiquita calls him Chuckie or Chuck-a-luck. Chuck calls Chiquita Chi Chi, which I find kind of disturbing. Gary the CPA and Chiquita's ex-husband Phillip are also coming in to help. Chiquita looses patience with all of them if they spend longer than 10 minutes talking to her. She mentioned that we may go out for a two hour taco break while they do the heavy lifting.

3.) Heather and I went to the Mission Inn last night to see the Christmas lights and it was lovely. However, along with the lights were lots of animatronic carolers and scary elves tucked up in the balconies and bell towers. There was one in particular who looked like he was waiting to jump down on your head and gouge your eyes out with his pointy hat. I was disappointed that I couldn't look around the hotel to find and have my picture taken in the Taft Chair which was specially made for President Taft's visit once the original owner of the hotel heard that he got stuck in the White House bathtub due to his girth. My high school history teacher, Mrs. Baker, use to tell this story at least once a week. She would refer to him as Taft the Rotund.

4.) Speaking of former presidents - I am calling 2010 the Year of the Presidents, which mostly means I'm going to learn what order they came in and humorous facts about them that I can bring up at parties to bore all of my friends.

5.) A few people have asked about buying the funny stockings and I think I have enough in my arsenal to start putting them up on Etsy. However, I have no idea what to charge for them. They cost me practically nothing to make. Maybe $2. But they are very labor intensive. They're all hand cut and hand stitched. Most with metallic thread that Satan created. So, if you were in the market for a stocking that had a b-list celebrity on it how much would you be willing to pay?

6.) Holy Cats, this is getting long.

7.) Last one, I promise. But I wanted to show you the other stocking I made this season. I was commissioned by Laura (I will refrain from making Michelangelo/Medici Family comparisons here) to make one for her boyfriend, who loves the old video game Galaga and monkeys.



8.) Okay, I totally lied to you. Because I've just decided to have a Christmas drawing. If you leave a comment before Christmas you will be entered to win a stocking to be delivered sometime before next Christmas. You can choose from any of the ones I've done before (Dwight, the Hoff, Michael Flatly - Lord of the Dance, Mr. T (although not a stocking yet, easily transferable) or Richard Simmons) or you can choose a new one, if I think it's funny enough. Enter now before I make you pay more than $2 for them.

9.) That is all. Merry Christmas.

21 comments:

aprilaleman said...

HUZZAH!

I'm crossing my fingers for the whole year in hopes of getting one of these treasures. But, I'd pay you $10 for every other one, so my entire family could have matching stockings!

The Katzbox said...

WOOT!!!! Darn that satanic thread...RATS!!!

I will consider several B-list celebrities for your approval...this will keep me occupied for several days, though I promise not to let it distract me from the season. I'll submit it to my family for their input as well.

Oh Joy!!!!

I'm willing to pay between $15 and $20 dollars, unless you think it's worth more, of course, then just let me know.

The Katzbox said...

Okay, sorry, here are some celebs just off the top of my head...I really tried to restrain myself and not reply so soon, but I couldn't reel it in, Rachel...sorry...I was having too much fun...forgive?

Barbara Eden in her "I Dream of Genie" days...

Yanni...

Charo...

Sylvester Stallone as "Rocky"...

and my personal favorite of all time: EINSTEIN AND HIS HAIR!!!

Okay...I'm going back to my research now....nothing more to see...I'll just move along...

Andrew said...

Pick me! Pick me!

Gina said...

Chris and I want funny stockings. I'm a little concerned that Chiquita's brother's name is Chuck. I mean, is he younger than her and their mother ran out of creativity? At least they could call him Chas, or something like that. Let's rename him.

The Galaga stocking is amazing. I think Chris wants to play the game right now.

Ginger said...

Your stockings are amazing! (That deserves an "!") I think you should ask at least $20. It is a masterpiece. There are so-called "artists" out there that are charging mega bucks for just splashing paint on a canvas. Have you considered ebay? Let the bidding begin! Thanks for sharing your talents with the world.

Liz the Poet said...

Rachel, you know how I am with always trying to market your skills. As soon as I hear about pricing or advertising, I put my "Agent" hat on and try to come up how to get you the most for what you do.

I've done a financial break down (in my spare time--not during work hours, of course), so you can get an idea of what you should charge for your wares.

You have to walk the delicate balance between pricing them to sell, and pricing them to be worth the time it takes to make them.

So, let's say that it takes you 4 hours to make a stocking, and you charge $34. That's $8.50 an hour, minues the supply cost $2/4hr, so that's about $8.00 an hour which is minimum wage in California.

Working for minimum wage doing what you love is a lot different than working for minimum wage at McDonald's, but it's still minimum wage.

And if you throw in the cost of packaging, shipping, etc. you're actually working for less.

Now, will a stocking sell for over $30? I think so. It's hand-crafted and personalized, after all. And having been a recipient of one, I can attest to its fabulousness!

I don't know if you can tell I've given this much thought...

I stop for now...

Although, the next time I see you, I might hand you a portfolio that analyzes your hypothetical profit/loss statement for 2010.

I need help...

Wendy said...

I love the idea of a Charo stocking. Please make it next and post a picture. I think you could successfully charge $15 for them to test the waters. You can always raise the price if demand is high...or, my least favorite tactic, you list the price as "starting at $15" or "$15.00 and up" and then charge them an additional dollar per inch of shimmering thread you use.

colleeeen said...

Three words:

Charles. Nelson. Reilly.

Jenny said...

Dwight from "The Office"? That Dwight? I could totally put that to good use. Or Mr. T. He is so awesome on so many levels.

Amanda said...

Wait!!! I think I remember that the last drawing for a stocking was on my birthday and while you love me more than anyone else, you went with the totally fair 'pick a number' business.
Now I do have to say in all fairness, that I actually own a Rachel creation, but it is in fact of Christmas carolers, not of Richard Simmons. So, again, I will throw my hat in and try for a True Rachel Stocking.
Love you girl! Have a very Merry Christmas!

Amanda said...

Okay, scratch my last comment, because I just read the other comments and think if I get to vote for someone it is going to be Andrew. I instantly thought, 'is that Andrea's, Andrew?' Yep. I wish I knew him better, but now I know for sure that he's good for Andrea and he deserves a stocking for that.

Bronwyn James said...

I would personally like to see a Willie Nelson stocking. Or it might be clever to do a Christmas stocking with Scrooge or the Grinch whose heart is two sizes too small. Or Scrooge and the Grinch, perhaps giving gifts to each other while sipping on some Christmas cider. That's warm and fuzzy.

Stephanie said...

So darn cute. I love it, love it, love it.

As long as you're doing video game stuff - could you do a Mario Bros. or Donkey Kong?

I think I would pay $25 for a personalized Rachel stocking.

Merry Christmas my friend!

Rach said...

I think, considering what people charge for a swatch of fabric in the form of a sling to stuff your baby into ($40-50), you could easily charge between 25 and 30 bucks for your stockings and be underpaid. I know you're looking for b-list celebs, but you know who I would choose if I won the drawing. Bon Jovi, of course, in his tight leather pants day.

The Taft in the tub incident is all I took away from AP US History. That and the horror that my teacher's fly was down for a whole period and all we could do was giggle. No one dared say anything, because he was a bit sensitive.

Animatronics are super creepy.

Merry Christmas!

Maija said...

Oooh! Oooh! Pick me! Pick me! I love Dwight.

ryan morgan said...

Avatar was an amazing movie that scores a ten in my book! It was seriously one of my favorite movie experiences EVER and I would recommend it to any one. It had plenty of story, good acting and emotion to make the 2 hours and 40 minutes seem like nothing. Not to mention exploring the beautiful and breathtaking world of Pandora on the big screen was awesome! Seeing it 3-d was sweet! Worth the money at least once. If you don't like it you can hold me accountable:)

Oh - I think a ninja turtle (Michaelangelo) or Pee-wee Herman stocking would be nice.

As an artist my self, I understand the difficulty of making something and selling while trying to make a profit. It sucks. My advice - $50 dollars flat, commissions only.

Tammy said...

I would love a carrie fisher dressed as princess leia Christmas stocking.
I was not thrilled about going to see avatar I had low expectations, and it surprised me how good it is, so if you end up going to see it don't expect to like it and maybe it will surprise you too.

Unknown said...

Somedays in the midst of all the running around, baking and wrapping I need a smile. Thank you.

Suzie
nanook166@hotmail.com

Cinthia said...

My favorite B list celebrity is Mr. Rogers.

I would of course, forget to read my favorite blogs until like, Christmas evening. Go me!

Chris said...

I memorized the presidents once.

Washington
Adams
Jefferson
Madison
Monroe
....
....this is where I lose it...
...
Tyler
Polk
Taylor
Fillmore
Pierce
Buchanan
(I remember that part by thinking "Tyler poked Taylor and Fillmore pierced Buchanan.")
Lincoln
...
...
I lose it here too.