Beyond the status quo

It's funny: just when you start hoping things will pick up, they do, and then you start hoping that things will settle down. Or maybe it's just a case of never being satisfied with the status quo? Perhaps.

Mostly I've been busy shipping hats, which involves the very fun "trip to the post office." It seems like in the past month every time I stop by the post office after work there's a line. All summer long it was like a ghost-town, but now it's starting to pick up. It makes me wonder if people are getting ready for xmas already. And that scares me a bit, cuz I know I said I like to be prepared, but I feel like I'm falling behind already. Like I should have dozens of hats knit up and waiting for the rush that is sure to come. Maybe I'm being paranoid (it's entirely possible).

So I decided that I need to step up my hat-production. Which sadly, sigh, means more TV watching (Pushing Daisies starts tonight! I can't wait! But I guess I've already missed Chuck. Oh well). 'Tis the season, as they say. So if you need me, I'll be on the couch, staring at the boob-tube, anticipating xmas.

The Original Jayne Hat!

Oh, I almost forgot about this! A friend of mine sent me this link a few days ago. Adam Baldwin (with help from the California Browncoats) is auctioning off the original screen-worn Jayne hat! Like, the actual hat that was worn on-screen on Firefly! Man would I LOVE to have that thing! I wish that I was wealthy and not po'!

The auction currently sits at just over $1,500, which seems paltry to me (not that I could even afford that much), but it still has 6 days to go and I'm sure there will be tonnes of last minute sniping on this one! So yeah, if anyone has a couple extra thousand credits to spare, this is what I want for my birthday. Or it can even be a combo Xmas/birthday present. I'm flexible!

Anyway, all kidding aside, the hat is being auctioned off for a good cause, and all proceeds will go to the Marine Corps - Law Enforcement Foundation, Adam Baldwin's charity of choice. So yes, if you have the money, please bid! But just promise me that if you win, you will let me touch it! ;)

Button Packs!

So buttons are the newest addition to my shop. After many many years (I'm talking since high school here! Yeah, that long) of wanting a 1" button machine, I finally decided last month that I'd been a good little girl, and that I deserved to use a chunk of my savings and invest in a new machine. "It will completely pay for itself after time" I rationalized to myself. So I jumped on the good old inter-web and found the best deal I could, which happened to be on ebay (surprise!). You would not believe how excited I was. I waited by the mailbox daily, and it finally showed up in all its 9-pound glory (just like a little baby, awww!), with parts enough to make 1000 1" buttons! I absolutely love my button machine, and I've been dutifully pumping out buttons ever since. Again, it's a repetitive and calming sort of action, which I can appreciate after a long day of working at my repetitive but not so calming job.

Anyway, the buttons are a breeze to make, but what's a little more difficult for me is coming up with designs, especially on my antiquated computer program (anyone else still using Microsoft PictureIt! ? No, just me? *sigh*). But I've managed to come up with a few Browncoaty ideas that have not been half bad, imho. (ie the above six buttons which can be found in my shop here). And I think that I've still got a few good ideas coming along, just in time for the holiday season (hey, buttons make great stocking-stuffers, am I right?).

So after designing and making the buttons, I'd been struggling with how to package them. And these little babies are what I came up with: they're kind of like matchbooks, but instead of matches, it's a page full of buttons! Yay! Quite ingenious, if I do say so myself. But I can't take all the credit; I actually got the idea from a pack of MOO stickers that I bought awhile back! And even more marvelous was the fact that I actually figured out how to fold the paper in just the right way on my first try.

So after pinning the pins, folding the holder, and stapling them both together (careful, make sure that it's straight!) I take out my trusty custom-made rubber stamps (thank you terbearco) and stamp them all over with Serenity and Firefly and Ma Cobb's Hat Shoppe. And Ta-Da! There it is folks: the newest addition to Ma Cobb's Hat Shoppe! Button Packs! Please enjoy!

I hear Christmas is coming...

So this will be my first Christmas/Holiday season on etsy.com, and I'm very excited to see how things go! I know I have heard a lot of rumbling about the holiday season in the etsy community (namely the forums, where I lurk) and it seems like sales usually go either 1 of 2 ways. You're either caught completely off-guard and end up scrambling around for a good 2 month period. Or nothing much changes. Last year, Christmas on just my website was quite bustling, but it was pretty perfectly balanced between too busy and not busy enough. So I'm hoping that will also be the case this year with the addition of my etsy shoppe. But only time will tell.

People probably think I'm crazy to start thinking about Christmas already, but I would always rather be well-prepared then run around doing the scrambling thing. As a favourite character on Dead Like Me once said (and I'm paraphrasing here): "I'm always early for everything so I never have to run. People who run look stupid." "What about runners?" "Especially runners." So yeah, my thoughts exactly, Daisy Adair. ;)

So to prepare for the holidays, today I made about a million little tags, and stamped all my address labels. It was calming repetitive work, and maybe I'm crazy for liking that, but it's just what I enjoy. I think I'm just procrastinating because I should be knitting a Jayne hats "just in case" I start getting an influx of Jayne hat orders. but heck, I don't want to be too optimistic.

It's a new-fangled blog-type-thingy

What is a blog without a post? Is it still a blog? The age-old question. I'm not sure if I know the answer. But I came here to blog, so I best get blogging.

This is my first blog. Awww... There will likely be more to come. More about my little corner of the cortex that I call Ma Cobb's Hat Shoppe. But until then, I'll just say...

Keep flyin,

Love,

Ma Cobb

Buttons at Ma Cobb's Hat Shoppe!

Ni Hao Ma Cobb fans,

Is it September already? Quick little update to let everyone know that Ma Cobb's Hat Shoppe has buttons now! Yes, those cute little 1" pin-back buttons are now for sale at Ma Cobb's Etsy.com site: fadingendlessly.etsy.com. So come check out all the shiny little buttons, and buy one for yourself, or buy a set for yourself. Or buy a few sets for you and your Browncoat friends! They are only available at Ma Cobb's etsy Shoppe. Great little stocking stuffers for the holiday season that is just around the corner. Oh man, did I just mention Christmas when it's still September? Somebody throw me out the airlock...

Keep flyin!
Love,
Ma Cobb