Knitted Steel

Origins (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 07:00:00 +0000

I realized last week that I talk about my maille all the time, but I've never actually told you how I got started. There are two parts to this: How I got started in the hobby, and who got me started. The latter will focus on my family, my heroes. I already wrote that part but in an extremely unfortunate incident, the draft was deleted before reaching the server. It'll take me a while to rewrite it because I need to do it justice. The former is what I'll tell you today. So gather round, ladies and gents and everyone, it's story time.

In 2003 I was a freshman in college. Uni life opened up a ton of new experiences for me that I never had access to in high school. I had a roommate for the first time in my life. There were new sports to try and new subjects to learn and new religions to explore. One thing that introduced me to nearly everything else was the Fencing club. Swordplay, huzzah! Finally, I met a group of people who liked the same kind of sport as me, and we had other similar interests too. These same people got me into Tabletop RPGs, Halo 2, new sports, new classes, new everything.

So one of my friends from the club had a roommate who made chain maille. The first time I saw him working on it, I was flabbergasted. No way was this still a thing! I thought it died hundreds of years ago? I was captivated. Thrilled. It looked like a style of knitting that I could do. I needed it. It was incredible. So I asked him to make me a bracelet. I think I paid $20 and then pestered him about it for the next 6 weeks while he waited for his Ring Lord order and then put it together for me.

When I finally got it, I only wore it for about a week. It wasn't badly made or anything, but owning it wasn't enough. The small college town was well-stocked with art & jewelry supplies because of the uni's art department, so it didn't take long before I found 2 sets of toothless pliers. I still use the same bent-nose pliers today, 10 years later! I took apart the entire bracelet, and then stopped. I didn't know what the hell I was doing. I tried to figure out the pattern from memory but it was no good. Google to the rescue! I was able to find when I recognized the logo from watching my friend's roomie order the rings. I signed up for their forum (on an account I've long since lost) and began browsing for tutorials. Eventually I came across some, including cgmaille.com - a valuable tool for anyone starting the hobby. Not only does that place have 4-in-1, but a bunch of others too! I tried as many different patterns as I could before the rings began to snap apart from being worked too much. I still couldn't get enough, and my roommate was equally enthralled. We took what little money we had leftover from books and supplies, and we ordered a bunch of aluminum and steel from TRL.

It was so much fun. Not only did we now have a cool new hobby, but we each had someone to bounce ideas off of, to offer criticism, and to help each other improve. We were both completely self-taught but we helped each other out and learned how to make some cool stuff really quickly. The resources online were also a massive help, as well as the great folks at the TRL forum.

Later on, my roomie and I decided we were good enough to take the hobby a bit more serious. There's a craft & wares faire on campus every year at the beginning of December, and we thought "Why not?" We applied for a temporary state tax ID, registered ourselves as The Mischief Makers, and applied for a one-day spot. Our lucky stars aligned and we had a most ideal location, right by a main entrance to the student union building. I really don't know how we did it. That weekend was a blur. We easily made a profit over what we spent on the show and supplies. The success and the money only fueled the love for the hobby more, and after that I always found time to work on some maille.

I don't know why it piqued my interest so hard at first. Maybe because it was so unique, or maybe because it hit that same part of my brain that Robin Hood and King Arthur live in. Maybe it's a giant cocktail of emotions and passions and interests. But this is how I really got started. I haven't put down the pliers since then. still have an old piece of maille from when I began, and it is full of flaws. I keep it as a memento of how much I've learned and improved, because the difference is easily noticeable.

As much as I love how unique this hobby is, I realize it's becoming more popular every day. Craft stores now have small chain maille sections by their jewelry supplies. It's fantastic! I want to encourage its growth too. If you ever have questions about getting started, I'd love to help you. Don't be shy, hit me up!

PAX Prime 2013 - Oh my glob

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 03:24:00 +0000

Hello everyone! Hello to button traders, lanyard bearers, Enforcers, and attendees! Hello cosplayers, newlyweds, special guests, Spartans, and AIs! Hello gamers, publishers, devs, panelists, and exhibitors! Hello everyone!

How was your PAX? Mine was amazeballs. I met so many amazing people and saw so much wonderful technology. I traded buttons and pins with the nicest strangers I've ever met. I bought a Catbug and ate sugar peas! I stood between the Xbox and Playstation booths and listened to gamers of both persuasions discussing (and bashing/praising) the new consoles with the most heartfelt passion. I sold PA tee shirts and scarves to all walks of human life, and I handed out a hundred pins and a hundred business cards. If that's how you've stumbled across this blog, then hello again. :) It was so nice to meet you.

I realize I'm being extremely vague, and I'll be totally honest. PAX is a total blur of happy for me. I'm sad that I missed the final day. I caught up on some much needed rest, then headed back to Redmond for a day in the Internet mines. I feel each year like I'm attending a massive family reunion with all of my weird, crazy, awesome, incredible distant cousins. More than the games, I'm so excited to catch up with people and hear about how their lives have changed.

So allow me to wrap up my lunch break here at work by delivering a heartfelt Thank You to you all. I'll write more in the coming week and month. But for now I need to focus on my day job, and preparing for GeekGirlCon. My brain matter is oozing with delicious ideas that I picked up at PAX, and I now feel equally excited and freaked out about being an exhibitor. I know what I need to do to prepare, and I know just how little time I have. It's going to be a wonderfully busy month. I hope to see some of you there in October!

More to come, I promise. ^_^ Now kick your shoes off and relax. You've all been on your feet a lot this weekend.

Looking back, Going forward

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 04:20:00 +0000

Holy monkeys, it's been way too long since I dusted off the ol' blog. This past year has been busy and full of changes!

Last year's Kickstarter project went well and was quickly followed by another. A week after PAX, I got a new job. The new job has drastically changed my life in great ways, but it also meant I had to give up some of my side projects. I stepped away from BFR Games (and wish them nothing but the best!) and backed off on my hobbies a bit. I even let Knitted Steel slide for a while as I adjusted to my new schedule and work load. It's been a thrilling, exhausting, and wonderful year. I apologize if I've left anyone in the lurch or failed to respond to a support request. And I thank everyone who's supported me in the past year!

Looking forward, there are some great things on the horizon.

First off, I've upgraded my store! It is now much more mobile-friendly, thanks to Storenvy's new Cooper Theme. Plus I've tweaked the design a little bit with some custom CSS for more personal flair. Check it out if you'd like. I may still update its look with a new banner, but the site itself is ready to go.

Coming up are two big conventions in Seattle: PAX Prime, and GeekGirlCon. Currently I have a special shipping option for PAX Prime if you'd still like to order something. It will allow you free hand-delivery. Only select this option if you plan to be at the show.

GeekGirlCon looks to be even more exciting, because for the first time ever, I will be a vendor. That's right, I've got my own booth space! This will be the first time vending a large show since my college days when my roommate and I partnered up as The Mischief Makers, and I couldn't be more excited. I'll update this blog again once I have more information like booth # and location, but here are the current details. I'll be sharing my booth space with the super awesome Kiri Callaghan! She'll be signing and selling her book So if you like reading and watching geeky things, and you like wearing shiny maille, stop by and see us. :) I'll have a Square card reader for credit card purchases, and my website will loaded up on a tablet and ready to go for custom orders.

More to come very soon. For now, be sure to get your PAX Prime orders in as soon as possible! Once I have my Enforcer schedule, I will email everyone with details of when and where to pick up your goodies.

Kickstarter

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Wed, 30 May 2012 00:24:00 +0000

Greetings!

Alright, so I didn't update a week after that last one. Terrible. To bring you up to speed:
The winner of the stretch bracelet naming thing was "Stretchmaille." Simple, functional, easy to say. Yay!

Punk Rock Flea Market is still in the works. I have been building displays and mailling LOTS of stock for this show, even though it's a one-day affair. I am sticking to less expensive items, though I will have some flashy pieces to show off as well. My boothmate is going to be the amazingly talented Sylvia Armitstead, aka Saberlin, with her beautiful art prints. It should be a good day.

PAX East is over, and PAX Prime is less than 100 days away. You know what that means: Time to order lanyards. They can be found at my Storenvy shop; I'll be updating the listings to include a guaranteed cutoff date for PAX, as well as options for hand delivery at the show (free shipping!).

---

Now, the big topic of this post is my other project. Outside of work, maille, and life, my board game is very quickly coming to life.

As of this morning at 3:45am PST, Disaster Looms! is fully funded thanks to the hundreds of backers who put their faith and funds in our creativity. But my team and I are not done yet! We want to make the game even more awesome. Please, spread the word (and the link to our Kickstarter page) and help us hit the $40k mark.

For those unfamiliar with Kickstarter, you might be saying "But it's already funded. Why are you begging for more money?"

The truth is not greed or profit, but truly that we want to make the game amazing AND keep the savings going through the rest of the fundraiser. If you pledge $50 right now, you'll not only be helping us reach our next goal, you will also receive a copy of the game for less than retail value. For $65 you'll get the game plus exclusive bonuses that we will never print again. That's a hell of a value, and you're helping a group of young, enthusiastic people break into the board game industry and prove that small businesses can produce fantastic things. The extra money we earn from Kickstarter will be going straight into the game.

If you have any interest in board games, family nights, occasional evenings away from the TV and console, or even space exploration: take a look at this game. With your help it can become a 6-player experience, expanding the Galaxy with its perils and profits along the way.

Once again, a HUGE thank you to all of the folks who have backed us so far. I joined this project in October, and until now it has not felt quite so real. If anyone wants to see the game up close, two of my teammates will have a demo prototype copy at ORIGINS this week in Columbus, OH. My partners Eric and Wombat will be at Booth #853. Go say hi and pick up a complimentary FRIDGE MAGNET. Woo!

Equinox

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:38:00 +0000

Good morrow everyone! I hope Winter treated you all well. Spring is here at last. The days are getting brighter and longer, which of course means more sunlight makes its way into my home. It also means that I can see the layer of dust... Eep. Time to clean.

Storenvy
Knitted Steel came back to 2012 with raging success. With the help of Storenvy, the lanyard orders this year were easier, faster, and more organized than ever. As far as I know, the USPS didn't lose a single one in transit (if yours hasn't arrived, email me!) and I have a perfect record of every order. Storenvy has my business for a long time to come. So long, Etsy.

When you order a bracelet, choose two colors:
The Aluminum color, and the Rubber color.

Stretch Bracelets
Coming soon to my shop is my stretch bracelets! Formerly known as pirate bands, I'd like to rename them. They no longer fit the reasons behind calling them "Pirate Bands" - back in college I found something nearly identical online called Ninja Bracelets and I, well, borrowed the idea - and "Stretch Bracelets" is informative yet boring.

So, my trusty creative readers, what would you call them? Post a comment here with your ideas, and I'll reward the best name with two custom bracelets. If multiple people have the same idea, it's first post-first served. Be sure to include your email so I can contact you. I'll wait until Saturday to choose. Come on guys, show me what you can come up with!

Punk Rock Flea Market
I'm doing a show! On June 23rd, the Punk Rock Flea Market is appearing for one day in Belltown. I'll put full details in a post closer to the event, but I can tell you right now that it's a full day of music, drinks, and all kinds of awesome stuff for sale. Admission is $1 that goes to charity. I will be featuring my bracelets, which I make custom for you in 10 minutes for $10. I'll also have some necklaces, earrings and keychains to show off. If there's anything in particular that you'd like to see at my table, let me know. I love hearing your suggestions.

Happy Spring, everyone. To those attending PAX East, have a wonderful time. If you're going to Emerald City ComiCon, say hi if you see me! I'll either be dressed as Tasha Yar or Starbuck.

Extended Deadline!

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:49:00 +0000

Because I like you guys so much, and because I am knitting these things together LIKE LIGHTNING, I am officially extending my deadline.

If you'd like to guarantee your lanyard arriving in time for PAX East or Emerald City ComiCon, order by February 20th.

Do it now! You know you want toooooo.

Happy New Year! Who Wants a Lanyard?

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:45:00 +0000

Knitted Steel is back in action. After a long-overdue vacation from my various jobs, I am refreshed and ready for 2012. And look at what's coming up! Emerald City ComiCon in Seattle, followed by PAX East in Boston. I will not be able to attend PAX East, however I will still gladly make and ship lanyards to folks in time for the show.

This year, I'm doing things differently.

This year, I have a store.

Rather than trying to keep track of orders through this blog, email, two forums and verbal contracts, I am finally doing this in a more organized fashion; no spam filter will lose your order.

For the two upcoming shows I will be making 50 lanyards, maximum. In order to guarantee your lanyard arriving in time, please get your order in by Wednesday, February 15th. Orders will close either March 1st, or whenever 50 orders are taken. Currently available in the store are two options: A custom 2-color lanyard, or the "Enforcer Blend." (Enforcers, check the forum for extra information.)

I will be adding a 3rd option this evening - custom 3-color lanyards. This option will be the same price as the Enforcer Blend - that is, $5 more than 2 colors.

None of these options include the choice of different metals. So here's the deal:
Super special custom order lanyards will still be done on a case by case basis. It is dependent mostly upon the availability of the materials. I buy all of my rings from The Ring Lord. If something there catches your attention, email me (jules @ knittedsteel . net) and I will respond as soon as possible. I will work with anything except Anodized Titanium. These orders must be received by February 15th or will be subject to a rush fee.

I think that's everything. If you have any questions, please email me: jules @ knittedsteel . net and in the subject line type "LANYARD QUESTION."

Happy PAXing!

Closing Temporarily

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:19:00 +0000

Greetings all! Long time no see.

I've been trying to juggle too many things lately and after some serious thinking, I decided that this is currently my lowest priority. I love mailling and blogging about it, but I need to focus on other stuff. Namely my career as a designer, and some upcoming personal events.

I'm closing Knitted Steel for a while. The shops (Etsy, Storenvy) are still open, but I won't take custom orders and I won't be restocking. KS will hopefully return to full glory on January 10th, maybe with a little cosmetic work.

I will start taking limited lanyard orders in January for the coming convention year.

Cheers all, and see you in 2012!

Wrapping Up PAX (in a big shiny bow)

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 02:42:00 +0000

Photo Courtesy CliffNordman.com

Wow. WOW. What. a. show.

Thank you all so much for such a wonderful weekend. This one will definitely go down in the memory books (aka this blog) as one of the best overall PAXes I've attended. As I write this I work my way through a stack of music including The Protomen, MC Frontalot, Supercommuter and the amazing Jonny Nero Action Hero. I'm also working my way through bottles of allergy meds and vitamins, because I may have fallen victim to the ConSARS again this year. OH DANG.

I also want to thank everyone not only for buying my lanyards - you are all awesome! - but also to thank you all for being my walking advertisements. All weekend I was barraged by total strangers asking me about my wares, and I KNOW that it's not because of this little blog. Now I'm approaching 10,000 views and I am blown away! Really, thank you.

Now that the show has ended, it's time to turn my sights onto other things. I am still taking maille orders and filling my store, of course, but in the meantime my focus will finally be on my online presence. This blog could definitely use a face lift, and now that I own knittedsteel.com (woohoo!) as well as .net, I feel like I need my own site beyond Blogger and Storenvy. So let the adventure begin.

I'm already making lists and doodles of things I want to include on the site, including a section dedicated to building custom lanyards and another for pirate bands. I'll also mod my Storenvy shop to fit the theme of my site, which will hopefully link directly.

Oh man guys, Protomen's The Fall is freaking epic.

ANYHOO. If there is anything you would like to see on my new site, please drop a comment here and let me know. I'd love to hear your opinion since I am building it for you, after all. It's been a while since I worked with web code so bear with me as I work through the bumps and hiccups. There'll be some beta testing for sure, and it will be a fairly simple site. When it's all done and built and pretty, hopefully it will make the bi-annual PAX lanyard ordering way smoother and easier for everyone.

Speaking of ordering, my summer blackout is over! If you would like to custom order something, please email me. Keep in mind that custom orders may take up to 2 months if I don't have the materials on hand. If you're interested in buying multiple lanyards (some little birds told me there are expo companies interested? YES PLEASE!) it will likely take me longer than that, but I guarantee the wait will be worth it!

Cheers everyone! See you at Prime 2012!

PAX Prime Lanyard Delivery!

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:57:00 +0000

Huzzah! Last night I learned my Enforcing schedule for PAX Prime, which means I can plan the rest of my show hours. Let's start with YOU folks. Please read this entire post carefully.

If you have not yet paid for your lanyard, please do so. Either send via paypal (email listed below) before the show, or bring cash with you. Exact change is ideal.

I will be distributing lanyards before my shift begins each day.
You can find me on Level 2 at a table in front of Juice It (listed on the official PAX map), from 9am to 9:50am.

If you can't make it to the morning pickup time, email me ASAP to set up special arrangements - jules @ knittedsteel . net - I'm happy to accommodate. I will do my best to keep up with Twitter, but I have no idea what kind of WiFi signal is available at the WSCC.

FRIDAY NIGHT: I will be at the Protomen concert, helping JonnyNero with his tee shirt and CD sales. He is awesome enough to allow me some table space as well. If you're going to El Corazon and don't have your lanyard yet, stop by and pick yours up. I will likely entice you into buying some of Jonny's merch, too. :)

[ENFORCERS]: I will be at setup for a few hours on Thursday morning, likely folding shirts on the 4th floor. I hope to arrive at 11, and I will stay as late as 2pm. You can also ask me anytime during the show in Enforcerland.

Friday thru Sunday, 10am-2pm, I will be at the PA Merch Booth outside the main Queue Room. Please read this extra carefully: DO NOT COME TO THE MERCH BOOTH FOR YOUR LANYARD. When I am selling Merch, I am on shift as a volunteer for Penny Arcade, Inc. and NOT representing my own business. I will not have the lanyards with me and I will not accept payment for them during those hours. Do not ask anyone else at the Merch booth about my lanyards as they have nothing to do with Knitted Steel. The Merch booth is for Penny Arcade merchandise only! If you want to catch me as I leave my shift, that's absolutely fine. I'm 6ft tall with short blonde hair, you can't miss me.

You must claim your lanyard by 2:30pm Sunday. If your lanyard is unclaimed and unpaid at that time, it will be sold to whomever wants it at the current retail price. For those going to the Post PAX Party at Jillian's, I will once again be manning JonnyNero's table and I will sell any extra, unpaid lanyards I possess.

To All Aspiring Creatives

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 23:35:00 +0000

Someone just posted this to Facebook, and I had to snatch it up. I wish someone had told me this in college, because some days I really could have used the encouragement contained in the message.

Click for full size

It took me a couple of years to hit my stride in mailling. Longer with my graphic design. Sometimes I still make crap. But I work past it to something greater. It takes time and a lot of hard work and dedication. If learning comes easy to you and you're one of those people who catch on quickly and you're used to getting perfect results, don't be dissuaded. Art and creativity of all kinds is messy and personal, and that gap is different for everyone.

Never give up. Keep at it, constantly. Whether you're a writer, mailler, painter, designer, or anything else that takes good taste and a keen eye. Don't quit. Close the gap.

UPDATE: Thanks to reader nw for linking the speech that inspired the poster!

Supporting Local Artists: Jonny Nero

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:15:00 +0000

Three months ago, I never thought I would be working so often with other local artists. But there are so many incredible projects going on in Seattle right now that I just can't resist! Business at Knitted Steel is taking a very exciting turn.

Jonny's awesome Facebook photo

Allow me to introduce you to Jonny Nero Action Hero. He's a chiptune rock musician who looks like the Tenth Doctor, and he creates fantastic music with his sidekick Sheep. His main instrument, pictured above, is his yellow Gameboy. His most recent live performances have been at fundraising concerts for GeekGirlCon, and he has a hell of a show coming up next month.

On August 26th, PAX FRIDAY, he will be opening for none other than The Protomen at El Corazon. And it's a free show if you bring your PAX badge. (or $15 online at elcorazonseattle.com)

If you've never heard of him, please check out his music and buy a copy of his album if you like it! And if you REALLY like him, or if you want to guarantee yourself a piece of Action Hero swag at the concert, head over to his Storenvy shop and pre-order a tee shirt or pick out some buttons.

The yellow-on-black Logo tee is my design. The Sheep tee is pretty freakin' cool too. If he sells enough of this first run of shirts, Jonny says he'll later stock his store with Ladies' sizes as well!

~~~

On a related note, many thanks and sincere gratitude to those of you who have funded the indie film project REVERSAL. In just a few short days the total shot up over $2000, and now they are nearly halfway to full funding! If you haven't looked at it already, I urge you to do so.

Supporting Local Artists: REVERSAL

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 03:38:00 +0000

Recently my coworker David approached me while I was lunching and mailling at my desk. He's into filmmaking, and rather good at it. (See: THE BOOK OF ZOMBIE) His most recent endeavor - REVERSAL - is currently in pre-production and I think it shows a whole lot of promise.

It started with a killer script...

We chatted and he told me the plot of the movie. Then he said that there's one little movie prop that has a big role - a keychain. He saw my dice earrings at Storenvy and asked if I could make something like that in keychain form. Uh, OF COURSE! I gave him a mockup, which is shown below, and promptly ordered materials for more.

Official Movie Prop!

So now the project has a cast and crew, a solid script, and the coolest prop ever. All it needs is funding. The crew has set up a fantastic fundraising page over at IndieGogo, and I ask you to please go check it out. It will answer all your questions and leave you very intrigued. And please donate! Supporting the local arts and small businesses of Seattle is what makes this city so great and colorful. Besides that, if you donate $100 or more you will get an OFFICIAL MOVIE REPLICA KEYCHAIN* along with other cool stuff!

These keychains are not available for sale outside of this fundraiser. The keyring is a nickel-plated steel split ring, roughly 1" in diameter. 7 titanium rings connect the silver-plated die cage, which when pulled gently at both ends, releases the die for use in your on-the-go gaming! It's strong enough to contain the die in your pocket, purse, wherever. The die is a standard d6 and can be swapped out for any other die sized 8-12mm. The keychain will not be found in my store, and I will refuse all custom orders for it until this film is funded. Support the arts!

Cheers.

*Note: The keychain pictured above is the prototype. The final design will not change but the die inside will vary slightly in size and color. I will update this post once a color is chosen!

Custom Orders Closed! and a note on Social Networks

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 01:45:00 +0000

This post comes with two subjects!

Lanyard Crafting for PAX Prime 2009

Custom Orders Now Closed
Thank you all for your lanyard orders! I came just shy of my 50 cap; perfect. My final materials order for the summer is made, and I'm going into blackout mode. What does this mean? I won't be taking any more custom orders until September. I will, however, be updating my stores at Etsy and Storenvy. Whatever materials I have leftover from custom lanyard orders will be put toward making a few random lanyards to sell online. Their base price will be $50 each, with the usual +$5 per color beyond the standard 2.

This will be the new standard base price starting September 1st.

Any orders I get AT PAX will still start at $40. More on that later.

So many choices!

Knitted Steel's Presence Online
There is a LOT happening with social media and networking right now. It can get a little overwhelming and there is more coming down the pipeline to pay attention to. With two stores, a blog, a facebook, and a twitter, it's getting kind of crazy on this end. I'm going to break it down a little.

Etsy:
I'm getting a little tired of Etsy. Granted, I haven't put a whole lot of effort into it lately. But it seems like the quality's gone downhill since I originally joined. A lot of it is filled with, as Regretsy queen Hellen Killer puts it, Whimsicle Fuckery. Please don't comment on the spelling.

There are some amazing stores on there and some truly wonderful people, groups, communities and products. But it's getting harder and harder to find unique and admirable handicrafts amidst the "vintage" junk, resold Chinese knockoffs and upcycled crap. It doesn't seem like the admins are doing much to clean up the site, either. I am going to slowly let that store disappear as I delve further into Storenvy.

Storenvy:
I really, really like this website. It's customizable, it's free, it's SUPER friendly and it's not yet overrun by people who don't really want to be there. This is where I want to set up shop for now, and this is where I will be posting my lanyard leftovers before PAX this summer. Best of all, Storenvy is still in Beta, which means I can grow as it grows. And speaking of Beta...

Google+:
This is amazing. I got in really early on the Beta and I'm happy I did, because I've been able to add my feedback to its growing pains. One feature I love is the Hangouts. Google has yet to roll out business profiles, but they are taking applications for the business beta. I just filled out the application and I sincerely hope they let me join. I want to implement Q&As and Tutorials via Hangouts. I want to organize my customers by what they're interested in. And I can't wait until Google+ integrates Blogger.

Facebook:
I'm still on Facebook, and I will be for quite some time. It's great for creating events, there's an app for each of my stores and for the most part it's simple to use. I've never been impressed by the privacy settings, and a lot of the customization is just plain confusing. Unless they can announce something truly awesome (and I don't think adding Skype is that awesome, because Skype is nothing new) I'll continue to be unimpressed. Really, the fate of my Facebook page hinges on the future G+ business profile. Even after that launches, I'll likely use my Facebook page to forward links to my G+ page.

Twitter:
I'm at a loss for what to do with Twitter. I get several follows each day, but 99% of them are spam, or other crafters who follow me 3 times per week in hopes that I'll follow them back. I don't like that strategy. Annoying me is not going to make me want to follow you more, fellow Twitcrafters. If I don't show interest in your Twitter feed, don't be offended. It's likely because I hardly log on. I hope to use it more often as Google+ and Storenvy progress, updating with new products and events. For now I just don't have much to offer via Twitter. Don't give it up yet! I won't.

All in all, I hope to streamline my online presence with the help of Storenvy and G+. G+ will especially make everything online more efficient, and Storenvy provides the edge and style more appropriate to my brand than Etsy.

TL;DR - No custom orders until September, and Social Media is running amok. Cheers!

PAX Prime 2011 Lanyards - Order now!

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Mon, 30 May 2011 23:02:00 +0000

'Tis the season once again to gear up for PAX Prime in Seattle, WA. I'm doing things a little differently this year, so please read this entire post.

First off: All orders must be emailed to me by 11:59pm Pacific Time on July 6th. I'm sticking to a very hard deadline this year with the hopes of preventing burnout.

Second: I am only taking 50 lanyard orders. If the 50-mark is hit, I'll update the blog saying so.

If orders are cut off for either reason (deadline or hard cap), you can still find some lanyards on my Etsy store but I will NOT take custom orders.

Third: Unless you specify otherwise, all lanyards will be hand-delivered at PAX. Time and location TBD, once I get my [Enforcer] schedule.

A new feature of all my lanyards is that the badge clip is affixed to the neck strap with stainless steel, for extra durability. If you have an older lanyard that doesn't have this feature (yet) I'm announcing a soft recall. Find me at PAX during my delivery times and I will upgrade your lanyard for free.

ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS

Step One: Choose your colors.

There is a variety of colors to choose from. For $40 you can have one or two colors. Each additional color is an extra $5. If you want a 3-color lanyard, it's $45, 4-color is $50, etc. These lanyards are made of anodized aluminum. They are brightly colored, durable, lightweight and more often than not have zero negative effects on people with metal allergies. Other metals are available, but often times more costly (contact me for prices), less comfortable and have a tendency to tarnish and leave marks on the skin.

Colors below may vary slightly as I have no control over the anodizing process (think of it like a dye lot for yarn or cloth). Click on the images for the full size, courtesy TheRingLord.com. The second image is bright (silver) aluminum.

Step Two: Choose your stripes.

The lanyard can be given horizontal or vertical stripes. In the image below, you can see a solid (brass, on the left), vertical stripes (blue & yellow on the right) and horizontal stripes (black, purple and silver in the center). If nothing is specified, I will assume you want vertical stripes. Horizontal stripes will be equally sized unless otherwise requested.

Step Three: Contact Me!

I won't know what you want unless you let me know! To order a lanyard, please email me at jules@knittedsteel.net with the following information:

-- Write "PAX PRIME 2011 LANYARD" in the subject line

-- Name & Handle (nickname, gamertag, etc)

-- Your choice of colors and stripes

-- Any other questions or requests

-- Your payment option (paypal or cash)

Step Four: Pay Me Please.

Once I receive your order by email I will reply with your total and arrange payment. You will not receive your lanyard until I receive payment in full, no exceptions! I take PayPal in advance of the convention (preferred), or cash in person.

These lanyards are not exclusive to PAX! In fact, they are in no way affiliated except that I'll be there, enjoying the weekend with the PA community. If you want a lanyard for another event, let me know and I will ship it to you for an additional $3.

If your lanyard becomes damaged, minor repairs are free. If the clip breaks, if the lanyard becomes entangled on something and pulls apart, if a few rings become scratched, I will fix it!

Etsy, Regretsy and Resellers

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Wed, 04 May 2011 05:33:00 +0000

I've had my Etsy store for a few years now, and when I first joined I thought the company and community were fantastic. Handmade goodies everywhere, the admins and crafters were happy and nice, and I felt like I had a fighting chance at selling some of my stuff.

Now, my sales could be much better if I put some more effort into it (and I intend to), but I've noticed a startling trend of late - resellers are taking over. April Winchell aka Helen Killer over at Regretsy brought my attention to it in her fabulously snarky way. It's tough to compete with resellers. They buy cheap stuff from China, Tibet, etc. and jack up the prices until they're similar to (yet slightly lower than) many of the gorgeous handmade products that Etsy has to offer.

For the first time in months, I took a look at the front page Featured Treasury and noticed a familiar pocket watch. Last year I went shopping for Steampunk fob watches on eBay and discovered a multitude of cheap, mass-produced watches. I snatched one up for $5 and planned to someday spruce it up with a Knitted Steel watch chain and sell it as a complete piece on Etsy - focusing on the chain and using the watch as an accent. When I saw the watch in the Featured Treasury (April noticed it too) I decided to explore the seller.

Lo and Behold, I found my $5 fob watch... and again. Look at the prices. Look at the other watches in that shop. There are a LOT of shops like this. Buying cheap bulk items that look handmade and vintage, and reselling them, is against Etsy's terms of use. So why are they promoting this crap on the front page? Why aren't these shops being shut down? Why does Etsy punish those who notice rather than exile those who blatantly ignore the Terms? This community doesn't look so friendly anymore.

Image Credit: Helen Killer, Regretsy.com

Thank you, April, for bringing this to light in such a hilarious and simultaneously serious way. I was nervous to participate in the forums when I first joined Etsy. Now, I'm afraid. I love constructive criticism. I love having a sense of humor. Neither of those seem welcome in that community.

I do like my watch. It's nice, durable, and an excellent addition to any steampunk costume. But you can't have it; it's unique! If you'd like an identical, unique, handmade pocket watch, I've put together this lovely Treasury of my own for you to peruse. Please enjoy. I'll let you know if something happens to my store because of this.

If any of you dear readers out there know someone who knows how to make and maintain a secure online store, please contact me at jules (at) knittedsteel -dot- net. I can't offer much compensation other than product and promotions; perhaps some graphic design?

ComiCon!

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 23:45:00 +0000

Just a quick post, which I will update later with stories of shenanigans.

Click the link below to see the Q13 FOX Photo Gallery from ECCC! It was great to represent work and have a different reason to attend a show. I've now been volunteer, vendor AND media at various conventions and fairs. Volunteer's still my fave, I think.

http://tinyurl.com/ECCCpics

When I return, I shall tell the tale of how one group of crazies invaded a small pizza place/bar and used up all their drinkware.

2011 Conventions

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 04:34:00 +0000

What a busy year this is already shaping up to be! How is it March already?! With March comes madness, and with madness comes SPARTAAAAAA!

Just kidding. But March DOES bring the beginning of the convention circuit for my 2011, and that makes me a little crazyface with excitement.

First up is this weekend - Emerald City ComiCon
For the first time ever, I'll be representing with a media badge! I snagged one through work, so if you see me at the show my hands will be full of camera lens rather than pliers. When I return to work Sunday I'll weed through all my photos and post them on one of our websites. I hope to take a LOT of cosplay photos, so if you're dressed to the nines (or Seven of Nine) come find me and I'll take some pics.

Next weekend (March 11-13) - PAX East
I'm still sad to be missing this one. I know my fellow Enforcers will take good care of the show and its attendees, but it feels weird to miss a PAX after working every one since 2007. This doesn't stop me from participating, though. I just finished up a bit of a secret project for a very cool attendee. I can't say/show what it is now, but I will post again once the show is over.

There's a big break around summertime. I'll either be feverishly cranking out lanyards and wedding invites in this time, or I'll find a show somewhere to go to. Maybe one of the local street fairs around Seattle/Bellevue? Another Punk Rock Flea Market?

To start the fall off in the last weekend of August - PAX Prime
Back to the normal shenanigans and lanyards, dicebags and earrings. I'll be enforcing again, as well as setting some time aside for personal maille deliveries at the show.

A few weeks later (October 8-9) - GeekGirlCon
Despite the fact that I won't be attending due to a schedule conflict, I may still get to represent. No official announcements yet, but I'm talking with another vendor about carrying some of my goodies. If that pulls through, I'll let you all know which booth is the coolest.

It just won't end! (October 14-16) - SteamCon III
A lovely con with amazing costumes and creativity, I've had the wonderful opportunity to work in the art room for the past two shows. I hope to do so again this year, and maybe have some space of my own if I can get some show-worthy pieces put together in time. Last year we had an open wall from a no-show artist (artists, NEVER leave your wall blank) so I got to fill it with my sea nymph costume. Since this year is along that 20,000 Leagues theme, I may submit the costume as a feature piece.

I'm always looking for more! If you know of an art/craft/nerd show around Puget Sound, I'd love to hear about it. Leave a comment or drop me an email with details. Cheers!

Wow, This Place Got Dusty.

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:52:00 +0000

After a long absence, it's time to write again. I took a bit of an unexpected, unannounced hiatus from the world of mailling and small business, and I apologize profusely to those I've inadvertently ignored. It was nothing personal, nor was it in any way professional. I have a back log of orders now that I will address this weekend and get everything straight.

So what happened? A helluva lot! After PAX I was a little burned out on maille. I picked up knitting as a hobby again (a hobby to escape a hobby?) as well as a second part time job, a weekly sport, and most importantly and wonderfully - I got married. Life has been blissfully crazy and busy and amazing since October. Now with the new year and practically a whole new life, it's time to get back at it!

Coming up first: PAX East. I will unfortunately not be attending this year. 2010 was a whirlwind and I'm sad I can't make it back, but I am still making lanyards. I won't be taking any more orders for this show, but I plan to get through the orders I have stacked up now. Again, I apologize for keeping anyone waiting!

This new hobby, knitting, is just that: pure hobby. I have no intent whatsoever to sell any knitted goods as they are all made either out of love, or out of experimentation. I do, however, plan to incorporate this hobby into Knitted Steel with a side project called Steely Knits. I will be opening a second Etsy shop to sell knit and crochet patterns, as well as maille knitting supplies including fancy stitch markers. The shop (not yet open) will be at steelyknits.etsy.com. Yay! Patterns will include hats, gloves, scarves, cowls, and maybe even handbags and range in difficulty from super easy to intermediate. I'm still working on pricing and such, but they will be sold either in PDF or printed formats.

My next huge goal is to become a vendor at Geek Girl Con, whenever that happens this year. I have high hopes for this show, and after meeting some of the organizers at their last fund raising concert, I'm even more excited. If I get the space, I will be stocking my table with loads of jewelry, lanyards, hopefully some knitting patterns, and maybe some bigger projects like the fishnet shirts and bikini top I still have. Time to really get serious about this stuff.

Before/After GGC, I will most definitely be attending PAX Prime again. I'm still far, far away from ever becoming a vendor there, and honestly I prefer the Enforcer shift anyway. I will be taking orders for Prime lanyards and goods after East is over, and I will make an official announcement for that. Sometime between now and then, KnittedSteel will also be getting its own Facebook page. The account is already active but it is completely bare. Another announcement will be made once that's up and running more than just bare bones.

GGC UPDATE: UGH. Looks like GeekGirlCon just announced the dates and other than PAX Prime weekend, this is the only other weekend this YEAR that I can't do. The only way I can attend now is if other plans (which take extreme priority over a convention) end up moving. I'll know for sure in a week or two. Boourns!

In the meantime, I need to work and work more and hobby more and exercise and love my hubby and ohmagawdsomuchtodooooo! Here are some links entirely unrelated to maille, but I think you may still enjoy.

www.lionbrand.com - has some great free knitting patterns that have taught me new methods and inspired some of my own patterns
www.curlingseattle.org - For the Puget Sounders, Curling is a hilariously fun sport and this club is having open houses in February and March! Go try it out for $15.
www.ravelry.com - for you serious knitters, this is the best community I've found online for all things yarn-related. Patterns, forums, friends, and oodles of knit/crochet photos.
Jonny Nero Action Hero - An amazing chiptunes artist who performed at the GGC fund raiser. Everyone NEEDS to check out his first album, EXPERIMUTATIONS.

There's a new convention in town

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:35:00 +0000

As if Seattle wasn't jam-packed with enough stuff for gamers to do, an up and coming convention is about to bring some more feminine wiles to the community. Check out GeekGirl Con if you haven't heard of it yet.

Set to premiere next year, it's going to focus on the ~~softer~~ awesomer side of gaming and I hope to snag a vendor spot in the expo hall. But before that can happen, the convention needs funding to run.

To help the show organizers along, I've donated one of my lovely lanyards to auction! It's going on right now, and ends Friday night at 5pm. The lanyard is pictured below - pink, silver and black. It normally retails for $45, and I'd be sad if anyone bid lower than that. Very sad indeed. Step it up! Send bids to sponsor@geekgirlcon.com ASAP if you want it.

PAX Prime 2010 - Lanyard Pickup

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 02:16:00 +0000

We're just days away from the excitement! All current maille commissions are complete, swag bags have been expertly stuffed by the Enforcers, and I have my work schedule for the PA Merch Booth. For you this means I've figured out when I can get these awesome lanyards and dice bags to everyone. So here's the plan:

Location: 3rd Floor Atrium, by the South Escalators

Time: 9am-10:30am (10 on Sunday)

If you haven't yet paid for your stuff, you can do so in cash when you come to pick it up. If these times don't work for you, email me at jules @ knittedsteel . net and we will make other arrangements. I WILL NOT have the lanyards with me while I am on shift at the PA Merch Booth, so please do not come to Merch specifically for Knitted Steel goods.

Enforcers: I will be at setup on Thursday 10am-1pm, likely helping the Merch Booth. Come find me!

As an added bonus to everyone sporting one of my lanyards, I ordered zipper pulls instead of buttons this year. They clip onto any ring with ease! Get one whenever you see me.

The following people have awesome things to pick up:
Amadine
Caesar Maximus
Chaosisorder
Contre
Djiem
Freebsdgirl
Joe L
JonXP
Locke
NABS
Netcrusher
Pinder
PsychoPez
Rabies
Tek
Warthen
Whatzedeuce

Map image courtesy Penny Arcade, slightly edited.

WINNERS OF THE PAX PRIME 2010 CONTEST

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 01:43:00 +0000

My esteemed judges and I have come to a decision on this year's contest. Thank you to all who entered!

After a few drinks and some deliberation over which flavor potato chips to eat first, we chose Pepper Jack Cheese. And the contest winners! Some were more creative than others, and some more heartfelt. It all boils down to Shenanigans and bananas.

The Grand Prize Winner is...
BRETT FROM CANADA!
Congrats Brett! You will receive the 3-day pass and Knitted Steel PAX package.

The Glorious Runner Up is...
Mr. Bruining from Holland!
Sadly it's a little late to get that trip in order. Hopefully we will get to see you at PAX this year. For now, you shall get A BANANA.

I will be emailing these winners shortly to get contact/shipping details. To those lucky enough to find a PAX pass, see you there. Everyone else, I hope to see you next year. :)

Cheers!

Please Stand By

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 05:44:00 +0000

Greetings everyone! For the next week I am taking a hard-earned vacation from all types of work. This includes maille.

I will still have intermittent internet access but I'm putting my pliers away and focusing on all things adventurous. Please continue to send in your contest entries - they will still be received and saved for judging!

Here's a little sneak peak at what's coming to my Etsy store post-PAX. Cheers!

CONTEST: Win a PAX Prime 2010 3-Day Prize Package (and banana*)

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:42:00 +0000

Knitted Steel is hosting its first ever contest with fabulous prizes!

Did you miss out on getting your 3-Day pass for PAX Prime? Here's your second chance. And with it comes other cool stuff!

One Grand Prize Winner will receive:
- One 3-Day PAX Prime 2010 pass for September 3-5 in Seattle, WA
- One Knitted Steel badge lanyard in PAX Prime colors
- One Knitted Steel hackey sack (you'll need something to do while standing in line), also in PAX Prime colors

One Glorious Runner Up will receive:
- One banana*

So how do you win? That's where it gets a little tricky. This isn't a contest for scalpers; there must be some reason you deserve to get this prize. I want you to tell me why, in your most creative way. It can be through video, poetry, short form fiction, interpretive dance, paintings, sculptures, photography, ANYTHING you can imagine with some restrictions:
- All written entries must be 1000 words or less
- Must be SFW. No naughty bits, excessive bad language, etc.
- All entries must convey, in some manner, why you deserve this pass more than anyone else
- Don't injure anyone or anything. I will not be responsible for your hospital bills.
- You must be at least 13 years old to enter. If you're under 13 and reading this, where are your parents?!
- You must follow Wheaton's Law

DEADLINE: All entries must be received no later than midnight Pacific Time on Friday, August 20th. An esteemed panel of judges will decide the Grand Prize Winner and Glorious Runner Up soon after, and announcements will be made no later than August 27th. Entries will be judged according to creativity, originality and the weather**.

E-mail your entries (or links to them) to jules @ knittedsteel . net by the deadline to be eligible.

By entering, you give me permission to post your entries online for the whole world to see. Your private info will not be sold to third parties. Any entries not following the restrictions listed above will be automatically disqualified and probably made fun of.

* Banana will vary from the one pictured above because I just ate it. One Glorious Runner Up's banana may be real, paper, or even maille. It's a surprise!
** Entries cannot be held responsible for Seattle's unpredictable weather patterns and will thus be awarded equal points.

Update: PAX Saturday Badges are SOLD OUT!

Child's Play 2010 - I Need Your input!

noreply@blogger.com (Liger) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:32:00 +0000

Every year, Child's Play Charity puts on a glamorous dinner and auction to raise money for their cause. It is a wonderful program run by wonderful people, and supported worldwide. I like to go to the dinner every year and bid on the silent auction items, and in 2008 I donated two maille shirts to be auctioned. The shirts were a group effort by the Penny Arcade community - built and funded by great people. I'd like to take on a similar but much smaller project this year.

My inspiration comes from this - The Megaman II Project.

I want to do something like it, but on a much smaller scale. A series of wall hangings roughly the size of MegaMan in the lower left corner. Each one would have a video game sprite, logo, object, or otherwise memorable and game/pop culture-related icon.

So you all, as gamers and nerd culture enthusiasts, I ask you this: If I were to make a series of these, roughly 6"x6", what would you like to see? What would you hang in your home/office? Triforce? 1-up Mushroom? Pac Man? Let me know by commenting on this post. I'll take the top ideas and make them a reality this fall.

Cheers!