Good Struggle Story Time!

Good Struggle Story Time!

2 weeks ago, my leaf barrette design was featured on Etsy’s front page, as the cover/link photo for their “Fall Fashion Accessories” promoted category. 

This was awesome. A huge spike in views, traffic, and purchases. Validation! Success!

But it was also hard. For one, it happened while I was out of town for a funeral, so it was a few days before I even saw the wave of orders. I cut all the orders that had been placed at the time as soon as I got back, plus some extras (and 2 new designs, the oak and the ginkgo). But doing so cleared me out of the thick leather I use for these, and while I’ve been waiting for more leather to arrive, orders keep pouring in. So that’s a wild ride of excitement and guilt about how long it’s taking to fill orders.

More generally, though, this experience is shining light again on my troubles with making my products right now. The laser store I’d gone to for years to cut my products (which I worked at for a year and a half) stopped offering services in the summer, and finally liquidated a month or so ago. Last year I put money in to pre-order a laser cutter, and the last update from that was that they expect to ship sometime late December. In the interim I’ve been struggling to find places to laser-cut stuff. There’s an artist’s co-op space near me that has a laser cutter, but it’s an open-source project and hasn’t been operational since January. I’ve been bumming laser access from a place where some of my old co-workers at the laser store now work, but that’s not exactly sustainable, since it means I’m asking a favor every time I need it. The dorm I lived in back in college got a laser cutter recently, and that’s been my most reliable option recently, but I don’t really trust that to be consistently working. I expect it to break at some point, and when it does it’ll take an undergrad fixing it, or I’ll have to fix it.

If I can’t find a more sustainable way to laser-cut my products, I’m afraid I’ll have to confront the question: Do I just have to shut down and stop making these things? I don’t want to, but if it becomes increasingly difficult to laser-cut stuff, I may have no choice.

Let’s hope I can hold out until the cutter I pre-ordered arrives. Let’s hope it works right and lets me continue doing this. Maybe in a few years I’ll be able to afford the cutter I really want.

Hi there! I was wondering what size rings you usually use for your tails. I'm experimenting with different scalemaille designs, but can't seem to get the rings in the best size for good spacing.

I use the Large size of scales from The Ring Lord.

I use stainless steel rings made of 16 gauge wire with an inner diameter of 5/16″, which I also order from The Ring Lord.

Here’s a video tutorial from the good people at The Ring Lord on how to weave scales together.

How come you dont sell your tails on your Etsy?

Because I very rarely have an extra one on hand to post up for quick sale. Instead, I make them on a commission basis when I have the time. They take a lot of time to make, and I can’t always fit it into my normal work schedule.

However, I do happen to have one extra tail on hand right now, which I intend to post up for sale on Etsy in the next few days.

A mostly blue dragon tail with a yellow underbelly. Made with anodized aluminum scales, a full line of chrome spikes down the spine, and a diamond-shaped leather spade tip in blue.

I included a close-up of the tip of the tail to show the lobster clasps that hold the spade tip. And also a photo under fluorescent lights to show how hard it is to get this blue to show up properly in photos. White balance is weird, guys.

Anyway, the stats on this one: it measures 33 inches from tip to top of belt line, and the spade tip adds 2.5 inches. In total it weighs 3 pounds 6 ounces. 

I’m opening a window to request dragon tail commissions! If you’d like a tail, read this informative page, then fill out this form by Midnight on Sunday July 24 Eastern US time. I intend to take on 2 or 3 tail commissions to be completed by the end of August.

I do expect to receive more requests than I can do in that time, and I will choose which ones to take on based on how smoothly I can complete the request, whether you’ve requested previously, personal style and material preferences, etc.

Drop me any questions you have!

so where exactly do you get all of the rings and stuff you use in your projects from?

Hi there! I’m going to call you Frank!

I get all my chainmail supplies from a magical place called The Ring Lord Dot Com! They’re the largest chainmail supply company out there, and they’re the only people who punch the scales I’m so fond of. If you want to buy in bulk, Frank, they’re the place to go.

In fact, check out what just arrived in the mail today!

Delicious, delicious rings and scales. But if you’re thinking of learning chainmail, Frank, don’t try to eat them until you’ve got a lot of experience under your belt. It’s an advanced technique.