harper

Checking In and Updating...:)

Well...after the flu, an ear infection and strep...my husband took me on a little vacation for a few days!  Yay for that because it has been a long, cold winter and I was feeling it after all of this illness. I've been so tired.

While away for a few days I rethought my business and reasons for doing it, etc...I have made a few decisions and I hope everyone will understand and forgive me...I really do.  First and most importantly...I will no longer be doing customs.  If you have paid for yours, you will definately be getting yours and very shortly!  If you havent paid then I am sorry but I cannot do a custom for you.  Please let me explain...customs are becoming very specific...size and theme ideas are of course appropriate but I get color and VERY specific themes!  First of all, these are repurposed sweaters so finding specific color AND size needed is tricky not to mention time consuming. I have offered on several occasions to dye interlock for a customer in order to get the color and size they want but on all occasions have been told "No" and I am left still trying to find the right color sweater that will be big enough for the customer...UGG! 

Next, themes...I am beginning to see the danger in doing custom themes that I wouldnt consider 'harper style', these items are later sold and its not disclosed that they were customs...this bothers me because I want my clothing to have a particular 'look'.  I don't mean to offend anyone because taste and style is a personal thing...so please forgive me and understand that it is my business and style image I am trying to control. I am not AT ALL insulting anyone's style!  You have the most FABULOUS taste! :)

So the bottom line is, because customs have become so difficult and particular...they have also become a huge source of stress and I simply can no longer do them.  You have every right to be upset with me and I am sorry, I do hope you will understand and forgive me!

Now....where does that leave things? 

I have a few outstanding Prefold orders still because I kept getting sick and I try not to work while I'm ill because I wouldn't want to send my sick bugs to your little ones! You will be getting something extra for the wait!  I am sorry I didnt see this sick time coming!

Lindsay Killick's custom is all but finished...the shirt arrived (finally) while I was away for a few days.

Next is the auction custom also nearly complete...just thinking through some extras.

After that I have 2 trades and I am finished!

I have a collab with Peanutbutter&Ellie...so do look for that soon...other than that though, I have not decided when I will stock next.

Next emails...I used to hop on emails immediately.  But I will be more slow to respond for awhile as I catch up on sewing and my family because while I was ill my family was neglected as well as my sewing and I need to take care of everyone! :)

I really cannot tell you how much your support means to me.  I have been learning so much over the last 7-8 months of "harperclothing" and I appreciate your patience as I work out the bumps along the way.

All I can say is THANK YOU!  I am feeling better and Spring is only 2 and a half weeks away!!!!

Under the Weather

      Rachel wanted me to let people to know that she has not been feeling well this past week as the flu  managed to spread its way through our little town.  She apologizes for falling behind on a few orders and will be getting those out just as soon as she can manage to sew a straight line a gain!  Thanks for understanding and sorry for any inconvenience to those of you who are waiting.

I'm Dyeing Here!

        The 'dyeing' puns never end! lol

        Are you a procrastinater?   I am! I have so much sewing to do...but instead of getting right to work, I did what most of us do, when something pressing is looming over you...you worked on something else. Instead of sewing on Sunday evening...I dyed wool leggings and chatted with a friend.  It was the perfect break and overall I'm happy with the results especially since I just kept adding different colors to the green because I couldn't decide what exact color I wanted.  You aren't really supposed to do it that way...but its so much more fun...:)

         And now I'm back to sewing!  I just finished up two sock monkey sets and next its two shirts and a pair of sock monkey shoes...I may never want to see another sock monkey by the week's end...LOL.

"Don't Bug the Prefolds"

        My husband told me that bugs were not endearing.  "okay" I said...and just whipped up a couple of prefolds for my last stocking "just to see" if there was any interest.  Well they oversold by 8 sets..apparently these bugs were kinda cute...or people just needed more prefolds to add to their stash...whatever the reason, I will be working this week on filling those orders.  I will also devote time to customs in great hopes of finishing the list by the first of March (cross your fingers...pray harper will sleep well...etc) :)

        This means, my next stocking will not be for a couple/few weeks.  Please check my blog for updates and don't hesitate to email me with any questions....I'm really not 'missing in action' just in my sewing room.

        Jonah also has a birthday coming up, and I have a few things planned for him...so I will need to take time out of work to sew a bit for my J...any suggestions for what to get a 3 year old?....he already has the red rocketship from iPlay...I dont know anything that will top that! LOL

Snow Day Sans Sled

      Like a lot of people this winter, we've have record snow fall.  We have literally been snowed in for days.  Even the university closed down and the Governor declared a "State of Emergency"...are you impressed? :)

       So with all the snow and no place to go, we bundled up in whatever we could find and hit the slopes in our backyard...LOL.  Jonah even learned to sled...without the sled...I give him an A+++!!

      On a the business front...all of this weather and the problems it brought caused shipping delays from Monday's stocking...but everything has been shipped and nothing went out any later than Friday.  :)

MMM...Diaper Soup

      Ummmm diaper soup!  ...So sometimes this kinda thing just happens.  Poor harper decided that the detergent I was using wasn't for her.  So I boiled diapers (because stripping with dawn also gives us skin issues).  Then the hunt began...we tried...Allen's, Country Save, Green Mountain, Purex free and clear, Sun free and clear, Charlies, All free and clear, Planet...ummmm I think that is it...needless to say none of those worked.  We ended up boiling diapers twice that week. 

     Now why do you care?  Well chances are you don't...LOL but...you know there are perks to boiling diapers.  The water bubbles out everywhere.  When this happens, it seeps into all the difficult places to clean...ahhh yes...and all you have to do is wipe up the water. :) Next the water does tend to splash on the floor....and it runs into and under all of the hard to clean places on the floor.  Once again, all I have to do is wipe up the water (with the yuck mixed in) and VOILA...I just did my spring cleaning....well for the stove at least.  One more quick perk...wet socks...yes!  You may not like the feeling of wet socks but you have to admit they have a wonderful non-skid quality. :)

The Price....

      I have recently recieved several emails questioning my prices for recycled/repurposed wool.  So lets talk about it. ;) I go to great lengths to prepare my repurposed wool to be worn by your little ones.  I strip the wool and clean it extensively.  This is timely and there is material costs involved as well.  It is much easier to work with wool yardage but I believe in recycling.   I have always loved taking something old and turning it into something new and hip.  Its lots of fun! :)  I do occassionally work with wool yardage and you will notice the price for these is comparable to the price of my repurposed wool.  Altough the wool yardage is more expensive, it is easier and less time consuming to prepare to be worn...so the price is comparable because I dont pay myself for hours of stripping and cleaning...does that make sense?  Afterall, we pay more for recycled goods in 'regular' stores. I do not think my longies look like 'old sweaters' but rather just  cool pants/longies...and I suppose I am charging for the time it takes me to do that. I am not offended or bothered by the emails I've recieved but I thought it was time I discuss my pricing openly, just in case you too were wondering "who do I think I am"... LOL!

      Thank you so much to all of my customers for supporting my business and validating my taste and style.  It means the world to me! :)

Do you ever feel like a robot with it's head ripped off?

       Have you ever just had one of those weeks (follow photo sequence) where everything starts out fine but then quickly diminishes...like in one of those black and white horror films, where "it" doesn't seem scary but "it" sure is wreaking havoc? Well that was how it was for me...and this poor robot, this week...

       Okay, it wasn't quite that bad, but...it was close.  So here it is the start of the new week and I just finished the customs I'd intended to finish at the end of last week. *sigh*  My plans for stocking on Wednesday are becoming softer, but I havent completely bagged the idea..after all tomoworrow is a holiday which means my husband will be home to help...

      Of course, after seeing the fate of this robot, he may decide he has to go to school anyway.

Finally an introduction!!

Hello!  My name is Rachel and I have a little shop called harper (yes the lower case is intentional). Currently, I make lots of cloth diaper covers out of sweaters.  For those of you who do not cloth daiper, I'm sure that sounds strange, possibly even alarming.  Perhaps I'll do a post explaining that at some point.  But for now let me just say "Welcome".  This blog is intented to keep customers, friends and family up to date on upcoming stockings and give aways (I love give aways). So feel free to subscribe or just stop in often.  I really appreciate your interest.

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