Custom....hmmmm. O_O When I looked over at Wikipedia this morning, looking for the definition for "custom", I came across nine different definitions!....Nine! And none of them were talking about the definition I thought I would find! LOL
It was an education though!...For instance, did you know that "Custom" is a model of guitar made by "Fender", and that there was a Belgian rock band, and an Irish television series both called "Customs"?..."Custom" is also the stage name for a New York based musician by the name of Duane Lavold.
The four definitions that I was familiar with were these:
--> Convention norm) = a set of agreed, stipulated or generally accepted rules, norms, standards or criteria, often taking the form of a custom
--> Custom (law) or customary law, = laws and regulations established by common practice
--> Customs = a tariff on imported or exported goods
--> Norm (sociology) = a rule that is socially enforced
The definition that came closest to what I wanna talk about today is the first one...custom being an agreed upon standard of doing something....something like crocheting boutonnieres and lapel pins! :-)) I've been doing a lot of "custom" orders lately. My customers have requested certain styles, and certain colors, of items that they wanted made for specific events. Three of those events were weddings.
I made this boutonniere set...
...and made this one for the groom...
...and then I had to go back and make two more. One for the father-of-the-bride, and one for the ring bearer :-) ...
I also sent along a free white brooch for the bride, with a button like the one for the groom's boutonniere. I didn't take any pictures of that one though. I try to stay away from that camera, except for required business! LOL
After that, I got a custom request for two tiny, tiny, sewing thread sized lapel pins...also for a wedding...
Done!
Then, day before yesterday, another custom request...for three lemon colored lapel pins, and a green one...for a groom and his groomsmen! :-) ...
Again.....Done! It's being shipped out of the country this morning! :-) I was even able to use my fold-over fasteners on the back of these!...
This idea works perfectly!...
Anybody wanna buy some cuff links?! LOL...I may have to reserve the cuff liks for when I make belts. The depth of the cuff link may be needed then.....What?!....I've never shown you one of my belts?!.....Stay tuned! ^_^
That's not the project I'm working on right now though. Right now I'm working on this...
I know it doesn't look like much yet. It's got a long way, and a lot of colors, to go! In the end I'm hoping it will be a warm "Sweater Lap Blanket". That's what I call them anyway. I haven't made one for quite a while. In fact, the last one I made was for a baby!...
I was feeling the need to put my "crochet chops" to use! LOL This blanket absolutely challenges my nonchalant crocheting. I have to be paying attention with this one!
Speaking of 'paying attention', today is the last day...for all intents and purposes I mean...of the Tour De France. If Bradley Wiggins pays attention to the road, the race should be his. Then he can leisurely ride into Paris tomorrow, smiling all the way! :-)
I've become accustomed to watching bike races, tennis matches, and crocheting boutonnieres and lapel pins. The sports does something for me emotionally, and keeps me company while I do something for the yarn 'de-mangle-y'! LOL...I really like the feeling. And I love that my customers for the custom items do too. I've gotten some GREAT feedback about their items!...Maybe I've finally found my 'niche'! :-)
Now I have to find some breakfast...and some sleep...and I'll be good! LOL Have a good day, Everybody! :-)
Build
You can build a reputation,
build a fire, build a stair;
You can build a neighborhood,
build a table, build-A-Bear!
You can build a layered cake,
build some buildings, build a boat;
You can build a website business,
build relationships remote.
You can build vocabulary,
build up friendships old and new.
Build up globe-ular relations
if you really wanted to.
You can build upon your knowledge,
build a table, bridge, or train;
build a step into the future,
or just shelter from the rain.
You can build an awesome snowman,
and not waste him. Make a cone!
Or can build up folks around you,
so they never feel alone.
All this building talk,
shows the things that you can make
if you build a wordy poem...
and you also stay awake!
You can build a reputation,
build a fire, build a stair;
You can build a neighborhood,
build a table, build-A-Bear!
You can build a layered cake,
build some buildings, build a boat;
You can build a website business,
build relationships remote.
You can build vocabulary,
build up friendships old and new.
Build up globe-ular relations
if you really wanted to.
You can build upon your knowledge,
build a table, bridge, or train;
build a step into the future,
or just shelter from the rain.
You can build an awesome snowman,
and not waste him. Make a cone!
Or can build up folks around you,
so they never feel alone.
All this building talk,
shows the things that you can make
if you build a wordy poem...
and you also stay awake!
Great article! I really love doing custom work too! Especially when a customer throws a new great idea my way! So much fun. Thank you for featuring the photo of my mugs here! What a wonderful, unexpected surprise this morning!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! :-) And how right you are about customers throwing a great idea your way! That's happened to me too!..It was a pleasure sharing your mugs. I wish I had one here to put my coffee in this morning. Maybe I'll fill up my coffers with some extra money on custom orders and come and get one of your mugs for my morning coffee or green tea! :-]
DeleteFirst off, your boutonnieres are so cute! I love custom work as well. It's so fun to get to see inside people's heads a bit, and bringing their vision to fruition is a great feeling. I tend to prefer working on my own pieces, but I honestly feel it is best to have that nice mix of things on the docket of my own work and custom work. It keeps things fresh and unexpected!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for featuring my necklace :D
Hi Sarah!...Thank you so much for the complement about my boutonnieres...And as to your other point, I totally agree. I like creating my own items too. But there's a real sense of satisfaction for me when I see a customer so happy to get what they want at my hands! :-) I like the mix of brain energy both things take!
DeleteYou have made some stunning items. I can see why you get so many custom orders. Speaking of custom thanks for the other definitions. I learned a few new things too :)
ReplyDeleteThe green and lemon lapel pins look so tiny & very cute. They remind me that the Olympics start soon. I bet you're wondering why I they made me think of it. Green & gold are our team colours for sports. But you probably knew that anyway because you love watching sport a lot :)
Awww! Thank you, Jo! And I'm glad some of the definitions were helpful to you. :-] .. And I learned something too...about the team colors. I didn't know that! :-)
Delete