Nice People Rock

During the past few weeks I’ve had the chance to meet quite a few nice people. Really, really nice people seem to be showing up everywhere. And yes – I am still living in Boston, which makes this almost unbelievable.

I remember a conversation that I had, a few years ago, with one of my many sisters: we talked about how one smile or showing of kindness can make your whole day. It’s true. Since that conversation I’ve tried to spread a little kindness wherever I go (well, maybe not the post office, but most places).

It’s o.k. to stop and chat with a stranger. I don’t mean flirting – I’m all in favor of flirting but this isn’t about that – because when flirting is involved, there’s an end point in mind. The kindness I’m talking about has nothing to do with how things will turn out. It’s really just a passing smile, or holding a door open, or helping someone with a heavy bag.

After so many years in this tough town, I’d forgotten what it was like for a total stranger to be nice. Then, this weekend, my friend M. and I set up our canopy and folding tables at a Boston open air market. It was hotter than any Sunday I can recall, and all the soaps I’d so lovingly crafted were on the brink of melting. But it was o.k., because just about every person who stopped by our booth was genuinely nice. Of course it’s awesome – and reassuring – to go to a craft fair and sell the things you’ve made. But kindness is actually priceless.

Early in the morning, my friend and booth partner had to make a run to a local hardware store (we needed sandbags to hold down our canopy). Seeing that I was on my own, a fellow vendor walked over, introduced herself, and said that if I needed a break she’d be happy to cover for me. My response: “Are you from here?” She was nice! She was kind and cheerful and friendly. I thought for a minute that I was on another planet. I know, I’m being a little sassy but the thing is, I’d forgotten what it was like to feel such kindness from an absolute stranger.

Something interesting happened then: almost everyone with whom I interacted that day showed the same sort of kindness. I loved it! I had gotten into some sort of groove, or time warp, or something. The nice people zone.

I want to stay in this zone for a while. As much as I like to write about crazy city folks, and the people who get too close to me in line at the post office, and the very loud cell phone talkers… nice people really do finish first.

Until next time,

Conna

I Heart Etsy

Some said it would never happen, but it has: I'm in love.

It's a real love… you know, the kind that you think of the moment you awaken and throughout the day. Nothing else seems to matter -- just the object of your affection and all of the possibilities for the future. You wonder how things will progress as the seasons change and your love grows even deeper.

Everything I see or even think of reminds me of the object of my affection. I can hardly work; I haven't been eating; I cannot sleep. All I can think about is what we could create together.

Oh, did I mention? It's not a fellow who has captured my heart, it's Etsy.

Yes, Etsy. A website. Etsy.com is the full name of this entity that has brought my attention span down to the size of pea. I know -- I've got a book to write, and things to pack for my move, and crafts to make for the next craft fair, but I'd rather hang out with Etsy. It's an online community for artisans, crafters and people looking for handmade treasures that are so reasonably priced you'll hit the refresh button to make sure that you're seeing straight.

You might be wondering how I connected with Etsy. This past weekend I participated in "SoWa" (South of Washington), an open air market in Boston's historic South End. My friend Mattie and I set up a booth and had a fabulous time selling cards, jewelry, and other handmade goods. The market manager, Katy, stopped by our booth to check in with us. When I commented on how much I adored the crafts exhibited in a neighboring booth, Katy said, "Oh, those are Etsy people!" Etsy? She told us about on online buying and selling community and after the fair, I checked it out. I haven't been the same since.

Etsy is a little bit like eBay, but so much better. It's a P2P site with some very cool features (check out the time machine function!). Etsy's "lab" is in Brooklyn, New York. Think: cool kids who know their way around a computer.

What is most stunning to me is that Etsy is relatively new, founded just two years ago, and already has tens of thousands of members. Buyers, sellers, and browsers can all find something at Etsy. If you're a seller, you'll appreciate the low listing fees (bye, eBay!).

If you're looking for something absolutely amazing, check out Katy's shop, Muchacha K. I covet the Bonanza key pouch: a merging of Japanese print and cowboys that is carried out with aplomb.

The artists whose items led my heart to Etsy have cool shops there. Liz from Made in Lowell does something wild with wool -- I don't fully understand it but it’s light and sturdy all at once. She also works in other media; check out this gorgeous ornament.

For an inspiring mix of flora and fauna and funk, go straight to Intuitive Designs' Etsy shop. I love the tree swing pendant.

I can't wait to make the ultimate commitment with my new love: start my own Etsy shop. Right now I'm thinking of just the right name... so much like naming a child. It seems like all the good names are taken. My favorite is Trashion. Hey, if you're in NYC, check out Trashion's trunk show this Friday. You'll find "upcycled" clothing, jewelry and housewares.

This is the longest I've been away from my new love during the past few days. It's time for me to get back to getting to know Etsy.

Until next time,

Conna

Potter Palooza

I missed it.

A few years ago, one of my favorite nieces and I began reading the first Harry Potter book. We live 3,000 miles apart so it made sense to each have our own copy. We would each read a chapter or two and then talk on the telephone about Harry's antics. My niece, being in elementary school at the time, had a little more time on her hands that I ever seem to have. She quickly surpassed me, finished the book and went on to the next one. Meanwhile, last I read about Harry, he was settling into his new school and making some fine friends.

I feel like I've missed the entire phenomenon of Harry Potter. I didn't want to see the first movie until I'd read the book -- and six installments later, I haven't finished the first book. Nonetheless, I do enjoy following the phenomenon itself. Just this morning I read about the security surrounding the July 21st release of the so-called final episode of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:

The logistics of maintaining secrecy, especially in the Internet age, can be mind-numbingly complex. The size of the Potter phenomenon means that thousands of workers in the industry, from editors to truck drivers and clerks, will have touched the book before the public sees it.

These people can, if they choose, make electronic copies, spoiling secrets worldwide with the push of a button.The distribution process began shortly after Rowling wrote the final words of Deathly Hallows in January, in a Scotland hotel. That was when Scholastic's general counsel flew to Great Britain to pick up a manuscript copy. (According to Time magazine, he sat on it during the flight home.) A select group of about 12 Scholastic employees, including Rowling's editor, Arthur A. Levine, got copies.

Once Rowling made her edits, the books made their way to printing plants, the names of which Scholastic has kept secret.This week, trucks closely tracked by the company are to deliver Deathly Hallows to chain stores in plastic-sealed pallets, to smaller shops like The Children's Bookstore in sealed boxes and in individual form to independents with even smaller orders, such as Atomic Books in Hampden, which requested just a few dozen. Every bookstore owner has signed a tightly worded agreement with Scholastic promising that no employee will open the sealed packages, or read or sell the books, at least until Saturday's witching hour.


Who knows if the embargo will hold? The BBC has predicted that, even in light of the $20 million security program surrounding the book, someone will be break open a copy before 12:01 a.m. on July 21st. The publisher responded: "We have no reason to believe that anyone would want to ruin the excitement for Harry Potter fans, and if such a thing were to happen, we believe that the public would make their feelings known by not buying it from them and boycotting such a spoilsport retailer. Millions of Harry Potter fans would revile such commercial opportunism or inefficiency."

According to the UK's Guardian Unlimited book blog: "The midnight release has become so popular because of collective reader willpower. Harry's ardent fans would turn against anyone spoiling their fun - muggles may besiege the offending shops."

Since I haven't actually finished the first book, I'm not sure what a muggle is, but being besieged by them does not sound fun.

Let's hope that "the collective willpower" wins out, and Harry's millions of fans will have the chance to learn how J.K. Rawling's latest book ends the old-fashioned way: by reading it.

Until next time,

Conna

It’s in the Cards

Three steps to a really bad moment in a drug store:

1. Stay up almost all night working to make sure that you are especially tired and easily irritated;

2. Be awakened by an early morning phone call that startles you out of sleep so that you answer the phone before noticing that caller ID warns you: it’s your ex calling; and

3. Go to the store to buy a “Get Well” card for a relative and be sure to get there at the exact time when every moron in town is opening those #%& musical greeting cards.

People: the cards play music when you open them. And if you open them again, they will play the music again. And, no, for the love of all things good, you don’t need to sing along.

All I wanted was a few get well cards. Not one, but two people in my very large family were under the weather and I wanted to buy a couple of cards. There are two card shopping options in the college town where I live: you’ve got the fancy, handmade cards that cost $7 each at a cute but very crowded little shop; and then there’s the drug store. For expediency, I went to the drug store.

There’s not much out there in the way of get well cards. There are the dopey cartoon cards, the saccharine poetry cards, and the glittery flower cards. The themes run from “Ouch! You’re in the Hospital!” to “There’s a Reason for Everything…” (This is where blank cards come in handy.)

While I was looking for a card, a couple came in and began opening the musical cards. Worse, the woman started signing. First it was “Wild Thing” then “Bad to the Bone” and then something that sounded like M.C. Hammer. After the couple opened about a dozen cards, they left.

And then came another shopper. She opened a few cards, let each ditty play for the entire 30 seconds, and then opened a few more. When she opened the card that “plays” “I Go Crazy” I turned and gave her my meanest look. She left.

I checked out Hallmark’s website to find out more about these cards. I wanted to know: have lawsuits been filed? Has there been a recall? When will it end?

Hallmark’s marketing people believe that they are “tapping into the emotional power of sound.” From Hallmark.com:

The addition of sound evokes more passion than a traditional card, according to Tim Bodendistel, art director for the line. “Music as well as favorite movie and TV shows evoke incredibly strong emotions,” Tim says. “They recall memories, moments, times and feelings – so many tangible connections that the sender and recipient share. They allow you to share secret jokes from movies, relate to someone over an old TV show, or evoke an emotion with a song. Adding sound to a greeting card is a perfect way to help the card’s sender express more meaning and to prompt that extra ‘wow’ from the recipient.”

No “wow” here; more like a “pow.” I think the music cards should come with a warning label: may cause others in the vicinity to rip the card out of your hand and smack you with it... then you'll get a get well card.

Until next time,

Conna