Work, work, work, work, work.

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Hi! We've been working up a storm behind the scenes. The college babes are descending upon our homestead this evening and I've been baking up pies and other goodies in between jobs.

I've been organizing our inventory for upcoming shows and I keep happening upon prototypes and discontinued pieces. I found one prototype that I was particularly excited about creating. 

Circus Font Letters

Many laser cutters offer monogram and basic wood letters. They usually come in the standard fonts. When we received requests for similar jobs we really wanted to offer unusual fonts. I'm not a fan of clowns, but I am a huge fan of circus style fonts and typography. I hoped that someone shared that love and would be inspired to create themed display with our pieces. Manufacturing jobs pushed this project to the side but I still had our prototypes. 

With the holidays upon us, I thought I'd post this full circus font alphabet set for sale for any families that get inspiration for home decorating before friends and family come for visits.

This full alphabet set features 26 pieces of capital letters in circus font. They are 3.5" inches tall with varying widths from 2" to 5.5" depending on the letter.  They are an 1/8" inch thick and are made from birch plywood. Extensive engraving time was needed to achieve this great look. Each one has been lightly hand sanded. 

There is only one set available so get it while you can!

The listing for this set is available over at our Etsy Shop. 

Lasers and love - Thea 

All is well again with 6 by 6 at Handmade at Amazon

in ,

I just wanted to do a little follow up about our recent strange experience with our shop at Handmade at Amazon. For a quick refresher about what happened to us - visit this post.

I posted that post link on various social media outlets and even tagged Handmade at Amazon in a post or two directly, hoping to gain any attention. Being in the Seattle area, we have a handful of friends who work at Amazon and extended offers to connect me to someone who could help. Which ultimately got me in contact with someone at Amazon! 

I received an email a day or two after posting my blog post about our experience from an actual person at Amazon. He inquired about my issue and I directed him to my blog post for reference, since I laid it all out there. Soon after that contact our account was restored! He did offer a direct phone call with me after our account was restored just to make sure that we were good to go. I declined because we got what we wanted, just to have access to our account again.

Shortly after that, I received a direct email from the leads at Handmade at Amazon team. They just wanted to speak with me about my experience over the phone, which I appreciated. They were very apologetic and told me that what happened to us was a weird isolated event, which was reassuring. The two that I spoke with were very nice and gave me the platform to mention things that I felt were frustrating. For me it I was bent out of shape about not being transferred to the department that I needed to speak to by a customer service representative. C'mon I know Amazon has that ability! Secondly, my disappointment in the the on site representatives promoting makers to join Handmade at Amazon at a large local craft lack of information for contacts for sellers. Lastly, this one was more on my own personal expectations as a long time maker, I'm used to having one on one contact with selling sites (I've been with Etsy a long time and have met quite a few admins over the years and they were always very accessible) and direct contact with customers. It's apart of the charm of the handmade maker scene. You are buying from a person who put their hard work and hands on the products. It's a personal experience. I felt that element was missing from Amazon's support. 

In the end, we got the help that we needed after all. I hated having to get the attention that we wanted to resolve the issue the way we did though. Thankfully, we were told it was an isolated incident but they wanted to make sure something like this will not happen to other sellers, which was nice to hear. 

Thanks to everyone who shared this and got us the help we needed.

Lasers and love -Thea

Taking a Break and Getting Hitched!

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For the next two and a half weeks our shops will be semi closed.

We will be slow to respond to emails and calls. Standing orders will still be processed as scheduled. Retail orders will be processed as they come in. But custom orders will be on hold until we resume regular hours on September 14th, 2016.

We're getting married and we will be spending time with friends and family.

I have a couple scheduled posts that will be shared this week. I did put a small halt to our "At Home with 6 by 6" posts, because I decided to repaint a room in the midst of all the other craziness going on here. Because I'm nuts. 

Lasers and love -

John and Thea 

New D20 Key Chains!

in

You asked and we made it happen! 

Like the rest of our key chains, we made these rad little D20 key chains from reclaimed oak wood. They have a great feel and durability. 

Perfect for your keys, zipper pulls, or backpack/bag adornments. 

Keeping it short and simple today. Sun is out and we have a TON of product photos to take!

Lasers and love - Thea


8 bit Hearts and Liking Most Things About You

in

After much teasing, I finally listed our 8 bit heart cupcake toppers! Honestly, we're not Valentine's Day people so admittedly, I did drag my buns posting them. Apologies to the 8 bit lovers out there who wanted to get a jump on them for Valentine's Day. 

They are awfully sweet and I pictured them used at party or even a wedding! 

On a more truthful oriented wall art note, we did recently introduce our newest sign just in time for "love season". 

You know, for the times you want to your loved one some real honestly about your love. When you're in a long term love we know that "most things" is realistic and honest and quite frankly endearing. Most is better than very little or none. 

Ah love... we'll be rolling out a few more new items along the love lines soon. Later this week we'll be announcing our newest stockist and tomorrow I'll share a bit about a little project we did over the weekend for a family member. 

Lastly, Happy Lunar New Year for those who celebrate it!

Lasers and love -Thea

Last chance for Priority Mail TODAY and a sale on discontinued stuff!

in ,

We’ve been busy cleaning up post craft show season. We’re also already looking ahead at what’s next for us. We’ll be at the Seattle Gift Show next month along with new and redesigned items.

So we do have a small handful of items that will be discontinued. I’ve posted a few at discounted prices over in our Etsy shop: www.6by6arts.etsy.com

I’ve also included a few display signs that were used at events and shows. Get them while they are hot!

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To my fellow procrastinators, today is the LAST DAY for USPS Priority Mail shipping. We are headed out with our last orders around 3pm today. If you miss out and still want something sent, it will cost ya, but we can arrange it- just shoot us a note.

On a personal note, college kid #1 is coming home today; volleyball kid had a practice at o’dark thirty this morning what a way to start my birthday week (my birthday is Friday –yep THAT day). This week will be ending with the college kid #2 moving out. He waited to start his adventure until winter quarter. The party never ends over here.

I hope you all have short workweeks this week!

Lasers and love -Thea

Holiday Shipping Schedule 2015

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A little late in the day here for a blog post. But I wanted to make sure that I posted this very important information before this weekend!

Holiday shipping schedule for 2015!

This Thursday (November 26, 2015) is the U.S. Thanksgiving Day - No post. We'll resuming shipping on Friday November 27, 2015.

We'll ship daily through out the holiday season and I will be updating some of our items turnaround times to shorter ones. We are limiting color selections and customizing options to able to ship out quickly.

We will be in Portland, Oregon at the Super Colossal Crafty Wonderland Winter Show December 11-13. We will be unable to ship those days but will resuming shipping on Monday December 14, 2015. 

To receive your items by Christmas. Orders must be received December 19, 2015 (First Class & Priority US Mail)  for Christmas arrivals. We are willing ship until December 24, 2015 via FedEx & USPS Priority and Overnight mail services at an extra cost, but no guaranteed Christmas arrival. 

Whew! I wanted to post all of that information before this Thursday. I'm really looking forward to Thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday! We hope you have a good one or at least survive it the best you can. 

Lasers and love - Thea

 

Pop-up Villages!

in

Being laser art designers there's a lot of pressure to either create kits or intricate boxes. It's the basic thing for a laser cutter to do.  I'm personally not a fan of doing what everyone else is doing and we're more than just laser cutters. Being in 100% control of our laser time and designs I wanted to create something fun and functional. 

We are proud offer our Pop-up Village Houses "kit". Simple, unique, lightweight, Made in the USA by us (duh) and something that you can customize! I LOVE the coloring for all movement. So many of my friends post pictures daily of their work and current books that they are working on. I'm personally a paints girl. I love doodling with paint. I wanted to offer something that someone could have as is or indulge in customizing it with paint or markers.

Customizing a village of pop-up houses.

John had to reign me in with this project. I drew up at least a dozen classic traditional styled homes. I had dozens of accessories I HAD TO HAVE! I also wanted to design the house to look like the houses or houses that were in the neighborhoods that I've lived in. That will be in the next round - or we can talk about customizing a design similar to a house you might have in mind. THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS!

One of the many design phases for the Pop-up Houses. I also can't draw a straight line to save my ass. 

One of the many design phases for the Pop-up Houses. I also can't draw a straight line to save my ass. 

We settled on a core group of accessories, planters, grass, hedges and a stylish potted plant. But a mailbox, Christmas tree, forest trees and fencing are coming soon too.

The complete village set including standard accessories. 

We designed these with a simple set up in mind. You simply slide the houses and accessories onto the footers. That's it. They are nice and lightweight and fairly small in size. They can be displayed anywhere. I have to put out the warning that since there are smaller pieces that can be swallowed, we recommend this for pre-teens and up. 

A little display in our living room. 

Our pop-up houses are available as a set or individually. I can't wait to see some customized by you!

Lasers and love -Thea

Where in the world is Whidbey Island?

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When I tell people I'm from an island in the Puget Sound, they instantly assume I'm from Vashon, Bainbridge or one of the San Juans. That always seemed odd to me, because everyone seems to overlook the largest island in the state of Washington - Whidbey Island. It's the fourth largest and longest island in the contiguous United States. 

I'll openly admit that I've had a long love/hate relationship with the island. My fellow Islanders understand that statement. There are two ways on and off that big rock. (Unless you are lucky enough to own your own boat.) The big tourist attraction that is the Deception Pass Bridge, was my main way off since I grew up 3 miles away from it. There's no place like it. Mother nature is commanding with the deadly currents below the industrial bridge's impressive span where you can view Mount Baker to the east and the Straight of Juan De Fuca to the west. To northenders, the south end was largely for secret fishing spots, the county fair, art galleries, loganberries at the Greenbank Farm and a ferry ride to the mainland. 

John's first trip to Whidbey Island 2013 - The north side of the Deception Pass Bridge on Fidalgo Island.

A desktop cellphone shelf we designed a while back, based on the architecture of the Deception Pass Bridge. 

I was born in the late 1970's when there were still forests in "downtown" Oak Harbor. Which in later years when I was in high school the parking lots that were once forests became a meeting/hangout spot. A grocery store parking lot. Yes, friends that is an insight to part of the hate relationship I have with the island. There wasn't a whole lot going on. I grew up in a very rural area about 7 miles north of "town".  I spent a lot of my time on my bike prior to getting my license. Well, if you knew me then, I did drive a little bit before I had my license. :D In retrospect now, I feel lucky for growing up that way even though I longed for mainlander city life. I know a lot about plants, trees and animals that are native to the island. I was forced to be creative not only for entertainment but also during times the power was out due to 60+ mile hour winds. There are many things like that I share a bond with my childhood friends that no one understands or can relate to. It's kind of special and many of us joke about writing a book to recount our islander childhood. We all seems to share a love and appreciation for that rock now. 

Since the inception of our business I've been asked and have created many Whidbey themed items. We all seem to want to have a piece of "home" with us in our lives.  While I have a huge list of half-done projects, I've decided to share one item that we made that I love. A Whidbey Island mini chalkboard for my fellow island people. 

Admittedly, this post took me sometime to write up. "Home" especially with such character is hard to condense down into a few paragraphs. 

Lasers and love - "Dorothya from The Rock"