Midweek Minute #3

August 5, 2022

The Joys of USPS Shipping in 2022-23

USPS is still the cheapest way to go with most shipping. That said, there are a few things they don’t always tell you.


All first-class mail has gone up in price, while delivery windows have gotten longer. It used to be 2-9 days delivery average, and has increased to 3-10 days. This depends on a) how understaffed your local post office is, b) how understaffed the distribution centers between here and there are, and c) how far the item has to go. So now we pay more for poorer service. 


Letters


Letter mail is in a paper envelope ¼” thick or thinner, evenly distributed, with size limitations listed on USPS.com. Anything in plastic or bubble mailers is considered a package. However, if it’s inside a card or enough paper, you can have a bit of bubble mailer INSIDE the envelope. Just make sure it’s still under ¼” thick overall. (Amazon bubble mailers recycle well for this, flat and sturdy enough.) This is great for those handmade cards with embellishments that might otherwise be a little lumpy, like the knot on a bow. Letters are SUPPOSED to take 3-10 days, in theory; I’ve seen them take up to 4 weeks on a regular basis, perhaps 5% of the time lately.


Letter rate for most people is 58 cents. But on Stamps.com with a free account you may be able to get a letter mailed for 53 cents instead. I personally use ShipStation, because I have a lot to mail each week and it helps me track what’s been shipped to whom and when, as well as storing the receipt for my postage so I can prove it was shipped even without a tracking number.


Non-Machinable


Non-machinable letter mail is the same size as letter mail, but includes items that are not standard dimensions, turned lengthwise instead of crosswise, lumpy, or uneven in distribution. I also use it for items that might not survive a trip through the postage machine, such as card embellishments. Not all postal workers know what non-machinable mail is, so you might have to ask your postmaster to explain it to a worker who balks at taking the items. And there’s still a risk someone on the other end will have the same problem (and send it back or hold it for ransom/more postage due from the recipient). 


I had one winner at one of my nearby post offices who kept insisting Non-Machinable was what the manual says Flats are (see below). I asked him what flats were and he described Media


Midweek Minute #2

July 14, 2022
Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. We've all heard it. Why accessorize? I can think of 2 good reasons: 1) Maybe you're a jeans-and-tee-shirt kind of person. Ok. So when you see someone in jeans and a tee shirt, what impression do you get? Just a normal, regular person. Right. But you are not a normal, regular person. You are an influencer. Not just when you go to work, but all the time. You represent. You never know who you're gonna meet. Pretty much anyone, anywhere... if not today, then down the road. You want them to notice something, to remember YOU. Or as my college professor told us: always look your best. You may meet your future spouse, boss, customer, or even mother-in-law today! 2) You bought the Christmas sweater. Or the flag tee shirt. Your favorite holiday is coming up. You want to celebrate your new grandchild. Scarborough Faire! Maybe it's football season and you can't get enough of your favorite team colors. Wear it! Let's create it together. It'll be your favorite accessory! So take 10 extra seconds before you leave the house. Put on your name badge or earrings. Look the part. Give them something to talk about or at least to remember.

Midweek Minute #1

July 2, 2022
In today's midweek minute, we discuss solutions to a few common jewelry-wearing issues. 1. Metal Sensitivity Do you or does someone you know have a problem wearing metal jewelry? All of Terra Firma's metal items are lead- and nickel-free to reduce the possibility of skin reactions. Another idea: Embrace Glass! Glass beads do not react with people's skin. Stretch beaded jewelry can solve a lot of the issues as well. Fabric! Soft and hypoallergenic fabric ribbon necklace come in a huge range of colors and finishes, and minimal metal parts. You can also select your length! 2. Bracelets that don't fit So much fun to wear, so pretty, such a pain to fit, and such a pain to put on! Try stretch bracelets for a change. You can roll them on and off without any issues, and they can be made in whatever size you need. What size is your wrist? Maybe you don't wear a size 6. Maybe that's all they have at Big Box Store. You may even see something you love, but they don't have it in your size!! Shop handmade, and you won't have that problem. If you don't see your size, just ask. We make all of our products ourselves, so we can make them in your sizes. 3. Color Not Found! Need a necklace to go with that outfit, but the big box store only carries silver and gold? Try Terra Firma for a wider range of colors! We also have good quality ribbon necklaces in a variety of materials and widths to mix and match. 4. Doesn't match! I had found the most amazing necklace, in a favorite color. I looked for earrings to coordinate, for weeks. I found zip. Nothing. A copper necklace with silver earrings just wasn't what I wanted. So I decided to make my own! With a handmade shop, you can send in photos and discuss options with your artisan to get a design made just for you. More to come!
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