Las Vegas Crafters Guild Fall Boutique

You're invited!! And bring a friend or 2 or 3...

Friday Oct. 1 10AM - 5:45PM
Saturday Oct 2 10AM - 4:00PM

Sahara West Library
9600 W. Sahara Ave (between S. Ft. Apache & S Hualapai Way)
Las Vegas NV 89117
702-507-3631

As you know, the LV Crafters Guild features some of the finest artists and craftspeople in Nevada.

It's not too early to think about the holidays.

We'll see you there!!

(I will not be there, but ChezChani will be represented, with a table manned by Roz. You'll find we have some really fun and affordable stuff.)

Sales in the Wind

ChezChani will be joining other Etsians in Black Weds, and Black Friday Weekend Sales. Stay Tuned!!!

Where Have All The Good Times Gone?

In a few months, the holiday season will be in full swing. What are you planning for: increasing your inventory, festival hopping, networking?

Yes, the subject of the next Etsybloggers Carnival. The holidays. When I first saw this on the schedule I thought "Sh*t...the holidays? AlREAdY???!?!?!?

Well, yes and no. We're a few months away but everybody knows (except for people under, say, 20) how fast the time goes. And crafters need the time to make holiday stuff and get it out there so that it can be purchased on time for gifts and personal wear. Last year I wanted to make myself a pair of those adorable Swarovski tree earrings, but try to find the components for that in December...fuggetaboutit. So I made mine in January.

Now I'm in my "all about resin" phase so I'm on the lookout for holiday pictures and paper to turn magically into super cool bracelets, pendants, rings...

I made one pendant which is at the top of this page. I love her!!

The Art of the Gift

Obligifting (v) - Ob-li-gift-ing ... Giving a gift mostly because one feels one must. From the root word Obligift (n).

Now that we’ve survived another holiday season, I find myself reflecting on the art of gift giving.

Let me preface with this - I am an awful person to choose a gift for. There have been numerous times when, upon opening a gift, my first comment was, “Did you keep the receipt?” So now you know.

I may not always score, but I do feel the need to really spend time and thought on the person’s gift...what might he/she like/need/want, that is within my budget? I’m even a big fan of re-gifting, but only in that case that I truly believe that gift is something the person would really enjoy. Even when I buy greeting cards, it often takes me a long time (and several stores) to find the one that really suits that person.

Is it my imagination, or does it seem that many people just want to get the giving over with? (If this was Sex and the City, that would be the line that would show up on your TV.)


-I received a pair of Native American-style turquoise and red earrings. You only have to know me about 5 minutes to know that is so not my style (lovely though they may be.) And this did not come from an acquaintance but from one of my close friends.

-A good friend bought me candles. I am a candlemaker (or Chandler for those in the know.) Need I say more?

-A man I’ll call “Len” feels no cold. Seriously. It will be 30 degrees out and when I ask if he feels the chill he answers, “no.” He owns no jackets, no sweaters, not even a long sleeve shirt. He wears nothing but short sleeve cotton summer shirts all year long. This year someone gave him a leather jacket. This same man is severely diabetic. He also received a bag of candy.

-A good friend gave me a 12 cup self-cleaning coffee maker. His reasoning? Mine was dirty (yes, I’m a slob but that’s a blog for another day.) I live alone and make my coffee one cup at a time because I can only tolerate fresh coffee. (In his defense, he’s also given me 2 of the best gifts EVER so he probably shouldn’t be included here, but on the surface, this sounds like a fine example.)

In conclusion, they say “It’s the thought that counts.” But all too often it seems to me that the giver is only thinking of the obligation.

Either that or I’m an ungrateful b*tch.

Craft Show Dec. 7 & New Listing

Pictured is one my latest works, now available in our Etsy Shop. It's a bracelet inspired by the Leather Pride Flag. I'd never heard of this flag, but someone looking at my gay rainbow bracelet suggested it. We found pictures of it online and I had to give it a go. I think it came out very true to the actual flag. I'm not going to go into details about what the flag represents (partly because I'm not sure I'm clear on it.) I will say that while it's not for everybody, it sure is for somebody.

We are only doing one show this holiday season. It's this Sunday, Dec. 7 9AM-3PM at Temple Beth Sholom in Summerlin...Las Vegas NV (Town Center, 1 block north of Desert Inn. 10700 Havenwood Lane.) Given that our only show is at a Synagogue it's just as well I never got to my Christmas specific designs. Next year I'll have to plan earlier for that. I have no excuses for my lack of preparation, I'm pretty sure this season comes around the same time every year.

Hope all you Americans had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I was fortunate in that it fell on my day off and nobody cooks a turkey like my mommy!!

Customer Disservice

I work in the Casino Industry in Las Vegas. Just got an email from a friend who works at a major strip property telling me about all the layoffs.

Businesses panic in times of recession but one has to ask oneself, is laying people off really for the greater, and long run, good? What will make one casino stand out from another in a time when there are less players to fight over? A. The company that has better deals and B, (and maybe B. should be A.) Customer service.

Granted smaller companies may not be able to make their payroll these days, and laying people off may be their only chance of survival.

I am an Embarq customer. Have been for some time. I also have dish network. Wondering if a switch to something else will save me money. Perhaps Cox Cable though I've never cared for their advertising practices. If I should switch my TV service, perhaps I could get the best deal by switching my high speed internet as well. But last week I had a problem with my DSL. It took just a phone call to get it resolved, Embarq made some changes, got me back online and promptly sent me a new modem. A small mention of this in my blog led to a comment by an Embarq customer service rep, letting me know to contact them if there is any problem. Then, an Embarq guy started following me on Twitter, also telling me to let them know if there is any problem. And you know what? As a result, I will not even consider leaving Embarq. Why? CUSTOMER SERVICE!

I was working in a large poker room of one of the largest casino companies. A customer was trying to get through on the phone, to the front desk to see if his room was ready. Not having any luck I offered to call the Diamond Lounge to see if they could find out (that is the lounge for higher limit players.) I could not get through either. The man said “this is ridiculous, I’m never staying here again, I’ll stay at the Wynn.” So this major company saved, say $8 an hour on an extra employee at the desk or lounge, but lost a big player. Now this company shoves the customer service concept down it’s employees throats like I’ve never seen anywhere else, but doesn’t provide the manpower to achieve it.

Eventually, things will get better, but the customer who did not receive the service they deserve, will already be gone and comfy in the place that treated them properly. And they will not come back.


And Now For Something Completely Different. The holidays are approaching faster than a speeding bullet. I'd like to make a suggestion for your gift giving this year. Buy from ChezChani. Well that's one idea. Here's another. Why not buy a gift that will surely make your friends/family happy as well as supporting a fine charity? Best Friends is an amazing animal sanctuary. Check out their store for some affordable fun gifts. You can really make a difference and at no extra cost to you. You're buying the gifts anyway, right?