Regretsy...Making the Cut

By now, I'm sure many of you have at least heard of Regretsy. If not, click on the pic above to get to the site.

Regretsy: Where DIY meets WTF....When It Looks Like You Made It With Your Foot!

Regretsy is a fun little site that scours the handmade world looking for items that look like, well...you made it with your foot! There are some hilarious things out there! But there is a little story behind my excitement...

Months and months ago, I was scanning the Etsy Forums and found a thread that a website is looking for handmade items to feature in an upcoming book being published by Random House. All I saw was "handmade items to feature in an upcoming book", totally missing the fact that it was from Regretsy.

"Regretsy? What's Regretsy? Oh well....featured in a book? I can do that!"

So, I go to my email program and offer this piece up, attaching the photo:

Right after I sent the email, I went to the Regretsy site. (insert dark cloud here). Oh, you have got to be kidding me! What did I do? So I sent an email back right away:

"Please disregard my last email. I didn't realize this was supposed to be for horrendous pieces that look like you made it with your foot! I found this in a link...guess I should have read it better!"

Later on that day, I get this response from Helen Killer:

"Oh, I'm so glad you followed up on this! I didn't know how to tell you that your work was way too nice for this project!"

For the rest of the day, I could not get this mistake out of my head. The following day, I came up with this idea (because it is better to make lemonade from your lemons instead of just letting them sit and rot):

"You know, after I realized that I send a very inappropriate piece (the gorgeous Victorian cuff), I began thinking about a piece I have appropriately named Ugly Betty. She has been living in my shop for a year and a half now and I think it is clear that no one wants her. She only has 69 views and no hearts....after a year and a half! I thought of axing her and giving her to the garbage dump in my area, but I have grown very fond of her ugly beauty and just can't let her go. Literally, she looks like purple intestines. After I really understood the scoop behind this whole book, I thought, "You know, Ugly Betty may find appreciation here!" She might be a perfect match for your book! Check her out:"

Shortly after, I get this response:

"Wow! It's hilarious and I love it!
Hats off to you, Lisa. Clearly, you're someone with a lot of skill and taste, and you make beautiful things. But you also have a sense of humor about your work, and can laugh the things that don't come out as well. That is very rare.
I will definitely add this to my submissions to Random House, and we'll see what they think. It'll be a few weeks before I know what's going to be included, but I'll keep you updated. I think everything has to be decided before Christmas.
Thank you for your submission, your support and your sense of humor!"

Since my submission, I make regular visits to Regretsy to laugh at the items, but also to make sure none of my stuff is there!

(Fast Forward Time)

Last week, I got the confirmation from Helen Killer that Ugly Betty was chosen to be in the book! I know I should feel insulted, but hey....lemonade, right? I am just glad that Ugly Betty finally found a place where she can be appreciated. Hmmmm....maybe she will finally sell!