dripping acid

to celebrate how much paypal suck, littleoddforest is giving all our customers a
15% discount code - PAYPALSUCKS
simply key it in at the shopping bag page and click on the apply discount button, prior to checking out your order.
this discount code will be in use until monday 2 june 2008.

if you're still having problems making your credit card payment via paypal after checking out your shopping cart items, please email us your order and we will email you a paypal invoice manually. this is one way of getting around the problem. the other way is to not log into paypal and making payment as a new user.

this is an intermittent technical problem caused by paypal that hits shoppers randomly. therefore, though most shoppers have been able to make payment, a handful of you have not been able to do so. we can get around this problem if you email us your order and we send you the invoice manually.

in the meantime, we @ littleoddforest will try to drink tea, meditate, and calm down our ruffled feathers.

paypal sucks

every time we have high website traffic, we will notice a thorny intermittent problem.
random customers will encounter this paypal error page when they try to make payment for their order



well, it is NOT a problem at our end.
there is absolutely nothing wrong with our code, or email address, or account or whatever.

this is a known paypal bug.
you can search for it right here.
this bug hits random customers and is an intermittent problem, and has yet to be solved.
you may think it is a joke. but no, this problem has been randomly occurring since we were first able to track customer checkout activity 2 years ago.
it is because it occurs randomly, thus it has been so difficult to track the problem.
can you imagine if we had not improved our code to track our website's back-end activity, we wouldn't have known about this??? is ignorance really bliss???

and yes, our customers have also been contacting us about it.
the higher our web traffic and online sales, the more crap we are getting about this.
and i always get a whole load of crap whenever i send out newsletters, because that is when our web traffic will surge.
few days ago when i sent out the email newsletter, i basically had to mass email more than 10 customers whom we knew encountered this problem, giving them our apologies and telling them the real explanation and reasons as to what was going on, and how we may go about it.
many more customers who encountered the problem but we don't know of.
and the handful of 6 customers who were our regulars and trusted us, bothered to take the initiative to email us about it and thus we had the chance to manually send them a paypal invoice to complete their purchase.
those whom i mass emailed, basically, i only received 2 thank you emails, and heard from no one else.
because shoppers simply do not like to deal with hassle. hassle!!!! screw you paypal. for all the hassle you have given us. me. them.

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Original Message ----
From: "webform@intl.paypal.com"
To: "Lynda L. @ littleoddforest"
Sent: Tuesday, 27 May, 2008 5:43:16 PM
Subject: Re: SendingaPayment (Routing Code: C702-L001-T11084-S111-W000000) (KMM50491703I96L0KM) :ppk1

Yes, this is a bug, we discovered after the last upgrade. It has to do with the address. A temporary workaround is to set no_shipping to '1' to not require the address.

The engineering department is aware of this bug and is working on resolving this error.

Frank I.
PayPal Certified Developer
PayPal PayWatch Analyst
http://www.paypaldeveloper.com
PayPal, an eBay Company

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Original Message ----
From: "Lynda L. @ littleoddforest"
To: webform@intl.paypal.com
Sent: Sunday, 25 May, 2008 12:17:05 PM
Subject: Re: SendingaPayment (Routing Code: C702-L001-T11084-S111-W000000) (KMM50416941I96L0KM) :ppk1

hi Charlotte,

I have attached the exact web page error that my customers are receiving.
And that message clearly pinpoints a problem on my end, instead of anything else.

Almost all of the time, shoppers don't take the hassle in making payment too nicely. And taking the extra step to contact me or even Paypal is just something that they'd just "forget it", and move on.
Thus, only a small handful are even willing to reply to my emails, and complete their order payment manually with the Paypal invoice I send them.

Which brings me to my next question
- Why are they able to pay up when I manually send them a Paypal invoice? If the problem is indeed this security measure thing you insist on, then shouldn't they be unable to make any payments with their Paypal accounts at all?

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Original Message ----
From: "webform@intl.paypal.com"
To: "Lynda L. @ littleoddforest"
Sent: Sunday, 25 May, 2008 9:22:07 AM
Subject: Re: SendingaPayment (Routing Code: C702-L001-T11084-S111-W000000) (KMM50416941I96L0KM) :ppk1

Dear Lynda Lye Siew Ping ,

Hello, my name is Charlotte, I will be happy to assist you with your
question regarding your PayPal account.

Understand your concern on cannot receive credit card payment sometimes.

For the fully examination of the issue, could you please kindly forward
your customers who claimed cannot pay you via PayPal to us ? It would be
better for us to check the detailed reasons firstly, and then take the
investigation. We are willing to have the direct contacts from your
buyers who have this problem.

Secondly, there is something should be highlighted. System security
measures exist in every user country including the U.S. It is absolutely
impossible that the US-based website can override our security guard.

Thirdly, the security measure is a unique protection feature applied to
every member of PayPal, and it is not a system error. Therefore, it is
not a website error which you may think it as a website problem.

For the buyers claim as cannot pay you, you can forward them to contact
PayPal.

It is my pleasure to assist you.

Sincerely,
Charlotte
PayPal, an eBay Company

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Original Message ----
From: "Lynda L. @ littleoddforest"
To: webform@intl.paypal.com
Cc: SiJun
Sent: Saturday, 24 May, 2008 1:57:35 AM
Subject: Re: SendingaPayment (Routing Code: C702-L001-T11084-S111-W000000) (KMM49997505I96L0KM) :ppk1

hi Milo,

I understand what you are saying, and we have been given this explanation before. The problem is, this doesn't seem to be the issue.

The customer was able to make her purchase at other websites (US-based) and pay via Paypal, but not at our website.

And if this was really the case, shouldn't the error message tell them what you just explained to me, instead of pin-pointing the error as fault on my part? The error message specifically states that there was a problem with the seller's email address. Why? This is very misleading and results in our customers thinking we are an unreliable seller, when we are not.

Could you kindly please do some checks or at least help us to investigate the problem?
And maybe if your explanation was truly the case, the error message should be changed to explain to the customers what they should do?]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Original Message ----
From: "webform@intl.paypal.com"
To: Lynda Lye Siew Ping
Sent: Friday, 23 May, 2008 4:42:59 PM
Subject: Re: SendingaPayment (Routing Code: C702-L001-T11084-S111-W000000) (KMM49997505I96L0KM) :ppk1

Dear Lynda Lye Siew Ping,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your concerns. I am
happy to assist you further.

You are inquiring about why some payments were denied, right?

Now please let me explain the reasons to you.

To ensure the integrity of our network, PayPal may take security
measures, which may affect some accounts in good standing. We regret any
inconvenience may have caused.

PayPal employs complex statistical models to identify patterns of
behavior. This is similar to the way banks and credit card companies
identify patterns of behavior those are abnormal when verifying
individual transactions. When our system rejects a certain funding
source for a transaction, it is merely an indication that the individual
transaction fits a pattern may cause a high risk of failure.

If you encounter your buyers involved in this trouble, you may explain
to them and advise them to take the following advices:

If a transaction has been denied, the user may be able to complete the
transaction using another funding source such as U.S. bank account or
PayPal balance.

If she/he still wishes to use the credit card, please recommend him/her
not to try at this time. Please take another try after 24 or 48 hours.
If his/her card hasn't been verified, you can also advise them to link
and confirm the credit/debit card in the first place to increase
feasibility.

I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your
understanding on our product feature. Please feel free to let me know if
you need further assistance.

Please let me know if you need further assistance.

Sincerely,
Milo

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sometimes, i love old men

ahem. specifically only Statler and Waldorf.

what better way to end the work week hahaha! thanks for the fab videos, j!!!!!

summer specials part 1

>>> HAPPY SHOPPING! ------>

color smacking

have you been missing out? seriously... tsk tsk.


more lovelies on the way! wooohooo!

and of course, have to end this post with something ridiculous i'd like to share with you all....
"why do you make stuff and not think about people who live on the other side of the world? I live in Australia and it's nearing winter so your summer colors and sleeveless tanks don't work well for me at all. Long sleeves shirts? winter colors??"
the email ends as abruptly as it started.
funny!!!!! you people are ssssooooooooooo dawddamn fuh-nee. so i guess the pleasing of the entire population in this big big world falls on me alone. the number of times i roll my eyes everyday, i won't be surprised if my eyeballs drop out anytime soon.

an 80s cartoon a day....

keeps the stress away!!! wooow!

he-man, you look so ridiculous now, your hair-do is soooo... she-man!!! hahaha!! i can't believe i used to make you and g.i.joe do such unspeakable things to my poor barbie dolls.... my cousin lina, who used to be my playmate every sunday, liked she-ra more (i couldn't stand she-ra for some reason, maybe i thought the whole twin sister thing was bullshit and they were banging each other), and we would fight every sunday morning because of this.

and you wonder how america brainwashed my childhood? ha!

first item sneak peaks

i couldn't resist....

every single piece is exclusively OOAK (one of a kind)
coming soon next week, along with a few other new sneak peaks! woopppeee!
when i get back to work, that is. am typing this by the pool, under the hot blazing sun....

ohoh! and i'm super delighted that you loved fraggle rock too!!!! (^___________^)
we couldn't stop breaking out into the tune the past couple of days... *dance your fears away... *clap clap!* worries for another day!*
more childhood cartoons coming up... hahaha because my email got bombarded with them links.... i have such great friends and acquaintances... ;p
xoxoxo!

p.s. received quite a few emails asking me about the name of the gnome series, it's called david the gnome (^___________^) you'll learn how to be a loving kind caring sweet human being if you aren't one!!!!

gnomes are the dope

you know that world in my head? i know for sure that this has been subconsciously influencing me and my life choices and molded me to some extent. i love gnomes. i love animals. i don't like humans. i love the outdoors, the woods, and nature. my label is littleoddforest.

as j puts it "kids do stupid things nowadays because they don't have such cartoons anymore"

but.... wassup with all the nose rubbing!!!?? dude!!! i'm so going to have nightmares tonight. and the troll? looks exactly like that stupid obnoxious supplier i met last week. that long big red disgusting nose. lol!!!

off for short getaway with our homecoming pals this weekend!! have been only getting about 4 hours of sleep each night for this entire week... (x ____ x)
and it didn't help that mao was in town and in a strange 1am supper mode... i'm going to force rub noses with you later. hahahahahh! happy weekend, folks! muacks!

p.s. i have so many surprises up my sleeves i'm almost gagging on all of them! expect new item range! new designs! new purses! new collaborations! and more! soon! i'll be spewing them out slowly, one at a time... give my eyes, my fingers, and my head a lil' break yeah! xoxoxo!

the name that escapes me no longer...

have been exchanging emails with j about the cartoons we grew up with and utterly love. and then he sent me this link, and i went crazy. like crazy happy. because i have been trying to remember the name of this series for the past 3 years (can you believe it!!!!!!????) ever since pat and mao started the topic one fine night, about smurfs and all. and no one. not a single soul. for the love of gawd. knew what i was describing, needless to say, know the name. fraggle rock. ahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! *goes crazy again*

i love it. i had a most awesome childhood, and grew up with the best stories, best cartoons, and best shows. jim henson was one of my many heroes. so many of the cartoons now are so terribly dull and uncreative. you know, just like how retro is always in. haha! can't believe that actually came out from me.

i don't have time for youtube, but j is sending me more. heeeeee!
i'm drowning in work, and this for sure helps with the stress relieving... *muacks! thanksss!!
soon! you'll see what i'm busying myself with! weeeeee!

handbag designer 101

thank you, emily, for having us @ handbag designer 101!

and to share with you something else less self-centered, that i recently added into my messy note/sketch booklet~

"too many small business owners set a goal and try to reach it no matter what. Sometimes, that tenacity is the backbone of their success. But sometimes, when they fail to see the signs that the goal might not be the best direction for the business, that lack of flexibility can be a business death sentence."

"failing to plan is planning to fail."

handmade nation fundraiser

this is coming in late, but better late than never....
paper boat is one of littleoddforest's fab stockist, co-owned by filmmaker/author, faythe levine

"Faythe Levine, co-owner of Paper Boat, is also working on an independently produced documentary called "Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY Art, Craft & Design" (also to be released as a book by Princeton Architectural Press in November 2008).

The documentary is currently in post production and is in need of funding assistance. In order to help with production cost, monthly raffles have been set up to raise money.

For more information about the documentary, book and to buy raffle tickets please visit the Handmade Nation BLOG HERE. There is also an Etsy shop HERE where you can purchase promotional items and donated handmade work. All proceeds of the raffle and the Etsy shop go towards production cost."

crazy restocks!

just a little heads up on our weekly updates

brand new fabrics, colors and combinations for
-----> mungo wanderlust leaf bags
-----> summer bird wrist-clutch detacho
-----> leaf pocket bags

-----> a walk in the forest totes

all available now in the shoppe!

also, long awaited
-----> i carry your heart with me bags
-----> bird flying in forest totes
-----> love tree wooden handle tote
have been restocked!

and finally....!
a simpler tote version of one of our best-sellers this year!
our lof merry monster is now available in a tote bag version!
hot hot hot off the drafting boards and sewing machine!


our brand new colors of both the starry rainbow pouch and forest tree trunk wristlet sold out faster than anticipated, I thought that the original color combinations were lovelier! so anyways, have already placed order for more of those color of the synthetic leather, and these will be restocked, so fret not, cute peeps!

more exciting news later! new collection in the works! xoxoxo!

cyclone in myanmar

i just received a text message from worldvision singapore.
"Death toll may climb above 60,000 with a threatening disease outbreak."

if you haven't already heard (then maybe you should start reading the papers or watch the news!), cyclone nargis hit on 2 may 2008 and has already claimed more than 22,000 lives in myanmar and more than 40,000 still missing to date.

please learn more about the situation and how you may help here -
http://www.worldvision.org.sg/st_newsroom.php

gggrrrrrrrr.....

something i ordered for a super long delayed project (2 months!!) with cindy, the talent behind starrydesigns, arrived this afternoon...
but!!!!!!! gggggrrrrrr......

thank goodness that was only half of my plans, so i'm forced to abandon that and move on to the other part... which hopefully you'll all see soon!
i feel like wringing that "kuai lan" seller's neck.
after my polite email to them about the rust, this is what i got -->
"We dont' call it rusty. It's just lack of polishing. These frames are intended to be used internally, which means people would not see them from outside, so polishing is not important. Polishing costs money, if you need polished internal flex frames, you would have to pay more. People in the purse making industry usually do not want to pay more for something unimportant."
WTF. doesn't he know that rust will spread? rust will run? rust will ruin my expensive precious fabrics? and there's a possibility that it will eventually show on the surface??
i hope he gets sold all kinds of "unpolished" metal things, from window grills to gates to household appliances and what nots. ahem. we don't call that rusty. they are just unpolished.
shit.

craftilicious fabric buttons

yes, i finally brought back the machine that has been idling away in my philippines workshop for the past 2 years. sheesh! sooo... shop away for your next yummy crafty projects! yayyy!

solve it yourself

as a child, this has always been drilled into me by my parents, "learn to solve it yourself. don't depend on others to solve your own problems. you have to learn to be independent so that you'll think for yourself and be a useful person when you grow up." my mum stopped short of teaching me how not to not be a society-leech i think. i love my mum, but i sometimes have a love and hate relationship with the way i was brought up.

when i first came back to singapore, i hated it so very much. i only had a culture shock coming home, it's crazy. you might think it's exaggerating, but it took me almost an entire year to get over it. to get over all that i missed, and to get over all that i had to face day in day out. to get over the fact that i no longer have my own cool pad but have to move back in with my dad. to get over the fact that i had to work, pay my own bills, give my parents money, and so on.

later on, after having it enough, prostituting at local design firms, i started forestprints design with my remaining 10k savings, i dumped it all into the business and started it with zero in my bank account. for almost the entire first year, i couldn't live the usual lifestyle i was so used to, hitting the clubs every weekend, being generous with treats (or basically, being a "carrot" if you may) with my "friends", shopping as and whenever on expensive stuff at least once a week, restaurants, starbucks every single day, yes, even simple things like that that we take for granted when money isn't so hard to come by. for the very first 3 months, i had to survive on weekend meals paid for by b, scrimp on weekday meals, and "shamefully" accept the occasional handout from my mum. sometimes my strong pride took over and i stupidly refused her handout, saying that i was coping just fine.

then when business picked up and things started to look better, i still didn't want to spend, i wasn't used to my bank account looking so sad, so i started to save, something i have never done before in my entire life. incredible. not that i wasn't taught to save, i just didn't, and pretended to. because in the end, i will dig them all out to get yet another new gaultier wallet, when i was still in high school, and yes, i managed to only hang out with friends that were just like me or even worse, or leeching on me. my parents thought giving me alot of pocket money will help me save even more. they couldn't be more wrong for once.

forestprints design has since grown, and i'm really grateful for that. but although i'm doing much better than if i had stayed on working for someone, the business hasn't grown like super exponentially, or enough for me to have put aside a large comfortable sum to still grow it much further. i've also pumped in a substantial amount into setting up and maintaining of the fair-wage workshop in philippines. well, okay, admittedly, i have changed from my spendthrift days, but am still only halfway there i suppose. when you earn more, you tend to spend more, true.

when i thought i had enough money to buy a home studio, the property prices went sky-high. so i had to temporarily shelf that big idea, although we're still keeping an eye out there. i've been drilled not to live with any debts if possible. and i was not about to take out a loan for the 20% downpayment, on top of the monthly mortagage. so b and i then decide to get a new car, a car we can finally call our own. enough of sharing it with very petty and picky people i say! (another long story). and because he shares the same "do not leech on your parents" mantra, we paid the downpayment by ourselves. we were eventually surprised to slowly find out that none of our friends around our age who owned a car did that. so anyways, there goes a portion of our available cash. just so everyone knows, it costs a foot and a leg to own a car in singapore, compared to the US and europe... so yes, we're left with 1 foot and 1 leg.

that was also about the same time, i thought i should move on and execute option B in my business plan - rent a showroom studio space - since i can't own one yet. but an estimated minimum 30k investment is needed in order for me to have it at my ideal location, amongst many other considerations and factors involved. any one interested in investing in littleoddforest??? ha. i'm not business network savvy at all. i'm not a very pr person. not even close. i just like to make silly friends. yeah. so then, the big question is, should i just start over like i did almost 4 years ago, and take a big financial risk in order to execute option B? i do not have parents' money as a backup option. i'm sounding abit bitter here now, aren't i... hahaha... nah. i'm thankful for how my mum has taught me. and yes! she's back in town!!! wooow! :D

so okay, anyways. fine. i'm moving on to option C. b was very sad and affected when he heard of this. silly b. i'm off to work on it now! and unfortunately, also hoping and trying to solve just one of many production issues i have been plagued with this year. humans are disgusting. ciao~