2021 Update! Chinese New Year is on Friday

*It has been a long time since I have signed into this account.  I am glad it is still obtainable to use from my finger tips.  A lot has changed since my last blog post in 2016. 

A few quick updates about my small Etsy shop:

    All Beta has been rebranded to Beta Crush.  

    Instagram and Facebook page are available for shop updates and sales.

    I am still a one person shop owner and maker of everything in my shop.

    I hope to continue to use this blog spot to show off how to sew chalk bags and more!

I am bringing back an old design from 2012.  It is a Chinese take out chalk bag.  The first pagoda design was originally hand embroidered onto the fabric.  The design was more simple and minimal than the one in the photo.  I have redesigned the new pagoda and now hand print it onto the chalk bag, instead of embroider.  This allows me to make them more efficiently and effectively.  I am happy to announce, it is now available in Beta Crush Etsy shop to celebrate the new lunar year this Friday in 2021, and for some of us, it is Chinese New Year.

May the new year bring you joy and happiness!  Stay tuned for more sewing ideas and designs.

Trial and Error to Chalk Ball Designs

  

SALE - Grey Mouse Chalk Balls

 

A few years ago I designed and sewed a mouse chalk ball as a fun way to contain chalk inside a chalk bag.  In the first series I tried loose chalk and it was finer than block chalk.  I did not realize the material was barely porous enough for that specific type of loose chalk to filter through.  Without customer feedback, I had a difficult time figuring out what I needed to improve on my design.  I had sent chalk balls to a climbing blog who feature items on their site and did not hear back from them.  I figured the balls must have not worked very well or they were just busy.  This is when I thought, I should just test out the materials myself and see what works.

The images below is a comparison of 3 different type of materials.  The first material I bought from the local fabric store, was the best porous option I could find, where holes were not visible.  The second material had visible holes, where the weave of the material is evenly distributed with a pattern and stretches out.  The third material had larger visible holes than the second, and the weave was spread out randomly.  I assumed, like most people naturally do, the larger visible holes in the third material would be the better of the three options.  Check this out, material 1, 2, 3 goes left to right.

The first step I used chalk and a hair band with NO polyester stuffing.

 

The second step I used chalk, polyester stuffing, and a hair band.

The second material in the picture is the best option.  Not what I assumed.  I will be changing my chalk ball designs to the most porous material.

All the old ones I made are on now on sale at AllBeta.Etsy.com.  The hand sewn chalk balls are a good cat toy alternative as well.  Insert catnip instead of chalk.   

 SALE - Fish Bone Chalk Balls

Dear All Beta Customers,

Constructive criticism is extremely helpful to improving my designs.  I love hearing from my customers even though it can be a challenge for me to hear negative feedback.  Nonetheless, I would consider them and understand the different preferences and needs that climbers have.  Please feel free to message me through Etsy convo for any defective or flawed designs.  Overall, this will help my small handmade business and encourage myself to create better designs.

Side Note on Chalk:  I thought block chalk would to be the most affordable climbing chalk.  It seemed like a safe assumption to make.  For example, a block cheese must be less expensive than shredded cheese.  It takes time for the business to shred the cheese so it’s got to be more expensive to buy shredded.  Surprisingly enough, if you pay attention to unit cost, it could go either way.  Once in a while, REI has a sale for block chalk knocking down a $2 item and making it the most cost effective type to buy.  The Bison competition chalk is actually loose chalk and sells at the same retail price as block chalk.  My advice is to check unit price.  Do the math and save a bit of money and time for you frugal climbers.

Happy Climbing!

What is your favorite chalk bag?

POCKET chalk bag!  I love this design.  It's practical and simple.  Who doesn't like dual functions?  With my experience there are two things I always forget to bring with me to the climbing gym: climbing tape and a little brush to clean holds.  It is not crucial to have for climbing but useful never the less which makes it easy to forget.  Anyone ever wished you had chap stick while you were climbing outdoors?  This little pocket is perfect storage for it!  Leave it in there and you'll always have it while climbing.  Got Burt's Bees or Climb On hand salve?  Need to put your keys somewhere but you don't have pockets.  This chalk bag does!

I hope I "sold" you on this pocket chalk bag.  It comes in 4 colors: black, burgundy, ever green, and blue.  I use a black one.  Comment and/or share your favorite chalk bag.  I would love to hear about it!

Furry Chalk Bags

One of the best feelings for your rough climbing hands is grabbing chalk from a soft furry chalk bag.  Even if it's not a furry chalk bag, the inner lining of All Beta chalk bags are made out of minky fleece.  The super soft fleece typically used to make baby blankets.  This is not polar fleece like material on the zip pull over sweaters.  It feels so great that you'll want to reach in for more chalk!  Check them out at AllBeta.etsy.com.

 

 

Special Thanks to All Beta customers, Rob Wilkey and Susan Rogers, for sharing their photos!

Location:  Atlanta, Georgia






















Rob Wilkey and Chris Sharma

 

 

 Location:  Cambridge, Massachusetts

Susan Roger's Furry Orange Chalk Bag, Boulder Crash Pad, and Climbing Shoes

More furry chalk bags at AllBeta.etsy.com!

Happy One Year Anniversary to All Beta!

2012 Recap on All Beta

I created the Etsy shop account name on December 3rd, 2011.  I'm late on announcing the celebration but I like to think of December as the anniversary month.  Thank you to all my wonderful Etsy customers, climbing and sailing enthusiast, friends, and family!  I could not have done it without you.

First person I have to thank is a climber from Mission Cliffs San Francisco, DocPop (Etsy alias name), for posting my Chinese Take Out Chalk Bag on Reddit.com/r/climbing.  It landed my shop over a thousand views very early on, followed by many custom chalk bag request.  Thank you Rohan Balakrishnan for keeping it interesting for me by requesting Game of Thrones, Zelda, and Nyan Cat designs.  All of which were made successfully and these were just a few of his ideas.

The top selling chalk bag of the year is the Great White Shark Attack Chalk Bag. I sold 32.  Many sold during Shark Week.  Thank you Discovery Channel!  Other successful creature chalk bags from 2012 are Fox, Piranha, Whale, Fox Tail, Dino Tail, and AHH screaming monsters!

Thank you Etsy Climbers and leaders for promoting All Beta on Pinterest, Facebook, and their new blog.  It is very nice to know there is a small climbing community on Etsy willing and able to help.  Thanks for keeping it real.

Thank you to customers who supported All Beta rope bracelets.  Majority of All Beta transactions are in fact jewelry.  Without the jewelry market, I would have probably stopped sewing chalk bags a long time ago.  Now that I'm getting into sailing, nautical rope jewelry and designs will definitely continue to emerge.

I really enjoy what I do and hope to continue this in 2013 full time.  Expect new and exciting products for the upcoming year!

25% off coupon code - HAPPYONEYEAR
(limited to the first 10 customers)

Happy Holidays!


P.S.  Sorry but I have to discontinue all the comic hero, super hero, star wars, hello kitty, paul frank chalk bags due to trademark reasons.  Message me if you really really really want one.  ;)

The Chalk Bag Drawstring Cord Came OUT!

All Beta chalk bags are made so that the drawstring cord can be replaced.  At any point the cord is pulled out completely, you can fix this.  Follow these steps.  

 

 Step 1) Pull out the inner fleece fabric.

 Step 2)  Grab the loop end (also the center point of the cord) and feed it through the metal hole.

 Step 3)  With both hands, use your fingers and thumbs to feel the cord pieces inside the bag. Push the fleece lining back inside the chalk bag between the cords.  (This is the tricky part)

Ta-Daa!

If you can not fix it yourself, please send it back.  I'll be happy to fix it for you and ship it free of charge.  Hope that helps!

ALL BETA - OCTOBER SALE 2012

20% Off Entire Shop - Rock Climbing Chalk Bags and Accessories

Coupon Code:  HALLOWEEN


Click here for Esty shop - All Beta

Happy shopping!