Crafty Conundrum

I have a dilema. I am going to be doing a craft show this weekend and I am completely beside myself. Ok so I have done many shows but i usually have my crocheted hats, scarves, gloves, washcloths, face scrubbies and pot scrubbies. I fill on the table with my amigurumi critters and all is well. I usually use different stacks of boxes under a table cloth to get varying heghts to appeal to the eye and what not. I use mannequin heads for the hats and scarves.

Ok, well this time I have more ribbon barrettes, felt clippie and corker bows and I won't be bringing along the crocheted hats and scarves this time. I also have coffee cup cozies, and small snuggle taggie blankets. I don't want to go and spend all kinds of money on dispaly items when I am probably not going to make a huge profit at this show.

I have no idea what I am going to do. The presentation always means the most to your bottoms line. If you booth is appealing people stop. Well if anyone has any great cheap ideas I'd appreciate it. I'll post pictures of how it went on Monday probably.

I've been busy at work and in getting everything for the show catorgorized with some sort of stock number so I really don't have any pic to post this time of new crafts so I will leave you with my adorable exracing greyhound. She loved her hat for St. Patricks day, can't you tell?

Ok until after the show:

Hugs, blessings and happy crafting

Happy St. Patricks Day

Happy St. Patricks Day!!!!!

What a cool day! You get to be Irish for the day even if your really not. Lucky you. (hee hee)

Well I must say I have a weebit O'Irish in me. My grandmother and Grandfather were both half Irish so it gives me about a quarter if you think in mathematical terms. Right? with both grandparents 1/2 it would make my mom half and me half of that since it is only on her side right? O.k whatever. Just pass the corn beef , boiled potatoes and carrots and a little bit o'cabbage with a sprinkle of vinegar. Yum. Hey don't forget the grated horseradish.

Ok so what does this have to do with crafting. Nothing!!!! Well except my Mother has made this traditional boiled dinner every St. Patricks day since I can remember. It's actually a family get together for us. ( I love traditions ). So as far as crafting goes I got to leave my mess on my dining room table and go over there to eat. Now I can go back to gluing and packaging my barrettes and book marks for the craft show next weekend.

Here are some pictures. Let me know what you think. I am still trying to find "that" item that will sell like hot cakes.

These charms are made from thick wool blend felt that was die cut and layered . They are two sided and very light weight. I think they are so cute. They can be worn on a necklace a zipper pull, a key chain, or as a cell phone charm. I was thinking of using them on my bent wire book marks. ( I haven't shared those yet but I will another day)

Same material but made into clippie barrettes on snap clips. I like the look with the rhinestones.

These are really just like appliques right now. I guess they could be used for scrapbooks, cards, altered books, or even clothes but I think I might add pin backs to them. I haven't decided quite yet.

I think these are cute. These are just the alligator clips covered in grosgrain ribbon that are SOOOO popular. I just wanted to make them a little different besides the common bows on them. I think the bows are adorable but I wanted a little uniqueness in mine.

Here's more clippies but just a little smaller

These are my Jumbo brass paper clip bookmarks. I really like these. I have no idea what to price these. Still trying to decide. I don't even know if something like would sell at a craft show. Hopefully they would make good Easter basket stuffers.

These are more charms like the first picture except the second picture shows the back of each charm. They co-ordinate with the front but are reversible for another look. Pretty cool if you are buying them to wear as a pendant.

Ok. Well I think that is enough for tonight. Have a great green day!!!!

Hugs, blessings, and happy crafting.

A Mom and Daughter walk into a quilt store.........

Good Morning!

Ok so there really isn't a great punch line to that title but something really cool happened yesterday.
So my mom says hey let's go out for the day. No children, no husbands no time restraints. HMMM...... let me think, should I go? What about vacuuming, or laundry or dusting. Oh did I mention she said something about getting lunch and oh yeah there was a huge quilt show? LOL. No brainer, I'm there. Well the quilt show was nice, very well run and I think I just may have been inspired ( we'll see ). Afterwards we asked about the local quilt store. The ladies replied with " Oh you'll never find it on your own!" HUH?! We knew it was there but my mom had never found it just like they said.

Anyway this little store's entrance could only be accessed from a dead end street by going to the back of a house through an alley. You enter the store by going into the garage. The ladies at the show were right... I NEVER WOULD HAVE FOUND IT .

We were in there for quite a long time just browsing and talking to the shop owner. After talking about different crafts and such she suddenly asks if I knew of anybody that could tat. Well...... O.K. as rule I am not a quiet person until I as an individual gets targeted, then I tend to clam up. I hate extra attention and being in a spot light. Mom to the rescue, she is the voice when I have none. "She does!" Mom replies. My first thought was really Mom? Great!!!!!! Well this made the sweet shop owner Kaye very happy and very insistent. So here is the punch line.......(finally, I know) I am now going to be teaching needle tatting at her shop. But....... I really don't think the attention thing will bother me because they won't be staring a me but they will be watching my hands. I don't think my fingers are shy, ( Oh gees, at least I hope not. (grin) )

Any instructing advice would be very helpful since I have never taught anything in my life to any body over the teen years. Kids tend to ooh and aww a lot. (very self gratifying.)

Ok. with this said I will now leave you with the few things that I have been crafting since my last post. Enjoy and as always , feel free to contact me about the projects and I will get you instructions. ( I will be posting actual how to's very soon)

This doily/candle mat was my own design. My 5 yr. old said it looked like a flower in the middle so the next pic is what I came up with the help of his inspiration.

This is my take on a sunflower.

and with candle:



Here are just a couple chokers that I crocheted from mercerized cotton thread. I have needle tatted quite a few doilies and necklaces lately but I still have a mad passion for crochet. I love what I came up with here. Hope you like them to. I'll me adding them to my shop soon .

This picture isn't the greatest but I also crocheted up this cute little choker that in black makes it look kinda Gothic. I did it up in other colors too and the colors make it look everything from bohemian to goth to Victorian. I love how color play is so important in design. ( Not that I designed this stitch because I did not. I just took the stitch in a different direction )

Hope you enjoyed another sneak peek at what I'm up to. Feel free to share with me too.

Hugs, blessings and happy crafting.