Handmade for the Holidays!

Today I am vending at Handmade for the Holidays at Becket's located at 1 City Center in Oshkosh - I can't wait! Considering the fact that it starts in just under 4 hours - guess I don't have to wait very long.

Hope to see you there!

PS: I thought this was my last show for the year, but Jennifer Bellin, who hosts an annual open house (this year it's Dec 10) to promote her message business in Neenah has asked me back this year - more details to follow...

So - How You Doin'?

I love / hate fabric sales. It is my belief that I would save money if there were no fabric sales because I wouldn't get so greedy. I was "just looking" the other day at my local Hancock Fabrics and found some great fabric on sale that will be perfect for clothespin bags this spring.

The weather outside is so gloomy tonight so I thought I would post a photo from this weekend which will probably be the last day my yard will look so pleasant until May {sigh}.

My work had a Halloween Potluck so I commissioned my friend who bakes WAY better than I do to make a pineapple upside down cake. I then took it home and made it into a p"eye"napple upside down cake with a pack of gummy body parts. The other items are noses and fingers (although I was told by one co-worker that it wasn't a bachelorette party... eehhh)

Wrist Warmers

Inspired by a clean(er) sewing area, I decided to try something new for my last two shows of the year. I think they turned out pretty well and can't wait to show them off for the Gallery Walk at Emma Jeans Boutique on 11/05 and at Handmade for the Holidays on 11/19.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home

This song is constantly stuck in my head!

PS - sorry for the lame link to youtube but it's worth it.

Pattern, Pumpkin, Began, Cleanin'

Okay, not that anybody's keeping track, but I haven't posted in quite awhile, so here is what's been going on...

Pattern: Other than mittens and a few random hats - oh and some scrunchies when I briefly had access to a machine in 1991 - I have never made any wearable items so I bough the above pattern for a summery dress in the hopes that I could have it ready by time the warm weather rolls around again (I know it says "see & sew", but the reason I have so much original stuff is because I am really bad at following patterns).

Pumpkin: Last week a friend of mine came over for our 5th annual pumpkin carving event. Hers are the two on the top - the spaceship she finished by putting a little alien figure in the spaceship beam which turned out really cute. Mine are the other two photos. Unfortunately due to warm weather an a little rain, they are a little soft and my not make it to Halloween...

Began (pronounced like "vegan"): This weekend I vended at The Sandra Began Holiday Preview and Fundraising Event. The crowd was great, the venue was beautiful and although I felt like my display was amateur compared to my fellow vendors, it is much better than it was and looking at all the other displays I got a lot of inspiration on how to improve for future events. Thanks Sandra!

Cleanin': there are no photos for this part of the post because I was really embarrassed with how out of hand I let me sewing area get. I dedicated part of the day to organizing and getting rid of unnecessary items. I am now inspired to get back in there and mess it up again :)

Back in Action

After a little hiatus from the sewing machine, I received a custom order which has motivated me to get back to makin' stuff. I used an iron on transfer to make this cute wristlet even cuter with the recipient's 2 little boys (above).

Tomorrow I will be bringing the last of my litter of clothespin bags to the Appleton Downtown Farm Market (as well as all the other fun stuff I have to offer). I can't believe these are all I have left and two of them have been pre-adopted!

And Me Without My Camera...

Okay - that's a lie, I had my camera and once again didn't think of taking any pictures until I was putting away my stuff and my camera bag was in the way.

Anyway, on Sunday I participated in the 7th Annual Summer Craftacular in Madison, WI hosted by the Glitter Workshop and let me just say the good people and tourists of Madison were very kind to yours truly.

Not only did I sell a few items, but I had some great "neighbors" that were fun to visit with. To my right was Amy from Modish Life who sold adorable children's clothing, in fact, the stuff was so cute it almost made me wish I kids of my own (I said almost). On my right was Venessa from BailyBelle Creations who sold some really fun jewelry including these really clever fan necklaces.

I also ran into Betsy from Artess, who happened to have just finished teaching a screen printing class - how perfect - and gave me a few pointers and list of supplies for the beginner (screen printing is going to be my new phase after the new year - I can't wait!)

Here's an update on what's new - nothing - ugh...

I've been working extra hours at the old day job so the sewing machine has been sitting dormant, but my next items up on the cutting block are: gadget pouches, cat bags with zippered mouths & can you believe it...MITTENS (it almost seems like a crime to think about it when I am sitting here with the air conditioning on).