Still Here...but lost in the sewing room

Time is zipping away. Poof gone...3 weeks in a flash. I keep wanting to post to ye' ole blog but then realize oh my goodness, that is 20 minutes that I could spend toiling away in the sewing room prepping for the next show. This fall season I signed up for six shows in 9 weeks. Which quite frankly is somewhat insane for me. You know me, little old WAHM with 2 small children, one 23 lb. puggle, and one muffin man to take care of. But, I'm doing it. Scrambling, but doing it.
I said scrambling right?

I committed to these shows really wanting to learn what is the best market for my little traveling market. What sells in public events best? Should I do preschool/church bazaars? Will people make an $80.00 impulse buy or is the threshold a little lower? Will people like my sometimes goofy sense of color and design? Through all of the crazed mania of running the normal cul-de-sac activities plus attending these shows I do feel like I have a better idea of what will work for my business.

For anyone out there who might be interested....here are a few things I've learned.

1. When setting up a booth at a fair or market have several smaller lower price point items and set them front and center on the table.

2. Attention to detail and neatness and a pretty table really do count. I have seen lots of booths with gorgeous things but they were laid flat on a white table...people don't stop to look if it isn't eye catching, colorful or interesting. Even then the stuff on the table is really cool.

3. Making eye contact with even the most reclusive shopper really does help.

4. When working a show, skip the "oh, so cute" but pinchy shoes. Those dogs will be barkin' 8 hours in, trust me.

5. Meeting other artistians and crafty folks is part of the fun of it all. I have coffee dates set up with a few of the most amazingly talented women I've met over the past few weeks. I'm very excited to begin sharing with other artzy'ies out there.

Tomorrow I'm off to combined open house home show. I've never done one like this that will last for 2 1/2 days. Oh, the digs are super lovely and I get to camp out in the hostess dining room. Yeeesssss. If you are in the Carmel, IN local area and want to see some gorgeous art, jewelry and ok, a few handbags too... stop by the Village of West Clay Village Boutique this weekend. (See the side bar for the address.)

Color Me There

I will be here on Saturday. The Hoosier Artisan boutique at the Oak Hill Mansion in Carmel, IN.

The sewing room is a flutter, ok and a clutter of activity trying to get ready.

I've got big bags, small bags, casual bags, and fancy bags. IPod covers, diaper caddies, zipper pouches, heat therapy rice bags, and key fobs will be laid out looking for good homes as well.

Hey, grab a friend and stop by to support the March of Dimes and your local artisan community.

Off To Market

Last week it was off to market for Pink Evita. I set up and broke down the "shop" two times in two days. That is right, as a complete martyr and glutton for punishment I participated in two shows in two days.

And then I collapsed onto the couch and didn't even unpack the truck until the weekend. I couldn't do that every week but it was a fun ride while it lasted.

I'm testing the market by choosing to participate in a wide variety of art and craft shows this fall and holiday season. I chose a church function, which by the way was an amazing 3 hours of fun and selling frenzy...thank you ladies so very much of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. I do hope to be invited back again next year. Then I chose a highly publicized event that was supposed to bring in 1500 ladies to shop for a 9 hour event. Gah, exhausting and not fabulous in the sales department, but ohhh, the people watching was amazing. I had the pleasure of being situated next to the nicest jewelry sales person ever and yes, by about 6 hours into the event we were drinking wine. Not sure about that show for next year.

Next up is the first ever Hoosier Artisan Show on October 17th at Oak Hill Mansion in Carmel, IN. (My hometown..now.) I am so darn skippy excited to be exhibiting with 50 other Hoosier artisans, this show is all handmade and all local. It is free to the public, so stop on by to say hello. I'm honored I could get a space and look forward to just hanging out with the other vendors. Look at this website...oooh, I'm sending the checkbook with the muffin man and letting him loose. While I exhibit, he can pick up some nice goodies for his lovely bride, that would be me. (I didn't say young bride, just lovely.)

Later in November I am also participating in a private home show and an open to the public show that will showcase local artisans. I'm testing the waters to see what works best for my little wee business. Is it better to pay the money to get into the larger more highly publicized public events or is it a better fit to focus on work of mouth sales and participate in smaller more private shows? I'm taking notes, people, taking notes and will report findings soon.

This week...ahhh, just working on a few custom orders. I love custom orders where people get so excited about ideas they have created. It is extra special fun as people consider handmade for gift giving this Christmas season.

These little zipper pouches with matching key fobs were a custom order and are going home today! The are girlfriend Christmas gifts. Apparently this group of ladies meets each holiday season for a gal pal dinner. This year the gals will each be receiving zipper pouch sets customized to their color preferences.

I'm off to go cut out some felt to make two Halloween poodles skirts. Yes, I know two little girls who want to be transported back to 1955 on Halloween eve. Yes, I'll post pictures of my gals in their new crinolines when I get them done!

Lake Lovely

I've been here for the last five days. And oh, is Northern Michigan just lovely. To make this scene even more amazing is the fact that I was able to hang with some girlfriends and chill out with wine and women while watching this.

What a super re-charger of a trip. No little children asking for snacks 16 times a day, no one to bathe and put to bed at 8pm, no one to taxi drive to gymnastics class. Ahhh, heaven. Only for 5 days...of course I still want my life back, but I have to be honest it was heaven.

Here I am at the dock photographing my shadow.
Have you ever seen such a clean lake? Sand bottomed clean lake! We went up to Old Mission Bay and stopped at a winery or two or four, I lost count, it was delightful. It took all day to meander through the bay area and stop at wineries and finish up the day at a funky microbrew pub for dinner.

But now I'm home. My babies picked fresh wildflowers for me. How sweet they are. My darling 7 year old stared at me moon eyed for the first 2 hours I was home. My three year old gave me the tightest hug ever known in our house when she saw me step through the door.

Even my sewing machine seemed to be slightly rejuvenated after I tossed in a load of laundry, paid bills and fired her back up again. Here is what she helped me create this afternoon.

The picture doesn't show the cutie pie pleats in the purple chenille very well. But this truly is a sweet little bag. It measures only about 11" wide and 7" tall. The handle drops 10" and is perfect for a close fit over your shoulder. Pop a vintage pin or button on the front and I'm thinking what a super fall bag. I'm headed back to the drawing board for some other funky color combinations now that I know I like the shape.

So, here we go. Fall is around the corner. Preschool starts this week. I'm committed to three fall art shows and the whisper of seasonal change is in the air.

UpCycling

In the last week I have been the lucky recipient of some wonderful cuts of fabric that shall we say, had worn out their welcome in their previous homes. Knowing that I am one to take in a stray cut of fabric now and again...my friend's have dropped their lovely bits of material with a free conscience. Of course your fabric will be loved here.

These were at one time some decadent curtains. But the owner has moved on to something more casual in aqua and chocolate. Oh that woman has some killer curtains in her home!

Notice I couldn't lay them out fast enough and begin the cutting process separating the amazing baby blue damask from it's lining.

Now, part of that curtain panel has been upCycled into this.





Oh heavenly tote. I have two of them and will be giving one to the original owner as a thank you for donating her fabric to the cause.

The other one will go up for sale.

This week I also scored some lovely chocolate brown curtains that it almost breaks my heart to cut up since they were quite well made. But, what good are they doing in someone's garage at the bottom of a box? They will be happier lining some nice lady's handbag as they move onto their next life.

Oh, the cutest little dresses

I do love making handbags, that is for sure. I make them all the time. I often feel as though I'm stealing time from my family just to get up in my sewing room and start sifting fabrics through my fingers all in hopes that it will soon be some whimsical funky bag on some lady's shoulder.

I do all of my sewing on my two beloved Husquavarna machines. I don't have a serger, haven't really needed one as all of my edges are hidden and pressed away on the bags and wallets.

BUT...

I've been thinking. I see all of these adorable, I mean killer cute kids outfits and I can't help but think...I could do that. I know I could. But, when I try to make my girls clothes I am bothered by my scratchy rather unprofessional seams. My girls sometimes complain when I gather a skirt and the inside seam is well, a little fuzzy and ummm...bulky.

So I've been thinking serger. Cheap, hearty runs like gold serger. I want one. So I can make amazing little girls clothes like these....

http://www.polkadotmom.com/ This gal over at Whimsy Couture has the most adorable tutorials. The photo shows one of her dresses.

Serger...I'm thinking...oh, serger I covet thee.

What's New, Prison Pants, and Yummy Tassels

It's a bit of of a mixed bag over here this summer. We've been enjoying our summer at sprinkler parks and riding our bicycles, my girls and I that is. For the last month I've certainly been working on the business, but well with the girls at my side, it's been admittedly been somewhat up in my head deciding what's next rather than at the sewing machine. Only Chloe, the puggle seems to truly appreciate my neverending desire to spend hundreds of hours tied to my creative place up there in the sewing room.

This past week though, I've made some strides to get ready for fall. I have committed to Girls Night Out Indy. If you are going to be in the Indianapolis, IN area on October 1st, 2009 pop on over to the website and register for the event, it's free and I believe they even comp a drink or two when you register. Yes, I do hope clients will be liquored up walking the aisles. (Wink.) I'll be showing there for the first time and am very excited to have this event to share my bags. Even if I am the one drinking herbal tea that day and evening.

Here is a preview of what I'm working on. I love to have a wall full of love to greet me when I walk in. Gah, that silver and pink one looks like it might just jump off the hook.

I've also been making prison pants. No, Ava is not waiting in line for juvenile detention. She's performing in a camp this week where the final show has a jailhouse rock theme. I managed to pull the assignment for several pairs of orange prison pants. I'm working on the 4th pair right now. (Or well, I'm technically taking a break from the 4th pair right now.) Next year I do hope there is room for some originally designed little girl's sun dresses. Now, that is a project I could grow to love.


Want to see some new scalloped wallets? They are so fun to make. Since they come in a set with a key fob to match...I wonder if I might have to keep one for myself?




And one final thought, these tassels were scored in a clearance bin. I bought several colors and some have beads. I had no idea what to do with them, but they were calling my name longingly and they came home. Perhaps they will wind up a decorations for some new swing bags? Any other ideas? They are just too pretty to sit around not adorning something.