Craft shows

Well.. I have tried a few craft shows this year and lost money trying them out.  It's either my product or it's the timing of the show.  I will start again in spring of 2013.  I will be making some Easter things.  I hope to get this off and running.  I need to explore other avenues also not just craft shows.  I will be looking into flea markets as well and maybe some on line stores.   I know that when starting any business it's slow at first and maybe there's some ups and downs..but I am ready.  Take care... Shirley

ink pens with flowers, vase and glass beads

I put together a gift for a young lady that wanted a vase with beads and pens with flowers. I took a clear glass vase (sturdy) and added glass round and flat beads. Then I took ink pens that do not click and removed the covers over the tips, this will be the part that you stick in the beads. The next step, I taped on the flowers or toppers with painters tape. I covered the painters tape with green floral tape. This covers the painters tape.  There you have it.. arrange your decorative pens ..it's a great gift!! 2012

used softener sheets

Used softener sheets, save them for some useful tasks.  One thing they are really good at is taking all the lint off your lint catchers from your dryer plus they do a really good job dusting and wiping off your washer and dryer. I have used them for a long time now.  I also use them to dust around the house. They pick up the dust so easy..on pictures, furniture, mini blinds etc..give it a try. 

painting windows

Painting windows not an easy task.  I use an artist brush..around  3/4 inch to 1 inch wide.  The plus side of this is that you can do all the detailed work easily, buy a long one so you can reach far and they also wash up really nice too.

Well.. I decided to travel 1 hour and 40 minutes to see how my crafts were doing at the sale.  I was pleased to see people there shopping and by the time I left the place was packed. There was a ton of stuff there from other crafters.  WOW..  what talent they have..painted..canning...jewelry making...sewing..so many ideas and well executed too.  The people in charge, I have to say displayed everything really nice but I was not too happy about my stuff (felt childrens books).  I brought 34 with two samples, one for a girl and one for a boy but they only put out around 6 in a large basket.  If you were to look up from where mine were displayed there was a cabinet full of books, I'd say a few dozen made by the same person...what to think about that. I did say something and they put more of my books out.  In a few weeks I will be picking them up or what's left that didn't sale.  I will see at that time how many sales were made.

Crochet Baby Hat and Booties

Crocheted hat and booties.  I decided to change up the color to a very light grey with navy blue ties on the booties and also in the flower on the hat.  I wanted to give the little girl more color to her wardrobe other than pink. Dec 2011

I now had dropped off my childrens books in a small town in southern MN.  They are having some type of Octoberfest and gather vendors.  The twist is that they..not us the vendors sale our goods at 25% for the total sale which is for 24 days. So one should be able to make some money..hopefully.  I am going to make a drive down in a day or two to see how they displayed my stuff and to check things out.  Some nice fall day would be a great ride.  The hour and one half drive needs to be scenic. more later.....

Painted Childrens Crate

Painted wooden crate that I painted and decorated for a little girl for her books.

I purchased the unfinished crate at JoAnn Fabrics plus the painted wood decals. After applying wood filler to all the nail holes, I then sanded and painted primmer on the crate.  I then painted it with a gloss finish.  After drying I then glued on the decals plus adding her name on one side of the crate.  It turned out really cute..I thought!! July 2012

Sept 4 2012,  I am getting ready for a craft/flea market sale this Saturday.  If I didn't make a list I would for sure forget something.  It sounds like a simple thing just take your stuff price it and pack it.  Well it's not that simple, I wish it was but there's a ton of things to do.  Not only do you have to have inventory to sale you have to price it, pack it then you need displays plus tent, weights, chair and table..and bags ...oh boy see what I mean. You need that list.  Talking about lists when I was younger I did not need a list. My list was mentally written and checked it off that way too but now I have to write it down and check it twice.  I hope it all goes well.