Sunday

Sue and I had a great day yesterday. We were at the Seymour Heart and Home Craft Fair all day. We did well in sales and got lots of compliments on our products. It is very heartening to hear people say we had cool stuff and then actually buy it! We have 3 more fairs scheduled in the next 4 weeks so I will be very busy stocking up, especially since I sold 7 purses yesterday. I think that is a record for me. Trying to catch up today on house stuff-I have seriously neglected the home front lately. Tonight we are taking Meta and her friends to Compounce to go to the Haunted Trail, it will be good to take a night off from crafting.
Last night after the fair we went up to Michael, my nephew,and Lexi's new house. Had a great time, drank some wine, ate excellent food and desserts and got to hang out with the family. So I am off line for now, too nice a day to be inside.

Thursday

Well we finally broke down and bought a dishwasher. My friend had given us an old one she had but once we hooked it up and tried it we found it actually didn't work. So off to Sears we went and picked up a nice Frigidaire. Tried it out tonight, I am very impressed how nice and clean the dishes were. OK now I can move on to crafts. I did get a chance to put together 3 more felted purses, they came out so cute, I want to keep one of them for me but I know it's too small for all my junk I seem to need to carry around. I am going to start working on some more boxes also, I have a few ideas for winter/Christmas I want to try out. I'll post some pictures when I get one done. Sometimes I have so much in my head I want to do it all at once and then if I don't write it down or actually go and do it-it's gone! I'll be at the Heart and Home craft show in a couple weeks, hopefully I'll have some new items and can see how they go over.

Tuesday

Well I know I haven't written in a while but I have been busy. Lots of stuff to do around the house and in the craft room. I have been diligently posting my purses and Halloween crafts on line all this past 2 weeks. It takes a while to do all that, between taking the pictures, editing them and then typing in descriptions and all that! I have made a few on line sales and I have been featured on a web site called Wickedly Chic, that excites me. Any help in getting my stuff showcased I'll take. Sue and I have 4 more craft fairs scheduled between now and Thanksgiving also so I need to make sure I have stuff to sell at them. I have been working on word banners and my decorated boxes. I have quite a few purses made up and plenty of sweaters to work from, it's just a matter of getting to it. Yesterday I spent most of the day helping Tom put away all the water garden stuff. I had to sink the pots down to the bottom, always a lovely job and clean all the hoses and pumps to put them away until next year., so not too much got done in the craft room. I have an order to fill from one of my work friends , I did spend some time on that. I need to get that to her this week. Below are some pictures of things I have been working on. Let me know what you think. The first is a word banner that spells "harvest". Next one is the word"dream"

Tuesday

Well I have been busy-too busy to even jump on here and write a few lines. Vacation was Ok, not our best year with the weather. When it rains at a beach house it gets kinda boring real fast. Especially when you have anywhere from 10-1 4 people with you! But the sun came out Thursday afternoon and all was well again.
Been working on Halloween stuff for the next fair, want to see how it does. I have a bunch of parts and plenty of ideas, just need to get them put together. My cousin Sue and I did another sale at my work building, did much better this time. I got good reaction to my purses and sold 4 all together. My notecards got a lot of attention too, I think I will work on some holiday ones. I guess our thoughts that summer is not the best time are probably correct, people were even asking if we were going to come back before Christmas. That's a good sign. we have a fair scheduled every month for the next 3 months so we will be busy.

Friday befroe vacation

Can't wait, we will be at the beach tomorrow. We are leaving for our annual family vacation to RI. I know the kids are looking forward to it and so am I. We have so much fun all week, even if it is a little crowded. Looks like we will be seeing almost all the family there this year. I am bringing my beads and some cross stitching to work on. Can't go without bringing a craft! See you in a weeks time, well rested and ready for the fall craft season!

Sunday

Whew I'm pooped. Spent most of my day in the kitchen dealing with the garden bounty. Takes a long time to deal with all that stuff. I made a double recipe of Stuffed Cabbage, Stuffed Peppers and a new item. It is called Cabbage Strudel. It is delicious. Tastes like a dessert but I served it at dinner as a vegetable. Also made onion rings from scratch tonight. On top of all that I finished putting together the treadle sewing machine I just refinished, it came out really nice but what a pain trying to remember where all the parts go! I ended up taking it all apart again this morning and Tom pointed out after all was said and done that I had the wrong screws in the hinges. AAGRRRRHHH. I don't think I want to take it apart again, think I'll just find the right size screws and change them, much easier. I also finished or almost finished painting the side table I stripped last weekend. That cameo out cute too. I wasn't going to paint it but when I stripped it, I discovered it was a mess under the finish, much easier to cover it with paint. So with all that I didn't have much time for crafting. Sue sent me an email and asked if I was interested in a craft fair in Brookfield, it's only $25 so I said yes. We'll be busy this fall. That's 2 in September and one in October so far. Got to remember to call about the November one Darlene told me about.
OK time to go crash-back to work tomorrow

Saturday

Well added some more of my denim bags to my on line store. See what happens. I was busy today doing some painting and varnishing. A few pieces that have needed refinishing for oh I would say about 20 years finally got done today. I may not be fast but I get it done, eventually. I am looking forward to next week, we will be going on our annual week long vacation at the beach. Been trying to think of a craft I can do while I am there, I'll have plenty of free time. Maybe I will work on some Halloween boxes I have been thinking of trying out. I'll have my sister and Mom to help with suggestions. I'll have to put together a kit of parts I will need while I am there. I have also changed my position at my full time job. Time to move on to a new endeavor, always good to mix things up every couple of years. I will miss my buddies in my office, especially Little Peggy, my crafting buddy but I know we will keep in touch. We have to, too many ideas we haven't talked about yet! Ok time to go het tour Saturday night pizza going. It always tastes so good this time of year with the fresh tomatoes and fresh basil. Yummmmm. Summertime.

Wednesday

Been taking it easy on the crafting this week, time to catch up on other projects. I did get a bunch of weeds pulled. I always feel so much better when the garden is neat and you can actually see the flowers. Now the house is another story.....
I have been thinking of some ideas for the fall, maybe some Halloween totes for the kids, maybe try some pillows. I really must get some pictures taken of the purses I have made already and get them on line, they won't sell hanging on the back of my kitchen chairs thats for sure!
I was able to make a glitter box to go along with the one I made with the glitter fairy. I think it looks pretty good, what do you think? I found glitter of the same color,the same flower and a co-ordinating ribbon. I used a dragonfly on this flower rather than the bee I have on the other box. I put them in my bathroom with cotton balls and Q tips in them. I think they look good in there.

Saturday

Well another summer sale that was a bust. My cousin Sue, my co worker Darlene and I did a show in the lobby of one of our office buildings. I did so well at the last one I thought this one was a shoe in. Maybe because its summer and people are on vacation, maybe it was too hot, maybe they just aren't interested in shopping. I think from now on I will leave the summer to stockpiling and forget the sales. Our next attempt will be on September 7th, closer to fall and the holidays, we will give it a try. I did get a lot of compliments, especially on the denim bags. I thought the note cards I made might be of interest but they were a no go also. I did sell one bag and the tea set I bought at the auction, so all was not lost. I still have plenty of stock and now I can concentrate on projects around the house I need to catch up on, like weeding!

Monday

Well I got a wonderful feedback from my online sale. I am so happy she liked it, I was a little nervous selling something on line, its not quite the same as seeing it in person. Looking froward to Friday, we will be at an AT&T location and I think we will all do well. My cousin is coming with me this time and also another friend that does really neat jewelery. Got my fingers crossed it will be a busy day for us. I have been working on a new project. I made note cards using old buttons and floss. I saw the idea in a Martha issue and went with it. So far I have made 8 and they are all different and I think they are adorable. My daughter liked them also so that s a good sign, she has a good eye for things. She gave one of my denim purses to her girlfriend as a birthday gift this weekend, I think I have given away more than I have sold. I figure its advertising. Check out my note cards-what do you think?

Sunday

Yeah ! raise the flag-I finally sold a purse on line! I was so excited when I got the email saying I had made a sale, thought it would never happen. I'm taking it to the post office tomorrow and then that will be done. Hope it's not the last one I make. In 2 weeks I will be doing another sale at work, hopefully I will do as well as i did with the first one.
On another note we finally got my parents house painted, Tom has been going down for weeks getting it ready. Scraping and washing and repairing. We got everyone to show up Saturday morning and we were done by 12 noon. No one complained and we all did a nice neat job. Of course after we were done and cleaned up we had lunch and spent the next 3 hours in the pool playing games. Those kids are so much fun to be around. I must say we have close to a perfect family, we all get along, no one gets in too much trouble and they are fun to be with. Ok off to rest up so I can go back to work tomorrow.

Thursday

I know I have written in a while-been catching up on stuff I haven't been getting to around the house. Derby Day was a bust-I sold one clock and Sue made 2 sales. Guess we won't be going back there next year. People were just walking by, not looking left or right. None of the vendors were doing anything, Sue went and checked a couple of times. Since I have so much stock left I have had time to try out some new ideas I have. My pillows came out cool, I used old handerchiefs and chenille. I like them, now if I can just sell one........
I made 5 baskets for Derby Day also. they came out nice, I decorated them all differently and put candles in them, maybe at my next at&t sale I can sell some of those also. This craft business can be pretty frustrating, on one hand people tell you your stuff is beautiful and you should sell it but then when you try, no one is buying. Oh well one of these days I'll find my niche. I did finally get to fininsh Briors 2 purses from her son's pants. I forgot to take a picture though, they came out neat.

friday

I'm getting excited, tomorrow is Derby Day and Sue(my cousin) and I will have a booth there. I hope we do well. I have a good variety of stuff to bring this time. I was able to make 5 small hanging baskets. I put a couple candles in 3 of them and the other 2 I am going to put fresh flowers in. I decorated 4 of them with embellishments. I put some vintage paper flowers on some, a star on the blue one for the 4th and a red heart on another. One I made with my Florida basket supplies, palm coir and palm tree parts. One I left plain. I'll post some photos later, forgot to take pictures last night. I also ended up with 7 pillows all together, 5 made with the hankerchiefs and 2 with lace and beads. Maybe this time I will actually sell one! I thought pillows would be an easy sell but it so far that isn't happening.
Wish me luck,

Thursday

Haven't written in a while, been busy getting ready for Derby Day. I have a nice variety to show this time, I decided I am going to bring everything this time. Seems like you can't judge what will sell and what will not. I think variety is good to have too. Stop by and see my booth if you can, I should be almost directly in front of the phone comapny building on Elizabeth St, across form Connies restaurant. I finally got to make some pillows I have been thinking about. I used old floral hankerchiefs and remmants of chenille and silk. They came out pretty cool, now the hard part, how much to charge for them. I was thinking in the $20 range, still not sure yet. Hope to see you on Saturday

Tuesday

Today I was able to give my friend the purse I had made for her. I'm pretty sure she liked it, she moved all her stuff over form her old one right away so I guess that is a good sign. I told her it came with strings attached though, anytime anyone asks her about it she has to give out one of my business cards. A little marketing strategy on my part. Plus they were pants she had donated to me to use to make a purse, only fitting she should get them back. It is my first attempt at appliquéing on these bags. Plus I made her a glitter initial, love that glitter.

Sunday

Wow-busy weekend again. Last night I threw myself a 50th birthday party, it was an absolute blast. Invited all my family and a couple of my bestest friends so it wasn't huge. We had a excellent game of "sockball', which is basically wiffle ball but you use a rolled up sock wrapped in duct tape instead. Makes it a little more interesting. Then my daughter had made a pinata in the shape of a strawberry, very appropriate for this time of year. And we also had a fireworks display after it got dark. Everyone had a good time, no major mishaps and it appears no major hangovers. It has taken my husband and myself all day to get the yard cleaned up but it was worth it. The weather held off, it didn't rain while the party was going on thank goodness although it was cloudy and damp all evening. Now that all the festivities between myself and our daughter are done I can down in the basement and get crafting. i am still trying to get some pillows made out of old hankerchiefs, I have a bunch and I am trying to think of ways I can use them. I did frame a couple and that is interesting. I think the pillows could be a big hit. I won't know unless I can get some made.

Thursday

What to do crafts or yard work? Maybe I can squeeze in both today. It is beautiful out there. Today would be a good day to switch gears and start making some baskets for my upcoming craft fair since I can work on those outside and not have to be in the basement sewing. I will be at Derby Day (Derby CT) on the 23rd of this month. I know my baskets have always been well received as gifts, I would like to see how they will sell. i better get going the day is wasting!

Wednesday

Today I have to do some more non craft chores. Bummer. I will be able to work on something this afternoon I hope. Off to help my sister with something and then I volunteered to go along with my husband and our daughter to chaperon a trip to a baseball game. The chorus is singing the national anthem at tonights game. It will be fun I'm sure and probably our last chance to go on a field trip with our daughter. I did make a really cute bag last night for a good friend. I will post a photo after I give it to her just in case she does read my blog!

I just figured out how to add pictures to my posts! So here is one of the 8th grade dance my husband and I helped out with for our daughter. It was an island paradise theme and I choose to do a wall as an undersea scene. I painted all the characters and fish myself and used my daughters face for the mermaid. On another wall I did another mermaid with her best friends face.

Tuesday

Got some more sewing done today-yeah! Sometimes seems like a million other things get in the way. Guess I will have to learn to manage my time better if this is going to ever work for me. Seem s like when you are home though there is always other chores that have to get done first, like vacuuming and all that boring stuff. Oh well, it has to be done once in a while. I am getting ready to do a craft fair at the end of the month also so the pressure is on. So onward to the kitchen, now I have to squeeze in making dinner.

Monday

Very busy weekend-the 8th grade dance is over and all went well. Kids loved the decorations-thank goodness. Also our dance recital was Sunday and that also went well. My daughter and I both dance and we both did very good. She of course has a much better stage presence and far more talent than I. Now that all that is over and I am off for the next week, my intent is to get going on some crafts. This morning was going to be perfect, its raining and I had no other plans. Don't you know the power went out and it is still out. So now I can't go downstairs and work. We do have a generator running but the basement is not on any of the circuits for the generator so I am out of luck for this morning. At least the computer is on the generator, guess you can see what has priorities around here. i think its time for me to buy my domain name and establish a web page, guess I can at least get that done today while I am waiting for the power.

Friday

Well didn't get to post yesterday-too many other projects going at once. Trying to finish the 8th grade dance decorations for today. I have to go back and finish this morning, it is taking longer to put up than I thought it would. Plus we had dress rehearsal for the dance recital we are both in on Sunday. Too busy right now to get to any crafts which is very frustrating. Hopefully after today I can get busy, so many ideas and new things I want to try and get done!

Wednesday

Hi-Trying to finish my decorating project today. My husband and I volunteered to help decorate the gym for our daughters 8th grade graduation dance, it of course snowballed and now the day is fast approaching to deliver the goods. I think I am almost done though and can move on to my crafting projects I have lined up. I sure hope so. Plus it is such a beautiful day outside, I would like to go finish some gardening projects. Got some good feed back and comments on my pictures on my Etsy site. Looks like some people tagged me as one of their favorites too, that makes me happy and I can see people are viewing my stuff, need to add some more next couple of days. Looks like the best way to do this to add a piece or two each day or every couple of days.

Tuesday

Well skipped yesterday-too busy watching the parade and eating. My Dad was in the parade again this year, 84 and going strong. He had an offer again to ride in a WWII DUC and he was thrilled. He even still fits in his uniform. I'm glad my kids are old enough to remember all this, not everyone is lucky enough to have such cool relatives.
On to crafting-I posted a few more items in my Etsy store. Seems like a good idea to add a few every couple of days instead of all at once. I'm thinking of even adding my Easter items later on just to see if there is any interest there. I had fun photographing the purses. I used my daughter and her friend as models. When I asked if they were interested, they couldn't say yes fast enough. That was one of the suggestions I got from the Etsy forum, to take pictures on a model to show how the purse looks in relationship to a person. Not a bad idea. Also taking the photos outside to get better lighting is a good idea. See if that helps my sales or at least benerates some interest.

Sunday

Okay-I have added to my Etsy site, answered and asked questions on a couple of forums and added a link on this blog to my website. Let's see what happens. I do want to generate some internet business, I think it will help me get on my feet and start selling on a more consistent basis. I guess getting your name and product out there is the tough part. Keeping my fingers crossed
Amy

Glitter Class

Today I had a class with the Glitter Fairy(www.glitterworksstudio.com). She not only taught me great glitter and stamping techniques but she hooked me up with a blog. She was also very helpful as far as getting going with a craft business and things you need to do. I am a crafter, my passion is creating something new with parts from something old. Far more challenging and fun for me. I am just starting out in the commercial side of crafting, been making things and giving them away for years. Lately I have been making purses out of felted wool sweaters and denim jeans. Check out my website at www.pompompurses.etsy.com and see what i have been doing.
Amy