Extravaganza Craft Productions passed along a link to an article on their blog about craft shows. They're not just for selling crafts. They're for testing a product, finding out who your customer is and building up your business. Although we all know this in the back of our minds, it's a good read and helpful to be reminded of what we can accomplish at a craft show. I know I have people come back to my table year after year at some of the shows I do. I've always given them my business card and I know some of their names, but I've never started an email list. I'm not going to be doing any shows again until fall, but I plan on putting out a sign up sheet for people to write their email on and then I'm going to occasionally send out a notice about new items, shows I'm in, etc.
The link to the article is http://extravaganzacrafts.com/Blogs/?p=159. Hopefully you'll find it useful too.
A blog to promote and discuss handmade goods and also to comment on general topics in life such as being a working mother.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Craft Show Was a Bust
Well, the craft show was not well attended. Maybe 2 dozen people walked through the door. Could be a combination of odd time of year for a craft show, location and the first nice day for weeks. I only sold one item. And I did something I've never done before--I left early. I just couldn't justify sitting there for another hour when no one was coming. Many others left well before me. I felt bad about leaving, but it just was not a good use of my time to sit there. Has anyone else ever left a craft show early?
So now I'm updating my on-line shops. It's amazing how time consuming that is. I was having trouble with pictures on Artfire which really slowed me down. I want to update my current items that are listed and then I have some new ones to list. I'm adding a clearance section on my Artfire store http://www.artfire.com/users/BrendasCraftStore and putting the winter items in it. Even though the temperature was in the 30s last night, I'm still hoping for spring so I'm going to put the winter stuff on clearance. It's a good time to stock up for next year though! You can't beat the prices!
Next up might be some shawls and I saw a pattern for a cute little graduation bear.
So now I'm updating my on-line shops. It's amazing how time consuming that is. I was having trouble with pictures on Artfire which really slowed me down. I want to update my current items that are listed and then I have some new ones to list. I'm adding a clearance section on my Artfire store http://www.artfire.com/users/BrendasCraftStore and putting the winter items in it. Even though the temperature was in the 30s last night, I'm still hoping for spring so I'm going to put the winter stuff on clearance. It's a good time to stock up for next year though! You can't beat the prices!
Next up might be some shawls and I saw a pattern for a cute little graduation bear.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Craft Show This Weekend
For all you Minnesotans, I'm going to be in a craft show on Saturday, May 7, at the VFW in Forest Lake, MN. I think there will be many interesting crafters there, so please stop by and shop.
As I think is always the case, I don't feel like I have enough inventory or all the things I'd like to have offered for sale, but I think I have some items that will make good Mother's Day gifts. I hope shoppers agree. It's going to be a long day though--the sale goes form 10 am to 7 pm. A rather odd time. Most shows are 9-3, 9-4, etc. So we'll see how this goes. I've never done one in the northern suburbs and this is a first time promoter, so things might not go so smoothly. I hope shoppers show up because there's nothing worse than to sit there all day with no business.
After the show, I intend to put my efforts into a quick little custom order I have and then I have a very LONG list of things I want to try. I want to do American Girl doll clothes, socks, a lot of new dishcloths, headbands, childrens' things, toys, and so on and so on. I just need more hours in the day!
As I think is always the case, I don't feel like I have enough inventory or all the things I'd like to have offered for sale, but I think I have some items that will make good Mother's Day gifts. I hope shoppers agree. It's going to be a long day though--the sale goes form 10 am to 7 pm. A rather odd time. Most shows are 9-3, 9-4, etc. So we'll see how this goes. I've never done one in the northern suburbs and this is a first time promoter, so things might not go so smoothly. I hope shoppers show up because there's nothing worse than to sit there all day with no business.
After the show, I intend to put my efforts into a quick little custom order I have and then I have a very LONG list of things I want to try. I want to do American Girl doll clothes, socks, a lot of new dishcloths, headbands, childrens' things, toys, and so on and so on. I just need more hours in the day!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Happy Easter!
Happy Easter to all! Besides eating a very nice dinner, I got to spend some time crocheting. My sister-in-laws knit and we all usually spend some time when we're together at holidays knitting. I was working on a crocheted summer hat for girls out of colorful sock yarn. I think it will turn out nicely.
I've been busy the past few weeks with work (Commencement is only 3 weeks away) and trying to get things ready for a craft show on May 7 at the VFW in Forest Lake, MN. I also made some Easter baskets for a co-worker (see below).
Some of the things I'll have at the show include some e-reader covers, trellis necklaces and dish towels and dishcloths. I still have much more to make though, so I'd better get busy!
I've been busy the past few weeks with work (Commencement is only 3 weeks away) and trying to get things ready for a craft show on May 7 at the VFW in Forest Lake, MN. I also made some Easter baskets for a co-worker (see below).
Some of the things I'll have at the show include some e-reader covers, trellis necklaces and dish towels and dishcloths. I still have much more to make though, so I'd better get busy!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Dear Blog: My first exercise class ever!
Dear Blog:
Tonight I took my first exercise class ever, and I don't think I made a fool of myself! I actually rather liked it and I think it might work out.
I've never been interested in organized exercise or going to a gym. Mainly because I don't want anyone to see me exercising. Too embarrassing. But after years of working in offices with phones and computers and then spending more hours knitting and crocheting and cleaning house and doing laundry, I've become stiff and not very flexible. It's not that I don't exercise. We walk every evening (weather permitting) and I have an exercise bike (which I should use more regularly). I do a lot of outdoor work in the summer and shoveling in the winter. But apparently I need to do something different.
So I thought about yoga. I thought about Pilates. But still a little too worried that I would look completely foolish and out of shape. Then the community Ed catalog came in the mail. It listed Tai Chi and talked about stretching and flexibility and approved by the arthritis foundation. Sounded like right up my alley. Maybe it would be a class of older people and I wouldn't feel outclassed. So I signed up.
The class had a mix of ages and I think my 50 year old self fell right in the middle. I didn't think it was too hard and I actually followed most of the moves. And I actually felt good afterward! My back, neck and arms have hurt lately and this evening my arms feel good and the back isn't so bad. So I'm going to go again next week!
Now it's time for any readers out there to chime in--what kind of exercise helps you avoid neck, back and arm pain? Does massage help? I do a massage once a month and I love it! But it's expensive!
Tonight I took my first exercise class ever, and I don't think I made a fool of myself! I actually rather liked it and I think it might work out.
I've never been interested in organized exercise or going to a gym. Mainly because I don't want anyone to see me exercising. Too embarrassing. But after years of working in offices with phones and computers and then spending more hours knitting and crocheting and cleaning house and doing laundry, I've become stiff and not very flexible. It's not that I don't exercise. We walk every evening (weather permitting) and I have an exercise bike (which I should use more regularly). I do a lot of outdoor work in the summer and shoveling in the winter. But apparently I need to do something different.
So I thought about yoga. I thought about Pilates. But still a little too worried that I would look completely foolish and out of shape. Then the community Ed catalog came in the mail. It listed Tai Chi and talked about stretching and flexibility and approved by the arthritis foundation. Sounded like right up my alley. Maybe it would be a class of older people and I wouldn't feel outclassed. So I signed up.
The class had a mix of ages and I think my 50 year old self fell right in the middle. I didn't think it was too hard and I actually followed most of the moves. And I actually felt good afterward! My back, neck and arms have hurt lately and this evening my arms feel good and the back isn't so bad. So I'm going to go again next week!
Now it's time for any readers out there to chime in--what kind of exercise helps you avoid neck, back and arm pain? Does massage help? I do a massage once a month and I love it! But it's expensive!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Some More New Items
I did a knitted version of the preemie baby hat and listed it at my Etsy store. http://www.etsy.com/shop/brendascraftstore I think I like the knitted version better than the crochet version.
And I listed another necklace at Artfire http://BrendasCraftStore.artfire.com I really like the colors on this one. The yellow really stands out. This is one of my favorite colors so far.
I spent part of the evening working on a crocheted dish towel. I had tried one a week ago with this pattern but didn't like how it came out, so I'm trying again with some modifications. We'll see how it goes. I watched the Academy of Country Music Awards while I crocheted. They had some good performances. All the women looked gorgeous in their fancy dresses. I wish I were that skinny! I'm going to start an exercise class tomorrow night through our community ed program, so maybe I'll get a start on fitting into one of those dresses!
And I listed another necklace at Artfire http://BrendasCraftStore.artfire.com I really like the colors on this one. The yellow really stands out. This is one of my favorite colors so far.
I spent part of the evening working on a crocheted dish towel. I had tried one a week ago with this pattern but didn't like how it came out, so I'm trying again with some modifications. We'll see how it goes. I watched the Academy of Country Music Awards while I crocheted. They had some good performances. All the women looked gorgeous in their fancy dresses. I wish I were that skinny! I'm going to start an exercise class tomorrow night through our community ed program, so maybe I'll get a start on fitting into one of those dresses!
Monday, March 28, 2011
New Shop Listings
I've finished some new trellis yarn necklaces in a pretty spring color--they have lime, pink, blue and copper in them. They'll go well with all kinds of different outfits. Here's a photo:
You can find one on my Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/brendascraftstore and on Artfire at http://BrendasCraftStore.artfire.com.
I also tried a new item--a preemie baby's hat. The pattern I was using was a free pattern from Bernat and it gave no information about the circumference the hat should be. I found it really frustrating. My son is 19 years old, so it's been a long time since I had a baby around, and I really don't remember how little a baby is. So I googled newborn baby head size and there were several things that came up. I stumbled onto a website called http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/. She has all kinds of stuff on there, including a size chart for preemie, newborn, toddlers, children and adult hats. I love it! It was really helpful to me so I'd like to say thank you to Bev. She also has a lot of hat patterns for babies and children. I believe she does a lot of hats for donations, which I encourage everyone to do. It's a worthwhile cause. If you're in Minnesota in the Twin Cities area, we have something called Bundles of Love which makes afghans, booties, etc. for newborns of mothers who need help. If you would like contact information for Bundles of Love, please let me know.
In any event, I crocheted the preemie hat using Bernat Softee baby yarn and it came out pretty well. I ended up using my old Baby Pat a Burp doll as the model. She has a 13" circumference head and the hat fits loosely on her. So it should fit a preemie. Here's a picture:
I only used 1/2 of the skein so I'm using the other half of the skein to do this hat in a knit version.
My other new project didn't come out so well. I tried a new pattern for a crocheted cotton dish towel, but even though I checked my gauge, it came out too wide and too long and I just don't think it looks good enough to sell. So I'll use it at home because I can't stand to waste yarn. The perfectionist in me is irritated though, and I'm going to try it again and see if I can get it right. I can't let that pattern beat me! (Is anyone else like that?)
You can find one on my Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/brendascraftstore and on Artfire at http://BrendasCraftStore.artfire.com.
I also tried a new item--a preemie baby's hat. The pattern I was using was a free pattern from Bernat and it gave no information about the circumference the hat should be. I found it really frustrating. My son is 19 years old, so it's been a long time since I had a baby around, and I really don't remember how little a baby is. So I googled newborn baby head size and there were several things that came up. I stumbled onto a website called http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/. She has all kinds of stuff on there, including a size chart for preemie, newborn, toddlers, children and adult hats. I love it! It was really helpful to me so I'd like to say thank you to Bev. She also has a lot of hat patterns for babies and children. I believe she does a lot of hats for donations, which I encourage everyone to do. It's a worthwhile cause. If you're in Minnesota in the Twin Cities area, we have something called Bundles of Love which makes afghans, booties, etc. for newborns of mothers who need help. If you would like contact information for Bundles of Love, please let me know.
In any event, I crocheted the preemie hat using Bernat Softee baby yarn and it came out pretty well. I ended up using my old Baby Pat a Burp doll as the model. She has a 13" circumference head and the hat fits loosely on her. So it should fit a preemie. Here's a picture:
I only used 1/2 of the skein so I'm using the other half of the skein to do this hat in a knit version.
My other new project didn't come out so well. I tried a new pattern for a crocheted cotton dish towel, but even though I checked my gauge, it came out too wide and too long and I just don't think it looks good enough to sell. So I'll use it at home because I can't stand to waste yarn. The perfectionist in me is irritated though, and I'm going to try it again and see if I can get it right. I can't let that pattern beat me! (Is anyone else like that?)
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