Craft Shows can be fun! (It’s the prep that kills me…) October 30, 2007

<yawn>! Oh. My. Goodness. I really did have a great show at the “Fall Thing” in Phinney Ridge! I sold a few Tote2Go!s and even some jewelry that I managed to dig out of the depths of my backstock drawers. I had forgotten how different retails shows are from wholesale trade shows!

The customers, for instance. At a trade show, they are really obviously “looking to buy” the next best thing on the market. They scan and stop only if something truly catches their eye. When they do stop, they usually want to hear all about your work so they can decide if it’s right for their store.

At a craft show, I’d say a good portion of the shoppers are crafters too — so when they stop to look, they’re sometimes just checking out the craftsmanship and/or the price point. (That’s all cool with me. To be honest, I do it too) And the other people are really just taking some time out of their weekend hoping to find that perfect holiday gift a little earlier this year…knowing full well that they may just find themselves at Target on Christmas Eve. Augh!

Personally, I’d really like to give and get a 100% handmade holiday this year. In retrospect, relying on big-box retailers has created more stress than it’s worth — running here, there and everywhere trying to find the store with the right item at the right price…then trying to find the right gift wrap and card and…oh my. I’m getting stressed out just thinking of it.

Wouldn’t it be great to know that by purchasing something from an artist and/or an artist-friendly boutique you’d be supporting small businesses and making an immediate difference in the life of an artist? Heck ya. That’s a Happy Holiday in my book!

Etsy.com has created a website dedicated to this concept…check it out and take the pledge to Buy Handmade this holiday! Yay!

My First Retail Craft Show in Over a Decade… October 18, 2007

Okay, that may not be entirely true. I did coordinate a lovely booth at the Fremont Sunday Market for my fellow EtsyRain members this past summer. I guess I’m not really counting that one because my goal for that show was to make it a good experience for the people who participated — not necessarily to make sales. (Unfortunately, I reached that goal –everyone had a good time, but made no sales. There’s something to be said for intention in there somewhere…)

[edit: I meant to say, "My personal goal for the show was to make sure everyone had a good experience but wanted them to sell lots too! I just wasn't worried about my stuff not selling. I was super-bummed that the show sucked sales-wise for everyone. I felt really bad, actually. <sigh>]

Anywhoo. The “Fall Thing” craft show this Saturday is going to be my first “trying to make some sales” show in a LONG time. I can’t even remember the last retail show I did that I was actually hoping to sell a bunch of stuff. At any rate, it’s going to be a LOT of fun! There will be about 40 vendors there from all over the Seattle area, most with Etsy shops as well. I’m sharing a booth space with Julie Charles of LiveWire.etsy.com. She makes the cutest jewelry. If you haven’t seen it in person, you really need to check it out.

Here’s a sneak peek at what I’m going to be bringing:

I’ve been sewing like a mad woman the last few days, and I still don’t feel like I have enough! At least the things I am bringing represent the best of what I have. I really love the new fabrics I’ve found. I even used interfacing on some of the fancier ones! I really hope to get some good feedback on the new Tote2Go! handle design as well. I like it…but I guess we’ll see if everyone else does too!

Hope to see you there! If you do make it, be sure to introduce yourself okay? I’d love to meet you :)

Featuring Etsy on “Craftivism” for BlogActionDay! October 15, 2007

For my blog post on “Blog Action Day” (see: blogactionday.com) I am compelled to feature my favorite site, Etsy once again.

As a community, Etsy is an amazing resource not only for “all things handmade” but also for information on how we, as artists, can join the movement toward a healthier environmental future. Case in point: Etsy’s “Craftivism” Storque blog post on “Upcycling for Greener Living” written by Etsy’s own “TeenAngster” — here’s an excerpt:

“Upcycling brings hope as a fresh concept and solution for the many environmental dilemmas the earth currently faces. The idea of taking would-be garbage and reimagining, reusing and reinventing its significance is really quite a novel idea: the materials are free and in frightening abundance, there are (hypothetically) no unhealthy aftereffects for the earth, and consumers gain the satisfaction of reusing something potentially wasteful in a new and exciting context, again and again.”

I love how TeenAngster defines the clear difference between the similar-sounding terms, “recycled” and “upcycled” best of all (another excerpt):

“You may ask what the difference is between upcycling and recycling, as they seem quite similar. According to Cradle to Cradle, recycling is actually an example of “downcycling,” whereby unrecoverable and unusable by-products are created in the recycling process. By recycling items toward uses that were never intended during their original production process (example: soda bottles into carpeting), they are effectively “wrestled” into a form that requires as much energy (or moreso) to produce than manufacturing a new carpet. In the end, the rug is ultimately still on its way to a landfill, creating “eventual waste.””

Ever wondered what the world would be like if upcycling became the norm? I urge you to check out the original blog post on Etsy’s Blog “The Storque” to find out!

Have you read the Ikeahacker blog today? October 13, 2007

Oh yay! I just got word that my “Tote2Go!” upcycled tote bags are featured on Ikeahacker’s blog today! Even better, it is their featured post for BlogActionDay! I am so excited…I totally heart being featured on blogs. It makes me feel special  ;) hehe

Check out the post and come back on October 15th to see my official BlogActionDay post!

 

My Tote2Go! totes really started with a pile of scrap fabric given to me by Julie Charles of CommonObjectJewelry.com — she put these amazing Ikea drapes up in her house(boat) and gave me the yards and yards of fabric she trimmed off the ends! The concept was to make a reusable grocery tote that was super-cute and sturdy, so I used  an actual plastic grocery bag as the original pattern.

Since then, I’ve created my own pattern (see my previous post) and but still only use recycled, reclaimed and remnant fabrics for all my totes and purses. It forces me to be creative and uses fabrics that would eventually end up in the trash bin…I love it!

I am loving my (New) Tote2Go! designs… October 10, 2007

So, I did end up sewing some of the cute fabric stash the other day…I made this super-cute Tote2Go! with some of the “Waverly” brand remnant fabric…called, appropriately, “Blue Green Rain”:

I totally heart the new handle configuration! I used to make them like a standard plastic grocery bag…but with this higher end fabric, making them more “purse-like” looks waaay better. I even figured out how to use interfacing (finally) so the bottom of this one is nice and sturdy but still flexible enough to fold up into its own pocket! Nice. I’m looking forward to making more of these…Yay! New stuff! :D

Instead of sewing, I made these… October 5, 2007

So, I buy all that fabric, and what do I do?? I go to my jewelry studio (well, I was teaching a class…) and make some cute new comic book charms to post to my Etsy store! Of course! I couldn’t just sit there and SEW up all that fabric! I have to distract myself and make small things that make me happy…

Funny thing is, I designed these waaaay back in 1995…and NO one understood them. Now, I put them on Etsy and I sell a bunch of ‘em! I love when an idea works (no matter how long it takes!) But really — I gotta say, they make me smile…and isn’t that what life is all about? Well…that and getting your work done?

Oh boy. Off to the sewing machine! zzzzZZZOOOOmmMMM!!!

One of the best things about making (cute) stuff… October 4, 2007

I get to buy cute stuff! I love bargain shopping…and I love love LOVE the remnant bin in fabric stores! My Tote2Go! line of tote bags and purses is made exclusively from thrifted, repurposed, recycled and remnant fabrics (in other words, never anything off-the-bolt), so that means I get to go to great fabric stores and raid their remnant piles knowing that I’ll have to be uber-creative to make all of the different pieces work together. It can be challenging at times and usually forces me into color directions I’d normally never go. Very cool.

I’m excited to make some new things and hope the new tote and purse designs I’m creating right now for my upcoming craft shows will be well received. (I’ll post pics of the new stuff when they’re ready…)

Take a look at the amazing fabric I found today:

 

My cactus pincushion looks a little concerned, don’t you think? I love this chicken fabric…I have no idea what I’m going to make with it…but I just couldn’t resist bringing it home with me! The new fall colors are really beautiful this season…I can’t wait to get to the sewing machine! Yay!

Have you seen this? October 3, 2007

So, I’m at my sewing machine today, trying to keep my mind off of the fact that I’ve committed to more shows this upcoming season than I have in years by listening to Pandora.com (awesome site. if you haven’t heard of it, click and check it out. it’s totally free!). I work so much better when I’m grooving to Joss Stone or Alicia Keys…

Then I take a break to peruse Etsy.com (what else?) and popped into the Storque to see what’s new. Then I saw this: http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/etsyNews/article/technology-aka-the-future/336/

That caused an avalanche of video stream watching that kept me occupied and educated while slaving away at the sewing machine. It was SOOO great! I watched almost every video on their Blip.tv site: http://etsy.blip.tv/

I can’t wait for them to make more!!

Have you seen what CraftyPod in PDX has done lately? October 1, 2007

Okay. First, let me say that I love, love, LOVE living in Seattle. I’ve been all over the country and have to say, this is my Home. I love everything about it…save for one thing: The lack of a truly cohesive, supportive creative community. Granted, Carrie and the members of the newly formed EtsyRain (aka: Etsy Seattle street team) are doing what we can to change all of that…but change is slow going here in the Emerald City.

When it comes to coordinating and encouraging a bunch of crafty individuals to get out of their homes/studios and get together to make things really happen, nothing can top what Portland (OR) has done for themselves! For example: They’ve got Sister Diane who runs CraftyPod and DIY Alert (amongst other things!) who has recently posted THIS — “Mapping the Crafty” — a Google Map showing all of the craft / DIY shops, boutiques, supply stores and even places to learn stuff on one convenient map!

I can’t even imagine how much work went into creating such a thing…it’s amazing.

Rock on, Sister Diane — you are truly awesome.

(Thanks to Craftzine.com for posting it on their blog — you totally rock as well…)