Craft Show Upgrade

Last year I wrote a post about my first craft show HERE. Yesterday was the new improved version of the same show. This time it was in a better location with better publicity and better all around organization. And I did better but it helped that my space was free due to participating in last year's debacle.

These things are fun to do and indoors is definitely less taxing on the back and the nerves due to weather concerns. I set up and took down the whole thing all by myself. Well, some nice high school boy who is required to do some community service to graduate was there in the AM to help me drag some of it in.
You can see Francine on the left wearing a recently finished item. Francine enjoyed all the attention and compliments she drew on her first venture out of the house, but unfortunately no one chose to buy her apparel and undress her so her apron will probably be showing up on Etsy real soon. I was in a hallway and couldn't get in the whole set up. I use a portable baby crib/play yard for all my loose pillows. It was on the lower right out of sight. 
I sold more of the wine gift bags here than at the last show I did at a winery. I only made them up because of that show. I cannot figure out what motivates people to part with their money...or not. Luckily, I am not dependent on them for my survival, just for feeding my creative habit.

 

I thought my location was good because every one entering the show had to pass by on there way in or out. However, on entering they seemed anxious to get into see it all and then on the way out they had spent all their cash.

This is one of two large
areas of displays.


One especially attractive display  was this jewelry table with little baby Francines. I am also attracted to the turquoise and chevron. Being on my own all day, I had no time to shop the show which probably helped my bottom line but not the economy of all assembled here.

Being a very talkative person who can't sit still for too long, I'm afraid I drove the nice "bow girls" next to me nuts. In return for their tolerance here is a blatant plug for their infinite variety of hair ribbons for every occasion and whim.

 

 As, I said, I am too antsy to sit  still at these things, therefore, I do

not sit behind a table. You can see that my space had the table pushed back to the wall so that I could use the front and sides for display. This  leaves me nowhere to stash the cash. My solution is an apron that displays my

work AND serves to hold the change and incoming money in the two pockets.

Images on apron courtesy of THE GRAPHICS FAIRY

Needless to say, by the end of a day I am a bit worn down but I count that as my weight-bearing exercise!



Thread Texting

Last week I was AWOL from the blog due to fun and frivolity with the grand kids. But this week I am going to show you what project  I managed to squeeze in that included them. What I didn't squeeze in was a photo op! If you remember from a previous post my grand-daughter was not a willing model. So I had to get my son to snap a few and these are his iphone results.

 "Yes, I LOVE my zipper bag."

 Isn't Grandma AWESOME to make this for me?"

The text is sewn on with the capabilities of my new Janome machine. I am limited in size but can say whatever pops into my head...even in Cyrillic.
Son did not photo the interior or even think to turn the zipper pull to the right side (extra gift in an order from Zipit.)

The frog bag has a froggy green lining and the bunny bag has a black and white polka-dot lining. The reverse is plain...no time.
Here are a two I have on my Etsy shop.

Side one

Side two  This one has a flat bottom.

 

This smaller model is not.

The typewriter, the frog and the bunny images are all from THE GRAPHICS FAIRY. The keyboard and typewriter+Write images were bought from Etsy seller Graphique.

Travel Companions

 

Just got back last night from a trip to Washington, D.C. What timing! The government shutdown had just started the night before we left so I felt like an "eye-witness to history".  More about that on my travel blog tomorrow at

 http://cheryl-susan.blogspot.com/

 

I had recently bought a new camera strap because the connection to the camera on my old one broke. I bought what seemed a fine one for cheap at Target but it proved to be stiff, clunky as well as ugly.

 

 

 The pocket is supposed to hold an extra camera card but and there is another on the other side,  but is so bulky as to defeat the purpose. I cut off the parts that actually attach to the camera and re-created the rest in a nice black and white print that I machine quilted. Mr. Thimble occasionally lugs it for me and he said this wouldn't make him uncomfortable to "wear".



The back of this is lined in a black rip-stop nylon. I just sewed it right to right sides and turned it. Then  stuffed the connection pieces into the folded in ends and sewed top-stitching all around.

 

My only addition was a loop sewn on near the shoulder to slide my lens cap older on to. 

 

 

But the camera needed a companion, too. Therefore, this tote bag. I never walk around with a bag this big on a trip except in transit. This one held snacks, reading materials, emergency stuff, and the ever-present ipad.

 

 

Notice the color below on my ipad cover. I mentioned batteries before. Well, this tiny little bag holds extra camera batteries. Yes, I have a Kodak that takes 4 AA rechargeables

 

 

But, we are not done yet with the color-coordinating. Behold the ensemble of dots and stripes worn with black pants.

It could be worse! I used to have bright
chartreuse green glasses before these pink ones.

I took some pics during the construction of the bag but apparently erased them. It is simple strips so super simple. I boxed off the bottom and put a stiff board in between the outer quilted and the liner bottom for stability.