New Inventory

What a weekend!  I had to work on Saturday morning and Sunday evening.  We had cub scout activities all day on Saturday and a camp out on Saturday night.  And I had a booth at a small festival in town on Saturday.  I needed to clone myself!!

Since the booth was in the same town as last month's booth, I felt like I should have some new inventory in case some people wandered by who had seen my stuff before.  I hung new/different quilts to form my booth walls, and added fabric composition book covers to my inventory.  I made one for my sister two years ago, and she loves it and encouraged me to make more.  

These are the ones I made a couple of years ago.  The one in the middle went to my sister.  The other two sold at other booths last year and earlier this year.

Of course, I couldn't remember how I made hers!  Figures!  Back to the drawing board.  First, I made two using some orphan blocks and this tutorial.  I love how her covers turned out, but I was dissatisfied with mine, partially because I wanted a thicker, softer cover.  I ended up inserting some batting into these, which worked out OK, but I went looking for another tutorial after making these two.

This one sold  before I even finished setting up my booth!

The next tutorial that caught my eye was this one.  Rather than use fusible pellon, I used batting.  I love the way there is a lining AND no need to topstitch around the outside.  That is really what I wanted to avoid because topstitching through many layers never seems to turn out looking neat for me.  First, I made this one using some more orphans - scrappy 4-patches this time.  I liked my modified construction method, so then I moved on to other fabrics.

First, I used some lettered fabric and the crown and British fabric that I got from a scrap bin from a store in Atlanta.  I've been dying to use this fabric, and I like how the journal turned out.  If nothing else, it lets people know what these books are or can be!

Then, I pulled out a little panel that I've been wanting to use, surrounded it by black, and embellished it with some embroidery in orange.  It wasn't my intention, but it seems rather seasonal to me, don't you think?

Is that a crow or a blackbird?  How can you tell the difference?

I thought the day was going to be a great success because one of the top two journals sold before I even finished setting up my booth, and within 15 minutes, I had also sold two of my flannel travel neck pillows.  However, it turns out that the event wasn't publicized at all (!?!) and hardly anyone even passed by.  Oh well.  It was a free event for me, so I came out with a profit, and I still have plenty of inventory for THIS WEEKEND'S event, which I KNOW has been publicized extensively.  Live and learn!

A friend caught a photo of me setting up my Scrabble Tile earring (while WEARING a pair, of course!)

Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Last week, a little Farm Store opened up between Lexington (where I work) and Buena Vista (the next town over).

The Farm Store, Rte 60 and Bares Wood Road between Lexington and Buena Vista, VA

It is a cute little place!

I stopped by to check it out because I love eating local foods when possible, and the Farmer's Markets here on Wednesday and Saturday mornings just aren't convenient for me.  I was delighted to see when I arrived that they also sell local CRAFTS! 

The wheels in my little ole brain started turning and I thought, "hey, maybe I can put some of MY stuff here..."  I'm pretty shy about this kind of thing, but as I was checking out with my fresh veggies, I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and asked how one becomes a vendor.  I'm so glad I asked!  She gave me an application, I completed it over the weekend and printed out some pages from my ETSY store so she could see my stuff, and took it by to her yesterday.  She approved me on the spot (YAY!) so I went by at lunch today to set up my spot.

My little spot, right under the window! (and beside the potatoes - hee, hee, hee!)

Crayon rolls (making these is like eating potato chips for me - can't make just one!), Scrabble tile earrings, upcycled denim bookmarks and business cards



Half aprons made from upcycled pillowcases and table scarves. I need to go back and take a photo of the orange apron with embroidery - it is one of my all-time favorites!

I didn't take much, just the stuff I've made lately that isn't in my ETSY shop - 3 aprons, 7 crayon rolls, 7 pairs of Scrabble tile earrings, a mini quilt and some bookmarks.  And business cards, of course.  I am so excited, and hope that someone who wanders in there likes my stuff, but even if I never make a sale, I am so proud of myself for getting over my fear of putting my creations out there (and possibly being critiqued or poorly received).  As the old adage goes, nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Crunch Time!

I wish I were spending more time in Blogland, but it is crunch time for me.  I entered my Pick and Choose quilt in the county fair this year, but it isn't done yet! 

I started quilting this quilt LAST summer, and I'm STILL not done!  Granted, I've finished several other quilts in the meantime, but SHEESH!

I have to turn it in on Monday morning.  I am quilting every chance I get.  I took the kids to the pool yesterday, and sat in the shade quilting while they were swimming.  We watched Eragon last night since we listened to the book on CD while driving all over creation on vacation, and I sat there with my LED neck lamp in our darkened movie theater so I could see to quilt while watching the movie.  I've been carrying my quilt back and forth to work every day so I can work on it during my lunch breaks.  I'm going to be known around town as "that crazy quilt lady!" carrying a quilt with me everywhere I go, but I have got to get it done!

Other than that, no sewing per se, but I did make some Scrabble tile earrings for myself and my sisters and my mom while on vacation this year

E is for ERIN!  Well, for Ericka in this photo since that is my sister's ear, but we're identical twins - that's what my ear looks like, too!

and got so many favorable comments about them from complete strangers while wearing them, that I spent some time last weekend making more (13 pair!) and put them in my ETSY shop. 

My head is spinning with all kinds of new and exciting projects I'd like to be working on, but first, I MUST FINISH THIS QUILT!