Roses Are Blue...

Thank you, Austin! Goodnight!

Is that line getting old? You'd tell me, right? Like if I had a poppy seed in my teeth or toilet paper on my shoe? I hope so. Anyway, phew, Renegade Austin was FUN. I could go on for hours so I'll try to spare you and just stick to the highlights. And obviously the biggest highlight was the stuff! The crafts were so stinkin' cool. These are some of the goodies I bought (minus the super awesome prints that are still en route in their safe, flat packaging):

Another highlight was Austin's Minor Mishap Marching Band marching up and down the aisles. I love marching bands and this one was awesome. They even had a little hula hooper! But the aisles were too narrow so she was just marching and bouncing her hoop. Sadly the photos all came out blurry so you'll have to use your imagination. Here's a picture of a screaming guitar kid instead:

Speaking of guitar kids, my favorite customer was an adorable little 2 yr-old boy named Shane. His super cool parents let him pick out one of my kid's guitar straps for his guitar which they said he actually plays. I can only imagine how cute that must be... He picked the green guitar. My favorite.

The last-but-not-least highlight was meeting Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching (she's the embroidery guru for those of you who don't know). AND having her ask to photograph my embroidered sign! I tried to be cool and not get all fan girl on her but I doubt it worked. It did help that I didn't recognize her when she actually asked about the sign and didn't find out it was her until I stopped by her booth to introduce myself and she assured me that we had, in fact, met the day before...way to go, huh? Back to my rookie moves again.

Anyway, there was so much more...amazing tattoos, adorable babies, adorable dogs, bands, dj's, crafting booths, raffles...it was a fun, fun weekend. Thank you to everyone who came by the booth to say hi and to all of my new customers! And a super-huge extra-special thank you to my awesome friend, Heather, who made the trip with me and was indispensable. And quite the two-stepper although she likes to be coy about it.

Yippee ay oh ki yay! Renegade Austin!

 

Ok, that's the news kids! I will be a vendor at the first ever Renegade Austin and I am beyond excited about it. First, I'm excited because it's Renegade and I get to participate again. And second, it's in Austin! I love Austin! I want to move to Austin! Even though I've never been there...but I really think I will love it.

Since this fair is going to involve air travel I had to come up with new ways to display my wares that are lightweight, collapsible, portable, etc. I like to use what I have so I looked all around my studio to see what materials I already had on hand and I happened to have a lot of second hand paper, gently-used posterboard and foam core board. I started playing around with it all and what I ended up with were foldable, slipcovered foam core shelves and Cone People...

This is the felt slipcover for one of the shelves before I stitched it up.

These are the cone people bodies getting a coat of spray paint.

And here are some of the faces and hands...

All together they look like this:

Cute! So this little lady is a medium sized Cone Person but the larger ones are big enough to model the Joey Bags. Unfortunately they are already packed up in their box ready to head to Austin so again, you'll have to take my word for it. But don't worry, I promise to take photos of the entire display once I get it all up. I'm trying to keep the rookie moves to a minimum this time...

Thank you, Asheville! Good night!

Ok, so if you missed The Big Crafty Holiday Fair in Asheville this Sunday, y'all totally missed out!  And I'm not just saying that because I was there.  It was super cool.  Awesome vendors, amazing stuff, Santa Claus, cupcakes...free beer.  I mean, c'mon.  It doesn't get better than cupcakes and free beer.  Plus it was in Asheville which is such a cool little town.  And it even snowed!  So, plan on it for next year.  Even if you have to drive a little.

I want to say thank you to everyone who stopped by the booth, thank you to all of my customers and thank you to all of the sponsors & planners who made it all happen.  I also must thank my own personal sponsor, my fabulous momma (that's her hiding back there), for coming with me, for feeding me (SO well!) and for putting us up in the nicest B & B in Asheville, the Hill House (without her it would have been sofa city for me...)  Not to mention for schlepping boxes, sitting for hours and helping me and all of the customers all day long...thank you, Mom!  Oh, and I need to thank Terry and Bill, the wonderful innkeepers at Hill House, for such phenomenal breakfasts (omg, crème brûlée french toast...*drools*), cozy accommodations and delightful company (oh, and the bottomless cookie jar (!) and divinely evil treats...) 

I will be listing the items I still have in the shop today so for those of you who couldn't make it to Asheville, you can still shop!  Yay!  And maybe if you are lucky you even have snow where you are.

How could you resist faces like these?

Ok, so nothing like a last minute invitation.  But, good news!  I am going to be a vendor in the super awesome Big Crafty Holiday Show in Asheville, NC Sunday December 6th from 12-6.  Which, yeah, is this Sunday...so if you are in the area I hope you will stop by and say hello.  Not just to me-there are a ton of amazing vendors participating.  And maybe even snow!  Outside, of course, but still very festive.  Perfect weather to get you in the mood for a little holiday shopping.  Hope to see you all there!

 

**EDIT: Whoops!  Were you wondering what the faces are for?  They are for the Warm Fuzzies.  They'll be waiting for you at the show!**

Thank you, Chicago! Good night!

Ok, so all I can say is wow.  The Renegade Craft Fair was wow.  I want to say thank you to everyone who stopped by the booth, thank you to all of my customers, and thank you to my wonderful friends and family who took such good care of me!  I haven't eaten so well in...um, ever.  And a special thank you to my dad who was indispensable in the creation of the embroidery patterns.  They would not have happened without him and his mad photoshop skillz.  Oh and quick before they cue the music, thank you to my mom for standing by at home and thanks to my three boys for not burning the house down while I was away for almost two weeks.  Ok, done.  Sorry.  Wait, did I forget anyone?  I know I have cousins to thank...

My only regret is that I didn't really get a chance to walk around and shop or meet any of my favorite crafters (which I know was better for my bottom line because holy cow was there some cool stuff there!) but still disappointing.  Oh wait, my other regret is that I didn't bring twice as much stuff.  I was pretty much cleaned out by 3pm on Sunday.  Which is a good problem in one way but not so much in others (I hate to be the biggest rookie on the block).  Oh wait, ok, one more regret, I didn't take nearly enough photos (it was so busy!)  This photo is from the start of Day Two.  Already about half of my stock is gone...

Those minor regrets aside, it was a wonderful weekend.  I met so many cool people!  For example, I got very lucky with my assigned booth partner, Anne, and her friend, Phillip, who were awesome.  I am now the proud owner of one of Anne's beautiful rings and one of Phillip's vibrant prints.  And I learned all about crop circles.  Go ahead, ask me anything.

Anyway, it was a great experience and I am very glad I got to do it.  I'm still so flattered to have been a part of such an amazing group of talented crafters and artists (I'm already planning my application for Renegade Brooklyn).  In the meantime I will be working on restocking the Etsy shop with Kitty and Joey bags, Perrys and Mini ps (I sure miss those guys!) and listing the embroidery patterns finally.  So check back in a couple of days.  Right now, I need a nap.

Renegade Chicago!

I almost forgot about my good news!  Of course, you may have seen the little badge over there on the right (or the title of this post....or possibly that huge photo above) but in case you didn't catch it, I am going to be participating in the Chicago Renegade Craft Fair!  Check out the other vendors.  Wow.  I'm hoping not to get all "fan girl" on some of them...especially this one...LOVE her.  Oh but I have been busy!  I have been sewing my fingers to the bone (my feed dogs are barkin' ...budumpbump...thank you folks, I'll be here all week!) but I think I'll be ready come the 12th.  I will have Kitty Bags and Joey Bags, guitar straps, a few pouches, a few iPod cozies...I am also going to debut my new embroidery patterns which I am very excited about.  They are turning out even cuter than I had hoped!  If you can't make it to Chicago don't worry, I will have the patterns in the shop come the 14th or 15th.  But I do hope most of you can stop by the booth and say hello.  It looks like the fair is going to be fantastic this year!  Oh, and if you are looking for unique and beautiful jewelry, I am sharing a booth with a talented designer from Brooklyn, Anne Arden McDonald.  I'm not sure of our exact location yet but just look for Perry.  He'll be there signing autographs.  See you soon!

Thank you, Craft Attackers!

Thank you to everyone who came by the booth this Saturday at Craft Attack!  I hope y'all had as much fun as I did.  What a cool bunch of people there were there, vendors and shoppers alike.  I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout and the feedback was great!  Sadly, I sold pretty much every single one of my favorite things.  Now don't get me wrong, I was thrilled that people loved my stuff (thrilled, I say!) but it is so hard to say goodbye to my favorites...I know, I know...my husband kept shaking his head at me too.

Independence Park is in this amazing older neighborhood in Charlotte where I had never been before.  It was a beautiful setting.  Oh, but the wind was pretty crazy so there were some casualties during the fair, mostly involving wayward tents and sudden acorn showers...  Luckily, we were in a really good spot so it wasn't too bad for us (and all of my goods are soft which definitely helped when they were blown to the ground).

This sweet little pup, Ashka, was my favorite customer of the day.  To give you an idea of how tiny she is, that is a felt bracelet she is sporting!  Have you ever seen a cuter hoodlum in your life?  And my favorite vendor of the show was a woman named Christy Wooke.  I just had to have a couple of her adorable pins (choosing was agonizing!) but I really wanted her magnets too (that goes back to mistake #513, Buying a Stainless Steel Refrigerator...)

Kilroy was here...

Just in time for Craft Attack, I am rolling out a few new and exciting guitar strap designs (along with some of my previous and equally exciting favorites) on a brand spanking new 2" model.  The excitement is killing you, right?  Of the new designs, Kilroy is embroidered and the Flair and the Angry Octopus are painted (just in case that's not clear from the photo...or you've been hitting the malt liquor already). Personally, I wanted a pink & happy octopus but my husband said he should be dark & mean and I figured since he is kind of my target market (although definitely pushing the upper bracket), I should listen...

These newer straps are a slightly different construction than the 3" leather-backed straps (which will still be available for those of you who like a fancier model...err, once I actually set up a shop).  Obviously, these new straps are more narrow at 2" but they are also made (front and back) with sturdy 100% cotton fabric of varying colors and weights, have leather tabs and nickel plated zinc hardware (or is it zinc plated nickel...um, in any case, it's silver).  The leather, you will be happy to know, is recycled (like on all of my other straps).  Moooo...  And, for those of you who play like I do, all of these straps fit perfectly on Guitar Hero & Rockband guitars as well.

Anyway, y'all can pick up your very own at Craft Attack on Saturday October 11th.  I'll be set up under my top secret alter-ego, Kersplash, in booth 52.  Only 4 more days!

Wait, what?  4 days?  Seriously?

I hope to see you there but if not be sure to let me know if you want to be on The List for the Etsy shop invitation coming this month...

1 1/2" Side Release Buckles-Black

How's that for a catchy title?  You just had to read on I know it...

So last week the shipment of parachute clips (or as we say in the biz Side Release Buckles) that I needed to finish the Joey Bags were put on back order for two weeks...which if you are playing along at home you know would have the shipment arriving while I was at Craft Attack already...which um, would be too late.  I scrambled and found another outlet a couple days later and ordered a replacement batch o' buckles at roughly 3 times the cost but, I thought, at least I would have them.  (I added the whole experience to my List of Lessons Learned About Procrastinating which I totally plan to read someday.)  Anyway, yesterday I was thrilled when my package arrived via FedEx!  Only guess what?  It was the original (back ordered) shipment...the replacement order came via USPS about 3 hours later.  It's just like Christmas around here!  Only with black plastic buckles instead of chocolate and presents...but, at least the Joey Bags are done now.  For real.

The new baby...

So I know it has been awhile but do y'all remember the Jill Bag?  I started thinking about making a mini version way back when I was designing the original but I just never got around to it (shocking, I know).  I wanted it to be smaller, much simpler in design and construction but still look like a little apron and still be hands-free.  I am big into hands-free purses since it seems that my hands always have other things to deal with, like holding diet malt liquor and clutching runaway children...Plus you know that woman that leaves her purse in the grocery cart?  The one the baggers are alway chasing through the parking lot yelling, "Ma'am!  Ma'am!"  Yeah, that's me.

Anyway, I went back to the basics and this is the result.  The Joey Bag.  Get it?  No?  Ok, see the Jill bag was named in part because it's like a pouch and Jill is another name for a kangaroo.  So since this bag is a mini Jill bag it's like a mini kangaroo...now you get it?  Come to think of it, I also have an Aunt Joey but she probably wouldn't wear this.  (Well, maybe she would wear it if it was fuschia & lime, monogrammed and had whales embroidered all over it...but only in the garden.)  This little bag has one exterior double pocket for credit cards/keys/ipod what-have-you and a second exterior pocket for your phone (I love the easy access).  Then it has the main zipper pouch which is a nice-sized compartment for anything you want to carry, like a camera or a wallet...or even a diaper and a couple of wipes if that's your lot in life right now.  It also features an adjustable waist band and sturdy parachute clip.  Well, it will feature a parachute clip just as soon as the shipment arrives...

So if you were just thinking to yourself that you needed a new mini apron purse and you live in or around Charlotte, NC, it is your lucky day!  You can come and get your very own at Craft Attack on Saturday, October 11th.  But for those of you who can't make it to Charlotte, the etsy shop WILL be open by the end of October.