Saturday, November 17, 2012

Paper banner crafting

While visiting my parents i decided to bring my papers and make a Christmas banner for my mom and dad. i already had the letters cut out with my son's girlfriend's cricut so I only had to cut the papers and decorate it with ribbons. came out so cute i think i am going to make more for all my family.  Here is a crude photo i took with my tablet. I warn you the camera is not very good :-/

didnt work so i will do it when i get mobile service from my phone. If you can view my facebook page i posted it there.

Monday, November 12, 2012

What I did my summer vacation.

Good Morning fellow blog followers!!!  It is a beautiful Veterans' Day here in Tonawanda and I have off thanks to all the Veterans out there (I am one also from the US Air Force too).   I've been working on lots of crafts since my last post oogles ago!  I hit a snag in July - my sciatic kicked in really bad from a bulging disc.  Ouch!  Got alot of pain medication, physical therapy, and a couple shots in my discs to get me to the point where I can sit, stand, sleep, and finally CRAFT again.



Worked on some paper banners. 

Worked on some microwaveable bowl cozys.

besides those two, I really have not been feeling good enough to craft.  Oh, forgot the best part...

My niece Laura and I have designed a tree for the Festival of Trees in Buffalo that benefits Women's & Children's Hospital.  Here are a few pics of it.



We made all the cupcake ornaments, faux candy garland, and designed the tree from top to bottom.  We are looking forward to finishing it in the next couple days.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

C-Anal Fest

Well, the craft show ended up being a flop.  My side of the tent only ended up selling just over $200, Lori's side was about $70.  I think the worst part of the show, and probably the reason we did not sell more, was the jerk next to our tent harassing the customers walking by.  He thought he was being funny trying to get people to come back to his tent to see what he had by saying "hey come back over here I want to sell you something" or "come on buy something and we will be friends" and "let me show you something".  I think most people walking by were offended by his sales tactics and were "running" to get away from him before he talked to them again.  There is nothing I could do about it, I even told him Sunday morning before the show started that he was harassing the customers in front of our booth and asked if he would stop.  He said he was sorry and that it is his sales pitch and that is the only way he can get people to buy his stuff.   WHAT??? Your craft (which he only had one item that he actually did make) should sell itself not harassing somebody to buy it from you.  Most of what he had in his tent was manufactured goods and his one "craft" was a redneck goblet made of a candle stick and a mason jar glued together.  How much time do those take to make?  30 seconds each?  Crafters spend most of their free time making their craft all year, and for somebody to sell manufactured goods at a "craft" show is just the meanist thing somebody can do toward another crafter.  YOU CAN BUY THAT STUFF IN A STORE!  If the customers avoided those booths in the first place, maybe those booths would go away for good from craft shows.  I really had very high expectations for sales at Canal Fest, guess I learned my lesson about that show to not do it again.  UGGH what a mess.
Until I do another craft show (this weekend).

Monday, July 16, 2012

Getting ready for Canal Fest!

OK ITS THIS WEEK!  Getting a little excited, nervous, and thrilled (along with a few other emotions) for the craft show this weekend at Canal Fest.  The booth cost $175 but I am splitting it with another crafter that I graduated high school with.  I'm hoping our stuff complements each others and brings people into the booth to check it out.  This is probably the most highly attended show, as far as customers go to, that I am aware of.  I've made a few new items: key wristlets, baby bibs, aprons, & sundresses that I hope the customers will gobble right up.  I made a banner for the front of the booth and I'm thinking I should go get a few yards of cheap colored fabric for the corners just to make the booth pretty.  If I get the chance I will do just that just to make it a wee bit more whimsical..  

I'll have to scotchguard the tent too...last show the seams started leaking a little bit.  I'll set up the tent maybe tonight and hang up the banner to see how it looks (take a picture or two and post it) and spray the seams with the scotchguard.  I don't think it is going to rain this weekend (keeping fingers & toes crossed) but incase it does I'll feel safer knowing I sprayed!

I had to get somebody to split the show with me since my mom & sister were not able to man the tent with me this weekend.  My mom is on vacation in Delaware with my niece and her family, and my sister is working.  Next show on July 28th I am driving to my moms Friday after work, taking her and my sister to the craft show in Sparta NY on Saturday with our crafts and driving back after the show to moms house to spend the night.  I just have a small suv but lots of room when you lower a seat.  We are not taking that much crafts to this show - mostly just the old wooden signs we made a few years back.  I'm hoping to lower the prices way down and sell them all at this show since the show only cost $10 we should make more than our share of proceeds.  We should bring some other good sellers like the dammit dolls, halos, jewelery and baby bibs.  I'll see what I can stick in my car after the tent and bin of wood signs goes in.

Anyhow, till I craft again!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Getting Ready for Canal Fest

So, now that the Etsy orders for the patriotic dress has subsided (I may have another order for two more dresses but she has not gotten back to me), I can now start working on stuff to sell at Canal Fest. 

I am making some fruit bibs for babies that are shaped like a strawberry, apple, pear, watermelon, blueberry, plum, peach, orange, and pumpkin, not to mention a leaf.  I know the leaf is not a fruit but it is really cute.  I would like to get 50 done for the show so I need about 37 more.  I sold 8 on Etsy and decided they would go good at a show.  I'm thinking $3.50 each or 3/$10.  I'm getting better at making them too so they don't take too long to get done.  I think the hardest part is making the bias tape for the edging because there is alot of ironing involved. 

I will probably finish up using the patriotic fabric I have and get a few more dresses done for the craft show.  I may as well use it up and display the dresses at Canal Fest.  People may remember them and take my card for an order for next year, an order on Etsy would be better so my shop is listed on the card. 

After Canal Fest is over I am going to start on a quilt.  I got a few patterns that I like printed out and I already have the fabric for it.  I just have to find the time and start quilting.  I'll make one for my bed, take photos of it and make a few quilt blocks so I can list a similar quilt on Etsy that I can make for people. 

I'm hoping that the online sales work out so I don't have to do but one or two craft shows each year.  I really hate dragging everything somewhere, setting up, and hoping the weather holds out for the customers to purchase my stuff!!!  But anyways, enough of my talking, gotta get back to work.

Until I craft again!
 

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Ummmm...gotta get serious crafting!

I got home today from a trip to Syracuse to attend the NYS Bowling assoc annual meeting. When I got home about 7:20PM I found I had an acceptance letter into the Canal Fest Craft Show in July. I was hoping to get in but I did not hold my breath as not to be too let down in case we did not get in. Well, now I have to start major crafting now. The show is July 21-22 and there will be about 10000 people shopping for the two days - hope I have what they are looking to buy. I am splitting the show with another crafter who has her own stuff, so I'll have our (my, mom, & my sister's) stuff to sell, and Lori will bring her stuff. Hope we have a good mix together. I have lots of pillowcase dresses left since I made lots up front, we have lots of dammit dolls I'm buying a container for them at Ikea when I visit my daughter that is like a small foldable hamper (I should get one for my lawn bugs too). I have enough aprons too but I need to get making some bonnets to go with the little dresses. I may even make a bonnet/bib set that match. On another note, when I bought patterns when they were $1 each, I picked up one that had 4 different bags...handbag, handbag with bow, large tote, and extra large tote with bow. I am going to make these for the girls at work for christmas this year. I have an idea that I better get working on them in august or I will never finish them in time. Until I craft again. Coleen

Friday, June 1, 2012

The night before a craft show

Just thinking I should post what I feel the night before a show. I never really sat down and thought about my feelings and worries prior to a show, just I keep thinking about "selling out" of everything and making money. For starters, I'm worried about the weather. It is supposed to be windy with rain and possible thunderstorms tomorrow...ugh. Luckily it is a two day show and my mom and I divided up the crafts so we don't have as much "hanging around" in full bins. We have a little bit of everything so we should have a full tent and enough room for my mom, my sister, and myself to be comfortable should it rain like hell on us. I'm also worried about not having any people show up to the show on Saturday. I would hate to do all the work of setting up the tent and not having any people to purchase any items. Taking all the time to make everything and pricing the items reasonably and not selling, really sucks. Now I am all packed up in my car and I start thinking about what I am forgetting. And now that we are taking less items and should the weather get better, should we take more??? Not that it is that stressful, I feel anxious. It's nice that my sister is driving up tonight, but I am hoping she has a nice drive up here with the weather not bright and sunny. Anyways she will be here shortly! When all is set and done, we will probably sell about $250-400 but I would love to see $500-700!!! If I remember to post after it is over I will. Oh yeah, I sell my stuff on etsy.com under coleeno if you care to shop, thanks in advance! Coleen

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Back to crafting

Got a bunch of show applications mailed in, now I have to get my act together and get crafting so I can fill the booth. There was the Tuti Fruti fabric on sale at Joanne fabrics 50%off so I bought a bunch, cut out some sun dresses and ended up getting some more contrasting colors yesterday while visiting my parents. We go home today so I'll wash that fabric later. Hopefully I'll be able to sew all of them today and tomorrow, tag them up, and pack them away for the shows. For the most part there is no wasted fabric when they are made. Now, if they don't sell I will scream.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Sewing in my spare time.

I've been sewing in my spare time this past week, not sitting down for a real long length of time, but here and there for an hour at a time. I got 9 of those red white & blue dresses done. I've added some photos so you can see them. I can just see a little girl photographed and put on the front page of the newspaper in one of these (or better yet on the tv news). Maybe somebody will get asked where they got it and I'll be flooded with orders - yeah, I wish! Anyways, had fun making these, and I bought more fabric incase I get an order for a special size dress, I'll be able to make one up and get it to the people the next day. Hopefully if it is the first day of a two day show I can whip it up that night and they can pick it up on the 2nd day of the show. Thats just me hoping they sell.

Until I craft again.





Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Stars & Stripes

Up and at it again! Washed & cut out 4 patriotic dresses last night for a hour or two last night during the hockey game. I got to sew the straps together, turned them and made all my folds with the iron too. This morning after I took my shower and got dressed for work, I sewed one of them together completely and put the strap in. I used a dark blue fabric with red & white stars for the main part of the dress, a red/white/blue striped fabric for the bottom strip, and a white fabric with red and blue polka dots for the strap and under arm binding. I put white ricrac on the area between the two fabrics on the body of the dress. It is just adorable. Of all the dresses I have made so far, this is the one I think will sell first. Luckily I am doing two craft shows before the 4th of July so they should sell. I’ll post a photo if I get a chance. I’ll have to get some more fabric since I have about a yard left of the dark blue fabric but not enough contrasting fabric to make another dress. So I got 4+ dresses out of $21 of fabric since it was all 50% off when I got it. My luck it will all be gone when I get there tonight. I’ll see what other cute fabrics are there too when I go.

Until I craft again!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Back Home

Even though it was great to visit my daughter, it is also great to come home again. Bowling last night, work today, and back to crafting this week. I've got to find some fabric to make those flowers. Maybe I will put velcro on the back of all of them, put velcro on everything that I want to put them on and people can choose the flower(s) they want and the thing(s) they want to wear them on like: barrette, hair band, pin, clip, or just give them two pieces of stick on velcro and they can put it on whatever they want. I'd hate to make 20 barrettes and the people want pins. More investment but less waste since I can always peal off the velcro if I want to use the barrette for something else. Anyhoo, I was just thinking and typing at the same time.

I'll also have to wash the patriotic fabric I purchased before I went to ATL. Then atleast I can get some more of the pillow case sun dresses made and ready to go. I may put some of them on Etsy, but as of last week I had not sold anything there. I'll also put some of my mother's necklaces on it to see how they sell.

Well, toodles for now, I've got to dry my hair and get ready for work.

Till I craft again!
Coleen

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Silk Flower making

I think I am going to try this silk flower making because they look so beautiful.

Silk Flowers

I'll find some old shirts or something that would work and try it out before I purchase fabric. These would be so much fun to make at craft shows!!! This way I can kind of have something to do that does not involve using a sewing machine or paint on wood. Did I forget to mention I used to cut wood, paint and stain it, and sell the things at craft shows too?

About craft shows...I got about 26 of those pillowcase dresses done, I'll get some more fabric and hopefully I can get some bigger ones done for older girls (up to 10). On Friday I'm getting my daughter to take me to this fabric outlet near Atlanta that has an area in the back that sells remnants. The "Junk Store" is only open on Fridays and Saturdays so we will go on Friday if it is not raining. If we can't make it then I'll have her take me to another fabric store around here to see if they have anything different.

Maybe I can find a junk bag of fabric I can use for the flowers really cheap and I'll start on them here! Once I find out about posting photos here I will post my creations.

Vacationing with my daugter.

Just flew to Atl yesterday to spend some time with my daughter. It's a little warmer than Buffalo so while she is at work I think I may go for a walk around the apartment complex today. I even brought a workout video to start using again. If anybody has ever done the Jillian Michaels ripped in 30 workout? I did it for about a month in September and it was great. I toned up, I bowled better, felt stronger... Then I hurt my back and stopped doing the video. I have lost the tone I gained from working out, started bowling worse, and I really felt like crap. So, goal this vaca is to get back into the video!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Funny, and very funny haha

Just finished reading my daughter's blog. Giggled a bit at myself since it was about me. She is a great writer.
I'm watching the Sabres game right now so this post will be very short.
Speaking about moms, mine has just as many stories to write about, maybe even more. When she would yell at me she couldn't seem to remember my name. I was always DiCarColeen.
Well if I can think of any kind more I will post some.
Back to the game. Go Sabres!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Sewing Sewing Sewing

I am having a ball sewing these pillow case dresses. Matching and contrasting colors, cutting them out, sewing together the pieces. Just having fun. I guess I starting out having fun last year when I was making all the aprons too so... These are going so fast. I worked on them yesterday for about 4.5 hours and cut out 8 dresses and partially sewed some of them together. Today at lunch for about 1hr I sewed the bias tape (which I made out of the contrasting fabric by the way) in the arm holes and stitched the slot for the tie closed. Did I mention I am not using ribbon like some people cheap out on when they make these dresses, I actually make the ribbon out of the contrasting fabric.

Funny thing about these, I just listed ricrac on etsy to get rid of what I had since I was not going to make aprons this year. I am using the ricrac now on these dresses, and I ordered 5 more spools of it. Get this, if I order a package of ricrac at Joann's for instance, they are $1.99 or more and only have 2.5 yards. When I order a spool of the 10mm ricrac, I get 25 yards for $2.25 and shipping is like $1.25/spool. I will never buy it in the individual packages again, what a waste of money. I'd rather sell the excess on etsy and make back all my money on the spool with sales of the excess. BTW, I have not sold anything yet there so...

I'll be stitching tonight after we go out for dinner. It is Wednesday and since it starts with a "W" we go out for dinner.

Until I stitch again...

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Crafting Again

For The Love Of Crafting

Wow, took me about 5 minutes to figure out what name to put on my new blog. I thought of these choices:

The Purpose of Crafting
Must Craft
Daily Crafter
Fairly Crafty
My Investment In Crafting
Crazy Crafting
Just Crafty

When I got to the letter “L” I could only think of “For the love of God” and then it hit me to use the title above.

Little background – I’ve been crafting and selling stuff I make (albeit not making a ton of money doing it) for about 25 years. My daughter Amanda was in a stroller the first craft show I did – at a friends house in Amherst – right down the street from a very popular school craft show at the time. I don’t remember selling many things I made but I do remember selling lots of frozen unfrosted cut-out cookies, as it was early December I guess people did not want to bake. I’ve been crafting ever since then. In 1994 my mother and I opened up a store to sell crafts on consignment in Amherst, we took over a business called Country Hearts and we did very well the first year, then Walmart opened right up the street about a mile, and our business fell off horribly. We closed doors after the lease was up. Too bad, we really did great the first holiday (Easter) and my mom and I thought Christmas would be fantastic, but I don’t even think we did the business we had done in Easter time for Christmas sales. Funny huh? Anyhow, we still do craft shows and have picked up my sister as another partner in the business. We spend lots of shows together talking, laughing, bitching, smoking (lets see if my quitting will withstand another craft show but that would be a whole other blog), and eating!!!!

Last craft show season I made aprons. They were adorable, I sold lots of them at work to the girls, I just couldn’t sell as many as I expected to at craft shows. I hoped each show we would sell 20 or more (my mother also made some) and it just didn’t happen. We even kept lowering the price but could not get the sales at the shows that we wanted. So, we gave a lot of them away as gifts this past Christmas, and now we are down to one tote of them left. Maybe we should put them on sale 50% off at the first show to see if we can get our investments back out of them. I’ll let you know how it goes after the May show.

This season I have searched all over for a new craft to make. It was a hard for me to pick something new. First I wanted to make ipad & ereader covers and started cutting out the patterns, but I just didn’t get motivated to make them. Then I saw a pillow case dress for little girls and fell in love with them. They are so cute, they remind me of the aprons. I made a pattern and cut one out to sew together. It took me about an hour from cutting it out and sewing it all together (a lot faster than an apron), and I even serged the raw edge of the seam together on my sewing machine so it has a finished look! I’ll be able to use up the ricrac I bought for the aprons to embellish the dresses, and somebody suggested to give people to option to order a little dress for their doll too (I think I’ll add a card they can fill out & mail back to me with a check for a doll dress matching their child’s dress for a few bucks). I am hoping to sell lots of them this year to make up for the money I lost last year with the aprons. I’ll probably still make the ereader covers too for something else on the table. My mom has been making these really cute beaded necklaces and I don’t know if my sister is making anything else new. At least I found something quick and easy to make that I think I can make a decent profit margin, besides, they are stinking cute!

Got 10 done already, and if I find out how to post photos to this blog I will put them on.

Until I blog again - Coleen