Some Samples of my Wares

This is an example of the t shirts that are the main craft I sell. I do t's with all different vintage photos and all kinds of very descriptive words on them. My shirt says Opinionated. My booth sister is Contrary. I have sold Infidel, Outspoken, Ambivalent, Erudite, Vindictive, Fallen, Libertine, Dilettante, Resourceful, Industrious and of course Crafty.. ( more as well.. but lordy, let's do get on with it.) Then I embroider and bead "halos" around their heads. This project has put me in contact with lots of really interesting women and has been a lot of fun.


I did these decoupaged match boxes to have a few souvenier type items in my booth and I was really glad I did. They were all different and one of a kind and people came in a sorted through the pile quite a bit. I sold a few and made people laugh.

This necklace was something I made in February, I think. I sold it at this event and I got several really nice comments on it. I made it because I found some antique handmade lace that just blew my mind in a "scrap basket" at my fave thrift store . It was so amazing I wanted to make jewelry out of it. I was inspired further by the imagined images of the garden and house of the abandoned bride in Great Expectations. I am moved and perhaps awestruck at the luxury and waste of letting a dissappointment consume your entire life. I mockingly call myself Bitter but she really defines it.

These I made because I had great little hankies and I wanted them to have a new lease on life. They are cute and summery. (I have some left and may open a little Etsy store..)

This is a cigar box purse and it has a decoupaged illustration on the inside too. It is lined with red velvet, The images inside and out are of carniverous plants ( inside Pitcher plants are nearly devouring a woman..) and on the top there are sad angels.
The shape reminded me of a coffin so I let my inner goth girl out to craft. My favorite thing about this bag is I sold it to a man.. for himself. He had another cigar box purse in his office, from another crafter, and now he is collecting. Cool.
He even asked me to sign it.

So those are just some of the items I sold at my booth.

Petunia for Violet

I made my first full size doll for my niece Violet. I got the Burda pattern for a whopping 25 cents at my favorite thrift store. Somebody had a toy pattern purge and this one was unopened..
It was really unusual.
My mom made my dolls growing up. ..Tons of them, from those McCall's patterns. I had a classroom full of dolls and they all came with wardrobes.
This doll was different. First off the pattern called for felt, and there were only two pieces for the doll itself.
The face was sculpted with wooden beads under the felt for the nose.. The pattern called for "hair" but I wanted to use mostly cool natural reclaimed items from my thrift booty so I picked orange wool yarn. I bought some fabric but had the trim and button and some fabrics and felts from thrifting.
At first she had bead eyes, but frankly, they looked beady. I replaced them with eye buttons and was so much happier.There was a lot more sculpting than I anticipated but the more I sewed the happier I was with the project.
I made her shoes from the baby shoes pattern at good old Martha Stewart's site...and made her a bit older than the pattern intended. I truly never follow the recipe exactly.
I really liked making a little person. And I think Violet likes her too.

But she is kinda crazy.

All Sloppy for Swapping

Oh.. I got so much shwag from Tammie at Headfull of Pixies in Pinned's In an Eggshell swap. Serious fun! Giant "egg" full of vintage trims, covered buttons, cool crocheted fleurs ( now I am looking for a sweater to felt and make into a shrug to attach these beauties to), sweet pincushion, some chocolate eggs ( which were gobbled before the photo and some cute tags that I had squirreled away too..) Fun stuff and so cute and thoughtful.


The talented and generous Jessica Moretti sent all these sweet goodies in the Easter Basket Swap. So much hand made stuff!
The cards alone had amazing details. Then there was the hand painted bird box full of jelly beans, cute chick, a bouquet full of felt flower magnets, and a Pez dispenser ( which I collect with my son.) Sooooo coool. and they were all in a great little green and purple print bag.

Thanks Swappers..You made the Post Office my favorite place in town
xxoo

Surly?

My little submission for the "week Surly" at Whip Up.
I must admit I don't know if I truly qualify because I did do this prior to this weekend for a postcard swap.
(I was kind busy this weekend..)
We had to do a post card that told a little about ourselves.
I feel this is self explanitory.
All weekend at the craft fair I was asked if I really am bitter..
(an emotional first cousin to Surly, I do believe)
My answer must be:
"Only sometimes..
and never without cause."

Bazaar Bizarre..hurray

I can't believe it.
I have made it through Bazaar Bizarre.
I had a great time and met so many great people.
I will write a ton more.. But tonight I am pooped!!!!

Thanks to the organizers
(Leah from Craftster especially)
and to my sister (in the pic..booth babe)
and family (sorry about the mess) ,
Michelle from GreenKitchen (for
loaning me an EZ up and being my craft ear)
Kelly from Buzzville for making a point to stop by and say howdy...

I will also add the killer, sweet, funny, cool other crafters I met..and even was lucky enough to trade with
when I blog on tomorrow.

But I must end with this:
Thanks so much if you bought any craft from me.
I am so very grateful and I hope you are happy to have something I made.

phew.. Now I am going to beer and soon to bed.

Happy Spring

I have been an absent blogger..
I didn't mean to be. I have just been gearing up for the craft fair and on top of that we took a quick trip to the mountains for
my son's first ski trip, for his spring break ( he did great! and loved it)... we got home last night at bedtime.. then...
We went to my sister's house today ..all day ( I will have some super cute pics to put up in the next few days of my funny niece and nephew.) Tomorrow I will go to a birthday party..The only request was for cupcakes..so, I need to frost cupcakes.
Also there is the whole "bunny visit thing".
My house has been hit by a craft tsunami. We are overrun. The idea of hiding the traditional hard boiled eggs in this disaster area is nauseating.
We literally might not be able to find them.
They might "go off".
There is a cause for concern.

so peep peep..
I will lose sleep.

tonight: a little cleaning..little hiding.. little frosting.. and tomorrow: lots more spring time fun.

Thrifty Therapy

I had a big weekend. I found out I was on the waiting list for the Bazaar Bizarre in SF after all and now I am going to the show. It is/ was wierd because I don't really have much time to fill up my booth, and because the original rejection spawned my early whiny "craft-istenialist"* post.
So in the face of an overwhelming "to do" list.. I went thrifting.. and got lucky. (um.. at the thrift store... umm ..I mean finding stuff to buy.. I mean..).
It did help to ease anxiety. And it amused me.
Now I need to settle down and get crafting.

PS: The pink French vintage yarn. And there were bobble head sumos too! see sumos here

* Craft- istentialism as an emotional/ phisophical state originally discussed with Michelle.