St. Jude's Craft Sale Report

My office day job stupidly continues to be open the day after Thanksgiving. Because I take off a bunch of other days in November for shows, I always work it; which also allows the other two people in my department to take it off. I left early, as do most people.

After work, I stopped at Keuka Coffee, just up the road from my office, to meet a new online artist friend, Tanvi Asher-Jones. She greeted me warmly by name, by just having "met" on Facebook. She showed me her beautiful earrings, jewelry and embroidered bags. (I bought a bag with lots of turquoise (of course) - couldn't resist - it's colorful, stitchy, handmade and useful!) We talked shop for a while. I'm very happy to learn that Tanvi is very happy with her 1000 Markets shop (linked above) and has closed her Etsy shop. I'm pretty sure that's what I'll end up doing. (Soon - one more show to go next weekend.)

I then stopped at JoAnn Fabric for ONE spool of red thread. Turns out the thread was 50% off; it never goes lower than that. I picked up a couple more colors. Oops, my hands are full, better get a basket. Eighteen spools later I headed to the check out counter.

I used to buy thread is sets of 3 shades. This time I just bought 2 shades of 8 colors. This is the olive green set - you know how I loves me some greens. Even though I stitched a lot at yesterday's craft show, I still haven't tried all my new colors. Plus I've officially run out of room in my thread box. Must buy another. Darn, I hate when that happens - I have to buy a craft item.

Oddly, this year Steve had to work Friday also but he came home early too. We spent the afternoon watching our newly arrived Netflix movie, Goodfellas. I'd never seen it and he hadn't seen it in years. It was pretty good. I told Steve I bet it was a more fascinating look at mob life back when it came out because now, post-Sopranos, it's a little been there, done that. Good movie though. And I got lots of gluing of Christmas tree pins done.

Yesterday's show at St. Jude's Church in Gates is run by a friend of mine. She invited her vendor friends to participate last year and because we're all craft show veterans (hey! that's me!), this thing runs effortlessly. (Or so it seems from where I sit. I know there's lots of work being done to make it happen.)

But it's a small church show so I set my expectations accordingly. Except, I increased my sales from last year by 65%. Sweet! Since my last 3 shows have shown significant increases over 2008, I'm inclined to say the reason is two-fold. One is that I'm making sure each design is stellar (she says modestly) and the other is the economy is perking up just a bit.

(I haven't forgotten that I promised to post some sub-standard designs, so you can see what I'm talking about, even though you people think I'm just being hard on myself, you silly reader-friends, you! I'll show you, goshdarnit!)

I've said that meeting people is the highlight of any show for me, second only to making money, of course. :-) My first two (separate) customers both told me they came to the show specifically to see me. This is the only show I do on the west side of the city so I guess that isn't totally surprising.

But what was extra cool was the first woman brought some examples of paper art she had stitched since she saw me a year ago. She does have a computer - so if you are reading this, please don't be insulted if I have this wrong - but I'd guess she's in her 80s. She was so excited to show me what she'd done. It was beautiful work! At one point, I put my hand on her shoulder and looked her straight in the eye, "You aren't setting up shop, are you? Are you my new competition?"

"Oh no!" she laughed. "This is just for fun." She has a friend who is also crafty so they are both always searching out new things to try, then they teach each other. Isn't that cool? Imagine how many crafts they have tried over the years??

She showed me a couple of cards and even a Post-It Note pad she'd made. We talked shop for a while, she asked me some questions. I gave her an old pattern of mine that I used when I poked the holes by hand. And I gave her a couple of circles with the designs already poked so she can either stitch them or use them as patterns to create more pieces to be stitched. I told her I didn't care if I sold anything at all that day, the joy she had from making these paper pieces and showing them to me was all I needed for the day.

Then my artist friends Cheryl & Don came by. Cheryl bought some things while Don grilled me on my KNK Groove. He had previously dropped some broad hints that he'd like to come to my studio to see the machine in action, so he teased me for avoiding his question. I hadn't really - just said after show season. ;-) He uses a laser cutter for his wood and paper pieces, so he's always interested in cool tools. It was fun seeing them - nice people, so creative!

Then the biggest surprise of the day, my friend from high school, John and his partner Eric came to the show - from Vermont! They were really in town to celebrate Thanksgiving with family, but on Saturday they found themselves near the show, to attend a surprise party for John's uncle's 80th birthday. So they stopped by, John saying, "I guess this proves that people read your blog!"

All in all a good day, for sure!

RMSC Follow-Up

This was my booth space at the Museum & Science Center show. It's not the best photo but I think you can an idea of how big my space was. I paid for 10' x 10' but could use all the space within this little display alcove so it was quite roomy. Seemed a little tacky to whip out a tape measure but I am curious as to it's size. Thought about "walking it off" to estimate but a gal like me strives for accuracy in her numbers, don't you know?

I'm not 100% happy with my display of magnets but I'm getting there. Those are little gift tags on the top row - not a Christmasy one in the bunch, which I thought was going to be a huge problem. Not one person mentioned, "Don't you have any gift tag designs for Christmas?" I told you, it was a ladybug and sunflower weekend! I'm still hoping to get some holiday season tags made for Saturday's show but we'll see.

This display is by my new friend Allison Barry, who creates wonderful machine embroidered towels and other items. I lifted this photo from her website, Graceful Living. I've run into her at several shows but really had a chance to speak with her this past weekend - and she'll be at Saturday's show at St. Jude's too. We bonded over the magic of our respective machines. It sounds like her embroidery machine (she's just ordered a 3rd!) allows her to create quite like my Groove does. Files/designs are available to buy but we create our own. If we can create it, the machine can make it.

Look at her display - how nicely it displays so many towels. It's a wall of colorful towels - very visual. Genius!

Look at the way she sells her towels - 3 to a clear topped box, with ribbon. And her merchandise bags are clear so other people see her purchased product walking around at shows. Genius! She credits her husband with the display and packaging ideas.

She was invited to participate in the Mackenzie-Childs Home Again for the Holidays, which is a pretty big deal. She has two little girls, so her life is very full. I kept telling her she's doing everything right and I'm so proud of her. She's so humble, I had to finally tell her, "Don't you roll your eyes at me, young lady!"

It's so much fun hanging out with like-minded creative people!

I Rocked the Taters!

I said I'd bring mashed potatoes to Thanksgiving at Gretchen's. She wanted her son Paul to learn to make them so Grampa set up a tutorial because he thinks he's some hot shit potato masher dude. Then Gretchen started calling it The Mashed Potato Throwdown. Next thing I know, my niece Jill wants in on the action. And the trash talkin' commenced.

Pulease, people.

I knew I was perhaps taking this a bit too seriously when I said to my 80 year old dad when he arrived at Gretchen's today, "You're going down, old man!"

What's that? Who won, you ask? Why moi of course! And above is the bedazzled trophy that Gretchen and Jill made. I could not be more proud.

My potatoes included the usual butter and milk, salt and freshly ground black pepper, plus diced thick cut bacon, cheddar cheese and just a dollop of sour cream. Then I added a layer of shredded cheddar to the top and broiled it, adding homemade fried onions for garnish and presentation. I should have taken a photo when it came out of the oven - it looked great!

We think a new tradition has been born. Next year: a Stuffing Throwdown.

Simon insisted we have shrimp cocktail today so I asked him to arrange it attractively. Even he knows presentation is everything!

I have about a skillion things to be thankful for - primarily family and friends whom I love and love me back. Life is good.

Time for a nap.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Number 3

I was worried about not having enough Christmasy stuff for this show. But the big sellers seemed to be ladybugs and sunflowers! Ya never know.

This weekend's craft show at the Rochester Museum and Science Center was a smashing success. I was up 57% over last year! 2008 was down 44% from 2007 so I'm happy to be "trending" in this new upward direction now. I don't know how much to attribute it to being in the front building this time, but I'm requesting the same space again next year if I'm accepted to the show.

I said yesterday that this would likely be my 2nd best show ever but I'd forgotten about the quilt show I did in June. This museum show was just $8 below that one so technically this weekend's show is in 3rd place. I can live with that. :-)

One of my favorite parts about doing shows is the new opportunities that find me. A woman from the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra organization sought me out. She'd purchased from me before and asked if I'd be interested in participating in their fundraiser in May 2010. They build 2 houses every other year she said, as show houses for people to tour. It seemed like she meant that literally - new houses are built - but I'm not sure about that part. She said one house will be a pop art style house and the other more traditional. People who tour the houses have to exit through gift shops so she wanted to know if I'd be interested in selling my stuff there on a consignment basis. Yes! It lasts for 5 weeks. I had a lot of success doing that at the Jr League of Buffalo show house this year. Great exposure, little time investment.

The other opportunity is to sell my goods on consignment in a new shop, (to be located on Winton Road, across from the Winfield Grill). A vendor I'd met at another show last year came into my booth with her partner this weekend and mentioned the store in passing. Then I found an email from them when I got home last night. So I'll be checking that out too.

Plus I bought Christmas gifts for Mom & Gretchen. Score!

My other favorite part of craft shows is hanging with my vendor friends. Before I started doing shows, I never would have guessed the community is so tight. I look forward to seeing these people. I'm amazed at how many vendors I know now. Because I was in a new location, some came looking for me. I love this biz!

No time to dilly-dally, must go order red crystals for Christmas tree pins and more brochure paper.

November 28, 10:00-5:00

St. Jude's Holiday Craft Sale

4100 Lyell Road, Rochester, NY 14606

Man Chair

Here's today's offering from Urban Dictionary:

November 22: man chair

A man chair is the chair that men sit in while their partner is shopping for long periods of time. They can be found in almost any clothing or shoe store.

Honey, Ill go over here and sit in a man chair while you go shop around. Meet me here when you're done.

(Mom & Gretchen - I corrected the punctuation from the original. Even though it was a copy and paste, I couldn't let it be.)

I can't imagine why anyone would drag anyone along to something they clearly didn't want to do. Especially someone you love! I see it at craft shows a lot.

Woman to disinterested husband: Isn't this cute?

Husband: Yeah.

Woman: Wouldn't this be perfect for Aunt Betty?

Husband: Uh-huh.

I'm sitting there thinking, "Why are you asking him? Can't you see he doesn't give a darn?? Furthermore, why did you bring him in the first place?"

There are men who are genuinely interested - especially in the mechanics of how I do what I do. I can spot an engineer at 20 paces. Or a math teacher.

My favorite addition is one I've seen several times this weekend. Mom or Mom & Dad are dragging a disinterested teenager with them around the craft show. Said teenager is walking and texting on their phone the entire time. Sometimes they actually do look at my stuff - and then they dig it. Especially the peace signs. They are selling well at this show.

I took twice as many Sticky Notes as I've taken to any other show. I think I'm just going to have enough. The show is just 5 hours today. If I have an outstanding afternoon I just might match the first year I did this show. I was starting to think that was just the novelty of my first year of participation in that show. That was my "career-high" to date. As it stands now, this weekend is in 2nd place of career-high - so I'm pleased as punch.

Most other vendors are saying good things too. I honestly don't know if being in this front building has made a difference in my sales, but it feels like it has. I want to stay here, I've decided. I'm going to walk around this morning and get a better feel for the lay of the land. I'll take a picture of my area today to post tomorrow. I was assigned a spot I wasn't sure I'd like - in an alcove of an exhibit. That sounds worse than it is. Being a museum, the layout is a bit funky but maybe that makes it interesting. I paid for a larger booth this time, 10" x 10" but I can use this whole alcove, which I think might be 12" x 12" or so. I love having that much room.

Granted this is a big popular show in time for the holidays - but we're feeling the economy must be improving. I hope/think/feel/believe the worst is over and things will get better and better from here.

I have two more shows the next two weekends - each just a one-day Saturday show. Then I have some house projects to finish up. Then time to get cranking on next year! Yesterday I counted - I did 15 shows last year. This year I will have done 8. But that was my strategy, to do fewer, but bigger shows. Not doing the major 3-day Letchworth show when Steve's mom died definitely put a dent in my projected sales, but that's okay. I'm already planning next year in my head. I'll get serious about planning after this season is over.

39th Annual Holiday Bazaar
Friday November 20, 5:00-9:00

Saturday November 21, 9:30-5:00
Sunday November 22, 11:00-4:00

Rochester Museum & Science Center Holiday Bazaar

657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607

The Museum Show

My space at the show is right across from Anne Fischer, an extraordinary fiber artist. She is stitching royalty to me! Besides these outstanding quilts, she makes a whole variety of fiber objects - including earrings made of thread, colorful hand dyed sports bras and fabric pins, purses and more. I bought one of her fabric pins at a Casa Larga show a few years ago that I still wear a lot. She and I are working a trade at this show so I see another pin in my future.

She is the one who turned me on to the vendor application for the Genesee Valley Quilt Club's show, which turned out to be such a success for me and a real turning point in finding my niche. Those quilters loved my stuff!

The above quilt was at the Quilt Show and seeing her work in person is breathtaking. I think I blogged about her back then but I don't have time to look it up now. She uses a regular sewing machine, nothing computerized. I cannot say enough about her work!

She also sells her work at Artizann's in Naples, where my Sticky Notes are sold. I told her I'm so pleased I get to sit across from her for 2-1/2 days and stare at her work!

~ ~ ~

I have to chuckle at the number of people who have emailed me to say they want to see the Sticky Notes that I consider too ugly to sell. I'd already taken those apart but I came across some others the other day so I will post them after this weekend. I suspect I'll get the same number of emails, "Uh, so yeah, Stef. You were right. Fug-ly!"

My first thought was to sell them at discounted prices but they didn't even make the cut for that. And Leslie, in answer to your question, how do you label those for sale - I call them "Retired Designs". Classy, huh? I learned that from someone else, Alyson Stanfield, I think it was.

In fact, I have some Christmas cards that are rubber stamped, pieced paper, etc. that have no stitching that I was going to sell as retired designs at this show. I even made a nice sign for the display. Then at the last minute, I threw them in the spinner with my new Christmas cards - and people are liking them, even sold a couple last night. These aren't ugly though, they just don't represent me any more.

I love, love, love this show. I tell people if they can only go to one craft show per year, go to this one. I think last night was a good night for me. It was quite crowded - I even had a line in my booth at one point, people waiting to pay for stuff. I have a feeling this is going to be my best show to date. I'm in the front, larger building this time, 2nd floor - stop by!

39th Annual Holiday Bazaar
Friday November 20, 5:00-9:00

Saturday November 21, 9:30-5:00
Sunday November 22, 11:00-4:00

Rochester Museum & Science Center Holiday Bazaar

657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607

.

Exhibits A & B

I love this variegated thread - I have it in several colors. This is how I designed the pattern the first time, the one I posted yesterday. (I know, I need to clean my scanner.)

Last night I tried moving the inner circle, the bottom of the spikes, in just a bit - only 1/4 of an inch. I also stitched a little extra somethin' between the spikes. I like it! The stitchier the better!

Over time my pieces have evolved into having much more stitching, which I love. Which brings me to this. I'd been noticing I had some Sticky Notes I wasn't thrilled with. I wasn't even neutral, I just didn't like them - I was ashamed to put them out for sale. I used to try to be frugal and stitch on scraps. But then to find paper to go with them proved more and more difficult so some of the pieces ended up looking like I was making do. No wonder they were the ones that were left.

Sitting in my booth in an October show I decided that those have to go. I'll either rework them in some way or throw out the stitched part and reuse the rest. From this moment forth, I shall sell no piece that isn't stunning. I pulled 50 - yes 50, Sticky Notes from inventory.

And my sales at the next show were up 86% over last year's same show. Hmmmm.

Granted there are always other factors at play - general economy, time of year, the specifics of that show - but I can't ignore the fact that all of my Sticky Notes look so much better. As I assemble this next batch, I look at my storage boxes full of them and I can truly say there isn't one I'm unhappy with.

I'm kind of embarrassed to even tell this story, embarrassed that I would ever consider selling something I didn't love. But there you have it. Lesson learned.

39th Annual Holiday Bazaar
Friday November 20, 5:00-9:00

Saturday November 21, 9:30-5:00
Sunday November 22, 11:00-4:00

Rochester Museum & Science Center Holiday Bazaar

657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607

New Stuff

Here's the same new pattern I showed yesterday, stitched in brighter thread. I love the lime green one. Funny, the top one with the bright pink thread - I thought looked better than it does when I see it scanned. I'll mount it on a pink scalloped circle or a pink notepad cover and it will look better.

These next two are both awaiting further embellishment but as I was assembling these Sticky Notes last night, I was reminded of how great this pattern turned out. I liked it well enough at first, but when I started stitching it in multiple colors - sweet!

39th Annual Holiday Bazaar
Friday November 20, 5:00-9:00

Saturday November 21, 9:30-5:00
Sunday November 22, 11:00-4:00

Rochester Museum & Science Center Holiday Bazaar
657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607

Way Cool

This is the test stitching of a new pattern. Not totally new, it's a variation on one I was stitching when I was poking the holes by hand. The pink thread doesn't show up well enough on the purple, but it's just a test anyway.

I don't like to brag . . . okay, yes, I do. My sales for this past weekend's craft show were beyond my high hopes based on what I thought I had sold. My sales were up 86% over last year. And I smashed my show goal by 161%. Take that - bam!

Thus the setting up of a new pattern for my Groove to cut. Must stitch more! Luckily I have many Sticky Notes just in need of embellishment so I'll be in good shape for next weekend's museum show. Plus, like I said, I took Thursday and Friday off this week from the day job.

39th Annual Holiday Bazaar
Friday November 20, 5:00-9:00

Saturday November 21, 9:30-5:00
Sunday November 22, 11:00-4:00

Rochester Museum & Science Center Holiday Bazaar
657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607

I killed it!

But first: Happy 22nd Birthday, Simon!!!

I don't have my final numbers for this weekend's craft show but based on what I sold Thursday and Friday, plus how (half) empty my Sticky Notes rack was at the end of Saturday, I think I did really well. It's been a while since I could say that! My more typical answer for 2008 and 2009 has been, "Good enough," - so I'm thrilled.

I got up at 4:30 yesterday to continue embellishing Sticky Notes. I worked so hard that when I took a break, Saturday had morphed into Sunday in my mind. Simon and Steve were both at work, so then I thought it was Friday and I was on a vacation day. It took some serious concentration to get my head straight.

So while selling well is good news for sure, I have the big 2-1/2 day Rochester Museum and Science Center show next weekend. I'm taking Thursday and Friday off this week though, to catch up and set up Friday morning.

Last year I went to a show in Canandaigua called The Christkindle Market to check it out. It's an outdoor show in November so I was intrigued to see how it was set up. Vendors set their tents up inside a gigantic tent, which is heated. Though our weather lately has been so lovely, not sure they were needed as much as some years. It's a high quality show so I decided I wanted to apply, and almost did. But it's always this same weekend as this Brighton show.

The Brighton show is run as a co-op, we all pitch in with set up and take down and other tasks - I maintain the mailing list. This is my third year doing the show and it's always been the Little Show that Could. It's always been a surprisingly good show for me. And because it's such a small group of nice women, I feel a certain loyalty to them.

I was driving home from the show last night, trying to decide if I regret not applying for the Christkindl Market. I would have presumably made more money but I would have invested a lot more time and money. Not only would I have to be at the show Friday afternoon, all day Saturday & Sunday, but I would have lost the time I got to spend making more product. For the Brighton show I only have to work one 3-hour shift. And the entrance fee is one of the lowest around.

No contest. Brighton is where I should be. This time of year gets like this - many shows on conflicting dates. Can't do them all.

I found a similar video on my new friend Lisa's Facebook page. When I went to You Tube to grab it, I found this one which is a bit more informative. Wild stuff I never knew about before!

39th Annual Holiday Bazaar

Friday November 20, 5:00-9:00
Saturday November 21, 9:30-5:00
Sunday November 22, 11:00-4:00

Rochester Museum & Science Center Holiday Bazaar
657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607

A Great Start!

Christmas Tree Card, $4.50

I took yesterday off to set up the Brighton show in the morning and work my shift in the afternoon. I usually just take the morning off and then work an after-work shift but I decided to kill 2 birds in one day. It worked out much better I think. Plus I had a few hours in the middle of the day in my studio too.

When I went back to work my afternoon shift, they asked me if I had more Sticky Notes because I'd sold a lot. I hadn't told anyone under which table I'd stashed my extras because I knew I'd be returning in a few hours. I walked over to my rack and saw at least 2 full rows missing, which is 18 Sticky Notes. Plus I sold my latest framed piece! {Crap. I just looked for a jpg of it to post here - maybe I never scanned it. Darn - I loved that piece. Can always make another. :-) }

I replenished my Sticky Notes rack, leaving only a dozen or so extras. The thing is, just before I left for the show, the owner of Artizanns in Naples called to order 30 Sticky Notes. She said a customer had just wiped her out. She said they were having an Open House on Saturday so if I was able to ship the order Friday, she'd probably have them in time for that.

So after the show last night at 7:00, I came home, ate dinner quickly with Steve and got busy in my studio. I had a big box of Sticky Notes ready to be embellished so I finished up 30 and packed them up to mail on my way to work today.

If you're local, I recommend stopping by this show - it's really good. It's called Not Your Usual Craft Show because instead of each artist having their own booth, our stuff is all mixed in together, attractively displayed. There's Christmas music playing - it's a very nice experience.

There's another paper artist there, Lori Kibler, whose work I really like - very clean and neat. We worked for a short while together yesterday - we bonded. :-)

There are some gorgeous mittens, some beautiful fabric bags - purses and tote bags by Kat's Kustom Karry-Alls. Lisa Cupery is a new artist I'd not met before - she makes pop-art pillows and garlands. Kristin Curley is there with her outstanding mosaic pieces. Ellie Shulman has her beautiful jewelry, including some chain maille pieces, which I love.

So yeah, the season is in full swing! I'm going to get busy again so I can drop off more Sticky Notes at the show first thing tomorrow morning.

Thursday, November 12, 1:00-7:00

Friday, November 13, 10:00-7:00

Saturday, November 14, 10:00-4:00

Not Your Usual Craft Sale

Brighton Town Park, Carmen Clark Lodge

777 Westfall Road, Rochester, NY 14620

Little Angel

Hand Stitched Angel Christmas Card, $4.50.

Sorry folks, I had to change the blog comments to require word verification. I've been getting 1-2 spam comments per day lately. Boo-hiss.

~ ~ ~

I follow Yoko on Twitter - and was led to this on her Imagine Peace website. Cool!

(I always find ages interesting: Yoko is 76, Olivia is 61 and Barbara is 62 and has been married to Ringo for 28 years.)

Yoko Ono, widow of Beatle John Lennon, Olivia Harrison, widow of Beatle George Harrison and Barbara Starkey, wife of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, introduce designer Stella McCartney, daughter of Beatle Paul McCartney, as one of Glamour magazine’s 2009 Women of the Year at an awards ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009.

Wearing a purple mini-dress she designed herself, the mother-of-three was honored for her fashion label and her commitment to animal rights.

The 38-year-old was stunned when the widows and wife of her father Sir Paul McCartney’s Beatles bandmates came on stage to present her with the award.

All three of us came together with a deep feeling of love and joy for Stella’s accomplishment. Stella is family. I remember her from when she was a baby. Never thought that this baby would grow into such a magical person. Her creativity shows her free soul. And with that, she is giving a lot to the world. I love her. All three of us do. It was a very sweet day for us. yoko

November 12, 13, 14

Not Your Usual Craft Sale

Brighton Town Park, Carmen Clark Lodge

777 Westfall Road, Rochester, NY 14620

Happy 80th Birthday, Dad!

Dad - I know now that you're on Facebook, you no longer Twitter, but still, you need to correct your Twitter description, age-wise and girth-wise from this:

79,retired,bald,fat,ugly,sassy,lazy,mean as a snake; otherwise, nearly perfect

Happy Birthday!!!

It's been in the high 50s outside but it's snowing inside my studio!

This hand stitched wintery blue greeting card has been left blank inside for your personal message. $4.50

I know I've been a slacking blogger lately, but when 2 people email me to see if I'm okay, I know I need to get back here pronto. As expected, I've been really busy with wholesale orders and I have back to back shows the next couple of weekends.

But mainly I've been determined that whenever I post a finished piece here, I want it to be available in my Etsy shop. Plus I'm setting up a shop at 1000 Markets. It's a juried shop so once I have a minimum of 6 items listed I can submit it for approval. I haven't fully decided if I'll maintain both shops. It's really not much extra work, as it turns out, because I copy and paste the description from one to the other. I use the same scanned images of course. The cost is minimal. Neither one has rules about not appearing at a competitors, that I know of.

I was ready to post these new cards in the Etsy shop today but another motivating factor is that my blog stats have been unusually high the last two days. I did receive 2 new comments on that stupid Bruce Jenner entry so I figured he must have been in the news again and people are Googling him.

Sure enough - I just found this review of their latest quest for publicity. I cannot begin to tell you how sick I am of these infamously famous people like those 2 who shall remain nameless with all those kids. I watch the Today Show from 7:00 to 7:30 and every time they have an interview with some faux celeb, I found myself launching into the "Really?!" bit from SNL. Really?? Is this news?! Really.

But mostly I found lots of hits for cards - quilled and pop-ups seem to be the popular choices. Shame I don't make either - but I've posted about them. T'is the season - people are beginning their card making.

November 12, 13, 14

Not Your Usual Craft Sale

Brighton Town Park, Carmen Clark Lodge

777 Westfall Road, Rochester, NY 14620