Flip Flops for Jen

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Jen's birthday was Wednesday so I made this card for all of us in the department to sign. I received a very good response from co-workers, which is encouraging that I'm on the right track.

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Flip Flops Sticky Notes

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Rainbow Flowers

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My massage therapist ordered this card, which I love for it's colorful simplicity. She also ordered a new Sticky Notes pad design I've been working on, which I'll reveal tomorrow.

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One Down, One to Go

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As I mentioned here, my nephew Nick got married last week in Pennsylvania. I drove down (about 5 hours) with Gretchen and her other son, Paul. It was a small ceremony, with the big shindig scheduled for August 19. It was lots of fun. Jill's family is very friendly and everyone was very nice to us.This is Nick sweating in the sun, strictly because of the weather and heavy clothing. (You can't see the gloves here. Don't tell anyone but he had 2 right gloves.) Otherwise, he was cool as a cucumber. I thought Gretchen and I were pretty cool too - barely shed a tear or two.

Paul did a wonderful job as best man.

Jill had both her parents walk her down the aisle, as it should be, in my opinion.

They're married!

~ ~ ~

Gretchen, Paul and I left PA about 7:30 Thursday morning so I could get to work around 1:00. Nick & Jill drove up with Nick's dad & his girlfriend later in the day. They will be here about a week or so. We did the big family breakfast thing yesterday.

Otherwise I've been puttering I guess. Saturday morning, I grocery shopped around 7:00 or so. Later I went to Target and bought some things (a lamp, candles, table runner, wall clock, etc.) to spruce up an old office at work that we're using for a software testing lab. It was way too beige in there so I went all David Bromstad to color it up a bit. I stopped by work and set up some of the stuff to make sure I was on the right track. I later bought a couple of houseplants that I potted up in pots I had here that I'll take in tomorrow.

I also stopped by Country Way nursery and bought a bunch of annuals. I got all that planted on Sunday. I'll take pictures later. I'm happy with everything. I noticed all the plants looked a bit happier today, after the good watering I gave them yesterday. They were kind of parched when I planted them.

Today, Steve and I went in the hot tub when we got up, then read the paper on the deck and ate breakfast there too - pancakes, bacon & smoothies. It's been a gorgeous weekend, weather-wise, except for a brief shower Sunday night. I've hung laundry on the clothesline, put the birdbaths out, pulled a few weeds. I had sort of envisioned a pretty full Pine Tree Designs weekend but all this other stuff is important too. After I finish up a bit more paperwork, I'll work on custom orders and get organized, deciding what quantities I want to have for shows for the rest of the year. Now's my time to get tons of stuff made, to relieve as much stress as possible in the fall.

I watched Almost Famous yesterday afternoon. Steve and I saw it in the theater when it came out in 2000 and I was ready to see it again so I put it in our Netflix queue. I recently set up separate queues for Steve and me and we have a joint one. Turns out Steve didn't want to watch Almost Famous again, which kills me because he absolutely watches movies over and over. I must have mistakenly assumed he liked it as much as I did in 2000. I'd had this DVD for weeks so I decided I better just sit down, get stitching and watch it. It really holds up - I just love this movie!

Last night Steve and I watched Must Love Dogs on HBO on Demand last night. I liked it a lot, though part of the ending was a little over the top. Still, I enjoyed it.

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Another ER Visit & a Road Trip

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I'm off on a short road trip today - with Gretchen and her son Paul. We're driving to Pennsylvania for her other son's wedding. Nick & Jill are getting married in August but are also having a family ceremony today so they have more time to get settled before Nick's next deployment. Simon can't get off work unfortunately but he and Steve will definitely go with me in August for that ceremony. Simon is in the wedding then. We'll be back tomorrow morning so I'll work in the afternoon. This is the card I made for them. I'm not sure what the etiquette is for two weddings but I got them a little something for today and will probably make them something for the August wedding.

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I received a phone call from Simon's manager around 10:30 Monday night that Simon had gotten his tooth knocked out at work. A girl tossed him a shirt and the hard plastic sensor hit a lower tooth just perfectly - broke it off at the gumline. The nerve was exposed so he was in a lot of pain. A friend drove him to emergency and I met him there.

Long story short, they finally gave him Vicodin for the pain after 6 hours. I took him to see his dentist this morning who referred him to an endodontist, who did a root canal yesterday afternoon. He'll see my dentist for a crown Thursday morning. I don't know how that kid endured the pain for that long. He's worried about how the crown will look of course - and yes, Gretchen, he threatened to get a Grill! He retained his sense of humor anyway.

I went into work yesterday afternoon for about 3 hours but was so sleep deprived I'm not sure how effective I was. I got caught up nicely last night though. And since I have to leave to pick up Gretchen and Paul in about 90 minutes I probably should go shower and pack, eh?

See you on the flip side.

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Lilacs

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5-1/2" square greeting card, made with textured cardstock, variegated threads, seed beads and Swarovski crystals. Suitable for framing. $7.00 at Pine Tree Designs.

A man at work wanted a card to welcome his daughter's future in-laws to Rochester. They are from Alaska so he wanted something representative of Rochester. This is my interpretation of lilacs, something for which Rochester is famous. Not sure this is what he had in mind but I decided to go with my strengths and make it a Stefani kind of card. Whenever I try to make something not my style, it's such a struggle. I know reaching outside one's limits is liberating sometimes but mostly it's irritating.

~ ~ ~

My friend Diane's new website is finished - check out her work at Cross My Heart. She makes wonderful birdhouses and spindle angels among other things. I've bought a couple of wreaths from her. She really does nice work.

I work with her husband, who remodeled this little building for her shop. Isn't this amazing? They've both done such a great job. I wish Diane a lot of success here.

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New Flowers

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I love days like today. The high was 74 degrees or something, a slight breeze, a cloudless sunny sky - beautiful!

Steve went to work. Simon was gallivanting around town, doing car stuff - what else? I cleaned the garage, something I've been looking forward to all week, honestly. Earlier this week we bought one of these Rubbermaid Vertical Storage Sheds at Lowe's. We'll store some of my craft show display pieces in there so da boys don't have to haul them up and down the stairs to the basement. Steve is ecstatic, believe me. So I put that together too - very easy.

I love this Rubbermaid stuff. It's more expensive than I would like but it goes together easily and lasts a long time. We paid about $300 for this thing, with tax and all. We rented the Lowe's truck for $19.95 to get it home. We've done that before at Home Depot - to bring home the riding lawn mower we bought last year. Those truck rentals are a great deal, good price, easy to drive. And you don't have to rely on your dear old dad and his pick-up truck, which probably wouldn't have been big enough either time anyway. (Yep, Dad, you've been replaced.)

I Freecycled our old lawnmower. The recipient came within a couple of hours - I love those quick transactions. The mower runs fine but the handle was broken, sheared right off last year. We took that as a sign it was time for a riding mower. It's cut the amount of time it takes Steve to mow the lawn from something like 3 hours to 1 hour. Heck, I might even do it sometime. I said might. I used to love to mow Mom & Dad's corner lot on their riding lawnmower when I was about 15. I couldn't drive yet and that was the next best thing. I'd tool around with my transistor radio on my lap. Those were the days, eh?

Then I did one of my favorite activities that starts every summer. I went to Country Way for my hanging baskets for the deck. (They don't have a website unfortunately, but if any one's interested they are located at 2755 Penfield Road in Fairport, though it seems like Penfield to me.) The ones I bought this year weren't quite as spectacular as the ones I bought last year but I love them, just the same. Maybe I just bought them later in the season last year so they were fuller. I bet that's it. I love combination baskets - the more colors and varieties crammed in there, the better. I used to think I should be making my own but I love theirs and I get to come home, hang 'em, water 'em and enjoy 'em right away.

The owners are a young couple who hire very nice, helpful employees. One of the owners told me they are just starting to get their annuals in so I'll go back next weekend and pick up some for the window boxes you can see on the deck railing in the picture below. I also have 2 big pots on the deck that used to hold trees that had formerly been indoor plants until they got too tall for the ceilings. For those I actually think I will try buying a bunch of colorful annuals of all colors and cram them in willy nilly. Then there's the black speckled canning pot that always gets 2 sweet potato vines, 1 green, 1 red with a spike in the center.

Steve gave me these petunias for Mother's Day last weekend. I thought that was awfully nice considering I'm not his mother. Simon's taking me to dinner tomorrow night for Mother's Day since I was busy with the craft show last weekend.

Then I filled all the bird feeders. This was taken from the deck - it's way across the yard but I wanted to see how well the zoom does on my new camera. I'm impressed. This is the feeder I can see outside my studio window. Last year I hung a fern on the other hook and that worked out well so I'll do that again. I set up a bird bath underneath. That little scene in the shade makes me smile every time I see it.

Speaking of the bird feeders, as I sit in the living room typing this, I'm watching Verona spy on goldfinches on a feeder right outside the window. She's a little too big to sit in the window so she hovers around, tail all twitchy. We call it Bird TV.

After all that I was beat and my dogs were barkin' so I settled in here, propping my feet up on another chair. I stitched some designs while listening to artist interviews/podcasts on my Shuffle. Life is good.

At this point Steve was inside watching hockey - he's a big Buffalo Sabres fan. What I don't get is how this quiet, mild-mannered man can be so freakin' boisterous when it comes to sports. He shouts, he jumps up out of his chair, he yells at the players, telling them what to do. Sometimes I'm in the same room, on my laptop or stitching, just because I want to be with him, but man, it hurts my ears. Seriously. So most times I find someplace else to go, far away. If dogs can hear 5 times as well as humans, I can only imagine how poor Reggi is coping. She must think he's lost his mind.

What a nice day.
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New Stamps

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Boy, do I loves me some Outlines Rubber Stamps. I literally could buy just about every single thing on their website - which is new & improved, by the way. I settled for these three and replenished some of my flat-backed Swarovski crystals inventory.

I think these three rubber stamps lend themselves spectacularly to cutting apart and putting back together in interesting color combinations. That's kind of the Outlines claim to fame. And these stamps are 2-1/2" square - the perfect size for my little gift tags.

You know how I always say my brain is not wired for collage? I've tried. I'm just a neat & orderly kind of gal - I know that - I've embraced my neatness and my orderliness.

Is this collage stamp made for me or what?? It's 5-1/4" x 5-1/4" for $17.50 - what a fabulous deal for all these images you can use separately or together in all kinds of combinations. I thought I was getting away from rubber stamping, but Outlines has definitely renewed my interest. There may be one or two of these collage stamps in my future. (I didn't want to spend ALL my recently earned money just yet!)

Speaking of gift tags, I was able to add to my envelope template order from Judikins. I wondered why I had not received the order I placed on April 27. When I emailed them today to see if I could add to the order if it had not shipped, it turns out they did ship it but it was returned for incomplete address or something. (Their fault, not mine.) So they will add the new item to my order, which is actually perfect because I didn't really want to pay more shipping charges if I didn't have to. I ordered a set of small envelope templates - one is 3" square - perfect for these little gift tags.

I'm thinking I might package them in sets of 6 or something. But if I have more designs available, maybe people will want to mix and match. Maybe I could offer them both ways - with a slight discount for a package of 6. And if I have 6 designs, some packages could be an assortment of 1 of each. The header tag packaging could show what's inside. I don't know, sometimes too many choices isn't good either. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

I've been fairly stressed thinking about how much product I'll need to have made for not only the 2-day August 11 & 12 Webster Village Days show but for the biggie, the 2 days and 1 night - Rochester Museum & Science Center Show in November, if I get accepted into that. But I'm making plans and lists and think it will be okay. Damn day job, anyway - cutting into my creative time.

Then last night my friend Ida, the scoundrel! throws a kink into the works by emailing me (and other vendors) to say she's thinking about doing another show in Webster and throws some dates at us - in June, asking what works for any of us who might be interested. I say scoundrel because I know she sometimes reads this blog. (Hi Ida!) I picked the dates as far into June as she offered, to give me more time. And it's an outdoor show - so that tent purchase would definitely have to happen sooner rather than later. No big deal, that.

It's a good news, bad news thing, isn't it? Nah, it's all good news.

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Gold Bling

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A woman at work requested a card yesterday for a 50th anniversary party she's going to this weekend. She wanted it a gold fancy-schmancy card with lots of bling. I think it looks more gold in person - that's gold metallic paper that I used for the stitched layer.

I received my check from last weekend's show, along with the tags from every product. Naturally I prepared a color coded spreadsheet to tally the results. :-) For shows where I collect my own money, I started out removing the price tags so I could clearly see what I'd sold at the end of the day but it became too big of a hassle so I stopped.

But at these shows where we have one cashier, I like getting the tags back because I don't always have a clear idea of what sold. And yes, being an accounting type of gal, I did at one time use inventory software. I liked it but it "broke" and I couldn't get any support for it so I got rid of it. I could track inventory on spreadsheets but ultimately it's one more thing to do, time that takes away from my product producing time so I don't. My mentor, MJ, just eyeballs it too - so if it's good enough for her, it's good enough for me.

I admit I typically set my expectations rather low, dollar-wise, prior to each show - and I'm always pleasantly surprised. Except I now know I'm pleasantly surprised, so that probably counter-acts my low expectations, if you know what I mean. I made about the same amount of money I make at most 1 day shows - and this was a two day show (but just about 3 hours longer than a 1 day show). I'm still very pleased. All these dinky $3-$6 items I sell really add up. I sold 4 framed pieces, like I said and a few gift sets and 2 notepad sets - but everything else was the small stuff.

I took some orders, made a bunch of contacts - and had a lot of fun. I'd definitely do it again.

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Notepad Sets Page is Up

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The page for the remaining 5 Notepad Sets has been uploaded to Pine Tree Designs website. Dad is out of town this week, without computer access, but I can't wait until he learns we've sold 8 of this limited edition set. Like I've said, when they're gone, they're gone. "I don't want to be in the pen business; don't need another career."

Another one of those ideas in my head waiting to get out, though, is to make more of these white scratch pad holders - but more like a book with a hardcover binding. I like making books so we'll see.

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Another Notepad Set

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Another of the notepad sets, coming soon to a web page near you.

Remember the other day when I guessed I received about 20 new names for my mailing list by holding that free drawing for the Ladybug Set? Guess how many I actually received? 20! I are amazing, aren't I?

I showed a couple of people the new Sticky Notes design I'm working on - has a pair of flip-flops on it. It was well received - even got an order for one already. (That idea came from Kathy, a woman who emailed me to ask me if I have ever made them.) I just have a couple of prototypes done, still working on the final design.

Another customer at the show asked if I ever made the Sticky Notes with frogs. I must have had a blank look on my face, but I lit up when she suggested geckos. I've found a gecko punch I'll be ordering this week - hoping it's the right size. I did actually see a nice frog punch I'll have to consider. It was more of an African tree frog (I'm making that up, I have no idea what it is) - but you know the kind, with the big sticky feet. As opposed to a bullfrog, I mean. And Stephanie liked her massage therapy mandala so much, she's ordered one for her reflexologist - so I've found a tiny foot punch I'll be ordering this week too.

I love my customers.


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Electric Quilt

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There's a software program called Electric Quilt that I heard about years ago but had forgotten about until it was mentioned in one of the craft business books I read recently. In fact I read that part while we were in Las Vegas, so anytime we were chillin' in our room, I was on my laptop studying this program. I purchased it when we got home.

I haven't had as much time as I would have liked to work with it but now I should be able to. As soon as it arrived I actually started with page one of the lessons in the manual (I know, me?) and I'm about on Lesson 4 I think. I envision this program doing two things for me. This program contains 4000 quilt blocks, 5000 scanned fabrics and 62 teaching videos, among other things like borders, quilting patterns. So I should be able to scale down copyright-free quilts to tiny and print them on different sheets of cardstock, cut them apart and put them back together again as colorful quilts. I want to do this with well known recognizable quilt blocks as well as design my own little quilts. I've been wanting to do this anyway but this stuff would be perfect for that upcoming Valentown Museum Gift Shop opportunity.

You can design your own embroidery and applique so I'm thinking this will allow me to design my own patterns for my paper embroidery. Then I can say my paper art is truly my own. I've been using Erica Fortgens patterns from books. I'd been planning to make my own designs but until I was reminded of this program, I was ready to go at it with a compass, protractor and graph paper! How old school is that?? I'm sure at some point I would have started looking for software to help me but I'm so glad this software found me.

It's cool too because the tutorials are narrated by Penny McMorris, one of the co-founders of the program. I used to watch her quilting show on PBS back in the day.

Check out this outstanding parquet coffee table designed by Gisela Towner, crafted by her husband. The program can also be used for floor designs, stained glass.

Pretty cool, huh? I can't wait to dig in.

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Low Tech Website

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I love Miranda July's website for her new book.

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Victor Show - Day 2

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I was dead wrong about today, Day 2 of the Victor craft show. It wasn't very busy, unfortunately. We had some nice flurries of activity but not what we expected. We think it was because we had gorgeous weather - and people either went to Rochester's Lilac Festival which opened today or they worked in their yards. Memorial Day is our peak planting weekend in upstate New York, so any weekend prior to that, which allows gardeners to get an early start, is taken advantage of. And as I stated yesterday, parking for this show is a problem. Otherwise, it's a fascinating old house on a well-traveled street, so it should have been good. We're not sure how to resolve the parking since there's no parking on the street and the homeowner doesn't want people parking on his lawn, which I half understand.

Mom and Dad stopped by, as did Gretchen. I have a very supportive family, but you already knew that. Mom and Dad: Bill (the homeowner) said to say hello to you, he says you're "good people". Dad: MJ said you remind her of her dad, who is deceased - and she started to tear up when telling me that. Isn't that sweet?

I ended up liking Bill a lot. He comes off a little obnoxious at first but even then I could tell he's someone that grows on you and I was probably going to end up liking him. He's very sociable, remembers people's names, is very funny. He's terminally grouchy but it's all bark and no bite. I kept calling him "a character", complete with air quotes each time. I think he might be about my age actually. His wife and kids are great too. And they have an overweight beagle!

One advantage to slow periods, is that I had more opportunity to get to know other vendors too, which is always fun. Remember how I said Kathy, our hostess, is charming, funny and just enough eccentric, in a really good way? She's also absolutely fascinating. She was a high school art teacher for many years, then a principal in a couple of different elementary schools for many years. She told us about a couple of gorgeously dramatic quilts she made - wish I could see those. She told us about a huge piece of fabric she wove, then made it into a couch. This tea party business is her post-retirement career. A bunch of us ate lunch together and she was telling us what she wants her next career to be. She's the happiest, most cheerful easy-going person I've ever met. I'm sure she gets in bad moods but I sure can't picture it. I really like her very much. That alone, getting to know her a bit better, was worth the price of admission.

Overall, I think I did well enough to consider it successful, but not what I'd hoped. The bright side to these situations is always, "Oh well, at least I have less inventory to replace." I did take a number of orders so I need to go through my notes and get organized on that front.

I just used half of my black screen because of space limitations but I didn't mind because I didn't have that many framed pieces available. I'd sold 4 by the time I took this picture so it looks more empty than usual. See how nicely that sideboard/buffet/dresser in the corner worked out? I was happy to be able to spread out a bit and showcase the notepad/pen sets . It's made me think I might need to expand my flat surface into a L-shape for future shows. Maybe buy another 6' table. Or maybe 5'. Need to think on that.

That free drawing for the Ladybug Set (Sticky Notes, pin, greeting card) proved to be pretty popular. We haven't unpacked the vehicle yet so I haven't counted the number of entries, so I don't know how many people provided info for the mailing list too, but I'd guess at least 20.

Those 60 cent gift tags proved to be quite popular. I need to check on my envelope template order - because I think I ordered a tiny envelope template, just because I thought it was cute and inexpensive. Wouldn't that be a cool coinkydink? I think the tags would sell even better with matching envelopes.

I sold 2 of the notepad/pen sets and took orders for 2. I still maintain, with more traffic, I would have sold more. People seemed impressed by them. I know, I know, impressed doesn't pay the bills.

I thought I'd show you what my studio primary work surface ends up looking like prior to a show. I do clean it periodically and certainly between projects - but sometimes it just becomes this Incredible Shrinking Workspace. Kinda claustrophobic, huh? I've said before that I love cleaning my studio because everything has a place, it's just a matter of returning it to it's rightful place. Never takes as long as it looks like it will.

The thing about these craft shows where there's one cashier for the whole show - I won't get my check for about a week. At least when I take my own money, I know that evening how much I made.

Oddly, I'm not nearly as tired as I thought I'd be. I was beat last night - hobbled to bed around 9:00. After falling asleep on the couch around 8:30, that is. Slept good too. We hot tubbed this morning, soothing out any remaining achy breaky muscles.

I've been looking forward to Sunday as a day off, of total rest and recharging. At this moment, I don't feel like I need recharging, but I'll likely take it off anyway. I plan on working a lot of hours at my day job this coming week since I haven't been able to put in any extra hours these past two weeks.

Enough babbling out of me. Time to veg on the couch with my laptop.

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Victor Show - Day 1

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I did well enough yesterday, mostly thanks to a friend of my massage therapist's. Mary had given her friend (another therapist) one of my framed mandalas with the tiny hands on it - so Sharyl called me, came to the show and bought 3 framed pieces and some other things, including one of the notepad/pen sets! Mary ordered one of the notepad pen sets, specific colors and with the little hands. (Stephanie, I'll contact you shortly regarding your comment on yesterday's entry. I have a good variety of colors.)

Today will be the big day. The show is really nice. Kathy, who is hosting it, is really just that, a great hostess - she's charming and funny and just enough eccentric in a really good way. Parking is a bit of a problem because people can't park in the circular driveway so they have to park in the church parking lot that's a few houses down and across the street. It's a little confusing even though there are signs. And I think the parking location will be a different one today, just to add to the confusion.

I'm in a room with two vendors I know pretty well from other shows so we've had a good time - lots of laughs and talking the biz. And there's a 4th vendor we're all getting to know. I was in a conversation with a customer but I think I overheard the more experienced vendor say she never gives out a list of her future shows because she wants to encourage customers to buy now, not go away and think about it for next time. She makes a good point, but she's well established and does pretty much the same shows each year, and they are the bigger shows. I think I'll stick with my plan for now and continue to give people a card with my future shows listed. For one, it makes me look experienced and serious. My mentor, MJ, does it and has a pretty loyal following. It's probably one of those thing you can make an argument for either way. I just know that one of the things that surprised me the most when I first started doing shows last year, was how many people asked me where else would I be showing.

And I learned this, which doesn't surprise me, I guess I just haven't thought about it before. These other vendors are just as serious and passionate about their craft as I am about mine. They want to retire from their day jobs and do this full-time, just like me. They are happiest in their studios, just like me.

The other thing that surprised me the first time I entered the craft show world, some when I worked for MJ, but mostly when I went out on my own - is how helpful other vendors are. I've never, ever witnessed any back-biting, jealousy, sabotage - never one negative thing. People give each other helpful advice - and stuff, old displays, for instance. I mean if you think about it, even though we sell different products, we're all competing for the same dollars in a customer's pocket. This community feeling is one of the reasons I enjoy these shows so darn much.

PLUS, I had different people tell me about FIVE stores that I should contact about selling my stuff. So I'm definitely going to follow up on those. Most of them came from people associated with the store so I can use that to contact the owner. One was a woman who is opening a Valentown Museum Gift Shop - right there at Valentown. How convenient would that be?? I could easily stop on my lunch hour or way home. And I love getting in on the ground floor of something. It feels slow-going at first, as a start-up, but I like giving new things a shot. And I would think, with a little advertising near Eastview Mall, plus those new buildings that are going up right on the Valentown side of 96, including Starbucks, it has a really good chance of success.

I'll take pictures of my set-up today. This show is in a historic home, as I've mentioned and the room I'm in has little light, but at least there are two big windows. I came home between set-up and the start of the show yesterday to pick up a lamp for the corner, which helped a lot. I have the added bonus of being able to use the top of a dresser/sideboard thing, the only piece of furniture the owners left in the room. But I'm only using a table top rack for my cards and a fellow vendor darn near cleaned me out at the end of the day. I should be able to make a few more this morning. I had other cards to refill with of course, but I really prefer to showcase my embroidered cards. Those, I'm very low on.

All in all, a beautiful sunny day, fairly well-attended. There was not a breath of air moving in our room though, so today I'm wearing shorts. Not exactly the "professional" attire I prefer to wear for shows, but comfort rules. I spent the entire day yesterday feeling way too hot.

The very, very best part? I received a text message from Steve around 4:00, asking if I wanted him to pick up dinner and what time would I be home. I read the message out loud and he damn near received a standing ovation from the other women in the room. And he did - he figured out dinner, stopped to pick it up and arrived home 10 minutes after I did. (Used to be he'd make me decide what and where and blah, blah, blah.) He's a keeper.

I'm off to start my new day!

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Notepad Sets

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As much pre-craft show anxiety as I felt yesterday morning, by the time I got home from work, I was very calm and relaxed. As I finished up a few things I was thinking how happy I was because participating in craft shows is so darn much fun. I get to talk to my customers, stitch during the slow times, hang with my crafty vendor friends - and make money.

Because this show is just before Mother's Day, I'm featuring gift sets. Check out this newest one.

5-1/2" x 6-1/2" Notepad Set


It holds a 4" x 6" pad and a pen.

Here's the piece de resistence - my dad made the pens. Hand turned on the lathe. Isn't that cool?

This is my favorite part! My experience has been that people love this personal touch. People loved knowing that Dad made the wood frames for some of my pieces. I have a little bio sheet I include with each purchase - people often ask for extras, especially if the item is a gift for someone else. I've started leaving spares on the table and I've seen people take a bio sheet even if they don't purchase anything.

I'm selling them for $14. The pen alone is worth twice that but Dad's being a stinker about pricing. "I don't want to be in the pen business. I make them when I want to. No deadlines for me." At 77, he's certainly earned that right.

I'll put any leftovers on the Pine Tree Designs website.
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Two Tone Thread Design

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I love how this Sticky Notepad turned out, using the two different threads in the design. But I keep forgetting to make more like this. And isn't this cool paper - looks like leather?

Grandma Hattie's Spring Open House & Gift Sale
At the Historic Osborne House
146 Maple Avenue, Victor, NY
Friday, May 11, 12:00-6:00
Saturday, May 12, 10:00-4:00

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Gift Cards & ER

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These are 2-1/2" square folded gift tags that I'll be selling at this weekend's craft show. They will sell singularly for 60 cents , or if you buy a $3.75 Sticky Notepad and a Pin, you get a green gift box with copper cord bow and a gift tag for free. I offered this last fall at one show and it was pretty successful so I made 50 of each of these gift tags Sunday and Monday. I don't have time to get them up on the website just yet - but I will after the show. I'm very happy with how they turned out.

The ER in the title of this entry refers to the visit I made to the emergency room with Simon Monday night, or rather 3:00 AM Tuesday morning. He had severe abdominal pain that woke him up. He eventually threw up, then woke me up. He was curled up on the floor in pain - about a 8 or 9 out of 10, he said. He "powers through" as we call it - most stuff. I've always thought he has a pretty high threshold of pain so when he agreed to go to Emergency, I knew it was bad.

Long story short, the pain diminished over the 5 hours we were there and the blood work showed nothing abnormal. The doctor had poked around his stomach and nothing hurt significantly. She said maybe it was a gastro-intestinal virus or something and if it happens again to come back or call his doctor.

Once the pain had subsided, we were both so sleepy and there's no place to get comfortable of course. Simon kindly slept on the bed curled up so I could sit on the end of the bed. When the patient in the other half of the room left, I took the chair and slept in the chair, leaning on my arms on the bed.

We got home around 8:30 I think it was. We both went to bed - I went to work around 1:00 and Simon went to work around 2:00. He was starving but afraid to eat anything. I told him to test the water with some crackers. I talked to him later and he said his stomach was fine. He had some soup and a turkey wrap. Judging by the dishes I found in the kitchen this morning, he ate again when he got home last night (the same food that made him sick the night before, brave kid!) with no problem. I'm glad he's back to normal. (Except he's had a head cold for a couple of days. When it rains, it pours.)

Poor guy. Glad it wasn't anything serious. Made for a very weird disorienting day for me though. I loves me a schedule, or a finely tuned rut, as I like to call it.

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Grandma Hattie's Spring Open House & Gift Sale
At the Historic Osborne House
146 Maple Avenue, Victor, NY
Friday, May 11, 12:00-6:00
Saturday, May 12, 10:00-4:00

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Embossed Suede Paper

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These are two embossed suede papers I found (on clearance, no less) at Michael's recently. They worked perfectly for the book covers I made for Gretchen. Wish I had more of this stuff - I bought all they had. Especially that sage green one - is to die for!

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The Great American Car Sit-Down

.First, here's a follow up to yesterday's entry about Kaffe Fassett. I emailed Brandon Mably, an artist in his own right, because he manages Kaffe's studio, to let him know I blogged about Kaffe. I quite often do that, if I blog about someone, because I think they'd want to know (in case they don't check theirs stats) - and I always offer to take it down if they want me to. No one ever has. Brandon's work can be seen here.

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This is about the 3rd time Reggi has done this and it totally cracks me up.

Saturday morning I grabbed my car keys so I could move my car to get the lawn mower out. Reggi ran out the door ahead of me and stood by my car, tail wagging. Front door, back door, front door. I said, "Fine, you can get in but we're not going very far. I'm just moving the car." After I moved the car 15 feet, I turned off the car and got out. She didn't. She stayed there well beyond the 3 hour mark.

This dog loves to go for rides in the car. And I think she thought we were taking her for a walk this morning because we both got up and got dressed like we had someplace to go. We do frequently walk her first thing Saturday and/or Sunday morning so it wasn't unreasonable for her to think that. But today Steve went to work and I'm working in my studio.

I could have lifted her out but I decided to take her for a ride because it was such a beautiful day. So I took her to the Petsmart with me. I was looking for a canvas dog house like thing I'd seen online. But I didn't find anything to buy. (There were a lot of other dogs there this morning. Must be a big Saturday morning thing to do!)

Then we stopped at Bruester's and I had a free ice cream cone because my punch card was filled up. They offer Doggie Dishes, which is a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a dog biscuit stuck in it. Reggi is overweight so honestly, we almost never give her snacks (anymore). I sat on a picnic bench eating my ice cream cone while Reggi lapped up her ice cream. I swear, she turned to me at one point with the expression, "You DO know I have this right??"

Does Reggi have me well-trained or what??

The other time Reggi did this was when Steve and I returned from a long weekend away. While we were getting our luggage out of the car, Reggi jumped in and wouldn't leave. After an hour or so, we finally coaxed her out.

Another time, I think I was cleaning out my car in the driveway and she jumped in and got comfy. I just left her there with the door open for as long as she wanted.

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Kaffe Fassett

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Here's another find from Craftcast - Kaffe Fassett Studio. Kaffe rhymes with safe, by the way. He makes quilts, mosaics; he paints, needlepoints. I absolutely love his sense of color.

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Orange

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Sticky Notes

Grandma Hattie's Spring Open House & Gift Sale
At the Historic Osborne House
146 Maple Avenue, Victor, NY
Friday, May 11, 12:00-6:00
Saturday, May 12, 10:00-4:00

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Eye Candy

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Don't you just want to gobble these tasty colors up with a spoon?? I ordered this thread online from Madeira. I checked the website on a whim, somehow thinking they would refer buyers to a local retailer but no, I could set up a wholesale account, easy as pie. I paid $3.05 for a 1100 meter spool, whereas I usually pay $2.50-$3.00 for a 200 meter spool at Joann's. I really just wanted to buy online to save myself the time from going to a store. I ran out of that second from the right, the blue/green blend. I've decided I like the monochromatic blends more than the multi-color variegateds. The multi-color variegated I use for my business card, I love. Most of the others, not as much as I'd hoped.

Turns out the shipping was little high but still, such a deal. I can't stop looking at them in the box I take to work so I can stitch on my lunch hour.

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I signed up for my first teleseminar from ArtBizCoach.com. And like a good marketer, Alyson offers, for just a little more money, a second one on the same subject. The new one is Become an Online Art Magnet: How to Increase Traffic with Links, Keywords, and Blogs, by Clint Watson. The second one I added was his previous one, How to Create a Website that Sells. I just know the one that addresses blogs is going to say post every day - keep it fresh. I'm adequate at posting, but I want to be better. On the days I'm really busy or don't have much to say, I could just post a picture of some recent work. I could prepare extra posts on the days I have more time, ready to fill in for the days I'm short on time.

I'm very excited about these seminars - hope to listen the the 2nd one, which was recorded recently, in the morning before work.

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My main accomplishment tonight was finishing my postcard mailing about the May show. I added a little splash to the front of the postcard. On the back is the full list of vendors with my name circled in purple. After I was all done - I realized I didn't list my website anywhere. Oy. Lesson learned. This time I hand wrote a little hello to some friends - and definitely to my best customers. I like the personal touch.

(Printed straight, I scanned it crooked. Too tired to fix it - I'm off to bed.)

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