Fun at the Fair

Wow!

I had such a great time at the Twilight Fair this evening! - I now understand why people love doing markets! It was so much fun seeing people I havent caught up with in such a long time and seeing people appreciate and love my products!


I was in the local Primary School Hall, so a little out of the way from the rest of the stalls, but had a great afternoon. My lovely mother in law came along to help out and I was grateful of her help as we were very busy most of the afternoon.




Pictures: My lovely mother in law and my tables full of yummy Delicious Berrylicious goodies




I love seeing people choose which item they love the most and it was certainly interesting to see what people liked the best (sometimes not the things you may think they would like or would normally choose for myself!)


This was my first market, so I learnt so much from this experience - I felt that my display lacked height and order as i needed to squash sooooo much onto two trestle tables. I am a perfectionist when it comes to display so I feel I need to find some suitable boxes or trays to display my items in if I was to do markets again in the future.... Any ideas?

I thought maybe old draws would be great, but i am unsure about this as I wonder if people would naturally flick through things or are they better all laid out so people do not need to touch things to see them? I ended up laying everything out on my tables as things sold, so people dont need to flick through baskets to see my items and found this was a much better way of displaying my items - and feel that I most probably sold more this way as the first couple in a basket may not appeal to someone but the one at the back may do, yet they are less likely to flick through a stack if the first ones did not appeal to the indvidual looking. I would appreciate your comments on this - from the sellers point of view as well as a buyers!

New Fabrics to Play with ...

oooh! and I have some new Kimono Girl fabric, hedgehogs and wee robots that I will also be making some new products with.

I think mostly I will be making cute badges and hair elastics with these!

Featuring Artist: Mary of Perfect Jewelry

What does the mother of an almost 3 year old toddler and a 6 week old infant do while her infant is sleeping and her toddler is at preschool? Most mothers would take the opportunity to do any of the following activities:
1. clean

2. cook

3. take a shower

4. watch t.v.
5. sleep

Well, I am unlike most mothers because I take the opportunity to make jewelry!

Check out my etsy store here: http://www.perfect.etsy.com/

I started making jewelry several years ago. A friend taught me how to make a loop with wire and then off I went. I started spending my life savings on jewelry supplies. When I got married, I felt a little guilty about spending the family money so I started selling to some friends and family and co-workers. To my surprise, everyone seemed to love it and told me that I had an eye for design. With this ego boost, I started making more and more.

After a while, I was started to feel a little guilty about feeding into this consumer culture in America. At the same time, I started to get more involved with Compassion International, a charity organization through which I'd been sponsoring a little girl in the Philippines since I was in college. I decided to give most of my profits away to Compassion and other charity organizations.

What makes me unique as a designer? I am a perfectionist. I pick out the best beads and make the most perfect loops I can. I tuck in all my wires so that they don't scratch you and I also love making custom pieces that fit everyone perfectly. I hate bracelets that are too big or necklaces that catch on your clothes. I love working with semi precious gems like garnet, amethyst, citrine, onyx, and peridot. I also love love love pearls and swarovski crystals. I usually use only sterling silver, gold filled, or vermeil materials because to me, the time I invest in my jewelry is not worth using cheap materials. Most of my jewelry can be described as dainty and cute... although there are a few chunky rings and shoulder duster earrings.

I also love to blog and currently am a contributing blogger on Kimchi Mamas (http://kimchimamas.typepad.com/).

If you'd like to follow me on twitter (where I announce all my new listings on etsy) my username is so_yun.

Here is Mary's profile from her etsy shop: I LOVE making jewelry! I started several years ago and began selling them at local craft fairs. My friends and co-workers seem to love them and I am hoping the rest of the world will too! I named my shop "perfect" because I want to make perfect jewelry. Although it's hard to call a piece of art perfect, I thought this name suited my jewelry because I strive to make them perfect in my eyes and hopefully in the eyes of my customers. Another inspiration for the name of my shop is that the only truly perfect being is God Himself. I believe that God, the original Creator, gave me the ability to create beautiful jewelry and that he made the earth so beautiful for us to enjoy.I donate most of my profits to Compassion International, a non profit organization that helps children living in poverty through one on one sponsorship. I am able to do this because I have a full time "regular" job and jewelry making is a hobby and I don't depend on it to pay the bills.Have you ever discovered a beautiful bracelet only to find out it only comes in the standard 7 inches which is way too big for your tiny wrists? That standard 16 inch necklace just too tight around your neck? Or perhaps a bit too loose? You will never have that kind of problem with my jewelry because every piece can be custom made to fit you perfectly! Just tell me what you want and I will strive to make my creations "perfect" for you.I also make sure to "tuck in" all my wire ends so that it won't snag your clothes or scratch you.Please send me a conversation with any questions. I also have many more pieces on display at my home in the Bay Area

To Market, to Market Jiggidy Jig ..

I have been super busy getting ready for next weeks twilight fair. I have made some lovely new products that i am really excited about and cant wait to see how they are received!

For local blog visitors, the Margate Primary School is holding a Twilight Fair Next Friday (the 30th October) from 4pm... It would be great to see some of you lovely people come along and let me know what you think of my new releases. I have also made some new super cute Snuggleberries , some with a little extra addition in the way of strawberry buttons or flower buttons!

and there will be some super specials up for grabs just for market goers.

I have even made a few things for boys (YES! as you can most probably tell i have a teenage son! hence these hiddeously cool badges)

Hope to see you there!

Featuring AMY SCHIMLER ..G O R G E O U S!

I want to introduce all you fabric lovers to
AMY SCHIMLER and her G O R G E O U S fabrics.

Last week I received an AMAZING package in the mail from Amy and wanted to share her amazing talents with you.

Amy has a lovely etsy shop called:

REDFISHCIRCLE
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5938378 .

Amy is a childrens illustrator and textile designer, and creates the most wonderful fabrics. They are very high quality cotton fabric and mix and match together so very beautifully. Amy is running a special event for October and November that I feel is a very worthy cause worth supporting • All profits from sales in my shop through October and November will go to benefit a close friend/neighbor who lost her house in the flood. •

PLEASE drop by and support Amy to help her friend, and help yourself to some GORGEOUS fabrics! .. Take a look at my lovely new fabrics....oh! what to make? what to make? (a lap quilt?)












I am particularly fond of this little print!

FOLLOW AMY'S BLOG: http://redfishcircle.blogspot.com


TOTALLY love the owls!


Beautiful fabrics that compliment each other so wonderfully!

Here is a little more about Amy from her shop profile:
My name is Amy Schimler and I work as a children's illustrator and textile designer. I will be offering high quality prints of some of my original artwork and photography, some of my fabrics that I have designed, and other fun goodies. Thanks so much for stopping by. I love daydreaming, licorice (all colors), meeting new friends, making things, cupcakes, sunshiney days, splashing in the water, and a good belly laugh.Please check out my web links on the shop home page. All artwork is © Amy Schimler

THANK YOU AMY! ♥ you are a very special person

All in a day of the life of .... (come sightseeing with me!)

WOW! Yesterday was a HUGE day. I spent the morning baking up a storm in my little kitchen (pictured above) and then when little "J" got home from school we took a road trip from Hobart

to Campbelltown (Tasmania) and back! .. this kind of thing is very unusual for me as I get terrible car sickness and try not to travel too far from home if I can help it (out of the 5 regions I have cancer, one is my ear canal which puts my balance all up the putt, which makes me very prone to motion sickness).

I thought I would take some snaps along the way for my international visitors on my blog to see what a lovely state I live in. Yesterday was very overcast and rainy and all the pics were taken in a moving car (so please excuse the blur as I am no photographer!) ....

Pictured above: Hobart Wharf area. Hobart is the capital of Tasmania

(a little island to the south of Australia)

Campbell Town is near Launceston on the map. We are so very lucky in Tasmania, that you can cross our whole state in only a few hours. Our little trip took about 2 hours each way.

... and this was what the trip was in aide of ..we came home with this little beauty for little "J" for Christmas! How much fun is this going to be??? (I think its just big enough for me to ride as well!) 8-)

Christmas Buttons

This lovely selection will be made into bobby pins, hair clips and elastics, available instore soon!

My gorgeous friend Luisa

look what was left on my doorstep yesterday! Lu you are such a wonderful friend! your random act of kindness certainly cheered up a very bad day!

Thank you Lu, you are so special!

plagiarism | copy cats

What is the image on the previous post all about you say?
I know that I am bringing up a controversial topic here ... but what do you do about plagiarism?

Today I have discovered that there is another seller on etsy that is making replicas of certain products that I am making - listed only days after i have listed my items (but previously posted sneak peaks of on my blog).

I know there is nothing new about fabric covered buttons, and certainly nothing new about fabric buttons and hair accessories .. but the same fabric, the same packaging, the same wording in the listings !?!?! REALLY!?!?! first it was hair elastics, then my cupcake bookmarks and now the elastic headwrap headbands (that can not be coincidental surely!).

I searched high and low, and across the globe (TRULY!) for my little tins and spent WEEKS (just ask my friends - i drove them all insane with my neverending questioning about my little tins!!!) making decisions on which ones to go with for a new original packaging idea to "stand out in the crowd" so to speak, and now find similar tins are being used for buttons made with EXACTLY the same fabric as I use and even the descriptions are nearly worded exactly the same!

I am certainly not trying to create a hornets nest here, or any kind of negative airing. I am generally a positive person that is happy to share ideas for others to make beautiful gifts of their own - isnt that what craft is about?

All i can say is that I KNOW that my products are produced at the best possible quality, are made with the best of care (and made with love). I APPRECIATE every single customer that comes into my store. I treat each and every customer equally with the upmost of importance regardless or order size or value. I try and offer the best possible service and communication and I spend the time and effort to ensure my orders are sent out immediately, in top condition, with fantastic packaging and wrapping (and quite often add little extras to bring a smile)... Perhaps that is all i need to shine above?

Comments?

The Power of a Mother and Gods Wings - a deep and meaningful!

Featured Picture: Red Feather Poppy Hair Clip by HeadFullofFeathers on etsy: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30377967&ref=sr_list_19&&ga_search_query=feather&ga_search_type=all&ga_page=2&order=date_desc&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title - stunning isnt it?


Well, those that know me well know that I am not really a religious person as such. However, ever since I was diagnosed with terminal cancer I feel that I have started to understand the world a little better than I may have previously. I feel that facing death makes you sit and think of lots of things that you may not think of normally - churning almost. I feel it has strengthened and fine tuned my senses, making me more aware and sensitive. I find (on most days!!!) that I am less likely to be consumed by the "little things" that do not matter so much, and allows me cherish all the little things that become the "big things!" in the end.

I have prayed many times that I live to see another day (and other days i have prayed for it to all be over with!), and I certainly understand the strength, courage and determination of a mother (being a mother has been the only thing that has got me through on some days!). I also strongly believe in karma and "what goes around comes around".

Facing death and staring at it down the barrel, I have often wondering what there is beyond death and what there is that people fear about it? ... All I see is peace.

I have found that things certainly seem to happen for a reason - sometimes a reason that we may not know until a later date, or perhaps never really understand "why". If you do a kind deed it normally comes back to you in ten fold in various ways.

Today I received one of those "annoying" spam emails that people send others in their address book in multiples and normally they go straight into my spam folder. This one touched my heart, and I thought I would share it with you all:

God's Wings -After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park , forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick.When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.

She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast ..because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live. 'He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.'(Psalm 91:4)

Being loved this much should make a difference in your life. Remember the One who loves you, and then be different because of it. My instructions were to send this to people that I wanted God to bless and I picked you. Please pass this on to people you want to be blessed. Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have. You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone Special. To realize the value of a Friend...lose one.

Be happy. Every day matters. Love your children with all your might. Cherish your friends and take the time to smell the roses!

Thank you all for following my blog - I love and appreciate all your little faces and love it when you leave comments!

... Blessings x