My Last Outdoor Craft Fair

I've been doing the outdoor "Fair Circuit" in Florida for about 6 years.  I've done shows in glorious Florida weather and miserable Florida weather.  Last weekend was mix of both.  Set up was on Friday and the weather cooperated, at least until we finished set up.  It rained on the way home. It never rains in November in Florida.
Saturday morning brought a cloudy sky. Checking the NOAA website revealed a 50% chance of rain for the day.  I was hoping I was in the part of the county where the 50% was "sunny."  No such luck.  During the night the wind had played havoc with the tent and the canopy frame had come apart. Thank goodness Ron was home and able to come over and fix it for me. Between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. I zipped the "elements" out of my tent 11 times. It was one of those days where we had bands or rain. Rain for 3-5 minutes, sun, clouds. Repeat the cycle. Finally around 1:30 the sun came out for good. I had an OK day, at least I made expenses.
Both Friday and Saturday nights I slept poorly. What if the wind took the tent. What if the tent leaks and I have ruined product. What if, What if, What if.....  So when Sunday came, I was less than my chipper self.
Thankfully, the day was glorious.  The 60% chance of showers (in the afternoon, just in time for tent break-down) never materialized and all the people who didn't come to the show on Saturday because of the rain showed up along with all the people who had planned to come on Sunday all along.
It was packed.  I had several feeding frenzies. That's what I call it when you have one person in your shop making a purchase who attracts others who want to see what they're buying and they get to talking, and buying, and they attract even more people . . . you get the picture. I couldn't swipe their credit cards fast enough. So it did turn out to be a good show.
But the whole weekend I kept thinking: Why am I gambling on the weather, making myself sick, and working non-stop for 12 hours?
 So I'm not any more.
 I've done my last outdoor craft show.
My ETSY site is doing quite well and I did an amazing indoor show in early October with a local chapter of the Southern Handcraft Society.  There are several in my area in the Fall and I'm going to take advantage of as many as I can.  How could I not? You deliver your handcrafts to them the morning before the show starts all labeled and priced.  They set up your work along with other artists in vignettes that scream "you need to buy this!"  Seriously, so cute! They sell for you, they figure out the tax for you, they pay the State the tax you owe. I get to visit, or not. You pick up all your unsold items after the show. Mine were all neatly arranged on a table just for my merchandise. What could be easier? They take a percentage of the sale and mail you a check with a copy of all your sales for the weekend.  My husband I figured that the percentage they take is far less than the price I pay for a spot on the Fair Circuit. So I can't loose.  And I'm excited about the prospect for next Fall. And I'm anxious for this season to be over.  I have one more show (thankfully indoor) to do the weekend before Thanksgiving, and then I'm done!

Prima Engraver Tray

I love papers done in shades of brown, black and cream so when Prima's Engraver Collection came out, I was in heaven.

Here's the project I created last spring when it debuted. It was so much fun putting this together and I had the perfect black and white and sepia toned pictures to incorporate into it.

It's now hanging in my foyer where everyone who comes to see us gets to gaze on it. Family is important, and this project brings back very fond family memories.

December Class @ Paper Niche

I has so much fun creating this Paper Bag Album that I decided to make it into a class.  That's right, the base of the album is 5 paper bags!  I used BoBunny's 6" Silver and Gold Paper Pad for the paper, added some glitter card stock, flowers from Petaloo's newest release, some Prima goodness and Tim Holtz dies.

This is one of those albums that, once you know how it goes together, is adaptable to any paper, any palate, any embellishments.  Imagine it as a Sweet Easter Album in yummy pastel colors, or with Red paper bags as the base for a Fourth Of July Album.  Wait, Wait, I'm just getting started . . . With black paper bags for a Halloween Album, or an Over The Hill Birthday celebration . . . With Red paper bags for a Valentines Day Surprise . . .With brown paper bags for a Thanksgiving or Fall Harvest album, and just one more . . . With Teal Paper bags as the base for a Summer Vacation at the Beach album. O.K., I'll stop now.

I think I'm done.

I like this album so much that I'll be teaching variations of it throughout 2014 at Paper Niche, probably about once a quarter. 

The class is Saturday, December 14, from 10:00 - 12:30 and the cost is $37.00.  You can even sign up for the class on line, here! I may even play some holiday music while we create, we'll see. 

Halloween Houses

I've been away, but I've been busy!  Thought I'd share with you the project I'm submitting to Ranger's Halloween Contest.  It closes on Halloween, so if you've got a project to add, get crackin!

Out of the Fog

Life is settling back to semi-normal and I'm back in the studio part time. Chemo has started and radiation will begin this week. The staff at Sylvester Cancer Center (University of Miami) is guiding us on this journey and I'm very grateful that they are in our backyard.

I'm teaching again this Saturday at Paper Niche. This is a super fun class that lends itself to LOTS of interpretations.  Really! Once you learn how to construct the houses, they can be made for just about any holiday or special occasion.

 This one is a "Christmas in July" theme as we'll be creating lovely Christmas Villages. Hope you can join us. Class starts at 9AM.  I'll also be doing a "Sneak Peak" of the Halloween Themed Village I created that will be a class later in year. 

Paradigm Shift

Life interrupted.  My focus has been shifted from creative pursuits to caring for my husband who has been diagnosed with cancer. I'll be out of the loop for a while.

Rustic Outdoor Photo Album

More of what I've been up to in the studio lately.  Getting too hot (and too rainy) to enjoy South Florida so I've been inside in my element.  This goodie was created because I wanted to try out some new materials in the album. It's got burlap, cork, jute and wood incorporated into it. Love how it turned out and it's perfect for lots of summer activities. I'm thinking hiking, camping, fishing, hunting or just cuz you've got some really interesting "Guy Shots" that you need a place for. Enjoy!