TAKING THE LEAP

 So I am taking the leap and opening a store on Shopify for my handcrafts.  They are currently running a special of $1 a month for 3 months.  That should give me time to get a basic store up and running.  If things go well, I will look into adding more bells and whistles to it.  So far I only have 2 things listed in it.  I plan to add more things this weekend.  I have already pointed my domain name to it.  www.thesassycrafter.com

Wish me luck.  

PIVOTING

 Time to Pivot

So I am deciding where to host a website, or if I want to stay with Etsy, Ebay, of Bonanza.  While I am deciding, I will be using the blog as my website.  I plan to list items I have for sale with a link to the platform on which they are available.  I will also be doing fewer in person shows this year as opposed to what I was doing in the past.  My goal is to move most of my sales online, do a few in person events just to keep a finger on the pulse of what is selling or not selling, so I can remain relevant with my merchandise.  I promise to do much better with my blogging as opposed to what I was doing in the past.  This is my year to pivot and actually be able to act upon what needs to be done.  Hope you want to come along with  me on this ride.

Faux Fern

Busy Season

So this is the busy season for me.  I have several Craft Shows coming up between now and December 14th.  So I will be MIA for a while.  I am currently working on replacing stock from a very successful farmers market last weekend.  This is a free market hosted once a month by the local Tractor Supply Store.  I almost didn't go, but decided I could use the fresh air.  I only took a small amount of stock, but what I did take was flying off the tables.  Luckily I had more at home for the next show coming up this weekend in Farmersville, but I still want to replace some of the toys.  Luckily they are are quickly made, unlike a blanket or garment which can take a few days or even weeks to create. 

I did find a new pattern for a small dragon.  Years ago, when my youngest niece and nephew were little I made 2 large dragons for them as Christmas presents and they were a big hit.  They also took a couple of weeks to make, because there were a few errors in the written pattern that I had to figure out (2 single chains in each of 6 sc chains around does not equal 15 no matter what math you use).  These take only an hour or so to make and use up very little yarn (just under a 388 yards).  If I can remember to do so, I will take a picture of some of the toys I make this weekend at the show, and post it, along with the links where you can find the patterns.

So, back to work for me.  Will try to catch up even if its just to say a quick hi/bye next week sometime.

Rude Customers Rant

Okay, so I had to wait a few days before I posted this, then I had to rewrite it to make it less vicious.  But I have a few pet peeves when it comes to customers, and I had three of those happen Saturday at Two Sisters monthly Swap Meet.

First, was a low-baller.  If you have ever sold anything you know the customer of which I speak.  They pick up an expensive item, then offer a ridiculously low amount.   Now keep in mind I sell both vintage, and handcrafts at the monthly swap meet.   In this case the customer picked up a vintage piece of glass, one that regularly sells online for 50 dollars or more depending on color, time of year, and how many people want it.   When I find this piece (and it is getting much harder to find) I can sell it easily for 35 bucks at the swap meet, and it is usually one of the first pieces to sell.  This person picked it up, looked over carefully (it was in mint condition) then turned to me and said I'll give you 5 dollars for it.  I kept my cool and said thanks but no thanks.  Then they said I'll come back near the end of the sale maybe you'll be willing to sell it then.   Thankfully it sold for full price a few minutes later, so I had the privilege of  looking them in the eye and saying, oh I sold that for full price a few minutes after you walked away.  (sometimes you get to see karma in work).

Second was someone who picked up a 1 dollar item (I think it was a card of buttons), and pulled out a 100 dollar bill.  I did refuse to take it, usually when people do that it is because they forgot to get change the day before.  When they said the only other thing they had was a credit card, I said that's okay, I'm set up for cards.  Of course they decided they didn't need them that badly and walked away.

And one of my favorites.  The three guys who were friends, hadn't seen each other in a few days, and decided standing in front of my booth blocking the entrance was a great place to visit.  I let it go for a couple of minutes, then asked them politely to move to one side.  They acted like I wasn't even speaking.  It took me almost 30 minutes to get them to move.  I just kept saying excuse me, your blocking my booth, please move to one side so customers can get in.  And actually it was a customer who finally got them to move.  The guy was shopping with is kids and the kids wanted to see the toys I had on the handcraft side of the booth.  When it was obvious the three were not going to let the kids by, he just walked up and pushed them out of the way, saying my kids want to get in here to shop and your blocking the entrance.  I think he actually shocked them into moving (my hero).  Although I was thinking, they were lucky I did not have a two by four handy.

So that brings me to my pet peeves that customers do (some on purpose, some don't even realize they are doing it) These are not necessarily in order.

Low ballers -  offer tiny amounts of money for items that are already priced.

The I need change people -  they will find the cheapest thing in your booth and pull out a large bill,  it happens at every show I do.  Sometimes I will break the bill, sometimes I say no and offer to take a card.  It depends on the time of day.  If its late in the day, chances are big bills are all they have left, early in the day, they were just too lazy to get change.

The on my God I haven't seen you for at least a day (month, week, year) and proceed to catch up while blocking the entrance to your booth.  Most will move to one side if you ask politely.  Some just ignore you and continue "catching up".

The person who picks up the handcrafted item you spent hours making (in some cases days and weeks perfecting the pattern),  and taking detailed notes on construction in order to go home and make it themselves.  I have started offering the printed patterns for the items I have designed myself for sale, and pointing them out.  Most end up purchasing the pattern, a few get upset that I dare suggest they purchase a pattern when they are quite capable of making it themselves.

Then there is the one who runs down everything they pick up.  They could make it better, they don't know why the rare piece of furniture is priced so high, when the seller probably picked it up for next to nothing at a yardsale, or my favorite what makes your stuff so special, anyone can crochet, knit, make pottery, or jewelry, or whatever your craft is.  These people you just have to ignore, there is nothing you can say or do that will change their minds.  Just smile and say nothing.

Then my favorite when it comes to hand crafts  the customer who says well I know the materials only cost you x amount, why are you selling for that much.  Excuse me,  I have time invested into the item, as well as things like rent, utilities, insurance, food, etc to cover as well.  All of that has to go into the cost of the item.  (these are usually the people selling at the church craft shows and charging only enough to by more materials to make more of their items, you know the ones that make it harder for the rest of us to make a living with our hand crafts)

And I get this one, but for some reason they only tend to show up at vintage shows (I don't do as many of these anymore, but still....)Well I can get it cheaper elsewhere.  I actually had a customer tell me they could get a certain depression glass pattern that has not been made (or even reproduced) since the mid 1930's) new for a cheaper price at a department store in town.  I suggested that if that was the case they may want to visit that store, because I could not possibly sell the pieces I had in that pattern that cheap, as I had paid more than that for them.  It was the first day of a 3 day show, they came back on the 3rd day, waited until I walked away from my booth (not realizing I was in the booth next door paying for a piece of furniture the dealer had put back for me) and bought all the pieces I had left in that pattern (my cousin was running the booth for me while I was doing my shopping).  I walked in just as they were walking out.  They turned a nice shade of red, I just smiled and said hi, beautiful day isn't it. 

But I think the type of customer that annoys everyone, is the person who lets their kids run wild.  They don't keep an eye on them, and don't try to stop them from picking up anything and everything they can.  And heaven forbid if you say something to the kid.  You are the one that gets yelled at.  Even if all you said was please don't handle that, its very fragile.  I have even had to ask kids not to run in my booth I did hear the best response from a vendor at a show I was shopping at though.  The kid kept grabbing expensive glass items off the vendors table.  Her husband would quickly take the item and put it back on the table, while saying please don't touch anything, (the child in question was standing on tip toe, and reaching up and grabbing the item off the table, so you can't say the stuff was at their level)  After about the 4th or 5th time his wife turned to the mother and said  "If your don't stop your kid from grabbing my stuff, I'm going to kick your ass"  (that was a direct quote).  The mother grabbed the kid and took off.  Next time I saw them she still had a death grip on the child's arm.

So those are my biggest pet peeves for rude customers.  I'm sure others could add to this list easily.

Maybe next time I'll do a pet peeve for sellers I have encountered over the years.

First Fall Craft Show of the Season

So the first craft show of the fall season has come and gone.  Not the best, but not the worst show I have ever done.  I actually did better than expected.  As always my jellyfish, and seahorse plushies were among my best sellers.  The mini pumpkins (these were a first time making them craft for me) flew off the shelf.  Had requests for other veggies and fruits, so those will be on my to do list for the next show coming up in October.  Sold several of the do-rag headbands I make and sell  (the pattern is available here).  I will definitely be making more of those. 

Lots of compliments on the few hats and scarfs I took.  I did not expect to sell any of these and took them only to get the responses as to what people thought of them.  I did get a couple of baby blanket orders so those need to be completed in the next week or so. 

And just for those who say they can't do a craft show because they don't have room in their vehicle for tables, displays, canopies, and finished crafts, I have a small 4-door Hyundai Elantra.  granted my back seats do lay down (either right, or left, or both at the same time as needed),  but the pictures below are of my packed car, and my booth set up on the day of the sale.  So don't say never.  Just practice loading your car,  and if you can get the plastic crates that Walmart and Target sell this time of year for back to school/college,  pack your merchandise in them, and use the empty crates to display merchandise on or in. 

                                            booth after set up

                                          view of back seat of car

                                          view from front of packed car

                                          view from back of packed car.

So even if you have a small vehicle you can still do craft shows.   The things I took were 5 small 20 inch x 40 inch folding tables (they fold in half, and the legs extend), a 10 x 10 canopy, a 6 foot ladder shelf (purchased at Tuesday Mornings and painted with a coral color stain), a folding metal table type shelf (purchased at Tuesday Mornings)  a banner (purchased from vista print, and framed in a cheap plastic poster frame purchased at Jo Ann's, and embellished with patterned duct tape from Dollar Tree), 12 crates of product, 1 crate of bags, tape, tissue paper, price stickers,) A small ice chest with water and snacks, a folding wood laundry rack (purchased at an antique show years ago), 8 mannequin heads (I look for them at yard sales and swap meets because they are cheaper there than buying new),  and some cheap 48 inch curtain rods and large 3 - 4 inch S-hooks (I got the curtain rods at Walmart, but you can probably get them cheaper at thrift shops and the S-hooks I got at Home Depot),  and a folding plant stand the kind that folds out with 2 stands on each end that stand from 8 - 12 inches tall with one in the center that stands about 18 inches to 24 inches tall (for a total of 5)  (I set my mannequin heads on these with one sitting on the table just in front of the plant stand.) And a garment rack that is quick and easy to put together (also purchased at Walmart)

There are some good you tube videos on setting up spaces and thinking outside the box as far as displays go.

I hope to check in later this week or next to give you a preview of some of the items I am making for the next show.

Its Been a While

Lots of things going on lately.  I do have some updates which I will list below.  I am getting ready for a busy craft show season.  I have 8 shows between now and mid December.  I am also getting into the design end of things, which if things go the way I hope, means I can ease up on the number of craft/vintage sales I do each year. 

I am working on a hat and scarf set pattern.  I hope to have it finished and beta tested sometime in the next two or three weeks.  With a publication date set sometime before Christmas.  My goal is to get at least 4 new patterns written, tested, and published on either Ravelry, Etsy, or Craftsy before July 2019. 

I have already etched out at least 8 different designs I want to work on.  Just have to figure out the right pattern stitches to use.

My current pattern is a cow I named Sticks and Stones  I have it listed on Ravelry  Etsy and Craftsy

Now on to updates.  So my digital scale battery is dead, and I keep forgetting to buy a new one, so no weight loss updates today.  But I have met and exceeded my miles walked goal by more than 16 miles (I will keep walking each week though, as I find I feel much better when I walk than I do when I don't)  I have only887034 steps left to take.  I am actually trying to increase the number of steps I take each day.  If I can up the amount by a 200 or so I am sure I will meet my goal steps wise by the end of December. 

Thats it for now.  I will do my best to post more frequently in the future.

update time

Well I did two shows the past two weekends, one I will definitely do again, the other maybe if I don't have anything else going on that weekend.  I am also doing a farmers market that is strictly for handcrafted, and homemade items at a local Tractor Supply Store in Dinuba on the 5th of May.  We shall see how it goes.  Its free to set up, and its only 15 minutes from my house. 

I went to a Rusty Roots show Sunday.   I found some great display items for my craft room, and for showing off finished products.  I am really thinking I would like to try and get into the next one they have in the area.  I do believe my products would sell well.

I have booked my room, and signed up for three classes at the Crochet Guild Conference going on in Oregon this July.  It will be my first conference, and luckily it is within driving distance (a 14  hour drive but I am breaking it down into two days.)  That makes it nice because I can visit my best friend and her family in Seaside for a few days after the conference before heading home.  I will probably stretch the trip home out into three days.  I really can't wait.   I'm told next summers conference will be on the East Coast.  If I can swing it I hope to go to it as well.  We shall see.

I am working on some different crafts for the next two shows I have coming up.  I am going to try and post some pictures of them later this week.  Lets just say, flip flops, and buckets. 

On the personal front, I lost another pound, leaving only 85.8 pounds to go to meet my goal.  I knocked another 11.03 miles off the mileage total I am trying to make, leaving 160.80 to go.  And I made 63114 steps, leaving 1893309 steps to go.

updates

Well the week is going well so far.  Had a great Easter with my brother and sister-in-law.  The scale has started dropping again, Yay.   I am getting stuff ready for a vintage/repurposed sale coming up at the end of April.  Then I have a vintage/craft show coming up in May, possibly another vintage show coming up in May, and a craft boutique coming up in June.  In between all this I have to finish planting my small vegetable garden, get some tile work done in my bathroom, figure out what color I want to paint my home, and get ready for a trip to the coast at the beginning of May, and a trip to Oregon in July.  Oh, and getting stuff ready for the shows I have coming up.  Can you say busy. 

Any way total for my weight loss 1.6 pounds leaving 86.8 to go, 12.38 miles walked leaving  198.82 to go, and 82054 steps walked leaving 2098236 to go

My first attempts at a toothbrush rug

As promised I have photos of my first two attempts at a modified amish toothbrush rug will be included in this post.  One is round, and one is ovalish.  Never could get the hang of making an oval, it always ends up being closer to a square. 

Neither rug is perfect, but they will work for what I wanted them for.  As pads under a couple of large plants on the front porch.  And all they really cost was some time cutting old t shirts into strips and then looping them together.  With a little practice I can see myself making a few of these to sell at some upcoming craft shows I am doing later this year.


This is the round one, it is just about 2 1/2 feet

and this is the oval one it is about 1 1/2 by 2 1/2 feet

Like I said not bad for a first attempt.  And I have lots of oversized  t shirts that are way too big for me now, so I have lots of raw material to use for others. A great way to upcycle some old clothes and get get some nice useable rugs.  I think I might try a basket next though.  I can always use more storage.

Amish Toothbrush Rug

Okay, I researched how to make an Amish toothbrush rag rug.  I tried the way everyone was showing, and hated the way it looked.  Decided to modify the process and lose the length of material you work over.  Love the new look, and it seems to go faster for me.   Also using a safety pin, instead of the "special" tool you supposedly need.  And instead of regular cotton material, I am using old cotton t-shirts.  The regular material tends to shed too much for me.  I know there are ways I can slow or prevent the shedding, but I really don't want to have to take the extra steps.  And the t-shirt material seems to wear better.  I am currently only working in the round, but plan to try rectangular, and oval rugs as well.  When I get a chance I will be taking pictures and posting them.

I am also going to try and use strips cut from sweat pants and sweat shirts.  Not sure how or even if they will work, but worth a try.  I have a ton to get rid of now that I am losing weight.

On another note, does anyone else take advantage when walmart has a clearance on t-shirts for only $1.00 each.  I was at one of the four walmarts I typically shop at (depending on which part of town I need to go to that day) and they had womens t-shirts and tanks on clearance for $1.00 each.  The only color left was white, but I bought several of the largest sizes just to be able to cut them up and use them in rugs, baskets, and chair pads.  Its almost time for a local thrift store to run a sale, all the clothes you can fit in a paper bag (large sized) for $5.00, limit 2 bags per person.  I plan on stocking up on sweaters, jeans, and t-shirts.  I use the sweaters either to take apart and reuse the yarn, or to make pet beds and pillows from.  The jeans become quilts, lap throws, and throw rugs.  And the t-shirts of course become rugs, pet pads, baskets, chair pads, and shopping bags.

Love to be able to turn old worn out clothing into useable, pretty items.

Weekly Update

This has been a productive week, as far as personal goals go, I am down another 2.5 pounds, walked another 4.63 miles and upped my step total by another 64,270 steps.  So new running totals needed to meet goals are:

97 pounds left to lose,
290.51 miles left to walk, and
2,801,249 steps to take.

On the professional front, still trying to work out the kinks in a couple of patterns I'm working on.  I hope to have at least one of them ready to post for sale before the end of the month.  But It will probably be closer to the end of February.  I have got some items ready to photograph and list for sale, just waiting for a nice sunny day to take the pictures.  They just don't come out as nice when there is a lot of fog and clouds, both of which we have had in spades the past few days.  Maybe by the weekend I will get a chance to actually get outside and take the photos.  Then it's just a matter of editing the photos, and writing the descriptions, and listing the items.  I will of course do a blog post once the items are live on either bonanza or etsy.

I actually tried spaghetti squash for the first time the other day.  It's not going to replace the pasta in my diet completely, but its not half bad topped with a fresh veggie salsa.  And I am going to try to eat less meat (sorry not cutting it out completely), but I do like fresh veggies and can see myself doing at least one or two vegetarian days a week. 

Anyone in the Fresno/Hanford area that knows of any local craft/antique shows coming up this spring let me know.  I have been away from doing the shows since before my Mother was diagnosed with lung cancer (she lost her battle in 2014), and I think I am ready to start wading back into the pool so to speak.  Preferably smaller ones for now. 

That's it for now.  Will try to check in later this week.  Next Monday or Tuesday for sure.