Busy Times

So I have been very busy trying to get ready for the next two craft shows I have coming up in October.  Just a few more items to make, then I am going to turn my attention toward making Christmas ornaments for the shows I have coming up in November and December.  It helps that I did most of the craft items I need early in the year.    After my last show in December I will take a month off to just breathe, try to pick out the new designs I want to try for the following year, decide which of the older tried and true designs I want to keep, and start looking for Spring 2020 shows that I may want to sign up for.  Oh and I need to complete three wedding ring afghans in that time.  One should have been done already, but a couple of shows I wasn't expecting to get into slowed that one down to a crawl, and I still have to purchase the yarn for one of them (thank goodness it doesn't have to be finished before next October, got to remember NOT to schedule a show that week.)

Oh and I also need to get my online store stocked.  So this is going to be a busy busy season for me.  Better busy that bored though.  Although it would be nice to actually be able to see the floor of my craft room instead of open boxes of raw material, in this case yarn, ribbon, buttons, burlap, and t-shirts and funky sweaters waiting to be upcycled into rag rugs and pet beds.  Oh well, after Dec 14th I can take a week to clean up and take stock, then I need to make sure all the Christmas gifts are done and ready to deliver. (hopefully that will include one of the above mentions afghans.)

For kicks and giggles thought I'd include some pictures of some of my stock / sale set ups in this post.  Enjoy

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.