Okay, so I suck at Blogging

And what else is new.  I have great plans, and of course they tend to fall by the wayside.  So right now I am getting ready for the first of my fall craft shows coming up August 31st.  Dreading the heat, but looking forward to getting a idea of what people are looking for this season. 

Trend reports can be helpful, but lets face it, trends vary depending upon where you live, the median income of the people in the area you live in, and even the time of the year.  Right now I expect I will be selling a lot of stuff in school colors, since school has just started and kids will want to show their school spirit.  But there will no doubt be a lot of people asking for things I either don't have, or don't make.   But this is one of my cheaper shows, and always a good indication of what I need to focus on for the rest of the fall season.

I am also trying my hand at loom knitting.  I finally broke out that set of knifty knitter looms that had been languishing in the very back of the closet in my craft room.  I have to admit, it wasn't that hard to do a simple hat on it.  So I may have to play around with some more patterns.  Knitted hats always seem to sell faster than crocheted ones, while crocheted headbands out perform knI itted ones, go figure.  It takes me over a week to knit a hat on regular knitting needles, with the knitting loom I finished my first hat in about 2 hours, while binge watching the Librarians on tv. 

I will try to remember to come back and post pictures of my booth either the Sunday or Monday after the show.  (But please don't hold me to that LOL)

That's it for now.  If anyone is in the Visalia, California area, near Church and Main Street, on August 31, 2019  between 10 and 4 come out and shop the show.  If you find my booth (I have a large framd banner with my name Sharon Griffin,  The Sassy Crafter on it) stop in and say hi.  Mention you saw my blog post, and you'll get a small gift.

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.

I'm Back

Had a great time at the CGOA Chainlink Conference in Portland, as well as a nice visit with my friend and her family.  Have already started saving for the conference next year.  Left Portland heading home Wednesday and it was 54 degrees, got home around 7 p.m. and it was 104 degrees at home.

All signed up for a couple of more craft shows this year.  One in October and one in November.  This is in addition to the monthly farmers market and the vintage/craft market I am doing.  May try to get into another show in the spring of the year.  Just not sure if it will be a good fit for me.  Still researching it.

Updates, yes I have them.  I finally busted through my plateau and have lost another 1.2 pounds.  81.6 pounds until I meet my goal there. So hopefully by next spring.  35.15 miles walked, leaving 29.85 miles until I reach my yearly goal.   And 181395 steps walked, leaving 1113454 steps left to take this year to meet my goal.

More updates coming soon.

Updates, finally

Yes I know its been awhile, but between car trouble, ac trouble, and trying to get a property sold things have been way beyond busy.  I am still stuck at the same weight plateau, but I have noticed a definite shrinkage in body size.  So that at least is a plus.  I only have 65 miles to go to meet my year end goal, and 1294849 steps left to take. 

I will probably be late with my next updates as well, as I am getting ready to go out of state for a week, and that means tons of packing, deciding what to take and not to take, putting a hold on my mail, getting someone to watch the house etc.  I will post more updates as soon as I can.

Sorry I'm Late

Sorry I'm late with my weekly updates.  Its been a busy few weeks.  Between craft shows, antique shows, a touch of the stomach flu, things have been hectic to say the least.  So just a quick update.  I am stalled as far as weight loss.  Inches lost, doing good in that area.  The weight will eventually start going down again, will just have to wait it out.  As far as miles walked, I knocked off another 22.24 miles getting me closer to my goal, only 96.24 miles to go.  As far as steps, I walked off 165420, leaving only 1472174 steps to go.  Hopefully, I can get back on track with weekly updates starting Monday.  Until next time, just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Redoing my front yard

So I've spent the last week redoing my front yard. I have broken it up into sections. I am almost finished with the 1st section.  It had a lot of crushed red brick and just a little white rock, and river rock.  I prefer the white rock and river rock, so I have been taking up all the red brick, laying down new weed barrier, and now I am ready to start laying the white rock and river rock down.  I am adding several new walk ways first, and using stepping stones to use as planter bases.  I plan on doing a lot of succulents in planters. I am using a lot of different sized and styles of planters, as I don't really want a "cookie cutter" look to the yard. 

When everything is complete I'll take some pictures and show it off.  That may be a couple of months down the road.  As I am also doing a recurring craft show each month, a June craft show, and a recurring vintage/repurposed/craft show each month.  I am also getting ready to take off for the Crochet Guild of America conference at the end of July.  So pretty busy right now.

Good news on the weight loss front, I dropped another 8 tenths of a pound this past week.  I still need to lose 82.8 pounds to reach my goal weight.  I added another 8.01 miles to my annual goal I set for myself this year, I still have 118.98 miles to go.  And I knocked off another 77587 steps off my annual goal I set for myself, leaving 1637594 steps to go.

Will check in again next week.

Updates for the week

So the scale went down another 6 tenths of a pound.  I'll take any weight loss I can get.  I still need to lose 83.6 pounds.  I managed to get another 9.59 miles logged. This brings the total left to walk to meet my goal for this year down to 126.49 miles.   And I logged 67113 steps.  So to meet my goal I need to walk another 1715181 steps.  The only two I'm really worried about not meeting are the miles walked and the steps walked.  I have given myself at a minimum 2 years to meet the weight loss goal. 

On the other front, I had a great sale this weekend at the 2 Sisters Flea Market that is held every 2nd Saturday.  Had some repeat customers from the first time I did this show, and requests for some different items that I can make for the next one. 

I am also looking to selling finished products on Amazon Handmade.  I've read both good and bad things about this one.  Mostly good.  And a few people I have talked to that have been doing it from the start say its getting better.    I am also trying to finish up a couple of more patterns that I want to list on Etsy.  I don't sell a lot of finished products on Etsy, but the one pattern I currently have listed is doing well.  And I need to get some more items listed on Bonanza.  I always seem to sell well on that one.

This week though, I am in the process of redoing the front yard.  I moved into this trailer October 2017, and I am finally getting a chance to do something about the yard.  I am removing all the crushed red brick, and replacing it with succulents and white and river rock.  I really want a fuss free, easy to care for yard.  I hate yard work with a passion.

Well time to get back to work.  More updates coming next week.