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

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.

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.