Second Outdoor Craft Fair

So I had my second outdoor craft fair this last weekend in Hoboken, N.J.  Hoboken is the last town in NJ before you cross the tunnel in NYC it's a very young, happening place so I thought I'd give the annual spring Art and Music Festival a go.  This is one of the reasons I've been a bit quiet lately....preparing for Hoboken....and it's a good job I did!!!!  It was the busiest show I have ever done.  Took me 3 hours to eat half a sandwich because every time I picked it up there was someone interested in a purchase....now I am NOT complaining it's merely to show you how busy I was....and of course with being busy comes great sales, the best I've ever done....so I was a happy camper despite the terribly windy weather.

Here are a few pics, they are not the best because I just managed to finish setting up as the festival opened and I had only brought my phone with me because I knew I could be busy and I had no help to watch items like expensive cameras.  I had to alter my display a little because of the weather.

As much as I love my handmade sign it's difficult to read.  I can't bare to redo it so I was thinking of possibly going around the edges with a black sharpie?  What do you think?  I tried to sew around the edge in dark thread but because it is all strung together it was really difficult....plus it didn't make it stand out too well either...I did the first 'T' can you tell?

This was the front table with blankets, bib and burp sets and burp cloths.  I had to take my cards out of a carousel because of the high wind so I stuck those in a rectangular basket next to the hair ties.  I didn't put out my button hair elastics or my wood and fabric tags because it was windy and I didn't want to worry about little things blowing away.

This was the side table with organic items and baby and toddler bibs.  I usually stack the wine crates on top of each other but was worried they would blow over....the ones on the other table are nailed together so they were fine.  The tent was swaying from side to side so the wine crates wouldn't have stood a chance.  I had to put a metal rod on the row of bibs that are raised because they were starting to blow away.

I kept the side wall off the right side because most people only had 2 sides up ...I figured they knew what they were doing so I just did the same PLUS I ran out of time.  See the back wall?  I learned that if you roll it up at the bottom the wind won't rock your tent as much because it comes through.

You can see the bibs blowing in the wind in this pic.  I love how they decorate the tent when they hang on the washing line all the way around.  I hung the toddler bibs at the back this time and also switched a blanket in there half way through the day, that's when the blankets started selling!!!!!  I think I may try and hang a lower line too next time if I have time this way I'll have more table space. 

I had so many wonderful compliments on my bibs, display, the fabrics I had chosen etc it made me feel really good by the end of the day and I wasn't quite as exhausted as I usually am.

Telling a story in gifts

There are many wonderful things that I love about running a business, making your own hours, your own designs, no one to answer to etc but one of the greatest perks is the contact with my customers, I love hearing the individual stories behind their purchases.

I had a wonderful lady contact me tonight.  She is putting together a present for fantastic friends of hers that are expecting a baby.  She was so delighted at the range of bibs in my Etsy shop because she found exactly what she was looking for, items that represent who the parents are.....I am so thrilled to be a part of this.

Here's their story (mini version)

the mother is french

the father is from Wales  (get it....whales...don't worry, took me a moment)

they used to ride bicycles around the Netherlands

they love to travel

 

And have settled in Fiji for now.....can't manage a fiji bib  :o)

How cool is that?  Their story has been told in bib and burp cloths!!!!!  LOL  LOVE IT!

Custom Order for new Navy Parents

Hi Guys

Just thought I'd swing by to show some pics of the latest custom order.  Bit of a challenge this....my friend asked me to put together a blanket, bib and burp cloth for friends of his that had just had their first child.  Both parents were in the Navy so he wanted something nautical....only problem is that it was for a girl!

I had so many 'boy' fabric ideas and I know it really shouldn't make a difference but sometimes it still does.
Anyway after much searching Michael Miller solved my problem with his 'Out to Sea' collection...phew!

Here's some pics of what I made

A selection of burp cloths

World Map Blanket....it will be available in white soon too

Bib 'O' the world....or mostly South America

Everyone loves mermaids right?

.....and Narwhals

Love this collection, so glad I stumbled across it.  Check out the shop for availability if you would like to purchase anything  Textile Trolley Shop on Etsy

Hoboken Arts and Music Festival 2014

HOBOKEN ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

I'll be in Hoboken May 4th

11am to 6pm

Look for the tent with bibs on washing lines and stop by and say hello.

The Viking Blanket and it's 5 minutes of fame

Over the past 2 or 3 days I've been experiencing quite a lot of activity in my Etsy shop on a sold out item....curious....very curious indeed.

My best seller the Organic Viking Blanket!



Sadness of all sadness they have discontinued the fabric and I can't find it anywhere!!!!

Anyhoooo I traced my links back to http://www.brit.co/

Check out #31 on the post 33 Must Haves for your Baby Registry!
http://www.brit.co/baby-registry-guide/

The one and only Textile Trolley Viking Blanket.  How cool is that?

OK I am off to write to that fabric company demanding that they reprint the Viking Fabric.

SWAMPED

Yep...I'm still alive....this is the longest that I have gone without writing!  I am swamped!  And what takes the back seat?  THE BLOG!  Darn it!

I've been getting ready for my first craft show of the season....it's tomorrow if you live in Norther N.J. check it out and come and say hello.

March 30th
Paramus High School 10am to 5pm
99 East Century Rd, Paramus, N.J. 

You would think I would be more prepared with having done 4 shows last year but there are always ways to tweak displays and items you are not happy with.  Add new items and then comes the pricing and signs for them.....not to mention that my stock was quite depleted so I have had to do a lot of sewing. 

Anyway this was just a quickie to say I'm alive and kicking.  I'll post pics next week of my display.

Succeeding and failing at the same time

OK first the failure!!!!  I have failed to write this blog on a regular basis!  Yep it's happened!  And why?  Well it's because I've been succeeding a little more than usual in other areas of this crazy old place we call life.

Etsy sales have definitely increased this year which is the best news for me!  Recognition for what I put my blood, sweat and tears into (not speaking literally there).

In the first 6 weeks of 2014 I have already made half of what I made last year on Etsy!  My sales for February are already above my sales for January!  And watch....now I've probably jinxed myself and I'll sell nothing in March!!!  Ride high when you can, that's what I say!

I have had a few offers to sell my products at wholesale which I am currently looking into!  Not entirely sure I will go down that road but it's something I'm seriously thinking about!  But of course the price has to be right....not running a sweat shop here!

So that's what I've been up to....trying to keep up with sales, trying to create a more organized work space (it constantly needs tweaking...one day I'll post pics of where I work), attempting to create more inventory for my upcoming Craft Fairs, and researching and promoting!  Oh yeah and of course my 'real' job and maintaining a home!  All in a days work for SUPERNANNY!