Craft Show Prep

Moving from New England to sunny, perpetually warm Florida has opened many doors for me physically, which in turn has expanded the amount of time and energy I'm able to invest in Gypsy Thread. Having more treasures in my shop is a fabulous feeling. And although I miss my mill-based fabric shops and other raw material outlets with my whole heart, I am now able to share my creations with a new crowd of people via outdoor craft shows and art fairs, something available seasonally at best in New England. 

One of my many goals for 2013 is to take advantage of these year round opportunities. Building a better display, one that can be altered from a full booth to a table top only version has been a bit of a challenge. Not only am I an incredibly picky person, but my wares are not small and cute and compact. I need large display pieces for long scarves and handbags, props for wallets and clutches, room for signage and business cards. In short, I've created a very difficult set of inventory for me to display according to my own tastes and preferences, that is also appealing to a consumer or even admirer. Thank goodness for the internet and sites like Pinterest. 

Participate in the SMS Giveaway Day? You Bet I Will!

Twice a year it happens. Twice a year I enter a bazillion contests for cool stuff. Twice a year I get sucked into reading and discovering more awesome blogs than I though could ever exist. Twice a year I find myself wondering if my blog will participate next time. Well, guess what? This time I'm in.

Monday, May 6th, 2013 the epic, the anticipated, the most fantabulous Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day is going to take place! If you've never heard of this event, go ahead and schedule a few half day sessions for yourself to stare at the computer screen uninterrupted right now then come back and finish reading. Seriously. Go write or type it into your calendar. I can wait.

Earth Day 2013: Info and Ideas

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." ~ Native American Proverb

via Vintage Printable

Today we celebrate the Earth, this lil' ol' orb that sustains our lives. Today we are reminded to upcycle, recycle, reduce, reuse, and maintain an awareness of how our actions impact the planet. Today we look for ways to inspire awareness and appreciation among others, as well as seek out new ideas on how we may live in a more eco-friendly manner. This is an area I personally know I can improve upon. I recycle, try to conserve energy, buy local, and do my best to rescue fabric and other notions that have been discarded or neglected in my creations. However, there is so much more I could be doing with such minimal effort. Today, for me, is a reminder that I need to pay closer attention to my own actions and expect a higher level of participation from myself.

So, whether you only pay attention to this cause once a year, or just on recycling/garbage days, or you try to incorporate a little awareness into your lives year round, here are a collection links to sites that make it their mission to inspire us all to live greener.

New Aprons are Looking Great, Thanks to Minh and Natasha!

If you've paid attention to Gypsy Thread trends at all, then you're well aware of the fact that I am NOT a photographer. If I never had to take photos of my creations I'd be a super happy camper. Alas, the internet and web-based sales demand pictures. All those silly customers who actually want to see what they're purchasing are messin' with my game. ;-)

How blessed am I to have created new friendships locally in Florida with both a fabulous photographer and someone whom I can coerce into being a model? Actually, the model coerced the photographer to play along, but I digress. Without further delay here are a few images of the magnificent Natasha, owner of Everything So Pretty, modeling a couple of my aprons for the fantabulous Minh Insixiangmy, minhphoto.com.

Gypsy Thread Tutorial: Sew Simple Fabric Envelopes

On Saturday, April 6th I participated in a fabulously fun event, the Demolicious Birthday Bash, celebrating the combined anniversaries of Tampa Upcycle and the Tampa Bay Etsy Crew. A dozen or so artisans and crafters in the Tampa Bay, FL area gathered together to offer hands on demos to the general public. I was so honored to be part of this gathering. For my demonstration I offered a quick learn-to-sew project suitable for all ages and sewing skill levels which I'd love to share with you now.

Sew Simple: Fabric Envelope Tutorial

Materials:

~ Fabric scraps of any kind, at least 8" long and 3" wide
~ Buttons, 1/2" wide or larger are easiest to work with
~ Thread, in a coordinating or contrasting color
~ Pinking Shears (those zig-zag, alligator-teeth scissors)
~ Straight Pins
~ Hand Sewing Needle

Demolicious Birthday Bash - Tampa FL

Today is going to be awesome!

From noon to 5pm in Ybor City, FL I will not only be attending the insanely fun Demolicious Birthday Bash, celebrating the combined anniversaries of Tampa Upcycle and the Tampa Bay Etsy Crew (TBEC), but I'll also be hosting mini-sewing lessons of my own. 

Check back on Monday for a full tutorial of this project!

Covert Robin Mystery Gift Exchange

All gifts have been sent and received. The day is finally here when I'm allowed to share my Covert Robin Mystery Gift Exchange goodies with you!

Last month I announced that I would be participating in a new-to-me Handmade Gift Exchange being hosted by ten successful bloggers. 
During the summer of 2011 I participated in the Craftaholics Anonymous Handmade Gift Exchange and had a lovely time making an apron from vintage fabrics for my exchange buddy in CA. For that exchange we swapped gifts in pairs, each of us making a gift for the person whom would be creating something for us in return. (confusing statement.) I had a lot of fun trying to find out as much info as possible about that person in secret while she did the same for me. Since then I've wanted to participate in another exchange, but always seemed to run out of time. 

I stumbled across the Covert Robin exchange in February via imagine gnats, a crafty blog with lots of sewing happenings. The Covert Robin exchange worked a little differently than the other. This time I received a handmade gift from Holly in NY and separately sent my own presents to Amy in WI. Both swap versions were equally as fun, and I highly recommend you find one to join ASAP.