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.

Monday Morning WIP's - iPad Cases

Happy Monday!
Does that phrase deserve an exclamation point? God bless the ability to schedule posts for future times when an adequate amount of caffeine has not yet entered the blood stream. With any luck I may even be asleep when this blog entry manifests on internet.
*fingers crossed*

Over the past several days I've been assembling a few new items, iPad sleeves. A few friends have been bugging me to create some utility or gadget pouches. This first round will feature padded, zippered cases fitting all iPad versions to date. Here are a few images of the initial outer fabrics and trims I matched up.

 





I have to say, the finished items look even better. Now to find someone with an iPad for me to borrow for official pictures. Anyone nearby who can part with their device for a few hours? Or better yet, anyone want to take pictures for me?


Also high on the project to-do list, aprons! I have a few cut out and two finished. Now taking bets on whether I'll get them posted before Mother's Day.

Hope you have a great week,

Demos and Fabrics and Supply Shops, oh my!

Soon after moving to lovely, sunny Florida I stumbled upon a great group of local Etsy shop owners. This group, Tampa Bay Etsy Crew (TBEC), has not only provided me with tons of business knowledge and support, but also lots of new growing friendships. Super awesomeness! One of the great parts about TBEC is their willingness to share info and provide tips on just about anything related to being an artist, growing a business, crafting randomness, and community building. In fact, they're so awesome that they've teamed up with a local brick and mortar business, Tampa Upcycle, to host a combined Birthday Bash celebrating the anniversary of both organizations next month.

March Happenings...

Hello March, Boy do I have lots of plans for you!

Top on my to-do list is giving my pitiful website, www.gypsythread.com, the attention it deserves. Having a site and dedicated URL is fantastic... as long as you actually use it. Over a year later and I'm finally getting things together with help from the wonderful Morgan, owner of Tampa Upcycle.

What do you think of this new logo?

I can't wait! It's going to be fantabulous! Now if I could just make some color commitments already...

Vintage Fabric - From the UK with Love

Saturday I received a lovely package in the mail filled with goodies I treasure so very much, pieces of vintage fabric! This was no ordinary, vintage fabric filled package, as so few could ever be labeled. No, this was in fact an extraordinary package having met several criteria, not least of which was its origination from a new-to-me source across the pond AND I won this package by simply entering a Facebook contest hosted by Donna Flower Vintage Fabrics. How very sweet is that? Here's what I found when I opened the pretty pink package:

Sweet Paper Packages

My prize from Donna Flower

Summer 2011 Handmade Gift Exchange ~ Giving

Discovering the fabulousness of the crafty blogging community has been an awesome experience. There are crazy numbers of groups to participate in, events to enjoy, giveaways to enter, and products to peruse. I get so engrossed in the activities and stories that I keep forgetting to post my own. Lists to keep track of it all are definitely in order… another area of my life that needs a major reorganization rehaul.

In May I signed up for the June 2011 Handmade Gift Exchange. I researched the feedback and photos from previous Exchanges and everyone seemed to enjoy it so much. My name was submitted to the mix (or perhaps an excel spreadsheet?) and I was matched with lovely Emily in CA. Emily, owner of The Biggest Princess on Etsy, and I exchanged a few emails trying to gather just enough info to figure each other out without revealing what our surprise gifts to each other might be. I learned that not only is Emily a dear person, but that she enjoys 40’s and 50’s vintage styles, decorates wedding cakes as a second, joyful occupation, and has an upcoming wedding herself with a country-vintage feel incorporating blues and pinks. My mind immediately went to the apron category. And I just so happened to have a retro-repro apron pattern in my stash that I needed an excuse to try out.

Handmade Gift Exchange and More Projects

So many WIP's right now!!!

(work in progress)

I'm almost done with my prezzie for my Handmade Gift Exchange Partner.  (Too late to sign up for this session, but Craftaholics Anonymous will have another at the end of the year.)  I ended up taking a simple project and using it to practice a few skills that always give me trouble. Hope it works out in the end!  : D

Thursday I will have my first Gypsy Thread photo shoot with a beautiful young lady modeling new wares. Very excited! And yes, that means new items will finally be added to Etsy. I still have a few skirts and aprons to finish before then. Yikes!

And there are always projects in the que for family members... like finishing a jacket for my mother and fixing some work pants for my bro-in-law. (Why are even grown men so hard on their clothes?)

However, today I will be taking care of my WONDERFUL, ADORABLE, FABULOUS nephew instead!



First Birthday Mickey Party in March

 

First Birthday, First Cake - March 2011



Maybe we'll get some better pics in the backyard today with the world's best nephew and the world's craziest dog chasing each other today. And maybe my hands will be steady enough to take them!

How many WIP's do you have on your plate?

Hope you have a great Monday!

~ Carey