The Value of a Consultation

I was feeling a little wishy washy about the direction I wanted ScarfCity to go this fall. Do I need new items? If so, what and why? Which of my iffy selling items should I cut, if any? How do I advance my line of products in the right direction without re-hashing the same old thing? As I wrapped up my spring craft fairs I ended up vending next to an old friend who knows my line almost as good as I do. In the course of our conversation I got a clear view of what my next steps should be from listening to her point of view.

It’s a good thing to keep in mind if you’re on the bubble about something. Find someone you trust and ask them to look at your problem objectively. Then, toss in your grain of salt and make a plan of action.

The result for me is this fantastic new garment that I will duplicate and add to my collection this fall. It’s a multi-functional shawl, wrap and scarf all in one. It’s one of few things I will add to my line. I will also be discontinuing some things and changing others. I can’t wait to see how it all turns out.

The Mother of All Yarn Sales

I hit THE MOTHER OF ALL YARN SALES this week and it was a dream come true. JoAnn’s had just marked at least a dozen different yarns down and had half-off that clearance price. I went BONKERS! I filled my cart to the top and raced down the store to the register thinking they would discover they made a mistake before I could pay for everything. I spent a lot of money …but with the yarn costing between $1 and $1.50 a ball, I walked out of the store with four huge bags. When I got home I dumped it all on the bed and just smiled, amazed. Truly, it was very exciting! Now, what am I going to make and more importantly, where am I going to store it all?

Crafter Down

When my sewing machine bit the big one last weekend I experienced a moment of sheer panic. I had just bonded with the darn thing. I had figured out her quirks and learned to give the old girl what she really needs to perform at her best. AND, I was right in the middle, and I mean mid-stitch, of a huge project that was time sensative.  I'm starting a new job soon and I know that my days of endless free time (minus time spent job hunting) are going to disappear. So, I was determined to do as much production for my June craft fair as possible THAT DAY. I was just like that movie Black Hawk Down ...I was a Crafter Down (without anyone dying, of course).

My first thought was to take her to a repair shop. I had invested a lot of time getting to know this machine and I didn't want to throw that down the drain. I looked up the address of the closests repair shop, threw the machine in a giant bag and hauled it to the car. I drove like a mad woman to the shop and rushed to the front door ready to throw myself on the mercy of whomever was on the other side. Sadly, this was Sunday. I had forgot to check the store hours and the sign in the door said CLOSED.
"NOOOOOO!" I screamed at the door before realizing I was standing on a busy street actin' a fool.

I texted the one person I thought would know what to do. My good friend Amy who is my sewing idol. "How much did you pay for it? It might be more cost effective to buy a new one," she said.
She had a point and I wasn't sure why my brain had not come to this conclusion. I owned a basic Singer machine I bought on sale an JoAnns about three years ago. It cost me $120. The repairs would likely be at least that amount.

So, I made the rounds. I hit every store that carries sewing machine to do a thorough price comparison. This was an unexpected and unwanted expense and I wanted it to be as painless as possible. I finally found the deal I could afford at Walmart. They had their Singer Simple (pictured above) which was actually around $100 and something ...but it was mistakingly sitting in front of a sign that was much less. My thifty self took over and pointed out the mistake to the nearest Walmart Associate, ranting about false advertising. In the end, that machine came home with me for that reduced price.

Now, me and the new machine have bonded and I actually like her much better than that other hag who quit on me (don't tell her I said that). We finished a big stack of peasant blouses and tie-klaces for the Fremont Festival on June 16.

Now, I'm a Crafter Revitalized!

New Year Brings New Ideas

My first new creation of 2012 that's been in my head for weeks and I finally found time to sit and work out the pattern. I got the idea from the fabulous Vicki Howell who had something similar featured on Knit Simple magazine. I followed her pattern but didn't like the results. (probably user error) so I switched the idea to a crochet form and figured a stitch that would work with my vision.

I used a great resource for developing new ideas: one of those books with dozens of crochet stitches and instructions to create each.

The next step was developing some way to clasp the scarves closed. I made a cute little pin by glueing vintgage earrings and broaches to a giant safety pin. They will come complimentary with the cowl wrap. I'm working with jewel maven Idabelle Fosse of Bella Diva to help me develop something more elaborate for customers to purchase with their wrap.

It's a great feeling to have a new idea come from your head and turn out as you'd hoped. It's what crafting is all about!

EtsyRAIN Handmade Holiday Show

I've been so busy getting ready and helping with the marketing efforts that I nearly forgot to promote the show on my own blog! Well, it's the night before the show and I expect to get very little sleep since I have several more pieces to make before I sneak in some shuteye. The volunteer marketing team has been helping the organizers get the word out about what could be the biggest EtsyRAIN show yet! It's been featured, written about and mentioned far and wide. Anyone who doesn't heard about it surely has been under a rock.

ScarfCity will have some new items never before seen by EtsyRAIN show shoppers; including leg warmers and cloche hats. After many requests, I finally wrote myself a pattern for leg warmers and started knitting them in fun and funky colors. I have quite a variety ready to sell.

Cloche hats are the new "in" hat. I try to gage what's trendy and new by what Nordstroms chooses to stock for fall and they've got dozens of cloche hats this year.

It's time to pack the car for tomorrow's unload and setup.

Here are the "deats":

Intiman Theatre, Seattle Center

201 Mercer Street

Saturday and Sunday November 26 and 27

11-5 both days

Yule Boutique: Pacific Lutheran University

I get to take a mental sigh this week and know that I am being backed by capable hands. My booth buddy this week is my DAD! He's the greatest dad on the planet. ALWAYS, ALWAYS there when I need him. When he helps me set up it's always in record time because he's a doer ...that's where I get it from!

So Dad and I will be at PLU's Yule Boutique on Saturday. Be sure to say "Hi Rolly" if you see us! We'll be in the Country Fair room this time, a change from last year. The shoppers there are fantastic and the show is a good match for those who are looking to get some serious checkmarks off their Holiday Shopping List.

Tacoma here I (and dad, and Smigel) come!

note: always pictures is my dad's dog Zaire, R.I.P.

My Friends & More Holiday Bazaar

My needles have been flying to get ready for my next craft fair adventure. I'll be in Bothell this weekend at the IUOE Hall at 18701 120th Avenue Northeast from 10 to 5 this Saturday.

This show promises to be a lot of fun for visitors. Santa arrives at 1pm. Parents and pet owners are encouraged to bring their own camera for pictures with the Jolly One. AND ....there's free refreshments!