Again, in the spirit of cleaning up my crafty space I’d like to share some fun supplies with one lucky winner.
I’ve collected things from swaps and people giving me stuff and craft shows and well, all over the place really and now I need to share the love!
Leave a comment below with a way to contact you and I’ll pick a lucky winner on Tuesday April 30th. For a bonus entry tweet or share on Facebook or somewhere and leave a comment letting me know you did. Good luck!
While at the Handmade show on Saturday selling with some fellow T.E.S.T members I traded the lovely Christine for one of her inspirational printed tea towels.
It’s similar to this one in her shop, same saying, just different towel.
Then Sunday I was feeling really down and a good friend from work, who’s very wise and has overcome things in her life to become this beautiful person who I adore, texted to see how I was doing. When I mentioned I was still a bit down she suggested I “go create something out of the pain and turn it into something beautiful for all to gain”.
I told her I couldn’t. While I Tweet or Facebook statuses about heading to the sewing machine, or sitting down to craft often, the truth is I very rarely do these days. I go to the basement to put a load of laundry on and I’ll turn on the lights at my craft space, pull the machine forward, even layout some fabrics, and then I proceed to just walk on by it all for the rest of the day until I admit defeat and shut the lights off at the end of the day.
She texted back “You’ve muted your voice. Give it sound again. Ask the angels to help you find your voice again”. I texted back with a picture of the towel and how I had gotten it the day before.
The funny thing was Christine said I had inquired about this towel in our Etsy convos about working out a trade but then at the show she pointed out I was changing my mind but maybe that was because the “sing your song” one was speaking to me and I should go with it.
I’ve met some amazing people lately. I’m so glad I have.
So I was doing some organizing and cleaning up in my crafty space and I realize I have just too many creations. Things I’ve tried, things I’ve made 1 of . . . they’re just piling up and taking up space.
Instead of letting that happen I’d like to make someone a nice big package of handmade happy mail and ship it off to you!
If you’re interested in some surprise fun stuff from me leave a way to contact you below and I’ll get stuffing that envelope. For a bonus entry tell me something you did to Spring Clean recently.
I’ll take names until Tuesday April 23rd and then I’ll get shipping.
When I saw Middle Sister Studios display at a craft show I had to walk back, a few times. I really love her stuff. I didn’t really have a little kid to buy for but I love her creations and envied her fabrics.
She’s got the whole super cute woodland animal thing down. These stuffies are so sweet. And her dolls are amazing too.
She’s reachable on her Facebook page.
Posted in share the love
Tagged dolls, handmade, middle sister studios, pillow, woodland
Hope you had a fantastic Halloween. I couldn’t find my modified prom dress that goes with my Tooth Fairy costume so I whipped up a cute plush tooth instead (complete with Mollie-eqsue face) . . . but I know it’s here somewhere.
I had a great day at school, considering it was Halloween. Sadly, with it being on a Wednesday we’ve still got 2 days left to see how crazy it’s really going to get.
My classroom runs on it’s own little time table because I teach a small special education class so I don’t see much of the school, we have our own kitchen, bathroom and we use the fenced in Kindergarten yard for recess but today I happened to catch a glimpse of the gym teacher and I’m so glad I did. Best. Costume. Ever!
We were so busy at home this evening I didn’t even snap a pic of the kids! Wow, mom fail.
Ok so as I’m writing this post about all the craft business books I have piled up to read, physical and eformat, what do I do? Wander off to read an Etsy article and end up buying this! I’m insane. I’m like a craft book hoarder. Someone else please tell me you have this problem too.
Ok so here are some of what’s in my stash and hopefully I can get through them this summer and start implementing all my great learnings in the fall.
I have read Creative Inc, however I read it in my KOBO app and made notes there and since my app died on me a few times I’ve lost those notes. So a re-read is in order.
I’ve also read Handmade Marketplace, but I forget all the wisdom. Sheesh, for a teacher I’m apparently a terrible reader and retainer . . .
Mom Inc is a great read, I’m about half way through when a shiny object distracted me. What I like about this book is that it’s written by 2 Canadian ladies and since often it’s US authors writing small business books there’s entire parts that just don’t apply, mostly financial bits. It’s nice to read things from my own country since getting supplies and shipping costs and financials are so different from country to country.
Craft Business Handbook is yet another book I carry around in my bag and might maybe sort of look at from time to time . . . kinda. This book is written by a UK author but so far I haven’t found that too much info doesn’t apply.
Crafty Superstar is in progress . . . yeah I have a lot of those.
Mollie wrote about this book so of course it’s on my wish list now.
I know I’ve already got my work cut out for me here but if you know of a book I’ve missed, small business of creative type stuff, please leave a comment! Also, if you’ve actually finished any of these and have anything review-like to say you can do that too.
Posted in crafty books
Tagged books, creative, ebooks, Etsy, finances, handmade, selling, small business
Well today my Martha appearance aired. My friend from all events Etsy, Amy of TinyGiraffe, says we were in the first 20 minutes quite a few times.
Here’s my professional shot from the end of the show. It’s posted on the Martha Stewart site. I’m hoping they get everyone’s picture up, I really wanted to check everyone out.
We watched a How To by this lovely lady and we were given her book along with some materials to give it a try.
Sunday morning I was the last one down stairs. I could hear hubby making breakfast with the kids and I woke up with a mission. I don’t even have a before image to share, it was that embarassing, I used to have a HUGE pile of unread books on my nightstand. I’ve converted to reading ebooks on my iPad so those books have sat there untouched for over a year. So I went on a mission to clean up and beautify my corner of the room.
I sorted the books into our yard sale pile and a keep pile. Then I wrote down all the titles of the books and made a pledge that I’ll either read them over the summer or buy the ebook and get rid of the physical book. I found them a happy new home, on a bookshelf.
Then I filled the wall space up with my growing collection of handmade art. My glorious Lucky Jackson winnings. This great personalized paining by Lisah and a fun wall hanging from CoucouSalut.
I’ve still got my beautiful print by Laura Jean on the other wall but I have to get some other things framed before it will be complete. I love the way Laura distresses frames and has them all whitewashed, I’m going to frame my other pieces to match.
I got an exciting package the other day! I instagrammed (is that a word?) it right away, pardon my straight from the classroom hungry for lunch look.
You may have heard/seen that I won a wonderful embroidery hoop from Lucky Jackson. I choose this wonderful one. I’m not a roller derby gal but it’s super fun.
I honestly have to get working on turning a large part of the wall space in our living room into a handmade art gallery . . .
