Etsy West Michigan Trunk Show: update

We had a beautiful day for our Trunk Show...even though it was indoors. Our room was big enough to have space for 11 of us! For me it was a learning experience...figuring out how to set up my table. I did not even try anything fancy! I did get lots of compliments...but alas, they were not followed through with many sales.

It was great to meet other team members in person. I was so tempted to buy from you gals! I had to keep telling myself I was there to sell...not buy.

Sneak Peek: Wine bottle cozies

Just took a quick pic last night as I set these out to air dry. They're all coming along to my Trunk Show tomorrow. If any are left, I'll list them either on Etsy or a new place - GoZabo.

Are You a Yarn Snob?

Do you knit? Do you crochet? Are you a consumers of hand knitted and/or hand crocheted items? If so, please take my poll!

Keep Knittin’
By an unkown Irish poet

When the folks next to you act like those in the zoo,
A grumbling, growlin’ and spittin’. It’s a pretty good plan
To be calm as you can, and do something useful-like knittin’.

When gossipin’ Susan, with poison-barbed tongue
Comes into the room where you are sittin’, and starts to defame
Some neighbor’s good name, count stitches out loud—
And keep knittin’.

When there is a light misunderstanding at church
And others hint broadly of quittin’, the very best thing you can
Do is sing...and stay at your post, and keep knittin’.

In the middle of problems, the big ones and small
It’s always most proper and fittin’
To trust and to pray till the Lord shows the way
And go right ahead with your knittin’.

First Box shipping off to college...

So, we packed up the mini-van last month and took our daughter to college. And, yes...it was pretty packed. And almost every other day, I get a phone call or an email..."I need this" or "Can you send me that?"

The first box I shipped includes:

• about 6 pairs of shoes (mostly dress shoes still in boxes)
• about 6 purses
• about 6 belts
• water bottle
• her favorite DVD
• a pair of jeans
• some old dishtowels/dishclothes
• some of those 3-M removable hooks
• a corded phone
• an extension cord
• a backpack
• some trial mix
• some dried cranberries
• some of those peach ring candy

I think that's about all! I'm so thankful I work in an office where we have UPS come and pick up every day...no waiting in line at the post office...insurance included....and I can pay through payroll deduction!

Stay tuned for the contents of box # 2...should be shipping early next week!

Trunk Show: September 27th!

Pssstttt..... I'm going to take part in a Trunk Show featuring our own West Michigan Etsy Artisans! Mark your calendars for September 27th...

Who: 10 Etsy West Michigan members

What: Trunk Show

Where: Gymnastiks Unlimited in Hudsonville

When: September 27, 2008

Why: Because You Took the Handmade Pledge!

Current projects...

I have several projects I'm working on. I have my knitted/felted candy cane ornaments almost ready...I can't wait to see how these turn out. Here's a "before" pic:

They look like a mess this way, right?

I'm also working on some great hostess gifts...felted wine bottle cozies.
Wait, they're not done yet!

And just this week, I've started some coasters. I'm glad school has started as it gives me some "me" time after my son goes to bed!

Antique Roadshow - con't

So, I was expecting to stand for hours and hours in line...happily, that was not the case! Our time was 9:00 AM and it was recommended that we get there about 30 or so minutes before that. We got there right at 8:30 (after making sure to have breakfast & coffee!). Looked like we were the 2nd main group. There were still several lines left of the 8:00 group. Many people brought chairs. I'm glad we didn't as we really didn't have time to sit. We might have been at a stand still for a few minutes..but then we move right along a few feet.

After only 1 hour, we were at the front of the line...the front of this line that is! We were at the area where they gave us tickets telling us which lines to take our items to. We had: photography, Asian Arts, and pottery/porcelain. So, off to photography we went. This is where we waited the longest...close to 30 minutes. And we were only about the 5th ones in this line. However, I think our expert had taken a break. After she returned, things moved along much faster. Then we hit Pottery/Porcelain only to be told that my tea set was worth about $125.00. Off to Asian Arts where I was told my bookends were worth about $30.00. We were done! In about 1 more hour.

Hey, this gave us time to take in an antique store, the local farmer's market, check out a new restaurant for lunch, and a few more stores...and still get home when hubbies were expecting us. All in all it was a fun day. I hope I can do it again sometime!

Antique Road Show

So...a few months ago, one of my friends asked me to apply for tickets for the Antique Roadshow as it was coming to Grand Rapids for the very first time. I didn't want to at first as I'm not a huge antique-y person. But I did...I figured she and her husband could go. Of all of the people she asked to apply for tickets, I was the only one lucky enough to win a pair. And since her husband didn't want to go, I went...and am I glad I did!

Figured as long as I was going, I might as well bring a few things....at first, I could only think of one thing to bring: a set of Snow White & seven dwarfs figurines that my mom bought years ago at an Estate Sale. Here they are:

But, these have absolutely no markings on the bottom...and quickly browsing some collector website, I couldn't find anything like them...leading me to think they might be everyday ordinary figurines.

So, I looked around and spotted a couple of other items I'm interested in learning more about. I took a few quick pictures and put them on Flickr...then went to the Etsy forums and asked which of the three people thought I should bring. Here are the other 2 items:

A Japenese teaset and Indonesian carved wooden book ends.

Almost everyone said I should bring the teaset and the bookends...and that was my gut feeling so that's what I brought.

Stay tuned for more later!!

Etsy Day in Grand Rapids

So...if you're familiar with the Grand Rapids Michigan area, you have probably heard about the Fulton Street Farmer's Market. It's been there as long as I can remember and I'ved lived here over 27 years!

What you might not have heard about is the Fulton Street Artisan Market (FSAM). Same place. Takes place on Sundays from 11-3. Artisan's only. And, on August 17th, it's going to feature our local West Michigan Etsy Artisans. How neat is that?

Come on out on the 17th...it'll be some great shopping.