Artist Shout Out

I think its very important in the 'handmade world' for fellow artists/sellers to support each other, as well as spread the word when they find something worth endorsing. I have been meaning to write this post for a long time and have been so busy preparing for the craft show that it keeps slipping my mind when I'm near a computer, so my apologies for taking so long!

Any one who knits, crochets, drinks wine or likes jewelry needs to check out Dee's work at Fyrestorm Creations. You can visit her blog here and her facebook page here, either one should take you to her website and Etsy store. Dee works with polymer clay to make the most adorable wine glass charms, stitch markers, bracelets, etc. I have no idea where she gets the patience because her works is amazingly detailed and teeny tiny details sometimes.

I have 2 sets of her crochet stitch markers. She has sets available (a TON of choices) and also offers a 'build your own set' option. I opted to build my sets each time simply because I would love to have every set she offers so I picked my favorites out and got one of each!


The 5 along the bottom are from my first set (minus a butterfly that is in a project right now) and I have to say that the little purple fairy is my favorite from that group. The top 6 are from my most recent set. This picture doesn't even come close to doing them justice, they are so very very cute in person.

I was also the VERY lucky winner of Dee's blog giveaway earlier this month. The winner got a bracelet of their choosing and I had chosen the cupcake bracelet...I think I was very hungry that day :) Again, so hard to pick because there are several I'd like to have.


This bracelet is so cute and my daughter is fascinated by the little cupcakes and tries to nibble on them whenever she can. I plan on getting her a matching one for her 2nd birthday :)

So there you go, my little blog shout out. Check out her work and see for yourself!

31 days

First order of business: I'm so close to reaching 100 fans on facebook and having my first giveaway. Don't forget to get your friends to take a look and join if they like, the more people that join and then send their friends the faster someone will be a WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!

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It has just occurred to me that today is August 11th...I am exactly 1 month away from my first craft show! I am both very excited and very terrified. I am feeling a little less anxious about the amount of stock I'll have ready. I've passed my '50 item' goal and with a month left and the 2-3 items a day rate I've been going, I'll be close to 100 in no time. I have a lot of little details that need attended to however, printing of signage, sorting and putting price tags on all the stuff I've done recently, figure out a final layout for my booth, make my t-shirt with my awesome new logo on it :) the list goes on and on.

I did get my AMAZING banner in the mail last week though and should be seeing Mr. UPS man sometime today with my credit card machine. That's right folks, Warm Fuzzies by Cortney will take your plastic! lol I did a lot of debating about that one detail and ended up getting a great set up through propay.com with a very very nice low rate for Etsy sellers, and purchased a 'knuckle buster', aka tabletop old school credit card imprinter, from a company on eBay for less than $20. From most everything I've heard and read from other craft fair vendors, their sales double if they are able to accept credit/check cards and customers are 75% more likely to purchase more than one item for the same reason. I know I never have enough cash on hand at these kinds of things and would dent my pocketbook quite a bit more if that was an accepted method of payment at some shops.

My care instruction cards are here (free deal from kodak.com!) and I snagged some great little lined baskets in purple and teal from a Michael's clearance, not to mention an adorable vintage suitcase at Lazy Daze last month. My plan is to sort the hats my size, not style like I'd originally intended, so I have a basket each for NB-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, toddler, child and teen/adult. I have made the hangers for the ribbon lined clipped that I finished last month, those will hand from one of the supports. I've decided to try and hang a clothes line along one side (up high to avoid anyone hanging themselves but still able to be reachable) to hang the little headband and sets of booties I'm making, along with a misc. hat or two.

Such details, who knew? Really, when I signed up I thought to myself, 'I have the tables, what more could I need?' I've been swept away! I want to look professional and inviting though so, like most everything I do, I'm getting anal about details and have spent many afternoons planning with my mom on how to set everything up.

I will have almost my entire stock of yarn with me (under a table in a nice dust protected plastic clear tub) and was very lucky when I contacted Caron, the company that makes the yarn I dearly love, and they send me a very professional looking color chart with swatches of every yarn they make. Yay! I plan on taking custom orders and love that people will be able to see for themselves what the colors look like because believe you me, it can be quite a different shade from a picture.

So if you've made it this far, bravo! This was a very long and probably boring to you all post. I hadn't intended to be so detailed and rambly but my fingers took me along for the ride and I was helpless to stop them. My break is over though and I must continue toiling over this ball of red yarn that the cat knocked off the couch and across the floor when I wasn't looking!