Simply XSBaggage

Sunny Forecast

Oh happy day! Look at this forecast for Puyallup tomorrow:

After feeling like Siberian winter at the market last Saturday, I am oh-so-thankful for this forecast.

/Rant/: Why can't I have those dreaded hot flashes when I need them? They seem to present themselves ONLY at the most inopportune times! Mature ladies: Can you relate?? /End Rant/

The Puyallup Farmer's Market hours are 9:00 - 2:00. They usually place me on the Meridian Street side, for you locals.

I'm looking forward to getting some fresh, local vegetables and maybe a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Oh, and being warm, I'm really looking forward to being warm tomorrow!

A Day In The Studio

A glimpse of a day in my home sewing studio.

 

 

{Linking up today with Today's Creative Blog 'Get Your Craft On'}

The Holiday Shows Begin

I've been participating in Art/Craft Fairs on the Olympic Peninsula for the last five years. Over that time I've been so blessed to meet some amazing people. I've made friends with other vendors, and have always looked forward to seeing them at the shows that we all participate in.

 

After moving to Orting last year, I made the decision to cut back on the shows that I would do in the Port Angeles/Sequim area. Partly because of the cost of travelling, and partly because I really don't like being away from my new home any more than I have to. I love our little life here!

 

But, I do miss the face-to-face interactions with friends, customers, and other vendors. I decided that I would slowly get back into selling at shows if I could find some local ones. I participated in the Sumner Arts Festival over the summer, and was happy to meet a few people there. After living in Port Angeles all of my life, it's been difficult to put myself out there, and especially so since I work from home. So, going to shows is a great opportunity for me to not only show my products to new customers, but also to meet people and make some new (local) friends.

Which is what I did this past weekend. I met Cindy at the Sumner Arts Festival, and she invited me to participate in the Kent Senior Center Holiday Craft Market, which she manages. Here's Cindy in front of my booth space:

This show does an excellent job of keeping everything organized, taking care of their participating vendors, and making shopping easy for everyone. Here are a few of the things that I loved about doing this show:

>Each shopper is given a shopping bag to put their purchases in.

>There is no entry fee for shoppers.

>Each shopper is given a flyer with event information and a list of all the vendors.

>Live Christmas music throughout the weekend.

>Free beverages for customers (donation suggested but not required.)

>They had a nice lunch menu and tables and chairs to sit and eat at.

For vendors, they offered these perks:

>Tables and chairs are provided at no cost to vendors.

>Friendly, helpful volunteers.

>It was a large, modern facility with room for lots of vendors.

>Lots and lots of parking available for customers.

>Bus loads of shoppers arrived throughout each day. (I heard from one of the shoppers that they had Mimosas on the bus! I want to be on that one!)

>Fresh, warm scones and jam were delivered to each vendor each day! My favorite part!!

>Bottled water delivered to each vendor each day.

>A reminder on the entrance door to set our clocks back for Daylight Savings Time that night. (These people thought of everything!)

I love a show that treats people so well! Thank you Cindy and to all of your crew there at the Kent Senior Center! It was a fun weekend!

Well, my next event will be in Silverdale at the Kitsap Holiday Gift and Food Fair. (November 18,19, & 20.) This will be my third year at this show, and I am really looking forward to seeing new faces as well as familiar faces. It's a great weekend to really get in to the Christmas spirit and start your shopping if you haven't already! I hope you'll come and see me! If you mention that you read my blog, I'll give you a 20% discount on anything you purchase from my booth that weekend. How's that for incentive? I hope to see you there!

Gadget Keepers for those of us that can't do without our Gadgets

Do you have a 'smart phone'? I have to say, I was very late to the game in even getting a cell phone. Almost all of my friends and family had a cell phone way before I did. I didn't really like the idea of being 'attached' to a phone. Boy, have things changed! Last year I received a 'Droid' smart phone from my son and daughter-in-law, and at the time had no idea how useful it would be!

What I have found, being a small business owner who does a lot of my business online, it is so handy and almost necessary, to keep connected to my business and customers. The ONLY problem I had when I switched to the smart phone was the size of it. I could no longer carry it in my jeans pocket. So it would get put down and then when it rang I would be scrambling to find it. (This could be an age thing...)

So, what does a person who loves to design and sew products do? mmm hmmm I created a solution!

I started selling the Gadget Keepers at shows and online just before Christmas, and they were a hit! With the swivel clip, you can attach these to your purse, belt loop, shopping cart, stroller, etc.

Definitely a product designed out of necessity, I attach mine to my belt loop each day as I work in my studio. They have a front slip pocket so you can tuck your I.D., money, ear buds, or whatever in there for safe keeping.

Working through a migraine

The other day I had a migraine. Nothing new. Those of you who know me, know that it is a regular occurrence for me. Sometimes I can work through them, sometimes I can't (like when it feels like someone is sticking a knife in my head. All I can do is try to sleep through it.) The other day I just wanted to keep working. All of this is to say, that I have new wristlets made.

I didn't feel like starting a big project, so I started looking through my scraps, and with migraine and all, I got inspired to put some different combinations together. And I actually like how they turned out! Who knew: inspiration in the midst of pain! 

I needed to take photos of them but the re-chargeable batteries would not hold a charge. So I set the wristlets aside and decided to work on some new handbags. And that's when my iron died. Was this God's way of telling me to slow down? lol

Well, if it was, I guess I wasn't listening. I was determined to get some work done and not waste another day to a migraine. I started designing a pattern for a new product that I've been wanting to make and managed to finish it, but I couldn't make the prototype without an iron to do the pressing.

Well, I went out to the store yesterday and bought a shiny new iron and new batteries and I am (thankfully) back in business. And, I'm happy to report that I've been migraine-free for two days now. Thank you Lord!!

Do you want to see my migraine-made wristlets? Here they are:

What do you think? Which one is your favorite?

Absence makes the heart grow fonder...

...except when it comes to blog-land. It's been too long since I came in here to update. I have good intentions to blog regularly, and when I do my readership goes up. That's usually what you strive for when you start a blog. The truth is though, as much as I enjoy it, blogging takes time. I'm a one-woman business owner who sews for a living. There is just so much more that goes into running a small business than most people see. And, unfortunately, only so many hours in a day. I keep striving to find a balance between work, family life, blogging and other commitments. Sometimes I am successful at finding that balance, and sometimes, well, not so much.

So there you have it. I'll continue to update here when I can and when other commitments don't have to take precedence. 

Now, while I'm here I can show you what I just finished this afternoon.

Pouches and Wristlets,

 

in lovely turquoise and teals.

I also have some shop news to share! My products will soon be for sale in downtown Port Angeles. I'm pretty excited about it, and the details are still being worked out, but I'll update here as soon as I have all of the information.

That's all for now peeps. Thanks for sticking with me here!!

A little late but...

I thought I'd share photos from the Olympic Medical Center Auxiliary Arts & Crafts Christmas Show that I participated in a couple of weeks ago (I know, I'm ALOT late showing these. 'Tis the season!)

 

I have a corner space at this show, so I have to put a little extra brain power into how I'm going to set up to take advantage of it.

Keeping it safe + functional is important.

I used my vintage linens and, of course, my pink Christmas tree.

 

The show was not as busy as it has been in previous years. All season long I've seen customers being much more careful with how they spend their money. I've been so very grateful for all of my customers, and especially the returning ones. I had lots of those this year, and it just feels really good to know that they are so happy with their purchase from you that they come back to shop again! Thank you lovely customers!

No more shows for me for awhile. But that doesn't mean I won't be sewing. I'll spend the next couple of months re-stocking my inventory, and working on a couple of new ideas that I want to try.

And I'm already filling out and sending in applications for July shows! Always looking ahead! It's what keeps me motivated during these quiet months.

Have a fantastic Tuesday!

Cyber Monday Sale

According to Wikipedia: Cyber Monday is a marketing propaganda term that refers to the Monday immediately following Black Friday being the busiest day of the year for retail electronic commerce in the United States.

So, like any good online retailer, I'm taking advantage of this 'marketing propaganda' and extending a sale to all of my lovely customers and blog readers.

My Wristlet Key Fobs are a great gift idea for co-workers, Moms, Teachers, and friends. And now for a limited time I'm offering them to you three for $15.!! That's a savings of $4.50!

I have over 30 styles in the shop right now, so hop on over here for the best selection! Your order will come wrapped and ready for gift-giving. (Please specify if you'd like them wrapped separately.)

I want to thank all of my customers who came out to the Sequim Open Aire Market at the Sequim Boys & Girls Club on Friday and Saturday. You all rock and I appreciate all of you!

First Christmas Show down, two to go

I participated in my first Christmas show of the season this past weekend, the Kitsap Holiday Food and Gift Fair. This was my second year attending this event and it went great. So great in fact, that I've already signed up and paid for next year! 

The organizers of this show do a fantastic job keeping the vendors and customers happy and comfortable. Wonderful items being offered for sale, lots of parking, plenty of seating for buyers to sit and have a snack break, and live music performed all three days.

I prepared for the show by having a good selection of my lower- and mid-priced items. What surprised me was that I think I sold as much of my highest priced handbags as I did my lowest price point items. I also had several customers come back to purchase again after seeing me there last year. I love that! Thank you happy customers! I appreciate each and every one of you.

My booth neighbor was my friend Shannon of Galloping Goats Farm. She had her sister along for the weekend and it was great to have them to visit with. Aren't they cute?:

And here's Shannon and I in my booth:

 

Gah! What a horrible picture of me. I look tired because I WAS tired. I drove back and forth for the three days (150 miles round-trip) instead of getting a hotel room. I just sleep better in my own bed, and I really don't mind driving. In fact, I really like it. I get some great alone time with my bff Kenny.

Did you see that vintage table cover behind me in that picture? Here's a better look:

I picked this up last weekend at a church bazaar. It's about 10 feet long and I paid a dollar for it! Yep, that's right one dollar!! You can bet I snatched that up off the table at the church as fast as I could!

I adore it!

My next show will be this weekend in Sequim. Friday, the 27th (the day after Thanksgiving), and Saturday the 28th. It's the Sequim Open Aire Market Holiday Show at the Boys & Girls Club. There'll be a shuttle service available to take you between this event and a couple of other shows going on in Sequim. So just hop on the shuttle and come and see us. Easy peasy!!

What's going on in the shop?

Well, I had my last outdoor show a couple of weeks ago. And, I don't have another event on my calendar for a couple of weeks. So I've been spending my time sewing and getting ready for the fall/holiday shows that I'll be participating in, and which, by the way, will be here before I know it! Sometimes I feel like I'm always playing catch-up to get ready for the next 'thing'. Which not only includes 'making' but also being sure that I have enough supplies to get me through the next season. Keeping track of, and ordering in my supplies is a constant juggle. I've already started ordering some of the things I'll need to keep my production going through the Christmas season. Like this ginormous roll of interfacing:

That's 125 yards of interfacing. I feel sorry for the UPS man. He had to haul this and 2 giant boxes of pre-cut interfacing up my (approximately 20) front steps to deliver it to my front door. I felt like I should have at least offered him a protein bar or something.

Anyhoo, as usual, lots of sewing going on here.

And I unloaded all of the inventory from my van that I've been hauling around all summer, and brought it up to the studio so I could really figure out what 'holes' I needed to fill in my inventory. 

I like having it all hung up in my studio again. It's a feeling of accomplishment to see it all together. I made all of this!

I listed this new Bella Bag in the shop today:

I'm hoping to get more new items listed in the next few days.