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!

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!

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!

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!!

Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival 2009

I had a 'crabby' weekend. Sorry, couldn't resist.

Notice the pretty blue skies!

It looked like summer, but definitely felt like fall.

The festival was expanded this year, and stretched from Front Street all the way out to the Port Angeles City Pier. The crowd was massive on Saturday, and sales were brisk.

Sunday was a little quieter, but still a good sized crowd most of the day. 

This is inside the Community Crab Feed tent where about a dozen local restaurants serve their own versions of crab and seafood dishes. Also lots of wine, a beer garden, and live music.

Visitors come from all over the U.S. and Canada to get their fill of Dungeness Crab.

And you can't go away without a Crazy Crab Hat!

This booth always has a long line of customers! It's fun to see people (adults & kids) rockin' their Crazy Crab Hats!

Such a great weekend! But I'm oh-so-tired today. I'm taking today off and getting some rest, but I have my sewing schedule jam-packed for the next few weeks. 

I hope you all had a great weekend!

To go or not to go?

It's Saturday and I'm usually at the Sequim Open Aire Market, setting up my booth for the day, but I made the decision (after watching the weather report) to stay home and work in my studio. 

I'm always torn when making that decision. What if one of my customers comes looking for me there? Or, would I have had a more productive day there, or in my studio? 

The wind here in Port Angeles has been gusting up to 25 mph today, but was it that windy in Sequim? If so, it would have made for kind of a miserable day there, trying to keep my handbags and pouches from blowing everywhere. 

By making the decision not to go I was able to:

1. Spend time with my girlfriend and her granddaughter who I don't get to see enough.

2. Attend a fund-raising breakfast to benefit the local food bank.

3. Finish some new handbags for my winter line. (I'm showing you some sneak-peeks. What do you think?)

All in all, I'm happy with my decision, and the new handbags! 

(I'm thinking I might call these 'Twilight Moon'. What do you think, any ideas?)

Another Success!

I headed out to the Cutting Garden yesterday morning just before the sun was coming up. I was the first one to arrive, and the sights, smells and sounds were amazing! The farmhouse and grounds are surrounded by huge, plate-sized dahlias, incredibly fragrant roses, and what must be hundreds of different lush and bountiful blooms spilling from the flower beds.

Those few quiet moments were a wonderful way to start the busy day. Our Opulent Art Show was a great success! We enjoyed a brilliant day, talented artists, and a steady stream of guests.

I'm just a little tired today, so I'll end now with a few photos from the day.

And you can view the rest of them here, if you're interested.

The second annual Opulent Art Show!

Well here it is almost the middle of September already! I've been 'blog-absent' this summer, but only because it's been such a busy summer! Lots of traveling for shows and markets. And many, many hours of sewing in between. Trying to keep up production has been challenging at times, but as always, I'm just thankful that people are still buying my products. I appreciate each and every sale!

Most recently I've been helping to plan and organize the upcoming Opulent Art Show at The Cutting Garden in Sequim. It's this Saturday, Sept. 12th, from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. I would highly encourage you to come out to Sequim and, if nothing else, just enjoy the gorgeous flowers (ohmygosh! the dahlias are fantastic right now!) and the music. 

I'll be there as will many other very talented artists, and I am humbled and thankful to be in their company. We had such a great time last year, and I'm looking forward to another beautiful, fun day!

Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts 2009

The festival last weekend was great. Beautiful weather, big crowds, lots of familiar faces, and, ohmygosh, was I ever happy to see the 'smoothie people' there. (Remember I raved about them last year?) This is their booth, just in case you ever see them at a festival, ya know? I highly recommend the strawberry-banana smoothie. 

The festival started Friday, and though a four day festival can be really tiring, one of the things I like about doing it is, I can set up Thursday night and I don't have to tear down until Monday evening. I walked to and from my home each day and opened up my little 'shop'. 

*warning: rant coming* When I arrived to set up on Thursday, I was disappointed to find that they didn't place me in the same spot as last year as I had requested. And then, the spot they gave me had a car parked in it. I had to wait an hour before the owner of the car showed up to move it. *ugh* The show had a new 'Vendor Organizer' this year and I hope she took away some feedback from the vendors and will hopefully be a little more organized next year. I know it's not an easy job, but I think you really need to keep your vendors happy if you want them to return next year. Okay, end of rant.

At least I was placed next to my friend Sheila from Smoothie Essentials, so we could give each other a break once in a while. Also, I was at a great vantage point for people watching. The view from my booth:

I loved that I had customers come to the festival specifically to find me. Some were customers replacing their handbags from last year, and some were new buyers. Thank you to everyone that came by! Here's a special customer sporting her just-purchased handbag from me: (She's my Mary Kay director and a real sweetheart!)

My sales for this festival were up from last year, which I am incredibly grateful for. I know a lot of people are struggling and I'm so thankful for the encouragement and support from all who stopped by, whether they purchased from me or not. That's one of the best things about participating in a show.

I'll be back at the Sequim Open Aire Market this Saturday. The weatherman says we're going to have continued sunshine throughout the weekend. Yippee!!