Last Artwalk post...I think

The booth, me and a certain 1 year old at the end of the day

I forgot to tell you all about the compliments I received from the gentleman at the booth next to us.  It was the end of the day and we were all about ready to pack up.  Richey (I think that was his name) came over to see how the day had gone for us.  Then he looked at all my stuff and gave me three compliments:

The first was when he asked how old I was, "What are you, 22?"  Oh!  Thank you good Sir, no, I am not 22 (just this morning I realized that I told him I was 27, but I'm not 27 (but I'm close) - either way, it was a compliment!)

The second was when he said he could see that I put my heart into all the things I make.  (so nice to hear from someone who doesn't even know me!)

And the one that touched me the most - he told me "There aren't many women like you anymore".  At first it sounded weird to me and I was ready to get defensive, but once I thought about it for a minute, I took it as a huge compliment because that's just what I'm trying to be - I'm trying to be ME in a world that does not appreciate the values I strive for or the work that I do.

I wanted to share these with you all because if you're reading this, I think Richey would have paid YOU the same compliments.  (Okay, maybe not the age one...)  

I see the heart that you put into what you all do.  

And There aren't many women like YOU anymore - thank you for being kindred spirits.  We need to stick together ladies!

Art Walk!

It was a BEAUTIFUL day on Saturday.  Just perfect.  I was in a sweater most all day, in Southern Louisiana, in mid-May.  Weird.  Weird, but wonderful.

And although the weather was lovely, there were not many people out and about enjoying it at the Art Walk.  Which is all to say, it was a pretty slow day.

But I met some sweet people, got to spend a day chatting with my friend Teresa (Thank you Teresa!) and we sat outside in the shade all day.  Oh, and I did make some sales too. ;)

This was my third time selling my 'wares' in a booth at a show and I could feel a difference.  Everything went a lot smoother than the last two times.  It was a nice feeling.

the table set-up practice Friday night (minus the cool hair clip cards...they had yet to be printed)

Up top there, you will have noticed my new sign.  I LOVE it!  I would LOVE it more, however, if I knew what I was doing with that whole quilting business, and it layed more flat.  I think I'm going to rip out the binding and redo it sometime in the near future.  With everything else going on around here, it was one of those things that intimidated me (the sign) because I had a picture in my head and I knew the likely hood of me screwing it up was pretty high, so I was putting it off for as long as I could.  I finally mustered up some confidence and minus the frumpy middle saggy bit, I'm quite pleased with it.  It mostly looks like what I had envisioned!

I also made up some new business cards (thank you to my dear husband who helped me figure out how to use the Mac template late Friday night before the show Saturday...) and some cards to display the hair clips.  Another one of those ideas that have been floating around in my head for some time now.  I just used a business card template and the business card paper that is already perforated that you run through your printer, and voila!  Semi-profesional product displays!

Work is ramping up around here for all the water that is coming down the Mississippi these days, so I'm not sure how this week will go - all I know is that I need Saturday off because we are having a birthday party for my now 1 year old!  (Can you believe it?  He's already ONE.  Crazy talk people!)  More on the decorations and such for that soon...

And "after"

The "after" picture of my (un)altered jeans.

I decided that I just wasn't up to the task (boo me!).

But, the jeans have found a new home in the maternity clothes pile.

So the next time I need them, they will be ready.

(and no, I am not pregnant...that's why I'm not wearing these now!)

Coming soon...pictures and stories of things I have been doing.

Thanks for keeping me honest Ooh Leela!

"let's start the New Year right..."

Why has this storytelling been so elusive to me?  That is what I've been pondering of late.  (Along with the scary thought that I've committed to myself and a few others that I will be using this space to tell stories - what a great idea! I thought as I jumped head first)  And once I'd gone clear over the edge, I realized I don't have any stories to tell.

Or so I thought...

Because well, lets go through a typical day:

Early - wake up.  tend to the baby.  get ready for work.  (have you ever tended to a baby without walking away with a few stories to tell???)

A bit later - ride the bus to work. (oh yes, the bus is full of interesting characters)

Daytime - lots of interaction with lots of different folks...from my cubicle and sometimes beyond (fortunately for you, I probably won't be sharing work stories here)

Later daytime - ride the bus home. (different characters!)

Evening - tend to baby.  make and eat dinner.  all while hanging out with the hubby.  hopefully some crafting in there somewhere. (crafting.  ah ha!  so many stories not only of how things are created, but the material themselves have such a history.  I've been using up-cycled and vintage linens and clothes and I can just see the houses they lived in before they came to me, and the people who used them.  oh yes, so many stories...)

So my challenge (let's not bother with resolutions, shall we?) to you in this New Year, is to discover the stories you have to tell.  And then tell them!  Start a blog, start a journal/scrapbook, write a letter, leave a comment, paint a picture, sew a quilt, embroider a tapestry.  Find something you're excited about and go do it!  

And let's all take these words to heart in our new endeavors: "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story."  anyone know who said this?

Looking forward to hearing yours in 2011.

Craft Sanity Magazine!

Hello and my apologies for the extended absence.

The wonderful Jennifer of the wonderful blog and podcast Craft Sanity has produced her very first Magazine!!!  For the complete story check out this blog post: http://craftsanity.com/2010/11/craftsanity-magazine-pre-order-preview/ , for the highlights keep reading!

Jennifer put out a call a month or so ago for sponsors for this project of hers and I was so excited to jump on board!  So, inside this gem you'll find a little ad for Sunrise Folk (!), but more importantly you'll find: "44 pages featuring 15 projects ranging from knitting and crochet to sewing, weaving, paper craft and embroidery; interviews,  handmade stories and Q&A interviews. You'll also find recipes, gift tags, and an adorable paper doll with a penchant for quilting, reviews and a gift guide, too.

So, you're totally excited right?!  Well, there's more!

Work by the following artists and crafters is inside: Cathy Carron, Lindy Graff, Anna Hrachovec, Sarah London, Alessandra Hayden, Rebecca Green, Alyssa Thomas, Cydney Colvig, Linda Tieu, Steven Rainey and a generous knitter named Jake. You'll also find Diane Morgan's delicious recipe for homemade graham crackers and a peek inside the sketchbook of knitter Debbie Bliss!  Jennifer included a few of her own projects, including a mod hexagon apron tutorial for you to enjoy, too.

Want to know how you can get your very own copy!?!
You can purchase a copy of the print publication here.
The electronic edition ($3.99) will be released the same day the hard copy version will be shipped out: Tuesday, December 7.
I can't wait for mine to get here so I can curl up with it by the Christmas tree, tasty cup of hot tea in hand!


(Up-date since I wrote this - mine has gotten here and it is WONDERFUL!  Order a copy, you'll love it!)

Blessings!

It's up!

The Etsy shop is up and running!!!

You can get to it by clicking here: www.sunrisefolk.etsy.com

New items are being added everyday...so keep checking in!

WE DID IT!!!!!

Sold my first items at a craft fair this weekend.  Slow day for sales, but we had a GREAT time!

My friend came along to help with the set up.  She made chocolate chip cookies for the booth (and coffee for us!!! Thanks Jennifer!).  The cookies were great tasting AND they brought a lot of people in.  Definitely going to make cookies for every fair!

My aprons.  Love how they all look together on the clothesline.

I worked on hair clips throughout the day (hence the piles-o-junk around my chair).  It was really fun to be able to sew most of the day, and it got people to ask what we were doing.  Jen was making stuff and so was Brian when he came by - arts and crafts time all around!

I didn't even think to get the camera out when Brian "relieved" Jennifer or when J and Wy stopped by (Brian and Jen helped out because we didn't know what the weather was going to be like and if Wy would be able to stick around that long...he's only 4 1/2 mons. you know!) ;)  Next time...

Brooches from felt and recycled shirts

Hankies from sheets and a hankie holder from a shirt

Halloween, felt covered hair clips

I walked away from my "stall" after packing everything up at the end of the day and had an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.  Not all of the items went like hot cakes, but we DID IT!  Finally, finally did what I've been thinking about, talking about, wishing about doing for so long - and it felt AWESOME!  

and then I found it...

I  have got a bug to get going on all the projects swimming around in my head….my hands are just itching to get started…and I’m sitting at work, in a cubicle, looking at a computer screen with a word document that requires lots of brain power and I just can’t focus!

And then I found it.... I was doodling in my notebook and I came across a note I had written after listening to Jennifer on Craftsanity.  She was talking about how she wants to get an airstream trailer to park by a lake on a farm and use as her studio.  Heaven!  So I went to the internets and found this beauty:

source

I could TOTALLY handle that!

Off topic – but the cubicle.  DRAB, BORING, MUTE (in a bad way), BLAH, BLAND your choice of favorite adjectives.  SO – mine has multicolored Christmas lights year round (probably why I'm so drawn to this picture!), a shelf full of pretty things I’ve collected through the years, pages torn from magazines tacked to the walls, a picture section with people and places I love and a fruit cocktail can as a pencil holder.  It does make it a little better to be in here, but I don’t know how much longer I can last…

I’ve got a year and 3 months before I can ditch the cubicle.  Don’t get me wrong, I like my ‘job’, I just don’t necessarily like what I do and I certainly don’t like being in a cubicle and well, I just feel this isn’t where I am supposed to be forever.

Perhaps I'm supposed to be here forever instead?

source

Yes, you say?  I agree.

we're in!

Ah!

We've got a booth at the Freret Market come October 2!  Which is great!  And will be even better when I feel a bit more prepared...

Not going to get all stressed out though.  If I don't have a booth chocked 'full-O-stuff', that's okay.  It's quality not quantity anyway, right?  Plus, this market will be a trial to see if the craft show/art market/etc. scene is for me.

So, if you're in the New Orleans area on October 2, come say hi and try on an apron or two!!

Detail work from a vintage piece I got at the September market

Inspiration

First of all, the market was fun - full of good food and music and lots of fun booths!  Still haven't signed up, but I'm gearing up to have a booth at the October 2 event.  What's holding me back is the actual set up (I don't have a tent or table yet...) and I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to make enough "stuff" in time.

BUT, I need to just do, even if I only have a few things ready.  At least I will have one market under my belt.  It can only get better, right?

So this is where I will be come October 2:

Now, on to what's been on my mind...

I found a podcast about a week ago that I have been listening to non-stop since.  CraftSanity (accompanying blog found here) with Jennifer has been such a treat!  I'm pretty sure I'm the last person to find this gem...where have I been???  But I am sure glad found her!  Jennifer interviews all sorts of crafty ladies and has the most wonderful conversations that we are fortunate enough to be able to listen in on.  CraftSanity and the little bits of wisdom I've gleaned from the interviews as well as from Jennifer, have really given me so much inspiration and a little kick in the pants to get myself going.  It's so fun to hear about all the aprons and running in Jennifer's life too - both things I enjoy!

Another podcast that was the first one I listened to, and am always waiting excitedly for the next one to air, is The Quilted Cupcake (found here) with Jean.  Although I wouldn't call myself a quilter, it doesn't matter because Jean has so much information about EVERYTHING - book reviews, product reviews, tips, updates, tid-bits about all the crafty trips she takes.  She is so fun to listen to and she's been a great source of information and inspiration for me (and she loves aprons too!).

And then it dawned on me

I must apologize for the long absence of posts. I'm going to throw some words at you and let you come to your own conclusions for said absence: back to work, 3 1/2 month old, 4 flights in 2 weeks (with 2 1/2 month old at the time), husband out of town for a week, etc. Sure there has been a lot going on, but it really comes down to the fact that I felt Led to take a step back for awhile.

And then I didn't.

I was able to meet some old friends for lunch one day a few weeks ago, and we didn't even talk much about crafty goings on, but it hit me that local art walks and fairs are where I should be right now. That's what I wanted to do a few years ago when I started fusing plastic bags. When I couldn't take anymore melting plastic fumes, my art walk booth dreams went the way of my plastic scraps. That is really where my passion was, and apparently still is. So, I'm gonna go for it.


Plus, an Anthropologie opened here!! It is such a wonderful place to visit. My husband was even willing to go and he was very impressed. I will be working just down the street from the loveliness starting this week, so I'm sure there will be many Anthro up-dates!

Local fairs and art walks, here I come!!