TIAM - Summer Sunset Market

Hello! I'm trying something new this week, my first evening market! If you're in the area (Queen/Dufferin) come by and check it out. Looks like a fabulous crowd!

TEST Springtime Marketplace

Another show this weekend! This time with the Toronto Etsy Street Team. I did their Springtime Marketplace last year and it was my very first craft show! I blogged about it...a lot. :) So excited to participate again and mark one year of craft shows!

Here's a link to the gorgeous lookbook put together by the team leaders: http://issuu.com/thunderpeep/docs/2014_spring_lookbook


There's going to be tons of amazing sellers so if you're in the area, admission is free!

The Post Market

Summer craft show season starts tomorrow! I'll have a table at The Post Market in Leslieville on Saturday and Sunday. Looking forward to a fun weekend!

The Post Market

Almost Time!

It terrifies me to think that it's only a few days until load-in day for the One of a Kind Show!

I have gotten a ton of work done in the past few months and I do feel like I am ready. Still a lot of little things to do like finishing up the display, price tagging, packing, meal planning and the like but I know that I'll blink and the show will be over so I'm trying to enjoy every step along the way. 

For now, here are some fun pics of the stuff that will be at the show!

Big News!

Last October I went to an information session regarding the Etsy section for the spring 2014 One of a Kind Show. I applied shortly after thinking, why the heck not? Last week I found out that I got in!!!

Participating in this show has always been a total dream so I am blown away that it's going to happen in just a couple months!

The spring show runs in Toronto from March 26-30. I sent in my contract this week and am up to my ears in planning preparations! Needless to say, I have never done anything on this scale. Since I am taking part in the Etsy section I will have a table as opposed to a booth, which is more up my alley at the moment! I have no idea how much stock to make but I do know that I have to get cracking.

I am afraid my posting here will suffer (as if it hasn't already!) but I will do my best to take as many pictures as I can of my preparations so I can post updates!

SO excited!!

Wednesday Wishlist - Winter

Here are a few things I'm loving lately...and maybe have already added to my Christmas list. Heehee!

1. So Much by Clare Elsaesser

2. Copenhagen Necklace by Shlomit Ofir

3. Knit Throw Blanket pattern by Erin Blacks Designs

4. Handmade For You tags by Nice Package Design

I'm in the middle of craft show bonanza. It's been pretty fun so far, although the weekends sure do fly by! Here are the two shows coming up this week:

Maker’s Market

Saturday, November 30, 2013 

Crawford Bar at 718 College Street

Time: 11am-6pm

Admission: FREE

The Sassy Little Craft Show

Sunday, December 1st, 2013

The Central at 603 Markham Street

Time: 2pm-8pm

Admission: FREE

Covet

Hello all! This weekend I am participating in a pop-up holiday shop in Kensington Market! 

Here are the details...

 

Saturday November 23rd and Sunday November 24th 

The Guild Pop-Up Gallery, 143 Augusta Avenue, 2nd Floor (Kensington Market)

Time: 12pm-5pm

Admission: FREE

The Guild presents a holiday pop-up shop at our space in Kensington Market featuring one-of-a-kind merchandise created by local artists and crafters. Come buy some gifts for your friends + family and support the community.

Also: HOT APPLE CIDER! COOKIES!
Supporting Art City in St. James Town.

Check out the Facebook event.

Woohoo!

Toronto Indie Arts Market

Hello! This Saturday is my first craft show of the Season. (Can I capitalize that like British ladies? Let's go with it.) It's the Toronto Indie Arts Market taking place at the Gladstone Hotel.

I'd like to say I'm ready. And I probably am. But honestly I have no idea. I've only done the one show and since I am introducing a ton of new goodies, I have no idea what will be more popular than others! But luckily I'll have a couple weeks between this show and full out craft-show blitz to get my act together!

I do foresee myself buying more sequins though. Because.

Winter Craft Shows

Hello and happy Halloween! I suppose it's a bit too early to think about Christmas but I am in full holiday mode, now that I have my full craft show list for this coming season!

I decided that I wanted to do at least two more craft shows this year. I waited patiently for a suitable vendor call but for a while it was all too expensive, too far, too requiring-of-tent. Then a ton came through at once and I applied like a madwoman and...well...now I'm doing a ton of 'em. I am super super excited but also maybe a bit scared? Time to start sewing like a madwoman! Prepare for sequin overload!

See you there?

Toronto Indie Arts Market
Saturday, November 9th, 2013
The Gladstone Hotel at 1214 Queen Street West

Time: 10:30am - 4:30pm

Admission: $5

Covet

Saturday November 23rd and Sunday November 24th 

The Guild Pop-Up Gallery, 143 Augusta Avenue, 2nd Floor (Kensington Market)

Time: 12pm-5pm

Admission: FREE

Maker’s Market

Saturday, November 30, 2013 

Crawford Bar at 718 College Street

Time: 11am-6pm

Admission: FREE

The Sassy Little Craft Show

Sunday, December 1st, 2013

The Central at 603 Markham Street

Time: 2pm-8pm

Admission: FREE

Firsthand Fair

Saturday December 7th and Sunday December 9th 

Sneaky Dee's at 431 College Street

Time: 11pm-5pm

Admission: FREE

Psst!

Here's a sneak peek at some of the new things I've been working on--all available at upcoming craft shows!

Change purses!

Sequins!

Leather!

See you there?

What's Up?

Hello there!

How's your week been? Mine's been pretty fabulous, actually. Lots to get excited about!

Early this week I found out I am doing yet another craft show this season! It's the Sassy Little Craft Show on Sunday December 1, from 2-8 at The Central (by Honest Ed's). You can get more details regarding which shows I'll be at under Upcoming. So much to prepare for! Of course I want to overhaul everything I did at my last show. We'll see what the next fews weeks allow.

Monday was an absolutely glorious day so my friend and I took a stroll through Cedarvale Park. It was stunning.

One evening this week my friend Dana and I took a trip to Biko's sample sale held in her gorgeous studio! We had a ton of fun ogling (and buying) her amazing pieces. And letting Corrine know just how much we love her.

Earrings...all $5!

Our shared shopping tray.

The lovely Dana, modelling a fierce necklace.

Studio HEAVEN.

My spoils. Including the studded earrings I won from her Instagram contest!

This weekend I am trying out a wicked new sewing attachment and will report back soon with sneak peeks at new pieces you'll be able to check out at craft shows this holiday season!

Until then...

Shop Update: Florals

Hello! Lots of exciting things going on this week. First things first, I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be at the Toronto Indie Arts Market on Saturday November 9 at the Gladstone Hotel! More details can be found here. I am so excited to have another show to plan for! Time for some fabric shopping ;)

Another new development is that direct checkout has finally been made available for Canadian Etsy stores. What does that mean? It means I can now accept credit cards and Etsy gift cards in addition to PayPal in my shop! Amazing news! This has been available for quite some time in American shops so it's really great that this convenience is being offered north of the border.

The final thing to announce is BAM. Shop update! I am in love with this batch so check out the beauties I added to the floral section of the shop last night!

Welcome Back!

Well, hello again! I am officially back in business after my Summer Hiatus. Sometimes it is so necessary to give yourself some time off, to recharge, relax, to step back and take perspective. Also, my apartment doesn't have air-conditioning so sewing was just not an appealing activity for a while. Anyhow, the time has come to get to get back into it!

I've bought tons of new fabric, I have many new ideas for the store, the blog...and maybe even something else entirely. You'll have to check back and see!

For now, here's a peek at what I've been up to.

Hanging out with Feathers of Gold at her craft show last month.

I got a glue gun so I promptly glued things to other things.

I recently moved into a new office at work and so decorating was in order!
More on that later, I promise!

Getting inspired to try some new packaging ideas...

Sneak peek at one of my lovely new fabrics!

See you soon!

First Craft Show: All Done!

Yesterday was the TEST Springtime Marketplace. Also referred to (by me) as First Craft Show OMG! As indicated by the theme of my recent blog posts, preparations consumed me. To be honest I feel kinda empty now that it's over! What do I doooo? But overall, it was a fabulous day. So many people came out for the show and I had a blast! My dear friend Jessica (feathersofgold) helped me out for the day and she was absolutely invaluable! We sold some stuffs, met some peeps, and all around had a lovely time.

Here are some photos from the day!

Gotta be honest, most of this was food.

Jessica stuffing makeup bags!

My table display!

Overhead table shot; this pic stolen from Jessica's Instagram!

Close-up of one of my baskets.

Our snack-filled view from behind the table.

I'll share more pictures as I obtain them. I'd like to post one of my sign but for some reason I took all my pics before we even put it up.

I am so excited at the prospect of doing another craft show! Especially since all the big stuff is already done. Since this was my first show I had to design business cards, make various signage, collect items for display, make a million price tags, sign up with Square etc but those are all one-time things! Preparing for the next one will be a breeze, right? ;)

So what's next? I've got a few new clutches ready for a shop update as well as some clothes that desperately need summer alterations! Lots to keep me busy :)

Thanks for reading!

One More Week!

Eeek! Only one more week until the TEST Springtime Marketplace! I'll admit, I kinda (really) slacked this week. Didn't do nearly as much as I should have. So now the final few days will be last minute errand running and sewing! I only have a few more things I'd like to make so if it doesn't get done, it's not the end of the world. I also need to get change from the bank, snacks for the day, more paper bags etc. The little things! For now I have borrowed a suitcase from my friend and have started getting myself organized by packing things as I think of them. Still on the lookout for the final piece for my display. I got that basket on the right last week and it's not quite right but in a pinch it will do!

Can't wait!

Sequins and Signs

When I first set out with my Etsy venture, I wanted to make things with sequins. Who doesn't love sequins? But I held off because $$$ and lack of patience. But this craft show is the perfect excuse to do a little bit of splurging. And since I'm so ahead of the inventory game, I can take the time to do battle with the rebellious nature of the sequins. And damn, is it ever worth it.

My three new babies.

Mad love.

***

As stated in this post, I wanted to burn a wooden owlswakeup sign. It didn't happen. And I think that's for the best hahaha. I had a small amount of a certain tapestry fabric leftover in—whaddya know—a perfectly sized rectangle. Oh and there's still the matching vinyl left? Score. I wanted my sign to be relevant to my shop and, well, to cost me nothing. I laughed when I found this piece of fabric because it couldn't have been more perfect.

As for the DIY itself, I kept it simple. I printed off the text in the size I wanted, cut out the letters to act as stencils, traced them onto the vinyl and then cut them out again. Finicky, but not as time consuming as I had expected. I then trimmed and hemmed the fabric and glued the letters. Simple yet effective!

Multitasking: my table was totally in craft-show-test-run mode.

Ready to glue!

I'd say I'm almost ready for the show. My main concern is finding one more display item. I must consider a plan B if I can't find anything suitable. Thank goodness for Pinterest! It's actually been saving my butt when it comes to display ideas! Check out my craft show board for inspiration!

Happy long weekend!

TEST Lookbook

Helloooo!

The gorgeous lookbook is out for the TEST Springtime Marketplace! Check it out! Lots of amazing sellers are going to be there. Can you find me?

Not much to report over on my end; busy spending this week getting the display elements ready which includes a test run of my table as well as making my sign! I'll definitely post pictures when I'm done! This is going to be a busy weekend :D

The table cloth I borrowed from my mom is perfect.

First Craft Show: Progress

Right now my life is all craft show, all the time. Because it is my first show, I am literally starting from scratch. I have no sign, no display, limited inventory etc. But I must say that this past week has been insanely productive. I made 12 clutches, got my business cards printed, thrifted a few baskets for my table, (finally) figured out what to do for my sign etc. Off to a great start!

This week will be about starting round two of the sewing spree (but not just yet because I am le tired), shopping for supplies and making various signage for the table. Also, keep thrifting. I don't have enough display items. I also need something to put my business cards in. The problem is, I don't want to buy too many large things because then they'll just be sitting around in my apartment. The baskets I've bought I actually really like and can find purposes for after the fact. But I still have three weeks. And once I get that sign done I'll be in amazing shape.

Basket #1. Angular.

This thing is the coolest of all the things.

YAAAAY! It works, too. I charged myself a dollar and it was exciting.

Thursday night was zipper night.

Basket #2 and partial results of my sewing rampage. 

I really have no idea how much inventory is too much. I'll probably keep sewing until the actual day because worst case scenario, leftover clutches get listed in my shop. Anyways, that's all for now. Hopefully next time I post I'll be able to share all my finished craft show DIYs!

TEST Springtime Marketplace

Guess what? I'm doing a craft show!

The fabulous ladies at the Toronto Etsy Street Team are running the show on Saturday, June 1st at 918 Bathurst Street. Check out the Facebook event!

It's my first one and while I have been to many shows, I have absolutely no idea what to expect being behind the table. How much stuff do I make? What should my display be? I NEED A SIGN?? Ahhh!

In the coming weeks my focus will be on getting my display/stock ready so I will still be blogging, but there won't be any DIY tutorials for a bit!

I've already put in an order for business cards and started thrifting for display items ;) Today I need to buy replacement blades for my rotary cutter before I start cutting all the fabric ever.

I might add things to my Etsy shop between now and then, but this month is going to be such a whirlwind that I can't make any promises!

Wish me luck!