Checking In

Hello!

How's it going? Last summer I took a hiatus from sewing, blogging etc and I am unintentionally doing the same this year. While I have been working on new ideas for products as well as doing a few shows here and there, the blog has definitely been quiet. I figure you can't force these things so I'll just be doing updates here and there. :)

Did a very cool outdoor popup shop with Moneris in June promoting their new device
PAYD Pro which allows you to accept debit transactions!

My hiatus was a forced one as my sewing machine finally started to rebel.
A lovely man came over and whipped her back into shape. Phew!

Spending days off in yarn shops, as you do.

Last Sunday I did a shibori workshop lead by the lovely Arounna of bookhou
in Crown Flora's beautiful new shop space.

My finished pieces--still need to be ironed.

Waiting for the streetcar--it's felt like fall last week!

We had groupons for the Textile Museum and I ogled some looms.

Ogling.

Until the next time!

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

Lately...

What's up?

It's mid May and it's still cold. We had a week of warmth and then went right back to cold. I feel like we are going to skip spring entirely and just be head first into summer. Which, frankly, I'm ready for!

I've been working hard at some new designs--hopefully they will all be ready to debut at a few shows in the coming weeks! But more about that later. ;)

Onwards to the picture post.

I could spend all day supply shopping.

Feeding chickadees. These guys were super eager!
(Apologies for my blinding hand.)

Beautiful marble patterns.

Finally perfected my packaging game. At least for now...

There was a brief period where I thought I was done with socks.
That time has ended. Welcome back, socks.

New card holders! Among the few prototypes a'comin!

xox

One of a Kind Online Shop

Hi all!

The One of a Kind Show just launched their online shop yesterday and I'm so excited to announce that I'm a part of it!

You can find my profile and shop here.

www.oneofakindonlineshop.com

I've only ever sold online with Etsy so this is a fab opportunity to reach a new audience! It's also been a heck of a learning curve figuring out a totally new interface. Always a good idea to step out of your comfort zone. ;)

Let me know what you think!

BIG Shop Update 1/2

Hello!

It's been a long time since I've posted...even longer since I've updated the shop! But that just means I'm due for a massive update. And here it is in two parts.

www.owlswakeup.etsy.com

Part 1 includes sequins and a new style of leather accented pouches among others. Thanks for looking!

Small Blue Tapestry Pouch

Small Vine-Patterned Pouch

Small Nautical Denim Pouch

Matte Blue Sequin Clutch

Rose Gold Sequin Clutch

Big batch coming soon!

One of a Kind Show - This Week!

Well this is it! The week I've been working towards since January. If you're in Toronto, come check it out!

March 26-30
Etsy Section, K20A

Click here for discounted tickets!

What's Happening?

As predicted, with OOAK around the corner (42 days ahhhh) the poor blog gets neglected because I've been too busy getting all my ducks in a row. I'm very glad I took a week in January to just think about it.

What will my display look like? What's my budget? What about packaging? How much should I make? What should I make? Should I use a new sign? Should I get new business cards? (Yes and yes.) What do I do about bringing my own seating? Who can I enlist to help me out?

You get the idea. A lot of thinking.

Once I got my inventory plan sorted and initial supplies purchased (round two happening this weekend!) then I really got to work. My goal was to leave weekends free for friends, supply shopping, business card designing etc. The reason for this is that I am notorious for wasting weeknights and now is the time to change. I will totally go home, change into pjs and just eat and watch TV all night. Especially in the winter because when I come home it's dark and I'm tired so there. But with OOAK looming I knew I had to get my act together so my plan became: only sew on weeknights. And it's working! I am making my weekly goals no problem by dedicating a couple hours a night to sewing. It's been tiring still, yes, but it's really working out so far.

Week 1: complete.

Week 2: cutting day.

Week 3: a mishmash of stuff.

I am in the middle of week 3 of my 8 weeks of sewing (leaving the last week of for moving in, grocery shopping, etc) and so far I don't feel stressed at all (knock on wood)! I went to an information session for OOAK back in October before I applied and people asked how much inventory to bring. Of course there is no set number. The organizers just said "make as much as you can" and that's exactly what I'm doing. That's all I can do!

So with my business cards ordered, a display plan in place, my inventory well on its way, I am feeling pretty great about the whole thing.

More updates to come!

Supply Shopping - Getting Started

Last weekend I spent a full day travelling around the city hunting down sewing supplies for One of a Kind. It was a ton of fun!! Then, however, I turned my sewing plans into weekly goals and officially freaked myself out. There is lots to do in the next two months! Anyways--this is the first of several picture posts!

Waiting at the cash while the ladies sort through my zippers...

Seems like enough, right? Haha no.

Guhhhhh.

As soon as I bought this I knew I would have to go back for more.

Got a great deal on this gorgeous floral tapestry!

My first big leather purchase and I couldn't be more excited!

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!!

Craft Show Table Displays

Last season I spent a lot of time obsessing over my craft show displays. I thought I was satisfied with my display for my summer show--at the time it was nice, but the more I thought about it, the more unhappy I was. Isn't that always the way with something you create? Once you get some distance you really start seeing the flaws.

- It wasn't shopable: patterns and clutches were just piled on or stuffed in baskets. It looked like STUFF. Not like a display.

- There was no vertical interest: This one I gave myself an out. I was on a budget, and a public transit taker. I had to keep it to a minimum so despite my constant Pinteresting, I just gave up on that one. You know when you're afraid to look into something in case it fails? Yep.

- Blah-ness. Everything kinda melded into one. Nothing about the display stood out. Sure it was cohesive but it has to be exciting as well!

So for my first show last season I made some changes: new styles (More sequins! South American fabrics! Leather!) and a new table cloth to complement these styles. That's about all I changed.

What I found was that if people looked over at my table, they came over and rummaged. However, a lot of people didn't even notice me! I knew then and there to stop mucking around and create a vertical display. To stop piling on all the stuff (but I've made SO MUCH) and focus on showcasing the quality of the items instead of having a table that says "look how much crap I made!"

So. Everything changed. Different baskets. I made display boards. I left things at home (GASP). For the first time I was truly happy with my display! The best part? It worked!

Testing out the display at home.

Vertical interest!

Last-minute button earrings. Seriously, I made these the day before a show.

The final display. So much happier with it!

A close up.

So of course, even though only a month has passed, I am now dreaming up ways to change my display for the next round. I want to expand on the shelving idea. The boards are just fabric-covered foam so I know they won't last me forever. But that's what sketchbooks are for, right? Planning!

Thanks for reading!

Winter Sale + New Listings!

Happy Holidays! 

Everything in my shop is 20% off with the coupon code WINTER20 at checkout. I've also finally listed tons of the new goodies I made for the craft show season in the shop as well, so there's lots to see!

www.owlswakeup.etsy.com

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

Tiny Workspaces

I love my apartment. It is the first place I've lived that is truly mine. I love the neighbourhood, the view, the green space, the proximity to the subway… I could go on!

However, since starting my Etsy store last year, I'll admit I am sometimes (constantly) longing for a second bedroom as my "dining table" has taken on the role of the sewing studio. I think I've finally gotten a layout that I can easily work with but I am the sort of person who likes to see all my stuff at once. Open shelves of fabric, peg boards for tools, white boards, fabric swatches on the walls etc. I'd love to be able to spread out someday.

So...clean.

It has been an exciting challenge figuring out the ways to best make use of such a small workspace. All in all the changes I've made have been unobtrusive (except on particularly enthusiastic sewing days…that's when no visitors are welcome), but any crafter would agree that having a space dedicated to your creative endeavours is living the dream! Also, if I had a bigger space I would consider making bigger items haha.

I have used this table for eating less than 5 times. Ah well.

It stayed this clean for about ten seconds.

So organized!

While lusting after craft rooms, I turn to staring at my pinboard.

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?