Wednesday, September 22, 2010

I'm back!

My "Midwest Show Tour" is now over and I'm back home reflecting on the great experience we had. And getting re-situated! I'm grateful to say that lots and lots of figures and animals found new homes...as proven by the pile of price tags I was left with! I take them off before I wrap up the goodies as a way to track my sales for each show.

Renegade Chicago was such a mob scene that I didn't really get a chance to even think about taking photos. But we had lots of lax time at the Creative Connection Minneapolis and my mom managed to snap this photo of me at our booth there. I couldn't bring my big shelf with us, so I had to improvise in terms of props (meaning...cardboard boxes under the table cloth). Oh well!

I don't know why I was afraid I didn't have enough items to sell! Once I saw them altogether I couldn't believe how many I had made!

Some of the larger pieces graced the highest peak of our display.

My mom brought some amazing needle felted logs, stumps, deer and a squirrel to create a neat woodland scene. It was happily dismantled piece by piece and we have two logs (one with a snail), one stump, and one tiny fawn left, which I will soon be listing on Etsy.

They're all saying "Pick Me! Pick Me!"

Across from our table was the gorgeous table of Sherry from Sherry's Rose Cottage. It was such decadent eye candy and so girly!

I was tempted by these shoes...but with my giant feet, they made me feel like Cinderella's stepsister!

Mom and I had some free time between shows to explore Minneapolis a little bit. It was gorgeous and so modern and Mom couldn't stop talking about how much she loved it!

During the Creative Connection I had Mom watch the booth while I took Jennifer Murphy's heritage bunny class. And of course like anything she does...I just LOVED it! I can't believe I was actually able to sew this little guy together on the first try and hope to make some more to give away as gifts. I think I'd like to add a few more details to him and he'll be perfect! Jen's talented mom Pat Murphy was there in class helping out and taught me some little sewing tricks... So helpful and amazing! They are a dream team and I can't stop gushing! :)

I've also been a long time fan of Ashley Carter's Goldbug Studio. She had a table there with Earth Angels and it was so great seeing her work in person and of course finally meeting her in person! I also managed to pick out just one piece to take home with me and am now the proud owner of one of her original pieces...yay! And a discontinued piece at that!

There were so many other great booths there and I shopped around intermittently. Little bags of doodad's weren't going to escape my grasp... And I've never paid so much for ribbon, but this fantastic vintage nautical themed printed ribbon was completely worth it!

These vintage goodies will be given to future spun cotton figures.

Colored dresden is hard to resist and of course will show up on future angels and leprechauns.

I've been looking for a nice hand knitted head wrap thingy and while I was hoping to knit it myself...I decided to be realistic and just buy one from someone who's much better at knitting than me. I like this one because it blends in with my hair...sort of a blended detail. Can you tell how fashionable I am? lol

I also did some trading...there are some new babies that have and will show up in my life soon and they of course need to be showered with gifts! I got two hand screen printed onesies with owls on them from Too Many Suitors. So cute!

Mom and I took the train from city to city. The slow...long...slow train. It was actually kinda nice and Mom gave me some pointers on crocheting. I made these tiny hats for future Christmas and winter themed spun cotton girls and boys. They'll be quite warm for sure!

And of course I spent most of my train time spinning cotton. Christmas...here I come!


It was an amazing two shows, a fantastic trip, and of course some great bonding time with Mom. I met so many great people and saw so many great things. I just loved it! But I'm glad to be home with kitties and Ben and with my feet up for a little while. :)

7 comments:

Valarie said...

Oh, I am so jealous. It looks like you had so much fun.
xxoo Valarie

kerry hawkins art and photo said...

wow, your pictures are great. sounds like a wonderful time

laurie -magpie ethel said...

Absolutely love the photo of your whole felted kingdom laid out before you...what fun. The show sounded like and amazing time...I am SERIOUSLY thinking about hitting it in 2011. SERIOUSLY!

Janie Mattern said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Janie Mattern said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Janie Mattern said...

Congratulations Crystal on two sucessful shows {it is such a rewarding feeling}! I love all your new goodies, and your Mom's felted baby fawn is so adorable!!!

~Janie

Fraske Designs said...

welcome back! what a great trip!