bunnies, kitties and cookies oh my!

Just checking in...

I've been making bunnies, details on these cuties later.

My green eyed girl.

I've also been sewing up a kitty storm....

.....and I'm making a super colorful felt ball mobile.

Mmmmmm yummy cookies.

My camera broke awhile ago, and I had to send it in to Canon to get fixed. I finally got it back! Yea! Now I can photograph all the fun things I've been making for the shop!

Renegade Holiday Show!

Ever since the summer (and the first) Renegade show that I did, I have actually been working full time at this self employed business of mine. It's a dream come true! I've learned a lot of lessons in these 6 months, 99% of them positive. What it takes to "work at home" (hahahaha), getting everything ordered and stocked so that I can power through an entire month without having to buy anything, etc, etc.

New labels from my fav label company. Check her out here. 

Before I could start on anything new for the show, I had to make 5 sets of beards and mustaches.

Lesson 436: These take WAY longer than they should for the price I am selling them for.

Customers always (sometimes) want "in progress" photos. In progress progress looks, well, unfinished. And paying customers don't want to see you wasting time.

Lesson 327: Do not send progress photos even if they beg.



But I will show you some "in progress" photos of the 5 sets of Sleepover Pals I made for the show:

All cut out...

Lots of little arm balls...(that sounds weird, hu?)

And the finished pile 'o pals!

So, it took me just as much time to make 5 sets of mustaches sets as did 5 sets of sleepover pals.

Lesson 280: Time is money. Work smarter, not harder.

 The Tag-a-long Dolls were the first to go last time, so I wanted to be prepared. There were 5 more that didn't fit in the shot.

I sold every. single. one. before 4 o'clock.

Lesson 869: People LOVE the dolls that you make. Spend more time making what you want to make!

I wanted to make some cute ornaments, so I made some houses...

...some gnomes...

...some apples...

...and pears.

Of course- also on my list of ornaments to make were squirrels, mushrooms, bunnies, hedgehogs, matryoshka dolls, and cats.

Lesson 645 and 328: Make ornaments waaaay before Christmas, and, there's always next year.



From the moment the summer Renegade ended, I have been plotting my shared booth design. After this one, I only have one more thing to tweak, and then I think it's perfect.

I need to make a new sign, like out of actual fabric. But the paper worked wonderfully!

I bought a 10x10 tent, and 3 "walls", and 2 LACK side tables from Ikea. 

The swings were a last minute addition by my brilliant husband. They still need some design work, but I love how they added display space (that's not some flimsy rack or a heavy bookcase)

These little foxes went pretty fast. I wanted to make many, many more, and so did the people who came back later to buy them, but they are completely hand sewn and take forever. So they are priced high, and I only had time for 2.

As always, hair clips are a must. People love them!

Secret: I hate making them.

I wanted to get custom stickers made for my bags, but I waited too long to order them. So I ended up stamping them all with the stamp that I already had. I like it better, don't you?

And now, onto my fav booths...

ImagineNations

Amazing globes.

Homako

Such cute japanese bows.

JanieXY

These cats. OMG. Their display was top notch. Her husband built a fruit/veggie stand to house all of her plushies. She also makes crinkly bacon and chicken wings rattles for babies. So cute!

That grey one came home with me. 

I always have to stop by the Wool Buddy booth. And buy something. 

The Naked Bird

This birdie necklace kills me. If I wore large necklaces...

Tako Fibers. LOVE her. She is so friendly! And makes such cute crewl kits!

Which several family members got as gifts! Yay!

This display was also amazing. Museum amazing.

About that one percent....

...I'll tell ya later.

renegade '12 part one- my booth

After Portland, I had about a week and a half to get ready for Renegade. Whoops.

I already knew what I wanted to make, and I had sold some stuff in the meantime, and I just let time slip by. I remember Wednesday evening Maloree texted me "I'm so excited to see you this Saturday!" and I about died because I was so far behind on getting anything sewn. I had just taken down the air mattress from when Craig stayed with us, and in 2 days I'd have to put it back up. I got absolutely nothing finished that week.

I got all my stuff together- I piled the patterns on the floor, all the fabrics for each pattern, and I cut everything out in one day. I was impressed that it only took one day, but I was not impressed with myself for long! I made 2 monkeys, 4 kitties, 5 tag-a-long dolls and 2 yarn haired dolls, plus a Operation Incognito set. I was planning on making some Wee Mouse Tin House guys and some Travel Wee's, but I ran out of time.

While sweeping up after making the monkeys, I accidentally knocked over my already broken button case. They are still in a pile on the floor waiting to be sorted!

Here are the monkeys and kitties!

Here are the tag-a-long dolls.

Blondie bun doll.

And mermaid hair doll.

I usually name them all- but I just didn't have time!

I always wish I took work in progress photos- but I never remember. And when I do remember, my studio is in shambles and I'm too embarrased to take them. But here is a monkey before sewing him together. Most of all of the work is done before sewing him together and stuffing.

And what he looks like all sandwiched together and pinned like crazy.

The fair was at the Fort Mason center, which is just past Fisherman's Wharf. It sits right along the ocean. It was such a beautiful weekend, the weather was perfect and there was just enough of a cool breeze to keep the place not too hot (with all those people!) but also not too cool.

(Really shitty photo of the really cool map they had hanging at the entrance.)

So, these photos were taken the second day. I didn't take any the first day, I guess I just completely forgot! Yes me, the person that takes photos of every tiny detail forgets to take photos of really important milestones. That's me!

I had this vision of a grey table with a white scalloped border- I also made those like the day before the show! Luckily I made my sign forever ago!

I hate taking photos of my booth. You can't "see" it really, becaus eof all the background stuff that's always going on. But you get the idea.

Danny turned out to be an excellent business manager. Here he is hanging the aprons all nice so that the pockets are all facing outward. His idea. He also set up Square on his iPad for me by going on my website, downloading photos of each thing and putting them into the system. Then when I'd make a sale, all I had to do was hit the photo, and it would ring it up, tax and all. Awesome.

I had these awesome business cards made up just for the show, and I decided to order an extra box for whatever. I'm glad I did, because I went through 100 on the first day!

Nobody really bought the aprons, or the kitty pillows. I wasn't surprised about the aprons, nobody here in California likes them. But I usually sell out of the kitty pillows.

I sold out of most of the dolls and the Sleepover Pals on the first day. I didn't expect that!

I thought the monkeys and kitties would sell better- that's why I put all my focus into making them for the show. Making the dolls is easier (they are much less detailed) If I would of know that, I could of made a ton more dolls. Oh well- knowledge for next time!

I totally thought I'd sell these too- I only had time to make one set, so I was planning on taking special orders. But nobody bought it. A ton of people played and laughed with it, just no takers.

And nobody bought her, I thought she'd be the first doll to go. But instead it was the blondie bun girl.

It was packed, both days. 

Afterwards, we packed up the car and went out to eat at Umami Burger. Our friend Jane gave us a gift certificate for there months ago- but we are never in that neighborhood so we never went. But it was pretty close to the event, so we finally cashed it in!

Tempura onion rings. Mmmmmmm!

Cali burger. Oh man, it was so good. We will definitely be back! Hopefully sooner rather than later!

Stay tuned for part 2: The Vendors!