Hello Crafters? Long time no see. Yea its been a minute. Well a lot has happened since this blog was very active. Living in a household of 2 families and 7 people tends to get computer time to a minimum. Also my 12 year old is in competition level softball so that takes a ton of my time as well. Im still crafting every day...I don't think I could live with out that in my life. I am going to play catch up over the course of the next few weeks.
That being said, I am doing National Novel Writing Month so you can take those promises with a grain of salt...it would be best to expect something by December...at the latest. Right now I am in a lil of creativity, mostly because all my time is spent trying to get my daily word count out for NaNo.
Most shows are on hold because softball is all summer long and well...There is no time for shows. I hope to one day get back into them, but right now were just on etsy. The paper flower business really took off there for a while, so we are rebuilding right now. I have redesigned my creating space, it is almost done, still a few things to do. So stay tuned More to come...eventually!
Back in the saddle...Again
Taking photos - Tutorial
Recently its come to my attention that I might actually take good pictures of my items...I still think they are crap, but I guess thats the perfectionist in me. SO I decided that it was time to write my own little tutorial.
- Day light
- Fluorescent
- Incandescent
- Cloudy
- Flash
Getting back into the swing of things
Trying it out, testing the waters. I feel like I havnt had a free moment in forever! Last year was crazy and the paper flower business took off! I spent most of my time making more little flowers! On top of that, I attempted the big challenge of getting published. One was successful, and one has been put on the back burner.
The big reveal!
White wings was a romance novel I had never heard of. Considering or was printed in 1897, that doesnt come as much of a suprise!
I found this book at a local thrift store. It was in bad shape. There were pages missing, torn and lost forever. The binding was ripped nearly in half, it's pages separated completely.
As a lover of literature I bought it immediately. But upon trying toread it discovered more pages missing. While admiring the sensations of the paper, I decided that this book could be beautiful again.
I made some beautiful paper flowers with the beautiful naturally antiqued paper. But I kept coming back to this beautiful binding.
After stitching it back together I decided it was going to be a journal. Not just any journal a writers journal, a poets muse, an artists sketchbook.
Of course it depends entirely on the owner, but this journal begs to be creative, inspiring, and alive again!!!
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One crazy summer!!!
Hello friends, I have been MIA for way to long. First my surgery, then the summer of 100 street fairs (at least that's how it feels)!
This year we did Park Silly Sunday Market:
Packed with tens of thousands of people from all over the world, from all walks of life!
The show began June 19th this year but my work began much before then!
I started this little flower business with only about a dozen pieces ready. That just wouldn't do. I couldn't go to a show of this caliber with only a dozen pieces! So I made over 250 new items in the span of a week to prepare for this show. Not to mention display racks, business cards, paint, ect!
We started with ink, then went to spray paint and only about 6 colors. Now at the end of the summer we have over 16 colors.
We started with only a few things...earrings, a necklace or two...some bobby pins...
NOW we have head bands, book marks, earrings, necklaces snap barrettes, french barrettes, bobbies, broaches, clips...and so much more!!! They are all available in every size shape and color!
SO what are our colors you ask?
Black
Cream
Cherry Red
Cobaltlavenderturquoise
Ocean blue
sun yellow
cherry
berry
orange
yellow
purpleHunter green
Apple green
Sea side green
burgundy
Now the beginnings of a crazy summer have already been introduced, yes?
BUT wait theres more!
Shortly after the show started, I was featured on a gift guide on Etsy...Suddenly I was selling my Sun yellow earrings like hotcakes to this date I think half of my on-line sales are from those earrings!
Then I had a wedding order for 50 flowers!!!
AND a consignment agreement for 50 items as well! (rumor has it we are HUGE in Missouri)
This is how our summer started... One show and we realized our tiny little peg board would no longer sustain our booming business. So we upgraded!!!
Moving on we started experimenting with color combinations and came up with our two tones! They are SUPER adorable! And with the two tones came three tones for the 4th of july! I didnt have a single one left of these this year! One day on display an they were GONE!!
The next items to take popularity as I made more and more, and expiremented more and more are now known as the Nakeds...Hold up now, they are not vulgar...they are just not painted...therefore the paper that once was still shows through. This include magazine paper, brown paper bags, yellow pages, and ect. Once I introduced the yellow pages flowers, though...I couldn't keep them on the racks!
THis went on for weeks. Now...fast forward...to the present time...The summer rush is over, we now stock over 500 items! We have grown faster than our britches could keep up with us!
So again we upgrade our booth...now we are a 10 by 10 space...with a canopy, and grid walls...We almost look like a real store! I cant believe the growth we have accomplished this year! I only hope that next year will be just as big! (and maybe ill be able to afford an assistant! )
We are also being featured in a magazine thanks to the great consignment opportunity we have had in Missouri!
I am so excited for our new growth, and I want to thank all of you for sticking with us!
Whimsical Wednesday
Updates, Features, New items, and more!!!
Hello everyone!
3/4 " Red Star flower - made from recycle printer paper, painted red, and sealed with an acrylic sealer!
3/4" Black Pearl Star Flower - made from recycle printer paper, painted black with pearl effect, and sealed with an acrylic sealer.