Handmade Holidays!

Handmade Holidays was a HUGE success!!!  I want to thank EVERYONE who came out and made it so!
The Vendors were A M A Z I N G, seriously, there was so much great stuff there!  The talent!  The uniqueness!  I think we were all blown away by the sheer skill in this very large rooms.  The Wilma Rudolph Convention Center was huge!  I think it's so wonderful that the people of Clarksville (and surrounding areas) and those on vacation here came out to support local and shop Handmade!

It was my first show to vend in of that magnitude and it went WONDERFULLY!  The "wrap bracelets" were the biggest seller at my table- as they practically flew off the table (YAY!!!).  I am now working hard on a few special orders I received and also working hard to make more beads & bracelets for the Winter Market and Lylewood Inn's Craft Fair!

Thanks again for making it a success friends!!!

HOLIDAY MARKETS!

If you are wondering where to find me (and I truly hope you are!):
November 16th: Winter Holiday Market 9:30-1:00 @Smith Trahern Mansion
November 17 & 18: Handmade Holidays @Liberty Park Marina - Wilma Rudolph Convention Center.   Saturday 10:00-6:00.  Sunday 12:00-5:00.
November 23rd: Winter Holiday Market 9:30-1:00 @Smith Trahern Mansion
November 25th: Lylewood Inn  Bed & Breakfast 12:00pm- 4:00pm
November 30th: Winter Holiday Market 9:30-1:00 @Smith Trahern Mansion
December 7th: Winter Holiday Market 9:30-1:00 @Smith Trahern Mansion
December 14th: Winter Holiday Market 9:30-1:00 @Smith Trahern Mansion
December 21st: Winter Holiday Market 9:30-1:00 @Smith Trahern Mansion
My goal is to have the rest of my inventory listed on Etsy by December 1 to give all of my wonderful customers at least two weeks to place orders, as the last order will need to be placed by December  14 (for shipping purposes).

If you are thinking about requesting custom orders, now is the time!

I can't wait to see you at the Holiday Markets!

Hold onto your Jingle Bells!

It's NOVEMBER!!!  I had imagined that I would say that I am busy working like an elf in Santa's workshop for all of my sweet & wonderful friends who want their gifts to come from a "Made by Hand (from recycled materials)" friend.  

But....as many of you know we adopted two puppies a week ago.  That was like...wow, how can I explain this?  They are so cute and so sweet and so fun to play with and watch.  And yet, they pee and poop all over the place!!!!  They are incredibly messy and have yes, caused me a few tears of frustration.  I try to be a good mommy-figure to them and take them out every hour, but it's just not enough I guess.  Ha!  Oh well, one day they'll get it, right?  Until then...well, just pray for me, will ya?  I am not a "dog person" or even close, but I know the benefits of having pets, especially a dog, and I am learning some (obviously) much needed patience and grace.

Well, my life may never return to normal...but I must keep trying to stock my inventory which means create & recreate!  I LOVE doing just that!  So, I have a new necklace coming out soon and more wrap bracelets and of course earrings.  Hopefully, I will get some coasters and bookmarks done!  And, I will also have Laundry Soap made and available to any of my customers who wish to purchase that during the Winter season.

I am still trying to figure out "WHERE" you will be able to find me this Winter.  I would like to vend the Winter Market (at least until Christmas) on Fridays at the Smith-Trahern Mansion from 9:30-1:30, but I am not sure how that will work with preschool for my youngest.  

I am also considering the Handmade Holidays "A Crafters Bazaar" which sounds perfect, but costs $100 to vend.  At that rate, I'd have to raise my prices.  This is something I've already given much thought to, and it's coming.  Many customers & friends have encouraged me to to charge more, knowing that it takes me a lot more time than I consider.  I know they are right.  So, upon deeper review, my prices are going up and I should start making closer to the true value of my time, supplies, and all of the other factors involved (packaging, labels, promotion, etc...). 

Thanks for being a follower and a fan!  You make the difference with every choice you make!  I'll keep you updated!

Favorite Market Moments #3 & #4

#3 - Seeing one of my former college professors from Austin Peay State University at the Market and getting to tell her what an impact she'd made on me!  At the same time we saw our children's pediatrician walk by after purchasing produce from the Food Initiative.  Love to see our community "leaders" supporting the Market and a healthier lifestyle!

#4 - My first return customer (that actually remembered to bring back his jugs) and get his .50c/jug credit and purchase two more bottles of Laundry Soap!

My view from my Market booth!

I've had lots of return customers (love that!!!) but he was the first to bring back jugs for credit - so I was super excited!

Are you a Playdough Parent?

Playdough sells to the parent, not the child.  Actually, the children who get MOST excited about the playdough I sell at the market are the ones who already have a parent who lets them really play with it. They already know.

Many parents simply say N O.  They do not want to deal with the mess.  

Now, I'm not condemning them for not buying playdough!  There are days that I don't want to mess with it either.  

But back when I taught Preschool and brought out playdough the kids would be ecstatic!  They loved markers and scissors too!  Because they weren't allowed to touch them at home.  It makes me smile, but it does make me a little sad too.  

Children love creating.  They need to develop their fine motor skills.  And they love using their imagination.  It gets messy, sure.  

But is it worth it?  I ask.

Thanks for Stopping by.

I am one of those people who don't really mind door-to-door evangelism- and if I have the time, I will talk.  It helps me to remember what I believe when I share it with someone else and sometimes they are just the easiest.  I mean, they are standing right at my door reading verses from the Bible to me, so why not?  And I usually get the chance because they generally say something I don't get.

Today, for instance.  Two well-dressed men show up, one in his 60's, the other in his early 30's?  I am guessing the younger is interning to see what's done to carry on the ministry, because he says nothing.  Ever.  Older guy begins with there being "good people" and "bad people" in the world.  <<<<<Hault>>>>>>>  I mean we all have made "bad" choices right?  Does that make us "bad people?"  It's a choice, right?  Clearly, I was not hearing him correctly.  "Well, yes," he said, "it's true.  But there are really BAD PEOPLE in the world."  Wow.  Enlightening. Not.
I won't bore you with the ongoing semi-debate that we had, but I will tell you my conclusion:  I am not going to say I am in with "you"-- "you good people" just because I am a Jesus-Loving Christian.  I have evil tendencies and thoughts that sometimes I act upon (ugh!) and sometimes I have to reign in and release to God Every. Single. Day!  And some days are harder than others.  And in my early twenties it felt darn near impossible!!
I don't think I'm the "bad people" either.  But I am NO BETTER than the lady sitting in prison because she made the choice to steal: food, alcohol, cigarettes, food stamps, whatever.  We are both in need of the SAME Grace.  The grace that One Man, One God gave for us all (equally to us all) on the Cross to save us from this mess (that we call sin).  And I need it more than one amazing time, more than daily...more like moment by moment.  Just because she acted on a certain temptation (that others may deem horrific) or didn't have direction or encouragement in her in her LIFE does not mean she's "bad."  C'mon man!   Don't show up at my house telling me this or expecting me to choose a SIDE.  I won't hear it and I won't choose.

It's confusing.
I am generally a nice person.
Yet, there is an evil that wants its way with me. 
I have a Power within me that has already won the victory over this evil.
And I am amazing. 
Yet, I am low like the dust of the earth.
I live and walk and breathe because of God's great Love.
But, I forget this far too often and act in my own way.
I need His Grace desperately.

It can be confusing.  But it is so worth pondering and living- within the beautiful balance.  Because there is SO much more than we can ever understand about it all.  That's what makes it such a glorious mystery!  Grace.  Love.  Victory.

And so I'm sorry (no I'm not) but sides only separate and PULL us further from the truth that God created each one of us and wants every one of us as His own.

Everyone gets to choose!  
It's so freakin' Amazing: this LOVE -- our C H O I C E.

At the Market this Saturday, September 1st!

I am so excited that tomorrow it is September!  That is probably because I loathe August.  I know that is not nice.  But, August is simply defined in my head as: Hot & Humid.  It hasn't been that bad, honestly.  Still, September always sounds more like Fall, which seems more promising.  Odd that July is my favorite month of the year, October shortly following, with April close behind October.
Anyways, there are reason for all of this, but I'll have to share them another time, as I am working hard tonight to ensure I have plenty of stock for tomorrow's Market day!  There will be no Downtown Market next weekend because of Riverfest, so tomorrow is a good morning to come out!
I regret that I have not been able to get my Etsy shop up and running again since the Market has started last May.  But I just do so much work for the Market that it seems too much at the time.   Hopefully, next year I'll be able to simultaneously do both!
(p.s. it is a wonderful "problem" to have and I thank all of my customers for such success!)