A FEW MARKET SNAPSHOTS

Today was fun. It was fairly slow though; school isn't out here yet, it was the first day of the market (ever), and it was really hot. But I loved my set-up (more pictures soon), and after a particularly hard week of minimal time with Douglas, we had so much fun doing this together. The highlights were the best Italian ice we've ever had, talking to the other vendors, and people watching with Douglas. It was great to be a part of an event here for the first time. We won't be living here long, but it really helps to be involved in something like this.

FIRST SARATOGA MARKET TOMORROW

The opening day of the Saratoga Artisans and Crafters' Market is tomorrow. I think it's going to be really fun. I've been super busy these past few weeks getting ready, designing a new bag, making more summery bags and bows, and, unfortunately for my little hands, making my own metal stamped tags for bag insides. Cutting out lots of little metal pieces is a hard thing. I ordered a basic metal stamping kit that had everything I needed to stamp these tags to sew in bags. It took me more than awhile to be able to stamp the letters evenly and somewhat straight. But I love how they came out once I got the hang of it. They look nice and handmade. And I love how they look inside the bags.

I'll be back later this week with pictures from the first market.

ATHENS CRAFTSTRAVAGANZAA POLAROIDS

When I was unpacking these past few weeks, I found a few Polaroids I snapped during Athens Indie Craftstravaganzaa (see more photos of my booth here and here). It was only two months ago, but now that I'm up here in New York, it feels like forever ago. I love looking at these Polaroids. My friend Elizabeth and I had so much fun in the booth - it was the perfect reminder of what I'm working towards as I get ready for the opening day of the Saratoga Artisans and Crafters' Market.

If you're into Polaroids, check out some of my other Polaroid 300 pictures here.

MY FAVORITE POSTS (SO FAR) / 100th POST

hot pink + light pink white chocolate cupcakes

Lavender sleepy clouds diy

Joanna newsom embroidery

my little pocket knives

on lettering and journals

hand-printed kitchen towel diy

10 things about me

what i wore to cupcake

lowcountry artist market

So I looked back through my posts and gathered the ones that I am most fond of or feel like I did the best job with. For my 100th post, I just wanted to look back and see what I've done. When I first started this blog, I got so mad that I couldn't figure out how to correctly size the banner I had made. I'm no where near the point that I want to reach in terms of my blog (or even know what that point is), but thinking back to that, I'm really proud of what I've learned since my initial fit of rage. And reading comments from people and knowing that there are some of you out there that come back fairly regularly to see what I have to share, makes me want to work really hard and come up with more and more to share with you. 

These past couple months, having to move and have all my belongings scattered about, has thrown me off from the schedule that I had just established posting mostly every day. But soon I'll be in upstate New York in our new apartment, and I'm so excited. I can't wait to have everything in order and get to work on some of the ideas that I've had these past few weeks. Being in a new place really inspires me, and from what Douglas has told me, Saratoga Springs seems like a lovely little town, full of places to explore. I can't wait to show you what I find. Thank you so much for reading along.

ATHENS INDIE CRAFTSRAVAGANZAA PART 2: THE DETAILS

I shared some shots a few days ago of my overall display this past weekend, but I wanted to show you some of the details - they're my favorite parts. It was so cool to see all these random pieces that I have thrifted throughout the years together to make one overall impression. Nothing is perfect, but for my first craft market where I had my own tent space (and two days!), it went so amazingly well.

ATHENS INDIE CRAFTSTRAVAGANZAA PART 1

This past weekend was amazing! Athens Indie Craftstravaganzaa began at 10:00 on Saturday, but we pulled up around 7:30 that morning to set up. Before this I had only been in craft markets where I had my own six foot table for a space. So having my own tent space was both really exciting and nerve-wracking thinking about how set-up would go and how everything would turn out. I rearranged everything a good bit before the market opened, and I was so happy with how it looked. The pegboards really made the space, I believe. They were perfect for holding all my signs, picture frames, and other display components. Highly recommended!

My incredible friend, Elizabeth, was my assistant all weekend. I don't know what I would have done without her. She helped out so much, and we had a lot of fun both days talking to people and enjoying the market. So many of our friends and family came out both days - so encouraging. I was extremely happy to share what I had been working on with them. 

The highlight of the whole experience for me was all the kind, interesting people I met and great conversations I had, both with people attending that day and fellow vendors. I've enjoyed my experience selling on Etsy so far, but talking to people face to face, seeing what they respond to and what catches their eye, being able to tell people why I have chosen to spend my time doing this, really means a lot to me. And talking to fellow crafty people and their experiences makes me want to keep signing up for shows and developing my little business so I can do this some more. 

Of course, I took way more photos than this, especially of little details around my tent. I'll be posting part 2 with some good detail shots sometime this week, so come back and take a look! I'm sure I'll think of more to say by that time as well. I still feel a little overwhelmed (in a good way) about everything that happened and how well it went. I really appreciate all the sweet comments I received leading up the show - they were so encouraging. I'm so excited to share the results with you all.

WORKING ON A DREAM

This upcoming show this weekend is going to be the biggest thing I've done. Okay. Over the last two years change and big life events have been a regular aspect of my life. I transferred from a university I hated to one I loved. I changed my major...a few times. I decided to leave school. And then I got married. I moved away to Charleston and had the most amazing time of my life building a home with Douglas, building a life and a business and finding out what I'm absolutely in love with doing. Then within a two week period we found out we had to move to New York for Douglas's training and left Charleston. And that's something huge and exciting and scary waiting up ahead.

But for some reason, or for obvious reasons, this show in Athens feels like a culmination of all those changes. And I just want to do a really really great job. After all, I decided to leave school for this, though I didn't know it at the time. I felt like school was leading to nothing for me. I ended up choosing majors that seemed bearable. I left because I wanted to find what excites me, what makes me feel purposeful, something that would give me a direction that I want to go in.

And with starting up my own little handmade business, I honestly feel like I've found it. Sure, in twenty years I'm not going to be making zipper pouches and bows just like the ones I'm making now. Or maybe I will be. But what I've started is something that I can grow with and develop as time goes on. It's something I'm obsessed with. And something I want to do when I wake up in the morning...and when I should be going to bed.

The first show I did in Charleston was great, but this upcoming one in Athens in huge in size, but also because my friends and family are going to see what I can do, what I love to do. It all very much excites and scares me (in a completely good, motivating way), and having people there who have seen this whole progression somehow makes it all that much bigger.

This post definitely started as a "this is what I'm working on, probably won't post very much" type thing. But since I really am trying to form a connection with people who are reading my little blog with however much regularity, I feel like I need to explain how important this show is to me. Since I am mentioning it so much and I'm sure many, many pictures will result from it, I want you all to know a little more (or a lot more) about what this all means to me. So there it is. With a few pictures thrown in for good measure. I'll be back soon.

NEW BUSINESS CARDS AND SUCH

Okay, I cannot tell you how excited I was to design these new business cards for my shop.  The first cards I designed and ordered back in November were a little rushed. Now I have a way better idea of the overall aesthetic of my business and impression I want to give to people who will pick up this card. I just got these back today from the printer, and I couldn't be happier! I'm so excited to have these for Athens Indie Craftstravaganzaa (two weeks!) I also recently ordered some things from moo, one of my favorite companies ever.

I love these mini cards for carrying with me all the time to give out here and there. The size is different and really catches the eye. I also got these cute little stickers made to have around my tent so people can take a little something with them. At the Lowcountry Artist Market I struck up conversation with several people who expressed interest in my blog, so I wanted to be prepared in case that happens at the Athens market. So I designed these blog cards as well with that in mind.

There they are! Stay tuned this week for updates on my progress for the upcoming show. I've really been hard at work on bags, bows and my display. Of course this is my biggest show ever, and one of my biggest things I've ever done in my life. But also it's so exciting that it's in my hometown and friends and family can come. I can't wait.

WHAT MY DAY LOOKED LIKE

I've been working on bows all day! I'm going to Austin on Wednesday to visit my brother, Sam, and best ladyfriend, Katie. I want to have a whole bunch of bows made up to the point where I hand-sew clips on, so I'll have something to work on out there.

I'm having so much fun planning and working on things for my display. I've always wanted to work with pegboard - I love how it looks. I just can't wait to see everything come together in a few weeks.

In other news, Douglas has found us an amazing apartment up in Saratoga Springs, NY. Wood floors, white walls, beautiufl - I can't wait to be there with him! And I can't wait to decorate it, sew in it, take pictures and come up with new ideas for this blog in it. Stay tuned. I think it's gonna be really fun.