Here are a few snapshots that were taken during Maxwell Street Days here in Madison a few weekends ago.  I sort of "hitched a ride" with WSUM's booth and, although sales again were slowish, there was lots of positive feedback to be had and a few little custom radios that I'll be posting up in the shop (for sale, of course), very soon.  In fact, that brings us to a shop update that will be happening sometime in the next week with a few custom plush, more dolls and some papery things like recipe cards, sewing kits and the lovely like.

here's a silly polaroid taken last night when i handed over a giant plush yellow vinyl panther i stitched up as a "hi, nice to finally meet you" gift to lou's lovely lady liz.  here the cutest couple ever sits in my apartment, teaching their new love child bad habits.

the most difficult part of the process (since i'd picked up an antique pattern from Dig + Save to actually use vs. making one up) -- WAS the eyes.  since the safety eyes i had were too small and awkward, i put together some of my own -- 4 layers of wool felt with scalloped black edges.  they were pretty funny... as you can see.

he's just so huggable and piggy-backable it's ridiculous.  i'm not sure what his name ended up being... as of last night the only thing that liz + lou had come up with was a middle name -- grocery cart or shopping bag or something like that....

ALSO in plush news, i sent off a bunch of stuff to a few stores today.  first, the flip head coins are going to be part of the August sampler so buy that up, please!

Second, I sent some bunnies and stinkers off to the Renegade Handmade shop in Chicago which is really exciting

AND I dropped of a big load of goods at the shop here in Madison on State Street called Anthology.  Which is expecting to get slammed this weekend during Art Fair off the Square.  Also this weekend is Fete de Marquette -- a Frenchy music festival.  And naturally, I'm thrilled.

the craftacular was a load of fun.  i had a cute little spot upstairs next to the mrs. pacman machine, which i utilized to the max.  and although the sales these past two summer craft fairs have been slow, the publicity and feedback i've received has been phenomenal and just motivates me more to prepare for the insanity which are winter / holiday craft fairs.... 

other, non craft things that i've been up to :

i spent the past weekend back home, in iowa city, for the fourth and to do some family visiting.  highlights included :
+waxing my car for the first time since i bought it about 4 to 5 years ago
+utilizing a clothing line when my big-little brother sprayed me with a hose, oh boys
+having a post-4th picnic with the dad's fam by this amazing little lake that was clean despite the iowa floods and taking a successful self-portrait at sun set.

I'm all set for tomorrow's Craftacular!  

Now?  Off to Walgreens to buy more Polaroid film.

First!  My French 60s/70s pop radio show is tonight, live at 7 pm CST and it can be listened to locally at 91.7 fm or streamed online at wsum.org!  C'est une émission très cool!

So far today, I woke up early this morning to drive Adam to his, well, drop-off point for his 10 day Wyoming bug collecting extravaganza.  After an hour more of rest I trudged to my new volunteer position at a language acquisition lab which is about a 45 minute walk along the lake shore which I really enjoy.  Anyway, at the docks where they keep the sail boats I heard the tiniest little piping / quacking ever and with my camera in my pocket I took some family portraits.

My internet is being a rump, so real quick, here's a sneak peek of one of my new crafts that I've been perfecting and getting ready for the Craftacular, as well as the shop, very soon.  So, here you go, little sweetie book plates!

Here's some photos of the booth from yesterday's Craft Saturday in Des Moines.  Although traffic was slow, and purchases low (oh poetry), I still had a wonderful time and met some really nice people.

Highlights included 3 cups of iced coffee, the display-related epiphany that I could physically stitch my embroidered houses to the table cloth, and a lady asking me what my "theme" was.  Or is.  Which still leaves me fumbling for an answer...

Thanks for coming with me mom!

After the fair we headed home, but going the wrong direction.  We went about 150 miles North before we realized we were seeing signs for St. Paul, Minnesota...

With a slight detour we made it home pretty late, around 10 (5 hours in the car vs. 2ish), but we still were able to go to Michael's so I wasn't phased.

Here are a few photos of the new funny bunnies (also called "t-rex" bunnies at the show yesterday, which I thought was adorably appropriate but maybe a bit too ferocious so we'll just keep it a nickname for now).

I think they look like group mug shots.  How sweet.

Everything is packed up after a trial-run of table set-up.  I also stitched up these new bunnies I've been dreaming of -- I'll take photos tomorrow when I set them up.  They are so ooo oooh cute.

I'll probably be a bit occupied tomorrow after all this craft fair nonsense -- but I'll post photos of the fair and give a complete review of how it goes as soon as I can.

xoxo

One of each up in the shop now...

Lots of last minute details getting taken care of, tonight I'm going to be working on putting the set-up together and memorized since we're leaving so early tomorrow to get there by 9 for set-up!

Here are a few other items I've been working on...
Little Stinker Sachets and these ABC prints of class clown popsicle sticks with clown faces and each comes with a different joke from this joke book copyrighted in the 60's.  So cute.

The Q is my favorite!  I'll be putting these up in the shop after the craft fairs with the remaining letters of the alphabet but contact me if you're interested in a particular letter now and I can pull it out and save it for you.

ALSO I snapped some photos of my final design for dolls.  There are the big sisters (with button-closed capes and tutus) :

And little brother Theodore chimney sweeps (with vintage button-closed felt scarves) :

Many more dolls (each an original) will be put in the shop within the next two weeks after these crazy craft fairs have come to a close.

Have a good day!  It's lovely outside....

I'll admit I started the day very late, again.

I did however do plenty of hand sewing.  I painted this new sign to display at my booth for upcoming craft fairs... and I went to Goodwill. 

To start with the sign.  It's painted on 1/2 a table runner -- I cut it in half and I plan on using the other identical side as embellishment on this denim jumper I bought today.  The flowers are gray stemmed and composed of TONS of little golden French knots.  Whoever made this is my embroidery role model.....  I sloppily stenciled and painted the name on it, but I think it looks good that way.  Yea?

And hey, did you note my beaded Goodwill footwear in the photo above? I LOVE them.

I also scored an adorable apron (well, two actually), and numerous amounts of clothing... but the most amazing find was this adorable little organ that is completely, wonderfully functional!

I was really looking forward to putting out some sort of music / talk compilation of my own this summer -- well mostly I was looking forward to doing the cover art.  But now I have a feeling that with this little dude around I'll start putting tunes together sooner than later.

That is.... if I ever finish making wholesale croissant orders.  Ho hum.

LOTS TO DO!  Change money for the fair, display materials, and plenty more sewing.  Wish me luck.

(ps it's 2 am Friday morning right now and I'm watching luminous air make-up airbrush informercials -- I CANNOT imagine anyone doing this at home, it's... well actually here, you can watch for yourself.  If you want to.)

Today I did it -- I woke up before 9 am and STAYED up.

Which means a lot was done, and needed to be done, and still needs to be done in prep for the Craft Saturday fair this coming Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa... which is going to be wonderful.  I have lots of new things besides my plush, including these houses (which would make the greatest neighborhoods when hung together), aaand :

Finger-print prints + card sets
"big sister" dolls
Charlie the chimney sweep dolls
Golden boy sachets for drawers
and... lots more, you know.

I'll be slowly but surely adding more things to the etsy shop, I promise!

Sam and I met up and went to the park today, which although was a bit windy / chilly -- was great and I don' t know why I don't go there every day... I guess I would if my sewing machine was cordless.  Dang.

Tomorrow I head back to Iowa to do more prep and check on the flood damage to Iowa City -- then Des Moines on Saturday with my mom! 

Have a good evening!