Jingle jingle

Great news! I've been juried into the JingleBash at Sons of Hermann Hall on November 21, 1-7 p.m. I have lots of ideas for new things to make between now and then. I'm thinking hats! And scarves, shrugs, shawls, and more. I'm also thinking about how to change up my display and maybe even try to look a little less DIY, maybe. Last year was a blast.

It's going to be great.

Spring Sprung

Just got back from the EtsyDallas Spring Bash. It was fun to see friends and to see what everyone else is making. There is so much talent in Dallas! It was also great to see my Southside on Lamar resident friends and to listen to my friend DJ JuanSolo all day. It was still too warm to even think about wearing anything slightly warm, so not great for crochet, but a fun day nonetheless. I have more inventory to post coming up over the next few weeks to catch up. I'm also going to remake the black alpaca lace shrug that I've made twice now for custom orders and try to photograph it for the first time. I finished the off-white longer version with the mohair trim ruffles and I might keep it for myself. I love how the alpaca yarn keeps the structure of the loops in the crochet. Lots of things to play with and think about. Maybe I'll start making hats for winter! Hard to even think about with June just around the corner.

Jingled Out

The EtsyDallas Jinglebash was this last Saturday and it was so much fun! I brought tons of new stuff -- lots of scarves and shrugs and capelets and hats... and a few Christmas decorations. I made a Christmas garland and a few sets of ornaments.
I loved the venue and the crowd was really supportive. I definitely exceeded my goal for this show. I was a bit sad to see some of the pieces go, but it was a really exciting day.
We've already set the date for the next EtsyDallas show: May 16 at Southside on Lamar. I should have plenty of time to come up with new things by then. 

Beer-B-Q Success!

The Etsydallas Beer-B-Q was yesterday. It was a blast! Over twenty Etsydallasites gathered for a homemade trunk show complete with free food, music, raffles, and goody bags. We were stationed from the front yard to dining room to the garage. Here you can see Jen, of HipHazel, and I sitting in our booth space. Jen and I are both sporting my crocheted button pins and I'm finishing up a shawl/wrap/capelet that promptly was tagged and put on the rack with the others.

Here's Jen with Hazel, the original Hip Hazel, and below another image of our booth. We thought the wall color was great with our color schemes.

Regina of LittleCookie was our dining room neighbor. Her Kanzashi flowers are amazing. She hand dyes silk and folds them into traditional hair ornaments originally meant for geisha. Her work is exquisite and beautifully presented. 

We thought we were lucky to be inside, though I hear it wasn't too bad in the shade with a breeze. It was great how many friends stopped by and hung out, eating free food, listening to the band, or just chatting. Customer traffic was good and sales exceeded my very low expectations! So, it was all good and very fun and I was exhausted at the end of another very full day.

Freebies for all - or at least some

I received my sample packet from Etsy Texas Crafters today! Very exciting. I submitted my crocheted pins, as seen in an earlier post of mine from March 16. Here's what the packs looked like (you can see my pins on the left). I've just sent off my samples for the EtsyDallas Beer-B-Q and I tried to make something smaller and new. I settled on bobby pins and hairbands with little crocheted circles and buttons. I think they are pretty cute.

I've been away from Etsy because of my trip to Chicago for the art fair, but I have plenty of projects underway. I have a fantastic project half done for the EtsyFAST monthly challenge for May - flowers. I'm making a ridiculously flowery pillow. No, I mean really FLOWERY!! It's funny and tacky and, well, you'll see. I hope to finish it soon. Maybe I'll post it next week if I make good progress. It's so much work and will cost so much, I'm sure to never sell it. Coming soon...

Gift'd & Progress Report

My Etsy shop was busy last week - I had two sales for multiple items each and my first request for gift wrap! How did I do? Luckily I have a huge stash of handmade papers, fabric ribbons, felt and buttons. Too bad all of my gifts don't look this good. I was very excited that these little packages came out so well and sooo precious. They are for two little girls; one likes blue, one likes pink. How sweet. 

Overall, I'm continuing to work on new designs, new ideas, new yarns. I finished my samples for the Etsy Texas Crafters swap coming up. I need to think of something for the EtsyDallas promo bags - something very small and fast. I'm thinking bobby pins with tiny hyperbolic crochet blobs... maybe? Sounds funny. I'm trying not to get sucked into the Etsy forums too much and really trying not to worry too much about promotions. The more I read about it, the more work it seems to require. Focusing on the product, the photography, and the other details comes first. I know I need to do more... but, on the plus side I've lost count of how many Treasuries I've been in and I'm staying active with EtsyFAST and EtsyDallas. In fact, I'm going to do my first real live craft show next month with EtsyDallas in North Oak Cliff, May 18, Beer-B-Q. I don't even want to think about how much work that's going to be! Or how bummed I'd be if I didn't sell anything :( More info on that event later.

Meanwhile, I posted two new capelets today, one white, one green. I actually crocheted both of these last year, but finally photographed them today.