Looking for something to do this weekend?

This weekend, I am partaking in our first annual Three-Generation Rummage, Craft and Bake Sale!

WHEN?

Friday, May 28, 2010 from 8 AM - 4 PM
Saturday, May 29, 2010 from 8 AM - 4 PM

WHERE?

North Prairie, Wisconsin - Hwy ZZ & County E - 1/4 mile west of E on HWY ZZ
(For exact address or directions, please email me here!)

WHAT??

A HUGE Antiquer's Rummage Sale - Friday and Saturday
Including plenty of things to make antique hunters happy, along with household items, some cds, and other wonderful miscellaneous treasures. My contributions include some Jack Daniels memorabilia, some awesome collectible dolls, Barbies, cds, and more.

A Mini CRAFT Fair - SATURDAY ONLY
I will have all of my hand made items - hand knits, a bit of jewelry and ALL of my hand spun yarns. Knits and jewelry will be deeply discounted. Yarns will be on sale, too! I'll also have my spinning wheel, so if you are curious to see how yarn is actually spun, I'll be spinning throughout the day!

I will also have craft SUPPLIES - some jewelry making items, fiber for spinning or felting, commercial yarns, ribbon, and more.

A BAKE SALE and GOOD FOOD - SATURDAY ONLY
My sister (and niece) will have some amazing goodies she's making for the event - her list included brats, salsa, baked goods, and things I am forgetting. All super-yummy though!

So, if you are in the area, please consider coming out for a unique "rummage" sale experience!

--

Going to the Mall!

So, this weekend I will be at the MALL all weekend!

No, really!

I will be at the Artful Hands Art & Craft show at the HILLDALE MALL in Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday and Sunday. We will be set up during the regular mall hours. (Saturday 10am-9pm, Sunday 11am-6pm)

Come check it out if you are in the Madison area! I will have the usual - lots of yarns, some shawls, wristwarmers, and some new scarves, too!

Stonewood Village Art Fair this weekend!

This weekend I will be at the Stonewood Village Art Fair in Brookfield, Wisconsin! If you are in the area, please consider coming out -


I will be in booth #72! I will have more hand knit shawls, new wristwarmers and some new yarns, too!

Musky Jamboree!

This Sunday I will be at the MUSKY JAMBOREE in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin! If you are in the area - please check it out! I will be in booth #28 - right across from Coontail Sports and very near the entertainment stage!

I have been knitting up a storm this week to have new shawls, scarves, and even a hat or two. I will also have lots of yarn, as always!

It's time for the DIY TRUNK SHOW!

So, 3 years ago, I did my very first Big Craft Show. It was the DIY Trunk Show in Chicago, Illinois. I was making jewelry at the time and did the show as the "Crafty Librarians". I had beautiful items from several librarians from across the country! It was a great show! AND!! (this is the most important thing!) . . .

I LEARNED HOW TO KNIT AT THAT SHOW! :) The local Stitch n Bitch group was giving lessons up on the stage in the Auditorium. Our spot was very near there and since it is was quiet at first (and, a fellow librarian was there helping me) I went up to get my free lesson. They provided acrylic yarn and metal needles. They showed the cast on and then the knitting. I was all thumbs, seriously. I never thought I would get it! I felt like an idiot and was sure the girl trying to teach me thought I was too. BUT . . . when I got home I went out and bought some purple yarn (they had given me yellow, not really my favorite color) and started knitting. I just knit and knit and knit . . . I ended up knitting a long rectangular object that today most resembles a table runner (yes, I do still have it!).

THAT was the beginning. I jumped into knitting full speed ahead and by the next year at the very same show (2005 DIY Trunk Show), I was there with HAND KNIT items. Lots of them. AND, I wore the SWEATER that I knit. My enthusiasm was probably just a little toxic as I told *everyone* who would listen that, why, yes, I did knit my sweater, AND I LEARNED HOW TO KNIT AT THIS SHOW!" ;) You can actually see me and my racks of scarves in this picture. (The picture is actually from the 2006 show!)

But, you say, don't you spin now more than knit? Well, yes, I probably do. BUT, had I never learned to knit . . . I wouldn't have come across the YARN WENCH. In the summer of 2006, a fellow librarian forwarded a link to her Pirate Yarns. I was definitely intrigued as at that time, well, I was a horrible yarn cheapskate! First, I didn't like wool and tended to stay away from it. Second, I wouldn't spend more than $3-5 on a ball of yarn. Horrible! Anyways, I bought one of Lynn's Pirate Yarns, THIS ONE as a matter of fact, and I was hooked! It was SO SOFT! (I didn't know wool could be so soft!) and I just became entranced by her art yarns! Now, I still use the occasional craft store yarn, but using handspun has definitely spoiled me and I do prefer it over any other kind!

Then, she started selling handdyed fiber, and of course the wheels were turning . . . if I could buy the fiber and spin my own, then I could sell the yarn AND the knit items WITH MY OWN yarn! It just sounded so fun . . .

And, so, that's what I did. I took a class last December and bought my wheel December 17, 2006. I haven't even been spinning a year and yet I feel like I've been doing it forever! I DO love it, and, really, when you think about it, IT'S ALL THANKS TO THE DIY TRUNK SHOW!

:)

So, please consider stopping by! It is SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17 from 10am-6pm at the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse, 1419 W. Blackhawk, Chicago, IL. For lots more information and a list of vendors, CLICK HERE.

Christmas in the Country Craft and Art Show

Another weekend, another show!

This SATURDAY, November 10 (tomorrow!) I will be at the Christmas in the Country Craft & Art Show in Deerfield, Wisconsin. It is at the new elementary school -- 340 West Quarry Street -- in Deerfield, WI.

The show runs from 9am-3pm
$1 admission for adults, kids are free!

**Make and Take Craft Workshop for kids!
**Afternoon Visit from SANTA!

Concessions and free babysitting service available throughout the day!

If you are in the area, come on by!

CRAFTED! in Palatine, IL November 4

Yes, I know once again I have been slacking on the blog front. I've just been busy and not feeling well, and just all around distracted, I guess! I do want to post about an upcoming show, though, that is THIS SUNDAY!!

CRAFTED! in Palatine, Illinois!
It is at Durty Nellies and will be a great place to start your holiday shopping!
It is from 9am-4pm and there will be a masseuse on-site offering chair massages!

For more information, CLICK HERE!

So behind . . .

in posting! I am back to work today -- ended up taking all last week off. The shows were pretty good (more on them later) and when I did return I went on a 4-day spinning and knitting spree!

Quickly . . .

My booth at Musky Fest:

Musky Jamboree 2007 booth

Musky Jamboree 2007 booth

This show was pretty good. The weather was *perfect*, seriously. Sunny but not too warm so people weren't afraid to try things on. I sold a little bit of everything--yarn, shawls, and even a hat and scarf set. This was on Sunday, August 12 in Boulder Junction, WI.

On Wednesday, August 15 I was in Eagle River at the Paul Bunyan Festival. It wasn't quite as good as Musky Fest, but I still did okay. After a morning that looked a little dicey as far as weather goes, it cleared up and was pretty nice (though windy). I sold a bit--mostly shawls, but not as good as Musky Fest. Seemed like at Musky Fest people weren't put off by my prices, whereas in Eagle River, they were. I could tell -- someone would love an item . . . until they looked at the price tag. Oh well. I know my items will not be for everyone!

On that note, these were the first two shows I was able to accept credit cards at, and I did make two sales at each show using my new account. I called them in after the show, but it went really smoothly and the fees are similar to paypal. I use propay.com.

I did bring my wheel to the shows and was able to spin this yarn while there:

Kindred Spirit 3ply Handspun Yarns

I absolutely love it!! It is from handdyed domestic wool from the Yarn Wench that I've actually had for quite awhile. It Navajo plied perfectly!! (okay, the plying isn't quite *perfect* but the colorway lent itself very well to this technique as it kept the gorgeous colors more solid!) It is on my website or etsy.

I was very homesick while up north, and I was *so happy* to get back late on Wednesday night. I was very beat, though, after a long drive, and ended up taking Thursday off from work. I went on a knitting rampage that day! I knit two hats and three scarves! Here are a couple of pics:

Mandarin Sky Hand Knit Scarf

Sailors Warning Hand Knit Keyhole Scarf

Sailors Warning Hand Knit Hat

Raspberry Floozie Hand Knit Scarf

Raspberry Floozie Hand Knit Hat (with pompom) (on)

Okay, I will write a separate post for the new yarns, as there is ALOT of them! :)

ART VS CRAFT TODAY!

Art vs Craft is TODAY! Milwaukee, WI!



100 artists crafters and designers from Milwaukee & Beyond
$2 admission kids under 13 FREE

July 7th 11-7:30pm
July 8th 11-5:00pm

1025 N. Broadway in downtown Milwaukee
The first 200 shoppers on Saturday get a silk screened canvas tote bag full of goodies!!!

I will be in booth #80, in the back corner near the "Make & Take" area! If you are in the Milwaukee area hope to see you there!