Craft show this week-end

It's been a while since I've participated in a craft show. This coming Saturday (July 21), I'll be at the Toronto Etsy Street Team Handmade Marketplace. This show features sellers from the Toronto Etsy Street Team, of which I am a member. The team works to promote fellow Toronto handmade crafters, artists, craft suppliers and vintage sellers.

See the list of vendors here.

Updates

Well I'm still settling into my new place after a recent move, so I haven't had much opportunity to do a lot of sewing or add new items to either of my Etsy shops. Stay tuned for a major overhaul of both of my shops and website!

One of my first tasks is to make some new Blythe clothes, which I haven't had a chance to do because I've been focusing on my Zippster store and local consignment. A while a go I bought this Simplicity pattern for Blythe clothes, I can't wait to try out the patterns:



As for craft shows, Zippster will be represented by 100 Mile Finds at two upcoming shows, the first is Friday May 27 in St. Catharines. The next one is June 4 at The Brickworks in Toronto.

Shop updates

Saturday's Movies and Makers show went really well, I'm almost sold out of my small zippered pouches, which I debuted at this show. Both of my Etsy stores have been updated with new items, and some items have been reduced. I'm going to start putting together gift card sets, such as this one here, available in my Karen's Creations Etsy store:



It's not too late to place online orders for Christmas gifts. If you're in the Toronto area, I would also be happy to arrange for local pick-up.

Bazaar of the Bizarre show

This past Sunday I participated in the annual Bazaar of the Bizarre show, at the Pia Bouman School for Ballet and Creative Movement, in the Queen and Dufferin area. Despite the fact that it was a long week-end and a day when many were probably feasting on turkey, I was pleased with the turnout. It was a long day, but I'm happy with what I sold. I was very impressed with the quality and variety of goods, much more so than most shows I've done, and especially pleased to discover that the baked goods being sold by Bunner's were gluten-free - yay for tasty treats for me! I have two more shows lined up before Christmas, details to come soon.

New top

This is tunic "E" from the Japanese pattern book "Stylish Dress Book". For some reason, I had a terrible time with this top - I had to re-do one of the sleeves, and although I was as careful as I could be lining up the pin tucks along the front, they aren't quite even at the outer ends, even though it is centered. What I discovered is that my body is not symmetrical, I have one shoulder higher than the other and it also protrudes more forward than the other, which means that my clothes always seem a bit crooked. It was more obvious with this top because of the pin tucks. I don't even know how to adjust for this.


As much as I love pockets, I didn't add them to this top because I felt it would have added too much bulk with this fabric, which is another batik called "Elementals: Lots of Dots" by Lunn Studios. I also shortened the length, and opted to add darts in the back rather than gathers (which I hate doing).

This will probably be the last piece of clothing I'll be able to make for myself for a while, as I'm busy preparing for several fall/pre-Christmas craft shows, including this one:

Getting ready for the fall

The fall and pre-Christmas craft show and shopping season is quickly approaching. After a slow summer, sales have started to pick up in both of my Etsy stores, and I have a few shows lined up. I was able to make a few items of clothing for myself over the summer, but now I need to focus on building up my inventory.

I just added a whack of new buttons and magnets in my Zippster store, many of them made with either images taken from vintage magazines or beautiful Japanese papers.



I've been shooting more on film lately, and hope to use some of those prints on a new line of greeting cards.

Show info to be posted soon.

Craft show tips

During November, I've been a vendor at 3 different craft shows, all of them very different. Although there are more shows in December, I have other commitments and felt that it would have been impossible to do any more. But, to help out other Toronto crafters, I contributed a post on craft show tips on the Toronto Etsy Street Team blog. Good luck to my fellow crafters for the remainder of the 2009 Christmas craft show season!

Craft show this Saturday

My last craft show of the season is the Movies & Makers Art & Craft Show, this Saturday, 10-4 at the Fox Theatre in Toronto. The show is full of talented Toronto crafters. I love the Fox Theatre and am excited to see how the venu will be used for a craft show. Come drop by if you're in the neighbourhood!

CBC craft sale tomorrow!

The CBC Charity Craft Sale is tomorrow! I'm very excited - lots of new items to debut.

Today after work I am dropping off another wholesale order at The Rage - my coin purses are selling very well there. I am hoping to get a bunch made ready for the Christmas shopping season, which is right around the corner, it seems!

First fall craft show

My first craft show of the fall season is the CBC Charity Craft Sale, on Thursday, November 5, 9-5. Proceeds from the table rentals go to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Details here. I'll be debuting lots of new items!

New Christmas cards

Here's another new item I've been working on, a result of trying out typing onto fabric:



I personally don't like traditional Christmas cards, so I think these will be a good option for people who want something a bit different, or who don't celebrate Christmas but want to send out a holiday card. These too will make their debut at the CBC craft sale Nov. 5.

New item

For the last couple of weeks I have been busy sewing, trying to build up my inventory for the fall craft shows. In line with my theme of trying new things, I made these business card/credit card holders; I'm very pleased with how they turned out. They will make their debut at the CBC craft sale Nov. 5.

New stuff

In preparation of the fall craft shows, I'm trying to branch out and make new things, rather than repeating the same item. I've decided to focus on small pouches and accessories - as much as I love them, purses and totes don't seem to be my thing (bag construction is something beyond my skills). This week I made a few flex frame pouches:


I had two different set of instructions to go by, but in the end came up with my own pattern. I'm happy with how these two turned out. More to come! They will have their debut at the CBC craft sale November 5.


I also decided to make a table banner for my new Etsy store, Zippster, since I will be selling a combination of items from my two stores. To reflect what I actually do - sewing - I made a sewn banner with fabric remnants, many of them hand dyed or painted by me:



Etsy sales have been slow over the summer but have just started picking up again. Lots to keep me busy!

Craft show = failure?

Ok, so it wasn't a complete failure, but it was disappointingly unsuccessful. The show was at a large community centre and featured over 50 vendors, so I assumed it would be well attended. It wasn't. I did not make enough to cover my table fee, which fortunately was very reasonable. However, I received lots of nice compliments on my work, and met some great sellers. I'm taking a break over the summer, but will apply for the pre-Christmas shows.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be adding listings for my new pin-back buttons and magnets - I'm going to focus on sets because it's not worth selling them one at a time. My plan for the summer is to create some sort of business plan and marketing strategy with my partner for bulk and custom orders for the pins and magnets. And I do need to make more Blythe clothes - my inventory is getting low.

Craft show = success!

Saturday's craft show was a great success! It was busy non-stop all day. I debuted my new pins and magnents, and some new cards. My robot magnets and pins were such a I hit that I sold out.










I have another show in two weeks, so I need to get busy making more pins.

Another craft show

Karen's Creations will be a vendor at the Creators' Marketplace Show & Sale, Sunday May 31, at the Thornhill Community Centre.

Details and map here.

Spring Craft Show

I am pleased to announce that I will be a vendor at the Spring Handmade Market, Saturday May 16, at the Gladstone Hotel Ballroom, 1214 Queen Street West (at Dufferin). This show features Etsy sellers from the Toronto area. It's my first show of 2009, and my first in the downtown area - I'm very excited!


For a list of vendors, visit the event's website.

Second craft show

Well, unexpectedly, my second craft sale on Sat. Dec. 6 in Streetsville went swimmingly. Despite the event not being widely promoted, there was a good turnout, and it seemed that people were there to actually buy and not just wander around looking.


Now begins the task of adding my unsold items to my Etsy shop ...

First craft show

On Sat. Nov. 29, I did my first craft show in Mississauga. The event was very well organized and promoted, and I had done a lot of preparation myself, so although I was nervous I felt confident that the event would go well. Unfortunately, attendance was low and by 1:30 the show was pretty quiet. I only had two sales (to other vendors) but received a lot of positive feedback on my work.

Next Saturday I have another show and will have to decide if craft shows are something I want to continue doing.

Another craft show

I'll be selling at the following craft show:

Thomas Street Middle School Christmas Craft Show
Saturday December 6, 2008
10:00am – 3:00pm
Thomas Street Middle School
2640 Thomas Street, Streetsville, Ontario