Spring Has Sprung

I've finally gotten out of my winter, non sewing rut.

Boutique Girl Gifts inventory has been multiplying by leaps and bounds over the past few weeks. 

Here are some of the latest goodies.

Packing and tagging

Stop by and check out our latest goodies http://www.boutiquegirl.etsy.com/.

Time to plan the rest of this year's craft shows...or at least the next couple of months anyway.

One Down, One To Go

The good news is the Hartsbrook Holiday Festival was spectacular!  It was a georgous day, and in addition to supporting the fantastic Hartsbrook School, folks were out in force supporting buying handmade.  It was definately the best one day show I've had thus far...so I had a great time.

Sadly, I managed to take no photos.  None.  I will say that an 8 ft table RWAKS! especially when your space is *just* your table.  And the heavy black rack I inherited from Catherinette is a must have for an indoor show.  Thanks crafty Katie!

I'm gearing up for this weekend.  This will be the first Black Friday in a LONG time that I am not going to be out shopping for fabric.  The Old Deerfield Christmas Sampler begins at 12 noon on Friday.  Three days of crafty vending.  I'm still sewing as many hours as I can hoping I have enough *interesting* product...I've got plenty of stuff that I can't seem to get anyone to buy...it's the stuff I spend hours sewing at the last minute that seem to sell.  Who knew?

Buy Handmade his holiday season.  You'll be glad you did. 

Crafty Progress

For those of you following along at home, November is progressing along.  We're 10 days in.

Which means there are 11 days left until the first craft extravaganza this month.

Luckily, the number of completed items has outpaced days down, and days to go.  18 completed items.

A million other ideas, desires, and pieces of things cut out.  The pile of fabric "to be made" is always enormous.

Anyone want to make a guess as to how many compeleted items the Boutique Girl Gifts stock will grow before the games begin in 11 short days?

It was a hot and steamy morn...

So it's not quite as catchy as "It was a dark and stormy night..." but it in fact was a hot and steamy morning yesterday at the historic Merwinsville Hotel. Something close to 100% humidity...there was rain on my drive to the show location. Luckily the rain had stopped falling by set up time at 9am.


Here's what I learned:


1) EZ Up tents ROCK!

My birthday present was a very practical, and totally awesome EZ Up tent.


2) You need a buddy for outside shows.

While the EZ Up tent is awesome, it still takes two people to get it out of the carying case and up and ready to go. Not to mention the extra volume of EVERYTHING one brings to decorate a 10x10 space is a lot to load and unload. The flaw in this is that all the stuff leaves no room for your buddy in the car. At least not if you expect to see out of any window while you're driving.


3) The CT Etsy Team Rocks!

This one I already knew, but Sunday reinforced our strengths as a team. Every vendor was super friendly and helped each other unload, figure out where to set up on the lawn and helped each other get tents up and secure.


4) Be sure to set up your tent so you can take advantage of the shade it provides.

We started out the day wondering if we were going to see any sun, but by lunchtime the sun was out in full force. I set my table up too far in the back of the tent, so my chair was outside the canopy of the tent. Which meant I had nowhere to hide when the sun started to burn my pale shoulders.


5) I'd do it all again.

Despite the chaos, being buddyless and the crazy weather, I'd do it all again.

Isn't the tent awesome?