Adrift on the sea of my daily life ...

I feel like a bad mother! My blogs are like children and I've neglected them terribly recently. Oh, I feel so very guilty. Yet, I can't seem to get things back on track.

I love blogging but when push comes to shove, it drops down on the priority list. Lately, life in this household has been like a small boat in heavy seas. Throw a life jacket on and hang on for dear life!

Every few days, the sun comes out and the waves settle and things start to level off. Then, we jump to and take care of necessities first and then work toward the niceties and fun stuff. We begin to relax, sit back and take a deep breath ... and then, along comes another swell and we're thrown into the next squall. Once again, we don the foul weather gear and grab hold of a lifeline to ride out the waves.

At the moment, we're on calm seas with no clouds in sight. Maybe I can get back to my routine. Just maybe catch up with all the "To Do" things on my list. Starting with this post.

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Today was the last day for guaranteed delivery for merchandise geared toward Thanksgiving. My goal was to get it all shipped by this Thursday. I have just finished packing up the last of those orders so I am actually ahead of target on this one. It's a Thanksgiving Miracle!!!

I had one order to finish painting today and a whole pile of Christmas work to get to. Today's project was organizing, laying out, sketching and base coating for gingerbread and candy canes on various garments and hard items (wood and glass). Both images are time consuming in that they require a base coat which must dry completely before adding intricate details. While I can often do detail work on only semi-dry base coats, I find the white details necessary for both gingerbread and peppermints must be done on dry bases.
I do love painting both of these themes, though, as they allow a fair amount of creativity from piece to piece. The peppermint candies are also always so bright and cheerful. It will be a few days before these will be ready to photograph for listing in the shop.

Tomorrow, I hope to get some of my Christmas themed baby hats photographed and listed in the shop. They're all done, just waiting for their close-ups.

Among tomorrow's projects is also the daunting task of getting my other blog updated. Yes, I really do have a second blog though few have actually found it. Splish'n'Splash Kitchen deals with food from a variety of angles. I try to list interesting events around the country that are specific to various foods, food news, food ideas, and more. To date, I have not done recipes there but I think I'll be adding a few party dishes and food gifts to make and give for the holidays. I have a goal to get that blog back in line by the beginning of December. Keep your fingers crossed for me!!

Here's hoping y'all are right on track in your holiday preps.

Say what?!?!

72 Days!! You’ve got to be kidding me!! 72 days to Christmas?!?!

How has that happened? That’s just slightly over 10 weeks!!

I already feel the pressure. I’m rushing to get my shop ready, get my own shopping and gift making started and get all the other things that happen this month and next together, too. My life is further complicated by a two week vacation which starts in just over a week. I need to gather and pack for that, hopefully have some great goodies baked up to take with us for the family, get things together here at home for those that aren’t going with us and prep some birthday gifts we’ll need within the next three weeks, too.

So, what needs to be done to get my online shop ready? Silly question. Everything!

As always, I am frantically trying to get more stock done and listed between working on orders and making for our personal gift needs. It’s also not too early to start an online promotional push. Folks have begun to do their holiday shopping. I can tell because I already have a number of Christmas orders coming in.

I’m trying to be prepared for a sales onslaught. (Keeping my fingers crossed for one, at least!) Since my most popular items are infant through size 2 onesie-style infant bodysuits, I’ve set in a full stock of each size in that range. As many of my items are hand-dyed, I’ve also stocked up on my dye supplies and pre-washed a number of the bodysuits so they are ready to dip as ordered. I usually maintain a reasonable stock of my fabric paints at all times but I have doubled my extra bottles as I have found they are not always available in the most popular colors as the holidays get closer.

As the holidays approach, I’ve also found the shipping materials are not always as easy to obtain. Most of my merchandise ships in the free Priority Mail envelopes and boxes available at the Post Office. My normal routine is to grab replacement envelopes and boxes as I mail shipments so that I always have a few on hand as orders come in. This time of year, I try to pick up extras on each trip to the Post Office as I have found in the past that they often run out of the most popular sizes very quickly as the general public begins shipping gifts. I’ve already purchased a healthy supply of tissue paper and ziplock bags that I use in my shipping.

I’m taking time now to print extra large supplies of my garment hang tags, cards and inserts that go in every package. I do thank you notes to each customer on special paper featuring designs compatible with my product. I have stocked up on several more packs of that paper than I normally keep on hand. I generally enclose a thank you gift with my larger orders so I have prepared a fair amount of these so I can simply grab an appropriate one and drop it in as I pack. (These are “bread & butter” items that are generally available for sale at my live shows so I need a large stock on hand anyway.)

Now, all I need is the customers! If you find any wandering around in search of something to buy, please send them my way.

I’ll leave the light on.

Working the Shows Wednesday - Sugarloaf Crafts at Wilmington, DE - Sept. 25-27, 2009

More than 200 national artists and craft designers will gather for the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Wilmington to present their contemporary crafts in a lively festival marketplace celebrating the American artist through a wide range of crafts, engaging demonstrations, music and family entertainment. The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival is open, Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27, 2009 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront.

The Sugarloaf Craft Festival showcases the wide range of contemporary crafts by offering both serious collectors and casual shoppers the opportunity to discover one-of-a-kind, handmade creations. Avid craft enthusiasts know that Sugarloaf Craft Festivals have long been recognized as the leader in offering the crafts that are featured in magazines, exhibited in fine galleries and museum shows, and acquired by prestigious collections; but the Sugarloaf show in Wilmington will also offer affordable and innovative functional and decorative pottery, sculpture, glass, home décor, furniture and home accessories, leather, fiber and wearables, items for the garden, fine art and photography.

Many artists at the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival use such classic skills as raku ceramics, glassblowing, leather working, blacksmithing and woodturning, while others exemplify the latest trends crafts, such as mixing materials, incorporating and repurposing recycled objects, and exploring new techniques and processes.

“We want Sugarloaf visitors to experience the full range of what is happening now in American crafts as well as seeing what they have always loved,” said Deann Verdier, president of the show’s producer, Sugarloaf Mountain Works. “For example, they can meet a well-established potter or a jewelry maker whose works are based on familiar designs, as well as a young painter or glassblower experimenting with more abstract images and new colors.”

The variety of crafts at the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival is complemented by a diversity of entertainment for the whole family. Throughout the show, master craftspeople will demonstrate their expertise in a range of media, including paper-making, metal spinning, and stone carving. The lively Festival marketplace includes specialty gourmet food for sampling and purchase; and eclectic musical performances, including acoustic guitar, live piano, and and vocal performances of French classics. Children can participate in their favorite fairytales with Middle Earth Studio’s dress up theater.


The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival will be held Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sunday, September 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Chase Center on the Riverfront. The Chase Center is located at 815 Justison Street, in Wilmington, DE.

Adult admission to the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival is $7 when purchased online, $8 for adults at the door, free for children under 12. Admission is good for all three days, and free parking is available.

Picture Directory (from top to bottom):

Pendant by Rona Fisher

Sculpture by Dan Murphy

Baskets by Victoria Cox

Tray with glasses by Susan Schmidt

Ring by Lisa Walsh

For more information about the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival, directions, or to purchase discount admission tickets visit http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com/ or call (800) 210-9900. Additional show information, artist profiles, and special offers may be found on the shows’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sugarloafcrafts.

About the Sugarloaf Craft Festivals:For over 30 years, the nation’s most talented artisans have sold their contemporary crafts and fine art at Sugarloaf Craft Festivals, rated as one of

the top craft experiences in the country. Last year, more than 250,000 visitors purchased over $20 million in fine arts and crafts directly from the artists at Sugarloaf festivals.

So, what's new??

Earlier this week I saw the train a'comin, the Christmas train that is, and it's heading this way an enormous rate of speed!!! I panicked and began listing some holiday merchandise in my shop.

Okay, I did have to ease myself into the holiday mood, so I started with a Fall item.

This darling little angel featuring brightly colored silk leaves on her skirt and wings, has that cozy "down-home" style and looks adorable anywhere you hang her. I originally designed her with my Mother-in-Law and my elderly aunts in mind. They all live in apartments in senior housing complexes and she hangs beautifully on their hallway doors. (Also, gives me a fair amount of free publicity as they all love to brag!!)

With that little push, I began moving on into the Christmas season with the addition of these listings. I have lots more to get listed and hope to add some each week now. So, please check in on the shop often. Who knows? You just might find the perfect gift there for someone you love.

I've also added some new general merchandise, too. Maybe I'll show them here in a few days.

Want to see any of these in detail? Simply click on the picture.

Working the Shows Wednesday - Do you know how close Christmas REALLY is?

Christmas is coming and it will be here before you know it. There are only 21 weekends left till the big day. Do you have all your Fall and Holiday shows lined up? If not, now is the time. In fact, it’s a little late to register for the really popular annual events. Better get moving.

Next question - How much holiday merchandise do you have ready right this moment? (You only get half credit for those left-overs from last Christmas that didn’t sell and didn’t work for anyone on your personal gift list.) You can’t sell it if you don’t have it to show. Set up a production schedule now and get cracking.

If you are on Etsy, you may have noticed those Sellers who are participating in the Christmas in July promotion. At this point, I can safely say, they have a leg up on me. I have begun producing Christmas items but I haven’t started marketing them yet for 2009.

To get your full listing price value (4 months of exposure) on Etsy, you need to get your items listed by early August. Check with the Post Office and find out the “Ship by dates” and note that in your shop announcement. This will be especially important to those who need to ship overseas. If your items are custom-made and take some time to produce be sure to set realistic cut-off dates for holiday orders. At least two of the big commercial gift shows attended by retailers occurred this past week. Store buyers are lining up their Christmas product line now. Have you talked with any brick and mortar shops you deal with about what they might be interested in this holiday season?

Me, personally? I’m working on gingerbread men this week. How about you?

So, while you’re stretched out there on the beach house, sketching out your Christmas designs or at least thinking about them, drinking a HUGE margarita (or such), why not wear a Santa hat? It’ll put you in the mood and confuse your neighbors!