My new favorite hobby

So this is a long time coming, but I love block printing! I love carving, I love inking, and I love the feeling I get as I pull the paper away from a linoleum block...simple divine! I have been deep in "carving" mode, and I wanted to show off my process from beginning to end. My skills may be amateur, but hey, it works for me. Please note that I'm only doing one run (single color) prints, and I like it that way. To me, the beauty is in the simplicity.

A little background info: the prints in this blog post have been taken from a book written by a great friend of mine named Shaye Boddington (out of New Zealand). The book is called "Beyond the Green." Mostly a blog project, my goal is to hand carve a block for each page of this fantastic story. I'm about eight pages in, and the story goes like this:

A story about Sam. A little bird who loves to explore and go on adventures. One day Same goes on an adventure that would change his life forever. Beyond the Green is a story about how the city is stealing Sam's home.

So ready or not, here we go...

What's great about block printing is how truly affordable it is. I was able to score a kit at Michaels for under $30 which included a brayer, a carving tool with alternating heads, a carving block, and some ink. I wound up placing the provided linoleum block aside and purchasing a pink speedy carve block, which was much easier to cut into (and in my opinion, the soft white carving block that art stores sell is way too soft for my liking).

So I started off with images like this. What's nice about the speedy carve block is that I can iron the image right onto the block for easy carving. All you have to do is get the image printed in black and white using a zerox machine.

After the image is chosen, I simply ironed it onto the block. Once the image is ironed on (using low-medium heat, you simply pull it away to reveal the design and then begin carving.

If you have the patience, carving can reveal some great results. I found that for the most part, I used the smallest carving head and then the largest for the biggest areas that need to be carved away.

And the ink? Water based all the way! Since I'm dealing with paper, water based ink is perfect, and it cleans up easily with water. You can used oil based for other purposes, but that requires solvents to wash up. The ink is pretty affordable (about $6.99 at Michaels). Keep in mind that it does dry rather quickly. To spread the ink, you can use any flat surface. In my case, a piece of glass from a frame is what I use. Eventually I will move onto a flat piece of plastic (much safer).

Overall, block printing ranks at the top of my list!

So you wanna do craft shows? (my insight)

So I gotta say, I love participating in craft shows. It's exciting, you meet tons of great people, and there's the potential to make money. I've been taking part in the craft show scene for about 3 years, and I've learned a lot during my journey. I hope that my insight will help all of you up-and-comers.

Accept credit cards

This one's important. There was a time that I only accepted cash (or took my chances with a personal check), but I found that many of my customers requested to pay by credit. I can't count how many times a customer has walked away due to this. 

Currently, it's easier than ever to accept credit card payments. I use Square (https://squareup.com). Square is an easy to use credit card reader that attaches right to my smart phone. It can also be hooked up to a tablet device, but I found that it was actually easier to use my phone. Best of all, the card reader was free, and they only charge you per transaction (2.75%), making it very affordable.

I really enjoy using this little guy! It's so cute (and sleek). All I had to do was setup an account. Once I did that, they sent me the reader for free (I think there is a small charge to get one for an iphone). Once received, I downloaded the free app. All that was left was plugging in the device and swiping the credit/debit card. Best of all, the funds were sent straight to my bank (within a matter of days).

All in all, I love Square! It's cute, it's easy to use, and it ranks at the top of my list.

Bring change

Unfortunately, this is one of the last things I normally think about when preparing for a show. Lately, I've made it a priority to get to the bank and make change out of at least $50. This includes many 1's and 5's, a couple 10's, and a few 20's. Don't forget those quarters too. Where do I keep my money? Well, most of the time it's in my vintage, metal box/bank (bought, of course, from another Etsy seller).

Wear comfortable shoes

At most of the indie shows I attend, I like to dress it up a bit by wearing cute shoes. Unfortunately, most of the shoes I like to wear are the most uncomfortable. So my advice...wear sneakers! I'll leave it at that :0)

Smile

Okay, this can be difficult to do when shows are slow, but it's all we got. Never let worry show on your face. Customers can sense it from a mile away. Smile when it's slow. Smile when it's busy...Just smile!

Color scheme and branding are important

I don't think that this is something that comes into play right away. For me, this happened over time. The logo came first. I then took colors from that logo and made them the primary color scheme of my display. With me, the color green is everywhere. I also took the "naturey" feel of my designs and incorporated them into my display. 

I try to keep my branding fluid. From my logo came business cards. From my business cards came flyers. And from all this came the cute price tags and pricing signs plastered everywhere. I also incorporated the little bird in my logo, as well as the whimsical feel that was so important to me. I'd hope that all my hard work shows, and that people will walk away from my display knowing that it was  "Chirping Bird Press" (my little shop that could). Most times, people compliment me on my display which makes me super happy!

Don't expect to make a ton of money

I know that many of you more experienced vendors will argue me, but I never go into a show expecting a huge payday. To be honest, if it did, I wouldn't be working at my current job. A good day for me is covering my gas and booth fee, and making a little extra to go out to dinner afterwards (with my much appreciated helper...mom of course). A really good show will give me a little more even after paying out for dinner. I like vending at shows as a hobby. To me, getting compliments on my work and meeting others is priceless. 

Bring a helper

Yep...super important! I NEVER attend a show without a helper. In this case, my helper is my mom. I couldn't do these things without her. And remember to show your #2 some love. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are always in order. For us, it's Waffle House for breakfast, vendor food throughout the day for lunch, and Cracker Barrel for dinner. Yummy!

Rolling carts help

Just up until recently, we would lug in every tote and display item individually. I can't tell you how tiring that is (not mention, it makes you sweaty...yuk). Get a rolling cart. I found two compact ones on Craig's List, and it's cut down my setup time by half. A real time saver!

You need an emergency supply kit

I have a small travel case that includes the following:

-tape

-pens

-pencils

-safety pins

-a counterfeit marker

-receipt book

-twine/string

-paper

-and anything else I think I might need

Rearrange and then rearrange again

Throughout the day, items on your table will sell, and it's important to rearrange accordingly. Also, keep in mind that as certain items sell better than others, you will find your setup may need to be rearranged (or even possibly changed). My display has changed

many, many times as I've gotten a better feel for what my customers like and don't like. I don't consider this a bad thing. I just have to adjust to meet the needs of my customer (and my OCD self).


Prices, prices, prices
I can't express just how important it is to price your items. And you should price them in a way that prevents the customer from having to ask. They don't like to do that, and most likely, a customer will walk away due to the uncertainty. I have fun with my pricing. I incorporate my branding and everything. I have pricing signs galore, and they all show off different versions of the bird in my logo. 


In conclusion, I hope that you found these tips helpful. If I would have known some of these things when I first started, things might have been a little easier. Thank goodness for some experience :0)

Snails continued...

Hi everyone! I just finished taking photographs of my snail hoop art, and they're adorable. The finished product includes the hand stitched image cut with pinking shears, mounted on "vintagey" fabric, and then pulled taught in a hand painted embroidery hoop. Yep, it's a fusion of crafty goodness! 

 

My favorite Florida based indie craft shows (a vendor perspective)

I love indie craft shows! I participate in craft shows as a hobby. It would be nice to leave with a huge profit, but I don't expect it every time (although I've done fairly well the past couple of shows). There are some who rank a show on just how much money they make, but I'm telling you, it's hit or miss. I could go to a show one year and do extremely well, and then go another and not do so great. Through all of this, why do I go? Well...I go to meet new people, chat with fellow crafters, make connections, have fun, shop, and see what people truly think of my wares.

I live in the Clearwater area. I would tell you the city I truly live in, but to be honest, I'm surprised it's even on the map. We don't have much in the way of indie craft shows, so I travel. There a quite a few shows in the sunshine state that rank at the top of my list. When attending as a shopper, you're bound to find that one-of-a-kind item. 

Indie shows are neat. They're full of crafters and artisans that take those traditional mediums and put an unusual twist on them. I sometimes have to be careful as a vendor. If I'm not, I might spend more than I make. The shows below really "take the cake." I'm listing them below (in no particular order). This is more from the perspective of a vendor. Enjoy...

1) First up is GLAM, and to be honest, it's where I've ever made the most money. Remember when I said it's hit or miss with shows? Well, I didn't do so well my first year with this one, but then (with a change of venue) I hit a homerun. This is my FAVORITE show!

Based in Gainesville, Florida, GLAM really has a local appeal. Gainesville is one of my favorite cities, and the show attracts loads of people. Run by Kim Taylor (aka "The Sassy Crafter"), it took place at Villa East, a very hip venue clad with brick walls, funky chandeliers, and finished cement flooring. It's a very open space, and I kept hearing, in passing, about how much everyone loved the new digs. 

Now since I didn't do so well my first year at this show, I didn't know what to expect. I knew that the reason I didn't do so well originally was due to the fact that I was new to this whole crafting "thang." It was my fault. I was disorganized, and my display sucked! This time, I was armed and ready. My display was top notch and easy to setup,  I had more of a flow to my items, and I didn't forget a thing. As a result, I killed at GLAM! There was traffic flowing throughout the entire time. Kim and her entourage were very friendly and helpful. The crowd that attended was super nice. And even better was the fact that the show took place on the first Sunday of December, making this show one where people got lots of Christmas shopping done, resulting in lots of sales for us vendors. 

So, in conclusion, I rank this one at the top of my list (and remember, this is just my personal opinion).

2) The next show on my list is Odd Duck Handmade Indie Bazaar (run by the girls at Hollywood Craft Mafia). Based out of Hollywood, FL, this is also a show that will have a change of location (moving from a historical schoolhouse in Davie, FL, to the charming Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center in Hollywood this March). 

The show, in the past, has been fantastic. It's where I got my start, and I've attended as a vendor since year one. This year, Odd Duck turns 3, and they sure are growing fast. Along with vendors, they also have live music and food (and I've never gone home hungry...that's for sure). 

Just like Gainesville, I give this show props for their local flair. Even though Hollywood is fairly large, they still attract a neat little crowd (and when I say little, I really mean BIG). The girls who run the show are super friendly (which makes vending at a show even easier)! 

Just like with any show, profits can be hit or miss, but I've always made a decent amount, and I've never gone home disappointed. Way to go Odd Duck!

3) My third favorite show is Atomic Holiday Bazaar, run by the lovely Adrien Lucas. Based out of Sarasota, FL, this show is yet another with a BIG "small town" appeal. Every year, they have a line out the door, making this a must attend show for crafters like me. 

As a vendor, it's important to stay updated with what is going on, and the event coordinator really does a great job of that. As a patron, well, we want as many to attend as possible, and Adrien does a bangin' job of attracting the masses. I don't know how she does it!

This is the most unusual show I attend by far. And I mean that in a really good way. There's something for everyone, and us crafters poor our heart and soul into what we do. It's nice to find a venue to display it in. Like I said before, the show takes place in Sarasota. It not only takes place there, but the whole event is nestled inside of the Municipal Auditorium, which of one of those historic venues that make you feel proud in it's presence. I'm lucky to have participated in this show for two straight years. I know that if I don't get to take part in it as a vendor, I will attend as a shopper. Thanks Adrien for all you do!

In conclusion, these are some of my favorite Florida based indie craft shows. Remember that my opinion is not the end-all-be-all, and I know that there are many other shows that "take the cake." From experience, this is what I've seen, and each of these shows hold a spot near and dear to my heart :0)

My favorite Etsy sellers

What's neat about hand embroidery is the twist you can put on the craft. It's nice to see how it's evolved most recently. Below are some of my favorite Etsy crafters that sell their embroidered goods (as well as patterns). Please enjoy...

1) First up is "the merriweather councel." They specialize in embroidered initial necklaces and funky hoop wall art. They first caught my eye with this little gem of a hoop. When I entered their shop, I was pleasantly surprised to find their hand embroidered necklaces. They are sooooo cute and definitely one-of-a-kind!

This shop has been featured on Apartment Therapy, HGTV.com, Cottages and Bungalows magazine, Sew Hip magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, The Huffington Post, and the TODAY Show, just to name a few.

2) Next is "penguin & fish," and who can resist their kits and patterns?! Every item in their shop brings a smile to my face. Their easy to follow patterns include an image of the finished product, a stitch and color guide, simple instructions, an easy to trace black and white pattern, and one in reverse (for using an iron on transfer pencil). Please note that their patterns are sold for personal use only.

Not only are their patterns adorable, but they also carry super cute plushies such as unicorns, horses, cats, and foxes. The fact that each creation is numbered on the back in the order it was created makes them highly unique!

3) My next favorite "embroidered" Etsy shop is called "Follow the White Bunny." They also sell embroidery patterns (for personal use), and my favorite is "Forty Winks Fox," which I've posted to the left.

Most of the finished products can be created using basic stitches, which is truly awesome! Once a pattern is chosen, it is sent via e-mail, saving on shipping costs. I find myself frequently visiting their Etsy shop, not being able to decide what I like best (as each pattern is equal in "cuteness").

So there you have it...my top three Etsy shops when it comes to the time honored tradition of hand embroidery. Cool, huh?! :0)

Octopus

I use my Mac for design work A LOT! It's how I resize and tweak the images that I use for crafting. I recentlyacquired a Macbook Air (since my desktop Imac G5 has become outdated). It's gorgeous, and I use it all the time. But how should I "cuten" it up?

I'm a HUGE Etsy fan, and there are so many shop owners that sell adorable decals for laptops. So what did I find? You guessed it...this GORGEOUS octopus decal by beepart. The seller, Neil, responded to my questions prompt and courteously. The shop owner writes, "beepart is all about creating fun, vibrant works of wall decal art. We draw inspiration from tattoo, retro, and iconic imagery to create contemporary wall decals for today's unique home!"

These vinyl decals are the most unique that I've seen (and I've looked at lots of Etsy shops). Not only are his designs unique, but they're reasonably priced too! I can't wait to receive my little octopus in the mail...arriving all the way from Canada. What do you think?

Some of my favorite vintage patterns...sweet snails

I absolutely LOVE these snails! I even have some stitched up already (finished product pics coming soon). They're from a great website called French-Knots. They have a whole collection of vintage patterns categorized (to make finding that perfect pattern easy-peasy). In the meantime, prepare yourself for a collection of cuteness!