Craft Revival Recap

Whew.
The Craft Revival went off without a hitch. It was great! Although it was definitely not as bumping as the Detroit Urban Craft Fair, we had a good amount of visitors and I was really pleased with the amount of business we received.

Here's my table! My friend Emily and baby Etta sat and kept me company for a bit.

I had decided to offer the same items as we did at the DUCF due to lack of time and also to make sure that I had saturated the Detroit market with beavers! We had only a couple of new items--little rose barrettes and needle books (just like the one Becca got for her birthday). Both sold really well and were pretty popular. They may have to join the Proper Peach line-up.

A side view. Rows and rows of beavers and skunks! Photo by Always the Forest.

I always get excited to meet the other vendors and luckily, I had the extra time to chat it up with some of Michigan's finest. My neighbor was Wei from Wei's Open Secret...her stuff was amazing and she was sooo friendly! She offers jewelry and other cute things--check out her
tip cards! Too funny!

I also finally got a chance to meet Marcy from All Things Grow. I follow her blog and have longed for some of her prints passionately, so it was nice to finally meet her in person! I never get the chance to snap up all of the beautiful things I want so badly so I am promising myself that I will order from her Etsy shop soon.

Finally, I also was surprised to meet Yvonne from Wool and Water. Just as lovely as she is in internet-world. I love putting faces with screen names....it makes things feel much more personal and friendly. We chatted for a bit and I was so glad I had the opportunity to meet her for reals.

I realized that one of the best parts of these shows is connecting with other crafters from the area. It really inspires me to talk to these people that create the most wonderful things...to get a chance to check out their offerings and see their cool displays. The feeling of camaraderie is awesome! Things get lonely in front of a computer screen.

Friends and family came out to support The Proper Peach....I always love to show off what I do to my loved ones and given them a chance to see what these shows are all about.

Overall....we had a fantastic time. Thanks to the peeps at Handmade Detroit for giving me yet another opportunity to join them!

Now, I'm decompressing and focusing on hanging on the couch with Joan for a couple nights. What better way to celebrate?

Thank you so much to all the people who had such nice things to say about my work, and especially to those who purchase from me!
The Proper Peach likes you, you know.

Not lazy lazy...just camera lazy.

I swear I've been busy. Between caring for my one year old daughter and her horrid head cold, working an insane number of hours my coffee-gig and desperately trying to get the house clean, I'm seriously surprised I've finished anything crafty at all this past week.
But I have.
I posted pincushions and brooches in my Etsy shop. Hip hip hooray! It's nice to have some sort of variety. I always envision all of my items instantly selling out and am dismayed when this little dream doesn't come to fruition. I guess I have high hopes. Then I cruise around on the Internet and find awesome stuff like this and this and finally understand that everyone is buying someone else's rad stuff. I can't blame them....I love looking at other crafter's creations. It's so motivating after a day of foaming up extra-dry cappuccinos.
My goal this month is to increase my output....to get more items in my Etsy shop and to do some serious self-promoting. I've always had a problem talking about what I do....couldn't tell you why.
No more, I say!!!
I'm going to wear one of my brooches proudly while introducing myself as "Scented Skunkmaker Extraordinaire".
Viva los beavers!

Ah, yes....more pics to come as soon as I have the energy to lift my camera to my face.

There is a ticking time bomb in all of us....

Unfortunately, my dad's went off this morning.
Poor Dad. His little appendix had to be removed...mostly because it was threatening to burst and poison his insides.
So my morning was spent running around trying to make a plan to get to the hospital. I do have to keep up appearances of being a responsible and loving daughter, after all.
Stubborn daughter, harried husband, healing father....the bottom line is that I didn't even so much as glance longingly at my craft box today. Then off to work. Ugh.
I can't even put into words my burning desire to stay at home all day and cuddle with my kid and spend hours and hours just cutting fabric. I swear to God, a good pair of scissors will make anything better. Anything. Just the sound they make...it verges on orgasmic.
But I digress.
This week doesn't look promising as far as skunks go.

I have decided to apply to participate in the Detroit Urban Craft Fair. I seriously sat awake in bed last night for a good hour just daydreaming about actually sitting at a little table surrounded by a sea of handmade goodness. Wow.
I have to send in photos and an application by August 15th....and I believe the vendors are announced early September.
So keep your pretty little fingers crossed.