After the 3rd Day of Craft Show

It has been three days into my Craft Show and my inventory is already less then what it was after my last show (which BTW was my best show ever).

Yesterday, my husband watched my booth so I could get some other business done. He really did good and straightened up some items I had overlooked. He will watch my booth again today, because I have some embroidery work that needs to be done and I need to make more hair bows.

Each show brings about it's own set of challenges and this show is no different. We have a Winter Storm Warning over our area of Arkansas starting tomorrow. This may or may not hurt my sales for Thursday. Thursday night is when customers will start to line back up for a big promotional event. One thing I've found out in the past, if you say it's going to sleet, ice and/or snow there is a very good chance the customers will show up in bigger crowds.

Business Tip:
My business wasn't always this successful. It takes time to make your business something people will come back to and they refer to their friends. Find out what you are good at, find your niche in the market, find out how to make your items better and find out how to make your customers proud to say they buy from you. I also condition my mind to always try to make my items and my booth better then the last item or event. This doesn't mean I'm always spending more money, it means to make sure "Quality" is my goal.

Make sure to look at my previous post and check out the video of my hairbow booth from when I set up the first day.

Craft show display

After a long day, concluding with setting up my craft show display booth, I believe my voice is a little winded while taking the video. You will see how my booth looks after the set up, but before the show starts. Craft Show Display Set Up

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How to Make a Fold Over Elastic Hair Tie - Tutorial

I recently made a tutorial on how to make Fold Over Elastic Hair Ties and I'd like to share it here.  Please click the link below and I'd appreciate it if you would click "like" to show me some love if you do like the tutorial.

Make a Fold Over Elastic Hair Tie Tutorial

 

 

 

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A journey of having a craft business

A few years ago I started blogging but gave up when I made a major move from one state to another.  As with many events of this nature, life gets in the way of getting back on track. I made a few attempts but life kept getting in the way. I was recently encourage to start my blog back and continue to share my crochet patterns to get me started. 

In addition to sharing my crochet patterns and other tutorials I would like to share information on operating a craft business.  I'll share my successes and mistakes. 

Come back soon for more updates. 

Twisted Ribbon Flower Hair Bow Clip Tutorial

I enjoy making many different kinds of items and hair bows are one of my favorite.  Below is a tutorial video of Nicole's Twisted Ribbon Flower Hair Bow Clip, I made earlier this year.  With her permission I made the "how to" on using two different colors when making the flower. 

 

She did a great job with the design.

 

Enjoy

 

If the video doesn't show up below, please click here to view.

 

 

 

Fortunate Cookie Scrubbie Crochet Pattern

Fortune Cookie Scrubbie or Make-up Remover Scrubbie


Material needed:

H Crochet Hook

Small amount of 2 contrasting colors of Cotton Worsted Weight Yarn (I can make several out of two 2.5 oz Lily’s Sugar’n Cream)

Instructions:

Color A

Round 1: Ch 4, sl st in first ch to make a ring. Ch 1. Sc 14 in ring. Sl st in top of first sc. Ch 1

Round 2: 2 sc in each sc (total 28 sc). Sl st in top of first sc. Cut yarn.

Color B

Round 3: SC in any sc from previous round, 2 sc in each sc around (total 56 sc). Sl st in top of first sc. Ch 1

Round 4: Reverse SC in each SC from previous round. Sl st in first Reverse SC. (optional, if you want a loop, chain 8, sl st in first reverse sc).

Cut yarn.

Tie in all ends.

Video on Reverse SC can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhSbycwfpdo

Fold in Half to make Scrubbie look like a Fortune Cookie.

Enjoy

Fortunate Cookie Scrubbie © Rhonda Mullins 2008

I've been away for a while, but wanted to post an update that I can always be found on my facebook page: CraftedFromTheHeart.

I have a successful Hairbow business and plan to add my crochet items to my inventory as quickly as possible.

I'll continue to post information, updates and tutorials as the year 2014 rolls in.

A little out of it lately but coming back

I'm trying to get back on track after being a little out of it for over a month. I have a few health issues I'm dealing with and have found some great doctors, so that puts me in a hopeful state of mind. I'm very close to being pain-free, but fatigue is something I'm still working on, but hey, I'm 49 years old and I can't expect to feel 18 at this time of my life. Oh well, enough of that, things are looking better and that is what is important.

I have several new crochet patterns in the works, still trying to unpack after our move and may very well go back to work in an office. My husband bought me an iPhone so that will help me run my Etsy shop while away from my computer. I'm still learning but I am getting the hang of it all.

I've moved all my scrapbooking supplies to my daughter-in-law's house and we are able to crop there. She is super organized and has seen to it my supplies are being put to good use. She is such a sweetheart and I'm so thankful she is in our life. She and I get to spend some "mom and daughter" time together and it's very good for me. My other sweet daughter-in-law has been able to come and crop with us and I hope we can do that on a regular bases. I have really been blessed with these 2 young ladies. My sons really know how to pick great wife's.

My craft room is coming along well. I will share photo's when I get to that point. I have a nice L-shaped desk in there so I can work on my designs and I have crates where I will store my yarn and books along the walls. I will have to destash some more but still, I have more supplies then any one person should ever have. Even with removing my scrapbooking supplies and loading up my d-i-l's craft room, I still have a FULL room left to deal with. Atleast this way I will not get sidetracked between two different hobbies.

We have almost all our beading supplies moved into my husband's studio, still I need access to those supplies because I want to work some beadwork into some of my new crochet patterns.

Even though it's hot outside, I'm thinking about Fall and Winter items already. It's busy busy busy and I'm loving it.

Contract on Our House

We finally have a contract on our house in GA and should close on it on the 27th. It's very exciting to finally not have two house notes again. Things have started to get tight on our budget so this contract has come at a great time.

Our house will be missed and we had alot of good memories there, but we are now making good memories in our new house. We will return to visit with friends, because we made friends who feel they are our family.

Below are a few pictures of our house in GA.

God Is Love

Landscaping for our house

We have been so busy during the past year. With the move we purchased a beautiful place but there was absolutely no landscaping done with the exception of grass. First thing we did was dress up the front of the house. My darling daughter-in-law and the guys got out there and worked so hard to help make this place have our personal touch. We will add more once we sale our house in GA.

We have had so many neighbors to stop by and compliment us on our yard. It really makes us feel welcomed.

Growing with my Hobby

I am trying to kick up my hobby a little by writing more patterns. I've really enjoyed it and it's helping me to change my priorities.

I have several more patterns that are on the drawing table and I'm very excited about that. Lately when I'm away from my yarn and hook, it's only long enough to type out my patterns, take pictures or to buy more supplies.

I am still working on finding time to unpack and organize my new craft room. I have a desk in there and I know where everything is going to go, now I have to get the time and energy together to just do it. I probably have more supplies then any one human should have and that is AFTER I freecycled many of the items when leaving Warner Robins, GA. It's exciting to go through my items but I need to get serious about completely unpacking, but who can find the time. Oh well, it will not be today because it's already full.

Day at the ER

Thursday started out like any normal Thursday. I know I need certain things done during the day, so I started my day out as usual. I started the laundry and noticed the cat had an accident on the laundry room floor. As I started cleaning that up, doing my "deep" cleaning which takes me through several stages and about an hour in time, I receive a phone call from my husband. He is slightly confused and wanted to know when I was coming to Little Rock. Well, I'm not due to be in Little Rock until the 14th. Then he asked if I could meet him at the Emergency Room because his boss was taking him there. He was showing signs of a possible stroke and needed to get it checked out. To make a long story short, he went through a CT scan, lab work and a MRI and there were no signs of damage from a stroke and he was sent home. He as been asleep 99% of the time since we left the parking lot at the ER. About 9:30 am on Friday, he dragged himself out of bed and says he feels fair. We will now see what Friday will bring us.

Oh wow... I forgot the laundry, now I have to get busy on that.



Update: 5/21/09
My husband is doing much better. Thankfully it looks like the stroke like problems were coming from his Blood Pressure medication working too well. He seems to be back to normal now.

Today's Events

My mom spent the night with us last night, which was a nice visit. It was nice to see her when she wasn't sick, like she was the last time she was here.

I am also working on a Beanie and Legwarmers at the moment. I am working on making the dimensions correct so the size will be correct for the person who ordered them. They are lovely and in a cute pink.

Tonight, I will finally get an office desk for my craft room, so I can have my work space a little more organized. It's been a little rough since our move from GA to AR, because I was unable to bring along my office furniture I had in my craft room. This has left me with supplies on top of supplies stored in moving boxes. Do you know how hard that makes it to work on a project without dragging everything out? Then it's time to start dinner or company is coming over and I have to put everything back up. It's such an exhaustive attempt at trying to work on my projects because it seems more time is spent on finding the right supplies, dragging them out and then putting the items all back up. I could spend that time in being more creative and less time on toting and dragging supplies all over the place.

My Etsy Favorites for the Week

I love sharing my Favorite Etsy items, so I figured it would be great to simply post them here. It's so hard to narrow it down, but I plan to only list 3-4 each week.

Mark my blog as a follower, so you can come back each week.



I found this some time ago and still like it. You can find it at Amberae's shop.




Lovely buttons and well made. These can be found at butteredparsnips' shop.


Last but not least for this week:



This can be found at SimplyStacyJewelry's Shop.

I enjoy shedding a little light on talents and unique abilities.

CAKE Team

Here is a list of great shop owners who have teamed up to help advertise and promote each others shops. I've bought from many of these shops and they have bought from me. Feel free to check them out.

CraftedFromTheHeart.etsy.com
MadeByRhonda.etsy.com
voleurdebijoux.etsy.com
mootsie.etsy.com
foohy.etsy.com
happylake.etsy.com
celebratelife.etsy.com
beadbug00.etsy.com
prettysweetdesigns.etsy.com
prettysweetsupplies.etsy.com
thecozyloft.etsy.com
theowlbarn.etsy.com
sarahinflorida.etsy.com
lling2303.etsy.com
distressingdelilah.etsy.com
melp1979.etsy.com
dsignsbymelissa.etsy.com
potterypeddler.etsy.com
TheGlassConnection.etsy.com
rainwolf.etsy.com
rainwolfcrafts.etsy.com

Cable Rib Washcloth Crochet Pattern

Crochet Pattern for My Cable Rib Washcloth

Material needed:
Crochet Hook size H
Cotton Yarn - Worsted Weight.

Finished size is approximately 8 x 8.5 inches

Row 1: Ch 31, turn, sc in second ch and in each one to the end, turn (30 sc). (This row is the beginning of the back side.)

Row 2: Ch 3, *skip next sc, 1 dc in next 3 sc, 1 dc in skipped sc; rep from *, end 1 dc in last sc, turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, 1 sc in first st and in each st to end. Turn.

Rep rows 2 and 3 for a total of 8 Cable Ribs (17 rows), turn.

Row 18: (for outside border) Ch 1, sc in each sc across row 17, 3 sc in corner, continue down the side with 1 sc in the end of the sc rows and 2 in the dc rows, 3 sc in corner, sc in each stitch on foundation stitch, 3 sc in corner, continue to sc on the last side of dishcloth with a sc in end of each sc row and 2 sc in the end of each dc roll, ending with 2 sc in last corner, sl st in top of first sc of border. Cut yarn, tie in cut end.

~~~ End ~~~

Rhonda Mullins (c) 2009

Please only use this pattern for your personal use and not sale the pattern or the finished item.

Finished item can be seen and purchased on my Etsy website: CraftedFromTheHeart.etsy.com

Rough Night..... Rough Day

For the most part, I had a rough night and rough day. My nerves got the best of me and my stomach was so upset. I had to cancel plans (which made me very sad) and crashed for most of the day. I hate it when things like that happen, but I've found there isn't much a person can do about it. I hope to start a fresh new day tomorrow and I will throw myself into my crafts, unpacking and family.

We will also be celebrating the Memorial of Christ Death, tomorrow night.

Etsy Specials from the CAKE Team

Like a good deal from some fantastic shops? Don't we all.

Check the April Flyer from a great group of Etsy Shop Owners who call themselves the CAKE Team.