For Your Valentine

I've got a busy week. I've got two craft sales this weekend, and a whole lot of crafting to do to prepare for them. I spent the past two weeks traveling in Venezuela, and vacation put me a little bit behind. The trip was fabulous, and the colors of the country were inspiring. Isn't this the most perfect shade of pink?



I've been making all sorts of things for the ones you love. Here's a little peek of what I've been producing for the sales.









In addition to these Valentine items, I'm making lots of paper flowers, pins and coursages.

I had high hopes of getting a few of my valentine gifts and cards listed on Etsy, but I just don't think I'll be able to squeeze that in this week. If you anyone is interested in purchasing anything you see, just send me an EMAIL and we can work something out via Paypal.

OR, come visit me at the sales this weekend!

On Saturday Feb 12th, I'll be setting up at the 2nd Saturdayz Market in Seattle. It's held at Sandpoint, from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

The sale is a wonderful mix of vintage treasures and crafts. I participated in the sale in December and had a very difficult time NOT spending every dime I made there on treasures from other tables and booths. It really is an awesome collection of vendors.

For more information on the 2nd Saturdayz Market, please visit their blog by clicking HERE.

On Sunday, I'll be at the Tacoma is For Lovers Artist Craft Fair at Kings Books in Tacoma. The theme of this sale is Valentines Day/ Anti-Valentines Day. Swing on by and pick up something for the ones you love. Or don't love. There are lots of amazing crafters signed up to do the sale, so It should be great.

The sale is Sunday the 13th, from 11 AM until 4 PM. For more info on the event, please click HERE.

Hope to see you all this weekend!

xo xo

Laurie

Neat Little Packages in the New Year

Here's a peek at the DIY I created for Hambly Screen Prints this month. Please pop on over to the Hambly Blog to find to more about this project and get the complete instructions.

Crafty Gadgets

During my christmas crafting season, I treated myself to a couple of new craft gadgets - a pair of fringe scissors and a scoring board. Both are from the Martha Stewart craft line.

Now that quiet January has rolled around, I've finally had a chance to break them out of the box and do a little experimenting.

The first project I created with the gadgets was this paper flower garland. I made it for my monthly contributions to Hambly Studios, and I used their paper exclusively.





I used the scoring board to create the leaves, and the fringe scissors to create the blooms.



I'm looking forward to spending a some more time with these new tools and exploring all the possibilities!

This Makes Me Happy

And now it lives in my crafting room.

I found it here in Tacoma, at an antique shop downtown. It's from the 1940's and I like trying to imagine the flower shop where it once hung, the hands that made the corsages and the occasions they were for.

FLY on By!

Just to let you know,,, for you local Tacoma folks, you can find my paper ornaments at FLY, located inside Kings Books.

FLY will be open today (Thursday, Dec 23) until six, and noon to five on Christmas Eve. They have an awesome assortment of crafts made by local Tacoma artists.

Stop by and pick an ornament up,, $10 each, kitten not included.


FLY (inside Kings)
218 St. Helens Ave.
Tacoma, Washington 98402

Merry, Merry!!!

I just wanted to take a break between cookie batches to wish you all the best. I hope you have a joyous holiday season, filled with friends, family, food and fun.

Thanks so much for the kind words, love and support you've sent my way over this past year. I appreciate you.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

With love, from Laurie

DIY: Make A Paper Disco Ball!

My December DIY project for Hambly Screen Prints just got posted on their blog. Here's a sneak peek at the project.





Click HERE to visit the post and get the complete instructions to make your own!

One Sale Left this Season... and it's Saturday!

This Saturday (Dec 11th) I'll be selling my wares at the Second Saturdayz Market. It's a wonderful show - a mix of crafts and vintage goods - and it's organized by my friend crafty friend Linda (of LULUZ) and her craftin/junkin' pals.

I'll be selling pins, garlands, ornaments, gift tags, and a few other treasures, too.

The show's in Hanger 30 at Magnuson Park on Sandpoint Way in Seattle WA.

Show hours are 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Come for early bird shopping (8:00 - 10:00 AM) and pay $10 to enter. Arrive after 10:00 AM and pay $4.00 general admission.

Click HERE for complete directions, more information on the show and a peek at a few of the vendors participating in the show.

Hope to see you there! It's going to be a good one!!

What a Day, What a Day... The Martha Stewart Holiday Craft Sale Recap

We just got home from the most amazing trip to NYC. The Martha Stewart Holiday Craft Sale was an incredible event and by far the finest craft sale I have ever participated in or attended. The caliber of craft was SO high.

It was very interesting getting a glimpse into the MS world. I also enjoyed being able to meet and mingle with so many creative and crafty folks.

The sale was held at the Martha Stewart HQ in Chelsea. "Martha" was there to meet us when we entered the sale space.

The real Martha came by and previewed the sale.



Giant wedding cake style chandeliers made of tinsel strands hung from the ceiling.



A couple of demo stations were set up and guests were able to make their own ornaments.





Before the show opened on Saturday, while everyone was still setting up, I took a moment to walk around and take a look at the other tables.



Handle and Spout had some adorable hair clips.



Vintage by Crystal had a sweet collection of spun cotton figures.



Maria Eife brought her lovely and bold felt jewelry.



Here's my table, all set up and ready to go.







The guests lined up around the block, and at noon, the doors opened and everyone flooded in. The sale was packed ALL day long.



Sales were great, and I had a chance to meet a lot of nice people who follow my craft blog, and my kitty blog too.



It was an amazing experience, and I am so grateful to have had this incredible opportunity! I'm hoping many good things will come from this day.

Thanks to all who came by and said hello. I am so happy to have met you and appreciate your support!

Today's the Day! Come on by!!

Last night we all set up our tables at the Martha Stewart Holiday Craft Sale. Oh, my. There are some amazing crafters there. And Martha herself was there too, and she stopped by my table! EEEEEK!!!

I hope you all are coming down today because it's going to be an AWESOME show.

I've got lots of photos to share, but no time to upload them today. I'll post them once the show is done.

You can see a few pictures from the sale on the Crafts Dept Blog, and get details on the show too by clicking HERE.

OK,, I'm off to the show! Hope to see you there!

On the Way! Hooray!!

I am writing this post in the air, on my way to NYC for the Martha Stewart Holiday Craft Sale! My jumbo suitcases are packed to the max with hundreds of ornaments, pins, tags, flowers, and all the craft sale necessities like bags, sales book, calculator, business cards, etc.

I have to say, it feels pretty good to be on my way. I've only had two and a half weeks to prepare for the sale, and have been spending every waking moment crafting and planning. It's been fun being so focused on making things, but pretty exhausting too. I'm ready to give my hands and eyes a break.

Here are a few last pics of all my wares packed up and ready to go.











My fingers are crossed there will be no lost luggage!

All you NYC peeps, please come by the sale this Saturday and say hello. You can find all the details here.

Getting Ready

It's hard to believe the Martha Stewart Holiday Craft sale is less than a week away! I think (I hope) I have enough inventory made, and now I'm focused on getting things packed.

Here's a peek at some of the crafties I'll be bringing in my bags.








If you're in the NCY are this Saturday, December 4th, please stop by and say hello.

For more info on the show,, click HERE.

Scrappy Cats

I've been crafting around the clock with the help of my two little studio mates, Nigel and Mimsey Frost.

They LOVE wresting in my paper scraps, so instead of throwing thing right into the recycling, I've been making a little paper nest for them.

It's fun for the kittens and it keeps them distracted, off my desk, and away from my finished work.

It's Officially Official!

Well, I just got the word this morning that I'm one of the lucky five who have won a space at the Holiday Craft Sale at the Martha Stewart Creative HQ! I can't even begin to tell you what a thrill and an honor this is. I am completely over the moon about it.

Thanks SO much to all who voted in the contest. I appreciate your support!!

As the results rolled in, and things started looking promising, I went ahead and ordered a few more supplies so I could jump right into production mode. I plan to spend the next two and half weeks glued to the chair in my craft room. I can hardly wait to begin!!

So how much should I bring? I've done plenty of craft sales, but not one with this volume of traffic. I guess I'll just keep on making and bring as much as I can complete in the time I have, and hope that's plenty.

Here's a sneak peek of some of the gems I'll be working into the new Holiday pins.





And speaking craft sales,, don't forget this weekend I'll be at the Tacoma is for Lovers artist craft sale. Details HERE .... please come by!

My Crafty Companion

I wanted to introduce you to Charlene Butterbean. If you follow my other blog, The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee, you've already met her.

When you work from home, you can get a little starved for interaction. Having a little studio mate like Charlene, really does help.

Most of the time she's good. She loves to sit in the window, survey the yard, and chirp at the squirrels as they run along the top of the fence. She also likes to watch me work, especially if there are birds and ribbon involved.

She has been known to get into trouble, though. Sometimes she'll sneak into the room and steal my supplies (like ribbon and birds). Many craft supplies do resemble cat toys, so that's no surprise.

One day she jumped on my desk once and swiped her floofy tail in the glue. Then she swished it again, and knocked over the glitter. The noise startled her and she ran off leaving a sparkly trail behind her, and a big mess to clean up.

Now, there are rules. She's not allowed in the craft room alone, and she can't come in when certain things are in use. Like glitter and glue.