The intermittent blogger returns!

Wow, it's been exactly one month since I posted.  It's been pretty busy around here in Papercake world, but that's no excuse.  I've been making lots of stuff, for lots of holiday craft shows.  The blog isn't the only thing that has suffered.  Take, for instance, my November calendar layout, which I threw together yesterday:

I confess that I sort of cheated on this one.  I cut the "give thanks" image right off the front of the latest Paper Source catalog (without their permission, of course!) and stuck it on a piece of scrapbook paper.  Then I added a piece of ribbon (by The Paper Studio) and my last bit of velveteen leaves that I am pretty sure I purchased from Speckled Egg a few years back.  I am waiting patiently for Jacob's school pictures to arrive so I can add a photo of him.  So yes, a rather pathetic calendar.  But, it's done! 

I did make something else this week that I can feel much more proud of: a sign. I decided a sign would be helpful at craft shows, so I rummaged around a bit in the basement/dungeon/studio and found a wooden tray thing that I think I picked up at Goodwill in 2007.  I used to have a calendar tacked to it, but then the helpful corkboard I had adhered fell off.  Back in '07, I was obsessed with painting stuff red.  Now I am obsessed with painting things aqua, so that's what I did.  I also played around with my collection of Scrabble tiles (don't you do that a lot too?) because I thought a few Scrabble tiles might be just the thing to add some dimension.  Here's the result:

As always, excuse my poor photography skills.  I like my sign.  And it's much lighter than the typewriter, plus it won't take up as much table space.  So, when you're out doing the craft show circuit in Des Moines over the next month or two, just look for the sign. 

In between making books and playing with Scrabble tiles, we went Trick or Treating last week:

That's our very own little Sheriff Woody, who recently turned four.  Last year he was Buzz Lightyear.  Naturally he loves Halloween.  He told me that he was sure when he put on his costume that people would think he was a real sheriff.  I'm glad he believes that his costumes are that convincing. 

If you're out and about in Des Moines this weekend, please stop by Beaverdale Holiday Boutique at Holy Trinity School and say hello.  This show has been going on for over thirty years and is a good one.  There's lots of wonderful handmade goodness there.  There will be over 100 crafty vendors there, including me.  Just look for the sign! 

I think this is the official version: Fall & Winter 2011 Shows

I'm pretty sure this is it: here's where I'll be the next couple of months.  Taking my show on the road a little bit this year, as in outside of the Des Moines city limits.  Very exciting, actually!

Sunday, Nov. 6: Fall Festival Arts & Crafts Bazaar, 105 W. 1st Ave. Indianola IA, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Friday Nov. 11(6;30 to 8:30 p.m.) & Saturday Nov. 12 (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.), Beaverdale Holiday Boutique @ Holy Trinity, 2926 Beaver Ave., Des Moines.

Market Day Black Friday!!  9 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Nov. 25 (duh!) @ the Kirkwood, 4th & Walnut, downtown Des Moines.

Saturday, Dec. 3: Small Town Country Christmas craft show, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Milo IA.

Saturday, Dec. 10: WHAT A LOAD OF CRAFT! 11 to 7, Johnson County Fairgrounds, Iowa City, IA.  This is a new show for me this year and I'm super-excited, because I have heard all kinds of great things about it from my fellow crafty-ites here in Des Moines who have done it before.  Can't wait.  I'm sure all of these shows will be a great time.  It's always fun to meet new customers and see repeat customers.  I've honestly never had a bad time doing a craft show.  That's one big reason why I keep doing them.  Pretty simple:  they are fun. 

So, tell your friends, tell your neighbors, your pizza delivery guy, etc:  shop local and buy handmade for the holidays.  It's a great way to "occupy Wall Street" and also support your local crafters, artists, & makers of wonderful, awesome handmade stuff.  And the person who opens said fabulous handmade gift will be genuinely delighted as well.  Everybody wins. 

All in a day's work...

Today was a busy one.  I worked really hard scouring the antique mall for treasures.  Sounds fun, right?  Well, if you're into that sort of stuff, which I am, it definitely is!  And for me, it's part of my job....because making journals out of old books requires finding old books.  Which means that I have to go shopping.  Because it's a job requirement.  Lucky me! 
Found some good treasures today: a few Trixie Beldens (I was fresh out of them!) and my best score was a few volumes of these 1961 Popular Mechanics Illustrated "Home Handyman" Encyclopedias.  They're in pretty bad shape and were crying out for a makeover.  It was kind of funny that I found these today, because I'd just visited a good friend who, along with his lovely wife, are currently in the middle of home remodeling hell (Hi Jerry & Pat!).  Around our house, the home handyman is working on a new fence so we have enough room to put in a swingset for the little guy (who, by the way, will celebrate two weeks of being potty trained tomorrow!).  Father's Day is around the corner so these books found their way to me at just the right time of year.
I also worked on some ideas for my display for Art in the Park in Dallas Center this Saturday, that I'm pretty excited about.  Usually my displays are pretty basic, involving a tablecloth and cramming as much stuff onto the table as I can.  But since I'll have a lot more room for Art in the Park, I'm trying to spruce things up a little.  I don't have it finalized yet, but I can tell you that it involves a birdcage and a beautiful vintage typewriter.  You can always come check it out Saturday, at Mound Park in Dallas Center, from 1 to 5, and I will be sure to post some pics afterwards. 
Okay, back to work.   

Market Day is almost here...

I can't wait until Saturday.

I love Market Day. Love, love, love it.

Are there people left in Des Moines who don't know about Market Day? I certainly hope not, but if that should be the case, then please, help those folks educate themselves. Send them directly to this week's Juice or to www.marketdayiowa.com or the Market Day blog, www.marketdayiowa.tumblr.com. Or, you could read this post on www.lacybrunnette.com. I just did. And lo and behold, there was a photo of my journals! It is always exciting to find myself out there on the internet.

The best way to learn about Market Day, is of course, to show up. And you can do that THIS SATURDAY. Downtown Des Moines @ 4th & Walnut from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. You won't be sorry. I promise. You will, however, be amazed, delighted, and happy. And when you buy from local artists, makers, curators, & collectors, you make us happy too. So everybody wins.

Where to find me: Market Day & more.

Lots of fun stuff coming up and you should come check it out! Here's where you can find me over the next month or so.
On Thursday May 26 I'll be at the Valley Junction Farmers Market again, in the Green Grounds Cafe booth, 4 to 8 pm. Music, food, and crafts...what more could you ask for?

MARKET DAY!! I am very excited to be part of Market Day again this year. Hands down, a truly awesome event! This year Market Day will be located in the Kirkwood Building downtown at 4th & Walnut, just mere steps away from the downtown farmers market. 9 am until 2 pm the last Saturday of the month, May through October. And of course there will be the Black Friday sale in November (more on that down the road). www.marketdayiowa.com.

Dallas Center Art in the Park: Saturday June 4, 1 to 5 pm in Mound Park in Dallas Center, IA (one block west of downtown D.C.) This is a new event for me this year and I am looking forward to it. I get to host a young artist in my space and I think that will be lots of fun. There will be art, food, and more so come check it out!

It is lots of fun to meet people and see returning customers and friends and check out what other crafters & artists are doing.

Craft Show Display

Craft Saturday was lots of fun. This is what my table looked like. I'm happy to say that the new collage print cards were a hit! It was great to meet new customers and see some returning ones. Next up for me is the Farmers' Market in Valley Junction this Thursday evening; you can find me at the booth for Green Grounds Cafe. Find it on 5th Street in Historic Valley Junction in West Des Moines. You can find all the info at http://www.valleyjunction.com/.

Craft Saturday!

If you're in or around Des Moines today, stop by the 4th Street Theatre downtown and check it out. Lots of lovely handmade items; you're sure to find something you love, either for yourself or maybe a unique Mother's Day gift. Noon to six, on 4th Street between Court and Walnut, downtown Des Moines (right next door to Java Joe's). Hope to see you there!

All I can say is....WOW!

That's right, WOW! Market Day Black Friday just rocked! I knew it was going to be good, but it totally exceeded my expectations. Everything was great: the location and all the shoppers. There were TONS of people there, many of whom had never been to Market Day before. And there were lots of people there who I recognized from previous Market Days. It is so cool to recognize and even get to know your customers. I had repeat customers, which just makes me so happy! It also makes me feel really good when somebody likes something I've made enough to give it as a gift to someone they care about. And it was great to see people choosing unique handmade gifts instead of spending all their dollars at the big-box stores. Personally, I would rather get something handmade. Wouldn't you?

Now I'm down to just one more craft show for 2010 and I will be busy over the next two weeks replenishing my inventory for the HOLIDAY MARKET at Central Presbyterian on December 11 and 12. And I even managed to update my etsy shop last week and am going to try and add a few more things this week.

My other main activity from now until Christmas will be keeping the two-year-old boy and the nine-year-old cat from destroying the Christmas tree. I'm afraid this may prove to be more than one woman can handle alone.

Sunday Bazaar and the Blustery Day

The debut of the East Village Sunday Bazaar exceeded all my expectations! Lots and lots of people came to check it out and it was a fun, successful day. Got to meet new people and see a few friends I've been missing. My spot was right next to the gals from Porch Light Antiques (great stuff!) and I learned that their new store, right on East 6th & Grand, will be opening at the beginning of October (can't wait!). Got to chat with some SASS friends, as well as admire the amazing art of Kay Sperry of Sweetwater Studio, listen to good live music, and partake in some people-watching in between taking care of customers. It was great to see how many people showed up! Thanks to Amy Hassebrock of aimee for spearheading this awesome event.
If you missed this Sunday, don't despair, because you have seven more Sundays to get down to East 5th Street (between Walnut & Locust) and check out all the goodies. Noon to four, rain or shine--or wind! And yes, there was a moment or two when I held on to my tent and hoped that it didn't blow away!
(P.S. I was totally going to post photos but something is up with either blogspot or my laptop and I can't get any uploaded right now...so will try to remember to post some real soon!)