Waterdown Spring Artisan and Craft Show Recap

On Saturday I had my first craft show in five months at the Waterdown legion for the Spring Artisan and Craft Show.  Waterdown is only a short drive away and after I heard that my mom, The Nature of Mary Jane, would be participating with her knits, I of course said "yes" right away when the organizers, Jen and Nick of Prouse Pottery & Soap Co., were kind enough to invite me!

I really love doing shows, so although I have taken a few months off shows to focus on restocking the 15 stores that carry Needlings, I had a nice day hanging out with family and meeting new vendors and seeing some familiar faces too. I like feeling like I have some coworkers for the day and of course seeing positive reactions to my work in person is pretty awesome.





And of course, my table neighbour/mom's table of knits!




We had lots of fun! It made me more excited about upcoming shows this summer and was a happy break from sewing for the day!



                   

I was also, of course, happy to have an excuse to wear my new favourite Old Navy dress!

All in all a really nice craft show day! I can't wait to share with you more exciting big events for Needlings this year including but not limited to: FanExpo,Supercrawl, and Locke Street Festival.

Every year now I feel more and more at home in Southern Ontario and I have a lot of these awesome events and Needlings to thank for it.

In the Workroom Recap : Week 234

Hi guys!

This week was a busy one as I had my first craft show of the year on Saturday.  My last one was in December! My longest stretch between shows since starting in 2007! As I concentrate more on stocking the retailers that carry Needlings, I've had to cut back on shows a bit. Luckily I had the week to stock my table and work out some display issues that will hopefully cut out some work before shows later this year!

Oh, that was boring! Sorry! So, blah, blah, blah, I had to make some Needlings to fill the Needlings table!

I started with Owl Mamas, of course!





Finished! Then I was on to some Littles!  

I wasn't sure how much time I had so I decided on sticking with some Minou Kitties, Little Robots, and some Happy Ninjas!



Then faces!





And finished!

Next I stared at my stock and thought, "Is that enough to fill an eight foot table?" After deciding that I wasn't entirely sure and also wanting to work out a new Spring set up to include a few framed prints, I did a test set up for my own peace of mind!



I used to do these test set-ups before a lot of shows when I first started but I haven't for a couple years now! It helped me set up in the morning without too much decision-making needed before I could wake up a bit and get some tea or coffee or both. Not really a morning person!

I thought it was looking pretty full but I was in need of some new signage.



I'm always surprised how long these kinds of things take! But I was happy with the results - some price signs and two new Needlings table signs including a banner than I am pleased to say worked out how I wanted on the first try instead of having to recut things or reprint anything! Although the "l" is upside down... We can't all be perfect, friends. Especially not at midnight on the night before a show.

I spent Friday evening packing everything up and getting ready to get everything in the car and head out to Waterdown early Saturday morning!  I'll do a separate post for the show but that ends the workroom recap for the week!

Lots of things planned for week 235 including packing up a box of goodies for Nice Things Handmade, a store in Philadelphia, and on to more owls for more store restocks! It's neverending and I couldn't be gladder about that!

See you soon!

A Trip to Guelph

Guelph, Ontario is home of the University of Guelph (and other things) and happens to be an adorable little city about 45 minutes away from where I live.

It had been awhile since I made a visit to this place since becoming acquainted with it only a little over a year ago (a story involving a Guelphian ex-boyfriend) but I became quite attached to it quickly and have been looking for a reason to make a visit.

On Saturday, I found one!  My friends Rovena and Dave of Handmades by Rovena were doing a craft show in the beautiful Old Quebec Mall so my mom and I took a trip out to see them and check things out!
Here they are at Rovena's beautiful table of cards and other paper goodies.



It is the least "mall-like" mall I have ever seen - which is a good thing! Ah, Guelph, you charm me so.

It was lovely to see them, pick up a card and chat a bit.  Then my daytrip partner (my moms) and I set off on a little walk around the downtown so I could take some pictures and oogle at things in cute shops. I almost bought some shoes and then an owl wearing a monocle but decided against both and continued phototaking and window shopping. Regretting both decisions only slightly.





Spent a good amount of time in Mocando Books - an amazingly charming used book shop packed with books that I've visited before but this time found a couple hidden owls. As if the sheer amount of books wasn't a big enough sell. I may have ended up a toy maker but I am an English major booknerd at heart forever. When books are stacked so high I can hardly get at them, I know I'm in the right place.








I may have gone a little crazy with book pictures. But don't you feel like you've been there now! I had to document it. 



It was a perfect sunny but chilly day! I really do love Guelph. I won't stay away so long next time.

And here's my outfit of the day:

                    

Lots of old favourites.  All in all, a really nice day! I hope you had one too!

In the Workroom Recap : Week 234

Another week over! I couldn't believe it was time for another workroom recap!

But it is and so it was.

This week was a busy one and being now that my first show of the year is a week from today, I'm looking at another busy one ahead!

I started the week out with another doodle.



A lot more plans have been developing in my head for these silly things but in the meantime I've been having fun picking up my pencil whenever something pops in there.

The plan was to drop off a batch of goodies at our new retailer, Little Bird in Hamilton, on Thursday so I had to keep working away on a batch of Owl Mamas.  But I did take a little break from them to ship out a couple Little Owlings to a customer in Norway. I wish I could take the trip with them! Except in some sort of seat or chair rather than inside an envelope. They don't seem to mind though.





After I finished that up and then finished stuffing all my Owl Mamas, I started work on a little batch of Little Robots to bring down to the new shop!



While I try to keep my work area pretty neat and professional. I will admit that sometimes I find a comfier chair, put my feet up, and sew in my pjs. Just think of all the personal handmade care that goes in to sewing all these little faces... Those big box toy stores don't have anything on Needlings. Right? Right!



Back to the worktable and no more worse for the wear!



Better, in fact.

OK! So I brought all these down to Little Bird as you may have seen in my last post and after some excitement and conversation, I worked on a few kitties to add to their stock when someone asked if they could get one there. 




So now they're there! (their)

                                        
                                              
Then a whale and a fancy fox doodle for good measure. I like a whale and a fox. And a capelet.

So that's it for this week! I am staring at my worktable starting to figure out my schedule for what to make next in order for me to have a full table at my first craft show of the year on the 5th. Lots to do!

I hope to see some of you there!

          

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Mid-Week Update with OotD

Hello friends!

I thought I would stop in today to let you know some of the goings on around here before the usual workroom recap!

First off, I am excited to announce Needlings will be carried in our 15th retail location, a great locally owned Hamilton shop, Little Bird.  I stopped in today to drop off some Owl Mamas and Little Robots and meet the owner, Jodi, and her cute little bird* too!

*actually a human baby boy.


(Photo courtesy of Little Bird)

I'll have to stop by again soon to get some photos of everything in action. I'm very excited to have Needlings in a great little Hamilton store!

I also received news that some other lovely shopowners, Stephen and Melanie, of Dots & Loops in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, are featured in the Nova Scotia Tourism "Doers and Dreamers" Guide. And they're holding a Needlings Owl Mama! Needless to say, I popped on over to the Nova Scotia tourism website to get myself a copy.

I'm so happy for them that their store of under one year old is being recognized for how amazing it is! They do a great job! (Plus, aren't they cute?) 


(Photo courtesy of Dots & Loops)

And for good measure, here's a mid-week Outfit of the Day of what I wore today on this rainy chilly Spring day!


                    

Sweater: Thrifted Handmade Wool
Top: Old Navy
(My favourite) Skirt: Asos
Shoes: Rocketdog

See you soon!  ♥

In the Workroom Recap : Week 233

Before work in the workroom started the week, I started with a trip to Chapters in Ancaster to check on my stock and see my new flipped around spot after the store reorganizing after Easter.

They're already almost in need of some more littles!  I had a few other restocks to finish before I get going on more for Chapters but I plan on stopping in this weekend to check in again. I'm excited they are doing well in such a big store surrounded by a bunch of manufactured plush. Go handmade!

Then, doodling...



I had a few more ideas for doodles this week and wanted to find a way to make use of them. The robot I made to use on my gift wrapping for a robot sale in the shop! I have some more ideas for printed items and tags floating around in my brain.





I'm really enjoying having an extra creative outlet within Needlings. Plus doodling is just fun. I've always done it anyway! My plush usually start out as doodles. 

So after the robot headed out to its future home, I decided to get some of these doodles framed and in the shop! I plan on having them at my next craft show in a couple weeks too!




I'll have to get a few more frames for the rest of them! It was fun to see these silly little drawings all printed out and framed.



Last, but not least, I got started on a batch of Owl Mamas for store number fifteen (!) for Needlings, Little Bird Hamilton, which is a very cute local kids shop.  I'll be dropping of a batch of goodies this coming Thursday which I'm excited about.  

In addition to finishing up and dropping off items at the new store, I'll be trying to get a head start on making enough stuff to fill my own table for my first craft show of the year on May 5th in Waterdown, Ontario!
Lots of stuff on the go as usual.

See you next week, friends.