SO I'm not a salesman -- perhaps that is the problem

I love making things with my hands -- I'm not a sales person, perhaps this is my downfall in being successful when it comes to vendoring. This weekend I attended 2 events, one in Colfax  -- hosted by the Girl Scouts 

and the other in Clemons at River Ridge Taphouse 

They both had slow turn out and very limited sales, I think I will come out at least covering my table fees once the custom orders are paid in full but it's still a disappointment. I have some opportunities that I am weighing out for this upcoming weekend as well as for some of the weeks in December but right now I'm kinda disheartened with the experience -- esp when it cuts into creative time. So here's to some happy quilting this week and maybe things will look better at events closer to Christmas. 

I came home Sunday and did what any good crafter does I spent time with my machine and worked on finishing up some quilt tops that I have in the works and playing in the fabric. 

Scrappy Swoon 

Lazy Sunday 

(best pictures I could get the wind is blowing strong up here in the mountain today -- see below) 

Happy Quilting Everyone -- Turkey Day is only 10 days away and it's the final 6 weeks to Christmas. 

Fabriholics Anonymous

Everyone that knows me (or even reads this blog frequently) knows I love fabric and may have a purchasing problem when it comes to fabric. It's so lovely and soft and less fattening than chocolate -- and there is always an excuse to want more. Now my stash isn't huge (compared to others) but there are things in there that frequently get overlooked and moved around because newer stuff is there are ideas are all around. 

A peek inside 1 of 4 drawers 

some of what won't fit in the drawers 

my scrap bins are tightly packed for sure (this does not include fabric strings)

It's starting to take over and becoming unmanageable -- I decided that I really need to purge some of this down. It became even more real the day I decided to straighten my bookshelf up and discovered the large number of patterns and books that hadn't ever been used or really looked at -- and we all know how expensive books can be. 

The boxes contain purchased patterns and the magazine holder is full of online printed patterns. This is only part of the books I have -- the weight was bowing the shelf slightly. 

So I decided that I needed to pledge to use as much stash as possible and cut down on collecting -- I bought all this with a purpose (probably to go with some of the unused patterns) and needed to make it happen and reclaim the space I love to be able to use it in a more useful manner. 

This ties neatly into something I stumbled upon today during my catch up reading, when I came across a link up that is dedicated to those of us that have this affliction --- Fabriholics Anonymous. It's being hosted by Rebecca @ making rebecca lynne and Jess @ the elven garden. I did a fabric diet back before the shop hop and that went well so I decided why not at least give it a try. 

It's a 6 month challenge with a few basic goals ----

• using stash we already have 
• Finishing UFO's (and pending UFO's)
• not buying simply because something is new
• Save money for other goals -- for me this is paying off my sewing machine earlier and getting closer to a new car 
• Destash fabrics that probably are never going to get used.

There are a few more fabric rules --

• NO fabric purchases for 6 months starting Jan 1, 2014
• reevaluate at 6 months to determine whether to go for a year (7/1/2013)
• Create a UFO list -- and complete them!!
• A few exceptions -- 
• Backing purchased to finish a UFO -- if stash is not available
• Swap Mama fabrics 
• quilts for publication 
• non fabric items (books, patterns, notions, etc)

I think I'm up for it -- sooooo if you think your up for it pop over and see Rebecca or Jess and take the challenge with me and we can support one another and make beautiful stuff. 

Happy Quilting Everyone!! 

50 Days till Christmas

Well now that I have your attention -- I thought it was a great opportunity to reveal my WIPs and goals for the month. 

The next event that I have scheduled is coming up in 2 weeks and so far this is the last one of the year for me -- I've been kinda slack about finding more shows esp after the poor results of the last few. I'm hoping for at least a few sales at this next one -- its' being hosted by the girl scouts in Colfax, NC. 

As with the approaching deadline it's time to see what I can put together in a short amount of time and still meet all my other obligations. So onto the goals --- 

• Finish up all in progress crochet critters 
• finish up at least the tops of some WIP quilts -- thinking about showing some unfinished projects that could be customized 
• make up some pouches or drawstring bags (maybe 10)
• make some ornaments 
• Make more user friendly price tags 

So what does the WIP list look like right now? 

5 Quilts, a gift item, blocks in progress and an Ornament for the guild holiday meeting (that I forgot to add). 

• Star Wars and Little fish only need quilting and binding.
• Unwind is a completed top but needs to be finished by the guild meeting 10/26
• Swoon is a nearly completed top and only needs one part cut before being ready for boarders 
• Lazy Sunday is still a pile of blocks (a few need to be finished) and then it will quickly become an unfinished top
• Block of the week is winding down but I am 4 behind and block of the month is meeting tonight so I will be getting 1 or 2 blocks due 12/03

There is much quilting to be done and luckily I am off work Monday so that's hopefully going to be a productive one for me. Happy quilting everyone.