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I just registered for my first craft show - can you tell I'm excited???

It's going to be on September 12th, in the parking lot at Mohawk College (or the 13th, if the weather is bad). It's their 28th annual Garage Sale ... and I'm so excited! I get 3 parking spaces and 2 6' tables (well, one, but I ordered a second one - I think I'll need it, plus, "premium spots" for more money have 2 tables).

Since it's outdoors, I think I should rent / invest in a tent. I'd rather not risk being in open air - plus a tent is more professional. I'm leaning towards renting one since this is only my first show, but it will depend on whether I find any sweet deals.

Now I have to work on piling up my inventory and inventing creative ways to display my items. I acquired some good ideas from friends & the Storque articles (and from browsing a Flickr group) ... but I want to ask you, my blog readers, for ANY advice you may have for a newbie craftshow vendor! Please?

And if you're in the area on September 12th, I hope to see you there!

Vote!

Vote for your favourite MSOE ornithology challenge HERE (hint hint).

Item of the day: Gigi purse

I saw this little purse by BagatellesAndCo on the front page and I just fell in love. The unique puffy shape and sweet pattern make for a really cute bag!

Item of the day: Scallop Mirror

I love mirrors - I have plenty of them in my little apartment to help make the space seem larger. I really like this scallop one by uncommon - it would look fabulous in my bedroom:

Item of the day: Honey Honey

I love honeycomb - a regular pattern of hexagons. There's just something so natural about it. Which is why this candle holder by lillybonbon went straight to my favourites:

Meet Chai

While my parents were down for the weekend, my mom and I went to IKEA (we needed napkins & scrubby brushes, that's it, honest!). Right next door to the IKEA in Burlington is SuperPet - where I worked one summer a few years ago. This is also where I bought a fish last fall ... but it died within a month when I switched it containers.

So I decided to get a replacement fish while I was there - why not? The bettas, or Siamese fighting fish, are extremely beautiful and easy to look after. Plus, they're entertaining. So I chose the brightest red one with gorgeous, large fins. So large that when he settles on the bottom, his bum/tail end sticks upward since he won't "close" his fins.I named him Chai - not after the tea, but after some Thai (AKA Siamese) monarch. I was searching for Thai names (since he is a Siamese fighting fish) and found Chai on some website. I like it! OK, and because I like the tea. He's doing quite well - very active, big appetite (I love how he sticks out his gills and "attacks" his pellet when he's feeding). He's even working on a nest of bubbles: I love how he's always super excited to see me - and comes to stare at me until I pull out the box of food. He's good company, sitting next to my laptop. All he needs now is a plant or something to hide in...

What I did this afternoon

I was itching like crazy this morning.

Don't worry - it isn't hives or anything!! This was a creative itch. And it needed to be satisfied.

Most of all, I wanted to pull out my sewing machine. But what to make......?

Well, I found this great tutorial for a sweet shoulder bag over on tiny happy and just had to make it!I'm definitely not an expert with my sewing machine yet (only pillows and pincushions so far), so there were a few mistakes along the way, but generally it turned out pretty nicely. I chose a fun Michael Miller pattern (pom pom dot in creme) for the outside and a deep navy blue for the lining. Of course, the amount of fabric I had wasn't quite enough, so I made the middle / top of the strap in the navy. Inside is a matching pocket: And a loop and funky button to hold it closed:This was so much fun to make!!! I'm really pleased with how it turned out! I'm tempted to try again with some different fabric.... not that I have enough in any one pattern. Patchwork anyone?

Item of the day: Yellow Daisy

I've been on such a kick for vintage dishes lately. Mainly my Swiss Alpine pattern, but also some lovely Pyrex pieces. Like these bright, juicy yellow daisy Cinderella bowls (available at sassboxclassics)!They'd look awesome in my kitchen, if only I had the space for them..