Friday Five

After a busy weekend, I took it easy this week. Here's what I was up to:

1. I went out for dinner with my brother, Matt, & his wife, Terri-Anne. They're in Toronto for my sister-in-law, who had appointments all week at the Lockwood clinic there. This clinic is amazing - they have a bunch of specialists on call so it's basically a one-stop diagnostics centre. Terri-Anne has been having a lot of problems over the last 2 years & the doctors at home were starting to tell her it was all in her head. Actually, no. It's a huge relief to finally be getting some answers. So we had a nice dinner together, just the 4 of us (which never happens at home!).
2. I signed up for 2 online secret santas this year. Here are my wrapped gifts - I'll be shipping them out today. Number 1:I got to play tetris to get them all in a small shoe box:
   And number 2: I even stamped this gorgeous reindeer on the card envelopes:I hope the recipients love their gifts!
3. I had a meeting with my supervisor - I'm extended for another 3 months since I still haven't gotten all the samples I need to finish. What a relief! Pat & I were worried about managing without my pay...
4. I decorated my tree! I need a bigger one to hold all my ornaments - as it is, the back is just as fully decorated as the front.
5. I didn't get around to baking anything this week, even though I really wanted to. Mostly because our apartment building is infested with pantry moths (& no one is doing anything about it... awesome). I had to throw out ALL my pasta, rice, crackers, cereal, flour, etc. We're heading to Wal-Mart tonight to grab a whole bunch of containers... ugh.

Hope you have a great weekend! We're planning on finishing up our Christmas shopping. Think of us at the mall - it's going to be crazy!

My Creative Space

Now that my craft show is over, I've been relaxing a bit. I took out this cross-stitch I started months ago & started stitching in the sky:

It'll be similar to my Soar piece, but with different colours & a different word (still haven't decided on what).

I'm also making paper snowflakes: I want a nice fun window display for the season.

What have you been up to creatively?

Wordless Wednesday

Craft Show

I have a busy day ahead, but I thought it was time to show you my craft show table! I want to start by apologizing for the crappy dark photos - the cathedral we were in is gorgeous, but the lighting wasn't ideal. I couldn't get the settings on my camera just right.
Here I am behind my table. I was the very first booth on the left-most row (of four rows) which I thought was a pretty good location. Lots of people started out at my table, which gave me some impulse buyers - but there were lots who decided to make the rounds first before buying anything ... and I'm not sure if I ever saw them again.

I used my sign table clothes but decided to cover the top of the table with a blue sheet. I prefer the contrast between my items & the lighter colour. They also convienently covered all the boxes of merchandise I had hidden under there.
This picture is a little brighter so you can see my table a bit more. I had my beaded ornaments hanging in the little pine tree & some with the globes on my tree branches. I know you can't tell, but I glittered those branches & it looked awesome! So festive!

Right in front of the pine tree were my free bookmark business cards. I got a lot of positive feedback on those - everyone thought that they were very clever (thanks Kate!)! On silver platters (thanks mom!) in the middle of my table were my stocking stuffers: tissue cozies & mini notebooks. These were my best sellers by far. Then at the far end I had my wine cozies set up in a wooden crate. I also had a wine bottle wrapped up for display. Right beside that I set up my jewelry (you can see the white box my earrings hang in) - which was worthwhile since I sold 2 pairs of earrings.

I used holiday tins to hold up my signs (which were simply cardboard, but I think they still looked ok). Again, thanks mom! I got a few nice comments on those & my table set up too! The only part I'm still not happy with is my jewelry. I don't think it's well displayed at all... so I'll have to work on that.

Any ideas on how I can improve my table layout?

All in all, I had a great time! I made back my booth fee & then some, so I consider it to be a success (Pat, not so much, but what does he know?)! I wonder if I'll still be in Hamilton for the next holiday Maker's Market?

Mosaic Monday

Christmas cookies!

1. decorated tree cookies, 2. Zimtsterne (2/4), 3. chocolate christmas pudding cookies 5678 R, 4. Day 41/365: Merry Christmas, Flickrites!

Join us for Mosaic Monday! Make a mosaic, include a link back to this post & then add your blog link below!

Friday Five

This week was packed with craft show preparations - indeed, I barely had any time to devote to my blog or my Etsy shops. I think I'm almost ready though!

Here's what I was up to:

1. I sewed & sewed. In total, I have 37 wine cozies & 49 tissue cozies.
2. I glued & glued. I made 29 new holiday globes & have 9 from last year (plus 3 large ones).
3. I cut & cut. I have a blister forming into a callus on my thumb from trimming tissue cozies with my pinking shears.
4. I organized. Since I have my holiday ball tonight (fancy dinner & dancing, can't wait!) I can't waste any time today. Here are some ribbons waiting to be added to my moo cards to make bookmarks: Today I also want to "set up" my table so that I can figure out sign-age & if anything is missing...
5. I did do some science stuff: a few experiments in lab plus it was the last lab of the year for the undergrad class I TA. I have to run in to work today too to get some things done... busy busy!

Wish me luck tomorrow - I'm hoping to do really well!

Have a great weekend everyone!

My Creative Space

My creative space is full - I'm busy with preparations for my craft show!

Today I'm finishing up these globes, wine cozies & tissue cozies:

Check out more creative spaces over at kootoyoo.

Wordless Wednesday