Don't bring me dooowwwwn

I sold three things over a two day show. I won't get into any more details than that because it's painful to think about (though I got some custom order possibilities). Let's just say it was the wrong sort of crowd.

Now I have to list on etsy all the things I had made for the show. I've got lots of keychains and pins and things... here's just a few of the new ones (not all of them are listed on etsy yet):

Beetle pin:
Butterfly hair barrette:Bee keychains:Butterfly wing necklace:

Be sure to check out my shop for these and other new goodies.

So much for the rain...

Turns out it's a beeeaaauuuutiful weekend, but I think the rainy forecast scared everyone off. I didn't need my tent after all, I got a spot indoors where almost everyone else was. Super small show, not many vendors, not much publicity, and barely any people. They all crowded around the booth re-selling expensive looking jewelry that was obviously not handmade. Right across from me. Sigh.

Sold one thing before the show even opened for the day. Luckily my boyfriend was great company, talked about things I should do to improve my display.

Today I'll be alone and bringing a book. Because when people only show up to my spot every five or so minutes, it gets boring.

I talked to the other vendors at the end of the day yesterday and they said it was the worst turnout/sales they ever had. Many had been to this show before.

Oh well. Learning experience, right? But I've gotta do it all over again today. Yay.

Ahhh I'm so excited!

My first craft show of the summer is this weekend! I just finished packing up all my stuff, going to set up my tent at the spot either this afternoon or tomorrow morning. And I'm signing up for more craft shows this summer... so far this is my schedule for the shows that have been paid for (there are more places I still need to call):

May 17th + 18th
10-4
Lakeside Farms
Ballston Lake, NY
http://www.lakesidefarmscidermill.com/

June 21st
10-5
Art on Lark Street festival
Albany, NY
https://www.larkstreet.org/festivals.php

July 19th + 20th
Arts in the Park
Inlet, NY
http://townofinlet.org/

There won't be any other shows in June because that's when I'll be doing most of my collecting trips for my research project. However there will be plenty in July and August!

I'm getting more custom orders which is really exciting. Someone asked me to make a giant water bug, one of my favorite insects. I keep them as pets whenever I can catch them... here are two water bugs I used to keep in my dorm room my first year of college. They're sharing a goldfish. They make awesome pets (they are about 2" long).

Sneak preview

I've been sooooooo busy getting my business in order (DBA, sales tax, all that fun stuff) and getting ready for my craft show next weekend! It'll be held at a local shop called Lakeside Farms, more info on their website.

So today I practiced setting up my tables with the stuff I have so far, and setting up my brand new tent. Only $82 at Walmart, woohoo! All went well putting it up and taking it down, here's to hoping it lasts through the summer (I've heard so many horror stories about craft show tent disasters). I also practiced hanging up my new banner. All the letters are hand sewn! Part of my table setup:I've been making a lot of bee themed items to sell, and I'll be donating 25% of the sales of those items to the making of the documentary Vanishing of the Bees. There was an article on the front page of my local newspaper this morning about how 30% of the bees of New York state have disappeared, and that doesn't bode well for our apples. I have some bee pins currently for sale in my shop.

Busy busy busy!

Whew. Now that I'm all settled in I've gotten to work finishing up some custom orders! The goodies I'm about to show you are all spoken for but if you're interested I could make anything your heart desires.

Water bear - these are very strange tiny aquatic creatures.Amphipod and daphnia - more tiny little swimmy things.
One more little guy... a clam shrimp.And now for the big guy and one of my absolute favorite soft sculptures I've ever made - a bearded dragon.This guy is 30" long head to tail. Made of variously colored fleece, all of his details were hand sewn (the rest of him put together with my sewing machine). Part of me really wants to keep him for myself (as usual). My brother's bearded dragon helped me out:
Last night I also put together a limpet and a slug. I have only one more animal to work on before I'm all caught up - and then I'm going to need more work to do! I have some ideas but I'd love some more custom orders. It's so much fun making creatures that I otherwise wouldn't think to create.

Schoooooooooooool's out for summer

Home at last! Spent the day yesterday driving home with my mom and unpacking and cleaning. Went through my room and throwing out/collecting for the salvation army SO much stuff that was cluttering up my bedroom. I have my sewing space all organized and it's going to be AMAZING to work here, I finally have space. Can't wait to work with my 1947 Singer again, my portable plastic machine is, well, plastic-crap. My old Singer feels like a real machine, I love her.

Today I'm going shopping to get more sewing supplies, I'm so excited. I'm going to be spending the day cleaning cages and sewing!

And all my pets missed me. My parrot Pepper came rushing out of his cage to sit on my shoulder, chirping away so happily, he's such a cutie. However, now if I'm ever not in the same room as him he calls for me endlessly until I return. Even if he doesn't want to play or be picked up. Just to make sure I'm there. It's cute, but I've got work to do too, hehe. All the reptiles and things seem to be doing well but while my parents feed them and give them water, they don't clean out poop or shed skin. Today is going to be busy.

Pictures of my new wonderful work space and some of my animals shall be posted soon :)

Oh! And I ordered another parrot toy from wyspurcreations on etsy, and it arrived the same day I came home! I got out of the car, my mom checked the mail and there it was. And she even threw in another little goody for my Pepper. I got the Shredder, which Pepper just loves to shred to pieces. It was good having new toys to distract him with once I got home so he wouldn't freak out that I kept leaving the room. She has many parrots of her own (including Caiques like mine) and supports a parrot rescue. If you're looking for bird toys I highly suggest you check her out.

Going home!

School is almost over, I can hardly believe it! Only ONE more final exam left (statistics, yuck), which will be on Monday afternoon.

So, that means I'll be going home next week and I'll be closing up shop for the move and readjustment. I can take orders in my etsy shop up until Sunday night (April 27th). Not sure how many days my shop will be closed down, but it shouldn't be more than a week.

I can't wait to start sewing again! I've got a few projects currently in the works and a dozen more ideas floating around in my head.

I can't wait to see my family, boyfriend and pets as well. My caique, Pepper, is one of my best friends:
I can assure you that once I get home much more rambling (and pictures) of my pets and the creatures in my backyard shall occur. Don't worry.

Doing what I do best

So this summer isn't looking so bleak after all. Still no word from people who could throw money at me for the summer, but I'm looking at doing a research project for school that will entail going on numerous camping trips (an insect biodiversity study). Won't be paid for it, obviously, so I'm going to use craft shows and etsy as my source of income - here's to hoping it works out! (I'm getting all the legal stuff figured out too, finally). I can't wait to go home and start working on more creatures, I have SO many ideas floating in my head, as well as a pile of custom orders.

Did I mention my boyfriend has volunteered to be my research assistant and personal chef for my insect collecting excursions? I don't see how this situation could get any better. I mean, I've been practicing for this (catching bugs) my whole life :P

And I know I can't post without posting a picture, since none of you are probably paying attention to my ramblings, so here:
It's a dragonfly adult emerging from it's old skin (you can see several of them on the branch, seems to be a popular spot). Remember this guy?
Freddy here is a dragonfly nymph. They have this crazy jaw that shoots out in front of them to catch prey underwater, including insects, newts, tadpoles and even small fish. They crawl out of the water and attach themselves to a high, vertical spot when they're ready to split open their skin and take on the adult form. The wings are very soft and pliable for a while, so they need to hang out (like in the above picture) and let them dry before they can fly off.

I can't wait to go home and start hunting around for dragonfly skins! They're great for scaring people.

Summer?

Summer time is nearly here and I'm going crazy trying to figure out what I'm going to be doing with myself the next couple months. I feel sort of like this guy... flailing around...I've got three more final exams, and I'm going back home on the 30th. Most of my job plans have fallen through, and I've been contacting people like crazy, with so far none of them getting back to me. I'm looking for something zoology/wildlife related; hopefully research but I'll take giving little kids nature walks, as long as I get to do something outside. Cross your fingers for me that I get something soon!

So, due to all the mystery in my life plans, I'm not sure how much I'll be keeping up with my etsy shop. For the month of May I'll definitely be around and fulfilling my pile of custom orders (yay!), but after that... whooo knooowwwwsss. So if you've got something in mind that you'd like me to make, send me a convo on etsy and I could get to it soon.

I know this much, I'm going to be at the Art on Lark street festival in Albany, NY! I just signed up: it'll be June 21st, 10am to 5pm. I'll be bringing my bugs and monsters and will likely have new goodies. I figure no matter what I end up doing, I'll be able to spare a Saturday to sit around at a sweet craft show (there will also be music and performers). More info here.

I think I'm going to go study outside in the sunshine :)

Just silliness

It was so nice and warm today, decided to take Cedric the Centipede outside for a stroll.