Crochet Me Crazy

Blogging has changed so much since I started this blog so many years ago.  I don't even remember how I set this thing up with all of these headers, etc and html.  That was back when blogging was kinda a new thing and it wasn't a profession as it is now.  It's set up pretty different now.  I spent some time last night checking links I had and many of those sites and blogs I linked to don't even work anymore or the blogs have been removed.  I removed all of the links that no longer work and left the ones that do.  I need to go spend some time visiting those free pattern sites that I long forgotten existed!  But from the ones I had, the list is pretty short now.  

Even sadder is the Crochet Forums I had linked are all gone.  I removed that section entirely.  Forums are a thing of the past!

I can't image ever deleting this blog.  I did spend a lot of time a few years ago downloading it so if something ever happens I have this record.  It covers a lot of our lives and my kids lives.  

I took my crochet wares to my first craft market day today!  

I'm not gonna lie I was apprehensive and a little nervous.  But I was determined that I am going to stretch myself and force myself to go through with this.  Doesn't cost me a thing.  Gotta at least try it and see what happens.  If it's bad then I never have to do it again.  It is a free farmers/craft market every 1st and 3rd Saturdays of every month in a neighboring small town to mine.  Everyone sets up around the court house.  Starts at 9 am so I arrived at 8 thinking this was plenty of time.  Shouldn't take me long to set up because I basically already had things in baskets, etc where they were gonna be.  I was shocked when I drove up and saw how crowded it was.  Well, I guess I'm gonna sneak in here on the the back side but that's okay with me.  I'm a blend in kinda girl.  

I set up and immediately struck up conversation with the lady setting up next to me.  She said it was her first time too.  Boy and I glad I parked back there next to her because I just loved her!  I think I got a friend!  She said she had a hard time coming to and wanted to turn around and go back home!  😊  Another lady I met at the post office last week stopped by my booth and then later brought another lady to introduce me to that is going to be my rabbit lady.  (Yes, I said rabbit lady. I'm sure I'll post more about the rabbits later)  Anyway, everyone was so nice and it was a very pleasant day in that regard. I was nervous because I forgot to bring change.  I just decided to risk and hope for small bills or Venmo.  And that's exactly what happened.  I was paid with small bills and ended up having no issues with making change.  My new friend said she would be able to help if I ran into a problem.  Didn't need the Venmo at all.  

I sold my first 3 items within the first hour before it had officially even started.  I was a little surprised.  People loved my stuff even when they didn't buy.   Anyway, it lasted until 1:00 pm.  By the end of the day I had made $175 in sales!  I sold 3 hats, 3 pairs of fingerless gloves, 2 stuffed chickens, ear warmers, and 1 chicken ornament, a pan handler and a pair of boot cuffs. 

I had higher hopes for my egg gathering aprons and they did get a lot of attention but the price point is too high.  So at least I know I don't have to have more than one or two of those displayed.  I can't sell those for less.  It takes me 9 hours to make an apron.

But here are the things I learned:

People will not dig in tubs or bins or even look through the ornaments stacked on the hanger.  Every thing has to be openly displayed and be able to be scanned visually.  People will scan your booth and if something doesn't draw them in visually, they won't even stop.  

I need to work on how to display my items like hats and blankets better.  I sold a several items immediately after I moved them to a more visible place.

Items in the $25 and under price points sell the best.  I need to focus on making things I can make for $20 or less for my next time.  

I plan on making a lot more fingerless gloves and some wine bottle bags for the next one.  No more Christmas stuff though...next time will be in January.  I'll probably keep going through the winter at least.  Crochet stuff sells better in the fall and winter.  Summer items will be more of a challenge.  Let me know if you have any ideas!  

Things to bring next time:

Better Price Signs Printed on Card Stock

Blocks to even up table if necessary. 

Better Table Cloths

Change and Printed Venmo Sign

A Chair to sit in!!

At least 3 tables, maybe 4 

In summery, it was a very good day and I had fun!  I met lots of nice people.  

When it was time to leave my car wouldn't start!  My vendor lady friend's husband came and gave me a jump start.

I am going to be back to blogging again! I have been crocheting a lot, a lot and there needs to be a journal of my makes. 

 So now onto the fun stuff...here's a load of pictures of what I have been up to... First up is a crocheted sandwich! This one won't be on the table for sale tomorrow because I made it for my grandkids. There's more crochet food coming in the future for them to play with

I got started crocheting Christmas stuff way back in July or August...here's a few of the items I made for my family that won't be on the table tomorrow.

Honestly, there's probably a lot of things that I've missed taking pictures of.

I will do better from here on out.

Here's a partial view of some of the things I will be attempting to sell tomorrow.  There's really a lot more than this shows but I will be sure to take pictures of my set up tomorrow and will let you know what sold the best, if anything at all!  

There's stand of various ornments, Bookmarks, Slippers, Pan Handle Covers, and Boot Cuffs, Stuffed Chickens! Lord I hope I get rid of those boot cuffs.  I went on that spree years and years ago!!

I've made two of these Egg Gathering Aprons!  Aren't they cute? I'm hoping these will be novel enough to sell to some chicken loving souls.

 

Hey, and let me know if anyone is around to still read this blog!

Today is a gloomy and rainy day. I tried to go out on the porch and read my devotional but had to go back inside because I was too cold. Everything is so pretty and green right now! I'm loving Spring! My Mimosa trees haven't started budding yet but it's a coming!



The weeks are going by at lightning speed! Just finally starting to really get ready for the cruise! Got our itinerary all shaped up now. Getting our minds made up what we wanted to do in Cozumel has been the most time consuming. Got our documents printed and paperwork all lined up. I think we're all set. I even started packing a little bit. Alison and I went cruise shopping last week. I needed a new bathing suit real bad...mine are all faded. I ended up with 2! We should be wearing bathing suits a lot more on this trip than the last one in January. We had bad weather the whole trip! I'm expecting this one to be "smooth saling" as they say! I can't wait! I really NEED a vacation!!

I have Brennan here with me until school is out. Ties me down quite a bit because we have to schedule everything around being home when the school bus gets here which is why we had to go shopping on Sunday last week instead of mid-week like we normally would. He's been going home on weekends and I've been working! I still miss the girls a lot but I'm in less pain now as the weeks go by. Haven't gotten to see them but just in passing. It feels like they are trying to keep them away from me so I haven't tried to go see them. I asked Ana about Easter and she was evasive. I plan on making other plans for Easter. It will be the first ever Easter I haven't celebrated with the kids. I will give them their baskets when I see them or send them with Brennan when he goes home. We'll decided what we will do for our first ever non-kid filled Easter Sunday. Maybe we'll make steak. Haven't had a good steak in a really long time.

Jeff started back to installing Satellite Internet but with a different company. It's not going so well though. He's barely getting jobs. He's picked up a side job or two to fill the gaps. He's still got inquiries going on his resume in access control but if it doesn't pick up soon he's gonna end up having to try to go back to the company he was with before. It's a last resort though. There's a lot of reasons not to want to.

In the meantime, he's been getting a lot more done on the fence since he's home a lot. Started on the front driveway and putting a gate in! We still have one side and the back fence to replace the old fence but at least once we get this part done we can let Fancy out there with supervision.



It will eventually have a gate opener on it because who wants to get out and open a gate, right? Until then we can shut the gate if we want to let Fancy out back until the whole project is complete.

Jeff has also been clearing out cactus from the back....this is a big pile of cactus to be burned! Lots more but it's a start!



We had a real scare with her last week. Alison sometimes let her out back to graze and keeps an eye on her. It's all fenced except an one opening to the front. That horse decided to be bad and started wander off to the neighbors before she knew it. Then it was just an all out temper tantrum when Alison tried to catch her. She didn't want to go back in. She started running...and I mean running! All over the neighbors..heading for the highway at full speed. Thank God she didn't run in the road! She turned and there was nothing we could do to stop her! She was disobeying commands. Round and round she went! She finally ran back into our back section which relieved us a bit because we were able to block her exit. At that point we just stood there and Alison said just let her run. She ran around our back pasture which isn't cleared, jumping over cactus. Finally she stopped. I had to keep the exit blocked while Alison went to go try to catch her. Boy, did that horse get in trouble. Alison had to put her in time out and tie her to a tree. We were about to leave to go the YMCA for basketball and Alison to go to Body Pump class but she ended up having to stay home. She said I have to leave her tied for awhile or she's gonna get away with it. So Alison stayed home and left Fancy tied to the tree for over 2 hours. She was also grounded from her going in the front yard to eat grass privileges for about 3 days! LOL! She'll never go in the back pasture without a lead rope again for sure.

I think my long-term care taking job will be winding down soon. I've been with the family for over 4 years now. I went to work one day to find out that the Mrs. fell. (I probably already mentioned it here) I've only been sitting with the Mr. since then while she is in rehab. The family members living there are ready to move on and the couple will probably be going to a nursing home. It makes me sad to see. With Mr. having Alzheimer's I know what that move is going to do to him. They are 90 and 91 years old and still doing so well on the physical health-wise. They and their family have been such an inspiration to me. Such a legacy they have left and their entire family are such great people. I have so much admiration for the Mr. I don't know that I've ever met a kinder soul...Devoutly strong, gentle, Christian man. He has trouble working the TV now so we spend a lot of time listening to music. I put the music on...usually hymns...and he will sit in there with me for hours just listening and whistling. He doesn't have a care in the world. Anyway, always sad to see a season end. I guess I'll have to figure out what else I can get myself into after this is over and after Brennan is done with school to make a little extra money.

We are going to see FOR KING AND COUNTRY in concert tonight! We all love them and have seen them before! Should be fun!

Thursday and Friday seem to be turning out to be my personal project days it seems. I started out this morning getting a little mowing done before the blazing sun came on strong. Didn't clean the house today but I did at least vaccume! I wanted to get my night stand completely finished today! I have a thing about finished projects. I hate un-finished projects. So here it is all finished...painted, distressed and waxed. This dresser is such a dark stain underneath the white that it almost looks black against the white...



I also got 4 of the drawers on my big dresser finished!



I also started painting the table from my wicker furniture today but I didn't get a picture of it yet. I'll take a picture tomorrow.