Button Fest!



Buttons and pins and beads, oh my!

Hi to all,

Last Sunday I spent the day with family celebrating my nephew's new wife Kat and their baby Addison.  But if the the truth be told, my sisters and I spent the majority of the day and the evening sorting through thousands and thousands of old buttons, pins and miscellaneous junk.  Buttons etc. from my mother's stash, her mother's stash and my sister's mother-in-law's button jar.  All the buttons were old, vintage, beautiful colors and designs.  I'll use these to make great chunky jewelry pieces.  What an inspiration for a recycle and reuse junky like myself.

This week I am trying to get my Etsy shop updated, assuring all of my new pieces are online.  I will finally get the rest of the Jane Eyre collection up and I have quite a few new bookmarks too.  They make great gifts especially paired with a favorite book.  So please take a look, see if there is anything you like.  Also I am putting together a few paper bead workshops for the fall.  I will keep you posted about that.

And a final word about last week's Craft Fair.  I think it was one of the best organized I have been in this year.  The hospital volunteers worked very hard.  Best part, there were volunteers to unload your car and place all of your things in your assigned spot.  Yea, that was wonderful!  I was located on the James Mansion House veranda, overlooking the Hudson River.  What a beautiful view.  Probably the hardest part of the fair was parting with a recently created charm bracelet and earrings from my Jane Eyre collection.  But I am glad I sold it and clearly some one else loves it too.

Talk to you soon,

anne

Darkest Before the Dawn!

Hi everyone,

Here's a quick look at the progress we've made on the new guest room!

What a mess! It always looks the worst, just before it is finished.  You can see the new lamp and the new bedside table in the background.  Only a week left to go!  I'll keep you posted.

The tutorial on making Paper Beads has been missing for about a month, it was originally written on January 9th.  Well, I have rewritten it, so everyone can get a first hand look at how I make paper beads.  If you try it, let me know how the directions go; if they need any revisions.

MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL

Starting tomorrow morning I will be running a Mother's Day Special on my Etsy site.  I will be giving free shipping to any items purchased before Mother's Day, May 13th.  Just use coupon code FREESHIP when you check out.  Here are some Mother's Day ideas:

Tropical Pink Paper Bead Bracelet

Pretty in Pink Paper Bead Bookmark

Also I will be posting some new items--PaperBead Bracelets made with chains.  I am sure you will like them.  Go to my Etsy Shop and see what you think.

It is going to be 80 degrees in NY--so everyone enjoy the day.  Get out there and take a walk!!

Thanks for reading and see you soon.

anne

Craft Fair Displays

Hi everyone,

I've been working very hard on designing and making the displays for my up coming craft fairs.  I have decided to put most of my signage in frames; I think it looks more professional and is sturdier against the wind.  Here is a look at what I have so far:







I also ordered a 6' banner to hang above my shop.  The banner will look just like my annemadethis business cards. The guys at Vista print were so very helpful in getting the banner made.  Be sure to check them out for any business printing needs.  I might add some balloons to give the booth some height.  I want it to be attractive, colorful and fun.

I know there are lots of you out there who know a whole lot more about this than I do, so do please weigh in.  .Send me any suggestions you have. I watch an Etsy webinar craft fair ideas last Friday, any one see it.  Some of those were a little elaborate and advanced for me.

Simultaneously with designing displays,I am trying to craft as much inventory as I can.  Below are a couple of new bookmark designs.  You are seeing them first.  They are not even in my Etsy shop yet.

And I am sure all of you are anxiously awaiting an update on the room.   My parents can strip a room down to the walls and rebuilt it with new closets and window treatments in less than a week; that includes wallpaper!  I guess that's not me or my daughter.  She delivered three very heavy boxes from Ikea last Friday, so far one has been assembled into a bookcase.  Another is half of a bedside table.  I am assembling new furniture as I am disassembling her old furniture; the room is truly a mess.  There won't be a picture of that.  The room has to be a bonafide guest room by April 23rd, when my sisters and my mom will be visiting.  Nothing like a time crunch.

Please check out my shop and we will talk soon!
anne