Frustration!!!

I don't get it. . . why make a craft supply that takes 48 hours to cure!?!? Seriously. . . that shit's lame.

Oh. . . and I hate gravity. . . and Christmas bulbs. . . and super thick glitter paint that takes 48 hours to cure. . . and having to use glitter paint that takes 48 hours to cure on Christmas bulbs while fighting gravity.

The things we do for money. . .

sigh.

hearts and puppies,
erika

Renegade recap. . .

Sold more than I did at Art Star Craft Bazaar, but not nearly as much as I did at last year's Renegade. I think a lot of it had to do with location. I was way way way far away from the entrance and I think that by the time people wound their way over to me they were way over the novelty of shopping for handmade goods. The heat and rain (the first day) didn't help either. Nor did the giant puddle under my tent the second day from the first day's rain. I didn't really have time to take pictures but my friends at the Craft Mafia took tons! As soon as I get copies, you'll see them.

Know what else you'll see? . . . All my new stuff over at my etsy shop! I've already put some new totes up there and there will be more in the coming days. Now you can own a piece of my imaginary boyfriend sweetness just like all the folks who picked up stuff at Renegade but you don't have to deal with heat, a giant empty swimming pool, rain, or uber-hipsters. Nice, no?

Now for pictures. . .
From my early morning photo shoot this morning (Got to the park at 6:30 am. You read right AM!). Apparently it's odd to take pictures of bags and pillows in a public park. Who knew!?! One little old Asian lady seems especially annoyed with me. Sorry, ma'am.







hearts and puppies,
erika

Renegade Craft Fair this weekend!

So, yeah, another show. . . Renegade Craft Fair. . . this weekend. . .

I must admit, I'm feeling a little gun shy from the show 2 weeks ago, but I know, you just gotta let that stuff roll of the back. . . be the duck, Erika, be the duck. . .

If you're around you should try to come by. Here's the details. . .

What: Renegade Craft Fair Brooklyn
When: June 16th & 17th, 11 am to 6 pm
Where: Brooklyn's best empty swimming pool, McCarren Park Pool on Lorimer btw Driggs and Bayard
Who: erika and my imaginary boyfriend, the New York City Craft Mafia, and over 200 other super talented craftspeople
Why: Because you love me and art and indie crafts and you really need some new, hip clothing, bags, and housewares
How: Come by train or car! Here's directions!

my imaginary boyfriend's booth is booth number 191, right next to the NYC Craft Mafia tent at 192, right in the deep end of the pool because we don't mess around with the shallow end.

Guess that's all, hope to see you there!

Thanks for your time, here are some trees I made:


hearts and puppies,
erika

Birds!

Shots from Art Star Craft Bazaar


Bird No. 1


Bird No. 2 (found a lovely home in Philly)


Bird No. 3

Report from the Art Star Craft Bazaar

Philly Art Star Craft Bazaar - day one, so sunny!


Philly Art Star Craft Bazaar - day two, so not sunny! Had to move everything in due to rain (but I think I like this set-up better).

Back from Philly! The show was. . . well. . . lets just say I met a lot of nice people and made a lot of people smile with my silly little felt things, funny name, and Tiger Beat photo of '80's era Matt Dillon. As for sales. . . yeah. . . I didn't do so well. Lots of people came by and said they loved my stuff but it seems Philly just didn't want to go steady with the boyfriend.

This was how bad it was. . . I only made $82 the first day. Now that's an outcome that can really knock a girl down a few pegs. . . a few hundred pegs. Maybe I've gotten cocky. . . but seriously, everything I make is freaking handmade! Appliqued by hand! Embroidered by hand! Painted by hand! Not only that, the work is impeccable! And my prices. . . my prices are not out of line. The way they are now I'm bairly getting paid for my work!

Sigh. . . anyway. . .

On the plus side I met some great people and the girls who run the Art Star Gallery are beyond great, that's the thing I have to focus on. . . lots of nice people. . . and the Northern Liberties area of Philly is just lovely. . . and I didn't get sunburned (and most everyone got sunburned on Saturday). . . that's something. . .

Hopefully Renegade Craft Fair will be more profitable. If it's not, I just don't know what I'll do with myself.

hearts and puppies,
erika

I should be sleeping. . .

I leave for Philly in 5 hours and 40 minutes.

I am not sleeping.

ggggrrrrrrrggggghhhhhh.

Art Star Craft Bazaar this weekend!!!!

Sorry I've been so absent lately but I've been frantically getting ready for the Art Star show this weekend. Add to that a freak avocado injury last Friday leaving my left hand a little on the useless side and my friend's sudden appendicitis (the same day!!!) and you can see why I've been away!

As for the show. . . I think I'm ready. I've got a fair amount made, lots of pillows and bags. It's not every thing I wanted to have done, but it never is. . . I think I could make enough pillows and bags to fill a swimming pool and I'd think it's not enough! I'm pretty happy with my show set up too. I've been collecting and making display items for the past month and I bought a brand-spanking-new tent! To go with the new digs, I made a new banner last Monday. It's very cute. I hope it holds up if the expected rain comes. . .

We'll see. . . I pick up my rental car tonight and motor off to Philly first thing in the morning.

As for the hand. . . it's much better. I cut myself at the junction of my left middle finger and hand. It was a deep cut but small so no stitches were needed. It's now all closed up but the hand is still pretty bruised, swollen and sore. I wish it looked worse than it does. . . because it hurts like mad sometimes and I'd like people to know I'm not being a big baby!

As for the friend. . . she's much better too and might be joining me for the show!

Well, that's all for now. . .

hearts and puppies!
erika

OH! I promised pictures last time. . . well. . . I haven't taken any but here's one of me acting goofy at the NYC Craft Mafia Swap!