Craft Fair Schedule

October 16-17 ~ EtsyRain Pre-Holiday Craft Show, Intiman Theatre 11-5

November 6 ~ Mountlake Terrace High School Holiday Bazaar 10-4

November 20 ~ PLU Yule Boutique, Memorial Gym 9-5

November 26-27 ~ Follow the Star Craft Fair, Edmonds Masonic Center 10-4

December 4 ~ Punk Rock Flea Market, Underground Events Center 10 am - whenever I get tired

Northgate Festival

We've got our booth assignment for the Northgate Festival. My partner Cheryl Zettler of Classic Beadwear and I will be all the way at the end of the craft row, which is at the end of the festival. I encourage shoppers to keep walking and keep looking because we've got a tent full of wonderful things to try on and buy when you get to the end.

Plus, Northgate Festival has quite a few events to keep you busy in the mean time. Live entertainment on two stages, a classic mustang car show and a huge area for the kids to play. They'll be a health fair and food there too.

It's at a new location this year. They're closing down 103rd street between Northgate mall and the new Thornton Place Plaza. Hours are 11am to 7pm. Weather forecast says few showers and 66 degrees. Perfect Seattle weather! See you there.

Next Show ....Northgate Festival

You'll hear me moan and groan a lot about how my items don't really sell in the summer, which is why I don't do a lot of summer shows. Knitwear ...it's just too hot to even think about chunky hats and scarves! But this year I got a flyer from the good folks at the Northgate Festival (in North Seattle) to be a part of their street festival. Luckily, it falls in September. I figure, even if it isn't cool enough for hats, at least it's fall and buyers will be thinking about staying warm in the months to come. I'm very excited and have been knitting furiously for weeks. I'm sharing a booth with my good friend and talented crafter Cheryl Zettler of Seattle Chic/Classic Beadwear (link http://www.classicbeadwear.com/). I'll be debuting several new pieces from my fall line including a new Infinity Scarf, a crocheted Newsboy Cap, and a new version of cowl scarf, the Cable Cowl. Plus, I'll have my very popular headwraps. As well as capelets and ponchos and other hats and scarves. CAN'T WAIT!

The Northgate Festival

Saturday, September 11am - 8pm

Located at the new Thornton Place Plaza

EtsyRain Holiday Art & Craft Show

The EtsyRAIN Holiday Art & Craft Show will be held in the lobby of Intiman Theatre (201 Mercer Street) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, November 21-22.The first 50 people in line each day will receive a swag bag filled with awesome stuff from our EtsyRAIN members. EtsyRAIN members like to help the community as much as they like to help each other. For each show, they choose a charity to support. The featured charity for this year's holiday event is Treehouse, an organization that fills the gaps for kids in foster care, providing services that no other agency addresses.Admission to the event will be a suggested donation of $1 that will go directly to Treehouse or an article of warm clothing for a foster child in need.Check out our website: http://www.yelp.com/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsyrain.com

North Beach Craft Fair

It was the first of the season for me. I figured it was cold enough in Seattle to venture out with my thick and chunky knitwear. Shoppers were very responsive. I heard lots of ooooh's and ahhh's as they touched the warm and cozy yarn. I had a few new items that got their debut: My new CHUNKY connected scarves are a giant loop of cuddly goodness. They can wrap once or twice around your neck for several different looks all in one scarf. And my convertable scarf is a hood and a scarf in one. It's long enough to pull over your head but it will scrunch up to just be a cowl. Also, it was my first chance to try out my new gridwall display. After a little tinkering initially, these things are WONDERFUL! I highly recommend them for any new crafter looking to improve their setup. All in all, the North Beach Elementary School craft fair was a success and very fun. I will definately sign up again next year. Thanks so much to my consultant, sales guru and buddy Lisa P. for being there ALL DAY with me. What a trooper!

A shout out from KIRO's fantabulous Traffic Anchor

My co-worker, friend and traffic diva Jenni Hogan placed a big order last Thursday, for a bunch of my crochet earrings. She was scrambling for something fun to try for Fashion Friday

when she wears a new outfit and lets viewers decide whether it's the outfit's debut, or final swan song. She picked out a stunning orange sweater with gold fasteners and I went to work making the perfect matching pair of earrings. Well, okay ...so it was a coincidence that the pair I'd made went well with the sweater, but it all worked out, which is what really counts. It was so fun waking up early (okay, okay so I watched the KIRO morning show on my DVR when I woke up from my sleeping-pill induced haze) to see the gold earrings I'd made, on the air sparkling and blinging away. I tested out a new double-threaded pattern and purchased a ton of new beads, so now I'm inspired to make more to sell on my website ...and maybe a new pair for myself!

Spring Knitwear -Stay or Go?

Spring Knits ...should I stay or should I go? Last year I decided to launch my first ever spring line. It included knits and crocheted items that were made mostly of lightweight cotton. The line featured capelets, spiral scarves, beach hats, and bikini tops, among other things. I did several spring and summer craft shows which were a complete BUST. If you're a knitter, I don't have to tell you how much work it was to compile 15 to 20 items of each thing in different colors. So I have been asking myself since then, was it what I made, or was it that knitwear in the summer is just UNAPPEALING, even if it's light weight? Now, I've been asked by one of the stores that has experienced GREAT success in selling many of my items, to make some spring/summer stuff. I guess it can't hurt to give it another try right? In limited amounts ...two or three of a few select items. Then more if they sell! But WHAT? Hmmmmmm.....