I love Parades!

Especially the Handmade variety. Bright and early yesterday morning dear bloggy friends began arriving and Handmade Parade was on its way. Everyone's tables were lovely and left me wishing I had millions of dollars to spend on lovely things.

The best part of the day was being able to visit and talk to such wonderful, creative people. I look forward to more events like this! It was really exciting, because for many of us, this was our very first craft show. It was a beautiful sunny day, with the only downfall being a nasty wind. Every once in awhile a big gust would come through and knock over displays and product.

With gasps and giggles the girls would rush around picking up their stuff and creating ingenious little ways of keeping their stuff firmly on their tables. It was fun, nonetheless! We had mother's day shoppers and people looking for wonderful, handmade stuff. It was great!

And look! Peanut got a new dress courtesy of Bitter Betty Industries! Dosen't she look sweet? She is quite the girly girl, because she was pretty thrilled to be getting new duds. You can't see in this pic, but there is a SUPER cute appliqued crow on it, too. My flickr has better pics of the dress and of all of the booths at Handmade Parade. Check it out, becuase almost all of these fab gals have said they want to march again in September for the Handmade Parade Fall Fest!

My super sweetie pie partner in crime Missy. She was sick and a tad grumpy, but she looks all sweetness here, huh? Love ya, Missy!

Check out everyone's fab photos here and here oh and here, too!

Ready, Set, Go!

Well, I am as ready as am going to be. The cupcakes are baked and frosted, the coffeemaker ready to go. (the important stuff, you know...) The backyard is cleaned up, kiddie toys put away. My stuff is priced and packaged. There is nothing left to do except sit back, have a glass of wine and get a good nights sleep.

See you tomorrow!

Back to Life, Back to Reality...

Anyone else hear this song in their head when they read the post title? No? Oh well, it's a good one for getting stuck in your head alright. At any rate, back to reality for me. I got to spend tons of time in the craft room last night and made or finished or started several projects. I made some magnets, cards and pincushions, finished cutting out my pattern ladies, so they are all ready to go on whatever my heart desires this week. I'm thinking trays and picture frames, but I am known to change my mind only eighty bajillion times, so we'll see what comes to fruition. I also started work on mini notebooks, but haven't finished them yet. I think I need to stare at them awhile before I really know what to do with them.

I did just look around my desk and count all the WIP (sounds so much nicer than "abandoned", no? But that is what they are...) and I have about eight. That I can see anyway. Some of them are pending trips to JoAnns for missing parts and pieces, and some I got bored with and needed a break from. All of them need to get finished soon, though. I just need them done so I can move on to bigger and better things.

Like getting ready for Handmade Parade, May 5. We are going to be busy between now and then! It really is just around the corner. Missy and I are also hoping to have a booth at Baz Biz May 25, for the Maker Faire, so we'll see if that works out. It would be so cool to be there. If HP isn't there Missy and I will go with the Sacramento Craft Mafia, who is also hoping to have a booth. In June I'll be at Sellout Buyout as a part of Second Saturday's Artwalk in Midtown and Downtown Sac.

So there will be lots of craftin' going down here. It is good that the youth group at church is partaking in a Media Fast during the month of April. It is just a really cool time to focus on our relationships with God and each other and really think about the things we watch and listen to. At the end of the 30 days we come away feeling refreshed and excited to serve our church and community anyway we can. I love that this is something a group of teenagers are choosing to be a part of! How cool is that?

On April 1, I will take a 30 day break from blogging and Flickr, but I will be updating the HP blog with our crafter profiles and returning emails and posting to the Media Fast journal. You'll still be able to get the info you need on HP from me or Missy. But, there are still 2 weeks before my fast!

Oh, and I drew a name for a pink pin from my post the other day and it was Heidi at Everyday Cookies! Yay! I'll drop it in the mail for ya!

Our Big Surprise!

This is the fun thing that Missy and I have been working on! We are holding a craft show with some totally awesome gals and now we are formally inviting you to be a part of it! If you are a crafter who lives in or can travel to the greater Sacramento area on May 5th, we would love to have you participate. Here are some of the details:

Hi everyone!

Thanks so much for expressing interest in the Handmade Parade. Missy and I are so excited that such talented ladies want to be a part of this with us! The goal of the Handmade Parade is to sell our wares on a grassroots level to friends, family, coworkers, and area shop owners. Even if you are from out of the area, we believe you will benefit for being a part of this as a way to meet collectors, shopkeepers and, of course, hang out with other crafters! It is our goal to hold small scale craft shows twice a year - The Spring Fling in April or May and the Fall Fest in September or October - for as long as there is interest. Right now, we would like to limit participation to 8-10 crafters, to keep the event manageable.

Spring Fling 2007 is going to be on May 5th, from 10 am until 2 pm, in Sacramento. *I will give more location information to those who are truly interested and contact us* Each crafter who participates is being asked to pay $20 for advertising and production costs, and bring a homemade snack/treat to share with our collectors, in keeping with the handmade and homemade theme. We will need to know if you will need a whole table, or can work with a half table, or irregular table such as a card table. Whole tables are about 6' long by 22" wide. We will cover the tables with vintage linens, and all you need to bring is your product and displays! If you have special requests, or suggestions, please share them with us. We would like to keep this event as light hearted and fun as possible!

If this is still something you are interested in being a part of (and we hope it is!) please email us back at handmade_parade@yahoo.com indicating what your displays will require (half table, whole, or irregular). At this point the price to participate is the same all the way around, since it is all going towards advertising and production. Payment will be due by April 1 (no foolin!). Please include your preferred way to pay (paypal or check) so I can give you the information you will need to process payment.

Please feel free to forward this email to any crafters you know who would be interested in joining us-as of right now we have at least 5 slots available. It will be on a first paid first signed up basis, so be sure they pay as soon as they decide to join us. (We already have 2 jewelry gals, and we would like to keep this as varied as possible, so let's get some different styles of craftiness involved!)

Please feel free to copy the Handmade Parade logo into your blog and let people know you are participating. For the time being we aren't include address information on the logo, but we might later. People can email us at handmade_parade@yahoo.com with questions and to get information.

We can't wait to meet you all and have a great day!

Love,

Claire Bone and Missy Ballance
Handmade Parade Grand Marshalls