Summer Breeze...

Future purses:

I took advantage of a beautiful summer day to let my fabric hang on the line. Walking by, I saw it blowing in the breeze, and wanted to share the peaceful feeling it gave me.

Allegany Artisan Picnic

Last night, I went to my first Allegany Artisans picnic. It was a blast. There were so many people to meet. Remembering all of their names will be impossible. One of the artisans there was Marsha Van Vlack. She and I were talking, and I happened to have a camera in my hand, so I clicked a picture... hope she didn't mind! :) Doesn't she have a special glow to her? She makes gorgeous ceramic tiles that are artistically designed with trees and birds and scenes from nature. Her website can be found here. I was really excited to meet her because I was already familiar with her work, and I felt like I was meeting a famous artist... I was starstruck. Hee hee.

Big plans ahead!

I have been incredibly busy with my business, Casey Was Here. There are now 5 retail locations with my items for sale! A year ago, there were ZERO. And, this year, I will be on the Allegany Artisans studio tour! Let me tell you why I am so excited about this!

The Allegany Artisans is a group of artists of all sorts from Allegany County, NY. There are potters and woodworkers, jewelry makers, blacksmiths, doll makers... on and on! Before we moved here, I was researching the area and I was so excited that this group existed, because to me, that meant there was an artistic culture where we were going. The house we bought has a studio with its own entrance, and in the back of my mind, I thought "Someday when my studio is in the Allegany Artisan's tour.... It will be perfect..." :) The studio tour is an annual event where all of these artisans open their studios to the public. There is a map with all of the studio locations, and people do a driving tour of the county while they visit the different studios.

In April, I submitted my work to the board for evaluation. I knew they would be meeting in May, and I was extremely nervous about their critique of my work. After all, this was a dream of mine, and it meant so much to me to be part of this. They were to meet May 1, and I was a nervous nellie all morning.

Well, that morning, we were at my daughter's T-ball game, and I received an email to my blackberry. I was accepted! Hooray!! I ran around to my friends at the game and whispered to them my exciting news.

Next week, all of the Artisans are getting together for a picnic, and I will see if I can get some good pictures. It has been fun getting to know them, and I am very excited for this October when I will be participating in my first Studio Tour.

Craft Show

The last 3 days were spent at The "Hornell Expo". I wanted to do this show because it was close to home, and I do not have a lot of show experience.

They allowed us to set up a day early, which was lucky for me because I forgot a lot of things.
My booth turned out looking pretty good, and I was glad I had designed the sidewalls to be used as half up or all the way up because they definitely worked better as halfway up for this show. The show was promoted by the local radio station, WLEA from Hornell. The radio people were all very friendly, and made me feel welcome and at home.

There were a few other craft vendors there. I found some great wood-turned pens by Doug Brokaw from Canisteo NY, and some delicious cheese from Golden Age Cheese .Here is a picture of one of the pens I purchased: (These photos are lacking in quality because they were taken with my phone... it is just too convenient to use, but I need to start bringing my real camera around with me from now on!)
Here are some more of Dougs pens, I bought one of these as well. They are more girly, and I want to give it to the wife of the other pens future owner!
Here is my booth, I had no idea I was such a salesman, but the show was pretty slow at times, and I wanted to get people into my booth! I was able to convince a few people that their mothers would love a hand-crafted treasure for Mother's Day! :) (Yours would too you know!)Anyway, I am pooped, I am going to sleep for the rest of the day!

What a beautiful day!

Today was the day I dreamt of all winter. It was perfect. I hung the laundry line outside, and I hung the clothes on it. I had a very peaceful feling with the calm easy busy-work. I was part of all of the early spring activity I could hear and see around me. The cats were exploring and digging things up from under the freshly-exposed dirt. There were birds chirping, and even a bug or two (Already!). I have been avoiding work. I think it is because I have the show coming up and I feel pressured to accomplish things. Well, I will have to write more later. I have pictures of my homemade shoes to post too! :) Soon, I promise, as soon as I get my work done....

GOOD MORNING!!!

What an exciting day I am going to have today! I had to wake up at 4:30 to help my husband get ready for work. Now, I am getting all kinds of things done, and the day has barely begun! I love it! I have been updating my website like crazy, and I have listed a few things on Etsy this weekend. One of them already sold, which I am just so happy about! :)

The kids made a snowman yesterday. I will update this post with a picture when the sun comes up! I have decided to do a show in March. I just have to call and find out the details. So, I will have to be busy busy busy sewing away! I am too excited to write well. Coffee coffee coffee......

Etsy Treasury!

WOOHOO! I have been featured in a treasury on Etsy! I am very excited. Chantal aka Sewingkat2 made the treasury, and I feel honored to be included in with so many beautiful artworks!
Here is a screenshot for posterity:
That is the bag I posted about last night! Now I feel very inspired to go in the studio and get to work!!