Valentine's Day 2022

"LOVE is a canvas

furnished by nature and

embroidered by imagination."

Voltaire

After Christmas is over, there's a decision to make. Stay wintry or switch over to Valentine's Day. This year St. Valentine won. I always build on white and neutrals with either red or pink/pastels. I came across some beautiful "Fluffy Virginia Rose" plates. Seeing them next to cobalt blue transferware gave me the final inspiration for the color scheme: cool pinks, purples, and blues.

I was looking for linens that would fit the scheme. Curtain panels were affordable, and look like a throw (one sold already - need to bring in the other). Found 2 yards of rolled up lace fabric in the craft section of a thrift store. It too already sold. Other fabrics: blue table runner, crocheted small blue & white linens, an off-white tablecloth, and 2 purple scarves.

Colorful smalls: teacups, transferware, jewelry, pastel florals, ceramics/pottery, amethyst goblets, cobalt blue jars, books, printed floral ephemera. Trying to figure out a few paintings and mixed media pieces as well.

There's a lot to learn about glass. I'm on a personal mission to learn more about it this year, beginning with EAPG - Early American Pattern Glass. I've researched and brought in 2 clear pieces, from the 1880's (Bryce Brothers "Cathedral" creamer) and c. 1906 (H. Northwood "Valentine" bowl). They both glow green with a black light, but are not uranium glass - old glass was made colorless (instead of Coke bottle green) by adding manganese. Manganese glows green like uranium, but I've not seen it glow as vividly. When this clear glass is exposed to sunlight or UV light over time it turns "purpled." If you look, you can see the large vase on the white barstool is lightly purpled.

Here are a few photos of my booth...

Crafts I've worked on.

You might spot some of them above:

Embroidery hoop: lace, cheesecloth, quote.
Canning jar ring: cheesecloth & crepe paper flower.
BINGO card-pieces: saying and fabric/paper scraps.
Flashcard: saying and cardstock hearts.

"NEVER lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God's handwriting - a wayside sacrament. welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sweater Pumpkins

Around 6 years ago, I got the idea to make pumpkins. At first, I tried using lace, paper, strips of fabric... anything that didn't involve a needle and thread. Nothing worked quite how I'd hoped. Then I heard about "sweater pumpkins." I cannot tell you how many times I'd told people, "I can't sew or stitch, but maybe someday I'll learn." This seemed easy enough - someday had arrived.

I did a little research on different stitches, read blog posts, watched videos, took notes. Figured out what made the most sense to me, and applied to my skill level. The first pumpkins took quite awhile to make, but turned out well. I learned a lot from my mistakes, and continued on. In those first few years I probably made no more than 20.

Eventually, it clicked. I realized that these little pumpkins were pretty consistent sellers, and I actually looked forward to making them! So I wondered how I could make more... mass production? Could those concepts apply to something handmade? Another challenge was intertwined - no craft room. Wait, there's also a narrow window for making these, so while keeping up with housework, helping with homework, etc.... I also need to be pumpkin-making.

My solution... work in stages, and mostly from the central location of our living room. Here's how I do it:

Fabric: I try to buy multiple sweaters/shirts/blankets/fabric at the same time. After washing & drying, sleeves are removed and set aside. Any remaining seams are cut apart, then circles are cut out. A small laundry basket holds circles/sleeves next to me - easily carried to another room as needed. A bucket is designated for fabric scraps (sometimes I use scraps for little garlands, as shown below).

Stuffing: worn throw pillows are washed & dried, then I cut open a seam, and pull until used up. They are stored out of sight by our couch.

Stems: Sticks are gathered and cut at the same time, then sorted by size into plastic baggies. The container I hold them in slides under a chair with a dust ruffle. I wait until many pumpkins are made before hot gluing in their stems.

Crochet thread, needles, scissors & tags: I use crochet thread (not too thin or old) for sewing, and stick the needles in the ball of thread to keep them together. Usually throw them in with the fabric - scissors get stored there as well. I have to individually price my pumpkins, so that means making a lot of tags. I use a circle punch and cardstock. They are kept, along with pens, in a little drawer in a piece of furniture in our living room.

My work surface is the coffee table in my living room. I can easily move everything out of the way to clean, watch TV, or help the kids do homework without distraction. 

It's taken me years to get the hang of this... everything from what sweaters to buy & where to tie knots to when to walk away for a minute. Because, I've got to tell you, for the most part I love making these little things. Once I get on a roll, I don't want to stop! However, there are also times I feel like a machine - and that's when mental and physical breaks are necessary. I'm fortunate to have found something to make that is loved and appreciated. Year after year. It's not taken for-granted. If you own or have gifted one or more of the now hundreds, thank you SO much!!

I'm not quite done this year! You may want to like my Facebook page, as I'll update when the next batch is available. Hope you've enjoyed the glimpse into my crafting life. Thanks again!!

Pioneer Woman Inspired Booth

Inspiration is a funny thing.

Red, white and blue is my go-to this time of year, so that was the obvious plan. After awhile, you see patterns in what sells, and how to transition from one season to the next - leaving as much inventory as possible. It's a lot of work to switch everything out!

Only problem was... I was feeling a little uninspired. Kind of hoping for something to come along and point me in another direction.

Then I was out doing my usual thrift store rounds. Don't know about you, but I'm a 'look everywhere, no stone left un-turned' kind of girl. As I was rifling through kitchen utensils, I saw a bag of coasters. A flash of red and blue drew me in, and one with bright flowers fell out. Turning it over (because that's another thing I'm always doing) I saw it was marked Pioneer Woman:

  

The bag was $5, so I just admired the pretty little thing for awhile, then tucked it back in. Not quite sure when the thought of it popped back in my head, but it started a chain reaction. I started by going directly to her website, and that led to ALL of her products.

So many beautiful color and pattern combinations! Displays of her dinnerware were gorgeous. I felt my heart leap, and knew I had to figure out how to bring this to life, in my own way. 

......................................

My first thought was to simplify. What are the common patterns? Any repeating florals? Colors? On my other blog, I've mixed and matched different graphics in unexpected ways for years. That helped at first. However, it didn't take long to get overwhelmed. This is what I figured out:

1. Polka dots were popping up a lot. So, I looked for them on fabric, on scrapbook paper, and made sure to bring in hobnail milk glass. An old-fashioned ricer and grater even have holes that repeat the idea. When I bought florals, I found navy blue flowers that remind me of chives or allium - repeating the "dot" concept.

2. Speaking of florals... that was another thing I bought to make a statement. I made the largest arrangement in the center of my booth "not-for-sale." Found a large floral print at Hobby Lobby - also not for sale. It's not that I don't want to sell things - but they anchor this look. The key is that multiple smaller floral arrangements are available. I'll be selling my own original small floral paintings. I also brought in roses on old dishes, and flowers on vintage postcards & ephemera. 

3. Colors. So many colors! As an artist, I love them, but don't usually work with this many at once. My own decorating is full of blues, greens, browns, white. That's my comfort zone. However, outside I also love my garden exploding with hot pink and burgundy roses, bright yellow buttercups, pink & purple salvia, and all colors of annuals. That's what truly gave me confidence to work with all this color!

Color is easiest to find, and crosses over to the patterns and florals. For my own sanity, I decreased a few - olive green, purple, brown, gray and black. There's a lot of red, peachy-pink, coral and orange, and shades of blue - teal/turquoise, cobalt, aqua. Green and lemon yellow too - but, I chose to use them more as accents. 

4. Vintage kitchen items! I already find these items frequently, so it really makes sense to focus on them with this theme. Rolling pins, old recipe cards, muffin tins, cookbooks, cookie cutters, tablecloths/napkins, Pyrex bowls, aprons... the list goes on. 

One more thing. You might or might not be able to tell, but I was approaching this in a very mathematical, detail-oriented way - and was stressed out! Yes, there's sort of a formula to this look... but you know what? It's also about having fun, and embracing something new! That's what I was missing.

Here it is - just after everything was in place. All inspired by a little coaster that was where it wasn't supposed to be...

There are always people in the background that make what I do better. First, have to thank my mom for listening to my rambling ideas, and always helping guide me. So glad we could make that trip into Hobby Lobby together. Kim L. - thanks for inviting me & dad over early for the garage sale. Your advice and encouragement was priceless. Hope you get back into the vendor game, in a way that's manageable for you & your family! My family - thanks for putting up with the pile of stuff while I was figuring this all out, and for helping me pack and move it out!

I'm sharing all this as a personal memory, but also to possibly encourage anyone who might stumble upon it. Inspiration to try new things - to break out of the same old routine - is everywhere. Trust those little nudges and follow where they lead!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

Never Say Never

Before going any further, I need to give credit to someone who's been one of my biggest supporters. I always say he was my first and favorite art teacher. He's also the artist who created the beautiful farm scene above. My dad, known to most of you as Gary Ross. Before I was born, he used to do commissioned paintings, mostly on slate. I've been told he put painting aside because of me, because he wanted to be the best daddy possible. When my little brother and I were older, he got into building doll & birdhouses, benches and other furniture made from barn wood. We went to craft shows, he had a booth in Lancaster and Logan, was featured in the Logan paper... he was busy and successful. But at some point, he was just done. I heard him say many times he'd "never" paint or build anything for sale again. We'd all say sure - we didn't want to believe him, but he wouldn't budge. It made me sad. I didn't understand why he wouldn't want to use his gift. Then, several years later, I got a booth in the Olde Shoe Factory. I called him just before making the final say. He sort of laughed when asked if I should do it - "Seems like you and your mother have it figured out. Go for it!" He said he'd help me. And he did. He built and put up walls and fabric, donated a white shelf (actually, all the shelves in my booth now), and painted a table for me. The table sold fast. I had a white cupboard that was beyond repair. He used all the parts to build shelves and a few other pieces. They sold. Next month, when I was offered a larger space, I took it. My parents moved in to my old spot. That is the official moment he became a vendor again. So much for "never," right? He embraced it, and began painting furniture, building and repurposing thrift store finds. It wasn't long before he'd expanded, and is now in a large corner booth full of larger antique & vintage furniture, signs, wall-hangings... and paintings. He's had a lot of success, and made a name for himself yet again. He seems more fulfilled - happier, because he's doing something he was created to do! So. Here we are 5 years down the road, and my dad's never stopped helping me. Sometimes I'll find a side table or mirror, or dresser. I've called many times to ask... is this a good buy, can you fix it, do you have space in your truck for it... The furniture in my booth is quality because he's made sure of it. Goal - to learn more from him in this area!

Last spring, I decided to sell my paintings. You can see a few examples above. It's nerve wracking putting your own art out there! I sent him progress pics, and he gave me suggestions, or said he could tell my technique was improving. My paintings sold, and I even had requests for more! Honestly, sometimes I wish I could paint or build the way Dad does. Sometimes I think I'll "never" be able to do this or that. What I know for sure is I've gotta keep painting. Keep creating. Believe in myself and use my own gifts. … And never say never!