Here is a shot of my coffee cuff inventory. Each cuff has a new sticker on the back that reads"Hobocamp's Amazing Reusable Coffee Cuffs drink coffee & save the environment"- Zach designed the font etc- we were going for an old timey sort of pharmacy-medicinal ad. Zach loaded pretty much everything into the car last night so I wouldn't have much else. I'm still working on some onesies and will save some buttons for the birdie eyes to work on in the car.
I started a list awhile ago that I had really wanted to polish and research against other lists on the web, but who really has time for that? So I share with you my list, I think I've gotten the main- most important items down- however if I've forgotten something, it will be blamed on baby brain.. for which I can not be held responsible!
Enjoy!
Craft Show Prep List-
Merchandise
Displays for merchandising
Money/change- money bag or box to contain it
Table
Inventory List
Calculator
Business cards
Reciept Pad
Book or paper for your Mailing List
Writing utencils
Safety pins, straight pins,clothes pins
Tape
Table cloth
Tent Weights
Twine
Hangers * if selling clothing
Extra needle/thread *if selling clothing
A project to keep you busy
Magazines or book
Music
Sunscreen
Food-snacks- a cooler
Comfy chairs
Water
Camera
A sense of humor * especially for slow days and bad weather
Remember be friendly to those around you. Bake brownies or cookies to share with other vendors. If you're by yourself you might need to ask your neighbor to keep an eye on your booth at some point.
When setting your booth up- think about your favorite store and what is appealing to yo about it. Using tiered set ups catch the eye. You don't need exspensive pieces to make your table pop. get baskets, cover even a shoe box in fabric and use it to give height to certain products.
Make it consumer-friendly. Try having signs and price tags on items. Sometimes people won't bother asking the price.
* If I've forgotten something- let me know- I'm sure I did! If you're in the Providence area this Saturday, stop by our booth for 10% off- just mention this post.
xo
M
Friday, May 30, 2008
Friday Prep
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Thursday- Sharing
I purchased a piece, custom for family members, but I am taking the photo down- b/c my hubbie thinks they might read this!
Handgrown Pottery has so many adorable items, I've already started to think about Christmas. Yes, - don't get me started! I want to try and get my making & etsy- purchasing for Christmas before the baby, that way we can just focus on them and possibly wrapping!
So if you are looking for a cute, unique gift for a wedding, birthday or to treat yourself (believe me- I'm next on the Handgrown Pottery List!) check Lessa's shop out- you won't be disappointed!
With that have a great Thursday- Lost is on tonight.. so I may have to ask for Japanese takeout- what a great combo!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Oh MY Wednesday!
I can't even believe it is Wednesday! Damn that day off- it threw me for a loop! We had a pretty laid-back Memorial Day. A little packing, a little BBQ and a little Top Chef marathon action.It was nice to have Z home for an extra day though.
We here at Hobocamp HQ- (we being me and my unborn child) have been feverishly working on our inventory for our upcoming Providence show this weekend. There are still so many pieces that need a little stitch here or a little roll of the fuzzy brush. I made a stop for some more larger onesies- since all of the appliqued onesies we have are between 0-12 months. So we got 18 months and I need to start coming up with something to applique and in less than 2 days!
This weekend I got a text from Suzie over at Suzie's Bride Blog about a great sale Old Navy was having in NJ, especially maternity. So being the sale-lover I am and outgrowing my clothes fast I headed down to Paramus. Once there I realized they didn't have a huge selection so I trotted down to Garden State Old Navy and found a few inexpensive pieces that I think will last for awhile.(op0-------------------------------9)sorry Jasper stepped on the keyboard.. so I left it for you all to see the badness in our house!
On the way home I found the Anthropologie and had to step in. I've shopped on line- but have only been in the shop once or twice. The stuff is great and summery, but I made my way to the Sale section and found 2 pretty, yellow cotton napkins and an adorable dishtowel with embroidered birds- that will soon become a curtain. These hooks, are also something I think I'll get for our bathroom Alphabet Hooks once we get settled. Our move in date is technically June 15th, but technically that is Father's Day and we can't possibly ask for family/friend help. So we'll be doing the big move on June 24th, the weekend before Zach's Mom's wedding- we like cutting it close! whew!
All this when I should be sewing! I had hoped our little preggy tank tops would have arrived so I could wear one and sell the others but, I don't know when we'd have time to print them.
With the living room in a shambles, I should probably cut this short. The real pain is not being able to lift anything to load the car ahead of time!
xo
M
Saturday, May 24, 2008
A New Day w/ Mexican for Breakfast
This little cuff is one of my favorites. It was very simple, but the colors- I just love them. The uniqueness of the Union Jack is what stands out. It's available in my shop!
Last night I met Z in Suffern, (which is our new town we'll soon be living in). We dined at La Hacienda Don Carlo on Main Street. Although we didn't order any ( for fear of missing the movie we wanted to see) they make fresh guacamole right at your table. From scooping out the avocado, to the chopped cilantro and onion. We did have the amazing salsa and chips. The salsa is very thin- but packs the most amazing hot-fresh cilantro punch. Aside from thinking I was locked in the bathroom due to a faulty lock- our dinner was delicious! Next time I'll have to see if they sell the chips and salsa to go- what an ultimate snackie that would be during a movie on the couch!
Next, we went to the Lafayette Theater on Main. This is the same theater Zach and I got married at almost 2 years ago in June. It is alway a great experience- even if I have no tolerance for the annoying tweens screaming behind me in line. Which makes me question my mothering abilities sometimes. What kind of mother doesn't like all kids? A smart one, I think! As long as you love your own, that should be plenty. I hope.
Anyhow, the line we were waiting in was to see Indiana Jones. Zach has not only been writing articles on TWOP all week, but he's writing the movie review as well. So I won't give much away in case you want to see it. There were a lot of funny parts, more than I remember in the older films, but maybe because I was seven when I last saw them. The only complaint I did have was Cate Blanchett's accent. It waivers from Russian-English-Australian and she is a bit of a low-talker in this. Aside from that- I won't say much else.
This morning I was not feeling great. A friend is moving and Z and I were planning on helping. Although I couldn't do much. So, I stayed in and tried to get it together while Z went to help with her move. Which leads me to the title of this post, yes I just ate my La Hacienda leftovers and they were delicious.
With less than a week to go till our First Show of the Season- there are still so many things to do. I'm making a little list-
- Stitch the Hobocamp sign together
-make more pennants to go around the outside of the tent
-start to load car w/ tent,chairs and other items
-make inventory list & tag anything w/out price
-make all signage
-decide what stays & goes
- Fill sandbags with sand
This is just a little bit of what needs to get accomplished. I ordered some preggo tank tops and if they arrive in time we'll be screenprinting them with Snuggle Bunny. I'll be sporting one, of course!
Well Cartalk is on in a few and I promised myself I'd have the dishes done by time the show was on.
Have a happy holiday weekend~
xo
m
Friday, May 23, 2008
THE SALE IS ON!
The DESTASH SALE is now going on at Button Chops. I was up till the wee hours listing fabric bundles, scrapbooking supplies and I still have more to come. I think everything is priced to sell- so I hope everyone can find something they'll like.
This morning in bed as Hermione walked all over me unable to decide what spot would annoy me the most- I was thinking about new little totes in adorable vintage fabrics for summer. I have enough on my plate right now- but I think if I use my time right and hope the slight morning sickness I'm having subsides- I just might be able to make them work for the May 31st Show. We'll see how it goes.
Have a good Friday and stop by
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Thursday - A Day of Man Purses
First Up:
Diaper Vest™ Wearable Diaper Bag - Orange (L) for 82.00. I don't think Z would go for it. A- he doesn't like vests and B. where do you put the dirties? um ew! But I love the color and think it is a great alternative to carrying a bag around.Next:
My personal favorite and one I think Z will appreciate. He mentioned getting a camo diaper bag last night during our conversation somewhere before drifting. This is from Diaper Dude for 59.99.The next one I found is a variation on a regular messenger bag and just very stylish:
This is 44.98, the bookbag version is also available,
for 39.99.All pretty affordable,good looking and manly..but I don't know if any of them say- Zach, I mean look at my cutie..
he needs something as unique as he is. I won't even get started on not finding the right bag for me... maybe the magical seamstress will make me a diaper bag out of my vintage Strawberry Shortcake or Harry Potter sheets?? In other lands, my decision to stop taking custom orders was short-lived. As I just took on a wholesale order for 15 coffee cuffs for a coffee shop in Iowa. I need to get cracking! Luckily I had started some of the work ahead of time and a few pieces are already in stock. My sewing table's gurth is increasing with the large amount of denim aprons and appliqued pieces I have piled up. All of which I want to finish before our Providence show. Including making myself a cute preggers reconstructed tee of sorts.
I must stay away from TV. Either a book on tape, music or NPR is all I am allowing myself till the end of May. I swears! Tonight however- I think I'll be dragging the hub to Target to see what good sales they might have on pregnancy clothing. I'm running out of appropriate pieces~ I have a doctor's appt at 10:45 today. My nauseau is even slightly tappering... but I say that in a W H I S P E R... b/c I'm afraid that talking about it will bring it back. Shhh!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Sales, Organic Dark Chocolate and a Day with Mom
This morning I climbed out of bed to the sound of Jasper scratching outside the bedroom door. He had been locked out- so Hermione could eat her breakfast in the bathroom, in peace. I was in the middle of yet another crazy pregnancy dream and trying to keep myself from sleeping on my back.
Breakfast consisted of a colby cheesestick by Horizon, a Stonyfield Farms yogurt drink and a V-8. I knew once I got to Mom's I could make an actual lunch. So I packed my Pine Point insulated bag( husband's former family school) with sandwich makings and hit the road to my parent's house.
I always enjoy bringing a large bag with me of the new Scraparellas to show my family ( which my father seems to really get a kick out of) as well as appliqued goodies to show off. My parent's are pretty supportive which is nice.
Later that day I dragged mom to a bridal shop so I could get a dress for my cousin's wedding in November. Of course I'll be needing a maternity bridesmaid's dress so I tried a few on and found one I could live with. The entire thing was pretty painless.
Afterwards we stopped at the new, huge Stop & Shop. There much to my happiness I found that Nature's Promise ( Stop & shop's mostly organic brand) had indeed started making chocolate bars. Organic, dark chocolate with almonds! All for the great price of $1.99- of course I stocked up. How exciting!
When I got home from my adventure I started going through some of my messier fabric-paper-bead habitats. Only to realize I need to start Destashing before we move. SO, I've been putting together some great fabric bundles. The prices are still being worked out. I'll also be offering paper products possibly along with the fabric bundles or scrap bags. This will be offered in my other shop Button Chops. This is where I sell supplies etc. The sale starts May 23rd. Be Sure to Check it out! I'll Be POsting Flickr pics of the exciting items to go up for Sale.
Have a great one!