Business Trip

I leave for a retreat with the Marketing department from work, in the morning. Two nights away from home, and I've been scratching my head wondering what Etsy projects to take with me to work on in my down time. Will it be my bow holders, crowns, dolls, headbands, jewelry, or will I just take my scrap booking projects? I don’t want bring an entire suit case full of goods. It may look like I’m setting up an impromptu craft show.

Speaking of headband holders. Here is a lovely custom order I made last week for an Etsy buyer. I love pink and green together. Those are the two main colors in my craft room.

Doodle A Day

Coffee Filter Flowers

I found this wonderful idea at Totally Tutorials, and I had to post it before I forgot it.

These are a wonderful idea for cards, or gift wrapping. The tutorial is on a Swedish blog, Trisa Prickaformar. The only word I understood was "brad", but the video instructions are easily followed.

Here is the link: http://tesaprickiformar.blogspot.com/2010/04/kaffefiltersblommor.html#comment-form.

Homemade Cutting Dies

I've been searching for a way to cut felt without spending hours cutting out flowers. Paper craft punches, even the larger ones, just aren't hefty enough, and I haven't been able to find any felt punches. I've thought about purchasing one of the die cutting machines, but that is a pretty large price tag for saving myself a little time with a pair of scissors, and I'm not ready to make that purchase. Maybe when I become a little more addicted to scrap booking.

Rishnai has created tutorial for creating homemade cutting dies out of tin cans. The tutorial can be found on Instructables.com, and it doesn't look to difficult. I will definitely be using wood instead of foam, but other than it looks pretty straight forward. It is definitely worth a try.

Patriotic Flip Flops

This evening we made patriotic flip flops for the 4th of July weekend.

Originally we had planned to make the "fuzzier" version, with strips of fabric tied around the straps, but I ran across a really cute tutorial at Everything Etsy, and we had a last minute change of plans. These just struck me as so much nicer, and maybe a little easier, that we had to try them. The great news is that after three pairs of flip flops, we still have plenty of fabric left to make headbands or flowers, or maybe a small purse.

We varied our instructions just slightly from the tutorial linked above. I didn't use scraps of fabric, but rather purchased some fabric and cut it into strips about one inch thick, and six to nine inches long. I used my machine to straight stitch six strips together (five strips for the smaller pair). From there we followed basically the same directions as outlined in the tutorial.

I absolutely love these red, white and blue shoes. I wish I could wear them to work tomorrow. They are so much more comfy than my heals.

Not pictured in the photo above, Kristen's flip flops. She is far to busy taking the online practice exams for her learner's permit to pose for a foot photo. She is officially fifteen and a half today, and is hoping to pass the test on Thursday morning, before Coral and I leave for church camp.

Lowes' Build and Grow

The project at the Lowe's Build and Grow workshop this weekend was a wooden monster truck toy.

Apparently hammers and trucks is all it takes to get a large turn out for the little boys in Oklahoma. This was the most crowded Build and Grow I've seen. We stood in line for five to ten minutes to get our project, and ended up with the second to last truck, with a line still growing behind us. It was a good thing we got there earlier than usual.

There were no spots at the tables, but plenty of room on the floor, and Coral ran into another little girl from church.

The original plan was to give this truck to Gramps who is in the hospital as a get well present, but Coral just couldn't part with the her master piece after it was finished.

Craft Show List

This is a list of the craft shows and farmers markets that in or near the Tulsa area.

2010 Shows

~{ June 2010 }~

6/26/2010 9 am to 5 pm
The Alliday Show
http://www.allidayeveryday.com/Apply_to_Alliday_.html
Location: Ford Truck Exhibit Hall, Tulsa Expo Fairgrounds


~{ August 2010 }~

8/6/2010 to 8/8/2010
Ft Smith Mule and Donkey Show
http://www.muleanddonkeyshow.com/
Location: Kay Rodgers Park, Ft Smith, Arkansas

8/14/2010
Market Dayz
http://grammiesage.com/100301/index.html
Location: Shawnee Expo Center

8/28/2010 9am to 7pm
Gypsyville Market
http://www.gypsyvilleshows.com/
Location: OKC Fairgrounds


~{ November 2010 }~

11/6/2010
Salt Creek Retreat Arts & Crafts Festival
Location: Salt Creek Retreat, Ringling, OK
Contact Debra Lester, 580-465-7837 for more information

11/27/2010 and 11/28/2010
Bliss Holiday Gift Market
http://montagefestivals.com/
Location: State Fairgrounds, Modern Living Building, Oklahoma City, OK



~{ December 2010 }~

12/11/2010 from 11am to 5pm
Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar
http://www.deluxeok.net
Location: State Fairgrounds Centennial Building