New 2 free stitchery patterns added

Hi,

I have added 2 more patterns to the free pattern download at the bottom of the page.

These are both stitchery patterns.  One is #306 Children at heart and the other is #111Children are a gift from God.

Booth tips

In this post, I am going to show you past show booth pictures, compared to our booth today.  As you will see, we have come a long way.  A lot of hard work to get your booth to look the way you want.  This is what our booth looks like today.  My hubby built it, out of pressure treated lumber, so it is really heavy.

I bought a cupboard to hold my room sprays and a shelf that comes apart.  I use lots of wood crates, rusty buckets and basket sto hold anything on the floor. I now decorate the top of the booth with greenery. Last year I had an old braided rug I threw down. But be sure you tape it down, or you may have an injured customer.

At the Christmas shows, I always have a basket with peppermint candy for anyone to pick up.  Always have business cards to give out.

A big turnoff for me, is to go into a booth, and immediately have the crafter start trying to sell their work to you or not have it priced. I like to look without having someone behind me talking to me the whole time, trying to get me to buy. I usually just walk out without buying when that happens. I am kind of a shy person, I usually just greet my customer and tell them, just ask if you need any help. This works for me, your work will sell itself.

I can't help but laugh, while going through some old photos. I found some of my older shows, now we are talking 20 years ago at least.  I am posting some of the old photos, they are not the best photos, didn't have a decent camera back then.

This one was at an old shopping mall.  I had just the one folded display and a small card table.  Rule number one, never use sheets on a table, use old quilts or good table coverings. I noticed in some of my old pictures, the sheets were blowing could see boxes and sawhorse legs.  Not professional at all.

as you can see in this one, overlapping sheets, boxes and table legs showing.  I remember the doing the crochet cotton ornaments that you starch and stiffen.  They on the black display board.  What you can't see on the table are crocheted and wood items.  This booth says Bazaar.

This was one of first big shows at the Morocco Temple shrine auditorium.  This used to be a really good show.  The first year we were in it, we caused a traffic jam and they had to move us to the side room the next year, which worked out great, we had more room, but as you can see here, we did mostly ornaments no extras in our booth for display.

The one and only mall show we ever did. I will never willingly do a mall show again.  They don't come to the mall to buy crafts.  4 long miserable days.  I had a friend with me, who everytime I would sell something, she would take her elbow and elbow me.  A little noticable, she got a little excited about selling, but kind of embarassing, especially when the customer notices.

My booth at the Christmas made in the South Show in Jacksonville, back then we had a single booth. Looking at the picture, we sure didn't have much inventory.  But we also had a crowded booth, and people saying we needed to get a double booth. Now I don't like to have anything but a double booth.

This year I am going to change my booth, my current one is just too heavy for my hubby to handle by himself anymore.  My daughter doesn't get to go with me to all  my shows now.  So it just me and him.  So I have to come up a new prim look, that is a lot easier to handle.  I will share the new booth with you when I get it finished.

The Winner of the giveaway is.....

Hi,
thanks to everyone that left a comment.  hubby picked the winning name and it is:
Twin Creeks Primitives.
So please send me your address and I will get this right out to you.

GIVEAWAY TIME AGAIN

Well, time for another giveaway.  This time I am offering my Lil Raggedy's, a Patriotic Anne and Andy.
These little dolls are about 10" tall.  Just leave me a comment, and you must be a member of my blog to enter. I will have hubby draw a name on Wednesday. 


I also got a couple more e-patterns done, the Prim Angel light and Raggedy Bucket.  I am offering these e-patterns at a special price of $4.00 each for this week only.  So click on the side bar buttons to purchase.

    Primitve Angel Light

 #250 Raggedy Bucket

HOW TO USE AN IRON TO GET A GRUNGY LOOK ON YOUR FABRIC

Hi,

I get a lot of emails asking how to get that uneven grungy look on stitches and wings.  Here is how I do it.  First off, let me warn you not to use a good iron.  I bought an old iron from a garage sale that I used for this.

I take a spray bottle, and mix  a strong mixture of instant coffee and warm water, shake real good.

Take your piece, I don't even use a stained piece of muslin, just do my stitcheries and wings with unstained muslin.Spray mixture on front of piece and immediately iron with your hot iron.  Just keep ironing until you get it dry.  If you want it darker, just keep spraying and ironing. Repeat for back of wing if desired.  This is a easy way to get a grungy look.

You notice, I used a thick piece of cardboard under my wing piece as I ironed.  This way I can just throw it away and not get my ironing board cover all stained and dirty looking.