Turquoise Bracelet

Yes, my jewelry looks like you can eat it. In fact, it's more than a 'can,' it's a 'should.'


Remember Chicklets gum? I knew you would!






More millefiore glass beads strung with sterling silver.

My friend Heather says she's surprised bracelets don't sell more often, but I can understand that not everyone is into them. Still, I just sold a bracelet (not this one) overnight, which means more money for homeless kitties! Bare-pawed and pregnant no more!

Check out Etsy for new items. I'm not linking to it here. Too lazy. Sorry.

Sea Glass

One of (and by one, I mean only) the highlights of Sunday's Arts and Crafts Fair was that a young woman walked by my table (not stopping to look at or talk to me) and said to her boyfriend: Wow, it looks just like sea glass.

Since the necklace she was looking at at the time is called Beach Glass, I couldn't help but be pleased that she "got it."

Look, when you're desperate, you take what you can get, no?

Monkey, As Promised

A few more closeups of bracelets...



...and the lovely Django!




I love how she poses for pictures on a shoulder or a head. Very cute, indeed.

Um, Yeah....No.

If you're considering doing World Cafe's Arts and Crafts Fair, let me suggest you not do so. It was like watching paint dry. For 4 hours. And having to pay $55 to do so.

I saw only a handful of customers, and I didn't make a single sale. NOT A SINGLE SALE. Not to toot my own horn (*toot!*) but I have never, ever, not made a single sale. Even when I was standing outside, on the street corner, with no advertising at all. That day, I walked away with just over $100, which isn't a huge taking, but most of my items were $7. That's a lot of sales!

But not yesterday. No, not yesterday. I'm pretty upset with the event and plan to ask the organizer if she did any advertising at all. The venue made a good $2500 on us alone (vendors, I mean). Plus, most of us bought food and beer (I limited myself to a $1 bagel because I never believe in spending money when I'm trying to make it at an event) and then customers paid $3 a head. I suspect the venue made its money back and so possibly didn't care about whether we had sales. Not a good way to run a business, if you ask me. The one bright spot? My friend Heather (Chloe in tow) came out, paid her $3 and sat with me for awhile. What a nice distraction.

World Cafe Live Summer Arts and Crafts Fair: THUMB DOWN.

Some Close-Up Shots

Finally, all of the Flag Fest pix are off my camera. Have you wearied of the process dear reader? My apologies if you have. 2 more blog posts and we are done. And I promise, there is a monkey in your future.



The earrings above are new. They're frosted resin discs and squares with nature motifs--birds, leaves, flowers, etc. I found them at a craft store and liked them and decided to try something new. Some people liked them and some didn't; I think I sold half my quantity.



I used a special display for my bracelets. I think it gives a nice sense of what the piece will look like when worn.



Above are the one-of-a-kind millefiore, etc., glass earrings that I made to go along with the millefiore bracelets I sold (visible under the rack).


And some close ups of the 3 Coins in the Fountain Collection display. I arranged the coin drop earrings like a rainbow...it was the only rainbow we had that day, because one needs sun to have an actual rainbow.

Another Sale

On Sunday afternoon, I'm selling at the World Cafe Live Summer Arts and Crafts Fair. From the World Cafe Live website:

Dozens of local vendors will spread their wares across tables offering a variety of hand-made items, including jewelry, pottery, baby clothes, cards & ornaments, stained glass, photos and paintings, hand-made soaps, and much more!

You may have listened to the World Cafe on the radio before. It's a great venue for music of all kinds. I've seen a few bands play there, including a free show by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones during my workday lunch once, a few years back!

Wickedly Chic Mention

Yay!

Liz over at Wickedly Chic just contacted me to let me know she's featuring my 3 Coins in the Fountain Collection bracelet in Forest at the Daily Ditties section of her site.

Check it out!

The Fest

More shots of my outdoor table a few weeks ago. This was during set up, when the street still looked a bit sparse. Eventually, a local gym set up next to me.

Online Charity Event

SO: I've started my online charity event to benefit City Kitties, West Philly's cat rescue. West Philly is my very own neighborhood, and we do have our fair share of feral cats. I pass one big family every time I walk to the gym, and it's a bit of a sad sight.

Anyway, check out my Etsy shop--I'm currently donating 30% of my Etsy sales to City Kitties' cause.

MEOW!

More Flag Fest Photos

Above you see the signs that a friend of mine helped me make (i.e., made me by hand). I read online someplace that it was smart to have a sign with your business name. I also added a sign with prices because I think people like to know an item's price, but often don't like to ask, so this seemed to kill 2 birds with 1 stone. PLUS, it meant I didn't have to price everything by hand, which I simply was not willing to do.


And a photo of the table taken from the right-hand side. More shots to come.

p.s.: no one looked at the pricing sign. And I mean no one. :(

Cats in Bags

Just a quick post to ask:

what is it with cats and (and in) bags? My cat likes to investigate all bags, and makes sure to always lick the plastic ones.

And I wouldn't have it any other way, even if I don't understand it!

Meowing Up a Tree?

So, earlier I blogged about doing an online charity event and 'barking up' the tree of a local organization. Perhaps I should've said 'meowing up?'

Let me introduce you to City Kitties, a non-profit cat rescue organization in my West Philadelphia neighborhood. From City Kitties own website:

"We're concerned volunteers with a mission: saving and improving the lives of stray cats in the West Philadelphia area. City Kitties rescues strays from the streets, gives them proper veterinary care and a loving foster home, and adopts them out to happy new families. We are a no-kill rescue, meaning that we will never euthanize an adoptable or treatable animal. We do not euthanize animals to make space in our foster homes, and we do not euthanize animals for medical problems unless deemed humane and necessary by a veterinarian. We pride ourselves on the level of veterinary care provided to our foster cats and kittens and will never turn away a homeless animal due to illness or injury. When possible, we also assist with TNR (trap, neuter, return) of feral (wild) cats in the West Philadelphia area."

Take a look at the site, they have some very cute cats available. If you're not local, take a look anyway--the photos are like Lolcats, but without the dopey, made-up baby talk!

I'll post details as I hear them.