saturday sales

my best day yet being back at the Farmer's Market. Two little girls whose mother bought them bears last week came by my table to tell me how much they're enjoying their bears. Their mother said they dress them up and play with them all the time. Way cool. I used to dress some of my bears, maybe it's time again.

I really worked at production this week-- my shoulder and wrist ache but I got 40 new bears done and I had to take another table and I'm probably going to buy a larger table altogether this week 'cause yeah I've got stock. Deciding to use up the fur I have was a great idea.

Sat next to a man selling stuff with football logos. This coming week it is the Steeler material ('cause there are a heck of a lot of Steelers fans in this town evidently) and the tiny bears and the football helmets. Also pandas and koalas, for something new.

Got the dog done. And I made a bunny. Two people asked for lambs and maybe I should expand my repertoire a little more 'cause the business is "Teddy Hugs & Things."

More pics will follow but I realize I suck at photographing my work which is not good 'cause if I ever get stuff on Etsy, the photography has to be good.

Got the application for the holiday bazaar. Definitely. I can easily make the vendor fee back.

Had some material that made some gorgeous bears. I got my daughter (read: paid her to) name all the bears I had for sale and she fell in love with one she named Willie. She wanted him (I was thinking of keeping him for my collection) but I gave him to her. For awhile, he'll still be in the same house so I can enjoy him that way.

guess what I named this bear

a woman with a baby in a stroller

wanted to know if I made bears with the eyes sewn in.

I do those, I told her. I use fur for the nose and embroidery the eyes.

Do you have any here, she asked, looking over the bears at my table.

I shook my head. I don't.

Uhm, lost sale. So something else I need to work on this week -- childproof bears.

Used to make a gift basket with such for newborn babies, added a bottle, diapers, a blanket, etc. Even got Gerber, Parent's Magazine and some other companies to send me information to put in. Gonna do two-- a boy and girl-- and take them Saturday. Went to Walmart and priced baby stuff and it's still profitable so that means it's doable.

goals for the next week

order hang tags


check to see if I can get into this holiday bazaar that's coming up in December

cut up one container of fur-- don't necessarily have to start the bears though that would be nice --the goal is to use up the fur I have so, yes, I can get more;-)

hmmm, I think I can do that

Went to the Farmer's Market. Great weather though there was a 50% chance of rain; not hot and that's all that mattered.

Another good day for sales. Actually the best I've had since I've been going back but that's because today is Saturday and there's more people out.

I was asked to make a dog== actually the dog from "Annie." Found a picture of Sandy that I'm going to work from. Seems doable.

I just gotta do it.

closing up shop

I have an account at Etsy but I'm going to have to close it so I can reopen it. I named the shop with a moniker I use often and in reading tips on opening, managing, and growing one's shop, I realized that I needed to rename it.

Do that and I think I'm almost ready to reopen. Found a place to buy boxes for mailing, have thought out what "freebies" I want to include with a bear sale and I've got merchandise!

the solution becomes the problem

It's important to me that the bear's muzzle holds its shape. Fiberfill shifts and the nose can sometimes collapse. I'd found a solution by mistake and it works well except for some material.

There's something I do to insure that the eyes stay put but I'm finding that solution is turning into a problem that affects the way the bears eyes appear when it's ready to be stuffed.

Argh.

there will be no bear castle for me

I ran into someone I went to school with and she works for the arts council. She invited me to consider being in the Renaissance Craftfaire and I considered it until I got the application.

Gulp.

I could probably make up the fees and costs associated ( participants have to create a medival themed sales area) but upfront, uhm no 'cause I've got to do the graduation bears loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong before graduation.

bucket o' bears

bear doodle

discovery leads to inventory

Unearthed a box of hats and flowers and wooden toys/spools and music boxes that I plan to use in the bearmaking.

Today is going to be a bearmaking day but after I complete an inventory of what I have. I was just in Hobby Lobby this morning buying doll glasses when I evidently already had some. . .

Been at the Farmer's Market. Some nice sells, considering I go on Wednesdays. Saturdays, well I'm just too lazy to get up, but I plan to at some point this summer.

A few bears I wished I'd taken pictures of before they were sold, but alas, no other choice had I. My niece is going to take pictures of the remaining and I'll post soon as I can.

Am possibly ordering an embroidering machine. It's on sale and shipping is free, and I can pay it in 4 payments. That would be a boast to the graduation line--

Went to Joanne's and discovered some product ideas. Don't want to get overwhelmed and stress the bear business 'cause the writing career is more important, but still it's nice to be creative with some fur and plastic eyes and noses. It's wonderful, the smiles they bring.

Uhm, and the cash;-)