I spent as much of yesterday as I could listing on Etsy!
I got quite a few things up (at lower prices so they will disappear) until about mid-day. Then, I had a break and when I went to go back to listing more, the light was gone and I couldn’t get any more good photos.
Natural light makes such a difference in a photo. Like this one of a hand dyed vintage linen bag. Isn’t it pretty how the sun comes in the window from the left side?
I try to never use flash in my pictures of my art work or shop listings.
This bag was done with fiber reactive dyes, I have a huge set of dye colors. Before Sugarwings was born, we had a baby shower that was a tie dye party in the garden. Everyone brought something white and we dipped and dyed all after noon. She has a whole wardrobe full of tie dye clothing, which is perfect for her since her mom is a hippie chick.
Our fairy grandbaby came home from the hospital in a tie dyed ensemble.
I get the dyes out and make something every once in a while. I like to dye my t-shirts that get a coffee stain on the front so I can still wear them.
Today, I am taking all my photos first, then listing throughout the evening. Its a Sugarwings sleepover night, so I can’t say how much I’ll get done…….
My afternoon break was from some shoppers who called and asked if they could come over to look around. They verified my guess that the reason my sales were down on Sunday was because it was too crowded.
All of them said that they just couldn’t see to shop and wanted to come back and look without the crowds.
I have more people coming in the next couple of days, but I did warn them it wasn’t set up as pretty as before. Actually, the studio kind of looks like a bar the day after New Year’s Eve.
At least my house is still clean! But the baby isn’t here yet. Give it a couple of hours and it will be looking quite lived in.
Which reminds me, I walked into my house from the studio during the home tour to find someone going through my kitchen drawers!!! She was telling her husband that real people did live in the house. Well, what did she think it was?? So, I said, yep, this is MY house and she turned red and walked away. Really funny, I was laughing and thinking maybe I should have cleaned out drawers too??
After the whole thing was over, I saw that the shower curtain had been pulled back too. I guess that means, I should have cleaned the shower. Geez, who would have though that people would be peeking in places like that???? There were hosts around to keep an eye on that kind of thing.
Oh well, they got an eyeful of mess is what they got. I only cleaned what I thought was going to show!! I hope they enjoyed the view of the pile of wash rags and an empty shampoo bottle on the floor of the shower. Did I mention that there were tiny little, muddy dog foot prints on the shower floor? Twinkle loves to play in there.
These photos I am showing are of what I did get listed yesterday. Some have sold already! thanks!
All are listed at lower prices than I have had on similar items before.
This is another photo of some of Beth’s contributions to the shop.
I’m not sure how much of these she sold. I do remember ringing up the little pink angels. The weekend really was pretty non-stop crazy.
Beth and I figured out what was weird about Sunday- with all those crowds, we didn’t get our giggle and gossip time.
Usually if you aren’t selling much, you are all alone at a sale, no crowds. So we hang out and talk and usually have so much fun, we don’t care about sales. But with hordes of people walking through we never got to relax and kick back. It was just weird. But I would do it again, I enjoyed my weekend and sales weren’t bad. And I am donating $500 of the sales to the charity that sponsored the open house tour. They are a free clinic that helps people with no health insurance, and that is a great cause to me. When my son broke his elbow, they were great. He has no insurance, much like many young people his age.
Now, I need to go Christmas shop from my pile of leftovers to find presents for my blog giveaways and for my family.
The rest I need to photograph before we go out of town, we have a trip to DC coming up this week.
So, I’m off to shop in my own studio, then list more things before the baby comes to play. Nothing gets done while she is here, except some tickling, hide and seek, and made up stories about fairies in the woods.
When she is older, I will write some down and illustrate them for her, so she will have books of her adventures in the forest as a fairy with sugar pink wings.
I think your book idea is wonderful…and she will treasure that forever!
I am so happy to hear your sale was a success!! I kept thinking, as I was reading, that you DO practically have a store again!! That is so funny about the lady looking through your drawers! That’s how professional everything looks! Ha!
And we all have our dirty piles hidden somewhere… so no judgemental attitudes from anyone now!!!!
You should teach ‘grandma lessons’ as many women don’t get it…like you do!
The whole wet rags in the shower thing happened to me too…it was like some kind of magnet that drew the people straight to the ugliest sight in the house. Nuts!
Hey-how do you know what a bar looks like the day after New Years????? LOL.
I bet the nosy peoples’ house isn’t decorated a fraction as nice as yours and the husband didn’t believe “real people” decorated that prettily. I’ve been to open houses that really looked like no one lived there. No magazines, books, family photos, etc. around, just a few well placed, but uninspired, decorative items, but NEVER would I have opened a drawer or pulled back the shower curtain or peeked in a closet no matter how much I really wanted to. LOL I bet she was mortified that you caught her.
i can’t believe people were peering around like that, my goodness how rude and intrusive…have fun with your little darling tonight and the book you are planning sounds so wonderful and sweet…your etsy shop looks very beautiful!!!
That is too funny about the woman going through your drawers! I would hope she was embarrassed after being caught rifling through your possessions!
Oh gosh, your story confirms what I read in our paper one day, about people looking in other folks medicine cabinets. Apparently, that sort of thing happens alot. I can’t imagine such a thing. My mama and grandma raised me much better than that!
Your home and your crafted things all look magical and lovely Karla, and I know how hard you worked. You’ve created and shared some magic with all of us here in Blogville too, and I know that we’ve all enjoyed it. Thanks for taking the time to post, in addition to all the rest.
Take care.
Fabulous post Karla. Funny how nothing gets done when the grandchildren are around. But hey, who cares. Life is short and you wouldn’t want to miss any moment you share with them.
Alison
adorable pics as always!!! so cute!! Love the idea of a tie dye baby shower!! xo Britt
Karla, Bless you dear for the donation of $500.00, how wonderful of you1 And thanks for the grat early X-mas gift!!! A new photo of Ryan!!! Now that can put a smile on my face!!! Lori
Cute Blog post I laughed so loud about the woman in your drawers! (sounds bad) Sorry! LOL! Everything looks totally fantabuous! Grace
You’d be surprised how crude people can be. Next time you have an open house, hang a sign in the shower saying NOTHING for sale in here! And your donation to charity serves as yet another reminder to me of why I love you so!
Love,
Julie
Where do you get the energy. Love all of your designs, you are a very talented lady and a Grandmother extradonaire!!
I like the comment about putting a sign in the shower ! The nerve of some people! Since you are going to DC you will be out my way! (I’m about an hour from DC!) Have a terrific time and hope the weather is decent!
Too funny about the nosy people! I’d probably be tempted do the same thing, myself. But I wouldn’t!
I would love to read a fairy book by you! I hope you really do write one some day.
What a dear sweet lady you are to donate all that money to the needy!!! Everything is so beautiful. Money is tight here this time of year with 8 grandchildren or I would purchase some of your beautiful things. The snowman is awesome. Have a good night Mary.
Hi Karla,
I was shopping your Etsy shop and noticed this message which has the dates a bit confused:
“will be away from my computer from Dec 8-11th. All purchases during that time
will be shipped on Monday the 12th and Tuesday the 13th.”
Have a great time on your trip!
Your things are wonderful,sure that you sell soon.
Hey honey, stop by my place today. I have something for you.
Love,
Julie
Oh Karla:
Fun, fun, fun!!!
I enjoy coming and checking your blog and Etsy everyday. So colorful, fairy inspired and a Happy place to visit!!!
Love & Peace
carole
Beautiful items, I wish I could have been at the sale.
Karen
Karla,
I just love your blog – you have such wit and a way with words, and all your pretties are just divine!!
Amy
Karla, Glad to hear that you did so well at the sale..little miss sugarwings in her tie dye tee shirt took my breath away. She is so sweet. Susan
I’m glad to hear that people are still coming by. Hopefully these will be better-mannered and NOT peek where they shouldn’t! I’m so glad you caught the one lady!
I’m glad to hear that people are still coming by. Hopefully these will be better-mannered and NOT peek where they shouldn’t! I’m so glad you caught the one lady!
Hi Karla,
Sorry that I’ve been away so long with all the Christmas happenings at AH. Every picture is wonderful, but I am really drawn to the cameo pins.
Sharon
So many beautiful things to look at in your blog today. I love it!
Oh my!!! I need to know what kind of vitamins you take!!! I want your energy level!! I love that you gave to the charity, many jobs now days do not provide insurance and many single moms loose theirs in the divorce! Such a good cause to give to, bless you for that!! I think when you write those childrens books, you should mail a copy to a publisher and see what happens. Would it not be so cool for sugarwings to say as a young lady, “Oh yes, I am sugarwings, those were written for me ” !! Not that she can’t do that with her own copies, but then other children would have those stories to grow up with too!! Your blog is one of the first I look at each day, I love to see all your beautiful work and read your words too! Your life is lovely there in Kansas(because you appreciate each little ounce of goodness!!!) and I am sure we will all love to hear about your adventures in D.C. too! Have a safe trip and look forward to hearing about it!-Sandra
OMGosh Karla I have had sooo much fun strolling by everyone’s holiday blog – not finished 🙂
I have added a few more pics and will be adding more so stroll by when you are in the neighborhood!
xo
Mary