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Kunklebaby will be at Craftin Outlaws for our 4th year this October! YAY! I know I have months to get ready, but... things have been going a little slower here since the baby joined us. I am actually trying to be prepared for something over time [-gasp-], rather than spending an entire week before an event without sleeping. The end result is the same, lots of kunklebaby goodness, but I'm hoping this is a little less stressful, path.

If your keeping tally, of the 4 years I have done Craftin Outlaws, I've been nursing for two[counting this year] and pregnant for the other two--yeah I'm that girl. Every time you see me, I'm either carrying a new baby or telling you about the new one I'm working on growing [and I love it!].

Looks like this is another year, hubby will have to shuttle the kids back & forth all day from the show so I can feed Baby Unicorn. If we get lucky, he may take a bottle or two, but O'm not holding my breathe on that one. Little {L} was a strict breastfeeder only, as in he would rather starve than have to even think of drink from a bottle [insert dramatic, baby -gasp- here].

This would be a handy time to have family or friends in town to babysit the bigger kids. Anyone in the family want to raise their hands and come to Columbus for a visit. Anyone... anyone...? Bueller? Anyone want to just come to the show and keep me company? Do I hear the kids Pet Cricket chirping?-lol.

GIVEAWAY

CONTEST CLOSED!
The winner is Christopher and Tia! Congrats, lol.
[Uprinting will email you information on your prize within the next week.]
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Giveaway Prize: 100 Postcards for one (1) lucky winner!!

Size: 4x6; Paper: 14pt Cardstock Gloss; Printing: Full color both sides

Shipping: Winners have to pay for shipping [shipping is excluded]

Giveaway [for winner and blog owner] is sponsored by UPrinting.

To enter, just leave a comment here, teling what you would use the postcards for. Be creative!

One winner will be chosen on Janury 4th.

[Prizes & Blogger Appreciation gifts will be awarded via coupon code on January 8, 2010.]

Please leave an email address so I can contact you.

Christmas Gifts

Finishing up the last of my Christmas gift sewing. HOORAY! I still have some things to get done for the kiddies, but everyone else is pretty much done.

No matter how hard I try it seem that I am sewing up to the last minute for everything lately. I'm actually glad I didn't sign up to do all the holiday shows I had wanted to. I would be a sleep deprived crazy woman, if I had!

I'm really happy with the fabric coasters that I made. They are a simple square cut of fabric, backed with fleece, then quilted. I love the randomness of the quilting lines. They make nice gifts to give as a "family present". We are not able to buy every individual member of the family gifts this year. I'm happy to gift these though-they are fun and useful at the same time!

I also made a batch of hand printed tea towels. They are one of my favorite gifts to share. I use hand carved stamps and do each image one by one. I keep meaning to make another set for our house, but they seem to get passed on to family & friends faster than I expect.

How fun are these Eric Carle, the Very Hungry Caterpillar: Coaster Set? [my favorite of the bunch!]

Over the Weekend!

I had THE greatest time over the weekend at the Tiny Canary Show 2009. I sold lots of stuff, met some awesome new people and got to catch up with old friends.

The show was really successful this year! Tons of shoppers and a really happy, friendly crowd. A few items were really a hit this year. I completely sold out of sweater balls and got close to sell out with my hand printed, organic bibs. My regular bibs found their way into many new homes also!

It was fun chatting with lots of new mommies! There were many pregnant women, or friends of at the event, with great stories to share. Thanks to everyone who stopped by my table!

New Offer for the Holiday's

This Bundle features a set of 10 bibs at wholesale pricing!! All the great designer fabrics and quality you receive with every Kunklebaby order, but with a fantastic price break. You get 10 bibs for $65.00 [plus shipping].

Great for those holiday shoppers with a long list to fill. Split them up among friends or family, or keep them together. Makes fun & useful stocking stuffers for the little one's.

This set is also the perfect amount to gift to a new mother. Enough bibs to use and wash in rotation, because let's be honest, how many new Mom's have lots of time to keep up with the laundry? [I still don't-lol!]

The offer is available here in my shop, and will be offered through the holiday's-they are creeping up quick!

Accepted to Tiny Canary!!

YAY! I just found out I have been accepted to be a vendor at Tiny Canary for the second year. It's a great handmade, indie show that is housed at a local artists studio space. I have a fabulous time last year! Great crowd, great organizers and great talent.
Come visit me there the weekend of November 14-15th. Click on the tiny canary image in my side bar for directions and a list of vendors.

Now to get sewing!!

Idea's...

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. I've been feeling a little under the weather. All the gloomy, rainy days don't seem to be helping either-blah!

So, I was pretty surprised that I had A LOT of people ask me, "What are these?", about my scarves at my last show. I had my mannequin set up right next to them, displaying an adult scarf. They were separated into adult size and child sizes. Here's my question to you, "What can I do to display them and get less questions?". Craftin Outlaws is coming up quick and I won't be able to bring along my mannequin. I will only have a table, so space will be tight. I do plan on bringing my hanging rack.


Any idea's? I was thinking of bring a few pictures to hang near them of them being modelled, but otherwise, I have no idea to make them look more....well, quickly recognized as a scarf!

Scraps

While on my organization kick, nothing could be ignored! I spent a few hours the other day going through my scrap bin and tying up the little bits of fabric into small bundles. The bin was getting overwhelming and messy! Whenever I would look for something to use, I would either grab something from the top, or get annoyed. It's been wonderful looking through the new and improved scrap bin! I feel suddenly inspired to use up my small odds and ends. I've been using these small pieces to make my mini-houses. [thanks to everyone for all the great feedback on them!] I'm also imagining a really pretty, quilted, pillow for little miss {M} -with lots of tiny fabrics & textures.

With Craftin Outlaws quickly arriving, I have lots of work to get done! I'm hoping to get a few tote bags completed over the weekend and a batch of bibs. After last weeks show, my bib inventory is pretty low. I usually sell tons of bibs at C.O. Also a trip to the zoo if the rain ever stops!
Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

All tied up and happy!

Scarves are Here!

Fall scarves are starting to be added to my shop. So far, I've added the "Shades of Fall" and "Theo" scarves. There are more pictures in the shop!

The new scarves, make great fall birthday and holiday gifts! The children's size are perfect up to about age 7, and the adult size fit just about everyone!

I really love making these. The winter months are so bleak and dreary here in Ohio. I'm really looking forward to the pop of color these will bring when we leave the house. My kids have already picked out their favorites...and actually so has mama! Haha. They will each be getting one as a gift for their upcoming birthday's along with a knitted scarf. Yes, I've been busy knitting too. I'll show you what I finished knitting at the festival over the weekend tomorrow!

Independence Day Festival

The festival went great over the weekend. Here's a few pics of my booth space. We had a really nice spot with pretty sunshine filtering in throughout most of the day. This was the only outdoor show, all year that it didn't rain on us. I was SO thankful!!

I got to chat with some awesome former customers, meet some really cool new one's, and talk with some old friends. My favorite moment of the day was playing with a sweet little toddler named, Theo. He has the prettiest little curls in his hair, and an awesome personality.

It was a long, long day, as I arrived about 9:45am and left at 10pm. There was so much going on with vendors checking in, traffic jams and getting the bands, artists and customer, but they pulled if off great[not an easy task]!! Lots of cool stuff to see, lots of fun people to meet.

I even picked up some pretty new blue & green wool yarn. This time, I am actually making something for myself! Yay!

::Sweater Balls and Quilts::

:: Scarves, tote bags and skirts ::

::Center of booth ::

:: More scarves and my mannequin ::

Karma

Karma: When you do something mean to someone and the Earth knows....so the Earth moves a little to make you fall down....cause it's not nice to do mean things.

--Definition per the fabulous, Mr. {D}

{D} told me this the other day after he feel down. He said he was mean to his sister and karma got him. I think I laughed harder than I ever have. So enjoy your weekend, and do something good for your Karma...or the Earth will shift and getcha!

Don't forget to come down to the Independence Day festival if your local!! We'll be there from noon-late[8pm-10ish]! I'll have all my new mini-houses, quilts and scarves out for sale!

Promo Swap!

Anyone interested in a promo swap? I make fun little giveaway bags and pass them out at my craft shows. I think it's a great way to help promote handmade and other artists.

I plan on passing these out at Craftin Outlaws on October 17th.

I'm looking for any promotional items you'd like to send-coupons, postcards, samples, moo cards, buttons, bookmarks, samples, pamphlets, etc.

I hope to do at least 100 bags, depending on how many people are interested. In the past I have done anywhere from 100-200 for a show!

It's a great inexpensive way to be seen by people already interested in buying handmade. If you'd like to be included in the bags, post a comment here with a way for you to reach me, or send me a quick convo on Etsy and I'll send you my address.

Everyone is welcome!! I would need everyting by October 8th so I have time to get things put together.

[The pictures here are a few bags from previous shows]

Weekend

I've got a date with my studio this weekend! Lots of work to get finished and just as much that needs started. Although as far as "dates" go, I'll gladly take this one.

Between making gifts for {D} & {M}'s upcoming birthday's and getting ready for the show I have lined up [I'm not even going to get into Christmas gift making] I have my work cut out for me this fall.

Busy isn't a bad thing, with the right scheduling I'll be fine. The unfortunate thing right now is having a house full of sick kids, and a mama that woke up with a sore throat today. No fun at all! Truthfully, I'm looking forward to a little piece and time to myself this weekend. Just the whirr of the sewing machine...if I sew fast enough it will drown out the crying and yelling the kids do in the other room. "Why is Mama sewing again? When will she be done Daddy? MAMAAAAA!!!!!Followed with my husband asking me some silly question every ten minutes in hopes that I will just come out of the studio and resume my role as mother.

So lovely Fabric, it's date. I'll meet you in the studio bright & early for some sewing and cleaning. What are your weekend plans?

Sneak Peek: Scarves

I've been working on adding a few new things to my line this Fall. Here's a tiny sneak peak at my scarves.

So often I have people come up and talk to me at shows, saying how much they love my stuff, but have no children to buy for. A few of those lovely ladies actually purchased my quilts to use as art in their homes. So, I got to thinking I could make more for my Kunklebaby customers without children.

I have been making scarves for my children & family for awhile and thought they would make a great addition right now as we head into the chillier months. They come in two sizes, "adult" & "child", and a rainbow of colors. They will be with me at my next few shows, so anyone local, come say hello! [shows are listed in the side bar].

The kids are not left out either! Plenty of smaller scarves in the bold, fun prints I often use. I'll even have a few organics for the eco-chic look. They include my own original, hand printed images on some of the squares.


This blue & green one is my favorite of the adult sizes. If this girlie makes it through show season, I'm adding it to my closet!

Mini Houses

Over the long weekend, I was able to get a bunch of stuff completed, and spend time with the family. I finally got the studio tidied up. Some furniture was moved around, some went to the garage and my favorite thrifted find came back in, a cool old table [I'll show you pictures later this week].

With the new table added to the studio, I now have a computer space and a sewing space separate from each other. I used to have to move the sewing stuff, while on the laptop and clear away all my papers and files when I wanted to sew. Sometimes it was just too much energy and I decided against sewing. Often I only had a few minutes anyways and didn't want to spend it shifting materials. It's so AWESOME to have a nice clear desk to sew whenever my work calls to me!

So, with all this new found space I had to work on a couple things! I've been making these mini houses for a few weeks now. Each one is stitched by hand, with lots of love. I've found that I can handsewn while schooling the kids, so when I finish one of these, I feel like I accomplished two things in the time of one-yay. As a mom of three young kids, this is rarely a feeling I have. I love the texture and little bits of other things sewn in. I hate throwing away fabric, even tiny bits, so these houses make me happy to see my little pieces made into something cool.

They can be hung on a wall [I recommend three in a row], used as an ornament or added to a shelf that needs a little fun. These few still needs their sides stitched up, but I wanted to show them off. I will have a small batch of them at the Independence Day show.

I have more "new goodies" to show off later this week. I've been working hard at a few new products and I'm really excited to show them off!

Hang Tags

I've had several requests for info lately about my hang tags and sewn in tags. I thoughts I'd share my approach with everyone.

1. I set up a file, business card sized. I added my logo twice to the card, equally spaced out. They can be horizontal or vertical depending on your design. They can be as simple or complex as you'd like, single or doubled sided depending on how good your skills are at making sure they line up correctly.

2. Upload and order file you created from a card company. Make sure to check your proof!

3. Your brand new box of business cards arrive at your home. Say "Woo-Hoo" at the mail box and rush into your house.

4. Take a paper cutter and cut those pretty new tags in half.

5. Hole punch the ends. [I use a TINY hole punch purchased from a craft store]

6. Attach to your fine, handcrafted item and your done!

I attach mine to my items with the plastic tags that big box stores use. It keeps them secure and I like the professional look. You could also use yarn, twine, cool frayed & textured fabric, chord--anything you'd like!