Holiday Sale at The Striped Straw

It's time for a Holiday Sale at The Striped Straw! Items that are marked Holiday Sale are on sale now, including this new-to-the-shop pair of earrings that coordinate with the Glittery Green Blossom Ring (also on sale.) Keep checking back as I add more new items to the Shop this week!

Craft Show Wrap Up (a mini novel)

Hello! How was your weekend? Did you have any holiday fun? I made it through my first official craft show. Yay! My husband and my little guys all got up early to help me cart my stuff over and set up my space at the show. My two oldest sons helped my husband attach my business cards to some decorative card stock (someday I'll make more professional ones but they seemed to fit the whole handmade vibe) while my littlest stacked my decorative boxes on the bottom shelf of my cart. They told me that everything I made was the best in the world and tops everything else. So sweet. And let me just say that my husband rocks because he not only helped me set up for the show but he's taken on so much at home so I would have time to get everything ready. Yup. He's a super star.
As they left and I got settled in, I met the folks at the booths to either side of me. To one side of me was a mother/daughter duo who were selling a variety of things from military stockings to mini scrapbooks to the daughter's photographs. The mom, who is a lovely Christian woman, and I just chatted throughout the day and she shared so much from her experiences from doing craft shows. On the other side was a husband and wife team who were there selling the husband's silver jewelry and woodworking creations. They were super encouraging (and my best customers!) and fun to talk to. The wife shared with me about taking care of her mom who has Alzheimer's. She and her sisters all take turns spending the night with their parents and cooking/caring for them. It was a really touching glimpse into their lives. She's also back in school to become a surgical tech and is looking forward to beginning a new career now in her later years. But my day was made not only by meeting these new people but by the familiar faces I saw. My friend (incredibly supportive friend whom I now lovingly refer to as my manager), Tessie, came by for a visit and she even brought me some tasty gluten free crackers to snack on. Isn't that so thoughtful? Another sweet lady I know came by to support me. It was really encouraging. I sold a number of items, handed out my business cards and found it to be a worthwhile experience.
The pictures below are some of the ways I displayed my jewelry and hair pins. I put most of my items out on vintage plates, arranging them into like items or color schemes. The bottom photo (not great but really all I could do at the show) is of my table. I've started adding some of my newer items to my Shop and will be adding more this week.

A Lot of Luxe Plus a Moose

Admittedly, I have not made much progress in decorating our house for Christmas. I've been too busy being a mommy, being a bit under the weather, and being a busy bee in order to get ready for the Craft Show, but I'm hoping to get to it soon. In the meantime, here is some inspiration from The White Company...

And a bit of whimsy because I love moose!

Hope you find something that inspires you.

Thank you Casa Tres Chic for introducing me to The White Company.

p.s. Hope to see you tomorrow at the Homemade Holiday Craft Sale. More information here.

Pretty Pairing

I don't know about you, but I find myself putting my jewelry here, there and everywhere. I currently have some necklaces and earrings hanging from a frame and the rest is scattered among little bowls and baskets. But wouldn't a jewelry tree like this one make a pretty place to collect all of your little treasures? The Purple Big Bloom ring isn't yet in my Shop but I think it would perch nicely on this tree. And wouldn't the Golden Nest Ring look right at home on this little tree?

Fossil

Purple Big Bloom Ring

I also like this tree. 

p.s. More new rings to come.

Sneak Preview

Here's a little glimpse of what I've been working on...

Graphite Flower

Charcoal & Pink Hair Pins

Purple Hair Pins

Lavender & Charcoal Hair Pins

Little Gray Tree Earrings

These haven't made it into the Shop yet (getting ready for the Craft Show) so I hope you enjoy this little sneak preview. I'm also working on a couple of necklaces and other rings.

Craft Show

Photo by Jeremy Harwell; Victoria magazine

I've been busily working on getting ready for a craft fair this coming Saturday, December 10th. The Homemade Holiday Craft Sale at Crosspointe Christian Church is being held from 8:00am to 2:00pm. Come on out and do some holiday shopping. I'd love to see you there!

You can find a map to the craft fair here.

I'll be back later with pics of what I've been working on.

A Trio of Wreaths

Here are some Christmas wreaths that caught my eye...

Bloesem Kids

 Etsy via Pinterest

Have you started your Christmas decorating yet? We've been sick this week but I'm hoping to get some decorations up soon. If you click on the Bloesem Kids link above, you'll find instructions for making this wreath with your kiddos, which would be a fun little project for the weekend. We're expecting a winter storm this weekend so we'll be mostly staying in. I hope to tackle a few projects...but maybe we'll settle for snuggling on the couch with cups of cocoa and tea and watching some movies. Whatever your weekend brings, I hope it is delightful.