Selling Jewelry..so hard to part with it!

This weekend the Rhododendron Needlers Quilt Guild had their biannual quilt show. It was a fabulous success with more than 1600 visitors! We are a happy but tired group this Monday morning!

The show always features a members' boutique where guild members can sell items (either things they have made or things they want to get rid of, like old books and magazines). Ninety percent of the sale price goes to the guild members and 10% goes to the guild. Business at the boutique was always busy, sometimes bordering on frenetic. Most of the items were from the "I want to clear out space in my sewing area" variety, but some where higher priced items that people had made. My jewelry, starting at a low of $15 and going as high as $185 for a double pearl necklace, was the priciest on the table.

I only sold a few pieces because most of the time when people are shopping in a venue like this they are hoping to find bargains, not pay the appropriate price for a good piece of jewelry. That was fine with me. I knew that going in and didn't expect gigantic sales.

What I also didn't expect was to feel little tinges of anxiety when one of my pieces sold. During the creation process each piece takes on a little life of its own. They are fun to make. They are fun to hold and sometimes wear. And now they're not mine anymore!

Most of the pieces at this point in my collection are larger bracelets because that's the way I like them. I need a larger size and therefore things just tend to turn out in a size I can wear (I wonder how that happens?!) I really need to start making all of the pieces in the standard size range. I was able to give out my business card to several people (even though we really weren't supposed to "advertise") and think I've made some good contacts.

I also thought I should pass on information about one of the vendors at the show. The business is called "We Got the Buttons" and feature dichronic glass shank buttons in fabulous shapes, sizes, and colors. She also has wonderful pendants finished with sterling silver bails that would be terrific hanging on a beaded rope. I'm adding the email address to my list of favorites, just in case you want to take a peek.

Happy Monday!
TBH

Spring?

Not long ago the piles of snow where so high I couldn't see over most of them. The lower portion of the view out of our living room windows was blocked. It seemed winter had come to stay. You know that "global warming" is a misnomer, don't you? We're really supposed to say "climate change." And this winter "climate change" was making it's case in a big way (still is if you live in NY or VT!).

But where there were once minor mountains of the frigid stuff, now trash liters the sides of roads where the mounds were. Around trees where broken branches and limbs are testament to the weight they have been under, water pools, indicating the high level of saturation. And rain is in the forecast. About this time last year we had some of the heaviest rains seen around New England in years. Let's hope we don't have anything like that again...there will be where for it go. I hear the sump pump business is booming.

I recently read where someone called the end of February and the beginning of March "the fat branch season" because if you look carefully, you can see the branches starting to bulge with the promise of new growth. Tiny buds are bravely facing the howling March winds, promising to appear on what a friend of mine calls "pop" day...that great spring day yet to come when it seems all the leaves and early flowers POP out all at once. Beware that you are not so busy that you miss pop day!

A recent signal to me that winter's days are numbered and spring is on its way is an annual quilting retreat. Once again we gathered for stitching and laughter. I did spend one day of the retreat sewing, but the rest of the time was spent in the satisfying pursuit of beading. I completed several necklaces (one of which, in my humble opinion, is one of the best pieces I've made yet) and four bracelets. I sold one necklace and made a matching pair of earrings to go with it. I have orders for 3 bracelets in specific colors.

Beading is very gratifying!

TBH

Retreat

Sometimes words have certain connotations that can never be escaped. For many people, the word "retreat" has a negative implication, as in "We had to beat a hasty retreat." It's like falling back. Failing.

Escaping.

For me, that's what retreat means. I'm heading to a retreat this weekend. Actually, sooner than that. And I can't wait. Every year some quilting buddies and I go away to a small little hotel down on Cape Cod and for a few blissful days we just sew. Those who have demands of children or husbands or expect a complete dinner on the table every day at 6 p.m., they are no longer pulled from their machines just as they are hitting their stride. For those who create in the company of friends, it's the ultimate enjoyment.

Lately, many of my quilting buddies have also been bitten by the beading bug. This year, my beading supplies I'm taking to the retreat with me almost outweigh my sewing supplies. And instead of thinking lovingly of which sewing project I'll get out first, I'm consumed by thinking about crystals, wire, pearls, and clasps. Did I bring the right tools to do what I want to do? And what happens if inspiration hits and I don't have what I need on hand?

For years I've worked on making my quilting supplies portable so I can go take classes and be ready when a retreat beckons. Now I have to figure out a way to make my beading supplies equally mobile. It's a challenge I think I'm up to!

TBH