Can I Write Off Pop Chips for my Business?

We call them Crack Chips because they are sooo addicting......
An open bag is enormous and it seems to be calling my name every 15 minutes while I am trying to get work done.  I roll them up (after taking an enormous handful) and clip em and put em back in the pantry but I keep coming back and opening them up again and again.  What is in this stuff?
I am not getting any work done because I am either in the pantry or stuffing my face with 6 of them at a time.  Man, I need some kinda distraction.  Oh yeah - time to call my sister!
Maybe I'll get some work done after that...

Back to Reality..

Well, after a mad final week of no sleep and a huge amount of new inventory and a few new products, small show #1 turned out to be a total bust - not just for me, but for the other 7 vendors as well.  The promoter didn't advertise properly and we all took a hit because of it.  All the vendors left (including myself) halfway through the sale.  Oh well.  The up side is that I got to set up my stuff and see how long it took me and see how it looked.  I met several other vendors and from them have found out about two other shows.

So, on to show #2 - just one week later - had all my inventory, but no sales satisfaction from the first show. After working sooooo hard for that first show, I was in terrible need of a big payback.  This second show was one step up - truly a Flea Market instead of a craft show(not really my market), but nonetheless - I got to figure out my outdoor setup and made some sales and practiced the art of the sales pitch!  Success!?  Sorta, but not to the level that I need yet...

So, onto show #3 - in a couple weeks - June 11th.  This is definitely a better one - 29th Annual South Windsor Strawberry Festival and Craft Show.(an actual craft show!)  I sent my application in today - hopefully I make it in - it is pretty late and there may already be someone selling baby gifts, we shall wait and see.  If I don't get in - it will be Tag Sale day like the rest of the Parkman School families.



In the mean time - I have a big order to fill for a shop in Australia that will be reselling my gifts at Tattoo, Car and Alternative Shows! What fun! I get to make more novelty items - loooove it!

My Etsy shop it doing well - I have sold over 60 items and have a few custom orders in the works right now.  I am continuing to sell gifts locally by word of mouth too and have family members to create for as well.  I now have the Belly Time Blankie (modeled by little Ezra) and the Clean Cheek Cloths and will be doing receiving blankets soon as well...keep an eye out!

A Daunting Task Ahead..

I always considered my sister the queen of procrastination (she would agree).  It was like clockwork, I would get a call from her some random afternoon just to chat.  It was always suspicious....my family doesn't "chat" much.  We call with a purpose only.  So, I always knew that she had some sort of ridiculous deadline the next day that she was procrastinating for.  Too funny.  I would give her her much needed break from the writing and she would (hopefully) get back to her work with a fresh outlook. 
So, I guess I better call her now because my piles are getting bigger and my deadline is getting closer.
Why is it that when I need to get more physical stuff done, I go into cleaning or organizing mode instead of work mode?  Yes, it feels good to organize my fabrics according to size, product, color and design(what am I doing?) - but is it necessary?  Wouldn't I benefit better from actually making an item instead of preparing to make it easier to make the item? hahha of course.
So, what do I do now to get out of the procrastination funk?  I have already drank a half pot of coffee, played with the boys, set up new apps on my little fingers gifts facebook page, cut 10 yards of terry cloth for burpers and read a gazillion FB comments about the royal wedding (I dvr'd it to watch later - heh heh - I cant believe I just admitted to that).

Oh, I know - blog about it.  Maybe now I can get back to work - talk to ya later.....(hopefully not)
:-)

Week #4 of Single Parenthood in 7 Weeks...

I guess that sums it up. 
Soccer practice last night, dance class and girl scouts tonight and soccer practice again tomorrow night.
"Letters from Juliet" tonight and an enormous Peanut Butter Cup Sundae from the local creamery.
Or sleep.
We'll see how I am if he has to go again in two weeks....you may not be able to comprehend any of my words anymore...

Every Baby Deserves Something Handmade...

I have been inspired - a cloud has passed and I am feeling like a whistling bird again!  I read such a lovely discussion on Etsy Success about how important it is to convey the soul of your handmade item.  In this day and age - so many more people are going back to basics with different aspects of their lives: growing their own food, buying organic, shopping at farmstands, joining CSAs, buying  eco-friendly or sustainable products.  You can see it everywhere --- even at the big ticket stores.
Hey - I am all for it!
I also think that many of us are finding that certain things are better and certain things are worse.  These days, an appliance is made to only last 5 years - a table you purchase at a big store will fall apart in 7 years - nothing is made anymore with enduring qualities...craftsmanship is not found here.
It is a common thread.  Unfortunately, with this economy, most of us cannot afford to buy from local artisans all the time.  I remember my last home in western NY state - there were Amish folk everywhere.  They grew the best flowers and veggies and were so friendly and affordable.  They built gorgeous cabinets and furniture - wow, I wish I could furnish my whole house their wares.....They took great care with what they made - using skill and artistry to build each and every piece of furniture, - rocking chairs, beds, bassinets, the family table. 
True craftsmanship.
So, this Etsy discussion was about how to convey your soul in each piece that you make and sell on Etsy.  It made me think about how I label my gifts and describe them and tag them.  Maybe it shouldn't be about cookie cutter explanations - it really should be about the story behind that particular piece - what made it special to me.  It reminded me that each and every piece I make whether it be a blanket for a friend or a bib to post on my site is made with the utmost care by me, Heather - a person with a story just like everyone else.  I choose all my fabrics, wash, dry and fold them, cut the patterns, sew them together like little stories.  I know who I am making them for - little fingers - that's where the name came from.  Soft, chubby little fingers that every parent has kissed, held onto while learning to walk, taught to clap, washed gently and softly placed on their own cheeks.  I know these gifts are for your children and your friends children and with every choice, cut and stitch I believe it shows in my work.  Yeup - they are baby gifts and you can buy baby gifts at Target or Walmart or Babies-R-Us....but, don't your little fingers deserve something handmade?  yes, especially something that is stitched with love...love from me.

Rainy Days and Mondays...

....always get me down?

Nope.  Sorry, Carpenters.  Karen, you have a beautiful voice and you apparently know how to sing about depression, but I am not agreeing with ya today.

I am sooooo enjoying this rainy day.  Ok, so it's not a Monday, I can't control that.  But, it is rainy and cold and just plain "yucky".  At least, that is what my 2 1/2 yr old called it outside even though he wants to walk around our spongy soaking wet lawn with his Bubble Mower.  I guess yucky is a good word to a little boy. Go figure.

Yup - the kind of day you get absolutely nothing done, because you don't want to move a muscle for fear of getting chilled even though you are wearing your pajamas under a sweatshirt with knee high fuzzy socks and sweatpants meant for a defensive football player.  Oh, and you have two blankets piled on top of you too....and a purring cat.

 Oh wait, I got something done!  I blogged.

Week #3 of Single Parenthood in 5 Weeks.....

Ugh.
Ugh.
Ugh.
Yeup - my husbands job is unpredictable because it is located in another state.  Sometimes, he has to go back to his main office for a week at a time.  Sometimes he goes once in 3 months - sometimes it's more.  This just happens to be week number three in the past 5 weeks of him traveling for his job.  I am exhausted.  Kids, house, new business, new garden, waaaaaaaay too much compost to move with the wheelbarrow, and no break from my husband for 5 days.  My body hurts.
Good new is - I get to watch whatever I want on tv while I sit around in my bright orange sweatpants and overly enormous sweatshirts and drink tea and eat whatever girl scout cookies we have left for dinner.A little catching up on some series like Pushing Daisies, Chuck, Vampire Diaries and Fringe and maybe some chick movies like Dear John or A Room With A View, or maybe some eye candy like the new Spartacus series...mmmmmmm yum....muscles.

Anyone wanna join me? Maybe there will be wine...