Mermaid Musings on a Monday

kuzu-zangpo

(Bhutan for Hello)



a recycled junk mail bottlecap magnet by inkspired

sold on Saturday!!!

Yes, it's true.

I actually sold a few things at the Adams County Fairground Craft Fair.

I am trying to remain positive,

it was actually a bummer of a craft fair.

I was placed in the second, much smaller building.

That's okay, you get to know those around you

 and it can feel much more friendly.

Unfortunately,

the sponsors of the fair neglected to post ANY signs

directing traffic to our building.

:0(

The main, larger building seemed to have much much more traffic.

(several people reported)

Well, as any craft fair vendor will tell you,

YOU HAVE TO HAVE TRAFFIC TO SELL THINGS.

recycled bottlecap magnet by inkspired

www.inkspired.etsy.com

A single sign placed on the door that says

'more crafts'

is not really going to get people to come see what's up.

sigh.

It was a very good learning experience.

I saw some fabulous displays.

Lots of very creative people.

Met many very nice crafters.

:0)

"Blue Hair with Pearls" Collage Art Doll using all recycled paper

www.inkspired.etsy.com

My FABULOUS all-day helper was

Amber

My WONDERFUL friend

Julie

brought us lunch, soda,

and some encouragement.

"Blue Lagoon" Collage Art Doll

using all recycled junk mail

by inkspired

www.inkspired.etsy.com

Of course, the danger of going to craft fairs - vendor or not

is buying other crafters' stuff!!!

Yep,

I succumbed.

We did purchase a very nice quilted polar fleece blanket/dog cushion for

The Tanner.

The vendor was just behind me all day, and she was very nice.

Her blankets were great!

After the show she surprised me with a gift

of a leash cover; blue with multi-colored dog paws all over it.

I haven't tried it out yet,

but I know Tanner will be super spiffy and the envy of all the neighbor dogs!

The other items I purchased are for gifts

so nothing more to be said!

Collage Art Doll made from all recycled junk mail by inkspired

Oh! Oh!

I should mention that ALL my unframed

Collage Art Dolls

are on a super discount sale

for the month of October!

Each unframed CAD is only

$15 each

:0)

"Mermaid Fashionista"

unframed Collage Art Doll by inkspired

www.inkspired.etsy.com

I have decided that this needs to be a 'Mermaid Monday'.

I purchased the neatest (American slang for really cool) collage mermaid on etsy.

"sleeping mermaid" by www.EKM79.etsy.com

I purchased a couple more of her collages for gifts.

Wow, does this woman have talent!

Her collages are very different from mine,

don't you think?

"Long and Lean" Collage Art Doll by inkspired

NEWS FLASH

NEWS FLASH

I have changed the settings on my blog!

You can now easily leave comments

WITHOUT HAVING TO SIGN UP FOR ANYTHING!!!

This makes it much easier for you to leave me feedback!

Comment!

Send me a favorite poem or quote!

Let me see your favorite recipes!

If you note in the comment that it is okay,

I will be happy to post as many as I can!

See your name in

inkspiredmusings' blog!!!!!

oooh, ahhh.  oooh, ahhh.

recycled bottlecap magnet with all recycled junk mail by inkspired!

Time for a little mermaid fun!

Coloring fun -

stained glass look Little Mermaid from Dover Books

a little mermaid humor -



vintage illustration



Some mermaid hippie art -

"Marisa Mermaid"

some cross stitch mermaid crafting -

and let's finish with just a bit of mermaid Tattoo Art -

Thanks for listening to my Craft Fair Tirade.

I really can't end without thanking

Michael

my most wonderful husband

who patiently puts up with my last minute jitters,

goes to the office supply store the night before

to pick up some things I have forgotten,

runs to the credit union to get cash for my money box,

gets up at 6am to help me do last minute stuff,

follows me to the Craft Fair and helps unload all my things,

(Did you notice this was all BEFORE 7am?)

shows up at the end of the Fair to help me load all my things,

and generally for just being an all around super duper person!

Thanks!!

I also want to thank my most patient son

Peter

who had just moved two days before,

and still got up and arrived at my house

BEFORE 7am!!!

He was a great help in unloading my stuff at the fairgrounds.

He has always been very supportive of my art,

which is just such a huge gift on his part!

(He also thinks I'm slightly crazy, but oh well!)

oops,

I almost forgot to thank

Pam

who helped me get my things ready for the Fair,

and stuffed many a plastic bag with art and descriptions and business cards.

Saved me loads of time!

Well, before this gets too goopy, I better sign off!

I hope you have enjoyed some Mermaid sightings today!

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/

The softer side of fall

Hello!

www.amberalexander.etsy.com

I am kind of super busy today, getting ready for my

BIG CRAFT SALE at the Adams County Fairground,

FALL FESTIVAL CRAFT FAIR

Saturday, October 1,

9am - 4pm

I need to run to XPedX to pick up some packaging for my items,

cut another 100 at least business cards,

help my son pack up as he is moving tomorrow,

finish at least one beaded bracelet before Saturday

get my display set up at home, to make sure all fits,

and hopefully get a few more 'ribbons' finished.

These are made from an Art Nouveau Alphabet that I have tweaked, resized, tweaked some more and printed, then hand colored each letter.

Yeah, really.

 These are NOT decals, rub ons, etc. I have hand colored each one with art pens! 

I have the sets ready to go, I "just" need to put them on ribbons, add the ribbon embellishments, and back them with cardstock!!!

I do really like how they look however.

any-who-how,

www.purlnecklace.etsy.com

I would like to share with you today an Etsy Treasury that I have put together.

"The softer side of fall"

I have to say, this might be the 'most favorite' treasury I have ever done.

www.GlassRiverJewelry.etsy.com

The colors are just soothing to my creative spirit.

I am sorry I don't have time to list each item individually.

www.meinradyoung.etsy.com

You can see the treasury here:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTc2MTA5M3w2ODUzNTMwMzI/the-softer-side-of-fall

You should be able to just click on the link above,

and your computer will whisk you away to the treasury!

www.thelittlechickadee.etsy.com

All of my photos today are from this treasury,

with the exception of the bottlecap ribbons that I have made.

www.jillverbick.etsy.com

Take a peek, and enjoy!

(with a nice cup of Maxwell House International cafe - hazelnut is a perfect !)

inkspired

www.inkspired.etsy.com

please, add a comment!

I have made it much easier for anyone to comment on my blog now!

:0)

It's Friday, have the busy bees cleaned your house yet?

Yo! Y'all!

(that's a pirate leftover from Texas)

These are busy bees created by the Toymaker.

She is a wonderful Toymaker.

She gives lots of free things.

Visit the Toymaker at - www.thetoymaker.com

Then you can come back and thank me for leading you to her site!

honey bee, http://www.maine.gov/

The newest threat to American Honey is imports

through Indian companies, thought to be Chinese in origin.

When honey is illegally transported, and then being sold, it threatens honey farms everywhere. The Chinese honey in the past has proven to be contaminated with antibiotics and heavy metals.

Not really what I want, much less feed any kids!

Busy Bees on a honeycomb



So why Chinese honey through India?

(This was all new news to me too!)

Evidently the US is following a ban by the European Union (EU) on June 15, 2010 of honey imports from India due to a lack of traceability.

It seems the US also has a tariff on Chinese honey.

Honey from India does not have this tariff!

The whole deal with honey from India is they are not keeping track of where the honey is from. This tracking also includes adulteration (mess with) and contamination by heavy metals and antibiotics.

Pretty important stuff when we consider honey

as the closest thing to nature on your grocery shelves.

Source: www.americanhoneyproducers.org

www.cartoonStock.com

This blog actually started out to be about house cleaning!

Instead of a bunny trail,

I went down a 'bee' trail!!

:0)

I went to the Adams County Historical Museum and paid the table fees for both the 1 - day Fall Festival Bazaar,

and also for the 2 - day Holiday Bazaar

that is in December.

I have stuck my neck out, and reserved two tables for the Holiday Bazaar.

Hopefully after the October 1 show I will know more about how to display in their space, what things I need to make my booth attractive, things like that.

Plus, Holidays like Christmas are BIG craft events, as many people shop there for Christmas gifts, and other gifts throughout the year.

So, I want to have Halloween and Fall stuff for Oct. 1;

and I want to have Christmas, New Year and generic for Dec.

Sounds good.

OH NO!!!!

MY JEWELRY PARTY IS TONIGHT!!!

Did I call to remind everyone?

Is the living room clean? or at least stashed out of sight?

Is my kitchen spotless?

(Nothing like going to a party, and seeing a dirty kitchen. Kinda' turns me off of the food, you know?)

True story:

I visited "Ethel" on an out of town trip.

It was very gracious of her to let me stay there for 2 days.

Oh dear.

My pull-out couch bed had cheerios and

Hershey's chocolate sauce in it the first night.

Yeah. She had kids.

The next morning the dishwasher had clean dishes in it (a good thing) with the door open and the racks pulled out to be presumably put away.

Her 14 month old male baby was crawling all over it,

standing in it, trying to climb to the counter, etc.

WITH NO DIAPER ON.

Uh huh. Right.

No eating from dishes that I have not personally washed.

But she has no dish cloths or sponges. They are 'in the laundry'.

Hmm...

Can't find me a towel or washcloth either.

note to self: always pack a washcloth and hand towel in future.

I left for the day to tour the town and have lunch with friends.

Came back only to discover that the toilet was overflowing, and unusable.

And I had Spaghetti-os in my couch bed. Not the dry ones.

I WANNA' GO HOME!!!!

Oh, there are more stories I could share about 'Ethel's house,

and the adventures to be had there

in only 48 hours.

THE LONGEST 48 HOURS OF MY LIFE I THINK!!

O-:

'Ethel' really needs some busy bee help!

I better close for today, and make sure I have everything ready for tonight.

I'll let you know how it went

and what foods I concocted!

see ya'

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

new, easier way to comment now directly on the blog!

www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com

Getting ready for a Craft Fair

Hi y'all!
Today I am trying to take hold of and be in control concerning my upcoming Craft Fair. It is at a county fairgrounds (Adams, for those of you in the area) with 250 booths. WHAT!!!
This will be the largest venture I have tried.

Adams County Fairgrounds 22nd Annual Fall Festival Bazaar

Saturday, October 1
9 - 4

sponsored by the Adams County Historical Society

This is a picture of what the table looks like when I make recycled bottlecap magnets, using all junk mail for the pictures and phrases.

Michael has a short tolerance for messes,

so I have to clean up every day or two if I'm lucky!

What? It's a kitchen table and that's where we have to eat?

Nah.

We can be couch potatoes and eat in the family room!

Okay,

maybe that's not very family-like!

one of my recycled junk mail bottlecaps, with a very sturdy magnet on the back

I have pretty much organized all my bottlecap magnets

and all my domino handpainted/stamped magnets.

This is a photo from last year's Senior Center Craft Fair, Brighton, Colorado.

I sold many santa stockings with hand made yoyo embellishments.

On the bottom Left corner of the first photo -those are word sets of my magnets

made from an Art Nouveau alphabet,

resized, tweaked, resized some more, spoken stern words to;

then I print them out, and hand color each letter with art pens mostly.

Very detailed work, and I just love doing the coloring!

I have posted several of these magnets, so I will just do one or two today:

It's nice to have one part for the Craft Fair ready to go.

I also do bottlecap ribbons that spell out words.

I finish with more ribbons, and if I do say so myself, they look really pretty.

Tell me what you think!

Latin for 'peace'

No, I have no idea why blogspot has turned this one on it's side.

sigh.

I really need to finish up many more.

I have the sets all gathered, I just need to do the ribbon/bow part.

Oh!

and I'm having a little jewerly party at my house Friday.

WAIT A MINUTE...

that's tomorrow.

EEK!!!

Edvard Munch's 'The Scream'

c.1896

so there's finish the blog, check back with teamcac for an answer to questions submitted, let the dog in, drop off a check at the Adams County Historical building,

figure out a menu for the party, buy food for the party, let the dog out, COMPLETELY clean the family room, kitchen area, eating area, and probably the bathroom too. Oh, and the floor and the carpet.

I need to finish up bottlecap ribbons, finish up with some bottlecap magnets, go to XPedX to buy plastic bags, let the dog in, figure out some way to hang the papel picado banners I want to sell, get out my 3panel display board and get it all set up with jewelry and Collage Altered Dolls, let the dog out, get the $$ for my money box, make sure my calculator has the right paper in it, give Tanner his pills, let the dog in, get out my display forms and figure out what jewelry goes where, put price tags on everything, print and cut out more business cards, make sure my help is in place, check to see if I need more help, arrange lunch for the day,

oh dang, I better just get to it!

You know, lists can be very helpful to get organized.

Or they can be so crushing that it's time to go to Dairy Queen

for a Pecan Mudslide.

That's DQ ice cream, caramel sauce, hot fudge sauce and lots of pecans.

My favorite.

Guess I better close for today and go do some things on my list!

:0)

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com

or use the comment box on my blog!

http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/

A Fall Craft Fair and scattered brains

Greetings, earthling!

(random Alien 'hello')



Today I am in a finish up mood.

The house is a wreck - seriously needs attention.

I have been picking up paper stuff mainly,

so far.

Those darn stacks of papers -

you can't throw them away because sure thing,if you do,

there will be an important bill or a check or something in the middle of it.

I have been throwing away magazines and catalogs from last year!

Yeah, pat on back!!

I am getting ready for a Craft Fair.

This is a new one to me, held at the

Adams County Fairgrounds

on October 1.

9:00 - 4:00

Come by and say hi!

That means

1. I'm terrified!

2. I have to organize my crafts and jewelry.

3. I have to figure out how to display the items for sale.

4. I want to make some more items to be sold.

(check out the making bottlecaps scene above)

5. I need to repair or re-glue anything that needs a little help.

6. I have to organize my craft room if I expect to be organized at all for the Show.

7. I have to print up price tags and affix them to most items.

8. I have to figure out how to package things, so they don't get damaged by being handled by possible customers.

9. I still need to recruit 1 or 2 persons to help me out i.e. carrying stuff in, set-up, doing sales and sales receipts, breaking down, repacking...+more!!

10. ...and probably at least 60 more things to do to get ready...

maybe even 85 things!

Okay, think calming thoughts...

dans le jardin, http://www.ellemoss.etsy.com/

That's me (not really), thinking calm thoughts,

or falling asleep.

Could be both...



The result for my blog?

My thoughts are pretty much on overtime right now,

so let's make a short blog today, shall we?

Yes, I really can!!!

Chimney Sweep Bert and Mary Poppins

I am laying out my finished bottlecap magnets now.

I organize them on pizza trays and cookie sheets,

as they are magnetic.

A magnet has come off, so I will re-glue that.

a recycled junk mail bottlecap magnet

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

Next up is to get out my Bottlecap Ribbons.

I have sold a good amount, so I'm not sure what I have left,

or what is in a 'making it' stage.

a series I am doing on "Peace" in different languages.

Custom work available.

Recycled bottlecap with hand colored Art Nouveau alphabet.

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

Now I need to get out my jewelry; it is scattered in a few different places.

Get out my displays, and match up what I want to put where

once I get to the Craft Fair set-up.

Oh yes, and find out how early that is!

an assortment of daisy chains I have made

Well, I guess instead of whining about all this,

I better get going!

Couldn't miss my blog though...

:0)

stamp by vivalasvegastamps:

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com

and don't forget you can now easily leave a comment

on my blog!!