A Bookish Life

Still Christmas shopping?

This Saturday I am participating in Make's Urban Holiday Bazaar. I have really been looking forward to this event- not just for the other crafters that I enjoy seeing, but for Christmas presents, music, the runway show, and so much more.

Just look at some of these cute, cute things!

Brian and I will both be there with coffee, quilts, new artwork, bags, and Bookish mugs in tow. This is a great time to see us if you have been interested in one or more of the Bookish product line!

A Time to Work, A Time to Rest

The show went well this weekend with a busy, constant stream of people pouring in from the Dallas Farmer's Market. I can tell how many Urban Bazaars I've participated in by how many Freelisa tshirts I own (three).

I'll update the website this week with all that's left, but for now I'm indulging in a little downtime. One of my favorite things about gearing up to show my work, is the week after it's over. Now I can clean the house, fold away my unruly fabric, read a few books, poke around the garden, visit long lost friends, and cook lavish meals.

During the show, you may have seen me reading this book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and family. Sometimes I feel like this book will make my head explode with its intense convictions about how local food affects the good life. In a good way. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in food, farming/gardening, sustainability, or nutrition!

Spreading the Holiday Cheer

Coming up:

Those in town should definately come check it out!

Diamonds are forever

Not having a camera card last night meant that I can't give a preview of the new items before the show tonight.

I'm wearing the diamond tennis bracelet that Brian's grandparents gave me for Christmas one year as my token good luck charm today. Even though it's a low-key festival tonight for only three hours in a relaxed setting-- still, I am riddled with nerves. My stomach is slowly filling with butterflies as I plan to  put my work on display for however kind or mean this audience will be. I almost hope this feeling never goes away. While it would be nice to approach an event with confidence, I think going in nervous allows me to be grateful in new ways for every small or large bit of kindness.

Booth setup- Fall Urban Bazaar

Here are just some pictures of my booth from last weekend's festival for those who were unable to attend.

Hope everyone is having a lovely beginning of weekend!

Deep Breaths

Everything in the shop is on hold through the weekend! The weather is gorgeous; I am in love with all the items I'm bringing, and there's a wine tasting party tonight that I'm rushing back for afterwards.

I just have to somehow remember to pack everything, pick up everything, fill out an inventory sheet, breathe, finish all the projects that are almost, almost finished, write price tags, breathe again, etc.

See you on Monday! Perhaps I will even remember to take pictures this time?

Progress

A new dress makes the day seem prettier.

This dress was made from raw blue-gray silk so it has a nubby, fibrous feel and shimmers in the light. The shape is not one I default to so this dress looks completely different from everything else in my wardrobe.

I also am going to be participating in a fundraiser craft sale this weekend, and to that end have been sewing together some new items like these mini quilt pictures:

This one is titled Adventure.

The second in the series is titled Home.

This third one is close to my romantic heart, titled Love.

These are a shy, mini version of what I normally do and with the frame they measure 9"x9".

 

Excuse my picture-laden post and the bright morning glare in them, but here's a quick sneak at two new satchels that will also be going to the show on Saturday- a stormy gray blue that will be hard to part with and a pretty floral. I hope to get one more finished today along with a handful of headbands and wallets!

Spring Festival Wrap-Up

The Make Urban Street Bazaar was one of the most enjoyable festivals I've done to date. The heat wasn't too too unbearable, the staff bent over backwards to be supportive, and the traffic was really quite surprising for a first-time show.

I was strongly tempted to buy a painting from another vendor, Lisa, but I settled for a screen-printed tee shirt for now. The painting I loved was called Sparrow Girl and is not shown on her website. Her paintings portray colors in a fractured detail (the same way I see them), like stained glass or quilts.

I heard rumors that there will be another Make Street Bazaar in the early fall (September?), so hopefully I can participate again. It might mean choosing between that one and the Renegade Craft show in Chicago. We'll see.

For now, I am looking forward to finishing some custom orders and building up some inventory again! You can see from the sparse Bookish site that I have work (play?) ahead of me in the next few months!

The Weekend is Here

I am drinking a cup of black coffee right now that makes me want to quote poetry and then spontaneously combust. It is that good.

If you're coming to the Make Urban Street Bazaar this weekend, then please stop by and say hello! There's free yoga on Saturday, a cute little beer place (commonly called "a bar") down the street for you to stop and look at all your handmade purchases, free demonstrations, and lots of unique and pretty things just waiting for the right home!

Bookish on the Road

Coming up next is the Urban Street Bazaar, hosted by my favorite little shop in Dallas, Make. It's June 2-4 and you can find directions, times, and more information on their website. I am most excited for this show- everything is handmade and represented by the actual crafter/artist, the ladies from Make are so, so nice, there will be demonstrations, free yoga from the studio next door, and a silent auction to benefit a worthy cause. Plus, the event is free and located in a cute little neighborhood!

Just when life gets slower, it picks up again. I have two weeks to replenish my wares, work the bugs out of some new prototypes, and finish the two large pieces I have been working on for, um, the last year. To be fair, I did take a significant break on both pieces- this being one of them.

It's not even lunch time and already I am excited for tonight's dinner! Fresh white corn tortillas, guacamole, poblanos, black beans, and cheese. Mmmmm. Life is delicious.