Weekend Updates: Craft Fair, Michelle Patterns and Deals for Mom!

It's been a busy weekend!  I just finished a first-ever Arts and Craft Fair for my church, and it was so much fun (although I am exhausted - I did take a cat nap on the couch this afternoon, which is something I rarely do!).  Not only did I sell items at my table (and did fairly well, I think), I also coordinated the entire event.  I'm a pretty organized and administrative person - the last 2.5 years as a nurse manager has helped with those skills, too - so it wasn't too difficult, just LOTS of little details.

It was fun to see the creativity emerge from within our church body and see my friends grow in their confidence to sell their items.  I loved all the ways our handiwork was on display!  I learned a lot, too, and hope to share some take-aways within the next week or so, just in case any of you plan to coordinate such an event soon.

I'm always looking for new items to add to my stock, and I'm quickly falling in love with Michelle Patterns.  I added her button on my sidebar (click through if you're in a reader).  Her patterns are well-written and include high-quality images for helpful instruction.  They're great for the beginner or novice sew-er, and the items they produce are just gorgeous!  

I shared a few weeks ago about her $5 Friday special, and she's got another amazing bundle of EIGHT patterns this weekend for only $5.  It's a great deal that expires Monday morning, so certainly purchase this right away if you've every dreamed of sewing bags or purses.  

If you're still searching for a Mother's Day gift, Craftsy has some amazing resources for your mom!  It's a whole collection of online classes where you (or your mom) can learn all kinds of skills - sewing, knitting, cake decorating....  and so much more!  They're having a 50% off sale today through Monday (ends Monday, May 13 at midnight), so it's a perfect time to pick out a new skill to learn this summer!

Last weekend my Lip Balm Key Fobs were featured on LillyLou Finds, a new daily deal site I recently shared about.  It was a fun time and I'm shipping those items out on Monday!

Speaking of daily deal sites, Very Jane has a few really adorable deals right now.

I'm thinking of putting chalkboard vinyl in the hallway of my kids rooms.  Or, you could cut this down into smaller pieces for labeling jars or something similar.  

These bracelets with a "secret" message would be amazing for a friend who you share that "inside joke" with, or as a sweet memory of someone you dearly treasure.

And I'm all about state love, perhaps because I've lived in five states in the last ten years.  These State Love Keychains would be a great good-bye gift to friends moving away, or a great welcome gift to new neighbors or family who's moved to your state.  

Well, this seems like a full smorgasbord of things, so hope everyone has a great weekend!  See you next week!

Give Back! Update and Introduction to the Webber's!

Oh, wow!  I can't believe we're already in the second quarter of the year!

I was so thrilled at the response of the Give Back! program for the Hudson family!  It gave me great joy to make a generous contribution to their sending organization (which in turn, went directly to their ministry).  I've recently been able to see the Hudson family while they're here in the states, and rejoice with them in the announcement of a pregnancy!  They will stay stateside for the next 9+ months to do some training, have a baby, and then be re-assigned to a different country.  What an honor it was to partner with them in the Give Back! program.

The second quarter of the year (which actually started April 1 - so sorry I'm behind) we'll focus on the Webber family headed to Bundibugyo, Uganda.

Meet the Webbers.

Derek, Lauren, Lucy and Olive

Lauren and I met back in the late 90's in nursing school.  Her older sister, Jenn, and I were actually in every. single. nursing. class together.  Talk about some bonding!  Lauren was two years younger and always around us.  But she wasn't just Jenn's little sister....  she's soon emerged into my friend, too.  And what a dear friend she has been.

When I went to Africa in 2002, she spoke at my commissioning service.  Her encouragement to me continued around the world as she'd write emails and send care packages.  

I remember the summer she and Derek met.  The months that followed in that crisp, fall semester led to many talks late into the evening.  Treasured memories, indeed.  Little did I know that I would soon have a similar love story written for me as I met my husband in a foreign land, too.  

Lauren's heart has always been for Africa.  And although I don't know Derek as well, I do know he loves missions.  Both Derek and Lauren have medical training (Derek is a PA and Lauren an RN) and plan to use their medical skills to bring life and hope to those of Bundibugyo.  But more than physical healing, they overflow with a desire to bring spiritual healing and hope to those who are hurting and lost without our Savior Jesus Christ.  

I highly commend this couple to you.  They are the real deal, y'all.  They love Jesus with all their hearts and live their lives to follow him.  Lauren writes her blog in such a way that keeps life real, but with Jesus in the center.  It's always an encouragement to my soul to read her words.  

And so, I commit to give 30% of all earnings in my Etsy Shop to the Webber Family from April 1 to June 30.  No special coupon code is needed.  All sales will be combined to make a contribution to this dear family the first week of July.  

I'll continue to add new items on a weekly basis, so check back often and as always, let me know if you're looking for something specific.  

What an honor it is to partner with the Webbers.  I encourage you to learn more about their story, their cross-country crazy road trip, their two year old daughter's heart for Africa, and their ministry on the blog.  

If this is your first time learning about my Give Back! program, please read here.  

Giveaway Day - Baby Apron

I'm always honored to participate in Sew, Mama, Sew!'s Giveaway Day.  It happens twice a year and is always a ton of fun- and drives a good amount of traffic to this little blog.

This giveaway is for a baby apron, AKA "bapron", from the pattern at Craftiness Is Not Optional.  (I have purchased a commercial license from CINO to reproduce and sell this pattern.)

If you win this giveway, I'll ship you one Baby Apron.  I have 20+ of these aprons made and can easily accommodate any color choices or genders.  Upon winning, I'll ask you a few questions about the gift recipient and will choose a Baby Apron to suit your needs.  I'll even send you a pic first to make sure you love it!

Shipping is open worldwide.  Items will ship within one week after giveaway ends.

Wanna know something about me and this little blog?  I give away 30% of all my Etsy sales!  That's right.  It's part of a program I started called Give Back!  Read more about it here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Day - Lip Balm Holder Key Fob (set of 2)

I'm always honored to participate in Sew, Mama, Sew!'s Giveaway Day.  It happens twice a year and is always a ton of fun- and drives a good amount of traffic to this little blog.

This giveaway is for not one, but TWO, of my best-selling items.  It's a Lip Balm Holders and a Key Fob!  These little things are great gifts for teachers, friends, co-workers, and new moms.  They easily clip on to a beltloop, diaper bag, purse, backpack, or keychain.  All standard size cylindrical 0.15 oz lip balms (Chapstick, Carmex, Blistex, etc.) fit in these holders.

If you win this giveway, I'll ship you two Lip Balm Holder Key Fobs of your choice.  They can match or be totally different.  You can pick any two in my Etsy shop.  (If my stock happens to be low, it's because I ran a daily deal on this new site last weekend.  I'll be restocking them this week.)

Shipping is open worldwide.  Items will ship within one week after giveaway ends.

Wanna know something about me and this little blog?  I give away 30% of all my Etsy sales!  That's right.  It's part of a program I started called Give Back!  Read more about it here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lip Balm Holder Key Fobs Featured on Lilly Lou Finds!

Remember when I shared about Lilly Lou Finds a few weeks ago?

I'm so excited that they are featuring my Lip Balm Holders this weekend!  These ladies are so great to work with, and they just giddy over my product, which makes me smile soooo big!!!!

They're only $3.50, which is the lowest price I've ever sold them.  Please note this price does not include the lip balm, though.

There's some never-seen-before designs available now, so hop on over to Lilly Lou Finds and check it out!

Twenty-One Patterns for only $5!

Cheap and Quality.  That's a combination you don't find often, and sometimes, rightfully so.  

I'm certainly not implying that you should sell your high-quality items for less than you deserve.  

But sometimes, when you're on a budget, it's nice to stumble upon a good deal of amazing items at rock-bottom prices.  

Nice isn't the word.  Exhilarating.  Thrilling.  Make-my-day-over-the-moon-AMAZING!  

So, imagine my excitement when an email from Michelle Patterns showed up in my inbox this morning and offered TWENTY-ONE great patterns for only $5?!?!?  It made my morning soar from good to great!

And I can't keep deals like this to myself, since I know you love these things, too.  

From michellepatterns.com:

This week we are saying goodbye to 21 patterns from the past! These are available in one zip file as the $5 Friday special. Order it with the "add to cart" button above. 

This is a large file, so give it a little extra time to download. Once you unzip it, look for the file on your computer called "retiring_pdf_patterns".  

These are patterns that don't reflect my current formatting style and/or I no longer have the original document.  Maybe someday I'll get the time to recreate some of them.  In the meantime, they are available here at a discounted price! 

Tablet computers can have trouble displaying these pdf documents.  Please view and print them from a desktop or laptop computer. 

Here's a sample photo gallery of just some of the patterns you will receive for only $5.

 

This deal is only good until Monday morning, April 29, 2013.  After that, the patterns will be gone forever!

If you've ever wanted to learn to sew or master the art of sewing bags and accessories, this is a great opportunity.  Click here to order, and click on $5 Friday.

LillyLou Finds - New Daily Deal Site

You guys know how much I love the daily deal sites like Pick Your Plum, The Plaid Barn and Very Jane, right?  I share their deals via this blog and my Facebook Page when I see something I think you'd love.

So, I was thrilled when I recieved a message from LillyLou Finds, a new and upcoming daily deal site.  It's scheduled to launch April 10 - just 4 days away!

I've already been in contact with the girls behind the scenes, and they seem super sweet and are oh-so-excited about the launch.  In fact, their Facebook page is having a few giveaways in preparation for the big day.  So hop on over there and be sure to like their page and share this post to be entered to win.  The prize?  A $25 gift card to LillyLou Finds!

Of course I won't hesitate to share their awesome deals with you as often as I can, but I'd love for you to get in on the action yourself and be a part of their community.

Daily deal sites like this are great places to find unique gifts for upcoming events such as weddings and holidays, and they are also fantastic sources for craft supplies and fun "just because" gifts for yourself, too.

Consignment Sale Series Recap

Consignment sale season is in full swing and I hope you'll plan on shopping a sale in your area.  I had so much fun writing the entire Consignment Sale Series and now I'm in "crunch mode" as Boutique For A Week is less than two weeks away!  I hope to see many of you there!

Here's a list of all the posts in the series, all in one place for you to access easily.

Ten Places to Find Items to Consign
Five Reasons to Volunteer at a Children's Consignment Sale
Ten Reasons to Shop a Children's Consignment Sale Even If You're Not A Mom
How to Shop a Children's Consignment Sale with Kids in Tow
Ten Tips for Selling Items at a Children's Consignment Sale
Six Things to Know Before Volunteering at a Children's Consignment Sale
Ten Reasons to Consign Children's Items

Tips for Shopping with Children in Tow

This is the final post in the Consignment Sale Series, because Boutique For A Week is just around the corner!  I've been tagging items over the last week or so, and it is really exciting to see it all coming together for sale week!

To finish this series, I thought I'd share some shopping tips with children in tow.  As a mom of young children, I know going to the grocery store alone seems like a vacation, and this is a sale that should ideally be shopped alone.  However, sometimes life just doesn't allow that to happen.  So, if you find yourself in a situation where you must shop with children, here's a few pointers.

1.  Play by the rules.  Check your consignment sale's website for shopping policies.  Some hours - typically the pre-shopping times for volunteers and consignors - restrict children to nursing infants only.  Make sure you are allowed to bring children during your shopping time before going to the trouble to plan such an excursion.

2.  Have a plan.  Even if you don't have children with you, I encourage you to make a list.  Does your son need a navy Polo shirt to match those cute shorts?  Does your daughter need shoes for school?  Are you planning a Strawberry Shortcake birthday party in coming months?  Know what you're looking for and plan to shop intentionally.  Now, if the kids fall asleep or are exceptionally happy, feel free to browse - but in the event of a cranky shopper, make sure you get the most-needed items first.

3.  Bring new toys or an electronic device.  Depending on your child's age, consider bringing a new toy they have yet to see and/or an electronic device they love such as an iPod or iPad.  This may buy you some precious shopping time as they play with such a well-loved toy.

4.  Go hands-free.  Again, depending on the age of your child, plan to bring something to help you be hands-free.  A baby carrier (I always loved my Ergo for things like this!), a stroller, or even a wagon- just somewhere for the kids to sit away from your hip.

5.  A full tummy.  Clearly don't bring the kids half an hour before lunch.  Rather, plan to shop at their best time of day.  Consider bringing snacks to help their hunger if you end up staying longer than planned.

6.  Sleepy shoppers.  If your child is a stroller or baby carrier sleeper, consider shopping during naptime.  Of course, have a plan B in case your child refuses to sleep, but this may work well for shoppers with infants who are good on-the-go sleepers.

7.  Partner up.  Consider joining forces with another mom (or a non-mom -- they will learn to love these sales, too) who can lend an extra pair of hands if a child is having a hard time.  It's more fun to shop with friends, anyways!

8.  Have a plan B.  If things are disastrous - kids are hungry, a blow-out diaper, child with a fever, or any other unexpected events - have a back-up plan.  Know in the back of your mind that you can come back later in the day when someone can watch your children, or when you have some time alone.  It will be far less disheartening to walk away from great deals if you know you'll be back later.

What are your best tips for shopping with children?

How to Volunteer Well at a Children's Consignment Sale

I'm picking back up with two final posts in the Consignment Sale Series this week.  It's almost time for Boutique For A Week, and I've got to get busy tagging and sorting items!

I previously shared about the benefits of volunteering at a children's consignment sale, and today's post is some practical tips to help a volunteer shift go as smooth as a knife cuts butter.  :)

1.  Eat before your shift.  Now, I wouldn't recommend stuffing yourself at an all-you-can-eat buffet, but I wouldn't come hungry either.  Eat something healthy - something that will give you energy - and something you know settles well with your tummy.  You likely won't have time to snack or eat often (or at all, if your volunteer shift is less than 4 hours), so plan accordingly.

2.  Tell your family where you'll be.  The last time I volunteered I didn't make clear arrangements with my husband about picking up the kids from school.  By the time I slowed down to check my phone, I had quite a few text messages about who was getting the kids!  Plan ahead, and let your family know where you'll be and how to contact you if an emergency arises.  Tell them you won't be checking your phone during your volunteer hours.

3.  Go to the bathroom before your shift.  Plan to arrive a few minutes early to make a stop by the restroom, put your car keys and wallet in a secure location, and make sure you're fully ready to work when your start time arrives.  There will likely be some initial instructions you'll need to hear, so be ready to start a few minutes before.

4.  Wear comfortable shoes and clothes.  You'll be on your feet a lot, if not the entire volunteer shift, so dress accordingly.  Wear shoes that are conducive for long-term standing, and clothes that are comfortable for being on the move.  If you have long hair, consider bringing an elastic hair tie to pull it back.  You won't know your exact role until you arrive, so be prepared to sort clothes, clean toys, organize books, hand out fliers, or a variety of other jobs.

5.  Bring some $.  One of the great benefits of volunteering is that you get a closer look at many of the items. Like I mentioned in this post, plan to shop after your volunteer shift and pick up some of those items you've been eyeing.

6.  Volunteer at your best time of day.  If you're a morning person, sign up for the 9 am shift.  If you're a night owl, plan to sort clothes late into the evening.  However your body is wired, be aware and plan to volunteer according to your best time of day.

I hope many of you will consider volunteering at your next consignment sale.  If you're local to the Orlando, Florida region, you can sign up to volunteer with Boutique For A Week by clicking here.  Hope to see you there!