The hurrier I go, the behinder I get

My mother had those words in a framed picture in her bedroom. I think a friend gave it to her. My mom was one of the busiest people I've ever known. Until she became ill, I rarely saw her sit down and when she did, she was still working on something. She did her hand sewing and mending, as well as lots of cross-stitch projects while she watched a little television at night.

I've felt a bit like that saying lately. I seem to be really busy, but I still get behind in my projects. Lately, I've had lots of business and tax related things to take care of, and very little sewing has been done. Add to that, lots of my fall and Christmas listings just expired and you get a Bede Sisters Etsy shop with about half the inventory it had just a month ago.

In the past week, I did manage to make two new large bags. They are wonderful as diaper bags, as well as a great all day purse.

Tonight, I finished four baskets and I'm hoping for some sunshine tomorrow so can get them photographed and listed soon. I suppose the lesson is to keep working and eventually, you'll be...um...less "behinder"?

New in the Bede Sisters Etsy shop!

I've had a great time making baskets for Easter. The fabrics are the fun, bright colors that I love and the baskets are just so cute! Turtle basket

Butterfly basket

Ladybug basket

Do you have any new projects for spring?

In Atlanta for Country Living's "Pitch Your Product"

The Bede Sisters spent the weekend in Atlanta for Country Living magazine's "Pitch Your Product". It's kind of like American Idol for craft people. We checked in at the "pitch" desk and were sent to a waiting room with lots of other people. The hope is that Country Living will select out product for a mention in the magazine. (Here we are at the hotel, with our fabric baskets.)

We had three minutes to present our product, then the people from the magazine asked a couple of questions. That was it. Now we wait for a few weeks to see if we're "going to Hollywood". At least nobody called us "dawg".

After we were done with our pitch, we went to the Country Living Fair, held at Stone Mountain park. We had a great time checking out all the booths.

I spent a long time talking to a couple who raise their own sheep for wool. She's a long time spinner and I had the fun of watching her spin some of her hand dyed wool. I also brought home some roving for myself, of course.

The picture below is of Lori and me in front of a small camper belonging to the Sisters on the Fly. They are a group of women who go on adventures together, often fishing and many in their own wildly decorated campers. We may join them someday. When we grow up.

Giveaway from Bede Sisters

I received an email this morning, reminding me that Black Friday is only 121 days away. If you are a business owner, that likely made your blood pressure go up. For those of you who aren't business owners (or hard core shoppers), Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the US. It's the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season.

Loads of businesses have huge sales that day and many brick and mortar stores (meaning they have a building, not just online) open early. As in really early. Think 4am early. They want you to come to them first, while your wallet is still full and your credit limit hasn't been reached.

Since I have to be ready for the fall and winter shopping season, I have already been thinking ahead to what will be in the Bede Sisters shop in the next five months. One of the things that I'm working on is a line of small baskets. They are great for seasonal decor, as well as wonderful gift baskets. Fill these with goodies for a teacher, boss, friend, and you'll have a gift to remember.

So, here's the giveaway:

For each of two winners, I'll send you one of my first two fall baskets (pictured above). I'll select a winner (using a random number generator) on August 19, 2011. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me how you'll use the basket--as a gift, to perk up your fall table, candy holder for Halloween, whatever you have in mind.

You can also have an extra entry if you are a follower of my blog. Leave me a comment telling me that you are a follower or have just become one.


I can't wait to hear your ideas!

More Amazing Artists

As promised, here are two more artists I met at the craft fair this past weekend.

This is Randal Spangler. He grew up in the heartland of America, exploring his family's attic and barn and enjoying fresh, homegrown vegetables. Those experiences, in a quintessential American hometown, shape his creative view. So much that something as fantastic as a dragon in a library can seem oddly familiar. A cat holding a cupcake? Naturally. A fairy having tea with a dragon? Of course!

Randal's art is at once elegant and playful, appealing to a sophisticated adult as well as an imaginative child. And he's a really nice guy, too.

I also met Shengzhu Berdardin, a fabric artist. She dyes her fabrics in indigo, to create fabulous designs, then sews the cloth into beautiful handbags, totes and duffel bags. She's friendly and always ready to answer questions about her work. There's a series of pictures on display at the front of her booth, to show her at work on each step of her process. Her business is called True Blue, blue and white cloth art.

24 Hours of Dulcimer Music or My Weekend at the Craft Fair

I spent the past weekend at the the Carolina Craftsmen Spring Classic, 10 am to 8 pm on Friday, 10-6 on Saturday, and 11-5 on Sunday. A total of 24 hours. With dulcimer music playing in the background.

Don't get me wrong, I really like dulcimer music. But by Sunday night I was ready for a change...and I got it. The Gilmore Enterprises people, the nice folks that run the show, clearly demonstrated their experience and sense of humor. As soon as the doors closed to the public, the music changed to the William Tell Overture. That's the one from The Lone Ranger. It got us in the right mood to get our booths taken down and packed up quick.

Before the Big Packing Up, I took some photos of the booths of fellow crafters. I'm always amazed at the clever ways people display their creations. Here's a display from Troy and Kathi who make beautiful yard signs. They customize the sign for you at the show, with your name or house number. Don't you love their set up?

Another amazing artist I met is Joe Foley. He is a welder who gave up industrial work for making flowers. He tells customers that his flowers are easy to transplant and very cold hardy. His business is called Steel Blooming and the flowers are gorgeous. Here's a link to a television interview with Joe--WCHS interview.

Joe's display is quite basic, not even his own side walls, but clearly it's not necessary. Joe's flowers speak for themselves and I was blessed to be just across the aisle from him. I got to admire his work for three solid days. Aren't you jealous?

Stay tuned! More artists tomorrow!

Carolina Craftsmen Spring Classic--This Weekend!

Just thought I'd stop in for a minute to let you know, I'm at the Carolina Craftsmen Spring Classic in Columbia, SC, this weekend. It's a HUGE craft show, held every year at the state fairgrounds in Columbia, in the shadow of Williams-Brice Stadium. This is the first time I've been a part of this show and I'm really excited. I'll post pictures and show stories when I get back.

Have a great weekend!

New in the Etsy Shop

I've had the best time working on new Christmas stockings for Bede Sisters. These may be my all time favorite project. Recently I found an old quilt for sale on Etsy, from DesignsforReta. It was past it's prime as a quilt, but with a gorgeous softness that only comes from loving use. I took a deep breath and ...made the first cut.

I'm so glad I did, because these stockings are beautiful! They are lined with new muslin, trimmed with new lace and have a grosgrain ribbon loop for hanging by the fireplace .

Getting the Etsy Shop Ready for Christmas

I've been busy getting the Bede Sisters etsy shop ready for Christmas. We have 18 Christmas stockings now available, most made from vintage quilt tops.

Lori found several really funky old quilt tops at an auction and I've been looking for the perfect use for them. Last week, it hit me--OOAK (One-Of-A-Kind) Christmas stockings!

We also have stockings available in red and white toile and black and white toile--elegant, beautiful, classic.

We are also having a Black Friday sale, starting at midnight Thanksgiving night. (Take that, retail stores!) And you don't have to go out and fight the crowds; you can shop Bede Sisters in the comfort of your pajamas with a warm cup of coffee in your hands.

Have I painted an irresistible picture for you, yet?

Bede Sisters Road Trip

The Bede Sisters headed for Greenville, SC, this past weekend to participate in Handmade Greenville. It was a first-year craft fair and included lots of wonderful artists. It was also the first craft show that my daughter worked with us. We had a nice time...once we got there.

First, did you know that I-385 (the one that goes to Greenville from (I-26) is closed? Neither did we. The GPS said to take the exit, but it was closed. Completely. Okay, so the GPS took us on a detour. It would only have added 15 minutes or so, but there was an accident. We sat, and sat, and sat on I-26, not moving at all. What should have been a 2 hour trip took three.

So, we still got there in plenty of time to set up our booth, a little out of breath, but in time. The booth looked great--hey, maybe rushing in, a little aggravated and hungry is good for creativity? Or not.

Do they look like they're having fun? Don't answer that. For some reason, Lori and Ann don't enjoy my picture-taking as much as I do. Go figure.

Sidewalk Sale in Aiken

I had a great time participating in the sidewalk sale in Aiken, SC, the last two days. The bedesisters have a booth at the Antique Emporium in beautiful downtown Aiken. The store's owner, Beverly Huff, invited those of us who have a booth to set up outside the store on Friday and Saturday. The town of Aiken had its annual Aiken's Makin' festival and many downtown businesses join in the spirit of welcoming folks to do some shopping. So, here are some pictures of our day.

This is Beverly with Paul, one of the antique vendors who has a booth in her shop. His dear wife was nearby, helping with their sale for the day. She knits beautifully, by the way.

This is the Bede Sisters sidewalk sale set up. The bags looked so nice on the drying racks; the colors were really eye catching.

The table displayed Lori's jewelry so well. Once again, her pendants were the hot item. One young woman stopped short and just gasped at a stone fish pendant. She bought it immediately; it had always been my favorite piece of Lori's jewelry. She has such good design ideas.

Here's photo of our booth inside the Antique Emporium. I think it looks inviting, kind of like grandma's kitchen.

This fun and spirited lady is Pamela Petruschke. (Did I spell that correctly, Pam?) She also has a booth inside the Antique Emporium, along with her very youthful mother-in-law, Dorothy. In addition to the antique store, Pam has an etsy shop, alteredstates. She's been busy this summer and her shop has been on vacation, but should be opening back up in the next few days. She makes jewelry as well as remaking things into new things, like vintage fabric into aprons. Can't wait to see what she puts in her shop!

Here's Paul and his wife, outside the store, enjoying the wonderful weather. Can you see the scarf she's making? It is as soft as it looks. Lucky grandchildren!

Finished this bag this morning

I just love this bag. The fabric is one of my favorites. The handles are long, but can be tied to any length you like. If it doesn't sell soon, I may have to keep it for myself. Hmmm, I'm craving another cup of coffee.

We Are One dance conference--This weekend!

Lori and I are getting ready to go to Effingham, SC this weekend. We will be a vendor at the We Are One dance conference there.

We'll be offering "design your own" pendants--choose your pendant and cord, then Lori will finish the cord to your preferred length. We'll also bring lots of bags, great for carrying everything you need for dance-- shoes, clothes, makeup, etc.

In the meantime, I'll be sewing like mad!

Adventures in Crafting

Welcome to the bedesisters blog! If I weren't suffering from writer's block right now, I'd post something brilliant for my first day as a blogger. Check back with me tomorrow; I'll be fascinating then.