News In The Parlour For 21June13

Did everyone have a great weekend? Did you get a chance to soak up some real Vitamin D? Or, like some of us "whiter shade of pale-skinned people", perhaps you turned a bright shade of red?... Ouch!! Remember to use that SPF Mega number {a.k.a. Shirt In A Bottle} even on those cloudy summer days...

Wellll.... the jury verdict is back... and... WE'RE IN, BABY!!! We are officially a vendor at the 2013 Make It! Vancouver Holiday Show. This is soooo exciting for us on so many levels!! From small city Prairie market to our first-ever, world-class, strictly handmade, arts & craft show in a world-class metropolis ~ WOW!!! {Such an amazing feeling to know our creations really are in that top class of artists & artisans~ really, really!!} Adding to the exciting news: Make It! is moving to the PNE Forum (Pacific National Exhibition) for their next get-together here in Vancouver... bigger & better than ever!! {Cue sitcom song: We're Moving On Up} We'll certainly keep you updated on all the preps and happenings... We're still doing a happy dance, with hook & #10 crochet thread held high, knowing our summer and autumn months are about to get much busier... and lovin' every minute of it!!

{*Catching our breath for a second or ten*} On a calmer note... the Octagon & Squares Afghan for our grandson's birthday gift is coming along nicely... all 26 motifs are finished... half of them are stitched together... the other half will be finished over the weekend. We'll post an "all done" photo as soon as it's "all done"... This grandma is pretty excited we'll be making the 2-day trip to hand-deliver it him, too <3

In closing today, we want to take this opportunity to say "Thank You to all of our friends out there in Net-land. We like that you like us. You make our happy dancing that much more happier when we can put some happy & smiles in your dancing. You're all super awesome!!" 

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! 

*photo courtesy Carol A. Thompson. All rights reserved by Carla's Victorian Heirlooms. 2013.

Until next time, Happy Solstice/Merry Yule!! Enjoy gazing at the supermoon {weather permitting, of course} ~ Keep well ~ Keep your happy dance going In Your Parlour!!

Quickie Post Today

Today's news is short & sa-weet ~ we have been mega busy with preparations for our application to Make It! Vancouver... Brand new signage is fabulous!! (Thank you!! Fast Signs)... 2 out of 3 new inventory lines only need to be packaged and they are ready for photos... bit of a checklist left to do for the booth display set up & photo session next weekend... one more creation to begin production on as well...

SD & I will braking {correct spelling ;-) } for some "us time" to head down to White Rock for a bit of Rockabilly entertainment... here's the link to the info page if you want something to do for this Saturday June 1:  Revive 'Em & Drive 'Em

Have a fantabulous weekend!! Get 'creative' with your free time... brake for a day to do something out of your usual routine, something you can look back on one day for a "remember when..." moment ~

*photo by ccthompson

Be safe!! Keep well!! and we'll see you next week, here in The Parlour...

Our Crafty Biz Heroes

We have a change of subject in The Parlour today... We promise to bring you a post with links about our Hooker Heroes at a later date =)

Over the next few weeks, we'll be sharing info & tidbits about our fav craft market ~ Make It! ~ a twice yearly artisan market in Vancouver, BC, & Edmonton, AB, featuring handmade crafts, fine art and delicious homemade treats & snacks. The first shows of the 2013 season take place in the Edmonton, AB, area at The Enjoy Centre in St. Albert this weekend, followed by the Vancouver, BC, show at the Croatian Cultural Centre next weekend. 

Today, we want to share with you something near & dear to our hearts... Make It Happen! is a documentary being put together by Jenna Herbut, (Make It! craft show, Make It! University) and her partner, Neil Mangan. Together, this amazing couple are seeking to spread the word that it is possible to quit your day job and be a success at your creative pursuits. Their film features inspiring interviews with several artists sharing their personal stories about how it is possible to be a full-time artist & entrepreneur working whatever craft your heart, hands & soul desire... We no longer need to be a "starving artist" ~ we now have "living proof" of that!! *all humor intended in that remark*

You can view the trailer & fund-raising campaign by clicking on the right sidebar. Since the start of this project on April 5, 40+ supporters have contributed a little over 1/3 towards Jenna & Neil's goal of raising $15,000 to help cover the production costs of the DVD being released in the spring of 2014. Be sure to check all the fabulous perks for being a Make It Happen supporter too!!

Share the links, follow the Facebook page, contribute financially ~ your support in any way you are able, for this special project will be so very, very much appreciated by creative entrepreneurs the world over!! 

From the bottom of our hearts, "Thank You Muchly & Big Huggzz" ~~to Jenna & Neil for all the hard work, talent and commitment being put into this project ~~to all the artists for sharing your stories with us ~~and to all those behind the scenes of every artist choosing to follow their creative passion, for giving the love & support you do every day...

Keep safe & we'll see you next week, here in The Parlour =)

Photo by ccthompson

Coming Next Week: More Fav Local Artisan Markets 

Studio update...

The last few days have seen us without power for a stretch of 27 hours. A freak wind storm blew through unexpectedly Friday afternoon, taking down trees and branches and a couple of power lines close to us. In all, it was reported that approximately 50,000 hydro customers lost power. Of course, with the power went the internet... out came the extra blankets and all the candles we could find. Stitching without decent light and heat was not option... the bit of paperwork that I worked on ended when I began to consider putting gloves on to continue... you know it's cold when...

Today is the weekly tea & stitch session in the city... the carousel horse will be finished and the first Victorian heirloom decoration for the booth display will be ready to go for our upcoming show in December... details are in the craft markets listing below... Watch for a picture of that ornament to be added to the gallery this week...

The next couple of weeks will be spent sewing and stitching for the Christmas market... with some business workshops in between... only 20 more sleeps to go until market day... and hard to believe it's only 45 days until Christmas morning! (sure can sneak up on a person when there is so much going on around the studio...)

Until next time... stay safe, be happy.

Gallery production is underway...

A busy day in the studio today... more production is underway in the inventory division of Carla's Victorian Heirlooms. Next off the sewing machine are some cotton bread bags. These bags are wonderful in that we will no longer have to use unsightly containers or plastic bags for storing bread... we can save the landfill from a bit of unneeded waste... and every little bit helps. Cloth bags will certainly outlast any plastic bag that can only be used a few times before it looks like something the wind got a hold of. Throw the cotton bag in with your regular laundry and it is ready for use again and again. Not only all that, they are a decorative addition to your everyday kitchen linens.

Constructed with 100% cotton, the bags have a drawstring top for easy opening and quick closing. They're fantastic to put a loaf of homemade bread in to take to your next dinner host or hostess. Each one is embellished with a bit of decoration as well for a finishing touch of creativity. They are multifunctional ~ you can use them for storing pretty much anything you can think of to put in them.

The new inventory of bags will be showcased here on the blog during the week of November 21. Along with the bread bags, we will be featuring the choices in our jewel-toned gift bag selection... these gift bags wrap a bottle much easier and nicer than a brown paper bag... We have started a pre-order list for the upcoming holiday season so best to order soon to ensure delivery in time for the shipping rush. Ordering and shipping deadlines will be posted during the showcase week as well. 

Until next time... don't let your thread run too short... stay safe, be happy.

Updates from the Studio...

The last couple of days here in the studio have been full of internet wanderings and discussions about the upcoming Christmas craft market season. Today, the itineraries were planned and the budgets set for 3 markets for us to visit in November. (which, of course, means a couple of road trips *gosh, darn*)

The markets are in Nanaimo, Parksville, and Vancouver... the links to the web pages are below if you wish to check out some more information. It will be hard not to shop but it will still be fun to look. We're going for business-related purposes instead of as shoppers. The preparations for market season 2012 are underway with plans to participate as vendors in our first show as early as spring... very exciting! More on that subject down the road... back to the current upcoming markets...

First stop is Nanaimo Professional Craft Fair tomorrow (Saturday November 5). The show runs from 10am to 5 pm at Beban Park. An early ferry sailing and a short bus ride will get us there and home. A Serious Coffee stop in between is definitely in order. As always, my handsome roustabout will be accompanying me on the expedition. (Must remember to check the weather forecast too...)

Some new photos of our product gallery are on their way as well... keep checking back to see those and to see some of the hand-embroidered artistry created in the studio. We are also on Facebook with regular updates on the studio events and musings... we’d love to hear from you so feel free to stop by there and say hello or reply to a post... 

Until next time... have a great weekend... be safe, be happy

Gearing up...

Good morning,

Preparing for our first craft show... It has been a virtual tour of Vancouver Island and the Mainland craft circuit as we check out each show and talk over the pros and cons of each. Some are too localized, farmers markets and the like, where vendors are accepted only from a specific area. Some allow imported products and third person sales, too much like the mall. Juried or unjuried, swag bag or no swag bag. How many years in operation, number of vendors, last year’s attendance. Who is promoting the event and how. These are just some of the parameters to look at as we finalize next year’s show.

Counted Cross Stitch

 For us, our first show is about time and availability. Time~we are coming in too late for the juried shows and availability, many of the big shows are booked. That leaves us with waiting lists and regional shows. Perfect!  Just what we need to fine tune booth displays and product.

The product line is finalized and inventory purchased, check. Next is completing our booth presentation. Our education starts with touring the big Christmas shows on the Island like the NanaimoProfessional Craft Fair, Parksville’s Kris Kringle Craft Market, and James Bay’s Dickens Fair then over to the mainland and the Vancouver Make It! show in the spring. We will bring you pictures of the markets as we check out the other vendors, better understand traffic flow, and view booth presentations. Oh! And assemble and finish our stock, sew a dress and did I mention...I am taking business courses too, lol.

Sixteen weeks to show the demand of our product; a daunting task for a hardened business person, but a challenge we are up for. With assistance from my happy roustabout, we are going to show them we are a triple threat of artistic talent, business know how, and sales sense.

How can you help? Private message me to pre-order for this Christmas gift-giving season (watch this Blog for items as they become available), a “Like” of the Facebook page or a “Hello!” all contribute as you share our adventure.

Until next time be safe, be happy.