If wishes were horses, beggars would ride

Holy crap! Is this week over already? I swear it felt like yesterday when I was just at Vivocity craft market and this weekend, meaning, tomorrow and the day after, I have to go back on duty. It's crazy. 4, 5 days is not enough time to sew anything. In fact I spent almost one whole day just thinking it's not enough time to sew anything. By Wednesday I was so nervous, practically crapping in my pants, partly because it's parent-meet-teacher week for me. And since I have 2 kids in school, it's double that. Both my kids had a couple of subjects they did not do well in and I was very stressed out over that. It's also my girl's streaming year and my son's final year in secondary school so, multiply the stress 10 times. And double that.

Anyhoos, I have faced the teachers, spoken to them, listened to what they have to say and I'm happy to report I survived. No cardiac arrest, like I imagined. No fainting spells and no screams. (from me) My kids have promised to work harder and I shall hold them to their words.

So where was I? Yes, it seems I'm in good health having survived the kids' report cards. And I did manage to make a few items. Wish I could have made a lot more.

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. (read that somewhere, forgot where)

This is a zip pouch wristlet with a little embroidery. Everything was inspired by the colour of the zipper. I know. Some people look to nature, paintings, google images for inspiration. I just stare at my zippers and something is bound to come up.

I've made this butterfly applique plenty of times. But never with this fabric. The bag is made using cotton twill. This fabric is almost running out and I'm almost certain it's no longer available at the shop.

I had no intention of making any more sexy zippy wristlets but I discovered a ready-cut fabric in my "forgotten" tray. I used the super big teeth zippers again.

I usually don't make bags in black or grey but this fabric screamed at me when I was fabric shopping one day. I think it turned out not too bad. I didn't feel like making a long handle so I used webbing. I'm sure to get some scoldings from customers for using webbing.

I made another bag using the flapper girls fabric.

Oh, don't get too excited. This bag isn't really big and probably will just fit a wallet, keys, make-up, camera, an umbrella and maybe a couple of books. And your tablet/ipad as well.

This crossbody bag I completed just as the sun was setting. The fabric is super cute! The animals are cooks. It's linen cotton so there's bound to be some complaints that "the fabric looks dirty". I shall practice my dirty look.

So glad all the sewing is over and done with. I think 6 items in a week is not too bad. That's probably what some of you make in ONE YEAR.

All I need is for these 6 items to sell this weekend at Vivocity craft market and I'll be able to pay the rent, expenses and my girl's lavish meals. (she's coming to help me) I'm so looking forward to next week because I want to stop sewing for a week.

Other than this weekend, I'll be selling at Vivocity on these other dates as well in case you can't make it this weekend.

29th & 30th June
6th & 7th July
27th & 28th July

See ya.

VivoCity Craft Market 25th to 26th May 2013 Post-mortem

Folks,

I don't ask for very much. I spend my days making bags and pouches and then I sell them at my booth at Vivocity. If I manage to make a sale, I am happy and appreciative. If I don't make a sale, I'm not happy but I'm not unhappy. This is part and parcel of being a handmade seller.

Even though I don't ask for very much, I do ask that I am treated with respect - not so much as a handmade seller but as a human being. Yes, a human being who is not a piece of furniture - who has taste and feelings. On Sunday, a couple decided that the best place to make out (and mind you, this was done quite "violently" with slobbering and saliva) was right in front of me (and I was standing up attending to them). This couple had come to my booth to browse. Nothing caught their fancy. But instead of walking away, they carried on standing in front of my booth trying to dislodge each other's tongue. I believe I should put up a "NO MAKING OUT" sign at my booth.

Luckily for me, my sales on Saturday was quite good. Because on Sunday, it really, really sucked.

Saturday's display

 Sunday's display

My stock is pretty pathetic at the moment. I have another craft market at Vivocity this weekend. Yes, I know. Why did I get arm locked into this arrangement? I have at most 4 days to sew up more stock.

This was me on Saturday. I did not suffer any headaches or migraines. The wax burner was far away from me and the varnish and lacquer people weren't close enough. I was really grateful.

The blue people came to visit and this time one of them hammed it up for me.

Some of you complained that I did not take a front view of the men in blue. So I took one this round. Hope you ladies are satisfied. I took from the side because I didn't want to be too obvious. Please, I have class, you know!

I don't understand what happened on Sunday but shoppers seemed to avoid our little craft market. I mean, Vivocity was filled with shoppers. 4 sellers packed up and left early. Maybe they had a plane to catch. Maybe they had an emergency. I felt really defeated. Later while we were packing up, we made one last sale. That sale really made me happy. Like you're down and suddenly you're up again. See ya.

Once you go big

Friends,

Once you go big, you'll never be able to make a "normal size" zip pouch again. I forgot to use something for sizing when I took the pics earlier but trust me when I say this zip pouch is big.

This is the last item I made for my weekend craft market. I could have made a few more items but I went swimming yesterday and that's like one day's worth of "work" to me. And this morning, my nose allergy was triggered so I don't feel like working anymore. I might even do the price tagging at Vivocity...

Anyway, I showed hubs the flapper girl zip pouch I made and he said:

I have no idea what it is but I want it!

Hopefully, I get the same reaction at the market.