Browse Tag by craft shows
Craft Shows, Uncategorized

Hand-Spun Merino Yarn

Read the title of this post.  I’ll give you 3 guesses as to what I bought at an Arts Festival this weekend.  If you guessed a skein of hand-spun merino yarn, you’re right!  Woo!

Hand-spun Merino Wool Yarn

My mom and I spent this hot Saturday afternoon browsing at a local Arts Festival.  It was a pleasant few hours and certainly nice to be on the other side of the booths for a change.

One of the tents caught my attention:  It was a booth with hand-spun yarn!  Although the yarn was lovely, the lady working the booth was not.  She was a little distracted and not very helpful, but I thought the yarn was worth it despite her poor customer service.  See pictures below, I hope you’ll agree.

Hand-spun Merino Wool Yarn

I ended up purchasing 104 yards (1.4oz) of hand-spun, hand-dyed Merino wool yarn.  Yum.  It was a special treat (from myself to myself).  I think it’ll be just enough yarn to make a hat.

Hand-spun Merino Wool Yarn

Hand-spun Merino Wool Yarn

One of these days, I’d love to learn how to spin.  I have some roving I purchased a while ago, but never got around to learning how to do it.  Anyone know how to spin and want to team me? I’ll make you a haaaat. 🙂

Hand-spun Merino Wool Yarn

Uncategorized

Craft Show Update

November has long been here which means JJCrochet’s craft show season ended last month.  Oh what a time of fun, sleepless nights, mad crocheting, and meeting wonderful people.  Here’s a slight recap of JJCrochet’s craft show chaos 2010.

  • Number of shows: 3
  • Total Crafting Days: 5
  • Furthest Distance Traveled: 4 1/2 hours round trip
  • Total Crochet Hats Sold: 154
  • Times Getting Hit on: 8

To see real-life JJCrochet customer footage check out this VIDEO:

This year’s craft show season also marked JJCrochet’s most profitable day of selling EVER.  JJCrochet sold 1 crocheted hat ever 6 minutes.  Yes, 86 crocheted hats were released into the market at the Clarion Autumn Leaf Festival.  And in case you’re wondering, seeing people walk around wearing your designs is still a rush, even after 6 years of doing craft shows.

Now that CSS (Craft Show Season) is over, it’s time for JJCrochet to start building up next year’s inventory.  Crocheted hats, crochet berets, knit caps, and even a crocheted hexagon blanket are in the works.  [Perhaps even a “How to Crochet a Flower Video Tutorial”…]

Craft Shows, Projects

The Advent of “Craft Show Season”

Every year without fail, Craft Show Season arrives.  These few weeks in September and October are affectionately known as “CSS”.

“Want to go shopping this weekend?” my friends will ask innocently.

“No, sorry… it’s CSS.”  I respond.  They shrug knowingly, sometimes followed by a head nod or affirming pat on the back.

Anyone who’s not a crafter might glaze over the gravity of CSS and how it shapes your life.  I have an upcoming show this weekend, Harmony Grange Festival, and it will mark the opening of my 3-week CSS.  I’ve been prepping for months: crocheting hats to have a decent inventory, screwing dowel rods into bases to make hat stands, painting wooden letters to fashion a sign, saving $1 and $5 bills for months so I have change for big spenders.

You can’t underestimate the power of CSS; those unprepared will not survive.

Especially in college, CSS is an interesting time of year.  I have done two-day shows where I’ll get 3 hours of sleep because I chose to stay up and crochet more hats.  I have driven 50 minutes in the wrong direction before realizing it and arrived late to shows.  I have endured 35 degree weather with nothing but the shelter of a blue EZ-up tent to protect me from the ranging winds.  I have done homework in McDonald’s restaurants.  I have tried to sell warm crochet hats to people eating snow-cones in August.  It has rained, it has been warm.  I have worked 28 hours and driven 6 hours in one weekend.  During CSS, I’ve done it all.

That being said, I wouldn’t trade CSS for anything.

I love it.  Absolutely love it. The people, the selling, the relationships, the experiences.  Some people remember my booth from previous years and when I hear, “Ohhh – there’s the hat lady!”  it makes all those sleepless nights worth it. I’m like the dependable friend who shows up each year.

Three craft shows in Western Pennsylvania will culminate my 2010 CSS:

If you’re in the area, stop by and see my new booth setup or ever better, pick up your very own JJCrochet hand-crocheted hat!    And please, if I look tired, don’t tell me.

For those who can totally relate to CSS, here’re two good articles to make your CSS seamless:

All the Best and Happy Craft Show Season!