Black & White all night

Working hard and - as usual - up to the last minute on my hats for tomorrow's Black & White Party at Alabaster's. As far as I know tickets are still available, but I have no further information. If you are interested in coming (and I really encourage you to come as it's always a good time at Alabaster's) please check out their web site and give them a call.


My first completed hat for the show, the "Winter Rose" Cloche. The husbands says it's the best one I've ever made. He is sweet.

UPDATE: The party has been cancelled; Alabaster's did not sell enough tickets. However, my work will still be on display in their gallery, so please do stop in, enjoy some lunch and a cup of tea, and check out the Black & White Show.

Up & Coming

In brief, here is my "LikeClochework Appearance Schedule" for the season so far:

* Nov. 7 - Black & White Party at Alabaster's Arts & Tea in Pottstown, PA (http://alabastersartsandtea.com)

* Nov. 14 - Craft Bazaar at Bethel United Methodist Church in Spring City, PA (http://bethelumchurch.com)

More to come, I hope...

Today the rain stayed away long enough for me finally to set up at the Boyertown Farmer's Market. Sadly, Becky from EmmaDear was unable to join me, but it was a good - albeit windy - day anyway. I actually didn't expect to sell anything, but my white cloche with the black needlefelted vines sold, as did a black and grey pom-pom hat that I just finished this week. Huzzah! I am always pleased when my hats find good homes.

By the way, shout out to Mike, who apparently now reads my blog ;-)

Moving on over

Now that I work/volunteer/shop-sit part time at Inside the Cherry Cupboard, I've decided to move my hats from Hard Bean to there. I was never sure I wanted my hats at Hard Bean anyway just because they could get dirty or have coffee spilled on them or get squooshed about by small, unattended children. At Cherry Cupboard, I can keep an eye on them, actually talk to people about my business, and the hats fit in better with the shop's vintage/antique vibe. They also have lots of nice, fancy mirrors for admiring yourself in a lovely hat.

If you've never been to Inside the Cherry Cupboard, it is located at 9 S. Washington Street in Boyertown, PA and features antique and vintage jewelry, accessories, housewares, and furniture along with other random little treasures. It is a fantastic shop, and I am not just saying that because I work there! Our regular hours are currently Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday 1-5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday by chance or appointment.

Speaking of hats, today I must go visit Pamela at Alabaster's to pick up my hats from the weekend show. Oh darn, afternoon tea! ;-) I wonder what kind of scones she's whipped up today?

Tutorial love

More love from Tara at handmadeinpa.net! Click here to see. I should make a quick note here, though, that my tutorial isn't technically "wet felting," it's actually "fulling." Wet felting is a technique that uses un-crocheted/-knitted roving. Just so there's no confusion :-)

"Art of Distinction" this weekend was rather a bust; nothing sold from anyone in the Alabaster's Collective, at least not as of 3:30 on Sunday when I left my shift at the show table. If anyone knows of any upcoming craft/art shows that might be more receptive to my work, I'm all ears.

Handed off my traveling scarf at our Stitch n' Bitch meet on Sunday and was pleased to find that the knitting ladies were not truly offended by my crochet lace "meanness" (I really didn't think they would be). We're always up for a needle arts challenge!

This week I am taking another much-needed break from crochet and am instead baking my heart out and researching needle felting. Must find me some felting needles, yessiry...

Art of Distinction

My hats will be at the "Art of Distinction" event in Perkiomenville this Saturday, June 27 from 1-6:00 and Sunday, June 28 from 1-6:00. More information can be found here and here. I'll be sharing space with the lovely ladies from Alabaster's Arts & Tea. Come out and show your support!

Sales were slow... but fun

Lots of folks at the Boyertown Sidewalk Sale today, but business was still slow. Of the five artists selling work inside Studio B, I was the only one who sold anything - and I only sold one hat. BUT it was a lot of fun, I passed out lots of business cards and coupons, and the entire experience made me think about how I need to display my items at trunk shows. So with all of that in mind, I'd say it was a good day.

This week I'll be working on a few hats and accessories for Teaberry Antiques and Collectibles near Avalon, NJ as well as prepping for another trunk show with the ladies I call my "Alabaster's Collective." More on that later; right now it's time to refocus and get to tai chi class...

Fashion Show Hat #3

I'm on a roll here with these fashion show pieces. Today's accomplishment is a green alpaca/angora beanie worked up in lotus flower and shell motifs, accented with a pink mohair lotus flower pin. It is luxurious!



* * * * *

For those of you who are local and haven't heard yet, my hats and gloves will be part of a local artisans' fashion show at Alabaster's ARTS & Tea in Pottstown, PA on Saturday, May 9 from 5-7:00 p.m. Tickets are $24.95 each and include a high tea buffet of delicious food, exquisite loose leaf teas, and the best scones in Montgomery County. Seating is limited, so reserve now! For more information, you can call 484-949-8165 or look up the event "Garden ParTea" on Facebook.

And for those of you who are not local or cannot make it to the show, whatever hats do not sell at the fashion show will be put up in my Etsy shop immediately following.