Another Holiday Craft Show

Last Saturday, December 6th, was my second craft bazaar and despite the inclement cold and rainy weather, I  sold enough American Girl outfits to make a profit. Although this event was longer than my first bazaar, it flew by faster because my younger daughter volunteered to keep me company. She is quite a salesperson. Every time she wandered around the craft show to look at all the vendors, she would talk about my table. Then, a little later, these same people stopped by my table and bought something. And when adults or kids stopped by the table, she was a natural drawing them into a conversation about my AG doll clothes.

I'm learning a lot about craft bazaars and will continue to rent tables. I've learned:

• It's better to "sit" with someone than by yourself.
• It's hard to predict what will sell. Although I sold well at both sales, different styles of dresses sold at each one.
• It's good to have a Square Register just in case someone wants to pay be credit card.
• Networking and exchanging business cards is important.
• All little girls fall in love with the fancy gowns!
• Disney princess dresses are ALWAYS popular.
• I need more ways to display the doll clothes.

The table was two feet longer so I was able to spread out the dresses. That's me on the left behind the soccer dressed American Girl doll 

Since I will not be attending anymore craft shows this season and I have still have some American Girl outfits, I'm going to look into creating an Etsy shop. In the meantime, check out some of my still available AG clothes below. I was very surprised that these two dresses did not sell as I sold similar ones at the previous craft show and had requests for others.

Blue Ice - an original Unique threads and Yarns design

Addy's Christmas Dress - an original Pleasant Company pattern

I've begun to show dresses I have to sell on my Currently Available page (link on right side of blog page). These dresses are already finished and do not need to be special ordered. Just email me at uniquethreadsandyarns@gmail.com

First Craft Show of the Season

This last Friday, Nov 21st, I was a first-time vendor at the Harvest Festival Boutique in Boonton Township, NJ. The week before I had many sleepless nights and worried about everything: having enough inventory, setting up by myself, using the credit card app, making change, having an interesting display and speaking to customers. I'm more of an introvert rather than an extrovert.

Finding the school was no problem thanks to GPS but setting up was very worrisome. Even though I arrived at the designated time, the parking lot was already full and I had to wait for a spot. That caused me angst and I wasn't certain I'd have enough time to set up my display. However, I finally found a parking spot and began to unload my supplies and display. I had a pleasant surprise when a few 8th grade students volunteered to carry everything in for me (and they were there again to bring my supplies back to my car at the end of the show). The kids were such a great help! Unfortunately, setting up was stressful too. I was asked to change my table location three times before the organizers were satisfied with the gym layout. But I think the display was good; simple yet interesting.

My simple table display

I'm happy to report I met and surpassed my personal sales goal even though I was told the turnout was minimal due to the district having a playoff game that night. I earned back the table fee AND the same amount again in profits. However, there was so much more that I gained from my first craft show of the season:

• great positive feedback from customers and other crafters
• watching the young girls checking out all my AG clothes, especially the fancy dresses
• great suggestions and hints from other vendors

I'll have to make more American Girl dresses before my next show but that's a good thing! There was great interest in the Blue Ice gown and cape. So, that's one dress design that I'll be  making multiples of.

Blue Ice gown with cape

All in all, my experience was good and I'm looking forward to my next show at the Flanders Firehouse on Dec 6th, especially since my daughter said she'd "hang" with me that show!

Getting Ready for the Craft Show

I've been working this week organizing my table for the Harvest Festival Boutique, my first craft show of the season. The boutique is at Rockaway Valley School in Boonton Township from 3:30 to 8:00 pm on Friday, November 21, 2014.

I'm using my daughters' American Girl dolls to model some of the outfits I've created. They are all dark haired dolls. L, my granddaughter, slept over during Teachers' Convention last week and noticed that all the dolls were dark haired. So, L kindly offered her AG doll, Lanie, as another model because Lanie has blonde hair. L asked that I sew a blue gown for Lanie because the gown will look "really good with her blonde hair and blue eyes." She also said that if that gown doesn't sell, Lanie would love to keep it!

I dressed my daughter's "Me" doll in  a soccer uniform I designed to match the soccer uniforms of the RVS 2013 Group I soccer champs. I hope you think I did the team justice!

2013 Rockaway Valley School Soccer Champs

Playing Soccer

I'm still trying to make a few more dresses before the 21st and was able to cut out two more. Now, if I can only get them finished. Below are some outfits that I have already finished. Since my business is UNIQUE Threads and Yarns and "unique" is defined as "being only one of its kind; unlike anything else," I only create one or two similar dresses. Honestly, the reason I only make a few of each styles is that I get bored sewing the same pattern over and over again.

 The outfit at the left includes the skirt and t-shirt that has a ruffle down the center that's hidden under the scarf. The infinity scarf and the crocheted "Julie" hat are each separate. I've made the scarves and hats in different colors.

My Favorite, Polka Dots

30's Style School Dress

Knit Hat, Scarf and Mittens

Sock Hop Jumper w/ Blouse

Halloween 2014

Halloween is one of my all time favorite holidays! It's a time that you can pretend to be someone else. And let's not forget all that candy, especially the chocolate.

Years ago, too many to mention, I began a tradition of creating American Girl outfits to match my niece's Halloween outfits. the AG look-a-like costumes were never completed for Halloween but instead became Christmas gifts. Some years it was quite a challenge to find the right matching material and accessories. Often the cost of the AG design was comparable to the cost of the child costume!

Throughout the years of my niece's trick-or-treating, I've designed and sewn  a bunny, cheerleading, Wizard of Oz Dorothy and my favorite, Jasmin from Disney's Aladdin outfits. I've looked through hundreds of pictures but only found two to scan from all those years ago--the cheerleading and Jasmin costume.

Note I also made a matching Barbie outfit

My favorite but most challenging

As my niece no longer goes trick-or-treating, I'm continuing the tradition with my granddaughter. For the last few years, she's been various Disney princesses: Aurora from Snow White, Tinkerbell, and for this year, Merida from Brave. With the awful Halloween weather the last couple years, her Mom had her use the costumes multiple years. She never complained since she was always a princess! I'm now in the process of hunting for the just right material to create the matching Merida costume and finding it next to impossible! I think I may purchase a child's size Brave costume just for the material and trims!!

Aurora from Snow White

Belle from Beauty and the Beast

Tinkerbell

The wings on L's Tinkerbell costume actually lit up but for the AG costume, I just added "jewels."

Welcome to Unique Threads and Yarns

I've been sewing and knitting since sixth grade. First, for myself, then my two daughters and my granddaughter. I started sewing for my daughters' American Girl dolls, Samantha and Addy. Now, I sew for my granddaughter's multiple American Girl dolls.

As I am a recently retired educator, my daughters suggested I market the American Girl doll clothes to keep myself busy. I love altering patterns, combining fabrics and adding embellishments to create unique threads and yarns for American Girl dolls.

I hope you enjoy following my blog and viewing all the 18" doll clothes I've created.