Secret Sister

Part of the Women's Ministry at the church where I attend, we have Secret Sisters. It is like having a Secret Pal or Secret Santa where you give gifts, cards or treats to your "sister" in secret. As the giver you try hard not to be revealed before its time, so you may write in the card with your other hand, sneak it into the church under your jacket, or even incorporate your family members to help in your scheming. This is all done to bless your sister and to show her that your care and she is thought of. I have loved all my sisters I have given to in the past and have become closer to them in the process. My first one was Gail and I had no idea what to get for a lady who lived in a 5th wheel trailer - so the ordinary knick-knack collectibles were out. That took to looking for small and special items- candle, a monogram bookmark, earrings...
In the end she became a very dear friend of mine. Love Ya, Gail.

At this years' revealing I finally got to know who was my Secret Sister - I kind of had a clue - it is hard when you use kids for them to be sneaky and then to be quiet! However, it was a very nice surprise! It is my mom's cousin, Margaret and she really knows me and she spoiled me!

This is the beautiful box she had everything in - I was just tickled with the box!
.....pretty ribbons...pretty paper.....
This is the first peek inside! I see red. I see lady bugs!

I Love lady bugs!

These are soooo adorable!!!! 4 placemats and 4 matching napkins - Very Cute!

At the very bottom of the box is this beautiful doily that she crocheted for little 'ol me.

It is a treasure that I will keep for many, many years.

It is going to be by my other treasured dresser runner in my bedroom.

I am very blessed to have had a Secret Sister like Margaret.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Margaret!!!! *Hugs*

I know I can't wait to Bless the socks off my newest Secret Sister......

Maybe you know someone that needs to be blessed and feel appreciated,

you could become a Secret Sister, friend to her -

It could mean everything to her.

....scatter kindness....

.....gather love.....

Rules to Enter

Just when I am ready to settle in for the evening and perhaps do a little sewing I think to myself, "Self, maybe I should check my email and see what is going on in the Internet world."

So I did. First stop was email. Not much happening there. Next, Tally's Place and looky here what my friend, Cindi has done. She is doing some major blog hopping. Oh my.

I don't want to be left out so I start blog hopping. Oh my, again, I am ALL over the place.

I went to Helping Mommy's Win to check out this Joey Junior Purse Organizer that you can win in a give away. To WIN you leave a comment or put the blog button on your blog - yep it's the blue and white one on the right side - or follow on Twitter and so on and so on. By doing these different things gives you an entry to WIN this item or that.

I don't really remember how many different places I went to, but I always seem to go back to Tally's Place to see where to go to next!

One of my last meanderings was to Audrey's Give Aways Blog to WIN me some hand crocheted dishcloths. I really like using crochet dishcloths when I wash dishes. They hold up well and have good scrubbing power. These are available to WIN or to buy from Peanut Creations. As you can tell I am hoping to WIN. I like the blue set. Hint. Hint.

Even Cindi has a give away going on at Tally's Place - Hurry now and check it out - tell her Starla sent you and that gives you a double entry!

One of my first posts was a give away of a cute circle card and since I been going to all these different blogs, I'm wondering if I should have my own little give away again??????

What should it be??? A cute little tutu? I know - a fairy wand!!! Or it could be another card... it could even be one of my purses..... Leave me a comment about what you would like to enter a drawing for and who knows what might happen!!!

*Hugs*

Starla

Apple Harvest Festival Review

We did it! Cindi (one of my bestest friends - http://www.tallysplace.blogspot.com/) and I had a booth at our local Apple Harvest Festival here in Fortuna. My last post talks more on this subject as well. This was our first time for a lot of firsts - our first time being partners, first time with an outdoor booth and first time being at the festival. During our 8 hour booth time, Cindi and I had plenty of time to review and critique EVERYTHING! I want to share with you what some of them are and welcome any and all constructive criticism - BE NICE! I will start the reviewing in sections -

SET UP - This was actually easy because we did a trial set up in my driveway. My lovely husband, Garry helped cut the lattice to size and put eye screws in the pier blocks ~ Thanks Honey!~ We knew it was going to be windy, Garry suggested we use the pier blocks and ratcheted tie-downs for anchors on the tent. The anchors worked great and were easy to use and it added height to the tent. The lattice in the corner did not do so good. They needed more support because the lattice was vinyl which meant it was very flimsy. Once again hubby came to the rescue with 2"x 2" x 80" to support the sides of the lattice not already zip tied to a tent leg. Overall score- 8 out of 10



BOOTH OVERALL APPEARANCE - This is one of the areas that was in need of help... I think it is setup nicely, good traffic flow for the small area, but is where I think it stops. Garry said that our booth needed to be more full of product and I agree. Because life happens, Cindi was unable to have more of her products there and she was so bummed. Signs. Who we are. What we do. How much? Not there and the one sign in the back was nicely done, which reads: Custom Orders Available on Request, (thanks Ammi ), however without any other signs it was just hanging around.

Overall score: 4 out of 10



PRODUCT DISPLAY-

I believe Cindi and I did great job in displaying our products even though we lacked signs. We had purses hanging on the lattice and placed on the tables. Cindi's Buttonfly Fairies were on the lattice and then we arranged a pole to go between two tent legs and they were hung from there. They fluttered beautifully in the wind. The tutu's were hung up around the tent area - next time we will use a round clothes rack, space permitting.

I am calling this one "Tiger Fly" - so exotic........... ( made by Cindi)

Our Woodland Fairy Wands grabbed a lot of attention and we had a sign, but no price. After awhile I did make a price tag sign and it helped.

Overall Score: 9 out of 10

After we went home and warmed up, we began to research booth set up and these are some of the results -

http://craftshowsuccess.nichmarketer.com/articles/craft-show-booth.html

http://www.inspiri-art-and-craft.com/booth-setup.html

http://fluffyflowers.typepad.com/fluffy_flowers/2008/01/how-to-setup--2.html

In conclusion we now know what we need to do different for our next shows. We will do Apple Harvest Festival again next year with the improvements mentioned above along with -

~booth placement~ we were at the end block and next to a food vendor that "smoked" his meat. When people got off the hay rides, they headed away from us.

~ sides for the booth~ it was so windy during the day we had to keep our products from flying away and we were so drained and our lips very chapped - the wind was very bad and cold.

We are not going to give up. We will continue on and keep learning from our mistakes and kindly take advice from others and listen to wisdom from the wise.

One of Our Next Shows will be Saturday, November 14 at the Veterans' Memorial Building in Fortuna

It's All About The Glitter

This is a preview of the small selection of woodland fairy wands, Cindi and I will have to sell at the Apple Harvest Festival in Fortuna.

These fairy wands are made from blooms of far-away forests and meadows of Make Believe. The ribbons are from the Land of Offray and the Land of Wrights. From the island of Tulle we gathered tufts and the glitter was ever so carefully collected from the rare blooms of the Mettallicallious flowers on the coast of Glitterex. Upon the arrival home each bloom was designed and arranged into the most incredible imaginary Woodland Fairy Wand to be. Guaranteed to bring smiles to the young and old alike and let you fly away to your own Land Of Make Believe.

(Fine Print: Wands May Be Used For Princesses and Queens, too.)

COME AND VISIT - SATURDAY, OCT 3 - 9AM TO 5PM