SweetPeas

We're on Etsy!

2009-05-11T07:03:00.002-04:00

Mama Pea and I spent Mother's Day working on our Etsy site! We posted one bag and are back in business: osweetpeas.etsy.com. You can also see it by checking out the side bar on this blog!

We still need to work on taking better photos, editing photos, and run through posting new items again. But Mama Pea pretty much has it down!

Upcoming Fairs

2009-04-18T10:13:00.003-04:00

Hello World!

It's craft fair season again! The fun one, in my opinion :-). Mama Pea and I will be setting up camp at two locations this Spring/Summer, enjoying some lovely weather and sharing our wares with the world (or at least Southern Maryland). Here are our upcoming fairs:

Strawberry Festival
Saturday, May 30, 2009
11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
River Bay Road, 21409

South County Festival
Saturday, June 13, 2009
11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Herrington Harbor North
Tracy's Landing, MD
http://www.herringtonharbour.com/directions.html

More exciting news: Sweet Peas started taking Visa, Mastercard and Discover over the Fall/Winter crafting season! We accept cash, credit card and check (make sure you have your license on you).

Also, Mama Pea is coming out from behind the sewing machine to sit in front of the computer!! I'm going to pass my technological knowledge on to her shortly, so assuming I am a good teacher, we will be back on Etsy.com in the next month! I'll update the blog when we're up and running!

Hope everyone is having a fantastic Spring!

-Lil Pea

Almost Forgot

2008-11-09T11:44:00.003-05:00

The gorgeous new logo at the top of this blog (which needs to be worked on to be centered by me and my less than perfect design skills :-P) was created by Akesha Scott of Vivid Designs (http://vividdesignsinc.com/). Visit her site to see the other work she has created. I highly recommend her - she created the logo in quick fashion and came up with the design and concept completely on her own. She is very talented!

New Fairs!

2008-11-09T11:28:00.002-05:00

I apologize for not updating with our newest fairs. We just got back from one in Prince Frederick and it was fun and successful! We sold four bags, two charm bracelets and some other jewelry. Here are our upcoming fairs:

On November 22, 2008 from 8:00a.m. until 1:00p.m. we will be at LaPlata United Methodist Church3 Port Tobacco Road LaPlata, Md. 20646-2824

We will also be at the 26th Annual Bruin Holiday Craft Bazaar on Saturday, December 6, 2008 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Broadneck High School which is located at 1265 Green Holly Drive, Annapolis, MD 21409

We will also be participating in one at Arundel High School. I will try to get the date/time/location BEFORE the fair posted here :-).

West Annapolis Oktoberfest, Holiday Craft Bazaar, and Photos!

2008-10-04T17:08:00.003-04:00

We will be at the West Annapolis Oktoberfest tomorrow, October 5, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Tucker and Giddings Avenue in West Annapolis.

We will be at the 26th Annual Bruin Holiday Craft Bazaar on Saturday, December 6, 2008 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Broadneck High School which is located at 1265 Green Holly Drive, Annapolis, MD 21409.

I FINALLY put pictures up in Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22795453@N00/

I will try to connect the Flickr page to the blog soon!

Irish Festival

2008-06-20T07:14:00.001-04:00

Irish Festival featuring live music, bagpipes, vendors, food and family fun. Proceeds from the event to go to: Irish Charities of Maryland.

Location: Maryland Avenue , Annapolis 21401

10am to 5pm Sunday, June 22, 2008!

Hope to see you there!

Another Fair!

2008-06-13T17:46:00.000-04:00

It turns out we will be doing one more fair next weekend. Details soon...

South County Festival

2008-06-12T07:33:00.002-04:00

Our next fair will at the South County Festival:

Date: Saturday, June 14, 2008
Time: 11am - 7pm
Address: Herrington Harbor North Marina
389 Deale Rd Route 256,
Tracy's Landing, MD 20779
Website for Herrington Harbor North Marina: www.herringtonharbour.com/
Directions (Make sure you go to the North Marina): www.herringtonharbour.com/maps/index.htm

So that's everything you need to shop with us live for the last time this Summer. We'll be starting fairs up again in the Fall (our first one will probably be around mid-late September). You are welcome to contact us by email (osweet_peas@yahoo.com) in the meantime if you are interested in our upcoming dates or seeing some of our items before September. I will try to update this blog with some photographs soon!

Sweet Peas is Still Kicking

2008-06-10T18:29:00.003-04:00

We have been very busy over the months since our last post. We have been to several craft fairs between the Baltimore and Annapolis areas and Mama Pea has created a few updated versions of the Bohemian bag! As for me, I have been busy with a few (not just one, :-P) job changes. So unfortunately I haven't put much of an effort into our Etsy site. We truly enjoyed being a part of the Etsy community and showcasing our crafts on the site. It is something that has to be put on the back burner for now, but we hope to be back on it soon!

I have decided to redesign our geocities site to have it direct visitors to this blog. I plan to post our upcoming fairs here and post photographs of our wares.

As far as purchasing our items online goes, for the time being you will need to email us at osweet_peas@yahoo.com, or visit us at one of the fairs. You can still make purchases with us using Paypal, checks, money orders, or if you are in the area, cash. We may even be able to charge your credit card directly by Sweet Peas over the phone or in person. I'm not sure yet about the details of that. I will have to check with Mama Pea.

We have a few new and exciting things going on. Mama Pea and I are discussing new creations for the future. As you may or may not know, the Bohemian Bag is a totally original design created by one of the baby peas and copied and mastered by Mama Pea. She will continue to make Bohemian Bags, but expect something new and exciting from us in the coming months!

Over the last year, Mama Pea and I have been slowly building up a supply of handmade clay items. We have been planning on selling the items at fairs and giving 100% of the profits to either a charity involving children or directly to a school. It looks like we have narrowed it down to a non-profit that helps children with their health and education. More on that soon!

I will be posting again shortly with details of our last fair of the Summer, this Saturday! Keep an eye out!

New Bohemian Bag!

2007-12-03T08:56:00.000-05:00

I just uploaded a new bohemian bag to our shop, you can see it here! Here is a photograph of it...

New Item Added to Etsy!

2007-11-11T13:56:00.001-05:00

I just added our newest item, a gorgeous crazy quilt created by Mama Pea! Check it out! Here is a picture of it:

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

Etsy Wishlist + Our First Sale!

2007-11-01T10:22:00.000-04:00

I can't believe that it has been two weeks since I last posted! Another Etsy seller came up with a great idea for using the favorite's feature on Etsy as a wishlist for the holidays (or any other gift giving event). See Fearlessfiber's Oct. 30 post to find out how to do it.

We also made our first sale! Sky and Chocolate Paisley is on it's way to Canada!

More Wallets

2007-10-15T20:59:00.001-04:00

I made more wallets! Yay!

Pouches and Things

2007-10-15T10:24:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I have written here so I thought I would update. I haven't been doing much with my Etsy shop because I still need to get boxes to put sold jewelry in (so I can't list all of the jewelry that I have to sell). So my shop isn't getting a lot of hits right now. I decided to try and create wallets of some kind. This is what I came up with. I think they would be better with a zipper rather than buttons. That way you can put change in them as well! So I will buy some zippers and try to give that a try... or I may just try tightening the flap so that nothing can come flying out of them. I don't think they are tight enough as they are now.

I decided not to include my Christmas list here. I'm afraid a family member or friend will peak! Not so afraid of that that I won't put a call out to Etsy sellers to help me with some of those gifts. I'm looking for gifts for the two men in my life. My dad loves sailing, cultural things, gardening, and eating (especially trying new foods). My boyfriend loves hunting, camping, fishing, and motorcycles. If you or someone you know from Etsy sells stuff for men, please let me know!

There are so many cool items that I have found on Etsy lately! Check out Madelaine Adelaide's artwork! I love her work. It's so beautiful and sometimes a bit spooky at the same time. I love it.

Etsy for Girls Ages 8 - 11

2007-10-09T00:04:00.000-04:00

I entered a poster sketch challenge on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5265469&page=1

Here are my choices for girls ages 8 - 11:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22795453@N00/1520659738/

I had fun picking the items out, but it definitely was challenging. It took me a little over an hour to find everything.

Kristie's Apron

2007-10-07T12:10:00.000-04:00

A fellow crafter from my area makes beautiful aprons. I bought one for my sister for Christmas last year and she loves it! Check out Kristie's Aprons.

I remembered her aprons after reading a post on Lula's Boutique about her vintage apron purchase.

My Artsy Girl Mad Lib

2007-10-07T11:37:00.000-04:00

I found this on Monica Magness' Blog. If you want to play, look at her September 29 post before reading my result :-)

Artsy Girl Mad Lib:
Edward Hopper shrieked and exclaimed, "shnizelsnert!" as he discovered the free day ahead of her/him to meet with Lisa. First we need a project... I said, "oh my goodness!" here's what we will do. On those especially orange days, I like to stumble through Bead Style Magazine while sipping Coke to get ideas. I grab hold of my Embroidery Needle and start cutting the sheets of water colors until patterns form. We will apply the peyote stitch while running till our heart is content. It will resemble the likes of the The Kiss but we'll paint our creation with guacamole. He smiles back at you and confirms that you are in fact a real Princess! Responding wickedly, you smirk and reply, "ya, I know."

Saturday Night Thoughts

2007-10-06T23:01:00.000-04:00

I have had such a lovely day. Between visiting friends, driving in the gorgeous weather again in the convertible, and now, relaxing in a candle-lit room in front of the computer before bed, I put in a little bit of time promoting myself on the Etsy promotions forum. I also chatted for a bit in the Etsy chat rooms this morning. I can't get over how nice everyone on Etsy is. It is refreshing. I met a lovely lady who introduced me to Rufus Wainwright and specifically the song Poses. I am hooked!

Tonight happens to be the night of my ten year reunion for high school. I didn't go to the reunion, nor did either of my two best friends from high school. I am curious, how many of you went to your reunions? If you didn't go, why not? If you did, what was it like?

I thought tonight, before bed, I would come up with a theme to introduce some Etsy artists and crafters that I like. Sort of like creating a theme for an Etsy treasury. What moves me right now is romance. Must be the candles and the crisp Autumn air. So that is my theme. I will try to see what would fit a romantic shopping spree...

I must go back to Kaspar Gallery. I showed my friend the Kaspar Gallery tonight and she was just as impressed. And isn't the work romantic? Take a look at this Abstract Landscape Tree, this photograph, and this painting. The red and gold shades in the two paintings suggest romance and passion for me. If I were to create a "romance room" in my house, I would have to buy a couple of these. What would I wear in my romantic room? Well, pretty shirts and dresses with flowers on them of course. Check these out from CircularAccessories... Chopstick Dahlia, Blue Willow, Black Lotus, and Blue Locust on Swamp. I may also like this Victorian Style Choker from SanityCrafts around my neck. I also need pretty soaps to make me smell as good as I feel in my romantic room. I found this crafter in the chat room this morning. I like the sound of these Crannberry Seed soaps. I think I would like to lay down in a bed like Delia's Corral Bed. I would have satin sheets and a fluffy red or pink duvet.

I love to fantasize like that, but I think for my next entry I will work on items that I'm more likely to buy. I will start a holiday shopping list for my friends and family. Ooh fun, can't wait!

So I have no news for tonight regarding our shop. We have had many visits to our bags, which is nice. No sales yet, which is totally acceptable. I can't wait to make that first sale, but I know that it takes time and work. In the meantime we still have our craft fairs which fulfill that satisfaction you get from selling something you worked so hard to create.

Phew, it's already midnight! Time to snooze.

Feelin' Groovy

2007-10-04T21:42:00.000-04:00

I'm in such a chipper mood tonight. My boyfriend and I just got home after a long evening drive in his convertible. So nice with this perfect Autumn evening weather!

I just thought I'd pop on to post some more of my favorite Etsy things. I just found this Etsy-ier Romanticgems... really cool stuff. If I had unlimited money to spend I would pick up this scarf, this GORGEOUS bracelet, this one too, in fact all of the ones of that style.

I found two cool items from MissKnit's page. This Fall Colors Pouch for holding your credit card, ID, business cards, etc... Mama Pea just bought me a similar pouch at the Octoberfest and I use it all the time! It's really handy for someone like me who doesn't carry cash and ocassionally goes out without a purse. I think this Felted Black and White Handbag is adorable!

And because I have baby fever here are a few cuties: from punkin and prettypleasequilts.

Whew. This blog is certainly becoming more about what I want from Etsy than what I have on Etsy. To close, here are a few of the jewelry pictures I took earlier. Really must work on my skills...

Photographs

2007-10-04T16:58:00.000-04:00

Wow, that was hard. I wasn't able to get many quality pictures of our jewelry. Most of the pictures turned out washed out. :-/ Good thing I have some time to figure out how to take better photographs!

If anyone knows how to take better pictures, please let me know. Lighting tips? Time of day to do it in natural light? Anything?

Off to Take Some More Pictures...

2007-10-04T16:24:00.000-04:00

...of jewelry. While the sun is out. I will post some later!

Newest Item Listed on Etsy

2007-10-03T18:52:00.001-04:00

Here is our newest item...

Just look at the bead work, it's gorgeous!

It must have taken Mama Pea hours to do this one.

I am so in love with Etsy.com. I have found so many cool things on it, I thought I'd list some of my favorites. I love nearly everything from TheBlackApple, especially The Quiet Room and To Ride a Black Swan. They are so cool. I'm thinking of buying a bunch to decorate my bedroom once it's painted. I also like this pendant from sea2sea. I love everything from kaspargallery.

I list some more of my favorites later. I want to shop! But I must sell first.

This Weekend's Craft Fairs and Jewelry

2007-10-02T18:03:00.000-04:00

This weekend Mama Pea and I had two craft fairs. Saturday's fair was a straight up craft fair at a small town's science center (I think that it used to be a tiny elementary school). The Lion's Club held the fair. All of the money the Lion's Club receives goes toward funding a machine which helps blind people. So that's nice.

We did really well at the fair. We sold four bags, a bunch of jewelry and lavendar sachets (fresh from my mom's garden!). It was pretty profitable.

Sunday's fair was actually an Octoberfest (should that be OKtoberfest?) so along with having over one hundred vendors, there was an umpa band to entertain us between customers coming by. It was also outside, which was really nice, especially since it was sunny and 75 degrees all day!

We did just as well in sales (minus $2). We sold three bags, including one that I did the bead work on! We also sold one of the weirder necklaces I've made. I had fun making it but I wasn't sure it would sell. I try to make things that I would wear, but sometimes things don't come out the way I mean for them to. I wish that I had taken a picture. We also sold two pairs of hoops, similar to the ones in the picture. They are probably my favorite to make. I just think they are the cutest!

I'm posting some other pictures of jewelry. Some of these items will be available Etsy soon. Mama Pea and I have run low on gift boxes, so I need to replace them first.

These pink hearts were picked up several times at the fairs... And here is one of Mama Pea's new designs. I'm not sure how she created it, but I like it! Mind the fuzz in the top right corner :-P it's cotton from one of the gift boxes.

Today was my first day creating and promoting our Etsy store. It was really fun! I spent a lot of time on the forums and everyone seems really nice. It's been a long day though.

Etsy

2007-10-02T12:24:00.000-04:00

Sweet Peas has just joined Etsy.com. Check us out: http://osweetpeas.etsy.com/. Here is a sample of some of our work:

Please let us know what you think!