Magpie Ethel

All Plucked Out

A big show weekend for me.  Fun to see all my vintage friends and fellow bloggers.  Our booth ended up being one big jigsaw puzzle. THREE of us shared our space and we all had quite a bit of stuff to cram in.  It was crazy full.  

Please ignore the lovely overhead lighting.  I also have realized how superior my new camera is in picture taking.  I had my old pocket sized one with me and the photos just did not come out great.

This was pre-show and we had not tucked everything under the tables yet!

This little chalkware fellow was a favorite.  I had an old honeycomb lantern that hung above him as part of the display.  (Both sold.)

I really like all the plaid patterns of old thermoses displayed together.

I had a good supply of goody bags after a studio clean-out.

I was sad to see my donkey cart go.  I had no spot for it in my yard.  I was happy he sold as I did not want to haul heavy concrete home. I also sold two concrete deer, so I returned home concrete free.
A bit of sorting today and putting props away.  Am plucked out...thank you everyone who came and shopped.

Happy day.

Swimming to Plucky Maidens

You may remember the plastic swan that I got the other day. I know some of you questioned that purchase, but I thought it would make a fun display at Plucky Maidens.

Swans look swell with rosy cheeks.  I also added a big pink bow and a tag I made.

The swan is now proudly showing off some of my swan items.  Just something unusual to catch ones eye.

And speaking of Plucky Maidens.  I am more than ready for it. My garage is ready to be emptied out.  The pile is mostly props, but there is stuff for sale in the stack as well.

Since Ben is away at college his room  becomes storage after things are priced and bagged and ready to go.  I hope he does not decide to make an unexpected visit home!

I am sure glad I borrowed my dad's truck as there is absolutely no way I could fit it in my Subaru.  The truck is stuffed to the gills.

If you live in the Portland area come by and get Plucky and shop.  Be sure to introduce yourself too! 

Friday, April 27 5-8 $10 admission

Saturday, April 28 10-4 $5 admission

Columbia Conference Center

8521 NE Columbia Blvd, Portland, Oregon 97220

Looking forward to a Plucky weekend..come be Plucky too!

 

Craft Show #4 - Crafty Wonderland

This past Saturday and Sunday was my last show of the holiday season for me. Crafty Wonderland is a wonderful, wonderful Portland show and this is my third year as a vendor.  I have shopped it for years as well.

This is what I set up in my driveway on Thursday to get a bit of a feel for how my 10 x 10 spot would look and how my props would fit together.  I used sidewalk chalk to mark a 10 x 10 square and started adding tables and such.

Friday a.m. I borrowed my Dad's truck.  It was empty.

Friday afternoon the truck was full.  The bucket seats in the back were full and Ben had to ride with a load on his lap.  I had quite a bit of inventory. Ben helped me load into my spot in the convention center.

My driveway vision became this.

One side.

And the other side.

It was a great weekend and almost 16,000 people came through the doors to shop. Thank you to my blog readers who said hello and to those that took my business card and said they would come and check out my blog and Etsy shops.  A great end to my holiday crafting shows for this year.  Now I need to start my Christmas shopping...

 

Holiday Sale #4 - Crafty Wonderland

My last and biggest show of the holiday season is this weekend.  Saturday and Sunday from 11-6 at the Convention Center.  You can find more information here.  It is an awesome show and super fun to shop.  Come and say hello!

Laurelhurst...Show #3

I finished up my third show of the season today and it was a great day.  Thanks to my blogland readers who came by and said hello.

Here are some snippets of my space. It is in a charming old local school with great woodwork and stained glass windows in the cafeteria. As you can see I got to spread out a bit and also had a window sill behind my table to display on.

Only one lone party bird came home with me.

One more show to go. Crafty Wonderland will wind up my shows for 2011, and it is the granddaddy of all craft shows here in Portland.  Can't wait!

 

Holiday Sale #3

For my local friends, my next holiday sale is THIS Sunday, Dec.4th at Laurelhurst Elementary School. Hours are 9-4 and the address is
840 NE 41st Avenue.

This is a great sale in a charming old school...stop by and tell my hellooooo!

Holiday Show #2

Friday I had my second show of the holiday season. It is a show that a girlfriend and I run called Merry Marketplace and it was our ninth year for this event.

It takes place in a local community center and my favorite thing about this show is having a spot with a mantle and a fireplace to use for display.

I wish I had a big long mantle like this at home.
Picture time.

A good day and fun to see some blog readers and chit chat with neighborhood friends.  Two weeks until the next holiday sale and more crafting to do...tis the season.

First Holiday Show 2011 and Some Fun Show Perks

I had my first Christmas show on Saturday and thought I would share my day with you.  It is not all glamour and glitter for this girl, but some hard work as well.

I was up at 5:30 a.m. and out the door at 6:30. (I had packed my car the night before.) I stopped and grabbed a cup of Starbucks and was at the church to set up at 6:50.  I had my car unloaded (multiple trips on a drizzly morning) by 7:15. The show opened at 9, so I had almost two full hours to set-up and futz with my goodies. This is what my booth looked like. (please ignore the bulletin boards in the background, this sale is in a church school cafeteria)

Picture after picture, my table was pretty full.

It was a good day.  This particular sale also has a few perks to it that other sales don't have.

The treasure table.  Donated vintage items from parishioners.  I usually find a few treasures here.  I can scope it out before the doors open.

The kitchen is open and they have food for sale.  I look forward to their giant cinnamon rolls each year.


For lunch they have homemade lasagna.  I remembered I should have taken a picture after I devoured it.  It is nice to not have to bring your own food for a long day at a show.  The show ended at 5 p.m. I had my car packed and I was headed home by 5:45.  It was a great show and I enjoyed the customers and the other vendors.  Bedtime was 9:30.

My next show is in two weeks.  Enough time to do some more crafting and get some holiday Etsy listed. Tis the season....

First Sale

My first of four sales is this weekend if you live in the Portland area.

All Saints Holiday Bazaar

November 5th, 9-5

601 NE 39th (corner of NE 39th and NE Glisan, near the gold Joan of Arc statue)

Future shows are listed on my sidebar.  I hope to have holiday Etsy up the week of the 14th.  I will have a heads up on my blog. Tis the season...

 

No Bonbons

There has been no idle time for me to sit and watch daytime t.v. and eat bonbons.  I have been putting in long hours in the studio in preparation for four holiday shows and Etsy.

My sitting room is currently holiday central.

Lots of glitter and sparkle.

And lots more holiday crafting to come....tis the season (almost)