It seems like there are more and more people selling handmade goods at craft shows these days, and that's awesome!

Every time I do a show, I make a list of little things to bring with me so I have the most comfortable day possible. I've never actually typed this list up. So I thought I'd do just that and then share it with you.

The list includes everything except your inventory and display furniture, so it should all fit in a small suitcase or box.

But beware - you'll be the one everyone goes to when something suddenly comes up and they need a piece of duct tape :)

Jordynn Mackenzie's Indoor Craft Show Necessities Checklist:

• float with lots of change (fanny packs are great for this)
  
• calculator
• receipt book
• pens + pencils
• sketch book for writing and doodling on
  
• paper for extra sign making
• a sharpie
  
• tape - a couple of kinds if you can
• twine
  
• clothes pegs
• safety pins
  
• an ironed table cloth
• clear signage or price tags
  
• sewing kit (including thread, needles, pins, thimble)
• scissors
• business cards
• fliers promoting your other craft shows
• sign up sheet for your mailing list
• gift bags and tissue or other packaging materials
• a bagged lunch and some easy to eat snacks
• reusable water and coffee containers
  
• napkins or wipes
• hand sanitizer
  
• a bag for garbage
  

Feel free to print and use this list and share it with any crafters you know.

quilting fabric, originally uploaded by jordynnmackenzie.

I tagged along to Brockville, Ontario last weekend with Aidan. He was doing his job.. you know juggling fire, balancing things on his face. I was just there for moral support and because I wanted a road trip.

What I wasn't expecting to find was this cute little fabric store that specialized in quilting called Picket Fence Fabrics. I bought these very nice prints from their fat quarter and half-quarter bins. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to make with them yet, but I think that I'd like to make a quilt.

My grandmother was a quilter and I can remember always being in awe of the things she'd make for us. I wish I could have shared my sewing/crafting/making enthusiasm with her just a little more.

Does anyone have any quilt patterns or books I should check out? I think I'll hit up the library and see what's available before I decide on what size/shape/pattern to make.

I finally got around to making a dress from the Built By Wendy pattern #3964 and I love it!

This is my second attempt (here's the first) at the pattern and I am very pleased with the final result. I used a lovely blue cotton stretch jersey, which was interesting to sew with since I usually work with woven fabrics, but with my serger, it was pretty easy to finish.

I didn't really follow the instructions for the last half of the dress and I finished whatever I could with my serger. I finished the binding around the neck and sleeves with my serger, folded under and top stitched. I also left off the 'wing' sleeve which made me look ridiculous, and made the shoulders narrower. And I left off the tie on the back, which I found just got untied all the time and put in a hook/eye type closure. It really just pulls over the top of my head and I could have left out the closure all together.

I love love love to wear this dress, as shown by my posing above... but I hate modelling clothes for photographs. I don't even want to admit how many photos it took for me to get something I was happy with!

I got around to covering my earbuds in a nice red/orange cotton. It took forever! I relied on my past experiences with friendship bracelets in grade school to get me through it and I'm loving the end result... even the cat hairs knotted in between haha

I was inspired by Etsy user Chozin Designs, who makes beautifully wrapped headphones called earlaces. They're reasonably priced and come in a variety of colours.

I am almost embarrassed to show the state of my ironing board before... but here it is was:



and After!


I pretty much winged the recover.. turned the ironing board upside down to trace my two layers of wool felt (I ended up using that and the padding that originally came with the board too so it's extra padded) and fabric. I used a vintage cotton that I love so much I am keeping it all for myself. I serged the raw edges and made a casing in the fabric for the drawstring. I also reused the string that came with the old cover because it was perfectly good string and exactly the length I needed.

If I were to do it again I would maybe overestimate the amount of overhang I needed.. this cover is almost too small, but I am not redoing it! The two layers of felt are great though. It really added the extra padding I needed and gives it a smooth finish.

If you're thinking about doing the same thing, The Purl Bee has an excellent tutorial here

Now the hardest part... keeping the cats off!


PS: I did a Flickr photo search for "cat ironing board".
The results are fantastic!

For all those who want to know the secrets of perfectly matching piping, I bring you the Make Your Own Piping tutorial.

In a few simple steps you can make beautiful piping from your favourite fabric to match whatever you're making.
(tutorial link)

A friend sent me this link to an article about a few new shops opening up on Ottawa Street in my hometown, Windsor, Ontario.

It's really nice to see shops like this open up. I'll definitely have to visit the next time I am down.

New shops resist tide

PS: the thrifting in Windsor is amazing

Jordynn Mackenzie @ The Kid Icarus 2nd Birthday Show, originally uploaded by jordynnmackenzie.

Not last weekend, but the weekend before I attended a Pedestrian Sunday in Kensington Market (Toronto) for Kid Icarus' 2nd Birthday Show. The weather was a little bit annoying, but we definitely had some sunny spots and I had a great time anyways.

Every outdoor show seems to at least be a learning experience for me.... as indicated by my umbrella-wrapped-in-plastic-so-it's-waterproof setup :)

Also that week (I am SO late posting this!) I was featured in an interview with The Sewing Business Blog, which you can read here

I've just finished this tutorial on how to sew your own reusable shopping totes from pillowcases. They roll up and snap together for convenient storage and travel. They're also fully lined and machine washable.

All you need is a pretty pillowcase, a few tools and some time.
(tutorial link)

This is my Mario across the NES ages (from Sprite Stitch) cross stitch. It's for a friend and it is very very late for a great byoart (bring your own art) party . Of course, I had chosen to make something that took up a lot of time and patience and wasn't finished in time for the party. I'm terrible, I know.. but It will be worth it when it's finished.

I'm not sure how I'm going to finish it. A nice frame? maybe stretched over a canvas or as a pillow?

I don't know yet. But I can't wait to finish it!

Here's a sneak peek at the fabric I recently designed. I had it screen printed by great a local shop, Kid Icarus. (They have a screen printing shop in the back called studio number nineteen)

If you look closely, you can see that both patterns are actually images of my kitties. *insert cat lady jokes here*

I hope to have it available on etsy soon. I'm working on some new patterns as well, so stay tuned.

So I guess it's officially fall! I've been taking it easy this week after deciding not to rush into an application for the One-of-a-Kind Christmas Show. I'd rather have time to properly prepare for a show like that. Rushing always turns into a bad scene..

But anyways, in my quest for relaxation, I've picked up my crochet hooks and tried again to make something. So far I've only ever made a few lumpy berets. So what's a girl to do but try to make another?

I've tried twice to crochet this hat. The first time it came out big enough to put my entire head into (Unfortunately I wasn't really going for that look). The second time I ran out of yarn halfway though... frustrating!

So to fulfill my need for some sort of finished product, I made the kitties a couple of crochet toys.



The pattern is an improvised mess of single crochet and maybe half crochet or something for the legs.. I based the pattern off of a toy they once stole from the cat downstiars. They only took about 15 minutes each too. It would probably be much faster if you are an experienced crocheter. But don't forget the bell!



I'll round this post off with a picture of the siblings that I took the other day in my sewing room. They are such top models, don't you think?