Snowflake Monday

I have a very different breed of snowflake to share today. I recently donated every last crocheted snowflake I have, plus every last crocheted ornament Autumn, our Sisters of the Snowflake founder, donated to me to donate to Operation Ornaments. One set (of 150 crocheted snowflakes and bells) went to Ruiodoso, New Mexico, just 40 miles from where I grew up and which has been enduring horrific fires and flash floods last year and again this year. The final set (of 92 ornaments) is going to Lahaina, Hawaii, which suffered a devastating fire in 2023.

In the boxes and boxes of stuff Autumn donated to me were a few beaded snowflakes in a kit. There were extra beads, but no pipe cleners. The sister missionaries who've been helping me prepare ornament donations offered to make more beaded ornaments. I just needed to get some pipe cleaners. I bought three more bags of clear plastic beads of various sizes and shapes, too, because, why not? Maybe even I could make a few beaded snowflakes.

We staged a mini ornament-creating party the day before I scheduled to deliver in person everything I have left to (local) Operation Ornaments board member Carol Burton and Operation Ornaments founder Carolyn Nicolaysen. I'd never made pipe cleaner and bead snowflakes before, and there were no instructions. So we winged it. I think we did a GREAT job! And it was fun, too.

I thought it would be fun to share this inspiration with you. (And now I have to get busy and start crocheting more snowflakes!!!)

You may do whatever you'd like with ornaments you make from these instructions, but you may not sell or republish this blog post. Thanks, and enjoy!

Finished Size: whatever you decide
Materials: For a snowflake, six pipe cleaners (I bought a whole bag of sparkly silver) and beads of assorted sizes and shapes in multiples of six (the kit we started with had blue and white, and I purchased clear irridescent), optional adhesive-backed snowflake shapes (what we used came in the wide assortment of supplies Autumn donated, but I'm sure they are available at department stores, craft stores or online) or buttons or whatever small decorations that could be attached to snowflake centers, scissors not meant to cut fabric or thread (DO NOT use your sewing or quilting scissors to cut pipe cleaners!!! They will NEVER cleanly cut fabric again if you do!)
NOTE: The sister missionaries also made wreaths, snowmen and other holiday shapes, too. I think the possibilities are endless.

Beaded Pipe Cleaner Snowflake Instructions

Twist three pipe cleaners tightly in the center. (After my first ornament, I twisted the ornaments one or two inches from the center and used clippings to make ornament hangers for other ornaments and to make smaller snowflakes.)

Begin sliding beads onto pipe cleaners, using six identical beads each round so the spokes will be even. I alternated sizes and shapes, but colors could be alternated, too.

After desired spoke length has been achieved, twist pipe cleaner ends to secure beads in place and clip off five ends. Twist or bend the sixth end into an ornament hanger.

Clippings also may be used to create smaller snowflakes.

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Disappointment

(affiliate links to my designs)

I dipped my toes into another craft fair, same one I did two years ago. I'm so grateful I went back and looked at my blog post from that event after this year's so I could end my night on a positive note. It was SO cool to see I tried to emphasize the silver linings. It helped me shrug off this year's experience.

I took another chance because the event is right in the little village where I live, and it's only two hours. I thought it might be okay to leave Lizard alone for just three hours. (It was!) I had a better table location within the venue this time. I took far less stuff, made fewer trips to my car setting up, and I stuck with mostly low-priced items.

Low-priced items I thought would be a huge hit.

There were approximately 30 vendors, and I think there were quite a few disappointed crafters. We didn't get very much traffic, and very few people were spending money. They were sure diving into the free drinks and treats, though!

One of my friends has a college-age daughter who is crafty like me. She has been participating in farmers' markets to earn spending money (she's on a full scholarship), and she's been selling out of soft plushies every single weekend. Particularly owls, octopuses and chickens. She doesn't make fidget toys, but she says they are tremendously popular at her school. Vendors can't keep enough stock on hand.

I'd made several fidget toys for my Sunday school class, and they were so popular, many of the kids from other classes would rush to my class at the end of church to find out if I had any extras to share.

I didn't expect to make a ton of money at my craft fair, but I did think I might sell out of my fidget toys, which I thought were adorable.

I sold two fidget toys and one hedgehog. I made $11.

Big sellers, again, were dog treats. 3D-printed fidget toys were selling well, but the gorgeous 3D-printed dragons in the same booth didn't sell. Cookie trays did fairly well, even though free treats were provided. One woman with a box of handmade knitted hats attracted a lot of attention, even though she didn't have an attractive display. Another woman with a gorgeous display of beautiful crocheted and embellished headbands got no sales. The wreath vendor at the off-the-beaten-path table I had in 2022 sold one wreath. The two high school girls next to me sold a few sugar scrubs to their friends and neighbors who came specifically to buy from them. The three jewelry makers in my area didn't get much traffic, and I don't think they made any sales.

If I try to focus on the positive, several children handled my fidget toys and looked up at their moms with longing eyes, only to be told no.

Three people told me I'm incredibly talented. Two people told me my steering wheel covers are brilliant.

Several people said my vases made of recycled jars were such a cute idea.

Three people picked up and handled my adorable mini chickens, and two even cuddled them close to their faces, oohing and aahing about how much they love chickens. But not a single chicken sold.

A few people handled several of my fidget toys, then looked at me quizically and asked the purpose. A few shoppers handled the only fidget cloth I made (because I didn't expect it to sell) and played with it quite a bit. I assume the price was too high. Or they got all the fidgeting out of their systems very quickly.

One of my crafy friends keeps telling me I need to get a booth in a miniature-themed craft fair. She is constantly telling me how well my miniatures would sell.

Lizard and I have been discussing the possibility of buying a booth (and the tent and display racks that would be necessary) to try our hands at farmers' markets next year. Not every weekend, but maybe once a month. Lizard really wants to get back into his man-quilting, and he does some marvelous doodling, too. We foolishly entertained the idea of crafting our own unique style of Medicare supplements. :)

I worried how he'd handle being stuck in a booth that might actually get crowded, and how he'd do being stuck at an open air farmers' market for several hours.

My table at this year's craft fair cost $30. So I paid $19 for an important education. I think I'll just re-open my Etsy shop. I despise the postage aspect, but perhaps Etsying could turn crafting fun again!

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