Disappointment

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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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Friday Fortius

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Snowflake Monday

Tomorrow is Make a Snowflake Day or Snowflake Day, and we're celebrating with a bonus snowflake pattern both today and tomorrow.

Today I'm focusing on some of the wonderful things readers have done with their snowflakes. I hope you will be as impressed as I was when they told me about these awesome creations!

See if you can recognize which patterns were used...


First up is this giant Doorflake made by Crafty Mew. Just look at the size of this grown baby! Tegan crocheted two strands of worsted weight yarn with a size K hook and lots and lots of glue for stiffening. I still can't believe it holds its shape! Wonderful job!






Sarah was inspired by my Ice Mountain Snowflake Rug to turn other patterns into useful items by using yarn and a larger hook, with minor modifications. She used two strands of worsted yarn and a size N hook (and a size J hook with a single strand of worsted yarn) to create some really beautiful and handy trivets. She says they make wonderful gifts.


Catherine fashioned multiple snowflakes into this unique wreath. Doesn't this just set your imagination on fire? Perhaps we should have a snowflake wreath design contest later this year???


Jennifer is crocheting snowflakes in size 80 and 100 thread. WOW! If you don't know how small these snowflakes are, try looking for detail on a real snowflake, and that might give you a bit of perspective. Way to go, Jennifer!!!






Diane, co-moderator of Sisters (and Brothers) of the Snowflake, was inspired by a pattern with an eight-point snowflake worked into a ball, in which she inserted a light. She wanted to try making a ball of six-pointed snowflakes and came up with these visual beauties.


Ginger is not exclusively using snowflakes, but she's making a wedding dress for her future daughter-in-law. I can't wait to see it finished! What about you?


Some magnificent things are happening in the world of snowflake crochet! First, Lucia did a video tutorial for my most popular snowflake, The Century Snowflake. What's really special about this video is that English is not her native language, so she worked extra hard to make these instructions available to the largest group of crocheters possible. Thank you, Lucia!


13 is my lucky number
Annabelle Tracy at Crochet Treasures is working her way through a 100-snowflake challenge, and she's doing a video tutorial for each snowflake! She's also got a Facebook group, in case you'd like to tag along for the ride and share your own snowflakes as you finish them.

I am so amazed by anyone who can do a video tutorial, but to do 100 of them?!? Excuse me while I put my eyeballs back inside my head! Ha ha! Thank you, Belle!


For just a tad more inspiration, here are some of the unusual things I've done with snowflakes, including my previous Snowflake Day projects. I still have one in the wings from last year, but I haven't looked for a gallery yet in which to exhibit (too busy/distracted), so I may just wait until next year's biannual tenant art show at the building where I work.


































You didn't think I'd leave you here without a new snowflake pattern, did you? I took the theme of unusual ways to use snowflakes and answered the challenge of a friend who suggested, “You should make a hedgehog.”

I'd like you to meet my newest little friend. This is Hedgie. Hedgie, please say hi!


I was working on Hedgie in the examination room while awaiting my turn for my annual physical. The doctor, upon entering the room, asked what I was making. When I answered, she gawked, “Why a hedgehog?!?”

Perhaps I should adopt mountain climber George Mallory's “Because it's there” philosophy... “Because I can.”


You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes and/or hedgehogs you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!


Finished Size: 2.25 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, optional clear thread or fishing line if snowflake is to be hung, and beads, sequins, rhinestones, googly eyes, pompoms, embroidery thread or permanent marker for eyes, if desired


Hedgie Flake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same ch as sl st, * sk next dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, 2 dc in same dc; repeat from * around 4 times; sk next dc, 2 dc in same ch as starting dc, ch 1, 1 hdc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 2 tip of Round.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of hdc directly below, * 2 dc in next gap between ;2/dc groups, 2 dc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, 2 dc in same sp repeat from * around 4 times; 2 dc in next gap between 2/dc groups, 2 dc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.


Round 4: * 1 sc in next st, ch 3, sl st in sc; repeat from * around 27, 35 or 43 times; bind off. Weave in ends.


Round 4, snowflake (with popcorn center): [1 sc in next st, ch 3, sl st in top of sc] 5 times, * 1 sc in next ch 2 tip, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 7, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch (ch 5 branch made), ch 6, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch (ch 4 branch made), ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch (ch 3 branch made), ch 4, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, sl st in top of dc, [1 dc in same ch, ch 3, sl st in top of dc] 2 times, ch 4, sl st in same ch, working back down spoke sl st in next ch, ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, sl st in ch between ch 3 branch and ch 4 branch, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch, sl st in ch between ch 4 branch and ch 5 branch, ch 6, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch, sl st in ch between ch 5 branch and ch 2 tip dc, 1 dc in same ch 2 tip, ch 3, 1 sc in same ch 2 tip, [1 sc in next st, ch 3, st st in top of sc] 6 times; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 5 sc/picots of final repeat; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: My Hedgie Snowflake does not necessarily need to be stiffened. Stiffening instructions are included for those who may want shape and stiffen their creations.

Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.

If using glue, mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or plastic wrap.

Glue on or sew on beads, sequins, rhinestones, pompom, googly eyes, felt or crocheted eyes. Allow to dry thoroughly if gluing.


If Hedgie Flake is to be given to a small child, please consider embroidering or marking eyes directly on crochet with permanent marker. Beads, sequins and googly eyes sometimes cause choking in small children.

Attach 10-inch clear thread to one top of head, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch Hedgie Flake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Hedgehog Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

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