Buzzmills

Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday Sale...

In honor of Small Business Saturday
and Cyber Monday I have moved all ready made items to the ON SALE SECTION of my etsy shop.  

There you will find holiday decor and gift items on sale from today through Monday, 11/26/12.  All items in the Sale Section are 20%.  Discount will be applied and refunded after the completion of the sale.  Stop by and check it out.

A Market Bag giveaway...

Last month I shared an exciting post about sending off some of my reversible market bags to sell in a store...

Recently, it occurred to me that I have talked about these market bags, here, here, and here and looked back on this post last month which is where they all got started...but, other than custom orders and selling them at a couple of craft fairs, I don't actually have them for sale anywhere.  

So, in case you were wondering...I sell them for $27.  They are completely reversible.  They are perfect for toting kid's toys, snacks, to use as a tote bag, as a grocery or farmers market bag (they can be washed and line dried), to carry library books...I am happy to do custom orders.  Hopefully I will have a custom order up and listed in my etsy shop soon, but for now, if you are interested just email me to let me know!  

In the mean time...

Sarah, from the Winthrop Chronicles , featured my bags shortly after I posted them here!  And, after the feature, she asked me if I wanted to do a little giveaway with her...so, here we are... This week Sarah is having a giveaway for the market bag shown above.  It's open until Saturday.  Head on over to enter and while you are there check out her blog she has tons of great crafty ideas to share!

Small business Saturday...

It's open!!  My Etsy shop is open today, just in time for Small Business Saturday, hooray!  I still have a few more items to list, but stop by and check it out, you might find just what you are looking for!

Thankfuls...

(*pst...scroll all the way down to enter a comment for a chance to win a "Thankful" banner just in time for Thanksgiving!)

Today I am for...

The encouragement and support that I receive from my husband and family and friends Another great day at the Fenton Street Market

(here's to a great local market and here's to hoping it makes it back next season!!)

The colors found in nature The interesting shapes and beauty found in nature A family hike yesterday

Another mama and Henry run...once a week is a reasonable fitness regimen, right? (just kidding, of course...)

A neighborhood that has a giant hill to run up whether you are running out or in, ha ha, not really, but I keep thinking it is only making me stronger!

A visit (albeit quick) with friends

Knowing that we are set for the colder months ahead after having the chimney swept and the furnace checked, but also loving some fantastically warm autumn weather! Acorn caps still hiding under the leaves and neighbors that kindly allowed us to pick through their yard to find them :)  Now I can make more of these and theseAnd, the time change, because it seems that we are all sleeping so much better lately! Ahhhh!

I am also happy to announce that I am doing my first ever give away!!  With Thanksgiving right around the corner I know we are all thinking more and more about the things that we are Thankful for, so, leave a comment here about something you are Thankful for and you will get a chance to win the Thankful banner that I opened with!  Please remember to leave an email address so I can let you know if you win!  Also, Like my Buzzmills Facebook page and get a bonus entry, just leave me another comment here and let me know that you "liked" my page (if you are already a fan, you can leave a second comment here let me know as well and get a bonus entry!)  You have until Friday night to leave a comment.  I will pick a winner at random and announce the winner on Saturday.  I will get the banner out to the lucky winner in time for their Thanksgiving festivities!!!

***Comments Closed --  Winner announced (according to random.org) --  Laura**

Market day...

We all woke early yesterday, packed up two cars and drove to the market.  I was in a car by myself listening to the radio loudly, on the way the butterflies began.  The feeling was similar to the day I ran my first marathon...I was filled with anxiety but also the knowledge that I had prepared for this the best I could.  

It was a beautiful day! Phew! This was certainly a blessing especially after hearing the vendor next to me tell me that on the previous Saturday she had come and set up only to immediately pack everything away again because of torrential rain. I carefully and quietly put together my booth not really noticing the flurry of activity that was going on around me.  

When I was done I looked up to a whistle and pitter pattering feet running toward me.   Brad and the kids had returned from breakfast at the diner, it was then that I noticed the hustle and bustle that was just beginning. There was music, crepes and donuts, a man hammering spoons into jewelry, toddlers toddling, jewelry, baskets, vintage clothes, paintings and much much more.  How exciting to be in the middle of it all and how nerve racking.  

It is a very vulnerable feeling sitting back and watching people walk by your things or watching them come in to look...or watching them come and actually purchase!  My first sale was two little jack o' lantern treat bags followed closely by a market bag. 

The woman who bought the market bag was so nice and friendly.  She complimented the bag and all of my other things and asked me how I learned to do all of this?  My answer was more of a stumble as I was still working out nerves and counting change.  I answered saying that I grew up with my mom sewing some and I have just done it little by little.  After she left I realized I wasn’t really sure how to answer that question.  I got better answering it as the day went on but always found myself a bit unprepared because the answer is not really a short one, it has been a gradual process and I am still learning as I go…

The day was fun, the day was exhausting!  I enjoyed meeting and talking with the different people that came in to look or to buy.  I admire those that do this and other markets many times a year, even every weekend!!  It takes a lot of work just to get to the market, set up, sell, and break down on market day.  By the end of the day I was plum tuckered out from the previous two weeks of sewing fever, from the late nights and from the day itself.

 At the end of the day as I drove home in the car alone I was not filled with butterflies but with a feeling of pride.  At the end of the day instead of being antsy because of anxiety I was antsy because of the thoughts swirling in my head recounting the day.  At the end of the day the radio was not playing loudly because it wasn't playing anything good and as I tapped my fingers around the buttons my fingers touched something that rattled...hmmm? A tape?  Ahhh yes, that'll do...a 12 year old mixed tape from Brad a great end to the day! 

I would love to do it again, but today as ideas for a “next time” swirl around in my head, we are enjoying running around our favorite botanical garden, a new fabulous playground and hopefully some relaxation.  I am hoping to set up my etsy shop soon, but in the meantime…if you are at all interested in anything you see feel free to email me about them or about a possible custom order. Thanks to all who came out to the Fenton Street Market! 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!