Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Artfest 2010 Trades


I am heading to Artfest next week and I am getting very excited. Imagining 550 plus creative people in the same area for 5 days sounds pretty exciting. I am collecting supplies and making many lists. One item I have delayed on a little while is the trade I am going to bring.

Trade as in trades as in 100 plus handmade goodies you bring to trade with other Artfesters. Now, it is not a requirement by any means, but it is highly recommended on the message boards as a way to meet people and get your name and website out there.

I did some Googling to see what other people had done in the past and a lot of it seemed like little charms, or magnets, or pins. I don't really have a small, signature item that I make that would be appropriate and besides, I think if I tried to make some small pin they would end up mediocre anyways and nobody would remember me.

So, I was wracking my brains, trying to think of something to bring and I thought, "ah ha!" what about something to put all your little trades into? I am good at making little drawstring baggies with linings. Even though I have oodles and oodles of fabric (it's a serious problem of mine, collecting fabric), I had to go to the fabric store to find stuff more appropriate to the fairy tales theme.

I started to experiment with different sized baggies.

I also decided I wanted to try and do some iron-on transfers. (That's one of my 36 Things To Do Before 37, so I might as well kill two birds with one stone, yes?)

Only problem, is I am not sure I like the dark gray fabric I picked out (and I have a lot of it) I actually like the backing, the light gray side better.
What do you think? I have so many ideas swimming in my head, it is hard to chose! I have started cutting out fabric and ribbon and printed all the iron-on sheets I need, but I can't decide on the gray.

I am hoping to make 100 of these in the next 5 days, we'll see what happens! But I think they will be memorable trades and quite different from everything I am seeing so far.

10 comments:

  1. These are awesome!!!! I like both of the grey fabrics. I am impressed that you can make 100 in 5 days. Can't wait to meet you at Artfest!!

    Nelly Eisenhower

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  2. Love these!! I hope I get to trade with you!! I'm a newbie this year, too, and I'm struggling with my trades. Just posted about it yesterday. UGGHH!!!!

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  3. My preference is the dark gray, but honestly both shades look great. Why don't you do half dark, half light? Hope you have fun next week -- can't wait to hear all about it!

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  4. Hi Jennevieve! These are SO cute - I agree with the above - both fabrics look quite wonderful! What a great idea!
    This will be my first time at AF as well - I live in Bremerton! Don't have my pictures up on my blog yet for the trades, but will have some brass stampings, one-inch buttons I've made, sewing trims, game pieces... sure hope I get to trade with you!

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  5. Love your trades! Great idea for a place to keep all our other trades!
    Hope to see your there!
    mary

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  6. Ohhh, I want one so Badly! How cute. You are spoiling us and I love it! I'm going to be looking for you, for sure.

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  7. You are definitely on the right track. Trades can be anything and these are fantastic. I love them.

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  8. They look great, Jennevieve! I like both of the gray fabrics, although the design does seem to pop more on the lighter gray. Let me know if you need any slave labor to get these all done in time. I can sew, iron, and thread pulls :)

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  9. Sooo cool
    Can't wait to trade with you at Artfest
    I have 52 done!
    48 to go :(
    See you Wednesday!

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  10. I'm a newbie too. I think your trades are awesome!! Great job!

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