Holiday Hodgepodge a Booming Success

We just finished up our 3rd Annual Holiday Hodgepodge. I was "shocked and amazed" at the turnout. So many of my friends came who hadn't come before, so many new friends came, so many strangers who were friends of friends came (and have become my friends--my friends have great friends!). I met lots of new people. I missed some old friends who couldn't come. We got LOTS of orders from the show.
I'm mad that I didn't take pictures because we had 12 "vendors" here who showed their wonderfully creative wares. We had beautiful pottery, incredible jewelry, neat purses, intricate crochet, really cute pillowcases, funky hair bows and bookmarks, bright florals, unusual Nativities, cute aprons, and darling tutus! We had vendors here who were friends of friends so I hadn't even met them all as they showed up to set up their displays.
Everyone sold something! I loved the folks who actually brought a shopping list with them and did their Christmas shopping here. I felt it was an incredible success, and we already have everyone anxious for next year. This experience has made me grateful for my family who is so supportive and for my friends who actually blasted out emails to their friends and who brought friends and neighbors with them. Probably the best compliment to us all was made by one young mom who said, "I look forward to this every year. It gets me in the mood, and I can get my shopping done early. There are always such neat things here." Well done, Holiday Hodgepodgers!!

Little Bucket Buddies walk out of the Hodgepodge

The first purchases made at the Holiday Hodgepodge this year were our Little Bucky Buddies. My 2 favorite ones walked out with the first 2 customers!! I almost wanted to take them away, but I knew they were going to good homes. One was headed to a condo in the Keys! How can I complain about that?! We've done several custom orders since the Hodgepodge. That is the fun part --making something just for that certain person-- Adapting it to their colors or likes or age or need.

I "invented" the Little Bucket Buddy when my grandson was trying to carry around his dad's 5 gallon tool bucket with the tool apron. The entire thing probably weighed 3 times as much as this little tot. I designed my own tiny version of the tool apron put it on a 2 gallon bucket. Then I woke up in the wee hours of the morning one morning and knew what I was supposed to call this "invention" and how to market it. Eureka, "Little Bucket Buddy" was born--a beach bucket, a "diaper" bucket, a carry in the car bucket, a gardening bucket, a toy bucket, an all purpose bucket. We've made them from denim and from designer drapery fabrics! They have been shipped out of state for gifts. Each one is my new favorite (until I make the next one). I'm glad I don't have to choose!!!!

Are we doing this for every holiday?

We had such fun with the summer pillowcase dresses, but now the weather is turning cold. What is a little girl to do? How about pillowcase dresses or shirts with leggins or tights? Granddaughters are such good models! And they are such good advertisements plus the fact that they are appreciative and VERY CUTE!! Generally, they are happy to perform, but you can see that apparently, one little one is not happy about it at all. Perhaps the pay was not up to her expectations!! The Halloween PC Tops are cute, and we're on to Christmas!!

My Favorite Design

I did a HUGE job for our local Chik-fil-A's 50's Week. Lots of Poodle skirts, but they had cows instead of poodles. Complete with a pocket that said, "Eat more chicken." They asked if I could make poodle skirt aprons. I made, remade and cut and recut until I had the "perfect Poodle Skirt Apron." After I finished all the CFA stuff, I decided to take the apron to a new level. I put a poodle on an PSA (poodle skirt apron), and it looked very cute. However, my mess when I cook is always on the front, I need a bib front apron. So I went "retro" and made a funky bib for my PSA then added "retro Christmas" embroidery designs. It's become my favorite thing I've designed. I begged Bekah to model it for pictures. She agreed if I wouldn't get her face. Don't tell her I accidentally (he he) got her face in one of the pictures!

Since I wrote last, I've had to come up with yet another design for CFA who wanted all three of their Santa's helpers to have different aprons. I like the snowmen because it lengthens out how long you can use the apron. Some folks seem to think a Christmas apron is not very practical! But as one friend pointed out "Christmas comes every year!" So I now have Christmas ornaments in bright colors, a Christmas tree, and the snowmen.

Is this Child Labor?

I've made string backpacks for all the grandson's this year with their names on them. Now that Bryson is being potty trained, mommy has him carry his own extra clothes. He looks very proud of the fact that he carries his own "stuff"!! But my question is: Is this child labor?!!

NOTICEABLY NANCY GIFTS AROUND THE WORLD

Recently one of our coaches was tripping around the world setting up some Special Olympic Gymnastic and Equestrian venues and doing some competitions. She called me to bring over some of my smaller items--she was in a hurry and didn't have time to go out and shop. So off I went to the gym for "shopping made easy." She bought numerous items to take overseas as gifts. Imagine my thrill when I got a note from her saying: "Hi! I gave everybody the horsey bookcovers and the horsey camera cases today & they loved them! I told HRH Princess Lalla Amina that the gift was specially for her...She was thrilled that it had horses on it. So-many thanks." So now there are Noticeably Nancy gifts in Slovakia, Austria and with a princess in Morocco!! How cool is that?!!!!

Royal Baby Bedding

I call this the Royal Baby Bedding --because, well, it just looks "royal" to me. It was more involved than a lot of the other bedding jobs I have done, but the new mommy was very creative with her fabric choices. I think she did a great job, and I think we made a good team. I'm always happy when my clients are happy. A quote from her thank you note read: "Thanks for your hard work on the baby bedding. I LOVE it! You did such a good job. The time, attention, and care you put into it is clear." As I said, I'm always happy if mommy is happy.

Casing The Baby

Am having fun with the pillowcase dresses. We discovered that the little American Girl pillowcase dress fits our new baby Anela perfectly!! Who knew we were actually making dresses for newborns?!

Isn't she cute? Although she looks bored with the entire dress-up process.

more pillowcase choices

Matching dresses for Mommy and Me?

pillowcase dresses

These cute little dresses tie on the shoulders with brightly colored grosgrain ribbons. We make them in 3 little girl sizes a Mini Miss fits sizes 2-5 and our Little Miss fits sizes 6-9 and our Miss fits sizes 10-11. Most of the little girl dresses come with a matching doll dress that fits an American Girl size doll or a Build a Bear sized stuffed animal.

BUT these dresses are not just for little girls... We think they make great beach cover-ups and summer shifts for those adults who are young at heart!

costs are: mini miss, little miss, and miss $30, $35 with embroidered design on front this price includes matching doll dress. Adult dress is $35 with additional $5 for embroidery. Matching purses for girl and doll add $10. Click on the picture for an upclose view of the detailed embroidery.