Today is the day I have been preparing for, for the last 6 weeks! I am excited and nervous! This will be our first Pop-Up Shop with the new trailer. Come check it out from 10 to 2 today. We will be parked at the Ironman in Chisholm, on 169 across from MN Discovery Center. My friend Sue Thomas is joining me with her gnomes, Northern Gnomology.
It is so nice to walk out there and see all of it hanging! A lot easier to do inventory.
Come see us in Chisholm on Saturday, January 30, 10-2
The will be a free gift with your purchase to the first 10 customers
Our first sale is January 30 in Chisholm, MN at the Ironman statue parking lot, right off 169 across from MN Discovery Center. Hours are 10-2.
I have warm mittens sized from 1yr through adult large, hats, scarves and neck warmers. Sublimated cups, and gifts. Embroidered chapstick holders, key fobs, ornaments and more.
Free gift with your purchase to the first 10 customers!
Sue from Northern Gnomology will be joining me with her one of a kind handcrafted gnomes.
Come check out our traveling store
We need signs! Right now we have a white box, not very inviting! Would you walk up to an unmarked white trailer and poke your head in? Me either! This a what I sent our sign maker. I am hoping to have signs before our first popup on February 6. If he doesn’t have them ready, I will have to get creative!
I just found out there is a craft show inside Plaza 53 on February 6, same day as our first popup. You will be able to check out other vendors, which is always fun!
Almost two years ago, I purchased some used heat presses from a friend. It has been a learning process. I had no clue what I was doing, or what I needed to purchase to be able to create items.
Well, the first thing I figured out was, I needed to buy a printer that would print sublimation ink. You don’t just run down to Walmart for one, so after quite a few phone calls and a lot of questions, I ordered a printer. I didn’t realize printers could cost that much! And the ink is not cheap either! Thankfully I have only had to purchase once since the initial purchase.
I love making the mugs. I can use my design or customers can send me a good quality jpeg and have a personalized mug made. The used mug press that I bought, wore out, so I had to replace it. Last summer I purchased a new press that can press, shot glasses, 3 Oz mugs, 11&15 Oz mugs, 11&17 Oz latte mugs.
I have a hat press also. But being that sublimation has to be printed on 100% polyester, I have only printed one hat. I need to look for hats in different styles, I didn’t like the style I tried. Kind of looked like an Elmer Fud hat.
My flat press is a George Knight 16”x20”. I can press any garment that is 100% polyester, fabric, ceramic, poly ornaments or key fobs and so much more!
2020, a year I don’t want to repeat!But it has given me time to reflect on what is important to me. My Mom is 96, soon to be 97 and lives in an assisted living. I was used to dropping in for a visit every time I went to the post office or the bank. That came to a halt in March when all the restrictions for COVID-19 were put in place. For the spring and summer months we had window visits, then in the fall her children were deemed essential and we were given permission to visit in her apartment, but we had to make an appointment, have our temp taken and answer COVID questions. If we passed the test, we could go in and visit with a mask on. But only one visitor at a time. That was stopped the beginning of December when she had a doctors appointment and tested positive for COVID-19. She has been in quarantine since. Funny thing is, I ask her how she feels, and she says, I don’t feel sick. Meanwhile Christmas has come and gone. So no, I do not want to repeat 2020!
I normally do craft/vendor shows every week starting in October and go up to Christmas. Sometimes two shows in one week. Well, with COVID-19 most of those were canceled. Customers were messaging asking how they could get mittens. I started meeting in town with all the totes in the back of my Expedition, they would look until they found something they liked. No walking up to my grids and picking off the pairs they wanted. After two days in a row, standing behind the Expedition freezing my fingers, we decided it was time...
For years I have have dreamed of setting up a store in a trailer. So we purchased a twelve foot enclosed trailer. It is a work in progress, but this will be my new “store”. I am very excited! We have heat and lights, and hopefully signs next week.
So now back to what is important to me... sitting at my Mom’s table for visit, seeing knickknacks that are a part of who she is. It is my hope that I will be able to do that on her 97th birthday, February 12. Drinking coffee with my adult kids and sharing their day, kissing and snuggling our 7 grandchildren. Meeting a friend for lunch. Going for drives with John and stopping someplace for coffee or lunch, without having to put a mask on! ... and my sewing! That has been the one constant that has kept me sane during this crazy year!
At the end of 2020, I still have much to be thankful for. My husband is my biggest fan! He has put in countless hours making my dream come true! I tend to only look at the end result, and forget the boring steps it takes to get there. He keeps me on track and builds and fixes all those boring parts!
