Lititz Craft show

Saturday was the Lititz craft show - it was a bit nervewracking in the morning with the rain. It rained during set up and again one more time during the show. It got super hot & humid later in the day but we survived!! Here are some pictures of my booth.

Super cute litle needle felted dolls my sister made!
Some dolls, I was selling the vintage baby carriage too - no takers yet!

Americana section:

A view from outside my booth:

Christmas items after we took the sides down and set up on both sides of the shutter:

Halloween dolls:

This is "after" :) About 2pm, lots and lots of empty spots!

My black Halloween Ornie tree (LOVE the sideview of Wilbur's from inside my tent)


Hello cupcake dolls! The sign was something we made on the laser engraver - they are also for sale!
Cedara's Dollies:

More dollies:

More dollies:

Another outside view - red rocking chair is for sale too!

Dolls, dolls, dolls! We had to squish them into this one shutter because of the rain - usually I set them up on both sides and you can see better but I had the sides of the tent up and this was how it went. No one seemed to mind ;)

This is "after" - at about 2pm, after filling up the shutter about 4 times!

Fixins and Ornie tree:

Lots and lots of mice!

Christmas items:

Fall/Thanksgiving dolls:

I used alot of my own original designs and also some from other fantastic artists out there! I will be listing new items on my website starting on Sunday night. Details will be posted then, but if you have any questions just email me.

THANK you to my helpers and my customers for a great show on Saturday!! I am truly blessed.

Some updates and changes to my Etsy

If you've ever visited my Etsy shop, you may have noticed it was called the Cupcake Dolls on Etsy; well that's because I thought I'd really sell those dolls specifically on Etsy.  But, it just wasn't working out that way as I have so many other things like patterns, doll hair, and many other types of handmades.  After a couple of years of not having great sales, a good friend helped me think it through a bit and I changed my shop!  It's now called Cindyshomespun (Homespun from the Heart is taken :( but that's another story!) - you can find me here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CindysHomespun

I am learning just so much about Etsy now too! Thank goodness for my very good friend Ree who is helping me understand circles, tagging and so much more :) Since I am talking about her, please go visit her shop too! http://www.etsy.com/shop/raggedyree  She is selling some awesome vintage finds, most of her stuff is one-of--kind so if you see it and want it, GRAB it fast.  I love going with her to a flea market, she has a great eye for stuff.

Where have I been??

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted! I have photo's of great finds from a rummage sale, my thrifting in Hilton Head, new pattern (and several more coming!) but I just haven't had time to post here at all.  I've been really busy with orders - wholesale mostly! This is one area of my business I wanted to develop a bit more this year and I sure got what I wished for :)

I am also getting ready for Lititz again, I hired 2 helpers to get me through some of these orders and preparation for Lititz.  It's my biggest craft show of the year and I am really looking forward to showing off some brand new dolls and other primitives this year!!

I will be back shortly with a really fun new pattern announcement!  OH and this month, Homespun from the Heart celebrated our 8th year in business (online). So exciting!!

Craft show Sat. Northampton Community College

I'm home from vacation! And going right back to the 'swing' of things :) I'll be at my only Spring craft show on Sat. March10th 9am-3pm at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, PA. You can look for directions here: www.northampton.edu

Hope to see some of you there!!

I'll post pic's soon of my fun thrifty finds :)

Vacation Notice and Craft show reminder

Just a real quick post - I am leaving for vacation on Monday - oh I am so looking forward to it. My daughter & I are driving to Hilton Head, SC to see my parents for a little more than a week. I will be resting, sleeping well, exercising, and my favorite thing - THRIFTING! there are alot of thrift shops so I may post some of my finds over the week.

Anyway, if you are looking for me, that's where I am - away. Resting! I will probably check emails a few times, but i will not process any orders until I get home on March 8th. If you want an epattern, please go to patternmart to get instant downloads. All other epatterns will be sent when I get home.

I did add a few new dolls, most will be one of a kind's since Easter is sneaking up on us April 8th! If you want to order anything, please do - it will take it out of inventory & I'll mail it when I return from vacation.

Also on March 10th, I'll be at Northampton Community College's annual spring craft show - details are on my website under Craft Shows. I hope to see some of you there!

More faces added

Been super busy getting an order out for a store, but it's all finished so I've been listing alot of spring items on my website. Here are some things just listed this morning:

A little St. Patrick's Tree topper:
And Easter one too :)
Ready to display - a chocolate bunny set with prim grass:

Grungy bunnies - 3 of them on my site and one going on Etsy!

There's lots more too, peeps, chicks, egg sets, candy canes - who is getting ready for spring?? I am :)

Just a reminder I am leaving for vacation on Sunday - I'm going to try to leave all work here. We'll see how that goes!

New Pattern - Nativity and Advent Celebration

I am so excited to share my newest pattern with you! I have been wanting to do more spiritual patterns and this is the first of many more to come. A good friend was over one night and we were talking about Advent, she completely inspired me to get this one out of my head :) We both love it and I hope you do too!

You can create it with just Mary, Joseph & Baby Jesus or add the optional manger, straw and printout about doing good deeds throughout advent for a soft bed for baby Jesus. A great tradition to start with your children or to use by yourself as a gentle reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.

The pattern is on my website, here as a download (far left column) and over on Patternmart. Enjoy! and the finished set is on my website!

Oh and I will be adding more holiday items this week to my website. I've been working a bit since the last craft show and will have last minute gifts/dolls for sale shortly.

Craft show tomorrow - First Baptist Church

Just a quick post to let you know I will be at First Baptist church, 3235 Linden Street, Bethlehem, PA tomorrow from 9am-4pm. It's their annual Holiday Boutique; I have some new items not listed online yet :)

Heading over to set up in an hour, i'll be sure to share pictures.

Also please check the new items listed on my website - i've been adding all week!

Last week of epattern giveaway!

Well, since I am in the last week of getting ready for the show and working ALL hours of the day starting early in the morning ;) I want to keep this week's drawing simple too. All you have to do to enter is be a follower of this blog - then, if you are interested in winning, just post a simple comment. Hi, I'd love to win a pattern; that's enough for me. If you have your own blog and would like to add a link to it in your comment for me and others to see, you can do that too. (but don't have to for entry, just a little promotion for you!)

This week's winner will be picked on Thursday night, so have your replies in by 5pm EST on Thursday. We will be crazy busy on Friday packing up.

I want to show pictures of some things I have for the show, maybe later in the week when Gramma gets here. Happy Sunday!

Week 2 entry

Just in case you missed the entry info, it was part of the last post with the winner in it:

OK so week #2 - entry is simple again. What is your favorite Homespun From the Heart pattern? it can be one you have and made or just one that you like. I'll pick another epattern winner next Friday - everyone is eligible to enter (except the winners of this contest)!

I only saw a handful of comments, so I thought I'd repost. Drawing will be Friday morning :)

First week's winner!

................. is Jessica! Just emailed you :)

Thanks for playing and I loved reading your comments - sounds like we are all balancing work and play this summer. Sometimes that's so hard to do, but I know for my own soul I need a little of each :)

OK so week #2 - entry is simple again. What is your favorite Homespun From the Heart pattern? it can be one you have and made or just one that you like. I'll pick another epattern winner next Friday - everyone is eligible to enter (except the winners of this contest)!

New Pattern release - Raggedy Ann & Ellie

First design of 2011 is ready! Raggedy Ann and Ellie - just added to my website and patternmart. I hope you like her - so many possibilities with colors and finishes too. Right now, Joann's is carrying some Debbie Mumm elephant fabric that I used for dresses that works real well with this set. So have fun creating this one!

Adding free tutorials

I get alot of questions on how to do things that are in most of my patterns; I thought I'd add some tutorials I have to my blog for you. They will be listed on the left side of my blog and each one is detailed with pictures. Some are mine and some are done by a friend or two :)

Sometimes seeing something visually helps everything 'click' into place for me, so I hope it will help you on your doll-making journey too!

Themed tree fun!

I have been meaning to post these pictures since November, but thankfully I was too busy working :) I am always thankful for that!!

In case you didn't know, I sell my work at In Grandma's Attic in Lancaster, PA. Patti, the shop owner, is very talented in setting up beautiful displays. The shop has multiple buildings and she makes the best use out of every nook and cranny. This past season, she set up themed trees - lots of my ornies and tree toppers were used! Along with other crafters handmade items, these are my favorite prim trees around.

Gingerbread tree:
Snowmen tree: (I love the sitting snowman on the chair!)

And, of course my favorite - the Annie tree! Look at all those smiley faces :)

Patti is keeping some of these up all year round so if you are in the area, be sure to stop in and visit!

I sell alot of the ornies, dolls and tree toppers on my website: www.HomespunFromTheHeart.com and if you don't see it listed email me!

January Pattern Sale

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, safe travels if you visited and are getting back into the swing of routines again. I know we are! The holidays always seem to fly by even tho I try to sit back and relax, do things I want to do. So here it is January and I'm working on my business goals for 2011.

I am having an Epattern sale for January while I work on paperwork and setting my goals. All ePatterns are buy one, get one FREE. To order, add ONE to the shopping cart and proceed to checkout; in the comments section write the one you want for free (or email me afterwards). It's that easy! No limit - buy 2 get 2 free; buy 10 get 10 free.

This is for ePatterns only (sorry, there is a set cost for printing and mailing); if you order from Pattern Mart instant downloads, please email me your freebees. Thanks and HAPPY new year!

www.homespunfromtheheart.com - click on "Patterns"

Laundry Day at Homespun from the Heart

It was 90* outside today in Northeast PA! We had the most beautiful fall weather for weeks so I am just glad we got a heat wave instead of a snow storm ;) I am prepping for my next show (Letchworth State Park, Mt. Morris, NY) in 2 weeks so I thought I'd take advantage of the hot weather to do some "laundry".

Not mine tho!


Teeeny weeny dolly clothes that is!!! And dunked in tea stain (no clorox here). The funny part is take a closer look at the prints I was staining:

Yup, all Christmas :) And it was SO HOT out, I kept dreaming of snow to try and cool me down. But it didn't work. The clothes dried qickly tho!

So that's what I've been up to for the last few weeks, getting ready for the next show :)

Lots of new items listed

Just a quick sneak peek at what's been listed over at Homespun from the Heart! I'm still working as fast as I can to add the rest.

Full descriptions, pricing, listing info can be found at http://www.homespunfromtheheart.com/

I've also been listing a few one of a kind items on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CupcakeDolls

Back from Lititz!

And exhausted ~ WHEW!

I wanted to show some pictures of course :) here is the van packed and ready to leave Friday afternoon. It was SO JAMMED haha, we didn't even fit our chairs in there!

What a GREAT show we had - the weather was perfect and we had so many repeat and new customers; I think the best part for me is hearing the wonderful comments on how many people loved my dolls. How they were given as a gift, how one sits on a bench and 'smiles' to greet everyone, how much joy they bring to my customers. I think I smiled for 3 days straight just from the talk!! I really am blessed to have such wonderful customers!

Here's a couple of shots of the booth - which I didn't get to take until after 2pm! we were swamped from 6am all the way to 2pm.

I do have some left over inventory and will be adding some every day until it's all listed! I have a sweet little helper :)

Please check back often, http://www.homespunfromtheheart.com/ AND some other items in my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CupcakeDolls I'm listing things in both places. Thank you!

Fall E-pattern special!

Are you getting ready for your fall craft shows and/or just building inventory for your website? Well I sure am :) My biggest craft show (Lititz, PA Aug 14) is fast approaching and all I can think is YIKES I cannot sew/stuff/work fast enough!

I thought it would be a good time to offer a discount special on fall and Halloween Epatterns. My special is buy any 3 for $10 (savings of $6.50) and any 4 for $12 (savings of $10). I've set up a special product for you where you can view the patterns included in the special:

http://www.homespunfromtheheart.com/store/WsDefault.asp?One=2062


NEW pattern release, "Witch in Training" - such a fun set to create!

I also wanted to let you know I have a really fun new Halloween pattern coming out soon - I hope to have it done next week! I have been looking for 'new' this year and decided to work on something that's been in the ole sketch book for a while now.

HAPPY creating!

Halloween Pattern release - Witch in Training

Finally - it's here! I've got my new pattern, Witch in Training, up and ready at www.homespunfromtheheart.com and also at www.patternmart.com - for those who would like instant download. My friend Ree has designed me a sweet tag and spell book included when you buy the epattern. If you prefer a paper-pattern, you'll get one of each printed with your pattern.

I've been working on this for a while in between life :) You know how summer seems to whiz right by? Well it's happening again this year and I'm trying to slow down a bit.

We are getting ready for my 'baby's' second birthday party! ALREADY! And then our annual family picnic/party on the 3rd, can't wait to see everyone! We've got alot to do to get ready at home so I will be around on and off-line quite a bit.