These terrier thank you cards were a custom order.  Based on a photo provided by the client, I drew this happy little terrier.  Her collar reads “I’m so excited.” (I’m impressed with the Gocco machine being able to print such fine and tiny text.)

The cards were packaged in a matching drawstring pouch with the terrier design.  I’m so happy that I bought these little bags.  They’re the perfect size.

I taped a segment from my home studio on cardmaking for the local CBC show called “Living in Ottawa“.  It’s going to air in a few weeks (I’ll post the exact date as soon as I know).

It was the first time being in front of the camera, so over the weekend I spent a lot of time watching clips of Martha Stewart online to see how she does it.  Now, I have a whole new respect for Martha.  Being able to craft, smile and chat casually at the same time is pretty amazing.

Orville tried his best to steal the spotlight and sprawled out underneath the demonstration table.   I’ll have to wait to see if he makes the final cut.  Orville seems a bit sad since the CBC crew left - I’ve caught him snoozing under the craft table alone in the studio.  It seems like he’s expecting them to return to film more of Orville being cute.

The craft show on Saturday was great for sales, but also for trendspotting.  One man in particular caught my eye - and not just because he was a man at a craft show.  He was carrying a toddler in his arms and slung over his shoulder was a very nice Crumpler bag.  (Possibly this “Part and Parcel” laptop bag)

If you’ve never seen a Crumpler bag in person, run to your local camera store  and check them out.  Each bag has tons of pockets and removable inserts so you can protect and separate your gear just how you like it.  (I purchased the 6-million dollar home as our catch-all camera bag.)

It struck me that this laptop bag was the perfect manbag.  Designed for technology and gadgets, but in this case, cleverly hiding diapers and all things baby.  Very smart Dad 2.0.

On Saturday, I had my booth at the Ladyfest Craft Sale for the first time under my new name, Paper Skirt.  Sales were fairly brisk in the morning - surprisingly the Orville themed recipe cards were the biggest hit.  Go tabbies!

The Gocco cards also seemed pretty popular, so I’ll be focusing my efforts for more Gocco’d items and home-y type gifts for the next show.

Thanks to all for stopping by the booth and saying hello!

Don’t forget - this Saturday is the Not your grandma’s craft sale put on by Ladyfest Ottawa. It’s at the Jack Purcell Community Centre (tucked behind Starbucks on Elgin Street - 320 Jack Purcell Lane!) and runs from 10am - 5pm.

I’ll be there under my shop name with photo cards, accordion books and lots of Gocco greeting and recipe cards. If you don’t see something you like, ask me about custom orders. Please stop by and say hello!

My order of Pulp binders arrived yesterday and I couldn’t be happier with them.  I ordered two, one in black and one in lilac, and had them  printed with “Paper Skirt” in silver on the cover.  I plan on using them as my portfolios.

I had been searching for nice cloth 3-ring binders for a long time.  I love the ease of being able to take pages out or rearrange as necessary.  My old album was a screw and post system - it worked and it looked great, but removing and adding pages became a hassle.

I give these binders and A+ (but a D- for UPS brokerage fees - yikes).

A few weeks ago, I ordered a photo poster from QOOP using photos from my Flickr stream.  Before ordering, I measured the Ikea frame I had on hand.  Except - I measured the outside of the frame.  Of course, when the poster arrived (and it looks great!) it was just slightly too large to fit inside the frame.

It’s another trip to the art store for me I’m afraid.  Lesson learned.  Always measure the inside of your frames!

Accordion books.  I really love them.  I’ve given them as gifts to friends and family for a few years now, but I think these will be my last.  I have about five left that I’ll be selling at the Ladyfest Craft Sale.  The reason for phasing them out?  Time.  These books look so simple, but it’s quite time consuming to cut the paper, glue, fold and press.

Get them while they last!

I wanted to do a test run of my craft show set up before the Ladyfest craft sale.  This way, during the morning set up, I’m not stressed out because I know exactly where everything is supposed to go.

I’ve grouped the mini accordion books on the top shelf, then a display of Gocco cards, and the remaining photo cards are lying flat on the table.

Beside my skirted mannequin, I’ve squeezed in the full size accordion books.  Wow, I didn’t realize until today how low I was on these books.  Time to get busy.

Finally, my bulletin board / business sign should hang nicely off the front of the table.

Everything does look a bit crowded on my table - it’s much smaller than the show table.  I think everything just needs a bit more breathing room - right now, it looks like a paper fortress.

I’ll press the table cloth and finish covering my cardboard box risers with some nice paper and I think I should be set.  Check.

See this?  It’s one sad and boring bulletin board.  Not good.  I needed a way to use the vialetter letters that I had ordered as a sign in my studio and for use at craft shows.

I pulled out some nice light pink linen from my stash and cut a piece slightly larger than the bulletin board.  Using my trusty glue gun, I glued the fabric to the cardboard on the back.

Next step: glue thumbtacks to the back of the letters.

And the final result?  An easy studio/show sign in under 30 minutes.  Crafty.