The Blythe Marriner's Musings: Highs and Lows

From a real high... to a super low. That seems about my pace! I was so excited for my accomplishment - running an entire 5k... Then I hurt my heel - or my shin which connects to my heel so I haven't been able to continue running and I feel like a blob.

Our new little company - mArrineRs monTage - is now in a store (have I mentioned that yet?). It is SUPER exciting - we are in a physical location in Sarasota, FL! It's called MUSE GALLERIA and it is the neatest of stores. We are about 50 artists in this store and she recently decided we should do some craft shows/festivals in the area...and wanted me to make more of my crochet hats. Hats that take awhile to finish. Hats that are adorable and a good popular sale - but don't go as quickly as I would like.

Then the thought of increased stock started to reaallly force itself on me. Then the thought of more earrings, more aprons, more, more, more, more, !!!!!mooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrre!!!!!! really started to stress me out. We were doing three large shows/activities in one week, then a BIG craft sale - Hunsaders Pumpkin festival, and then the biggest one yet in December...

the ATOMIC BAZAAR

(do you hear the crowd cheering?).

Well that getting accepted in to that bazaar (and yes there's a waiting list) really has been my ultimate goal for mArrineRs monTage -yes it was to get in to Atomic. And if I could do it through MUSE - well then that's what I had to do... the only problem was I had signed up for almost all the others she was planning.

Something had to give. I hated to do it...but after talking with Chris and seeing what this past week did to me with the TWO craft shows... I cut Hunsaders - pumpkin festival. It killed me to do it... but I am glad I did. Sanity may win out yet.

Sooo the two shows this past week - went ok!!
Wednesday mArrineRs monTage was at a private craft show at MUSE Galleria's table - where ritzy rich ladies were looking to buy. I did ok! I sold a few things...(I think I was the biggest seller of items. We didn't do all that great as a table...but at least I sold things and came away happy).
~ What was my high here? My high was that MY HATS brought most everyone to the table! They were an eye catcher!! HOW COOL IS THAT?! The MUSE owner was so right... GOTTA MAKE MORE HATS... I even got a paid in full - pre-order!!! YES!!!
~ The low? I stood ALL day long and it was THE. LONGEST. DAY. EVERRRRRRrrrrrr. So much so that the heel that was starting to feel better... got worse.
Some shots from Wednesday's La Petit Marche':


my hats on the right and my earrings in the frame on the left

When people first walked in... one of their views

our entire table


my aprons on the left and background

Then Saturday we had an arts & crafts sale again at the MUSE Galleria's table. It was held at a local botanical garden. I worked longer than I had signed up for (5.5 hours instead of 4) - and we sold a few more things. I am not sure the total yet... but I think we did ok! And I think the majority of my hats SOLD!!!
~ The high?! Seeing people interested in my stuff. Oh and getting to know a few of the artists better

~ The low... again? A super long day that never ended it seemed, standing for so long, and not selling any aprons or skirts. But as I am known to say (or 'as they say'): t'ant pis... c'est la vie... je m'en fou... it is was it is. I just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other!

Sunday was filled with doing crafts for the girls, getting down decorations for the girls, helping the girls, breaking up fights between the girls, watching a movie with the girls (while I tried to start a project for myself), fixing food for the girls... you see my point. It was just the girls and me. But we had a really nice day. A nice day - just super busy and consumed in my girlies. I hope they remember I was there for them - even though my mind WARRED with itself on getting things done/working on hats/working on sewing/cleaning this mess of a house/ etc etc etc etc etc - but my heart won out and I spent a lot of time with my kiddos (until football at 4pm - when the Patriots played! ;) hehehe).
Here are two aprons I put up in our Etsy store today from what I started on Sunday!!(www.marrinersmontage.etsy.com):

So highs... and lows...that's what it is. I wish the highs would outweigh the lows for once - or at least stop the lows from overtaking the good feelings. I hate that. It seems a bit harder for me to keep them away or not concentrate on them.

Eh... maybe if I ignore them they'll go away... going to go squeeze my girls!

I leave you with Boo - overcoming her fear of skating this weekend!