Post-BBB

The Bazaar Bizarre Boston has finally come and gone which means - I can sleep again! I can sit for five minutes without thinking to myself "there really is something I should be doing instead of sitting here for five minutes"! I can remember to eat meals and drink water! It's a beautiful thing.

But seriously, I'm both sad and relieved that it's over. I always spend the week after the BBB with that "I feel like I've forgotten something important..." sensation. Also, every year I feel like I can't participate in the Christmas season until after the fair is over because there's just no time. The tree gets decorated in haste one weeknight and all my gifts are purchased in the week before the 25th.

It sounds like i'm complaining, but I'm really not. I love the craziness of the BBB and to be honest, I like the challenge of finding a balance. I'd be so bored otherwise!

The actual fair went really well. I did a general wrap-up over here on the BBB blog, but on a personal level, I had a pretty good day. I did better this year than last on several levels and I definitely had some really amazing customers. I love the people who see something of mine and their eyes light up and you can tell that they instantly connect with your work and that they "get" what you're trying to do. I think I've talked about this before, but you know what I mean? It's such a great feeling and what keeps me coming back for more.

source

I'm already looking forward to next year! :)

Bazaar Bizarre Boston Prep

I'm finally feeling much better, but now things are quiet around here again because I'm SO SO SO SO busy getting ready for the Bazaar Bizarre Boston!

I'm one of 8 organizers of this annual fair (our group, the Small Craft Advisory also runs another fair in the summer, as well as some other smaller events here and there) and we've been working super hard in order to make sure everything goes smooth as silk on Sunday.

In addition to organizing the fair, I'm also a vendor! I'll be there with my Margravine stuff again this year. In addition to my faux fur items, I'll also have a few new things including my chiffon scarves in a bunch of colors, some zippered pouches/clutches, and the glitter headbands I've collaborated on with Alison of sewmaryann (the SCA's fearless leader!)

I have a sort of giant pile of pieces that need to be sewn together between now and Sunday and it is DAUNTING. I posted this blurry photo of the pile on Instagram last night. It's for the best that it's blurry, because seriously - the pile is scary.

Can I do it? Maybe! I'll try to finish what I can and won't stress about the rest.

Honestly, the BBB is one of the days I look forward to the most each year and I really think it's going to be amazing this year. I'm SO PUMPED about this year's event that I'm actually worried about suffering post-BBB letdown!

christmas woes

christmas is always a stressful time for me, but maybe not for the most obvious reasons.

on any given year, i usually can't even begin to think about anything christmas related until after the bazaar bizarre is over (usually the 1st or 2nd week of december). by then, it's getting dangerously close to the get-it-in-time-for-christmas shipping deadline (which i usually miss and have to pony up for expedited shipping/buy in-store/rely on amazon).

in addition, i also usually have the task of purchasing my own gifts (with other people's money!) because apparently i am "picky and difficult to shop for" (pssssh. whatever.)

this all sounds like a dream, but to be honest, it's sort of a nightmare. i keep a wishlist (here, if you are curious ;) http://pinterest.com/honeywednesday/wishlist/) but for some reason, when actually faced with the choice of choosing an item or two from the list, nothing seems adequate and worth the gift giver's hard-earned money.

FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS, i know.

anyway. here are some photos from my shopping excursion last night.

a sea of ysl slingbacks

a mini version of "gaga's workshop"

lovely smelling things from diptyque

anyone who knows me knows that i am the worst hot-beverage drinker ever and could really, really use one of these