Lighthouse Craft Show

Imagine being able to do a craft show at the foot of this wonderful lighthouse at Presque Isle, Michigan.

As you stand and look up at it, it seems so tall.

You look the other way and you see you are standing on the shores of Lake Huron.

Who could ask for a more beautiful park to do a craft show in.

The other vendors have such wonderful crafts in their booths that you can't resist shopping.

As you can see from the sky, it rained and rained and rained and we went home early.

In spite of the rain we were amazed at how many customers came with their umbrella shopping and looking.

All of us local crafters would have been glad to have you stop by and climb the lighthouse and check out our booths.

In case you did not make the show you can stop by

http://www.etsy.com/shop/straycatfarm

and

http://www.etsy.com/shop/cherylnchains

We are looking forward to our next show and really hoping for a little sunshine next time.

How are the shows doing for you this year?

Farm life

I think I am really lucky to be able to live in the country. Don't have a big cattle ranch or dairy farm, just a small piece of land to grow a garden and enjoy the outdoors.
Not everyone will agree with me and some of you enjoy the city life with the restaurants and activities.
Isn't it great that we have all the different options so we can choose the one we like best.
The picture is one of my strawberry plants in blossom. Can't wait for the berries to ripen and eat. Many never get to the house as we snack right in the garden on the fresh berries.
We can pick the apples off the trees and eat the fresh tomatoes right off the plants.
It is peaceful to just take a break and walk around for a few minutes or picnic in the yard.
There is so much in the country to inspire crafters but now we need to get inside and actually make some new things.
Anyone else enjoy the country life too or are you a city person?
The most important thing is we are happy where we are.

Blackberrybarn and Christmas

I love Christmas and wish it lasted all year long. Actually I sometimes forget to take down all the trimmings and leave some up all year.

We had opened blackberrybarn to sell of all of those craft supplies you get and never use and take up room in the craft room. Thanks to all of you who purchased the items that sold, but now are store is looking kind of empty and needed to come up with something to fill it.

We already have our http://www.etsy.com/shop/straycatfarm

store where we sell our crocheted top towels and tried and tried to think up something new.

Then we realized if we want to do Christmas all year why not open a Christmas Etsy store to do it. That lets us make Christmas items all year and sell them so we did

http://www.etsy.com/shop/blackberrybarn

I know that there are lots of you that love Christmas also.

We only have a few items in there right now but stop by and watch us grow.

Joining products with other shops

Sometimes products from two Etsy shops just

seem to go together.

Check out this great basket from

http://www.etsy.com/shop/cherylnchains.

We can add one of my towels from

http://www.etsy.com/shop/straycatfarm

to one of Cheryl's baskets and offer you a matching combo deal

She can paint the basket with a matching pattern to the towel you chose.

These would brighten any kitchen, add a little country look to the cabin and they would make a great gift.

Stop by and see the choices we offer.

Memo Boards

We had a lot of fun making these memo boards and the best part was chosing the fabric, ribbon and buttons.

There are so many occasions we wanted to make them for like birthdays, holidays and weddings.

Because it is spring and time to spring clean the shop, we are putting our memo boards on sale this week.

Stop by our Artfire and Etsy store for the sale price. At the moment we have more choices on Artfire then on Etsy.

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&sc_id=106500&seller_id=78243&op=new

or

http://www.etsy.com/shop/straycatfarm?section_id=7261065

Stop by and give us some suggestions on what style boards you think we need to make next.

Have a great day

Michigan Trolls

We have a great Etsy team, here in Michigan and it is called the Michigan Trolls. It is called the troll because we live under the bridge. What bridge you ask.
Michigan has a great bridge that spans the upper and lower pennisula. Those of us trolls live in the lower pennisula of Michigan.
They are a team of very talented artists and they create many wonderful products.
You can see some of the talent in their treasuries that they make
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4db07986b0038eef3c99a388/tree-huggers-delight
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4dadab68b4a58eefd06f19e1/something-new-for-spring
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4da09af6617e8eefd24068f9/easter-basket.
As you can see we have a lot of craftyness going on in our state.
Stop by and check out some of our teams stores and say hi.

A New Basket

Don't you just love this cute little garden basket? I do too.

It is handmade by the very talented Cherlnchains and we have talked about her baskets before but now I have one of my own.

Would it not be perfect for so many things like gardening. I think I shall put the seeds I have already bought in there for safe keeping for now.

She makes so many useful and decorative baskets that you have to stop by her shops and see them yourself.

http://www.artfire.com/users/northernpinestudio

http://www.etsy.com/shop/cherylnchains

After you have had a chance to stop by and check out her baskets, let us know what you think.

Thanks for stopping by.