LizzieCaye's First Craft Show

My first craft show was a huge success, and at the same time a bit disappointing. The show was in a church in Dallas. It's a well known craft show, but the volume of "re-sale" type items has grown over the years. By this I am NOT talking about cool vintage stuff. There was quite a number of booths that had fashion jewelry and items that were made in some other country and sold here. There were only a handful of truly handmade items. I think this is what contributed to it being disappointing. So on to the good stuff!!

I love my display and I have to thank my Mom & Step-Dad for helping put it all together. A REALLY close friend of my mom's is an artist who was recently changing up her display, and gave all the grids to my mom. There in turn my mom and I talked about how they could be used for my display. So my Step-Dad cut them down, sandblasted them, and re-painted them. I'm quite lucky my Step-Dad has so many hobbies (Much to my Mom's chagrin). The red cover for my table I got at a clearance sale at a large catering companies sale (they were getting rid of allthe stuff that either wasn't been used, or was a bit too worn). Whoohooo for me.

The Gray topper on it came from some sheets that my hubby and I purchased for our bed, but were a dismal failure (They were so thin that when you sat on the bed the fitted sheet immediately popped off...). We got them at a flea market so couldn't return them, so what you see is the fitted sheet draping nicely over the elastic as it clings to the table.

To create some elevation, I took to plastic bins that I use in my studio to keep projects sorted and put them underneath the sheet to raise some of my purses up.

Here in the Dallas area we have this place called Sam Moon, which has really cheap accessories, I got several purse hangers there to be able to hang my bags from the edge of the table. I used S-hooks of different sizes to hang all of my purses from grid, and I used the basket there to put all my iPhone covers. The first day of the show I ended up making 10 more of them. Came home sewed them together and added them to inventory the next day!

Working on things was definitely a draw for many people. I'd suggest that if you have the ability to work on small things at a craft show - DO IT!! People get curious and want to come and see what you are working on.

The things I learned that I didn't know are that this was not the best forum for me. I need something a bit more artsy and unique, with the expectation that you are paying for quality, craftsmanship, uniqueness, and originality. I also learned that I need to get ACTUAL signs made... I laugh at myself here..... while shaking my head AND rolling my eyes (at myself....). I met some really cool artists that I believe that if I keep in contact with them, they will be great mentors and advocates for me. I also became aware of how I like talking to people and sharing my craft with them. So even though I didn't make the money I wanted to, I met great people and had a great time!

See these creations up close and personal at LizzieCaye.

Random Acts of Kindness : Gift to Lizzie Caye

Elizabeth Patel didn't know what she was getting into offering her technical expertise with this blog. In a year we've established a more professional look and added all our member's links.  It's no lie when I say that it took me an hour messing around with HTML in table format to do one shop, and when Liz offered to help I was more than gracious. She does what she can when she can and we are ever so grateful.

I've networked with one my favorite shops, EstateSaleTreasures who has over 6500 Sales to add Lizzie's shop to her announcement.

Vicki, whose a top Etsy Seller with shabby and primitive antiques and supplies, has graciously done so. Hopefully by this small addition to her shop announcement some of her customers will be inclined to take a peek into the wonderful shop of Lizzie Caye.

Thanks Liz for all you do!

Selling Tip:  Asking a top seller to put you in their shop announcement is a great way to get more exposure and drive traffic to your store.  The most one can say is "no." 

In the Spotlight: LizzieCaye

It only seemed appropriate to spotlight Elizabeth Patel, for October, who is wonderful in more ways than one.  Not only  has she been such a wonderful addition to our team, and helping grow this site--but even more so, her handmade Lizzie Caye designer bags are amazing.

The "Classic Lizzie" in blues and pinks

Without her the blog as it is today would not be possible.  I often wonder, as I look at her pretty creations  how does she do it?  Where does it all happens?  Originally from North Dakota, now transplanted in Dallas, Texas, Liz is happy creating what she loves--and this love shows in her craftsmanship and quality original designs. 

This recycled purse was a quick seller.

Ruffles add flair to her sophisticated designs. This one comes in many colors like pink.

Careful detailing means everything.

Here is where the magic happens.  Her sewing machine is often covered with remnants of a work-in-progress.

Creations kept in eco-friendly totes aka cardboard boxes! A bag holds recycled scrap paper for packaging materials.

 Liz explains, "A normal day with me involves a ton of running up and down the stairs. Let me regress for a moment to explain how I got my very own giant studio in my home.  About 2 1/2 years ago my father-in-law passed away.  My mother-in-law does not drive, or make any form of decision without her husband.  It became obvious that she would need to live with us.  She didn't live incredibly far from where we did, but long enough that it would have been harder to take care of her from a distance, even if the distance was only 15 miles. We looked for existing homes, and couldn't find anything that wouldn't have needed a major overhaul.  So we decided to build in a planned community (meaning we had a set of home plans we could choose from).  We picked this community because the specifically had a plan that had a bedroom with its own en suite bathroom.  While we were making all these plans we decided to add the 1/2 story option of a game room upstairs, so that my hubby wouldn't ever have to look at my mess again....."

This wire mannequin proves to be a good note board for Liz. 

Thanks to the addition of her mother-in-law, Liz was able to have her very own space and a built in computer niche in which she explains, " I can create as I desire."  She says, "I have a nifty entry to the attic where I store all my boxes for shipping and LOADS of other stuff.  This really has helped me keep my room a bit neater.  Beyond that I use a ton of paper grocery bags to sort out my fabric and felt. "

Sometimes the best organizational system, is a simple one.  

So, amidst the cardboard boxes and paper bags of fabric and felt,  add some of  Liz  keen eye for design and out comes unique and eclectic designs like this Knock 'em Dead Purse!!

Liz prides herself on using upcycled and reclaimed fabrics in her LizzieCaye Etsy shop 

.

For more information on Liz, please visit her personal website HERE.

LizzieCaye

Owner: Liz Patel
Location: Frisco, TX USA

Lizzie Caye creates unique one-of-a-kind RECYCLED green purses. Some are Needle Felted on recycled sweaters while others are hand-dyed on upcycled fabrics. Liz finds much of her fabrics at rummage sales, thrift stores and flea markets to use in our creations.

Perhaps her creative talent is somehow attributed to her time spent traveling the country with her artist mother as a young girl (often sneaking out to check out other artists's booths....) Later in life becoming a CNA, she worked in local home health care and hospice helping others. Now she lives in Texas with her husband, mother in law and dogs and creates these wonderful purses in her spare time.