November was a busy month with more social media progress to give exposure to my restoration work and the Heirloom Treasures Boutique. Kaitlin also started a Google Business page for me and although I have dozens of great testimonials about my restoration work and live workshops, it is difficult to backtrack and ask customers for reviews once they have already given their praises. I also found out that it is not possible to submit a review on Google unless you have a Google account, which almost half of my customers do not. So, this has been a bit frustrating.
I continue to use Mail Chimp for my newsletter and demo invitations even though they are trying to confuse me with helpful updates, which don’t seem to apply to me. My aim has always been to simplify, unfortunately I find many updates only more confusing.
My Facebook Business page is a similar dilemma, I am having trouble switching between my business and my personal accounts and posting notifications in the right place. My announcement for the last demo showed up on the same page 4 times but I did not see it posted anywhere. Go figure!
I guess I never realized how much time and effort Dave put into all those applications, he started Heirloom Treasures on these programs; I am trying to learn as much as I can, but I find it difficult to keep up with all the updates and improvements! Thanks to Kaitlin I am still sane and sometimes I just let it go.
Thanks for letting me vent! I bet many of you have similar problems. It just takes too much of my creative time.
In early November I received one of the best unsolicited reviews from one of my SAFF participants about the Crochet Design Secrets workshop she attended.
Jen Weisheit writes:
I was in your Crochet Design Secrets Workshop at SAFF and you were so gracious enough to sign my book. I wanted to let you know that you ignited a passion in me that I didn’t realize I had for the preservation of traditional crochet craftsmanship and for the industry to respect crochet goods as equally fine of quality as its knit counterparts. I thoroughly enjoyed our time together and learned so much about trusting the process and starting small with a proof of concept to break free from patterns and embracing the creative process (even if going off-pattern is scary).
It was incredibly timely in a way I could have never anticipated. My grandmother passed away recently, and after SAFF, the family got together to go through all of the stuff left behind and divvy it out. There was so much crochet in lace table runners, hats, potholders, dresser covers, pillows, sweaters and more. She had preserved and safely collected several generations of lovingly worked pieces. Others in the family are not crafters and did not see the value in keeping them and preserving them for future generations. Seeing the love in every stitch, the care worked into every item, I couldn’t leave them to go to the rubbish bin or the consignment shop so I took as much as I could with me. It hurts to see such disregard for fine-crafted and long-living pieces made by loved ones but it isn’t uncommon these days with fast fashion and cheap replacements. It made me think of you and the amazing work you do restoring well-loved but not well-kept pieces for others. Looking at these beautiful examples of love and fine craftsmanship, I appreciate what you do now more than ever.
So thank you. From the bottom of my crafter soul, I appreciate you and the work that you do keeping history alive, memories intact and hand-crafted beauties looking their best. I am so blessed to have met you and I hope to see you again at SAFF next year.
Wow, that was one of the nicest testimonials I ever received. She is a kindred spirit! I can’t wait to see her again in another class next year.
Several of my Atlanta participants are members of the SEFAA (Southeast Fiber Arts Alliance). During the Southeast Animal Fiber Fair workshops, they asked me if I would come down and teach at their facility in Chamblee, GA. We have tentatively set the date of March 10th. for Broomstick and Hairpin Lace and March 11th. 2023 for Tunisian and Thread Lace. This will soon be posted on my Events page.
I am excited to expand my horizon of live workshops into the Atlanta area and this will be a great kick-off for my 2023 season.
The middle of November was my last demo at the Folk Art Center and I enjoyed giving my area a festive holiday look. We were busy with lots of visitors inspired to do some Christmas shopping and my lace ornaments were popular as ever. Many people still prefer a traditional or Victorian look for their holiday trees; I loved creating the beautiful glass balls with long tassels.
After the demo it was time to celebrate Thanksgiving, which for me always starts with the Macy’s Holiday parade. Then I kick off the season with the tradition of getting a tree from the Lion’s Club tree lot and letting the tree relax in a bucket of water overnight. Friday and Saturday I decorated the entire house and finally on Sunday it was time to bring in the tree, which is always the last and most enjoyable job for me. And it is done!
Now I can relax and enjoy my Christmas castle and maybe work on some last-minute projects? I always seem to know who wants what from Heirloom Treasures!
Last year I had several requests for snowflakes and stars and I am finally taking the time to create a basket full for friends and neighbors as well as our first of two Christmas Sales at the Folk Art Center on December 3rd. I will have a table in the Folk Art Center Auditorium from 10 am to 4 pm on the 3rd. Come on by if you are in the neighborhood and do some Christmas shopping with us!
After that, there are several parties and Open Houses in my neighborhood and all that is left to do is to write a few cards. I have very little Christmas shopping to do because I usually find interesting things throughout the year and that way I do my shopping with very little stress.
All that is left for me to do is to enjoy the season and the festivities.
Good wishes go out to all my fiber friends, I wish you a very merry Christmas season!
Take good care of yourself and enjoy the meaning of the holidays.
“I do what I love and I love what I do.”