Yes - I’m still making kitty cat toys!

I can’t believe we’ve been doing this since 2012.  It all started with my daughter Sofie making a couple of toys for our own cat.  I was selling my Bits Of Fiber items at a Farmers Market in The Plains at the time and told her she should take some of those toys and try to sell them.  And selling we did!  I also had her set up her own Etsy shop which we named MauveMoose.  Funny thing is that for a while she wanted to change it to MauveMice or MauveMouse but we had invested into the MauveMoose name with business cards etc so we decided to keep it as MauveMoose.  Anyways, we thought we were nuts for taking our first large wholesale order of 475 strawberry catnip toys until we ended up making 5400, yup you are reading correctly ... 5 4 0 0 cat toys we made ... by hand!! We did use the sewing machine to stitch them but the cutting, filling, stuffing and sewing them once filled was all done by hand.  We did ask a couple of friends to help us out with that order.  But that was the end of the large wholesale orders.  Me working full time, running my other Etsy shop, Bits of Fiber,  Sofie going to school etc we decided to focus on just the retail part of the business.  As time moves on, life moves on ... a lot has happened since 2012.  My dear husband passed away, I sold and purchased another house, moved to a totally different part of Virginia and I’m planning on retiring by 2021.  I’m looking forward to chapter #3 of my life that I hope will be filled with lots and lots of new projects, new people and new adventures and no need to panic ... I’ll continue making cat toys in between.  

Felted holiday pincushions for the Christmas Market

I found that I could work on these cute pincushions even with my arm in a sling!  So far I've made two of them.  I might list them in my Etsy shop but not sure yet since I made these to take to the Christmas Market at the Archwood Green Barns  http://www.facebook.com/archwoodgreenbarns   in The Plains this Sunday, December 2nd.  There will be about 15 vendors in the little barn offering all kinds of yummy and beautiful Holiday things.  So come and visit us this Sunday.

Back to the pincushions.  These I made using wool sweaters which I felted in the washing machine.  I embroidered them with mercerized cotton thread and then needle felted the center button with Merino Sheep's fleece.  I have lots of different felting needles but one of my favorites is the Clover pen style one which holds just one needle.

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It's best to have some refills  Clover 73883 Felting Needle Tool Refill Fine Weight-5-Pkg (Google Affiliate Ad) on hand to replace the one you break!  Trust me it does happen.   When I make the pincushions I use a heavy cotton thread that I pull through the center of the cushion and make it come out the other end so I can pull it really tight.  I then tie it off and then needle felt the center button over it to cover up the thread.  Hitting the knot with your felting needle is what can break them very quickly.

More mice and things for the Christmas market

We made a couple more items which we will offer at the Christmas Market, not in our Etsy shops. The earrings are needle felted and have glass beads sewn on.  My favorite are the white ones they remind me of snowballs.  The crocheted little bag with the white mice family you will find in our shops in the near future. Haven't decided yet in which shop we will offer it at this point. If you are interested in one before we offer them in our shop just contact me by e-mail. 

Sofie made more mice for her shop, here are a couple of photos.  If you click on this link it will take you to her shop:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/MauveMoose

Farmers Market - Sunday, October 14, 2012

Just wanted to let you know that I WILL be at the market this coming Sunday, October 14th.  This will be my last regular market for the season as I'm going to need surgery on my shoulder.   I'm not sure yet if I will be able to attend the Christmas Market(s) at the Archwood Green Barns which are going to be in December.  It all depends on how I'll be doing by then.   I managed to tear my Labrum in my left shoulder so they are going to fix it and will also give my rotator cuff a tune-up.   I'll be in a sling for 6 weeks which I'm not looking forward to.  I'm sure I'll figure out a way to knit and crochet with that sling on as long as my PT lets me!  I'm not going to be making any nuno felted scarves till I'm completely healed.  I know there are other ways to make them since I roll all mine by hand but I feel I have other things I like to explore during this down time.  So stay tuned!

As far as the Holiday (Christmas) Market(s), I will definitely put something here on my blog about it so come back and visit my blog for more info in the next couple of weeks.

Farmers Market and Cupcakes!

We are off to be at the Farmers Market in The Plains.  We are open from 10 till 3 pm every Sunday.  Lots of different items for sale from different Vendors.  All the items for sale are grown or made by the vendors attending.  My daughter baked some cupcakes for this week's event so head on over for a pleasant outing on a gorgeous day!  

See you at the Market!

For location and direction see info on the left in pink. 

Yes! I'll be back at the Farmers Market starting tomorrow!

 Well this came kinda unexpected I must say.  I had planned on going back to having a stall at the Farmers Market at the Archwood Green Barns in The Plains this season.  But then we got the news from Belgium, mom has breast cancer and needs surgery.  So I stopped making plans to going back to the barn and made plans to be with my mom.  In the meantime, 2 surgeries behind us and two trips to Belgium I'm home again thinking I missed out on getting a stall for the upcoming season since the first market is tomorrow and I just got back from Belgium last weekend.  But then today I received a message that one of the vendors decided not to take part and a stall was up for grabs!  Now I thought about it for a couple of minutes ... not sure if I could pull this off.  I still had all my boxes with everything I need for the market ready to go sitting in the basement.  I did need to price all the items I made this past year but my kid could help me doing that.  Now 9 hours later I'm exhausted but I got everything ready to go!  Tomorrow I'll be back at the green barn selling my stuff.  I'm so excited!  I think my stall is the 3rd one on the right side as you come walking through the front entrance of the barn.   Originally I had started planning on how to set up the stall this time, a bit different from what I have done in the past but of course none of that has taken place at this point since this was a last minute decision made today.   Anyway do come and visit us!   If you can't make it tomorrow there are plenty of Sundays ahead. 

The market is located in Northern Virginia. Just 8 miles west of Haymarket, on Route 245 exit 31, right off I-66, it's close enough for a day trip!   Roam the stalls of an old horse barn looking for the right treasure.  Ask all the questions you like....the people selling the product are the ones who made it!  We are producer only, and proud of it! 

Weather doesn't have to play a factor we are an indoor market with some outdoor vendors as well.  The variety of wonderful items will keep you coming back!   Baked goods, goat cheese, fresh meats and frozen are all available for the perfect meal. Don't forget the fruits and vegetables, cheesecakes, flowers, bamboo, gourds, quilted specialties and other arts and crafts to browse through and enjoy!   Bring the family and spend some time together at the barn!.  

         See you there on Sunday!
Location

Rt. 245 and I-66, Exit 31
The Plains, VA 20198

When and Where  

(April-November)
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Last Sunday in April through the 2nd Sunday in November. Open the first 2 Sundays in December for the Christmas on the Farm Show.