One Year Ago Today

I wanted to publish this at 10:10 pm on 10/10/10, but I missed my deadline by a little bit.


One year ago today, Candy Calamity was gearing up for it's second holiday season much better prepared then I was the year before.  I wrote this blog post http://candycalamity.blogspot.com/2009/10/craft-show-rules.html about my 8 craft show rules, and I'm still using those 'rules' today - they're keepers!


I had just invented the octagonal prism shaped recycled christmas card ornaments and was making those full steam ahead (they will be making a reappearance in my etsy store soon - I can't believe it's already that time of year)

I discovered Illustration Friday.  It took me a few weeks to get my feet wet and I posted my first drawing 'blur' on November 6th (Can't believe I drew it on an envelope back - I'm such a dork sometimes)

Two years ago today, I was getting ready to have a craft show table to myself for the first time.  Those were the days that six feet seemed like a lot of space to fill, now I can never get everything to fit!

Around the same time I was interviewing for a new day job and got it, I've been a clinical dietitian at my current hospital ever since.

Three years ago today, I was just starting to hear about a great shopping site called 'Etsy' and Candy Calamity was just a twinkle in my eye.


So what were you doing one year ago today?

Tiny Matchbook Notebooks

Look what I made!

Little tiny Candy Calamity matchbook notebooks!  They fit anywhere you might need a little extra scratch paper.  Plus the white paper is recycled (previously printed on one side) so who knows what surprises you might find.

Now you might be asking yourself: "How do I get my hands on one of those fancy little things?"
It's easy.  These are a free gift to anyone who donates to the upcycle exchange. (bring candy wrappers and coffee bags please!).  Once you get your donation coupon, come find me at any of the shows I'm doing this fall/winter.  You'll get 15% off any purchase, plus you can snag a matchbook notebook just for stopping by, or use your coupon code for a purchase at my etsy store and I'll be sure to include one in your package.

Candy Calamity: Now with 100% more cat

We recently adopted a cat named Lily.  She has decided to make the window sills in my craft room her #1 hang out and I don't blame her; the view is awesome.  As such, she spends her days 'supervising' the production of my Candy Calamity goods.

Welcome to the team Lily!

Fall is in the Air

Although we have been blessed with remarkably cool weather here is St. Louis this summer, when I stepped outside today I noticed a change in the air. It was a bit crisper and fresh - I also noticed that the neighborhood seemed to have acquired a full coating of crunchy brown leaves overnight. Yep, fall is here, which means its time to get busy for the fall and winter craft show season.

From the candy calamity blog you will see a new show calendar I added to the sidebar. I'll be keeping that up to date so its a good place to check and see where to find me locally.

I've got seven shows planned this season, which is quite a bit more then I did last year, and I'm pretty excited to get going. Here they are:

Sept 19th: Grovefest
Sept 26th: Green Homes Festival
October 3rd and 24th: Towergrove Farmers Market
November 7th: Eureka High School Craft Show
November 14th and 15th: Edwardsville High School Band Craft Fair (tentative)
December 5th: Artropy by Showme Etsy

and the first show is this up coming Saturday, which means its time to get busy!!!

My one year Etsyversary

Bring out the champagne, Candy Calamity has been on the web for 1 year!

On April 1st, 2008 I tentatively listed the very first item to www.candycalamity.etsy.com a starburst bracelet. Little did I know how far this first year would take me. I never dreamed that in the next year I'd make 352 items (yes, I just counted), or that I'd meet so many amazing crafters and friends through my two street teams Showme Etsy and the Trashion Team. And I certainly did not think I'd be setting up my own booth at local craft shows, and yet there I was at Crazy Autumn last October, Greener Gifts in November, Hope Lutheran School in December and Green with Indie just a few weeks ago.

I think the best part in looking back over the past year and seeing how my silly half baked idea became a silly, awesome, fulfilling reality is knowing all the things I plan to do and learn and try in the next year and that by April 1st 2010 I'll surprise myself again.