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Lace Bottles for a French Flea

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As mentioned in a previous post, I’m going to participate in my first ever craft fair this upcoming summer. I’m kind of nervous about it. I don’t want to make too much of any one item and get stuck with a lot left over. I also don’t want to make too few of any one item because, if I sell out, I’ll always wonder if I should’ve made more!  So silly, I know. 
I blogged last year on The French Flea at the Queen Bee. It was the first French Flea Market in our area and the quality of items sold was simply amazing. You can link back for a peek at what shoppers have to look forward to. This is the fair I’ll be joining in September.
Pretty excited!
 In my post Old Buttons and Lace, I shared a tutorial on decorating old bottles with . . . well . . . old buttons and lace!  I’ve made several more here that I hope to take to the fair with me.  I painted the bottles I collected in ASCP Old White and Graphite, and distressed them with sandpaper. Then I began adding materials found at thrift stores: old crocheted doilies, lace, buttons, vintage necklaces, earrings and the like.
This chubby little bottle came with a nice corked stopper,
that I embellished with lace, an old brass earring and a pearl on top.
This bottle had beautiful color so I chose not to paint the entire thing. I added some tea stained sheet music as a stopper and some vintage earrings to the front.
Here it is displayed in a window to show off the color.
 
These twin bottles were a fun find. In addition to the lace I added some handmade rosettes (tutorial here) and lock and key charms.
 
These bottles show off a variety of laces and torn fabric strips used in the project.
This one has miniature rosettes all around.
 
 This bottle has a raised grape pattern that shows through nicely after sanding. I again used sheet music as a stopper and another strip peeking out from under the lace, then added a vintage rhinestone earring and more rosettes.
I scalloped the edge of the sheet music and crumpled it up before adding it to the bottle.
All of the bottles have flowing ribbons cut from scrap fabric and lace.  I was lucky enough to find a huge bag of old lace in the craft section of the thrift store that I aged even more in a tea bath.
 This last bottle received a British crown via The Graphics Fairy and a vintage earring jewel.
All of the bottles were simply created by cutting fabric, lace, crocheted pieces and randomly gluing them in place until something inside said it was enough!

 Now to figure out how much to charge for all the items I’ll be making, how to display them, what I need to bring to package things up for people, do I get a charge card APP on my phone?, etc., etc., etc. 
I really wish I knew what I was doing, but I guess it will be another chance to stretch myself.  I’ve been doing a lot of stretching lately.  Thankfully, I’ve talked one of my friends into coming along and sharing a booth with me (Thank you Linda).
There is comfort in shared discomfort, ha ha! 
 So, what about you? Have you taken part in any flea markets or craft fairs before? Any advice, tips, wise words, warnings? Anything at all? I’d love to hear!
    Blessings,

Linking up to the following fabulous parties:
Sunday:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
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Friday:
Saturday:

 

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Comments

  1. Wow, your bottles are just gorgeous. I really like the one (ones) that let the bottle peek through the lace. It looks so good displayed on the window. Yes, I have done the craft fair circuit. I used to create dried floral arrangements. The fairs are a bit of work to participate in, hauling and setting up but you will meet some great people and find out which fairs they recommend. It was a great experience. It seems when you sell art you never get paid what you actually put into it pricing is hard. For sure double what you have spent and then consider how much time it takes to produce your item and give yourself an hourly wage. Well that’s my advice for what it’s worth. Keep us posted. Have a lovely day.
    Blessings/following.

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  6. Hi, Love your bottles and enjoyed checking out your blog. In 2 weeks I will set up at a “Fancy Flea”. The girl who promotes this event started out just a few years ago with 6 dealers and now rents out over 300 spaces. If you get a minute check out my blog. Good luck at your event…Connie

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  7. Your bottles are so beautiful. Love things with lace, pearls, bits and pieces. You should have no problem selling them. Sounds like a wonder flea market.
    I am your newest follower.
    Have a great week,
    Bev
    @http://eclecticredbarn.blogspot.com

    Reply

  8. how fun! I hope you sell them all!! Thanks for linking up to Tasteful Tuesdays! love it! Really appreciate you stopping by my blog! I’m trying to keep in better touch with my linkers/readers… If you already follow me, please let me know I will find your blog on Bloglovin (I’m transferring my follows there)if you don’t follow in any way, would you consider following via GFC or other method?
    http://www.nap-timecreations.com

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  12. These are beautiful. We have a link party called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop and would love to have you share this and any other posts with everyone. It runs from Tuesday night through midnight Sunday. We also have a $50.00 Visa Gift Card Giveaway. Here is the link to the party.
    http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2013/03/wednesdays-adorned-from-above-blog-hop_26.html
    We hope to see you there.
    Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above

    Reply

  13. Your bottle creations are adorned beautifully-so intricate! I cannot imagine the time, talent and dedication that these must take! What a gift you have!
    Beautiful, beautiful!
    Hugs!
    Jemma

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  26. Very pretty – good luck with your show!
    Can’t wait to hear all about it!
    Thanks for linking up this week!
    Stacey of Embracing Change

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  27. Patti, your bottles are beautiful! I recently made a couple and put them on my living room mantle shelf. Haven’t blogged about them yet because I need to get a couple candles. I totally covered mine. I like the look of the paint on yours. May need to try one like that. Best of luck with the fair. I think your goods will fly out of there. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    Reply

  28. These turned out wonderful. I am so happy to be featuring your bottles at Show It Off Wednesday at View from River Mountain.
    Very happy to have you last week. I hope you will be back for this week’s party, beginning this morning.

    Reply

  29. Patti, these are SO pretty! Good luck at your craft show! I am actually participating my first one in May. I’m a bit nervous! 🙂

    Thank you SO much for linking up at Much Ado About Monday! Would you mind adding us to your parties list, too? We’d love to be included! We hope you’ll join us again next week. 🙂

    ~Emily
    http://www.huckleberrylove.com

    Reply

  31. Oh, my! They are gorgeous! You will be one of the features tomorrow at the Sunday Showcase from last week’s Make it Pretty Monday party! Pop on in and grab a Sunday Showcase feature button. Hope to see your prettiness again at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

    Reply

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