Capers - in West Seattle at the Junction

Capers is by far one of my favorite stores.  (click to find out why)

Schoolhouse Craft - GIVEAWAY!

I just realized that I have a FREE 1-Day pass to Schoolhouse Craft that I won't be able to use this weekend.  Which makes me very sad, because there were several sessions that I wanted to attend - like:

• Book Publishing Your Crafty Idea with Sasquatch Books 
• Generating Creative Energy with Noah Scalin 
• Get Your Etsy Shop Reviewed by Etsy 
• Blogging 101 with Megan Reardon of NotMartha.org
• Organize Your Business and Create Life Balance with Maulitta Brown.  

 Not to mention the networking and camaraderie of all those craftepeneurs in one space...  I'm sad I can't go.  So... drumroll... 

If  you want the pass just leave a comment here.  I will use a random number generator Thurs. 9/22 at noon to choose the winner.  We will then make arrangements to get you the pass.

If you want, you can also become an Haute Goat fan on my Facebook page and follow me on Twitter.  This won't increase your chances of winning, but it will increase your karma points.

What I've been working on: etsyRAIN Spring Show

I have an excuse for neglecting my blog a little lately...  Announcing the  

etsyRAIN Spring Craft Show

 

As many of you know, I am on the leadership team of etsyRAIN - and by far the most time-consuming thing we do is put on 2 craft shows every year.  The shows are open to all 1000+ members of etsyRAIN, and are juried.  There are 60+ vendors for this show - and we have a mix of all kinds of jewelry, clothing & accessories, bath & body, pet care, terrariums & garden, toys, art...  You will undoubtedly find something for anyone on your list (including yourself)!  

We learn something new with every show we do, implement it for the next show, and learn something new again.  The show has grown exponentially in the number of visitors, and our application process is all on-line now.  For this show we are trying a new PR & Marketing plan - and from what I see & hear it will have been worth the effort!  Not to mention, we received some support from some AWESOME sponsors - like the Stranger, ETSY.com, Caffe Ladro, Pacific Fabrics, Rings N Things, Art Camp for Big Kids, and Space to Create.

I am working on putting some vendor photos here on my blog (just to show you what a great mix of vendors we have) as well as some photos of the NEW items from Haute Goat.  Stay tuned... 

Come see us at the show

Saturday May 7, 2011

11am to 5 pm

at the Intiman Theater

201 Mercer Street (on the north side of Seattle Center)

West Seattle is the place to be!

Capers in West Seattle is once again carrying Haute Goat scarves! We had a short run last year - just starting after Thanksgiving. This year we are starting early, and the scarves are already getting all kinds of attention! I hadn't even finished unpacking the suitcase, and there were already 2 buyers picking out the scarves they wanted!

Watch out, I think they are going fastttttttttttt....

And while you're there, check out the cool B&W artwork by Jen Ament - you know how much I love b&w artwork - and linocuts!

And then there are these AWESOME floating candles that look like beach glass... And the tea towel with a fish on it? I was thinking that would be the new screen printed scarf design, until Mary said people don't really wear fish prints in the winter - and I visualized frozen fish prints, which led to frozen crab leg prints...

Sweet Petula Handmade Trunk Show 10/9 & 10/10

Seattle Metropolitan Magazine blog mentioned the Trunk Show I will be having at Sweet Petula in Pioneer Square on Fri & Sat 10/9 & 10/10. Come by and say Hi! There will be other sellers there:

Sweet Anthem Perfume - hmmm, perfume
My Little Sunshine - nature inspired jewelry
Haute Goat - reclaimed cashmere
Gabriel's Aunt - soy & essential oil candles
Sweet Petula - soaps & bath stuff

The first 20 people each day get goodie bags. I donated pins to the bags - yes, cashmere pins - so you know I'm not joking when I say "goodie"!

Sweet Petula
208 S. Jackson Street Seattle, WA 98104

Queen Anne Artwalk

I'm VERY excited to be participating in the Queen Anne Artwalk this year. I will be wearing 2 hats - both my Art By Norm painters hat and my Ms. Haute Goat cashmere hat. I just got back from setting up and I must say the paintings look great next to the scarves - and all the wonderful bright colored yarns!

Stop by and say Hi. I brought a lot of stuff that is not available in stores - like pins, Moleskine notebook covers and Little Hoots. I will be giving a short talk at 6:30pm. The artwalk starts at 3pm and goes on until the store closes at 8:30pm. You can also see 2 of my favorite artists - Scott Ward will be at Chocolopolis and Nikki McClure will be at Eat Local.

Hilltop Yarn & Gifts
2225 Queen Anne Ave. N.
(it's the old Bouncing Wall space)

SOS saved the day

Meghan of SOS (Simply Organized Space) was over today whipping me & my studio into shape. I am so excited to go and sew now that it is clean and organized - the desk is screwed back together - not to mention I can walk all the way to the desk without jumping over potential land mines...

If you are int he Seattle area and need someone to help you get your act together, hire Meghan - she's AWESOME!

You have to love a person who comes with a drill, hammer, labeller, and knowledge of where to buy just a little chalk board paint! The boxes are labelled, the magazines are in matching boxes, and the hooks I bought 6 years ago are hung on the wall - and did I mention there is now space to sew at 3 different sewing machines as well as work at my desk?

psst - you can also find SOS on facebook...

As if we didn't have enough already...

my hubby & I were just reminiscing about our childhoods in Denver (me) and Montreal (him) and comparing nose-hair-freezing stories... And also remembering how QUIET it is when it snows (oh, did I say that too loud?)... And remembering what the streets look like in winter with brown slush everywhere... And having to wear snowpants that were hard to walk in to school... And having to go to school, even when it snowed... And licking icicles... And peeing in my pants [literally] when I had to sleep in a snowcave (oh wait, that was just me)...

Well, the snow is coming down again and the last 4" hadn't started melting yet. We are still nowhere near a Denver or Montreal winter (Montreal is currently 2ºF), but we are 1 step closer than usual!

Did I mention that cashmere is reported to be 8 times warmer than wool (and a ton softer)? So bundle up in cashmere and stay warm and cozy - and eat some Christmas cookies with your hot chocolate - 'cuz baby, it's cold outside!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...

and our fireplace has a board in front of it to keep the draft out - but the rest still applies (sing it with me) -

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Seattle is getting winter - and having problems dealing with it. But none the less, the kids are in the wonderland that we should all be in.

Bad news is, I am an absolute weenie when it comes to driving in bad weather (might have something to do with sliding down a cloverleaf onramp to a highway SIDEWAYS in my Karman Ghia many years ago... I didn't hit anything, but I can still see the barriers wizzing by the windshield... been there, done that, not doing it again ['nough said]!

But I digress. The point I was getting to is that I can't get out to pick up more scarves from my sewing team and deliver them to the stores. So.... there's a good chance that we will be sold out for the season! There is a chance that the snow will melt once it stops falling (as it usually does here in Seattle), in which case scarves are on the way for last minute shoppers. But just in case...

It's always fun...

to see how stores (someone other than myself) choose to display my scarves...

This is from Monster Art & Clothing in Ballard.

The recycled sweater wrap-around skirt is by a Portland designer - Shabby Knapsack.

I love the idea of a recycled sweater outfit like this!

Monster Art & Clothing is open late (I think 'til 9pm on Thurs. nights through December. Also, Saturday, Dec. 13th is the Ballard Artwalk. How much fun would it be to grab a bite to eat at one of the many great eateries in Ballard, a beer at Conor Byrne (right next door to Monster) and then stroll up and down Ballard Ave. shopping at all the wonderful boutiques?

Haute Goat in NWSource

check it out - an article about my trunk show on Saturday (click on the photo to see the real deal) in NW Source, the Seattle Times on-line!

And oh, by the way, I will have 60 new-never-seen-before scarves with me!

Where has all the sunshine gone...

ok, I accept it. I live in Seattle which has something like 277 cloudy days a year. Couple that with being at 47 degrees latitude (that means only 8 hours and 28 minutes of daylight in the middle of winter), and, well, there you are living in the dark, having to wear sunglasses on sunny days because your eyes are not used to light. I've been here for almost 30 years so I'm used to it.

BUT, I'm also used to a certain amount of light in my house. Our house has a fair number of windows on every side - north, south, east, west. Granted the windows on the north side of the house don't provide much sun, but they do provide some light during the day. The east facing windows face our back yard and they get great light, as do the west windows. The problem is the south windows. For those of you who are gardeners (indoors or out), you know that south is the direction that gets the most light throughout the day.

Enter the very large house that is being built next to me. So big in fact, it towers over my house... And it blocks out all of the light for my dining room - and bathroom. Now you say to yourself, no big deal - but it is! My clawfoot bathtub is famous for displaying my reclaimed cashmere scarves for my online store. It had perfect lighting, coming through 2 fairly large frosted glass windows that faced south. Alas, I have tried everything to recreate that light and have failed (thus my darkened photos in my online shop).

I am now moving outside to the porch. I just haven't figured out how to get the clawfoot tub out there!

Now available at BOUNCING WALL on Queen Anne!

"Bouncing Wall is a Seattle retail boutique and gallery nestled in upper Queen Anne that supports over 100 local artists & designers and showcases their original, wearable, usable, and functional art"

Totally exciting if you ask me! They have skinny scarves, leg/arm warmers, ear warmers / headbands, and flowers... mix and match - get 10% off it you buy 2 or more Haute Goat items.

check it out for yourself:

2225 Queen Anne Ave N Seattle, WA 98109

or on-line

I stopped by Sweet Petula today...

and the display looks great! I'm pleased as punch with how wonderful the scarves look in the store (seeing as though this is the first store I've seen the scarves in!).

Cory has placed them on some dress forms right as you walk in the door, next to the counter. They are receiving lots of attention - and she already sold almost 50% of what I originally brought in (that explains why I was there today, bringing her more stock).

If you haven't been to Sweet Petula in Madison Park, you must go and check it out. It is a wonderfully romantic little store!

Now available at SUGAR SUGAR

Sugar Sugar is now carrying my scarves. Stop in, have your legs sugared or get an organic facial - then buy a cashmere scarf to make you feel extra pretty as you leave! Treat yourself, come on, you're worth it!

Oh yea, you can find them at 1737 NW 56th St. Seattle, WA 98107 206.789.1127 (in Ballard)

Sweet Petula

My scarves are now available at this great little shop in Madison Park, Seattle.

"Sweet Petula offers a unique product mix to indulge your every sense. We specialize in selling simple luxuries to enhance your everyday living. Our boutique is stocked with luxurious bedding and loungewear, clothing and accessories, one-of-a-kind items and of course our own line of handmade bath & body care."

Check out her blog (she wrote up my scarves)!