Bookapalooza 2015

Honestly, what in the world was I thinking?

It's obvious I have been busy, since I haven't blogged in some time. But, instead of ackowleding that I have far too many balls to juggle, I signed up to be an exhibitor at Bookapalooza.




This is something I have wanted to do for some time. It is the perfect venue for my bookmarks. Readers. Writers. Who else would appreciate my bookmarks more?

Of course, I have so many other items on my plate, and bits of food keep falling off. For just a moment, I regretted signing up.

Then I submitted my bio for the event. Added at the end of it--in one short sentence--that I am also editing my first novel. Which, by the way, is taking much longer than I wanted. And will take even longer now that I have to spend time sewing at least five hundred bookmarks for this event.

And despite my anxiety, moments of panic and general queasiness, I am having the time of my life!

If you are in the Durham area on Saturday, November 21, 2015, stop by Bookapalooza. It is located at The Durham College, Centre For Food/Bistro 67 at 1604 Champlain Avenue, Whitby. The event runs from 10 am to 4 pm.

Visit the site at http://bookapalooza.ca/event/.

There will be brilliant local authors and you can purchase a bookmark (or two, or several) from me to accompany your new book(s). The holidays are just around the corner and books (with bookmarks) make wonderful gifts.

See you there!

Bookmarks for Breakfast

Some of you may know that I wear many hats. I have an understated legal assistant fedora for my (paying) day-time job, a very large flamboyant hat for Urban Contessa and, of course, a jaunty beret for writing.

I am a member of the Writer's Community of Durham Region. As I mentioned in my previous post, I agreed to sell my bookmarks at our next breakfast meeting. That would be next Saturday.

It's been stupid busy at my office lately and I'm working fourteen-hour days. I leave home before seven and I don't get home until after nine. Needless to say, I don't have a lot of time to make bookmarks. And yet, somehow, I always mange to make it work.

So, let's get to started.

I gathered the few bookmarks I had already cut out. To the right is a pile of 'scrap' fabric from tote bags and placemats.  As always, I have my self-healing cutting board, ruler and cutter.

Several hours later, I have a very large pile of cut bookmarks and a very small pile of waste.

That's a 14 1/2 " pile of bookmarks!

Now, I have to find the time to sew them all.

The game plan is to dedicate two hours every night to sewing. No matter how late I work. And despite how insane that sounds, I'm actually having a great time. I mean, who wouldn't? I'm sewing, I'm blogging and I'm making money.

It doesn't get much better than this, my friends.

Writers and Bookmarks

I spent the weekend at a writing retreat hosted by Writescape. I thought I would bring along some Urban Contessa bookmarks, give my fellow writers a present and let them pick one for their very own.

I thought it was a good idea. And it still is. But...

All the writers thought the bookmarks were wonderful. And several of them asked if I sold them. Well, of course I said yes.

Yeah, you see where I'm going with this: I'm sold out.

Well, not really.

I have four left.

What's making me panic is the fact that have two craft shows coming up, and the bookmarks are my biggest seller...especially at Christmas. To make matters worse, one of the participants-slash-organizers convinced me to sell the bookmarks at my next writing circle's next breakfast, on December 8. There are a lot of members that attend these breakfasts, and I have to be prepared for all of them to buy three. After all, they sell for $5 each or three for $10. Why wouldn't you buy three, right?

And then she suggested that I contact a couple of local book stores to enquire about selling them retail.

Now, I know it sounds like I'm complaining. I'm not. I swear I'm not!

This is the equivalent of me pinching myself. What I'm doing is trying to convince myself that this is actually happening. I'm feeling very Sally Fields-y right now.

You like me. You really like me!