I'll be at the Playa Vista Farmers Market tomorrow

Want to pick up some of these cuties? Come to the Playa Vista Farmers Market! It's open tomorrow 9am-2pm, and it's right in a shopping area, so there's plenty of parking.



And I'll also be showing off a BRAND NEW DINOSAUR! Who can it be?

The dinosaurs are going to a museum!

I'm so excited! My dinosaurs will be featured at the Craft and Folk Art Museum on May 5th and 6th! 

Can you believe it?!

Also, that means my dinosaurs will be across the street from the La Brea Tar Pits, which is cool too!

Here's a few photos of the front of this museum. Something tells me I'll fit in just fine.


What I learned from selling in the rain



On Saturday, I sold at my very first farmers' market in Playa Vista (a very affluent area right on the ocean in Los Angeles). All week, I was checking the weather and I knew it was going to rain pretty much the entire time. So far, I have been lucky with my outdoor markets and fairs, which meant this was a first for me. 

Luckily when we got there, it was just barely misting for our set up. Farmer Mark, the director of the market was very friendly and helpful, and our booth neighbor was super nice, too. I sadly don't remember her booth's name, but hopefully I'll see her again.

The market started at 9:00, and by 10:30 it was raining. Again, we lucked out that the wind didn't really start up until after the rain calmed down. We barely made a profit, but it was quite a learning experience.

Here's a few things we learned while trying to sell in the rain:

1. Even if it's just a little drizzle without any wind, move your items a good 6 inches in (at least) from the edges of your tent. Remember, there's a possibility of splashing, so don't put any of your items lower than a foot off the ground. Our booth neighbor gave us this suggestion, and it definitely helped!

2. Make sure to check your tent for leaks! Also, as the rain keeps coming down, it will pool on top of your tent, and then randomly fall off. When no one was in my booth, I tried to push the water off of my tent, so it wouldn't drench customers.

3. Yes, traffic will definitely be compromised by the rain, but you'd be surprised how many people brave the elements to shop! Since the forecast said rain would be heavy around 10, the first hour had way more customers, and we even sold a few dolls.

4. You will get soaked. It's just a fact. Since your first priority will be to keep your items dry, you'll probably be systematically checking everything. I'd rather get rained on than have my dinosaurs get soggy! Dress warmly!

5. I wish I had brought an extra jacket or sweatshirt. Not to wear during the market, but to change into after the market was over. We had about a 45 minute drive home, and we had to sit in the car in cold, wet clothing. Luckily we didn't get sick.

6. Be sure to shop at the other booths. They're struggling to make a sale as much as you are, and you guys are pretty much the only ones braving the elements. Since traffic is going to be slow, why not get some snacks (my husband got some seriously fantastic "kitchen sink" hummus) and help out your neighbors!

7. Try to stay positive. It's not the organizer's fault that the weather's less than ideal. A lot of times you won't be allowed to pack up and leave early, and even if it's allowed it doesn't look good. By the end of the market, it was definitely hard to stay cheerful while cold, wet, and not making much money. But if you're frustrated and annoyed, not only could you rub potential customers the wrong way but also the event organizers!

Overall, I'll be back in Playa Vista on April 28, so keep your fingers crossed for a sunny warm Saturday!

Farmers Market This Saturday!

The Playa Vista Farmers Market is truly adorable. Along with fresh produce, there were vendors selling clothing, accessories, and all types of cute things. There were a lot of kid-friendly items, but I didn't see any crocheted items or stuffed animals. So I signed up to sell there this Saturday!

If you're near Playa Vista this weekend, please stop by! Here's the website: http://www.farmermark.com/playavista/

I've rented a tiny space, just to see how it goes. But if I sell just two dinosaurs, I believe I'll break even.



SUE the T Rex!

I finally finished writing up the pattern for my gigantic dinosaur. It's actually not a tough pattern, and can easily be done if you've ever made amigurumi before. If you've made any of my dinosaurs before, this should be perfect for you.

This one takes a ton of yarn (about 5 or 6 skeins of the Red Heart Stripes yarn) and a whole lot of fiberfill stuffing. Plus you'll need a size E crochet hook and a tapestry needle.

Find the pattern on Etsy, Ravelry, or Craftsy.

The finished product is a very huggable 30 inch tall dinosaur!




March 10 and April 28: mark your calendars!

I've officially received the paperwork, so I will be at the Playa Vista Farmers Market on Saturday March 10, and Saturday April 28. I'm cautiously optimistic :-)



Last weekend my husband and I checked out the market, and it was just so adorable! Not only are there fresh produce stands, but plenty of prepared foods and cute retail stalls. There's even a few Etsy sellers there, too. Tons of kids were running around, which is my target demographic, and if I sell three or more dinosaurs, I will come out in the black.

So stop by!

Mini T. Rex Crochet Pattern

My dinosaur obsession continues! Recently I created a tiny T. Rex, which I think works great as a stocking stuffer or a quick way of getting rid of an extra bit of yarn and stuffing.
If you've made amigurumi before, this pattern should be pretty simple. Be sure to put stuffing in as you go.

Materials Needed:
Size E (3.5 mm) crochet hook
Worsted weight yarn (shown in Red Heart Day Glow)
Fiberfill stuffing
Stitch marker
Tapestry needle
Scissors

Stitches Used:
Magic ring (MR)
Increase (2sc)
Single crochet (sc)
Invisible decrease (invdec)

Head, Body, and Tail:
Make a MR with 6 scs in it                                               (6)
1. 2sc around                                                                       (12)
2. (sc 3x, 2sc 3x) 2x                                                            (18)
3. (sc 3x, [2sc, sc] 3x) 2x                                                    (24)
4. Sc 6x, 2sc 2x, sc 10x, 2sc 2x, sc 4x                              (28)
5. - 7. Sc around                                                                  (28)
8. Sc 4x, invdec 4x, sc 9x, invdec, sc 5x                           (23)
9. Sc 2x, invdec 3x, sc 15x                                                  (20)
10. Invdec 4x, sc 5x, invdec, sc 5x                                   (15)
11. - 15. Sc around                                                              (15)
16. Sc 10x, 2sc 3x, sc 2x                                                      (18)
17. Sc 10x, (2sc, sc) 3x, sc 2x                                             (21)
18. - 19. Sc around                                                              (21)
20. (invdec, sc 2x) 3x, sc 9x                                               (18)
21. Sc around                                                                       (18)
22. (invdec, sc) 3x, sc 9x                                                     (15)
23. Sc around                                                                       (15)
24. Invdec 3x, sc 9x                                                             (12)
25. Sc around                                                                       (12)
26. (sc 2x, invdec) 3x                                                          (9)
27. Sc around                                                                       (9)
28. (sc, invdec) 3x                                                               (6)
29. Invdec 3x                                                                      (3)
Fasten off, and weave in the end.

Legs (make 2):
Make a MR with 6 scs in it                                          (6)
1. 2sc around                                                                   (12)
2. Sc around                                                                    (12)
3. Invdec around                                                            (6)
4. Sc around                                                                   (6)
5. (sc 2x, 2sc) 2x                                                           (8)
6. (sc 3x, 2sc) 2x                                                             (10)
7. (sc 4x, 2sc) 2x                                                              (12)
8. (sc 5x, 2sc) 2x                                                             (14)
9. (sc 6x, 2sc) 2x                                                            (16)
10. (sc 6x, invdec) 2x                                                     (14)
11. (sc 5x, invdec) 2x                                                     (12)
12. Invdec around                                                           (6)
13. Invdec around                                                           (3)
Fasten off with about 6 inches of yarn and use it to sew to the body.

Arms (make 2):
Make a MR with 6 scs in it                                       (6)
1. - 5. Sc around                                                        (6)
6. Sc, invdec, sc 2x, 2sc                                           (6)
7. Sc, invdec, sc 2x, 2sc                                           (6)
8. Invdec around                                                        (3)
Fasten off with about 6 inches of yarn and sew it to the body. I usually thread the yarn through the arm to the very first round and sew that to the body.


Etsy Sale!

For 2018, I'm revamping and streamlining my online shop. Which means I'm having a SALE! Many items are 25% off, with no need for a coupon.

Shawls, scarves, gloves, blankets, toys... so many awesome things! https://www.etsy.com/shop/TomboyNanny?ref=seller-platform-mcnav&section_id=1




Next Crochet Lesson: January 27, 11am-2pm

I had a great time teaching some basic stitches to some friends, and making some new friends too! From now on, I think every first and third Saturday will work great for meeting at Bricks & Scones. But this month, the third Saturday is the Women's March, so I'll have to move it back one week.

A few other notes:
Parking can be rough, but two blocks west on Arden or two blocks east on Gower has always been relatively open - but be sure to check the parking signs just in case!
We will always be on the first floor. When you walk in, go to the counter to order a cup of coffee or whatever you'd like, and then go into the room beyond the counter. I'm always there early, so just look for me!

I hope to see you on the 27th!

Dinosaur Dance

Check out my cute little video featuring my dinosaurs!