With Apologies

I've been neglecting you, my followers. Somehow I keep running out of time. Do you have people in your life who are always productive? Who seem to have time to run up a quick skirt, bake a couple of loaves of bread, run 3 miles a day, clean their baseboards, have cookies and milk ready for the kids, and even more? Where do they find the time!!! Does their day have 28 hours?

Well, my day only has 24. Truthfully, the morning hours between 7 & 11 are the ones that really count. After lunch I begin to slow down. For me that means going from a saunter to a crawl. I guess I really only have 4 hours in my day. No wonder the rest of you are so far ahead.

Tomorrow is set up for the Red Poppy Festival then with just a little help from the weather man an exciting weekend connecting with old friends and making some new ones. Come on out to say hello!

This little reversible pillowcase dress should be ready and hanging in the booth for some smiling little 2 year old.

 

 

After the weekend, I have one day to pack car and set out for Wilmington, DE. For all of you on the East Coast Annarella Girl will be at the Wilmington Flower Market from May 9 -11. See you there.

www.wilmingtonflowermarket.org  has all the info about the event.

 

I'll try to stop in here once in a while to chat with you. If I'm neglectful it's because I've run out of hours, but I'll be thinking of you.



Saturday Countdown

The sun is shining through my sewing room window, but the temperature is unusually chilly. Who left the refrigerator door open last night?

sunny skirt, size M (5-6)

I'm into the final countdown before the Red Poppy Festival which kicks off next Saturday. So much left to do. That dreaded to-do list is soooo long. Most of the sewing is done, but I have a few "if I can get to it" dresses and onesies I'm dying to do. a lot of the tasks are now organizational and business details. Print off handouts; tag everything; iron, iron, iron all the goodies; make headbands; gather all display items; stamp receipts. Seems endless, doesn't it?

Why go through all of this work for a show? I love meeting all the customers. I look forward to talking to the girls. The feedback is invalauble. For months I work in the solitary confines of my sewing room. A show gives me a chance to see if I'm designing and creating clothes that a little girl wants. Every smile affirms that I'm on the right track. Each excited buyer gives me a shot of love.

Recently a reader left a comment saying that Annarella Girl clothes made her smile. That is the ultimate compliment for me! When someone walks into my booth and smiles as he/she looks, I feel it as a warm hug. Does anyone remember the Oscar acceptance speech of Sally Fields when she exclaimed, "You love me! You really love me!?" I want to shout those words with every smile and each purchase. Yep, these are my creation "babies," and you think they are cute!!! I am a proud mom.

I hope you will be able to put up with my obsessing about Red Poppy. And it doesn't end there. Two days after, April 30, husband and I start the long drive to take Annarella Girl to the Wilmington Flower Market. Hooray!! Another dose of love, I hope.

Hey, if you are close to either show, stop in and say hi. I'd love to see you!! Now, I'm off to make some headbands. Busy, busy , busy.

Why You Haven't Been Hearing from Me

Busy days. There are 3 projects that are converging. I'm as busy as a one-armed paper hanger.

Two weeks until the Poppy Fest. Georgetown's Square welcomes 30,000 visitors to hear the music, see the cars, eat fair food, and visit all the arts and crafts vendors - that means me!!! Go to the website to see the stars and schedule for all events. www.poppy.georgetown.org.

I'm also helping the Georgetown Art Works create an outstanding  booth to spread the word about the new art center coming to Georgetown. Look for the big blue elephant at the Red Poppy Fest. There you can find out what the art center will be doing this year, how you can become a member and support this exciting project.

Then 2 weeks later, May 9th - 11th I'll be at the Wilmington Flower Market. I had to skip it last year, but I'm back!!! Great show which benefits lots of worthy children's charities. Come out buy a plant, famous flower market mustard and a colorful sundress!!!

All this has kept my fingers flying at the sewing machine and attending more meetings than I'd like. Here are a few new creations for my booth at Red Poppy and the Flower Market. Spread the word. Mark your calendar. Annarella Girl is coming.





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The Bees Knees

Where did this expression come from? We humans have cute knees but they give out after a certain amount of use. Bees have spindly knees but I've never heard of a bee knee replacement. Maybee we need to learn from them. Fly instead of walk. Does that lead to shoulder surgery? Just asking.

Tomorrow and Sunday I'll be at the Red Poppy Fest along with thousands (I hope!) Should be lots of sunshine. Please come and enjoy all the music, food, family activities. It's been a buzzy week leading up to it. Special orders coming in. Looks like I'll be buzzy as a bee in the month of May!

I am skipping the Wilmington Flower Market. I'll miss all my fans there. Always a good show for me with lots of returning girls. Fun to see them grow. Maybe next year. In the meantime if you are used to finding me there, try my etsy or facebook pages.

Bee good and enjoy whatever your buzzy weekend brings!! Remember you can find me on 7th street in downtown Georgetown on the street outside The Exchange's new location. Parade starts at 10. Come early and stay late.

Final Post on Wilmington Flower Market 2011

I know, I know. This is really late, but I'm almost positive this will be my last words on WFM. (Although the love and fun will linger in my memory for a long time to come.)

This lovelie wore her Annarella Girl skirt, from 2 years ago, to show us. It is one of her favortie things, she reports. In her hand is the new skirt she bought. I hope she wears it to show next year. Love, love, love my returning customers!

I also want to give a shout out to my sister-in-law and her husband, Paulette and Boots. They took such good care of me. Clean laundry. Good meals. P makes the best salads I've ever had. They are chock full of veggies and fruit. Hubs and I have been recreating for a yummy summer meal. I can't thank P & B enough for all they did, and how comfortable and cared for I felt.

A Few Pics

Apparently there was a glitch with blogspot this last week. My last posting was eaten. Don't know if it will ever surface.

And on a similar theme, my camera has eaten some of my pics. Here are the few it left me from the Wilmington Flower Market.

Part of my booth. The signs are eyecatching. I can never say THANKS often enough to Sarah Havard, the photographer.

This is other side of the booth with dresses, skirts and onsies. The onsies were so popular I only had 8 left to bring home. Sewing, sewing, sewing so I'll have some to show at Good Water Gallery.

Doesn't she look lovely with her headband. Model Extrordinaire!!!!

Along with the sewing I'm going to start revamping my blog. Lately been cruising the sewing blogs and I'm blow away by the talent, both writing and stitching. (I feel like a one note creator compared to so many others.) I'd like to share some of my finds. So next time you stop by my side bar favorites will have some changes. SOOOON.

Jiggedy Jig

Heading home. Had a great time at the Wilmington Flower Market. Lots of friendly people. Enjoyed greeting past Annarella girls and meeting so many new ones. Can't wait until next year!

The onsies were a huge hit. Leggings were a winner. Everyone was so complimentary. I feel the love.

Now, I'm itching to get back to my sewing room. I have lots of ideas. By the end of this week the remaining dresses and skirts will be back at Good Water Gifts and Art.

First we face a long drive home. Normally our route would take us through Memphis, but because of the flooding we'll go north through St Louis and down through Oklahoma. My heart goes out to all who are effected by the floods. Its been a disasterous spring for too many. On our way up through Virginia we saw an area that was wiped out by a tornado. It was fearful to see so much destruction. I hope all my readers and customers are okay.

Talk to you all when I get home. Keep safe.

Hit the Road

I really had my doubts that we were going to be able to get out of here by Wednesday. But ready or not....

For the first time I've loaded my machine, cut out garments, plain onsies waiting their transformation and unmade headbands. I am a sewing room on wheels. Plans are to sew in the evenings while on the road. Then after weekend in NYC I have a couple of free days to sew, sew, sew. The good families in Wilmington deserve as many choices as I can give them.

Everyone in the Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey area come see me at the Wilmington Flower Market. It starts on Thursday, May 5, at 10 am, runs through Saturday. There are lots of goods to see. Any purchases dedicate 15% to a bunch of children's charities. Such a fun way to support all the worthy charities. You can check out the flower Market website for a list of all te organizations supported by the market.

Children's activities include a carnival with lots of rides. Kids love it. An outstanding plant sale is a long time staple. The flowers are gorgeous and look great in yards and containers. Stop in and pick out your favorites. There is a will call area so you can pick them up when you are ready to leave.

This event is not to be missed. Annarella Girl is in the "handmade" tent. Can't wait to see you all!!!

Time Flies

Remember when you were a kid. 24 hours was endless. The day before Christmas - endless. The day before your birthday - forever. The day before a vacation - slow torture.

Maybe a sign of being an adult is when all the "days before" become not long enough. When a looming deadline is cause for panic. 24 hours a day tooooo short. That's my world today. I need more time! There is so much I want to get done. So many more dresses I want to make. So many onsies that I want to embellish. So many headbands to create. So little time.

Wish me luck as my clock ticks on. Wilmington Flower Market is May 5, 6, 7 whether I'm ready or not.

10 Days

Red Poppy Festival is over. It was wonderful - lots of people to meet, good weather and successful sales. Thanks to all who bought from me! The onsies with attached skirt made their debut, and people loved them. I do have a pic or two that I will post tomorrow. Now I have 10 days to restock for the Wilmington Flower Market. Let's see - that is 240 hours. So if I don't sleep, limit the potty breaks and eat only once a day, I should just about make it. Posting on this blog will be spotty for the next month, but I'll try to check in for brief updates. Thinking warm thoughts about all of you.