Time is a trunk show...

...and a lot of happy costumers.
Yes, I did another "suitcase rummage". This time it was in one of my favorite towns in Switzerland: Chur.
By the way for those of you who've never heard about suitcase rummages I found out that they are called "Trunk Shows" in the USA.

I made SO many bags, purses and jewelry and I didn't even get done preparing my space when customers started to swallow my products. Three hours later I got the first nip of my coffee...cold by that time...straightened my hair and clothes and got back to selling.
It was a blast and I got a kick out of all of these shining eyes leaving my space.
In the evening I went home with a few pieces left, my lunch untouched, knowing that the next trunk show is coming up in less than two weeks.

So I won't have to tell you, my days are upside down loaded with work.
My back hurts, my muscles hurt, my head is spinning but its all right and I'm going to bed and getting up with a smile on my face each day.

I recommend trunk shows to everybody that makes smaller products fitting in a suitcase. It's great, it's easy, it's smart and it is a blast! ;)

Much love,
Dina

Time is a suitcase...

...loaded with good things.

Suitcase Rummage in Lucerne, Switzerland
www.koffermarkt-luzern.ch

Yes ladies, I did my first "suitcase rummage" at the end of the last year in Lucerne. "Last year" sounds so weird, or is it just me...
I got an invitation to it without knowing what it is but I was thrilled when I found out what it's all about. It swapped over to Switzerland fully now and there are popping up suitcase rummages all over the country for this year.

No need to say: I had a BLAST and my bags and necklaces seemed to be some of the hot sellers which made my heart sing! By the time I went home there where six small pieces left, so no rummage anymore. I even sold my decoration to a girl; a brooch I used to tag some lace. She wanted it really bad so I gave her a good deal.

On this occasion I naturally wanted to have a unique suitcase.
Here is what I did...

When I got the case the false leather outside was a bright orange-deer-brown and the also-ghastly, brown satin fabric inside was splotchy. Well, don't get me wrong, I guess it looked funky in the 70's. Unfortunately this was the only suitcase at the flea market.

The decision was made with ease, I ripped out the fabric inside and spotted cardboard underneath!
A cardboard suitcase! All right!

I painted the false leather on the outside with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (yes, I did!) Duck Egg Blue, let it dry and then I brushed old white onto it. Just some strokes with an almost dry brush to bring out the highlights.
In this case I did not wax it for I wanted this dry and matt look, keeping in mind that the color could chip off and get wet. As a small decoration I used oxidized metal stamps (a butterfly, a leave and a tag).

On the inside I used Japanese Cotton Fabric (50% Cotton, 50% Linen), glued and sealed it with Mod Podge. You could use outdoor Mod Podge if you would like to be able to wipe a surface with a wet towel.

I did a quick upholstery for the inside of the cover with a light cream cotton fabric and then, decorated with a lace trim (for hanging up some earrings) and two bronze brooches (yes, that where the ones selling too).

Actually you could use such a suitcase as a decorating item in your home too where it could hold magazines, kids toys, books, remote controls, a cat (?)...or just shine.

And here it is in action! Much love, Dina

    

   

My Fair Summer

It's been a while...again.
Life is crazy right now!
A load of my clutches, purses and necklaces arrived in Düsseldorf two days before the re-opening party of "Das Pinke Zimmer" and I thought that's it for a while...but...no. I had to hurry up for the next market date was close and I hardly got done, but I got done :)
The market in Zug (Switzerland) was a great experience although the weather was slightly humid and the visitors rare. But I've met a lot of beautiful and interesting human beings and had a lovely helper by my side!
For the last two hours the sun came up and we enjoyed some more visitors.

Even these two "guys" got soaking wet

My booth

Our direct view from the market

Cleaning up

Afterwards I caught a big, fat cold and my husband had to get surgery on his back, so I was home alone with two grumpy dogs, missing Oliver and dealing with all of it by myself.
I could not work on anything but on a little bit of cleaning.

These days I often have a quick look at my atelier and all the new fabrics lingering for me. I hardly can wait until my head, throat and lungs are getting free of all of this...waste...to go back to this new material waiting.
I also already have my mind set on christmas and the christmas markets but first I'd just enjoy this wonderful summer weather! It's exactly the temperature I prefer for this time of the year (not too hot!). I'll lay back, at least a little, before I have to make decisions, cut some strings, open new doors and live up to all of the new things that will come.

Much love, Dina

By the way: HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWITZERLAND!

And time went by

Back to "normal" again. The Christmas Market is over and I've got a bunch of impressions. I've learned so much, thanks to my booth neighbor Mara and my costumers and visitors!
The market went well, we had nice weather, lots of visitors and my husband brought me a can of coffee per day and I sold a lot of cool things. What can I ask for more?

The only misfortune was our car not willing to start on day two. So I had to bridge it twice. Once at home while being late anyways and once at the market while still being late...by the end of the market not even the bridging did help. It was dead.
Well, we changed battery yesterday and my nightmare of trashing our car did not come true. :)

Here are some photos of my booth. I loved it dearly and I think that I will participate on more markets. I had such a great time!!

A big thank you to everybody that supported me kindly!!

Me doing funny faces...

cleaning up

I also found out that the date my homepage went online is 11.december.2010 and the first day of my first market is 11.december.2011

It was so fun to look back. Great memories, great times! :)

Much love,

Dina