Shop Local: Strawberry Fields Flowers and Finds

I stopped by Strawberry Fields Flowers and Finds today and dropped off a bunch of Modern June goodies!! I was so excited to see that their holiday goodies are up. I'm officially in the mood!

Oilcloth Fair Flags for Country Living

How wonderful are these Oilcloth Fair Flags that we made for the Rhinebeck Country Living Fair? I know that's it's rude to boast but I'm just so darn proud!

Back in February I got a call from the two gents that do the fair decor for the Country Living Magazine. Robert and Ed are so wonderful, they've been such great Modern June supporters since we all meet in Ohio back in 2010. Thanks to them I get to do all those demos at the fairs. When they called this time they had the idea of taking our oilcloth banners and making them GIANT SIZED! Robert had been inspired by traditional prayer flags and was looking for a hard wearing, rain-proof option for the NY Fair. 

We spent the next few weeks going back and forth with prototypes until we found the right size and shape. You know that I had goosebumps when we pulled into the fair grounds to set up. I was beyond tickled pink!! 

The Oilcloth Fair Flags were a real hit!! They held up to pouring rain and the bright sunshine. Most importantly, they made everyone very happy. 

Here are the impressive stats! There were 678 flags in total. If strung from end to end, the 48 banners would cover 26 football fields. WOW, that was a fun order!!

New Shop to carry Modern June

We happily welcome a new shop to the Modern June wholesale family, Madison and Mabel,  in Fredrick, Maryland. Look at the photos, I might have to deliver this order in person. A girl needs to shop!!!

What next?

So, as you may have heard already, Modern June has been working very hard on her first giant order.  The order for 200 Festive Oilcloth Pennants were delivered to Chick Picks by Hillary on Saturday--a very good day indeed!  Let me tell you that was an adventure into manufacturing, I learned more lessons than ever before.  Here are a few photos from the last few days of production.

About a week ago we had this mess going on...

After a day of fun we got to this point, 220 party banners all ready for strings!

After a week of stitching, Nicole and I got them to this stage!!!

The best stage of all, sewn, tagged and boxed!

  

But look what happened, my production shelves are nearly empty. How sad...

Never fear, we have fabric coming in, lots and lots! Here is a sneak peak at spring!  

A peek at the madness!

Well the gang and I have been cranking out the Modern June Goodness.  Wholesale Heaven round one is almost out of here, 5 orders out two to go!  Then I start all over again with round two, then Christmas.  Wow, Christmas!  We need to get a cutting now girls!

Here are a few pics of what is headed out the door later this week...

96 placemats!  Well only 84 shown I have 12 more to make.

New cotton aprons in the works! 

Everyone love an owl tote! 

A few new oilcloth aprons awaiting appliques and pockets.  

Learning Curve

Here is an incomplete list of the things I learned at the Philadelphia Buyers Market two weeks ago.

• Hooks are your friends
• If you have to, make your own hooks!
• Need more of those cool hooks from the signs? Who doesn't! I got the down low on the coveted hooks from two experienced vendors. Many people leave their sign and their hooks, once they are gone snag the hooks! I did that and I felt very silly but I now have a couple dozen hooks! The more sensible and much more dignified way to score the hooks is to ask for them at the begging of the show. Too easy, right?
• Lighting is not to be forgotten or done at the last minute. Trust me, I learned that the hard way. Thank goodness that there is an Ikea 11 minutes away from the convention center! Even better to know is that Tony Lukes is close to the Ikea!! But wait, even better than Ikea and Tony Lukes, you get to see this crazy Titanic ship while at Ikea!

• A second layer of drape is good for hiding cords and not getting you neighbor all hyped up! Oops, sorry about that! This is where you need all those cool hooks! You can grab some fun curtains at Ikea, the ones with grommets then use the hooks to hang them up.
• Easy-Peasy!
• Mats-Mats-Mats! I hear that is the place to go for fun and functional flooring. For me it is all about the Flor carpet tiles. I just love that concept. While we were wonderfully gifted with free carpet, I would have skipped it if I had the chance since the carpet fumes gave me the worst headache. TIP: You can air out the Flor tiles at home before the show!!!

• My booth lay out was tricky. Going in to the show I had a clear vision for my 5 x 10 section of the booth. But, it was obvious that wasn't going to work at all. So I changed it up and I was very happy with it But then I was told to move my loot up to the front of the booth, I was told that I had a 'dark tunnel of death' going on. NICE! I wasn't sure I was going to take the experts advise but the next morning I got in early and moved the bakers rack and squish up the dress forms. It was a good idea after all. What I really liked was how I tidied up the merch on the bakers rack. It was less craft show, it was cleaner and easier to see.

• Philadelphia is great food! Reading Market is a must. Next time I am eating lunch there every day.
• Pack the hand truck first so that it gets in the van no matter how full the van gets. Who cares if you have to unpack the entire van to get to it at least you have the silly thing.
• Teamsters are cute! On Monday while I was moving the forward two big burly guys chatted with me about my first time experience, the economy and sales. It made me miss the gaffers from my movie set days.

I wish I could share with you every little bit of information and every pearl of wisdom that I gleaned from the other exhibitors and The Rosen Group. Everyone was open, giving and kind to share with us what they knew. I couldn't agree more with another Etsy Street Team gal when she called the weekend Trade Show Boot Camp!

Thanks for having us! I hope that you keep offering the program to Etsy Street Teams, it is truly an invaluable and eye opening experience!

Richmond Etsy Street Team at Buyers Market!

Just a quick peek at our booth at last weeks Buyers Market of American Craft!

Tasha McKelvey, Zou Zou's Basement, Silver Tree Art and Modern June

controlled chaos

I am in full production! I have loads of wholesale orders and the big Spring Bada Bing show next weekend. Yesterday as all about our Oilcloth Party Banners, sorting and prepping. Tonight I am finishing them off. I love having stock on the shelves. What a happy feeling!

We are adding a new design into the mix, Chalk Cloth on one side and oilcloth on the other! This was a special request from the Dallas shop, The Gypsy Wagon. I love when I get great requests like that, some times people know just what I want to make! I have been wanting do these for a while now. Fun stuff! Who knew the our original oilcloth bunting could get any better?

Now if my new hang tags would just get here I could get all this out in the mail! UPS where are you?

A peck of owls

Looking for my fantastic Oilcloth Owl Totes? Well, they've all flown the coop! The last batch of owl totes were snatched up by the always elegant TwistStyle.com! Mary Ellen is the genius behind the glamor, and was a winner of Country Living's Pitch Your Product Contest in 2008. I am thrilled that she is my first new wholesale client of the year! Mary Ellen is a fellow Richmond Craft Mafia gal and a great friend.

I own lots of her fantastic jewelry, but my favorite is from her new Corsage Collection! My cute hubby did very well by me this Christmas--I hear he had help, thanks Beth and ME for pointing him in the right direction. Crafty friends = great loot!

These sweeties fly out of here so fast! But don't worry, new hatchlings are in the works. Modern June should be restocked very soon, but in the mean time snatch one from twiststyle.com!

MIA

Sorry to have totally MIA, but this has been the week from hell. Lot's and lot's of sewing, loads of local shop deliveries (Feathernesters, Strawberry Fields and Nicola Floral) and one fun little show. Wait till I show you what I got! Fun greeting cards for Modern June and two necklaces for Maddie's Christmas.

Today I was so in so much pain, (my neck and right hand hate me) I took off and went to see my beloved chiropractor. Dr. Jo said she could save time by writing down what was good with my back! Now that is bad!!! The kids and I went and did some errands and I planned to surprise them with an afternoon at the movies, their treat for dealing with my heavy work schedule, but I was so tired that I was afraid I couldn't drive home safely. When home I snuggled in for a 4 hour nap. Man those kids we good. they only woke me up 5 times. : )

I will ready to kick it again tomorrow with my renewed back, hand and attitude! I am now so horrible far behind of orders that the 4 hour nap will soon be needed again.

The above photos are a few of the goodies that I listed this week. If you need something grab it fast, I have sold 4 of the retro oilcloth tree skirts in 2 days. I am sorry if I sound like I am boasting but really I am just so proud of them, they are just so fun and festive.

I would really like to thank my wonderful TEAM JUNE for all their hard work. You gals are kicking it hard and I am so grateful for every stitch and cut you all do. I could not stay sane with out you all.

Luv, Kelly

Ashly York

I am on proud splat mat maker today! Look at this site, Ashley York is live and it is drop dead gorgeous! You simply must go and check out all the lovely items that Tia has hand picked for her uniquely chic boutique!

The perfect place for people with more taste than time. We shop the world so you don’t have to. Here you’ll find the kind of uniquely chic, sometimes hand-crafted, products that will make your friends and family say “Where did you find that?”. Now you can browse an upscale boutique at any time of day or night. Celebrity style. Exclusively yours. Ashley York.

monogramed baby bibs!

Modern June baby bibs are soon to sold at Carabella's. There you can get on of my oilcloth baby bibs monogramed. How fun is that? Here are the bibs before they go off to their studio! I am in love with the brown and pink combo.

Look what else you can find there! Oilcloth sippy cups! I love it! It looks like the dark blue on has the name Aiden. I would have loved this for my AIDAN! TOO CUTE!

Rick Rack, Splat Mats and Cool Banners

Look what I scored this weekend! RICK RACK and lots and lots of it!! Thanks to my friend Suzanne of Silver Tree Art I was able to get all this for $50.00. We are talking 800 yards of the fabulous stuff. Now that was a serious score! I bought it all at a scrap book store that closed this past weekend. I am bummed by how I got my loot, my heart was really hurting for the owner that was saying goodbye to her business and all her customers. That is a real drag.



So this weekend I sent off a wholesale order to a new shop, my twelfth shop and off to Canada of all places. Modern June is soon to be sold internationally. Yikes that sounds scary. This wonderful pile of Deluxe Splat Mats is off to a new and soon to be fab on-line shop called Ashley York Boutique, I will post a link when the site goes live!

I can not tell you how many splat mats have gone out lately, it is incredible. It is the year of the splat mat here at Modern June. This is my second wholesale order this month that had just Deluxe Mats, with two more shops also considering carrying them!

I have been able to make some really fun combinations, thanks to the creativity of the shop owners. They are coming up with some great products! I really like the custom aspect of my business, it allows people to influence my work in such wonderful ways, it makes me feel less lonely working in the studio alone.

I also sent off a Splat Mat to a National Pregnancy and Baby Magazine for consideration for their Editorial Picks. I was honored just to be asked, we will see if it makes the September issue later! Meanwhile I have my fingers crossed.


I also made these super cool Banners out of oilcloth. I am going to call them The Mexican Madness Banner. I am so in love with them, I did not want to pack these four fabulous lovelies in to the box, I wanted to keep them for my very own. I have to make mine soon! I will also be listing them on ye ol' Etsy site later this week. This order of four 18' long banners are for an adorable lady, Courtney! She runs Sweet Lucindas. The banners will decorate her courtyard behind her shop where she holds cupcake parties. THAT is so cool, don't we all want to go? Her cupcakes are so cool that Martha recently picked out 8 of her entries during the cupcake contest. That equals rock star status!


To finish off this long weekend of productivity I had to clean up my studio! What a disaster! When I took the photo with the banners I really saw the room and it's mess from a new perspective. I bet that mess has a bit to do with my burn-out last week, I hadn't given it the once over since the show chaos. Who can work in that mess? Sometimes I forget that a clean studio= happy worker!

The best part is that I can use the Treadmill, my bottom is suffering from lack of it's use. If I don't use it consistently for the next month, I vow to sell it. I could use the room for something really useful.

Have a great week!

Did I ever tell you...

...that you can find my stuff in the super cute shop called Nicola Floral? It is located in my wonderful little neighborhood, Bellevue. Stop buy and pick up some flowers and say hi to Nicole!

I am dropping off some pretty new goodies there later today! They already have the Modern June Baby line, Check book covers, coin purses and some pretty little aprons!

Check out this bag she has! OMG I want this bad! I feel like a traitor not carrying something that is mine or hand-made but OMG it is too kitsch for words.

HMMM, can I have it? Yes I think I must!

Tutti Fruity goodness!

Check it out you can now but Modern June at Tutti Fruity Designs. How cool is that. I love it! But what I really love is all the other cute stuff, man the ric rac collection is so cute and the matching bottoms, fancy pants, too much.

But wait before you go off shopping here is the really cool thing! Do you all remember the pink cupcake aprons I told you about last week, well they are to be sold EXCLUSIVELY through Tutti Fruity Designs. Yep you can ONLY get that particular cupcake apron from TFD! Fun funky and fabulous!

Chick's Picks

If you live in NOVA, Maryland or D.C. and are up for some darn fine shopping, check out the three day home-show held by the divine Hillary!

Chick's Picks specializes in creating, discovering
and showcasing fashion and home accessories. Private shows highlight original creations.

There you will find a large array of Modern June items. For the kids there are splat mats, art smocks, baby bibs and the new cupcake aprons. For you can find checkbook covers, my new appliquéd coin purses, and market totes. I tell ya Hillary has an Modern June Oilcloth extravaganza going on!

Thursday, March 13, 9am-8pm

Friday, March 14, 8am-6pm

Saturday, March 15, 9am-2pm

Say hi to Hillary for me!