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March 14, 2018 – Getting Antsy

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Happy Wednesday, All!

Last Saturday I took my sewing machine in for annual maintenance to Heuer’s Sewing Center in Fond du Lac, WI. I had a nice mini road trip! I brought some old CDs, packed a healthy lunch, and did some fabric shopping at Joann Fabric after I delivered my machine. There was a GREAT sale going on and a nice lady slipped me a coupon! SCORE!

I miss you, old pal! 🙁

Although I had a lovely weekend, I am starting to get antsy without my machine. I have been working on organizing and doing ‘business-y” things this week. Today I will be pressing and cutting fabric for bibs and books. But it feels funny to not finish things up and go all assembly line. I am hoping to speed up productivity at least.

New Flannel Fabric

While I was at Joann Fabric, of course I started talking to the other ladies in the fabric cutting line (That was the BEST part of my mini trip! I am pretty much an introvert, but have no problem talking to nice lady strangers. ;)) Part of our conversation was sewing machines. I need a new machine, but have put off buying one for years. I should really invest in a new one and use my current one as a back up. So, that is my next project: looking into a new machine. The ladies I spoke with said they love their Baby Lock machines. I had never heard of that brand. Anyone else use a Baby Lock? Do you like it?

I have to roll. My fabric is calling, and I must go!

Have a fabulous Wednesday!

Missie S.

 

 

March 9, 2018

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Hello, Everyone!

It seems like a slow time of year for the handmade industry, but the truth is: It’s HUSTLE time!!! I have been working on Sock Monkeys, Socktopus, and Note-to-Self Mini books and slowly building my inventory. Now that my daughter is 4 years old and is part “helper”, part sassy pants, I have more time/freedom to get  some more things done.  I have been renting space in our local handmade store, “The WB Merchantile” in downtown West Bend, WI.

giggleFritz and Co. booth in The WB Merchantile
West Bend, WI

As I add things to my booth and snap a picture each time, I can’t help but feel I will need a bigger space. As I said, it is HUSTLE time!!!

Have a Fantastic Friday and Weekend!

Missie S.

 

January 24, 2018 – Diet and Animal Crackers

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Hello All!

I didn’t make any New Year resolutions this year. I never do. I just try to stay positive and plan for things I want to see happen, or not happen. Last week, however, I tried a new diet and it seems to fit into the New Year resolution category of eating better in 2018. I cut out sugar and processed wheat for a whopping 5 days! MAN, that was hard!

I tried, I REALLY tried! I avoided temptation like a boss, even when my husband forgot to order my chili from Culver’s and brought me home a soda and some custard. I drank a lot of water. I ate a lot of eggs, oatmeal, and peanut butter. Friends who have similar diet restrictions lent their support and tips. (For that I am forever grateful [Wendy L.!!!]) I looked up recipes and was bombarded with what seemed like foreign food. I went through some lousy withdrawal symptoms and felt proud that I was detoxing for the greater good. In the end, the anxiety of not finding enough to eat, the constant feeling of not being satisfied after I ate, and not being able to think straight got to me. In the beginning, my thought was, “There will never be a “good” time to do this diet,” so I just started it. The fact is, I really need my brain to function at full capacity NOW. I will try again in the future. At the very least this was a great practice run.

Animal Crackers – These were the first food I chowed down on after my “diet”. They were SO GOOD!!

Did you have a New Year resolution? Are you still working on it, or have you called it quits? Let me know in the comments.

So, that’s what I’ve been up to lately. Failing diets, sewing, and taking care of my loved ones, and watching some TV. There’s some more stuff, but I got to go sew some more stuff!

Have a fantastic Wednesday, Everyone who reads my blog!!

Missie S.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2018!!

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope everyone is having an excellent 2018 so far. At the very least I hope we are all keeping warm.

giggleFritz

I haven’t shown up here in the last two months. What have I been doing? We participated in St. Ann’s Holiday Gift Fair and that was a lot of fun! The people were great and sales were good. It really got us into the holiday spirit!

After St. Ann’s I had a large order to fill and it took me some time to finish. Afterward, my family and I spent most of December sick. It was odd, we are usually healthy and haven’t been that sick in years. I really think our daughter being in preschool this year had a lot to do with it. Combine the stress of the holidays with lots of germs from small children and you are left down for the count!

I am up and at ‘em again! It’s back to school time and I have been cleaning up, organizing, and making plans. I am working on inventory and will be filling my shop soon.

Let’s work hard for a happy and healthy 2018!

Missie S.

November 1, 2017

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Good Morning and Happy November 1st!

Today I am continuing filling up my booth for St. Ann’s Holiday Gift Fair Nov. 11th. I don’t think I will get everything listed on the web site or in the Etsy shop before this last craft fair of the year. If there is something you are looking for that is not listed, perhaps a certain color, please contact me:

Email: missie@gigglefritz.com

(My contact page is currently out of commission since the last Word Press update. Lots of work to do!)

The newest Socktopus in the giggleFritz shop:

Silver and Gold Stars and Stripes Socktopus – SOLD

 

My sewing machine calls! Have a Fantastic Wednesday!

Missie S. (giggleFritz!)

Many Thanks for Horicon High School Craft Fair!

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Happy Monday, Everyone!

I had so much fun at the Horicon High School Craft Fair this past Saturday! A quick list of the things I most enjoyed about the fair:

Kind Fairgoers: people passing by that take the time to look, give complements, add their ideas, and sometimes  buy things!

My Favorite Candles/Sandy Kane for informing me of this craft fair and sharing her booth with me!

Hanging out with my sisters who are the greatest helpers and supporters

Linda Kane and her helpful volunteers who ran everything very smoothly

The other Crafters, who inspire me to think even more deeply and creatively

All the yummy smells coming from the cafeteria. (Seriously, I brought a lunch, but I WANTED a sloppy joe!) The smells were da BOMB! The bake sale also was tantalizing!

My Favorite Candles – part of the candle display. These candles are AMAZING!

Thank you, Everyone, who made this weekend so fun and memorable!

I am off to sew Socktopus guys now. St. Ann’s Holiday Gift Fair is a mere two weeks away and I only have two Socktopus guys left! Let’s get to it! 🙂

Have a wonderful Monday, All!

Missie S.

 

Lots of Socks!

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Happy October, Everyone! Things are already looking quite busy and fun. On Saturday I mentioned to my husband I could use a trip to the store to pick up Red Heel socks for Sock Monkeys. We ended up having a “date” night with our 3-yr old. We stopped for burgers and custard and swung by the store for a few things. Well, lo and behold! A sale on Red Heel socks! THAT I have never seen! My husband was like, “Stock up!” And I’m all, “Not too much.” I left with 12 pair of socks! You know what I will be working on. 🙂

Yay, let’s make some monkeys!

The next day husband and little one were feeling a little under the weather. We were home all day. They rested and played Go Fish. I made a little “healing food”. I took most of the last of our tomatoes from the garden and made a big pot of chili. I baked some homemade bread to go with the chili. Kind of a lot of work, but delicious!

We are all back to work and school today. Hopefully the rest of the week will be smooth sailing! (Because, yeah, it always is Lol! 😉 )

Have Fantastic Monday, All!

Missie S.

First Day of Fall!

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Happy first day of Fall, Everyone! This is my favorite time of year. We are in those final “‘ber” months of the year (SeptemBER, OctoBER, NovemBER, DecemBER). I would be enjoying things much more without this heatwave, however. 90 degrees in my neck of the woods today. Not very autumny!

Waiting for these Mum buds to POP open. C’mon, you guys!

I just wanted to update my “Events” page with news. My booth will be part of the St. Ann’s Holiday Gift Fair again this year. So, mark your calendar for Saturday, November 11, 9am-2pm in Stoughton, WI. If you’re in the area, stop in and say “hi” at the giggleFritz and Co. booth. Start your Christmas shopping, have some lunch, and enjoy the “BER” season at this wonderful event!

Have an excellent Friday and weekend too!

Missie S.

Many Thanks for Coffee Break Fest!

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Hello, Everybody!

Coffee Break Fest last Saturday was AMAZING! The weather was beautiful, there were a ton of people, and we had a great time! To Everyone that stopped by the giggleFritz and Co. booth, it was very nice to meet you and thank you for all of the compliments! To customers who purchased something I made, Thank you and I hope you truly enjoy what you purchased! To my sister, Jill Punzenberger, who helped me get here, set up, sell, sample coffee with me, eat cupcakes with me, let me use the bathroom, tear down the booth, laugh with me, and drive home with me, Thank you! And to every last loved one who encourages me to keep creating, THANK YOU!!

I hope Everyone had a wonderful weekend and is enjoying the last days of summer!

Have a great day, and enjoy the eclipse today!

Missie S.

 

Coffee Break Fest!

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Hello Everyone!

A few weeks ago I was informed that my application for the Coffee Break Fest 2017 craft fair was accepted!! I am so excited to be part of this event once again! Last year I stayed home because of rain. I have been checking the extended forecast every day and it looks like 79 degrees and partly cloudy.

I have not posted any updates since May 2nd. I have been busy trying to keep up with our 3 year old DD, housework, gardening, summer fun, and sewing when I can. In two weeks DD will be starting preschool. I am planning on getting more work done, items for sale in my shop, and more posts on my blog. We will see if my plans and reality become one! 😉

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

Missie S.