Thought Processes for the Arts & Wine Festival

A few weeks ago George and I took a look at our photographs from last years Arts & Wine Festival on Pensacola Beach.  Simply, our booth looked ugly.  The tent with the embroidered "Cajun Stitchery" looked great.  The tablecloths did not match, the items for sale looked scattered and messy.  The tables were not situated for the convenience of the customer.  Oh my, it was embarrassing to look at those photos.  It is a good thing that we took the photos, though. 

Now that we've taken a look at last year's booth, we need to make some corrections for this year's booth.  The table cloths are history.  I would like matching floor length table cloths but in lieu of that, I purchased 2 white, plastic tablecloths from the dollar store.  The only problem with that is now you will be able to see under the tables where the boxes are kept.  Nevertheless, it cannot look as bad as last year.  We are also going to place the tables differently.  We are going to put them in a way, probably an L, so that the customer can come further under the canopy.  I have purchased some baskets to put little things, like patches, into to keep some order on the tables.

When I went to my first arts and craft festival, a friend warned me not to have too many different items.  Pick out 5 or 6 items and make lots of those items.  I think she was right.  I tend to just put everything out there and it becomes confusing and messy.  This year we are going to offer (1) caps for $10 or $12, (2) Christmas stockings for $20, (3) can wraps for $7-$10, (4) patches for $5-$7, (5) fingertip towels for $10, and (6) little scrapbook appliques for 2 for $1.

One of my dear friends told me recently that it just seems that lately the prices at craft fairs have gone way up.  I would guess that is correct; everything has gone up.  I don't know if people go to arts and craft fairs to get a deal or to find quality arts and crafts and unique items.  The artisans have to make a living and most items cannot be purchased anyplace else.  Nevertheless, I know that it is a good idea to have a variety of prices so people don't have to walk away empty handed. 

Part of me wanted to include the luggage grips in our repetoire of items, but George said that he thought the luggage grips were more custom.  People would want their names on the luggage grips.  Perhaps he is correct.

The can wraps are included because they are easy to make and I enjoy putting cutesy sayings on them.  I love the new one that says "Never Give Up!"  Years ago George brought home a paper with this Never Give Up design on it.  It has gotten us through some tough times.  Perhaps others will like this, too.  I have some done (no pictures yet) that say "A smile is the same in any language."  I like encouraging messages.  There is already too much discouragement in the world today.  Besides, I have some cute stock designs that I've never used before with encouraging or funny messages.

C'est tout, mes amis:>)

Cajun Corner - Vol. 3, No. 34

Cajun Corner – Vol. 3, No. 34 – August 25, 2011

Bon Jour!  Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

 

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Don’t forget to visit our blog at www.cajunstitchery.blogspot.com, catalog at www.companycasuals.com/cajunstitchery and www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often.   We are also on Twitter and Facebook. 

Visit our new on-line catalog at:

http://www.imprintit.biz/cgi-bin/cobrand/site.w?location=olc/catalog-home.w&top=catalog&frames=no&target=main&sponsor=000699

Cajun Stitchery is registered with many wholesalers for many types of items but there is one wholesaler where we regularly get a variety of items.   This wholesaler has provided an on-line catalog for Cajun Stitchery.  The web address is very long (see above).  All of the items listed are maintained by the wholesaler and you can even see what they have in stock.  I’m really excited about this.  The other wholesaler where we have an on-line catalog is good but a little more difficult to work through that catalog.  At least I think so.  Nevertheless, the prices in the catalogs are my actual customer prices.   You can order, I believe, through the Company Casuals catalog but the order will come to me.  I don’t believe that you can order through the new catalog.  It’s more that you can see what is available and the prices.  You can tell me the item number, color(s), and size(s) and I can order it for you.  Of course, there will be a shipping charge. 

Often customers will come to me and say something like, “I want a blue tee shirt.”  As you can see in the catalog, there are lots of blue tee shirts.  By allowing the customer to view the catalog, you can purchase exactly what you want and I know that you and I are on the same page.  Anyway, please browse through the on-line catalog.  There is so much more than just tee shirts available.  Even if you don’t want embroidery but just like the item, I’ll be glad to get it for you.  Of course, I always want everyone covered in embroidery.  But that’s just me.

For all of those who are in the Pensacola area, the Mystic Krewe of Nereids will be hosting our annual SPLASH Party this Sunday at Paradise Bar & Grill on beautiful Pensacola Beach.  The party begins at 2:00 p.m.  This party is family oriented, so feel free to bring the kids.  We will have games and prizes, a dunking booth, raffle, 50/50, various items for sale – ask Kathi about her Fascinators.  Music is provided by Vincent Wainwright and Boogie, Inc.  Come one, come all but be prepared to be soaked.  Bring your squirt guns, water blasters, and other water weapons.  There is a rumor that if we have enough people attending in mermaid costumes (other than Nereids, of course), then we will have a best mermaid contest. 

Next Friday is our Pensacola WBL (Women’s Business Luncheon) meeting.  At each meeting a business card is drawn out of a basket.  That business is offered the opportunity of giving a 5 minute commercial, in person, in front of all those women at the next meeting.  It is an opportunity to let those women know more about your business.  You guessed it; Cajun Stitchery is going to have its 5 minutes of fame next Friday.  I have an outline done to help me along with the who, what, when, where, how and why.  That is probably all I will be able to do in 5 minutes.  One of my WBL friends suggested handing out flyers, which I am seriously considering.  I think I’m going to talk on the topic of how to order embroidery.  That may sound simple but it is surprising how many people don’t know the 3 steps to ordering embroidery:  (1) graphic design, (2) digitizing, and (3) embroidering.  If you think of me next Friday morning – say a prayer, please.

George and I were talking about my 5 minute commercial and decided that people, like me, in the South should get 10 minutes because we talk slower than Northern people. 

Our Etsy Store sold another Proud to be a Union Thug can wrap this morning.  The customer was so excited.  He said he was going to use the can wrap over the Labor Day weekend and expects to have a lot of fun with it.  I hadn’t even thought about it, but that is such a cute idea, and appropriate.

This week has been busy with towel orders and luggage grips.  I’m kicking myself because although I did take pictures of the completed towel order; I forgot to take pictures of the luggage grip order.

Have you heard of Google+?  One of my nieces got me on Google+, trial version.  I think it is Google’s answer to Facebook.  I had a time figuring out how to add people to my circles.  Then one day I added my friend, Jennifer, and ever since when I go to Google+, it opens at Jennifer’s page, and just blinks off and on.  Right now I am not impressed with Google+ at all.

I am playing around with HootSuite, though.  Still trying to figure it out.  Apparently, you can connect all of your networking media to one place, HootSuite, and if you want to send out a message, you type it once and HootSuite sends it to all of your networks at once.  Pretty cool.  Now I need to learn how to make it do this.

This past Wednesday I brought out all of our wares to the kitchen and set it up like a store.  I am so glad that I went through this exercise.  I realized that it is no fun going to a store and looking at a bunch of stuff lying on a table.  We need to have all like items together and in some sort of display container.  We need different eye levels of merchandise.  I was arranging and rearranging the items for hours.  I will probably do this again and again before we get to the Arts & Wine Festival in October.  If anyone out there wants to make an appointment to see all of our items, now is definitely the time.  Just sit at the kitchen table.  I’ll provide coffee, water, milk, tea, whatever, and you can just shop around.  It would enable me to see how customers go through all of the stuff so that I can present our items better.

I would be remiss if I didn’t throw in a paragraph about the garden.  We are eating well this year.  We have green beans, tomatoes and about every kind of pepper than you can imagine.  There are a few watermelon plants growing but I haven’t seen any watermelons.  We have picked a few pods of okra and the eggplant is blooming.  We didn’t plant as much okra and eggplant as we have in the past.  The herbs are outstanding.  We have stevia, oregano, parsley, purple basil, rosemary, and mint.  I love my garden.

SALE:  G12900 Gildan Fleece Stadium Blanket

• 9.3 oz. 50% cotton/50% polyester
• Double needle hem
• 50" X 60"

$15.00 without embroidery (normally $17.72)

$20.00 with name or initials embroidered

CHRISTMAS is around the corner.  Unbelievable, I know.  Get that Christmas shopping done now and enjoy the holidays.

If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list. 

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Thanks to Marshall Larrivere for the following:

Boudreaux goes to Europe

Boudreaux, a furniture dealer from downtown New Iberia, La decided to expand the line of furniture in his store, so he decided to go to Europe to see what he could find.

He arrived in Paris in early morning, but had an afternoon appointment with the furniture maker, so he decided to visit a small bistro during his wait. As he sat enjoying his wine, he noticed that the small place was quite crowded, and that the other chair at his table was the only vacant seat in the house.

Before long, a very beautiful young Parisian girl came to his table; asked him something in German (which Boudreaux couldn't understand); so he motioned to the vacant chair and invited her to sit down.

He tried to speak to her in English, but she did not speak his language. After a couple of minutes of trying to communicate with her, he took a napkin and drew a picture of a wine glass and showed it to her. She nodded, so he ordered a glass of wine for her.

After sitting together at the table for a while, he took another napkin, and drew a picture of a plate with food on it, and she nodded. They left the bistro and found a quiet cafe near-by that featured a small group playing romantic music. They ordered lunch.....after which he took another napkin and drew a picture of a couple dancing. She nodded, and they got up to dance.
Boudreaux never had so much fun!

Back at their table, the young lady took a napkin and drew a picture of a four-poster bed, which reminded Boudreaux of his appointment so he abruptly left.

To this day, Boudreaux still has no idea how she figured out he was in the furniture business.

Cajun French Phrase of the Week:

C'est la vie=That's life
Comme ci, comme ca= So So
Fais-do-do= kind of street dance

Taken from:  http://www.acadian-roots.com/cajun-names.html

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C’est tout, mes amis

Peggy Henshall

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462

cajunstitchery@yahoo.com

P.S.  You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.

Christmas Stocking Tutorial

Since I wrote on Friday about creating the in-the-hoop design for the Christmas Elf Stocking I have been embellishing and making more.  This post is about these stockings. 

I started out digitizing a basic stocking shape with the curly toe.  The top was left open.  I used a single stitch outline.  My plan was to hoop some tear away stabilizer in one of my largest hoops.  Then I would lay the fabric on top of the stabilizer, unhooped with the fold of the fabric across the top of the stocking, and let the first round of stitches outline the stocking.  The next thing that stitched would be whatever design that was going to be on the front of the stocking.  I chose a single color ornament design.  Then I would lay the next layer of fabric over the first layer, fold of the fabric across the top of the stocking, and let the outline stitch again.  Everything worked as planned.  I was able to pull the fabric away from the tear away stabilizer, trim the fabric around the stocking stitching and turn the stocking right side out.  It looked nice but was a bit small, and I noticed that I had not attached a loop for hanging the stocking.

Back to the drawing board.  I have a regular, red and white, fuzzy stocking that I bought as a standard for comparison purposes.  Through the next few tweaks with the digitizing program, I was able to enlarge the stocking to fit the hoop.  The hoop that I'm using is actual 16 1/2" x 11", but I cannot use all of that space because the corners are rounded.  The stocking ends up about 8" wide and 12" or 13" long because it's being made inside out.  Measuring the elf stocking against the standard stocking shows that the final is only slightly smaller than the standard.   The design was finalized and there were 3 stockings constructed during the tweaking phase. 

Since I had more of the golden colored fabric, I made two more stockings in the final design, one with candles and a poinsettia and one with candy canes.  They turned out very nice.  That is pretty much where I was when I last wrote.  I realized that I would need to figure out how to make a cuff and embellishments.

That is what I've been working on this weekend.  I had used all of the golden fabric but I did have scrap pieces remaining.  I thought if I could make a row of small, one inch, designs, on the folded golden fabric pieces, fold at the bottom, I could attach the row of designs to the top of the stocking.  It worked perfectly.  By placing the right side of the cuff to the wrong side of the stocking, I sewed around the top edge.  Then I placed the loop at the seam, loop side inside the stocking, and stitched loop and cuff straight up to finish off the cuff.  The cuff was then folded outside the stocking and it was done.  It looked very nice.  I have since thought that if I need to make the stocking longer, I could simply make the cuff longer and fold the cuff outside at a higher place.  I haven't tried that yet.





Once all of the cuffs were done, the stockings looked real cute but still needed something.  So, I got out my rhinestones and began applying them on the stockings.  They turned out adorable.  The only one that I didn't put rhinestones on was the candy cane stocking.  I would be concerned if a child swallowed a loose rhinestone.  I'm still thinking that there should be something on the toe of the stocking.  Maybe a little jingle bell, but I'm not sure at this point.









Today, I was looking around in my studio and found a piece of black satin fabric.  Since so many people around here love fleur de lis, I thought I would make a stocking in black satin with a gold fleur de lis.  I only had enough black satin for the outside of the stocking.  Instead of having a double layer of fabric with the fold at the top, I used a double layer of gold jersey with the fold at the top and then laid the black satin on top of the gold jersey and folding the top down a few inchs.  The outline and design were stitched and then a second layer of the black satin, folded at the top a few inches, with a double layer of gold jersey on top of that.  Then the design finished.  This worked out beautifully.  In fact, at this time I realized that using the double layer of jersey gave the stocking a bit of thickness that was lacking in the other stockings.  I used some of the scrap black satin fabric to make the cuff.  This cuff was made with a 2 inch fleur de lis design making the cuff larger.  Once all of the sewing was done, I filled in the fleur de lis outline with gold rhinestones.  The lining of gold jersey adds an pleasing touch. 



Tomorrow I have orders to fill.  This weekend was my time to play with the stocking design.  Hopefully, I'll be able to make more stockings before the Arts & Wine Festival in October.  Now that all of the designing and digitizing is done, these stockings are a lot of fun to make.



C'est tout, mes amis.

Cajun Corner, Vol. 3, No. 33

Cajun Corner – Vol. 3, No. 33 – August 19, 2011

Bon Jour!  Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Don’t forget to visit our catalog at www.companycasuals.com/cajunstitchery and www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often.   We are also on Twitter and Facebook.

When Nancy and I were pre-teens and teenagers Mama made two great big bags for our Christmas presents.  She probably used about two yards of fabric for each one.  One was green and one was red.  She got some iron on letters and ironed “Nancy” on one and “Peggy” on the other.  She closed the big bags with cording that slipped through an opening at the top of the bags and she attached bells to the cording.  They were very cute and very practical.

We always opened our Christmas presents after midnight mass.  Nancy would open her bag and I would open mine.  After the presents were opened, we would have breakfast and then everyone would go to bed.

Mama was very practical but very creative.  I made a bag like this for George a few years back.  Of course, I embroidered his name and a cute elf on it.  Not only are these bags practical but also environmentally friendly Not even Mama realized that she was a conservationist.  They are environmentally friendly because the presents were not wrapped.  Newspaper was wadded up inside to hide the shapes of the presents but, as Mama used to say, “Santa doesn’t wrap presents.”  If anyone ever wants one of these bags, let me know.

The topic is Christmas and I’m talking about Christmas because I’m preparing for the 4^th Annual Pensacola Beach Arts & Wine Festival.  I began making Christmas stockings.  We’ll let’s back up.  I began considering making Christmas stockings.  I have a red fuzzy Christmas stocking that I purchased sometime ago at the store and used that as my standard.  I digitized a stocking with a curly elf toe.  Then I stitched it out.  It was much smaller than the store bought and although it would make a cute little stocking; it wasn’t what I had in mind.  See the photographs attached.  The first one had the ornaments.  I could get my hand in but it could be a tight fit if someone had large hands.  I then widened it.  See the photo with the snowflakes and the little Eskimo.  That worked well but I wanted it longer.  Then I increased the length and widened the top a bit.   So far my final is the one with the candles.  It’s not quite as big as the standard stocking but it is a nice size.  Then I did the one with the elf and the candy canes.  I fell in love with that one.  These stocking are not finished because I need to put a cuff on the top and I’m working on that. 

Since I was digitizing, stitching and thinking about stockings, I realized that over the years stockings have become larger and larger.  I’ve seen stockings that hang from a mantle and go all the way to the floor.  What is the point of that other than novelty?  When I was growing up, we did not have a fireplace or mantle.  I don’t recall actually having a stocking; we had the bags.  We did have stockings for our boys when they were growing up and would put little things in the stockings, such as little toys or lotto tickets or candy and treats or little novelty type stuff.  I don’t think the stockings were intended to encapsulate all of the presents.  Maybe historically they were, but not since the tradition of putting the presents under the tree.  I must admit, though, that Christmas stockings in general are pretty.  My ultimate decision was that it probably doesn’t matter how large the stocking is anymore.  So, I’m sticking with the final size that I created.

Last weekend George and I celebrated our 41^st wedding anniversary.  Our plan was to have lunch in Perdido with George’s sister, Kathie, on Saturday noon.  Come home and then go to Pensacola Beach to celebrate our friend, Amy’s, birthday.  It rained while we were having lunch in Perdido and followed us home.  We decided that we really didn’t feel like driving in the rain to Pensacola Beach.  So, we stayed home.  On Sunday, we planned to take the Pensacola Historical Trolley.  The owner is one of my friends on Facebook.  I messaged him on Facebook to ask if they were going to be having the tour.  No answer.  I went to his website that said that they have the tour 7 days at week at 11:00 a. m.  It did suggest that you make reservations.  I called on the phone and got a voice mail.  So, we went to the Visitor’s Center and looked around while we were waiting for the trolley.  11:00 came and went and no trolley.  We waited until 11:30 or so and left.  We decided to just drive around and take in the sights and actually ended up in Gulf Shores.  Then my phone rang.  It was the guy at the trolley company.  They had a group that reserved the trolley for a special tour that morning.  At least he did call back.  So, it appeared that most of our plans did not come to fruition but we enjoyed each other’s company.

I messaged a friend of mine on Facebook who is into scrapbooking and asked her about the tiny appliqués.  She told me that scrap bookers love that kind of stuff.  So, I’m going to have a basket or bowl or something at the festival with a bunch of tiny appliqués.  We’ll see how they sell.

There are so many ideas going through my head about the festival and things I want to make and ways I want to decorate the tent.  At one point I was worried that I would not have enough stuff.  That was only a fleeting thought because I am bulging at the seams with stuff.  If anyone has any old fishing nets, I’ll be glad to take them off of your hands.  I think I want to have a theme to our tent this year.

A couple of friends made an appointment with me for today.  We spent almost 3 hours taking orders and letting them look at Cajun Stitchery’s wares.  It was so much fun.  I’m always open for this.  Just make an appointment and I’ll set aside some time and pull out all of our stuff and just give a grand display.  Of course, I’ll serve coffee, water, wine, or whatever you like.  We can even look at designs on the computer.  Enjoy it all while sitting at my kitchen table.

We still have our shipment of XL Fruit of the Loom, Adult, short sleeve, tee shirts in a variety of colors.  I chose XL because that tends to be the size most often ordered.  Of course, I can get you whatever size you like.  The colors that we have are:  athletic heather, black, forest green, Kelly, khaki, J. Navy, pacific blue, royal blue, true red, and white.  Tee shirts make great gifts and everyone can use them.  So, if you are planning for Christmas, think about giving a tee shirt with a name or monogram embroidered.  Of course, we can embroider anything you like.  Just remember the old saying that the sweetest sound is your own name.  Give a tee to someone with their nickname or special term of endearment embroidered on it.  So what, if you don’t have the entire logo digitized; get a tee with the name of your company anyway.  (If there are enough responses for other sizes, I might get that size next time.)

SALE:  In stock XL Fruit of the Loom, Adult, short sleeve, tee shirts with a name or monogram for $10.00 plus shipping/sales tax.  Sale is good until we run out of stock.  See above paragraph for available colors.

I should be ordering towels in the next month or two.  If anyone needs towels, let me know.

Don’t forget the upcoming Mystic Krewe of Nereid’s annual Splash Party.  The Splash Party will be held on Sunday, August 28^th, beginning at 2:00 p.m., at Paradise Bar & Grill on Pensacola Beach.  Mark your calendars.  It’s going to be a real S-P-L-A-S-H.

Speaking of the Splash party tonight is our krewe’s monthly meeting.  My friend from Alabama is going to drop by and pick me up and we are going to spend the night on the beach.  Our meeting will be a working meeting and we will be preparing everything for the Splash Extravaganza.  Don’t miss this event.  It is family oriented, so bring the kids.   Dress up like mermaids and bring your water blasters.

As planned, this past Tuesday I was on local radio station, 1620.  I had prepared a cheat sheet, just in case I became so flustered that I couldn’t think of what I was to say.  The whole thing lasted about 30 seconds.  The cheat sheet should always be with me.  That was one handy little thing to have.

CHRISTMAS is around the corner.  Unbelievable, I know.  Get that Christmas shopping done now and enjoy the holidays.

If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list. 

Cajun French Phrase of the Week:

Cracher en l'air ca va tomber sur le nez= if you do evil it will come back to hit you in the face or what goes around comes around

Taken from:  http://www.acadian-roots.com/cajun-names.html

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C’est tout, mes amis

Peggy Henshall

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462

cajunstitchery@yahoo.com

P.S.  You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.

Cajun Corner - Vol. 3, No. 32

Cajun Corner – Vol. 3, No. 32 – August 12, 2011

Bon Jour!  Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Don’t forget to visit our catalog at www.companycasuals.com/cajunstitchery and www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often.   We are also on Twitter and Facebook.

Did I ever tell the story of my Aunt Philo’s birthday present to me when I was a little girl in Lafayette?  Mama always taught us that when we are speaking to Philo that we should look at her directly to her face and enunciate every syllable clearly because she was deaf.  Now I loved my Aunt Philo.  I believe I probably spent more time with her than my sister did.  Philo would take me places or babysit with me.  She was, by far, my favorite aunt.  I was very aware that people talked with her using their hands and sign language.  I was never taught sign language.  She would read my lips, which is why it was so important for me to speak to her face-to-face.  For awhile we lived at 612 St. Johns St.  Mama let me have a birthday party that year and all of my friends, including my cousin Vicky, who was living with us at the time, were invited to the party.  In the middle of the festivities Philo dropped by with a present for my birthday.  I remember Mama calling me away from the party to see Aunt Philo.  I even remember the present.  She handed me a little white plastic purse containing panties.  Each pair of panties was a different color and had a day of the week embroidered.  Ha!  Even then I loved embroidery.  That was just the greatest present in the world to me.  I’ve always been an emotional person and this moment struck me with the love and kindness of my aunt.  I was overwhelmed with love and appreciation and I wanted to say thank you, but thank you wasn’t enough to encompass my emotions.  I wanted to say thank you in her language.  So, while looking at her face-to-face and enunciating every syllable, I placed my little 7 year old hands in front of her face and balling my hands into fists that immediately flung opened with fingers outstretched as wide as they would go and repeating this action several times, I yelled at her “THANK YOU AUNT PHILO.”  My Aunt Philo is, I believe, 92 years old and quite a remarkable woman.

The krewe was in need of some tiny appliqués of a seashell.  I made them.  While embroidering the less than 1 inch seashells, I began thinking that these tiny appliqués might be nice for scrap bookers.  I don’t know since I don’t scrapbook.  However, I think I may make a few tiny appliqués for the upcoming 4^th Annual Pensacola Beach Arts & Wine Festival the first weekend in October.

That reminds me that I have my entry fee, registration and appropriate photographs neatly in an envelope to send to the beach Chamber of Commerce.  I will probably need to drive over there today.  Perhaps I can mail it and they won’t mind if it is a day or two past the deadline when they receive it.  Heck, they know I will have my booth since I have talked with them about it.  This year the festival will have a few changes.  The change that impacts me the most is location.  Rather than scattered all over the island, the vendors will be centrally located at either the Visitor’s Center or SRIA.  I believe this was a request from the vendors over the years.  I think it is a good move.  Additionally, there will be security so that the vendors do not need to take down their tents/booths each evening.  I don’t mind taking down the booth and putting it back up in the morning.  It isn’t that difficult a thing to do and we’ll probably do it anyway.  However, I do understand that this could be an issue and I applaud the Chamber for these changes.  Of course, the other change is that there is now a registration fee.  I don’t mind paying it.  It is not outrageous and they have to pay for the security.  It is my understanding that vendors are still allowed outside of the businesses on the island and neighborhoods for free.  They just won’t get the security and inclusion in the list of vendors.  Please mark your calendars for the first weekend in October.  The trolleys will be running so just park and ride.  The musicians’ festival and wine tasting will all be included in this Arts & Wine Festival.  Cajun Stitchery will have some of the usual items for sale but I do plan on including some new things.  Come out and join us.

We received a shipment of XL Fruit of the Loom, Adult, short sleeve, tee shirts this week in a variety of colors.  I chose XL because that tends to be the size most often ordered.  Of course, I can get you whatever size you like.  The colors that we have are:  athletic heather, black, forest green, Kelly, khaki, J. Navy, pacific blue, royal blue, true red, and white.  Tee shirts make great gifts and everyone can use them.  So, if you are planning for Christmas, think about giving a tee shirt with a name or monogram embroidered.  Of course, we can embroider anything you like.  Just remember the old saying that the sweetest sound is your own name.  Give a tee to someone with their nickname or special term of endearment embroidered on it.  So what, if you don’t have the entire logo digitized; get a tee with the name of your company anyway.  (If there are enough responses for other sizes, I might get that size next time.)

SALE:  In stock XL Fruit of the Loom, Adult, short sleeve, tee shirts with a name or monogram for $10.00 plus shipping/sales tax.  Sale is good until we run out of stock.  See above paragraph for available colors.

Don’t forget the upcoming Mystic Krewe of Nereid’s annual Splash Party.  The Splash Party will be held on Sunday, August 28^th, beginning at 2:00 p.m., at Paradise Bar & Grill on Pensacola Beach.  Mark your calendars.  It’s going to be a real S-P-L-A-S-H.

Last night George and I met some friends for dinner at a local restaurant, The Oar House.  When we first moved to Pensacola there was still one last drawbridge.  That drawbridge connected Warrington (where we live) with the City of Pensacola.  Since that time the old drawbridge has been removed and a fancy bridge was constructed in another area connecting the two land masses.  The Oar House was built on the Pensacola side of the old drawbridge.  There is an outside restaurant as well as an inside restaurant.  In fact, a musician friend, Tim Spencer, frequently entertains at The Oar House.  The restaurant bridges the gap between a local marina and the site of the old drawbridge.  So, while dining outside, you also get to look at all of the nice boats.  There is yet another uniqueness to The Oar House: they allow dogs.  Last night our friends, Shelley and Richard, brought their dog, Amber Lee.  She is such a sweet dog, a Chesapeake Retriever.  Of course, her collar is made by Cajun Stitchery.  Since The Oar House is so close to our house, we arrived earlier than Shelley and Richard.  While getting our table and waiting on our friends, another friend from the beach walks up.  She happened to be joining some of her friends for dinner, as well.  The rain had passed earlier in the day and the evening was very pleasant.  Amber Lee watched ducks swimming by with longing in her eyes.  She was very well behaved.  All in all, it was a delightful evening with good friends.

Speaking of dogs and animals.  We have lots of stock designs of dogs, cats, horses, and all kinds of animals.  Just sayin…

A friend of mine at WBL (Women’s Business Lunch) is a sales rep for a local publishing company.  Among other things, the publishing company publishes the local Bar Directory.  Talk about being at the right place, at the right time.  Poo Yie!  They had to go to press on the directory but still had a page for advertisement that had not been purchased.  The bottom line is that I was able to purchase ½ page ad for a great price.  I am so excited.  I know from working in local law offices that the Bar Directory is used frequently throughout the year by both lawyers and their staff.  So, for all of my legal friends out there, keep an eye out for Cajun Stitchery’s ad in the new Bar Directory.  Let me know what page it’s on and what attorney you have to look up in order to see my ad.

Also, a local radio station, 1620, has been letting small businesses call in and talk about their business for free each Tuesday morning from 6-9.  This past Tuesday, I received a voice mail that the radio station had called Cajun Stitchery.  I missed it but have since arranged that they will call me next Tuesday morning from 6-9.  It is one of those things that is a really good thing for Cajun Stitchery and no so good for Peggy.  Peggy is not a morning person.  I take after my mother.  Next Tuesday Peggy will simply have to be a morning person.  So, I’m making notes of things to say and ideas to cover.  This will also be a good practice for next month’s WBL when I have to give a 5 minute oral commercial for Cajun Stitchery.

CHRISTMAS is around the corner.  Unbelievable, I know.  Get that Christmas shopping done now and enjoy the holidays.

If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list. 

The following is taken the book Gumbo Ya-Ya, Chapter 13, Buried Treasure:

“There sure is plenty of treasure buried in Louisiana, but you gotta be care of them spirits.  They do some funny things.  I knew one real well what would come to my house all the time.  He would get behind a door and milk a towel, and all the cows in the neighborhood would go dry.”

“All buried treasure has got spirits watching over it.  Like Lafitte.  You know how he used to do?  He would take five or six men along to hide his stuff, and he would tell them all but one who he was gonna have kilt.  The one he picked was the one what would be the spirit to watch his treasure forever.  After they buried all the old and silver and jools, Lafitte would say very quiet, ‘Now, who’s gonna guard my stuff?’ and the man who didn’t know no better would want to shine with his boss and he’s say, ‘I will.’  Then he would get kilt…”

Cajun French Phrase of the Week:

E ou ce qu'il reste= Where does he live?
E you ce qu't'as mit mon chapeau?= Where did you put my hat?
Qui c'est q'ca? = Who's that?
Par en sous=sneaky

Taken from:  http://www.acadian-roots.com/cajun-names.html

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C’est tout, mes amis

Peggy Henshall

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462

cajunstitchery@yahoo.com

P.S.  You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.