Totes, Tatted, and Totally Handmade

CJ's Stuff:

How many of you have asked yourself if creating your 'stuff' is worth the investment?

If it's any consolation, you aren't alone. Let me introduce you to Cindy, creator behind CJ's Stuff.

'I'm just an old lady who likes to sew,' Cindy says. 'I didn't really intend to have a business, but I thought if I sold a few things, I could afford to continue my hobby.'

Boy, if that ain't the truth! I think we can all relate to that in one way or another.

We're so happy to have Cindy back for our Y'allternative Market on Main. Here is just a peek at what you might find at Cindy's booth this fall. Some of her biggest sellers are her totes and boho bags.....

BOHO BAGS:

She also says that cat toys sell really well for her. Where are all our cat fans at?!? You'll have to be sure to stop and see Cindy at the Market to see if she has some fun cat toys for your favorite pet.....who here has a pet cat? Comment below with your cat's name and tell us why you named them that!

She has a wide variety of seasonal items (which is right up my alley) including pumpkins, perfect for our Fall Market, as well as some Christmas trees, which will be here before we know it.

Cindy really has any and all the accessories you might need from the tote bags to home decor to key wristlets, and even....

SCRUNCHIES:

If these creative pieces from CJ's Stuff grab your attention, be sure to stop by Cindy's booth to say hello. Who knows? You may find something for yourself....or your cat!

But that's not all! While you are looking for the perfect bag to take home from Cindy's booth, be sure to say hi to her sister-in-law, Jolene. They will be sharing a booth at the Market.

Tatted Dreams by Jolene:

Jolene is a new vendor to the Y'allternative Market on Main, and we are thrilled to have her! Tatted Dreams by Jolene can be found on Etsy. She has been tatting (the dying art of making lace) for 50 years! Trust us when we tell you she knows a thing or two about it.

How does one begin the lost art of tatting, you might ask? When Jolene was just 10 years old, she saw a woman tatting and was just fascinated by the process. She's been doing it ever since. How cool is that?

She spends most of her craft time creating tatted Christmas ornaments, which is her best seller. Her favorite is the tatted snowman. What a fun handmade gift for the upcoming Holiday Season. So, if you are thinking about what kind of Christmas ornament to get for your friend this year, look no further than these unique, handmade ornament options.

And for the kiddos? I'm glad you asked. How fun are these craft stick ornaments?

Perfect for a stocking stuffer, or an add on item for any gift this Christmas season.

What makes Jolene's products unique is that very few people tat anymore. Most lace is machine made now days. Full transparency, I (Hayley) had never heard of tatting before, which is a bit shameful for being such an avid crafter myself. So, I'm excited to see Jolene's hand crafted pieces at our Market.

When asked what shoppers can look forward to from Jolene at the Market, she said 'It's Christmas everyday!' And even though our Y'allternative Market is fall themed, who doesn't love Christmas all year round? I know I do!

Speaking of Christmas, one fun fact about Jolene is that she has 2 live pine trees in her home that stay lit up all year just because it makes her happy! I get it. I never understood why we have to limit Christmas lights to just December anyway.