Wendy's Whimsies...
http://blog.wendyswhimsies.com
Wendy's Whimsies...
Tips For A Please Remove Shoes Home
Give your guests a sign. Post a Please Remove Shoes sign or a Welcome Remove Shoes sign outside your door. Not everyone thinks to take off their shoes when they enter a home, (I know, GASP!) so a sign at your door will let your visitors know that you prefer a stocking feet environment. You may not always be available to stop people at the door, so a pretty, hand painted sign will help to remind them. A Please Remove Shoes sign also takes away the surprise factor. Your guests will know that you don't wear shoes inside.
Offer a place to sit down. Once your guests come inside, where do you want them to put their shoes? Let's face it, most of us start a Please Remove Shoes policy because we want to keep dirt out of our homes. Do you want people to just kick off their shoes and pile them up in your entryway? I'm guessing that isn't what you had in mind. If space allows, you may want to put out a basket or shoe rack to keep those shoes neat and orderly. A bench is also helpful so people can sit down when they take off their shoes. This is a safety measure as well, especially for more mature visitors. It will also help prevent dirty finger prints on your walls.
Provide indoor footwear. Not everyone likes to walk around in socks or bare feet, so you might want to offer something to make them more comfortable. If your guests are comfy they'll be more inclined to comply with your No Shoes policy. Keeping a bin by your door, full of slippers and non-slip socks in assorted sizes will help to keep everyones tootsies warm and prevent any slips and falls. If you choose rubber slip on sandals, you can toss them through the wash after they are used. The same holds true for non-slip socks.
Hopefully these suggestions will help you achieve your shoe free home. If anyone has anything to add to this list, I welcome your input. You can post a reply here or join me on Facebook . I have a page dedicated to all my Please Remove Shoes Inside friends.
Please Remove Your Shoes Inside on Facebook
I know a lot of you have established "No Shoes Inside" policies in your homes, so I decided to create a Facebook page dedicated to the topic. Please Remove Your Shoes Inside will be a place to share your challenges with getting people to abide by your wishes, and to bond with people who share your philosophy that shoes bring dirt and other unmentionable things into your home. (Eeewwww!) Whether it is to cut down on dirt and germs, or a cultural reason, everyone is welcome to share their experiences. I just ask that you are polite and respectful.
If you have purchased one of my Please Remove Shoes or Welcome Remove Shoes signs, please feel free to post a picture on the wall so we can see where you chose to hang it. Is there is phrase or design you would like to see on one of my hand painted tile signs? Post your idea to let me know. Do you have a useful tip that makes it easier to get people to follow your house rule? Please share it. Have you found an article online that you feel is relevant? Post the link on the Wall. From time to time I will use this page to let everyone know when new designs are added to my inventory, and when sold out designs are back in stock. Who knows, I may even sneak in a sale or discount as well.
So, if you have a Facebook account, I hope you will join me at Please Remove Your Shoes Inside. Let's have some fun sharing ideas.
32nd Annual Daffodil Festival
Yesterday my DH and I attended the 32nd Annual Daffodil Festival in Meridan, CT. The Daffodil Festival began in 1978 as a community event, but it has grown into one of Connecticuts largest celebrations. The festival boasts a parade, food, crafts, music, and rides for the kids. Fireworks were also planned for Saturday evening, but we didn't stay for those. The festival is held at Hubbard Park and they claim there were 61 varieties of daffodils throughout the 1800 acres. The weather was spectacular, the crowds were large, and we had a really nice day.
My primary reason for attending the Daffodil Festival was to check out the craft show. Since the Navy relocated us to the east coast, I have focused on selling my artwork online through my website, Wendy's Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts. I have been fortunate enough to have steady sales over the last few years, so I haven't taken the time to research local shows or build up the inventory needed to participate in a large festival. After blogging about my past experiences at art festivals and farmers markets recently, I got the urge to get out there to see what art shows are like here in CT.
The Meridan Daffodil Festival touts itself as, "New England's Most Beautiful Craft Fair!"Hubbard Park, where the festival is held, is indeed beautiful, but the area designated for the Arts and Crafts vendors could have been chosen better. The Festival website refers to the craft show as Crafts By The Lake, however, only a handful of artist booths were actually along the lake where there was a flat walking path. The majority of the booths were crammed into an area at the edge of the park where the ground was uneven, rocky, and very difficult to walk on.
I could not imagine trying to manuever this area with a walker or in a wheelchair. The craft show at The Daffodil Festival is a juried event. They look for quality and unique exhibitors, and this year they advertised there were over 80 crafts people. I did not take a head count, but I did see a few empty booth spaces. I also noticed that there were quite a few jewelry vendors in close proximity to each other. Don't get me wrong, I love jewelry, in fact I picked up a pair of really cute beach glass earrings, but it does not seem fair to the artists to have booth after booth of basically the same product. I suppose it is entirely possible that mostly jewelry vendors applied to attend the show, but the organizers could have arranged the booths better to space out the similar products.
I could not imagine trying to manuever this area with a walker or in a wheelchair. The craft show at The Daffodil Festival is a juried event. They look for quality and unique exhibitors, and this year they advertised there were over 80 crafts people. I did not take a head count, but I did see a few empty booth spaces. I also noticed that there were quite a few jewelry vendors in close proximity to each other. Don't get me wrong, I love jewelry, in fact I picked up a pair of really cute beach glass earrings, but it does not seem fair to the artists to have booth after booth of basically the same product. I suppose it is entirely possible that mostly jewelry vendors applied to attend the show, but the organizers could have arranged the booths better to space out the similar products. 
There were a few vendors who offered items that I had never seen before and I really enjoyed their artwork. One artist who worked with old flatware had some unusual products. In addition to the flatware wind chimes you frequently see, this artist created door hangers, wall hooks, napkin rings, napkin holders and knife rests. He may have had more, but that booth was so crowded we couldn't get inside. Another craftsman offered photo mats made of thin oak paneling. I have never seen anything like these before. This artist used a scroll saw to carve out names and embellishments to accent your photos. The mat sizes started for 5 x 7 frames and went up to larger collage frames. They also took custom orders to personalize your oak photo mat for a specific event. They even had mats for the different Military branches, but nothing specifically for Submarines. That was too bad since the Submarine Capital of the World is so close by. There was an amazing photographer who created Name Photography. I hope I can do justice to this description because I absolutely loved this concept. This photographer had photos of architectural and botanical elements that were cropped so these elements formed letters or numbers. For example: a photo of a window was cropped to look like the letter "H". An image of stair rail spindles was cropped to look like the letter "I". A shot of wrought iron scrolls was cropped to create the letter "S".
These letter photos were then placed side by side to create names or words. Each individual photo was interesting, but when placed side by side, they created a secret message. I spent the rest of the day looking at buildings, trees and flowers in a completely different light. Finally, there was only one artist who sold hand painted glassware. She had a nice assortment of wine glasses, champagne flutes and martini glasses. She also had some lovely cracked glass vases painted in aviary themes.So that was my day. I had a great time with my other half and I thoroughly enjoyed getting out there to mingle amongst my fellow artists at the 32nd Annual Daffodil Festival. It was very encouraging to see such a large crowd and I hope the artists made a lot of sales.
Dealing With The Dreaded "I Can Do That" Shopper
If you have ever sold your hand crafted products at an Arts & Craft show, Farmer's Market or Festival, you have probably heard someone stage whisper to a friend, "I can do that." When it happened, I'm guessing your gut reaction was most likely, "How rude," or "Yeah right, but will you?" Let's face it, you have put your blood, sweat, and tears into your artwork, so comments like this often feel like a slight to your creativity. This scenario happened to me several times when I sold my hand painted ceramic tile signs and glassware at Art Shows and I too felt offended, but maybe we should interpret these comments as a compliment. Obviously the individual thinks enough of your craftsmanship to even consider trying it themselves. Be honest, don't you feel recharged when browsing the aisles of an Art Festival or Craft Show? I always come away with lots of creative energy and my head bursting with new ideas. I do not go to these events to blatantly copy someone else's creations, but I do find inspiration from their creativity.
OK, enough about what inspires me, lets get back to the "I can make that" person... Rather that get mad about an overheard comment, ask yourself how you can entice that person into making a purchase before they leave your booth? Someone may say they can do it, but by the time they track down and purchase the supplies and instructions needed, they have usually lost that creative spark. They have also probably spent more money on all those supplies than one of your completed products would have cost them. Carol Gunkel of Professional Crafters.com has written an interesting article about catering to the "I Could Make That" shopper. Carol suggests offering kits that include the supplies and instructions. By appealing to that individuals artistic side, the I Can Do It shopper gets to experience the satisfaction of making the item themselves, and you have still made a sale. You may be concerned about giving away your secrets, but Carol reasons that if that person does truly decide to copy and sell work that is similar to yours, you will most likely have moved on to new products by the time they master it. We are creative people, and we are always looking for new ideas to inspire us, right?
So if you find yourself up against the dreaded I Can Make That shopper, don't get mad, embrace their creativity. If this person is truly a passionate crafter, they are no different than you or me. Strike up a conversation about how you create your products and ask them about the type art medium they like to work with. Share tips and encourage them to pursue their artistic self. You may just end up making a sale and a new friend.
Please Remove Shoes, Kindly Remove Shoes, What Is Your Favorite Phrase?
I offer (3) phrase options in my 6" square Please Remove Shoes signs: Please Remove Shoes, Kindly Remove Shoes, and Stocking Feet Please. On my 8" x 10" signs, I offer the phrase: Welcome Thank You For Removing Your Shoes. I would like to know what phrase(s) you like best? I have posted a survey at Polldaddy.com and I hope you will take a moment to select your favorite phrase(s). If there are any additional phrases that you would like to see added, please contact me at my website with your suggestion, or post a comment to this blog.
Your home is your castle and if you prefer that shoes come off in doors, you shouldn't be ashamed or hesitate to ask people to take off their shoes when they arrive. At Wendy's Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts it is my goal is to provide everyone with just the right sign to express their wishes. If I have overlooked a phrase that will help you in any way. I hope you will take the time to let me know.
Sunflowers Join My Welcome Remove Shoes Sign Line
I realize that Spring just arrived recently, but the unseasonably warm weather here in CT has me thinking about summer and sunflowers! There is nothing prettier than a field of smiling sunflower faces, swaying in a warm summer breeze.
Due to the popularity of my Sunflower Please Remove Shoes signs, I have decided to add the design to my Welcome Remove Shoes sign line. The bright and cheery blooms are sure to catch the eye of your visitors and let them know that you prefer that shoes be taken off when entering your home. My sunflower design features a trio of vibrant golden flowers nestled amongst lush green leaves. The background color is denim blue and the lettering is done in white dimensional paint that adds texture. The phrase reads, "Welcome Thank You For Removing Your Shoes". Each hand painted tile sign is approximately 8 x 10 inches in size and hangs from a leather cord. The back of the tile is lined with cork to protect your walls and the sign. All my hand painted ceramic tile signs are painted with durable glass paint that can stand up to outdoor display. Rain, snow and sun are no match for these hand painted tiles so you can hang them outside with confidence. If you have trouble asking guests to take off their shoes when they visit, this may be just the tool you need to help express your wishes.
How Strict Is Your Shoes Off Policy?
I sell a lot of Please Remove Shoes signs on my website so that got me thinking, just how strict are people about their Shoes Off policy? I did a quick search on the web looking for information about this topic and I was amazed at all the pages dedicated to this question. There are some very strong feelings out there, for and against shoe removal policies.
Personally, I'm flexible. I usually take off my shoes when I come in and change into a pair of sandals. My husband also takes off his shoes and opts for socks. Our floors are tile, and tend to be cold, so I don't ask people to take off their shoes. If they ask me, I leave the decision up to them. I do have a lot of friends who insist that all shoes come off when you enter their house. I don't get offended by that request, it's their home, they get to make the rules. People don't get upset if they are asked to smoke outside, so why does this request cause such a debate?
So, where do you stand on this subject? Do you play Shoe Police, and insist that everyone takes off their shoes inside, or are you more flexible and let the circumstances dictate your choice? I would love to hear what people think about this hot button issue.
What's New In 2010?
New Year, new methods! Wendy's Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts has taken the Facebook/Twitter leap. If you follow either (or both) of these popular social networking sites, please look me up and become a Fan. The Facebook Wall is set up so you can post pictures of your hand painted sign purchase. I would love to see how you chose to display it once it arrived. Right now this media is new to me, so for now it will just be for updates. Maybe later it will grow into something else. Time will tell. On Facebook you will find me if you search Wendy's Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts, or you can use the link below. On Twitter you should look up wendyswhimsies. I hope you will join me. We'll have some fun.
It's Grape Season At Wendy's Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts
OK, so the true Grape harvest doesn't start until late summer, but I just added the cutest Grape Welcome Remove Shoes sign to my Welcome Remove Shoes line so I had to share with you all. Featuring a bunch of juicy Grapes in vibrant shades of purple, framed with lush green leaves and curly vines, this sign will be a hit with those who decorate in a Tuscan or Fruit theme. The background of this 8" X 10" sign is a neutral, gray-taupe, faux stone look that will compliment a variety of wall colors. The phrase reads, "Welcome Thank You For Removing Your Shoes", and was applied with black dimensional liner paint that adds texture to your sign. The final product is sealed with a durable hi-gloss top coat so it can safely be displayed outside. The back side of each sign is covered with cork to protect your walls. Not everyone thinks to remove their shoes when they enter someone's home. If your home has a Shoes Off inside policy, why not add a charming hand painted ceramic tile sign that relays your wishes? You've invested a lot in your home, protect that investment and welcome your guests all with one sign.
Valentine's Day Gift Ideas
Looking for budget friendly, unique, and one of a kind Valentine's Day gifts for friends and family? Money is tight for everyone, why not give a gift that carries through beyond the holiday. I offer an assortment of hand painted glass heart dishes, votive candle sets and wine glasses that are sure to please for Valentine's Day and beyond.
Keeping with a true Valentine's Day theme, my hand painted glass heart dishes are available in a variety of designs. Each glass heart dish arrives with a floating candle puck so it is ready for gift giving. If you prefer to give candy, remove the candle and fill the glass heart dish with your Valentine's favorite sweets. These dishes are painted with durable non-toxic glass paint so they are top-rack dish washer safe. The artwork is painted on the outside so it is safe to place candies inside. After Valentine's Day this glass heart dish can be used in a variety of ways. From potpourri, to bath soaps, jewelry or office supplies, your special Valentine will find endless uses for this charming gift idea.
Need a romantic gift? One of my votive candle sets in your choice of floral designs may be what you are looking for. Each votive candle set includes (2) white unscented votive candles. Add them to your intimate dinner setting and you have candlelight and flowers in one gift. Have more than one person on your list? You can split the votive candle set up and give them to more than one person. As a pair or alone, each votive candle holder is a thoughtful and pretty gift.
Another option for a romantic gift are my hand painted Wine Glasses. Imagine an intimate candle light dinner with you and your Valentine sipping your favorite beverages in unique one of a kind wine glasses. Available in sets of (2) or (4), I have hand painted Wine Glasses in floral, botanical and fruit designs. Many designs have matching glass heart dishes and votive candle sets so you can create a whole ensemble. The artwork is painted with durable, non-toxic glass paint so the wine glasses are top-rack dish washer safe. Your Valentine is sure to fondly remember your special moment, every time they drink from these hand painted wine glasses.