K N B's Marketplace

Sometimes I feel like such a lucky girl.  But, honestly, I am a big believer in Karma.  Lately I have been pretty lucky in my little business venture.  I can only attribute it to the fact that I have also been generous lately, donating items and proceeds from Absolutely Amie to charities and such.  My latest bout of luck came  in the form of an opportunity to sell some of my items retail.  Not that I don't like doing the weekend gigs at the Farmers Market or craft shows, but its def another opportunity to get my name out there.  My items are now for sell at K N B's Marketplace in Fuquay Varina.  It is very exciting.  I met a very nice gal, Melodie, though a local buy/sell website, and she offered to share her booth with me at K N B's.  Which is awesome, because it is VERY hard to get a booth there.  I am very thankful to Melodie, who has made me feel very welcome in her booth and even helped me with display items.  She kinda rocks!  So, I have all kinds of Absolutely Amie items in K N B's.  Hair Clips, Headbands, Brooches, Bags, Zipper Pouches, Bibs and Burp Cloths and more to come!  Melodie has some awesome jewelry displayed and bunch of this and that.  So, please come and have a look!  If you haven't been in K N B's before, you need to check it out.  There is a ton of stuff in there from antiques to handmade items.  Literally TONS OF STUFF!  So here are a few pics of our booth!  Enjoy!
                                                     http://knbsmarketplace.blogspot.com/

http://knbsmarketplace.blogspot.com/

Friends-- “Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” ― Albert Camus

Awww Snap!  It has been a minute since I have been on here.  Oops!  Life has been super busy lately.  I recently was offered a little section of store front in Fuquay so I have been a busy bee making amazingly awesome products for this new opportunity!  More to come on that next week.  For today, I just wanted to write about my friends.  I know, I know, everyone likes to talk about how cool their friends are.  But, really, mine are better.  ;)  I have been busy doing a lot of events lately and these wonderful ladies always come out to support me.  They sometimes come out to buy something, but mostly just to encourage me.  Fabulous friends are hard to find and I am blessed with an abundance right now.  Feels good!  I do not know what I would do without their constant encouragement, advice, and honesty.  Any whoooo...I am a lucky girl.  Aren't you jealous?  ;)  Big shout out to my S N B girls.  You guys are super special.  <3

No one falls in love my choice, its a chance. No one stays in love by chance, its by work. - Anonymous Hard Work Indeed!

When I married my husband a little over 6 years ago, I had little knowledge of what marriage was really like.  People do not tell you its going to hard.  Instead, they congratulate you and send you on your merry way.  I wish someone had sat me down and said "Hey, get your head out of the clouds!  This is real life.  Your going to argue passionately with your husband.  He is going to do things that annoy the crap out of you.  You are going to annoy the crap out of him at times as well.  Your going to worry about money, spending quality time together, and the future constantly.  And, when you have kids multiply all that worry times a million!  All you can do is hope that the love you have each other is greater than all that."

The truth is though, its not luck.  Its hard work on both parts day in and day out.  Supporting one another in all endeavors, apart or together.  Bless my husbands heart! (in my best southern girl voice)  I am not easy person and he is totally supportive in everything.  He may not be happy about it, but he supports it if I dream it!  When I decided I wanted to sell the items I make (lets face it, Violet only has so much hair) Tony was on board.  Don't get me wrong, he has had to reign me in a couple of times.  I tend to get over excited and jump in head first.  Tony is more of a read all the rules first, dip his toe in to test the temp, and gently ease in kinda guy.  He has truly been great through this whole Absolutely Amie craziness!  He bought me a really kick ass tent to do outdoor shows.  He helps me make my display items.  He drags his behind out of bed almost every Saturday at 6am to help me get the kids ready and head to the Farmers Market.  Where he then, proceeds to help me set up my tent and items.  He watches the kids almost the whole day while I am out there and then comes back at the end of the day to help me break down my tent and put all of my items away!  He is kinda great.  That is not the best part though.  The best part is that he is happy for me.  Genuinely.  When I make a new bag or purse and ,I am super excited and I run upstairs and interrupt him to model it.  He doesn't get annoyed, he just smiles.  Not a smile like "I am so proud she made this cool bag" smile.  But a smile like "I am so happy she is happy and proud of herself".  Anyways, I do not want to cry about it.  :)  But, Tony Knight you are one amazing guy when you aren't annoying the crap outta me!  ;)

                                       Our Honeymoon to Alaska May 2011

                                                          January 2012

My Inspirations-Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love. ~Mildred B. Vermont

3 1/2 years ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.  My Jackson!  He was the inspiration for a lot of things in my life.  Mostly, just inspiring me to be a better person.  I have to tell you, I am nothing like the person as I was pre Jackson, but I am much better!  Its funny how each child changes you a little bit.  Not funny haha but funny like what the heck is happening to me?!  LOL!  Then unexpectedly, Ms. Violet came along.  I always feel the need to say Ms. before her name because it sounds like a little old southern lady and I just love it!  We like to call her our surprise!  Its true!  One of the best surprises I have ever received.  She inspired a whole new business venture.  It is for sure a balancing act being a full time mommy and making time for Absolutely Amie.  It can make a girl absolutely crazy.  Being a stay at home mom definitely has its challenges.  Never have I had a job so frustrating, exhilarating, and rewarding.  I wouldn't change a thing. These children inspire me in so many ways.  I work harder, play longer, and love stronger than I have ever have in my entire life.  Sometimes I just feel like my heart will burst.

Jackson-The inspiration for Absolutely Amie's Boys Reversible Tie

Violet- The inspiration for Absolutely Amie's Obnoxiously and Adorably Large Baby Headbands

Jackson and Violet-inspiring me daily!

Apex Farmers Market-“Farming is a profession of hope” ― Brian Brett

I am sure that most of you know that I have been doing the Apex Farmers Market on most Saturdays for about a month now.  Its not a huge market, but we have quite a few vendors.  Its located right in the heart of downtown Apex beside the fire station on Salem Street.  While it was slow going for me out there at first, I made a commitment and a decision to stay this year and see how it goes.  It has picked up little by little for me each week.  It takes hard work for a crafter to build a customer base at a FARMERS MARKET.  I must say, though, that I look forward to it each week.  The other vendors out there are, to put it simply, just...kind.  It really is a group of people that have each others backs and wish each other a great day every Saturday.  We help one another set up tents, tables, and displays.  We keep an eye on each others children.  If someone, needs anything, we try to help them out.  I get a real sense of community out there, which is kinda rare these days.  The manager of the market is a spunky native New Yorker that cares very much about the success of the Apex Farmers Market.  She has a table set up with all her beautiful soy candles to sell every Saturday, but spends much of her time running around answering our questions and helping us out.  There are lots of fruits and veggies.  Breads, jelly, mustard, jewelry, soap, paper crafts, local honey,yummy baked sweets, pottery, scarves, knife sharpening, organic meat, even a bbq truck!  And, of course, ME! Tons of cool items sold by awesome people.  If you haven't made it by yet, YOU SHOULD!  It is so important to buy locally!    

My Booth!  Its coming along nicely, little by little!

Hair Clips, Headbands, Bow Holders, Totes, Flip Flops, Neck Ties, Bibs, Burp Cloths ect....

When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the hell, leap. ~Cynthia Heimel, "Lower Manhattan Survival Tactics"

So, I was weary to start this blog, but I wanted a way to connect to my customers and friends on a more personal level about my business.  I really want to document some of my success's and struggles in my iddy biddy business as well as in my day to day life.  So, anywhooo, I thought this might be a good way.  I am still a little apprehensive about how this will turn out, but I am taking a leap!  Just gonna do it!