...And A Happy New Year

As the year comes to a close and many of us are spending time nestled together with friends and family, I want to thank you, all my readers, subscribers, casual acquaintances, and maybe this is your first time checking out my blog!  I want to say thank you!  

2013 was a pretty amazing year for me.  Most notably I started my new business West Coast Leslie Designs - a handmade crochet women's apparel company.  Considering it just got off the ground in November, I'm proud to say it's been fairly successful.  My products are online, I sold a whole bunch at my first craft fair, and you can find WCLD products at Modern Sole in Sherwood Park AB and Tryst Boutique in Saskatoon SK.  I created my own website and online store and wore off some of my arm hair from getting orders ready (I crochet pretty fast!) LOL

It truly will never be enough, but I want to thank all the people who have been SO super supportive, including my husband, sister, mum, and dance co-workers (some of my first clients), as well as my partners at Modern Sole & Tryst!

Wishing you and yours a safe, happy, and healthy New Year!

See YOU in 2014!

Giveaway Part 2

Ok, who knew that offering an awesome, cute, fashionable, flirty infinity scarf could garner such immediate response!  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!  We've gained some GREAT new followers (welcome to the crazy world of West Coast Leslie/Try To Keep Up!).  So I got this crazy idea, could I hit 125 likes by New Year's Eve?  I bet we can.  And to sweeten the deal I've added to the giveaway

YOU HEARD RIGHT! More to giveaway! (And we all love free stuff, it's like another Christmas present!)  So now if we can hit 125 Likes (my secret goal is actually 150, but who's counting?) by New Year's Eve, I'll giveaway the Moss Infinity Scarf and the Cream Turban Earwarmer!  

The cream Turban Earwarmer is one of our best sellers, it goes with everything and it keeps your ears warm while keeping you hairstyle! Head over to my Facebook Page and click like and be entered to win both these goodies! Good Luck!

Giveaway Time

Well Almost!

I'm SO close to my goal of 100 like on my Facebook page. 

 Only 7 likes away!  Seriously people!!  I'm challenging you (yeah you!), to go on over to Facebook and LIKE West Coast Leslie Designs!  Why? Well because when I hit 100 likes I'm giving away my Moss Infinity Scarf.  Made from hypoallergenic acrylic, it's sturdy, machine washable, and it's long enough to wear as a hood.

2013 has been an incredible year for me! 

And I want to give back to all my lovely supporters.  So head on over to Facebook, like my page, and be entered to win my scarf!

Vancouver Christmas Market

When my Mum and sister were out helping me for Crafty Affaire, I had to take them to my favourite holiday tradition.  The Vancouver Christmas Market.  It's based on the traditional German christmas markets, with vendors and food from Germany!  LOVE!

 We're HERE!!!

 These are some of my favourite noodles ever!  

They're called Schupfnudel and they are DELICIOUS!  They're fried with prosciutto and sauerkraut! Yumm-o!

 In a super flukey coincidence, my mum 

ran into an former colleague!

 Most awkward face when eating sauerkraut! LOL  After our schupfnudels we decided to get some pork hocks!

 Smiley Smiles!

It was SOOOOO fun! We spent a good chunk of change on some christmas ornaments, handmade soaps, and of course delicious, delicious food.  If you live in the Lower Mainland you should definitely check it out.  Bonus, it's only $3 admission weekdays between 11am-4pm!  

Crafty Affaire Wrap Up!

That's a wrap! Whew!  What a whirlwind weekend!  I still feel like I have so much to do - send thank you cards, email all my lovely new friends, post more pics, re stock my inventory....BUT I wanted to share my experience of my FIRST craft sale ever with you!

 I'll fast forward through the crummy parts LIKE my Mum and my sister getting delayed and not arriving on Thursday night, but arriving on Friday morning.  The market itself was super fun, it started early on Saturday morning with set up.

 Here's a closeup of my booth in the morning, before we started playing dress up, trying on and unrolling pretty much every scarf!

Here's my employee of the weekend.  Workin' away :)  Jill (the gal behind Envirocraftiness) was a huge help - how else could I take bathroom breaks?!? LOL She also doubles as a model!

 My mum was also a big help.  Here she is with Jill, both of who were working on scarves! It's nice to see how things get made, hey?

Day one went by pretty quick!  We were very busy and felt like the darlings of the market!  A long but very fun day.

 I could take pictures of my products all day!  The colours!

 DAY TWO!  We are ready!

 Jill wasn't sure about her top knot & purple scarf combo, 

but I love it!  She said she didn't feel like it was "her style" 

but I think it grew on her!  We couldn't believe this purple scarf wasn't snatched up on the first day - but it did eventually go to a great new home!

I wasn't sure I could sell any scarves to men, so I got Ty to model for me!  Doesn't he look handsome? I'm a lucky gal :)

More product.  We couldn't even put everything out on day one!

One of the best parts of the whole weekend was meeting and hanging out with AWESOME new people like Chandra of Bookas! Seriously, this girl is my new BFF.  She picks the cutest fabric for her goodies and makes adorable kids products.  And she is rocking her very own West Coast Leslie infinity scarf! I can't wait to hang with this chica at another craft show :)

 And meet Rita, my across the way vendor buddy who owns Sparky Snacks!  She was one of my first customers of the weekend.  

Doesn't that teal scarf look amazing on her!?!? 

I met so many great people including the lovely and talented Ginna & Tomoko who organize/run the Crafty Affaire Markets! Thanks so much for making my first craft fair so fun (not to mention successful).  I have definitely been bitten by the craft fair bug and can't wait for the next one!

And hey, if you're looking for a last minute christmas gift I do have some stock leftover, ready to ship!  Aren't you lucky?  

So check out my Facebook to see what's available.