Mr.Choi

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are all safe in the snow, and I hope everyone is feeling well.
Sadly I haven't done any crafting since Sunday. My wisdom teeth have been bothering me the past two weeks, so I had the last of the removed yesterday
Needless to say I've been in a lot of discomfort since then. Now my neck has decided to stiffen and swell. So that's what I'm working with today.
However I would like to say, that I've had a very good ally in the war against pain. And his name is Mr.Choi. He is a aromatherapy rice doll I bought from Sarah of Bennyvilleon Etsy. Sarah and I were at the Craft show together in Glen ridge and I love her rice dolls. Not only are they cute. They make you feel good! Check her our at www.etsy.com/shop/bennyville and buy your own Mr.Choi. (By the way he's not a fox. He's a red panda.) :-)

Thanks for listening,

Niccole

There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart) (Remastered)

Hello Everyone! Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas From CoCo's Box!

Ok so for those of you who don't know me personally, know this, I LOVE MUSIC. Music is a very important part of production over here at CoCo's Box. Today I found an 80s Classic I used to sing when I was 7...and well I'm still singing it today. :-)

Thanks For Listning,

-Niccole-

Get it together!

Hello Everyone,

I hope your work day is going smoothly. It's a busy Monday and I'm up and about over here at CoCo's Box. Today I decided to organize my yarn. I'm working on my projects for the spring and need to get a clear look at what supplies I have so I don't waste any time or money at AC Moore buying what I may already have hidden in my studio.
After a trip to the 99cent store for zipper storage bags. I went through my big yarn bin and sorted, spun/wind, cut, untangled, and bagged, skein after skein of yarn. I sorted my yarn by color since I'm always looking for a specific color rather than a weight when I'm working. The picture above is the finished product. Actually I need more zip bags because I have more yarn than I though. lol I'm going to put it back in the bin now nice and neat, before Penny uses my bags for a place to nap. lol
Happy Crafting!

Niccole

Business Reflection

Hello Everyone,

How are you? Happy Holidays! Things are going well over here at CoCo's Box. The holiday season was very good to me. I had nice sales at both of the craft shows I participated in this year. I'm already looking to the new year. I'm spending the last days of 2010 moving my holiday inventory to make room for all my spring goodies which I've already started working on. 

This year, look for birdies, flowers, bunnies, owls, and all sorts of happy "spring things". I've been busy keeping up with the Etsy Blog Storque, maintaining my shoppe, (I'm still working on my banner :/) And I joined a few Etsy teams. The Left Handed Ladies and Gents team. And I'll be looking to join the Jersey City Craft Mafia. After all I am in Jersey City. lol Well I've got to get back to work. I've got some downtime in between shows so if you want a commission piece email me with your requests @ broughton_n@yahoo.com. Happy Crafting!

  -Niccole-

Success!!

Hello Everyone,


I'd like to thank everyone who came out to see me this weekend at the 7th Annual Artisan Gift Market at the Glen Ridge Congregational Church. I had a great time, I was surround by happy fun vendors Laura,Anne, and Pam. I got some great bartered gifts from Sarah and Pattie.

The time went by quickly, I made new clients, sales were brisk,  and still got to work on new pieces during down time. (Awesome)

For those of you who don't know, I just started a new web page just for CoCo's box on Facebook. Along with my blog it will keep friends, family, and clients abreast on what's going on over here at CoCo's Box. If you haven't subscribed to my blog or my Fb page it's time to bust a move, and keep up with CoCo's Box.

Finally I would like to add that since I have downtime till the next show. I am doing commissions. I will start 1 for my sister this month and one for my mother in January. If you'd like to commission me for a CoCo Box cutie. E-mail me or contact me on Facebook. Thanks!

"Play More."

Niccole

Product Day!

                             Lumps of coal for naughty little children.

Hello Everyone,


Today is a grand product day for me! It's the last day I have to actually make stuff before Saturdays show. Tomorrow I will be with Nancy and Friday I will be at the church to helping set up for the show. It seems that no matter how hard I work I always feel like I don't have enough inventory but then when I get to the show, everything is just right. Today I will be finishing my last snake and make 1-2 more lumps of coal and finalize my display so I can use the rest of today and tomorrow to purchase what I need. Happy crafting! See you Saturday!

Thanks for Listening,

Niccole xo

Cyber Monday!

Hello Everyone,

Happy Black Friday! Of course there is nothing really happy about Black Friday. Waking up at 3 am, stand in line for 2-3 hours, no parking, no food, no bathrooms, crowds, crowds, and more crowds.

Enter Cyber Monday. a way to shop stress free from the comfort of your home. To get you started CoCo's Box to the rescue. On Cyber Monday visit CoCo's Box at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Niccilocs, pick out your new cutie, and when you go to check out type CYBERMONSALE in the coupon/promotional code box and safe 20% on all purchases! TaDa! Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezie. No stress, great toys, happy kids.

Thanks For Listening,

Niccole

Thanks

This blog post is a public thanks to my creative collective.

I'd like to thank Heather Valentine for encouraging me (more like verbally pushing lol) to join the online market on Etsy.
I've been nervous about join because I have/had no idea what I was doing. But I'm facing my anxieties and joined this week and so far have 4 items for sale. Thank you Heather.

And next I'd like to thank my dear Kari for giving me pointers on how to set up my shoppe. The first hurdle was posting proper pictures, and she helped me jump it today.
Thank You Kari.

To all artists. Your creative collective is your life line. Use them well. :-)

Thanks for listening.

Niccole xo

Artisan Gift Market

Hello Everyone,

It's official, today I sent out my Evites for my next show. I also sent out a facebook invite. I'm waiting for the postcards to arrive so I can mail out my postcard invites. I'm very excited about this show. It's going to be bigger and longer than the last one, so I've got alot of work to do. I still want 3 boxes of inventory for this show and I only have 1 3/4. Right now I'm brain storming about what I'm going to make next....hummmmm

I have some brown animal yarn left over. I have plenty of Holiday colored yarn left. What to you guys want to see? I have two more weeks to create goods until the show is here. Hit me up on face book. Let me know what you want to see at the show! See you there.

Thanks for listening,

Niccole

Back To Work!

Hello Everyone!!

How are you? I miss writing on my blog. It's been a while! My secular work has taken over this week, we've had a lot of cases come in at Access Nursing. I even got sucked into doing a private duty case TWICE this week. I'm not mad about doing private duty work but it's AWESOME for my bottom line. It's really great for my bottom line. 

But now I have to push myself to make product for the show that will now be in three weeks. So hopefully work will go slow this week and I can play catch up. I got the idea to make book worms, and it's been awesome. They are so cute and they work up really quick! pics coming soon. 

This show I have a bigger table for displaying my product so I want to make sure it's just right. I'm really obsessing over my display. I hope everyone loves it!!!!!!!!!

Stay tuned! 

Niccole

The Hardest Part

Crafting memoir,

People always ask me how long it takes to finish a project or a toy. They say how long did it take you to crochet that? The truth is, I crochet rather quickly. I can make three oranges or monkeys in about 3-4 hours. What takes time, thought, and money is the fine art of finishing. Adding the eyes,ears, smiles, ribbons, buttons, scarves, hats, clothes etc to the creatures I make.

I want to make each toy an individual, with it's look and it's own story. That's what makes them special. When they are their own they connect with prospective owners and find happy homes. Kind've like the adoption process. So I'm working very hard to give each of my toys that "extra something" that'll capture your heart and tickle you funny bone. See you Dec 4th.

Back To Work. Thanks for Listening. 
Niccole B 

Penny My Assistant

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are all having a wonderful day! It's a beautiful day outside. After a nice deli breakfast with David I'm back at home working on my toys. I'm switching up gears to make some fruit apples & oranges and bananas. This show they are going to jingle. Jimgle one when you get to my table. lol

I did some PR work yesterday. I met with Sarah Jane Sapang (cool name right?)  of www.bennyville.com. Sarah makes hand sewn heating and cooling pack for all your health care/comfort needs. What makes them so special is they they are in the shape of cute little creatures. She will be at the show as week. Stop by her table and pick up a cute comfort bear.

Check out Penny. She was working so hard keeping me company while I was crafting she fell asleep on the computer. She's my calm kitty, I know I can work and not worry about her getting all tangled in my yarn. lol

Thanks for listening,

Niccole xo

Product Day!

Hi Everyone,

Sorry I've been away for a while. I've had two really great product days this week. "Product Days" are days where all my time is devoted to making inventory for CoCo's Box. Today I finished 3 monkeys for the Holiday show. I don't have a picture of them but I do have a picture of my finished snowmen.
I'm nervous before every show but the reason for my nervousness changes every time. This show, I'm hoping I'll have enough inventory to last me 6 hours. For the fall trunk show I had from July to prepare my things. The holiday show will be Dec 4th leaving me with only 1.5 months to prepare. I've got my wrist splints on and I'm crocheting away. I'm also trying to keep up with my commissions as well. This are really bustling over here at CoCo's Box work shoppe.
I'm sorry I haven't been able to upload the baby blocks picture I know I promised you guys a pic of them but it just won't upload. I'll try again though.  In the meantime. Happy crafting! See you in December!

Thanks for Listening,

Niccole aka CoCo's Box

Brooklynn Baby Blocks

Hello Everyone,

I hope you're all enjoying this wonderful fall day. It is beautiful outside, I'm going to open up all my windows so the sun can shine inside. Today will be a "product day". These are days where I work on making inventory for the next show,commission, etc.
As I create more softies, I'm discovering my very own method for making quality toys at a steady pace. One contributing factor is having a creative collective. A collection of like minded folk who inspire me to work smarter (not harder), crochet longer, and rest when it is due. I'd like to thank Nancy&Shara DelloMonaco for a full day of crafting (and Halloween shopping). As I handed off a bag of cutie lettered blocks to Jal, I realized some projects just wouldn't work out with out my creative collective. 

Thanks for Listening,

Niccole B

Niccole's Busy Day

Hi Everyone!,

I'm home from a full day of buzzing around and I'm ready to get down to the business of running CoCo's Box!
I'm happy to say I made a sale today. Little Witch Sage has found a home with Cynthia Diaz. Enjoy her Cynthia, if she needs mending call me!
Now having said that, I'd like to say this to all of my clients old,new, and prospective, my toys are made tough to handle the likes of busy little tykes. But should a button or seam come loose please,please,please,please, contact me with a detailed description of the Dollie injury so I can fix them up.
Customer satisfaction is business priority #1. Without satisfied clients, there is no business. Call me with any questions or comments.

The next order of business is to start making my inventory for the Creative Women's Collective Holiday show in December. When I think of winter and holiday the first thing that comes to my mind is snow men. They were the first thing on my list of "winter/holiday" things to make. You can see the pic of them chillin on my pc. I know they look more like ghosts than snow men but they are snow men. lol I thought 4 would be enough but I'm thinking of making more. I will make smaller ones. Mimi-men if you will. That way they'll be enough for everyone. :-)

Stay tuned for the finished baby blocks, more snow men, and the latest issue of Stuffed Magazine!

Thanks for listening!

Niccole xo

54 Squares

Hello Everyone,

Today's blog title, is referring to my latest project. It's a commission from my sister for a bay shower gift. They are going to be soft baby blocks with the little one's name on it. Which happens to be Brooklynn. 9 letters to the name means 9 cube with 6 sided to each cube (6x9) equals 54. 54 SQUARES ah aha ha! (Laughing like the Count from Sesame Street).They don't look like much now but when I'm done they'll be squishy lettered cubes.

It between working on the cubes I've started my holiday work. Which will be snowmen, I had to go to AC moore and pick up more safety eyes. I'm glad I decided to stop by because Christmas colored yarn is on sale now. I got one of those 1 pound bundles of yarn for 6 dollars! It's 700+ yards of Holiday crafting fun. If you are a fellow crafter and are in need of some yarn I'll be glad share some yards.

Thanks for Listening.

Niccole B

The Joy of allergies.

Hello everyone,

I know my title is confusing. There's really nothing joyful about seasonal allergies. They can make even the happiest person a miserable ol'prune. Now that fall is in full swing my seasonal allergies are on the job, giving me a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, itchy throat, sinus pressure and congestion. Not nice.
The good thing about the whole situation is it's giving me time to stay home and work on my projects. Namely a baby block gift set for my sister and snowmen for the Christmas trunk show.
I didn't realize so much work went into making these little baby blocks, crocheting, sewing and stuffing. Nancy of Stitch Witch me has agreed to assist me in making the blocks so I can make my Oct 16th deadline. Actually I want to be finished before then because......(drum roll).......this weekend is the NYS Sheep and Wool festival! And I will be there! (Yet another reason to take it easy and feel better.)
I love the NYS Sheep and wool festival I went last year and I had a ball! I'm planning to go this year and do the same!! Stay tuned for pics of the baby block in the making, and info on Rhinebeck!

Thanks for listening,

Niccole B

Creative Women's Collective 2010 Fall Trunk Show

Hello everyone,

If you don't already know, this past Wed was the Creative Women's Collective Fall trunk show. It featured CoCo's Box, The Sewing Loft and Stitch Witch Me. This was my very first craft show and needless to say I was very nervous. Not only was I unsure of my set up, pricing, and inventory but because I am a new artist I wasn't sure if anyone would show up......because well...I have a very small client base. (For the moment).
Thankfully I have a great group of friends and family who all came out to support me this week. And I just want to thank them! Co-workers, old and new, family, friends they all came in to support me and I had a great time at the show! Much to my embarrassment Christina made the show with Susan and Julia in tow. As I was breaking down my table. Oops! But they still got a chance to see all the CoCo's Box cuties and take home new friends. Thanks ladies!

If you missed the show, have no fear! CoCo's Box merchandise is available at Kari's Cafe in Maplewood NJ. The Cafe is located at 1883 Springfield Ave Maplewood NJ 07040. You'll also find handmade hats and scarves knit by the owner herself Kari. Who is an EXCELLENT knitter.
When my left wrist gave way to carpal tunnel in 2008 Kari taught me how to knit so I could give my wrists a break. Did I mention she offers knitting lessons?....and she makes a mean cup of coffee to boot! Thanks Kari

Thanks for Tuning in,

Niccole B

Welcome

Hello Everyone,

I'd like to welcome you (and myself to my very own blog). I'd like to thank Google for allowing me to own one for free, and Nancy DelloMonaco for giving me the idea to write one. I've been told by many a crafter and small business books that a web presence is necessary for a successful business. It allows your clients to see what you're working on, so that you can receive valuable feedback for new products!
I can dig that. I just have to make sure I post regularly. I was never good at keeping a journal but my business is a worthy cause. Stay tuned for more fun and progress at CoCo's Box!

Thanks for Tuning in,

Niccole B