Tales from the Trove: One Woman Show in My Office Lobby

I kicked off the 2010 craft show season with my one-woman show in the lobby of my office building this past Tuesday and Wednesday. This show was different from any I'd done previously. It was the first indoor show I'd done, which also meant it was the first show I did sans tent and the first time I set up alone. As you know, the bf is always available to assist with such tasks, but the work week time slot threw things off kilter a little. But I hauled everything in with no problem. To be honest, I welcomed the exercise.

I busted out brand new tablecloths, shelving my old hot pink and black satin for fresh new polka dotted cotton. I also got to test run all of the new jewelry displays, which I'd purchased online and at Marshalls, knowing that I'd have limited display space. (I usually hang all the totes from hot pink clothesline along the tent walls, leaving the tables open for the jewelry.) I couldn't hang my new banner either because it too requires the support of the tent. But all in all, I think everything looked pretty good. The bf once joked that I'd probably love to have my display set up in the house 24/7. He's right! Even after having done lots shows, I never get sick of being surrounded by all of my colorful things. It puts me in a nice frame of mind.

Now it's time to book myself for the rest of the summer and fall. I just heard that I've been accepted to the Haddonfield Crafts and Fine Art Festival, to be held on July 10 and 11, which is exciting. Other than that I've got the Annual Cape May Promenade Craft Show on August 14 and 15 and the Millville Arts, Music, and Antiques Festival on September 11. I have at least seven more shows that I want to do, which means I need to get cracking on applications.

Festival Finds

Yesterday I mentioned that I picked up a few gems at Sunday's Millville Arts, Music & Antiques Festival. What I didn't say was that I also participated in my very first swap! I had the pleasure of meeting Kee-Kee, an aspiring purse designer who helps her fiance create designs for his tee shirt shop, B. Laegle. She offered me one of her funky tee shirts, and I asked her to choose a necklace (she went with one of my charm styles.  We both ended up happy campers!

In my travels scoping out other vendors, I was delighted to find this charming strawberry necklace from Snowdrop Jewelry.  Given my obsession with fruit-themed accessories, it was a must have. Snowdrop Jewelry also offered a make-your-own necklace/bracelet station for the kids, which I found ingenious.

Finally, I purchased this earthy owl pendant necklace from Poison Ivy Jewelry for my sister (she loves owls). This booth featured striking pink satin tablecloths hand painted with black lips (the Poison Ivy logo), creating an edgy/glam effect.

Tales from the Trove - Millville Arts Music and Antiques Festival - The Craft Show That Almost Wasn't

The bf and I arrived at the Millville Arts, Music, and Antiques Festival twenty minutes before registration, a first for us (we're usually late). We found my spot, started unloading. And then the bf said, "Trace? We forgot the tent." I'm not proud of my reaction to this bit of news. I started crying and said I was never doing a craft show again (this one was my seventh.). Nevertheless, we began setting up our newly purchased lightweight tables and arranging the pink and black tablecloths haphazardly with clothespins and Scotch tape. (Before, I had been borrowing two heavy eight-foot tables from my parents. I now had three six footers, but the cloth was still cut for just two tables.) We finally discussed what to do, me threatening to shelve the whole thing and go home. But the bf, eternally calm and practical, said no, I won't let you do that. Just set up the best you can and I'll go home and get the tent. So that's what we did. Somehow, I jammed most of my inventory onto the three tables without the benefit of tent walls and clothesline.

I called the bf and told him I was sorry for being so horrid (as I've said before, he is a saint for dealing with all of my moods). He arrived shortly thereafter and popped the tent over the tables. We rearranged some of the stock but left most of it. The morning was a little chilly and a lot overcast. I broke into my snacks just before 10:00 a.m., the official start time of the festival. But as the day wore on, the sun came out. I sold tiny totes and skirt purses, my usual routine. I couldn't help but overhear a few customers say they were worried the rhinestones and other trim would fall off the bags. I wanted to chime in, "No they won't! I use Gem-tac!" but refrained because I didn't want to seem like I was eavesdropping or being too aggressive. Anyway, it gave me something to chew on. As in, maybe I shouldn't be so quick to plaster rhinestones over everything.

My mom and dad stopped by. Mom bought a tiny tote featuring an apple for her classroom, although I told her she didn't have to because she's bought so many things from me in the past.

Later, the bf offered to watch the tent so I could check out the rest of the show. There were a lot of really interesting vendors. I had the chance to meet fellow Etsy seller Susan of Sybil's Closet which was fun. Then I wandered on, scoping out the rest of the wares. And yes, I ended up taking some of them home. I bought a wood carving of a striped bass for the bf as a peace offering (he's an avid fisherman and had pointed it out earlier), a fab strawberry necklace for myself, and an owl necklace for my sister.

All in all, it was a good show. And despite my initial outburst . . . I'd definitely do it again.

Make and Tell Challenge Day 9

Tonight I decided to paint/decorate a couple of skirt purses because 1) they take less time than painting totes and 2) I needed to make a few more for the Millville Arts, Music, & Antiques Festival, for which I will be a vendor this Sunday, September 13. First I painted and sealed my designs, then added the trim with Gem-tac and fabric glue, as appropriate. The whole skirt purse thing was actually the bf's idea. At first, I didn't want to make them for fear that they were "cheesy." But they remain my top craft fair seller. Every time someone buys or even comments on one, the bf flashes me a knowing grin. Although I'm still partial to my totes and jewelry, these little guys have begun to grow on me. I especially like this lime one with the kooky puff balls. I may make a couple more tomorrow.