Craft Show #1 - Done

I had my first craft show of this year on Nov 3 and I can't decide if it was a success or a failure. The show was busy the entire time, so that part was very good, considering it was in a very tiny town.

I apparently was not all together that day because I forgot to take my camera for pictures of my booth. I know, my bad. I hate when I forget stuff like that and it happens more these days. Blaming it on the aging process.

The part that makes the show a success for me was that I made pretty decent money. Not nearly as much as what I was working my butt off for, or even as much as last year (with less stuff), but still good (I really shouldn't even complain). The part that was terribly disappointing was that I only sold 39 items and about a 1/3 of that was small things that I didn't even make, like placemats and table  runners. I had purchased TWO spaces this year for all the stuff I was making and bringing, and yet I packed practically every bit of it up and brought it back home. As for the furniture, I only sold one chair first thing in the morning. People LOVED the stuff, but must have thought they were at a garage sale...did they feel the prices were too high? I've seen higher prices on Craigslist for scratched up junk... I know a craft show isn't where people go to get furniture, so honestly, it wasn't really a let down in that dept.

My husband tells me I need to forget that venue and move on to someplace that has bigger spenders. LOL! The problem with those shows is that everyone else wants in those shows too and they're booked up early with long waiting lists of other vendors. Besides, I can't even get return phone responses from the administrators in the first place.

Oh well, enough of my whining, crying, snortin' and ballin'. I know there were people at that same show that didn't even make their booth rent. Now THAT'S a heartbreaking day! I guess this buttercup better buck up!

I thought for sure this black & burlap lamp would sell at the show(s), even though it was admired by many, it didn't sell. It wasn't until I posted it on my Facebook page that it finally went bye-bye. I painted it black, even though it looks kind of blue-ish here. It was sanded to distress it and I found a lampshade that I recovered in a printed burlap. I added some coordinating black trim to it to finish it off.

I did sell this birdhouse. I didn't make the birdhouse, but did add it to the wooden candlestick and bottom base that I painted to match closely.

I will admit that I pretty much copied this shutter idea from one that someone else sold on Ebay and mine did sell too. I liked it enough that I was tempted to keep it.

This is a picture frame that I removed the back off of & painted just the frame red and made the quote with red vinyl. I'm learning that I don't have any luck selling these kinds of items, so I guess I need to figure out how to use them with other projects so they don't go to waste.

Little side story here...At the show, I over heard a gentleman commenting to his wife that the "shabby" look is out while browsing my booth. Hmmm...I didn't really think of my stuff as shabby, but more like rustique & chic. I also thought it was rude of him to say that in such a loud voice.  I guess he was more right than I was since I didn't sell much of it. I'm obviously reading the wrong blogs. ????

My hubby has been trying to convince me that we should put up a little building and make it into a shop for me to sell out of here at our home. I have to admit that I'm not sure about how well it would go over, but I did have dozens of people ask me if I had a shop. The idea is that the money being spent is going back into our property as an investment and not someone else's pocket for rent. The back up plan is that we make this shop from a garage plan, but cuten it up (I made that word up - cuten) but if it's an epic fail, then we can convert it into an actual garage for the multitude of vehicles and equipment we seem to have. Still getting all the necessities for zoning & permit info, etc.

Enough of the boring stuff - now here's a few more items.

Painted Vintage Rolling Pin

Pinterest inspired Stocking decor (a smaller version because I'm basically lazy)

Another Pinterest inspired project - painted snowman shutter. It looks better if you take a picture looking down upon it instead of dead-on, like this one, but it's still kinda cute.

Two more shows to go and not sure what to expect at the next one, because it's a new venue for me and I've never even had the opportunity to visit it before now. I'm excited that I was able to get in this year, since they're typically booked with a waiting list! Wish me luck! 

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Linking up to these parties:

 

Da Dum, Da Dum, Da Dum (Jaws music playing)

Well folks, the time has finally arrived. This is the weekend of my 1st craft show. I've never gone this big before. I'm usually doing good just to fill ONE space, but now I'm doing a huge 21x8 foot space - all. by. myself. I'm also in a different location, which most of the customers that visit this show know to go to my old location that I shared with a friend. She still has that spot that is on a stage. I'm in front of that stage. I've been shamelessly plugging the show & my booth. I hope it works & I hope they like what they see.

I've had to borrow a race car trailer from a friend just to haul the furniture and the tables and a few boxes of stuff safely. Never had to do that before! Yet, there is still a ton more projects that didn't get finished in time, plus, I've been working on more while pricing, inventorying & packing what is done. 

I have no clue how to set up my booth. I had visions of grandeur by creating a darling space, but I seriously doubt that is how it will turn out. We'll see.

To help with that vision, I painted & stenciled this large louvered closet door that I found.

I intend to use it in my booth to hang lightweight items and add some interest to the space. I don't plan to sell it, BUT everything has a price (right?) so who ever would want it would have to like it better than me to pay the steep price tag I put on  it. 

The design was made using my Cricut to cut the contact paper to create a stencil.

It's the same design that I did on a ladder back chair that you can see HERE, minus the frame and flourishes.

It was a bear to do, because the contact paper didn't want to stick the first time, I had to repaint the black portions and redo because of so much paint bleed through.

It's hard to remember to take before pictures of my projects and it was a challenge to remember to even take the "after" shots as well because I've been pumping projects out & I guess I'm just not a blogger at heart to put it first in my priorities. I apoligize for my lack of follow through during this time. I have one more show in a month, but it's not nearly as big as this one, but if I sell a ton, then it could be the same scenario all over again. LOL! Even though I'm tired, I'd welcome it.

Have a great day!
 
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