Me: Holy time flies Batman, it is that time of year isn't it? Well I did two craft shows and zero Christmas cards.
"Another year over, and a new one's just begun"
Me: (sobbing quietly into my eggnog for all the unfinished projects).
Apologies to fans of the song, please don't send me hate mail, I promise not to do it again. Actually that's a lie, I'll try not to make bad jokes again.
So, the craft shows. You've all done them, you know the drill, so I'll skip to the good parts.
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| Okay, this isn't the good parts, it's my booth at MakeIt Vancouver. Oops, forgot to put away the step ladder. |
Highlights of the shows:
- selling some of some soaps I hadn't expected to sell off
- seeing fellow crafters who I got to know from previous fairs
Best phrases from the shows:
- "This is my daughter's favourite booth." Not bad for a venue with over 200 vendors
- "This is fudge, not soap." A sign seen at the fudge booth.
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| Half a booth picture. By this time I got too lazy to put out as much stock. |
Cool artists I met at the shows:
- Jo of LaJolee
- April of Yapes Paints
- Jamie of Jamie Smith Studios
- Rubina of Whisper Jewels
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| Rubina of Whisper Jewels with her oh so cool creations. Plus I finally remembered to take a picture of my neighbour. |
And friends from before:
- Lisa of Blush Face Papers
- Anahita from Gogobags
And my favourite crafter (because she's a fabulous person and she has me make her special soaps)
- GG of Creampuffs by GG
Hope you all had great success at your shows, and that you're finding time to be with friends and family this holiday season.
I live craft shows! Everyone becomes like a little family after a while.
ReplyDeleteYour booth is fantastic! So many fun and interesting soaps. I am happy to read you enjoyed yourself! I hope you sold lots!
I have a love/hate relationship with craft shows myself. You're right about people becoming like family though Michelle, and it's a wonderful way to meet new people and discover how talented people are.
DeleteI did manage to sell a fair bit and now that we got the soaps into bins, it made set up and take down a lot easier.
Your shows this year sound like they went beautifully! Yay!! Making friends is a big part of the fun. :)
ReplyDeleteI missed the local cratt shows this year. The whole holiday season is passing me by.
I think craft fairs can be a real hit or miss Teresa and this year it was a hit for me. It helps, I think to be a little different with what you sell. Definitely meeting people and making new friends is probably the best part about doing the shows.
DeleteI'm finding the season is whizzing past for me as well. One of these years I'll be ready in time (not!)
Thanks for sharing your craft show pictures, your booth looks spectacular! I was having a good weekend until you mentioned Christmas cards, and now I just remembered that I was supposed to do mine this weekend....eeekk!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliment Cee. I find the booth never is quite perfect, you always spend time re-arranging this or that, do you find that as well?
DeleteI didn't get my Christmas cards done until today either, and I don't have that many to send out. I feel bad for those who have lots of friends and family to send cards to.
Your soaps are so cuuuuuuuuute! Love the crayons. And the piggies. And the mouse.......no wonder your booth is the kids' favorite. Hope you sold a lot! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Silvia! I love the crayons as well, they work well with the indecisive part of me because I don't have to decide on just one. :)
DeleteI managed to have a pretty good season for selling and hopefully people will be looking for me next year. :)
Great booth,Monica, it's huge! And you're so funny! I can't recognuce the song you made a joke about, so, as for me, keep shooting your jokes :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm happy for your good selling year, it means a lot for keeping our passion go!
And I really understand why your stand was so popular, even there hadn't been your terrific soaps, people still would have been attracted by your personality
Oh Maja, how much do I owe you for laughing at my awful jokes and being so wonderfully sweet? I wish I could make the beautiful soaps that you do, that would really bring in the crowds.
DeleteYour booth looks good, Monica! I hope everything went as you planned;
ReplyDeleteIt seems like you had fun there, nice that you re-descovered some old friends and made new ones!
I wish you put a picture of you there so that we can admire you too! :)
Thank you Nat. Nothing ever goes completely as planned otherwise, I'd be a millionaire by now. :D That is probably the best part of those shows is getting to meet people. Next year, I'll remember to take a picture of me at my booth. :)
DeleteGlad to hear that your craft shows were a success, Monica! Your display looks great, and it sounds like you have made some wonderful new friends!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenny. I think the more I work at it, going to craft shows, the better it'll get. Plus I look forward to meeting more interesting people each time.
DeleteYou are brave! Craft shows are such hard work but the payoff is so good!
ReplyDeleteI do farmer's markets but that's about it. They are enough for me!
I LOVE your layout with the shelves and the soaps arranged very neatly - it is visually very appealing.
Now you can sit back and relax - enjoy the holiday!! :-)
Lindsey, if I did everything you did, work, homestead and sell at farmer's markets, I'd be completely pooped. I think farmer's markets would be just as tiring as craft fairs and on a more regular basis.
DeleteThe costco shelving works well for me. Athough the set up and take down is quite a bit of work, I think it helps sell.
No time to relax yet, now getting the rest of the stuff done for the holidays.
Nice booth Monica! I am happy that you had such success with your Craft Show. I just recently did one at work and I was surprised to do much better than last year!
ReplyDeleteThanks Roxana! I'm not surprised about your success, your soaps are gorgeous and I bet people were looking forward to seeing you there again.
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