Craft show....hmmmmm

Last weekend was my first craft show - I had only shown my work at home shows in the past.  Wow - what a difference!  I had armed myself with all information available on what to bring to a craft show, how to display your work, etc.  I have to admit I did not forget one thing!  Here is a pic of my table:

 

Click on pics for a larger view

 

 

This was a 2 day craft show - Saturday from 9:00 - 2:00, continuing at 5:30 - 8:00, and then Sunday from 8:00 - 2:00.  It was held in a church Parish Hall.  There was NO HEAT.  NONE.  It was very cold last weekend and the room temperature felt like it did not rise above 45 degrees the entire weekend.  Brrrr..  And...it was slow.  Very slow.  The busiest day was Sunday - after each Mass.  But in between each Mass was an hour-long lull. 

 

The upside is that I met some of the nicest vendors!  They all noted that sales had been down for them...way down...all year long, including this show.  People just don't want to spend money right now.  I did fair - I did not expect to sell a single thing, but I did.   It was a great experience - especially since I have 2 more shows coming up next week.

 

Here are some pics of my table.  I bought the coolest necklace and bracelet displays from Last Summer Treasures - they are handmade from bamboo!  I got several compliments on the bamboo.

 

I bought this pretty papered box at Michael's with a 40% coupon - I don't think I paid $8.00 for it.  Well, my mother had matching deep purple satin, so she made me a little pillow to fit inside - Thanks Mom!

 

I had made my own earring cards and tags, and I bought this nice earring stand from Rio Grande - it holds lots of earrings and it's made of solid oak.  I found that people actually lingered a little longer at my table and looked at every single earring! 

 

 

My back and legs did not fare well, however.  I am still suffering from the affects of my bulging disc, which is pinching my sciatica nerve.  I stood most of the time, as sitting was just NOT. COMFORTABLE.  I go back to the Doc on Tuesday...we'll see what he says.

 

All I can say is I felt every day of my almost 52 years by Sunday night!  The weeks worth of prep work involved - plus just the added anxiety of having my first craft show - well, let's just say I was overly tired and achy!  I am not sure if I will do this show again next year - 2 days in a row and it was so slow - I will wait to see if the economy improves first!

 

I will end this post with some pics of my newest designs.

 

I love this bracelet - handmade bronze clasp by Lesley Watt of TheaToo, peeled paint beads by Jeannie Dukic, and ceramic beads by Marsha Neal.

Another bronze clasp by Lesley Watt of Thea Too, bronze accent bead by LeAnn Wieh of Summers Studio, and polymer beads by Humblebeads

I swear - this bracelet was the most popular of any of my other pieces!  I am surprised it did not sell!  Vibrant polymer beads by Barbara Bechtel of Second Surf.

I love how this necklace turned out!  I used lamp work beads by Javabead and Sue Kennedy of Sues Beads.  It's wrapped with silver filled sterling, antiqued, and tumbled for shine.

I made another Elemental Bracelet, which I learned from Stacie Florer at ArtBliss.  This time, I intentionally made it "big" - in silver.  It fits so well - like a cuff.

A close up of the bracelet - I soldered a tiny little silver bezel with turquoise on one of the links.

This necklace is my favorite and I am keeping it - it took me six straight hours to make!  It is based on a design by Kerry Bogert from her Totally Twisted Book - double stranded, and it includes her beads that I bought at ArtBliss.

Thanks so much for stopping by...what a long winded post! I enjoy reading your comments, if you are so inclined to leave one!  I hope you enjoy your weekend!