A Hot Hot Weekend for a Craft Show

Good morning! I am happy to say that I final have internet again!! After spending over an hour on the phone yesterday with Comcast to fix a problem that should have been fixed on Monday when the technician was here. But it is all up now and we can move on... hahaha :)

This past weekend I was at a craft show/flea market. This was the first event I was attending by myself, which made me a little nervous about setting up the tent and really nervous about how I was going to get a bathroom break! Luck was on my side though and a space on the covered walkway opened up so I didn't need to set up the tent. As for the bathroom breaks, that was also not an issue since I was next to the nicest vendor, Peggy, who watched my booth while I ran to the restroom quickly.

This was probably not the best weekend to be at an outdoor show, it was HOT HOT HOT out! The temp was well over 90 and super muggy on Saturday. Not the best for my items since they don't really handle moisture very well. But they are all dried out now and as good as new :) I think the heat kept a lot of people inside and not out at the show. I had a lot of interest in my items and people really seemed to appreciate the work that went into them. As for sells though, I got some interest in custom orders and made an even trade with another vendor. I also made a few contacts with other fabulous vendors which is always a plus and makes for a decent show.

Now this trade I made was for the cutest zebra print poofy skirt for my little niece. I know she's not big enough to wear it, but when she is, I think she'll LOVE IT. I mean, what little girl doesn't love a fun skirt to twirl around in! :)

Well I am off to pick up Jonny from tennis camp and then take him to art camp... he's a very busy boy :) I hope you have a fabulously sunny week!




~Jennifer :)

Coasters...

It's just a short post today. The family is getting ready to go away for a week, so everything here is very hectic to say the least. In my down time though I have finished several sets of coasters. And I have to say, I am pretty proud of them! Especially since they were the only thing that sold at the recent show... hahaha :) The mom that I work for even bought two sets to take up to Maine for the family. I thought that was very nice of her to support my crafting. Below are a few photos of some of the coasters. Have a fabulous day and always smile :)

~Jennifer :)

If I hadn't started making the coasters....

This past weekend I participated in a craft/vendor show that was supporting a Girl Scout Troop in Souderton, PA. My boyfriend did not come along with me this past weekend. I told him that he didn't have to since I was going to be leaving at 6am. And he completely agreed with me when he heard the time... hahaha. I did have some help though. Jonny, the little boy I nanny for, came with me to help and keep me company. We were on the road by 6am and stopped at McDonalds for breakfast, which Jonny loved! We arrived at the event just a little before 7am to start setting up. For such an early morning, Jonny was doing well and being a huge help in unloading the car and trying to come up with ways to set up the table and arrange the items. There was one thing he was disappointed about... the show was inside and not outside (which I was happy for). After everything was set up and in it's place I took one last look at the table... and noticed I couldn't find Jonny, that is until I looked behind the table again. I found him sleeping on the job! ;) I couldn't really blame him though, if I could have laid down for a nap at that moment I would have! :)
The show itself was kind of slow. I only sold one item, one of the coaster sets that I had just started to make. I met a lot of nice people and had a good time over all. Jonny kept me entertained and occupied, and for the most part he behaved as well as I could expect him to after waking up at 5:50am.

This week I will be working on coasters and trinket chests and also trying to come up with a design for a sign for my mom, oh, I'll also be working also... should be a fun week :)

It's Monday... and all is well :)

So this past Saturday I showed my wares at the Trenton Ave Arts Festival and it was a great experience, I even made a profit this time... hahaha. The show was huge, the biggest one I have been to yet. Tons of people, lots of music and a lot of fun... even if it was a long tiring day.

The night before, with the help of 8yr old Jonny, I was able to pack everything into the subaru. It was a tight fit, but with the creative suggestions from Jonny, I was able to make everything fit... even the all important table that I actually forgot about and had to pack up Saturday morning... hahaha :)

Saturday morning I woke up early, printed off directions and left with my boyfriend John in the car with me. I had really no idea where this show was in the city and neither did John, so it was good that I printed off the directions since both of our phone GPS navs couldn't get a single. We arrived safely though and set up the tent and all my wares in the right space (we double checked several times... hahaha). Everything looked good, even if the sign was a tad crooked and the shelves leaned a little due to the very uneven cobble stone road we were on.


For this show I had gotten a folding pegboard display wall to hang my mirrors and hooks on. It looked good... and then a gust of wind came up and blew it down. I think I might have let out a scream when it happened but I'm not sure... hahaha. I ran over and slowly started to lift up the display. In my mind all I saw was all the glass and mirrors shattered on the road. But as I lift the display I saw that nothing was broken or damaged beyond repair. I was so amazed and relieved!! The other crafters and vendors around me were such a help in giving me string to use to tie the display to the tent and picking up everything that fell, and to them I am so so grateful. I was even more grateful when it happened again... Yes, it happened again even though it was tied in place. The string was that really slippery kind and I think with the breeze rocking the display back and forth it just loosened the knots enough to give out when a stronger breeze came along. But again, nothing was damaged and everyone around really helped me out.

By the end of the show I had sold 5 items and actually turned a profit... first time that has happened... hahaha :) So to me, it was a very successful outing. And the breakdown of the display and tent went very quickly. I really couldn't have asked for more :)

Sunday was spent not doing a whole lot... hahahaha. My feet needed some rest after standing for 8 hours straight and I just needed to relax and sleep a little. Sleep is always good... hahahaha.

I've included a couple of pics of the booth along with the leaning shelves... hahahaha. I hope you have a smooth Monday and great week!

~Jennifer :)

Trenton Ave Arts Festival... Only 5 Days Away...

It's Monday and my second big arts and crafts show is this coming Saturday... and Saturday seems to be approaching faster then normal. Even though this is my second big show, it's going to feel like my first. The Malvern Blooms show was my first, but with the bad weather and small turn out, it wasn't that big. The weather for the Trenton Ave. show is suppose to be nice, and they have had huge turnouts the last few years, so even though this is my second large outdoor show, it'll probably end up feeling like my first.

Before the last few shows, I felt the need to make a ton of items to build up my stock and to have items to show that were not on my website. With this coming show, however, I don't feel the need to do that since there was such a small turn out at the last couple of shows, my inventory is still at a good level. I'm still working on some new pieces for the show though... I just can't go without anything new... hahaha :)

So since I am not acting like a mad beaver working on frames or home decor pieces, I feel a little more relaxed with this show coming up. The kids I nanny for aren't seeing as much paint on my hands. And I am a little calmer around them... which I am sure they appreciate... hahahaha :) And since I am not making one project after another, I think I'll be able to be a little more prepared for the show... I'll have my items marked with prices before the show, they'll be better organized in their boxes, best of all, I'll be less frazzled... hahaha :)


The youngest boy I look after, Jonny (8), has been asking, on the verge of begging, to come to the show with me and help. He wants to sell my items for me, because in his words "I'm an excellent sales person Jenn, you need me to come!" hahahaha... He even told me that he wanted to walk around the show with one of my pieces to try to sale it... of course I told him that would not be safe or a good idea at all... but I still thought it was very sweet of him. Even though Jonny won't be at the show with me (it is my day off from watching him... hahaha), he will have a presence there, he has designed one of the gift tag sets which he is very proud of. He is even more excited by the fact that if those tags sale he gets the money from them. So for him, I do hope those tags sale this coming Saturday.

With all that said, I am off now to do a little nannying and to work on some magazine holders. Have a fabulous Monday and enjoy the little things in life!

~Jennifer :)

The Malvern Blooms Show

Hey all!! :) This past weekend I was at the Malvern Blooms show on Sunday. It was my first large outdoor show. I was super prepared for it... I had new pieces just for the show, was packed the night before and actually got to bed early for once. And I was being positive about the weather... hoping the rain was going to not last all day and that the temp was going to get close to 60... Things were looking good!

And then Sunday came... hahahaha. My boyfriend and I got to the show close to 8am. I checked in and got my space. We set up (first time for putting up a tent and all that) and I was happy with how it was looking. Then came the news that I was told the wrong spot... that was a little discouraging. But I was able to move my stuff to a new spot with the help of some very nice people. I am not sure I could have done it myself or even with just my boyfriend since it was raining lightly and my items are not water friendly for the most part. I set up my booth again and was happy with how it looked. All I needed was for the people to start showing up for the show.

Sadly, the weather was not a friend of the Malvern Blooms show that day. It was raining some, drizzly a lot and cold. I think it actually got colder as the day went on. I mean, we could see our breath in the air... never a good sign!! The cold and the on again, off again rain kept most of the people away, but the ones that did come and stop by my booth were friendly and upbeat and gave wonderful feedback on my items. Showing my pieces always makes me a bit nervous, so getting positive feedback helped boost my confidence in my work a little more.

My boyfriend stuck out the cold with me and kept me company throughout the day and I'm not sure I would have been able to do everything on my own. He even held down the fort, sometimes literally (the breeze had a tendency to move the test... need to remember weights for the legs next time), when I had to run off to the restrooms... hahaha. He was the best and very supportive!

All in all, I ended up selling one item, lots of people took cards and I met some very nice, helpful vendors that gave me a lot of information. It turned out to be a wonderful learning experience and I wouldn't trade that for the world.

I took some pics of my first outside booth and here they are...

First Big Craft Show... What have I gotten myself into??

So my life has become consumed with getting ready for the Malvern Blooms: Home and Garden show. This is my first big craft show and my first juried show, so to say that I am nervous about it, is an understatement! :) I was so happy and excited to get accepted, and still am super excited about it, but the nerves are setting in and the cost of everything I need for my booth area is adding up. I knew I would need major things like a tent, table and shelves, those were costs that I expected. It is the little things that are adding up... a display rack for my gift tags, table clothes, extra decorations, and so on.

Now there is the task of setting it up and making it look welcoming. This coming weekend, the little boy I nanny for and my boyfriend are going to help me do a mock set up of my booth. A nice run through of how the tent is set up and how it's all going to look will be nice. I think it will also help calm my nerves come show day on April 25th. I have been looking online constantly at other peoples booths, how they set them up, what they did to set theirs' apart, and so on. There are a ton of wonderful booths out there, and when the show is done, I am hoping that mine will be one of them.

So far, this is my check list of things that I need to remember for the show: tent, sides to tent, table, shelves, items to sell (can't forget those... hahaha), table cloth, decorating elements, money for change, tape, calculator, scissors, change box, twine, sign, hooks, sales receipt booklet, email sign up list, business cards, water, snacks, paper bags for sales... and that's all I have on the list right now. Is there anything that I am missing or should have with me? Does anyone have any suggestions? Because I am really open to them right now... hahahaha :)

Below is a picture of what my new sign looks like. Bearcengic on Etsy did a fabulous job in designing it for me and I think it's going to look wonderful in my new booth!