Enough Cards

That was a strange turn of events yesterday. I was convinced not participating in the Boughton Hill show was the right thing to do. But once my friends at work starting talking to me about it, it seemed like I really should do the show. I sincerely found myself feeling very good about the whole thing.

One thing that I really heard them say was that if I keep turning down MJ's offers, she won't ask me anymore. In November she invited me to participate in her first annual home show but no way did I feel ready inventory-wise then besides working extra hours in the store. She's the one that gave me free space in her booth last December at the holiday sale at that school. This Christmas though, I'll definitely participate in her home show, assuming she'll ask me, which she said she would.

So Thursday. At first I figured I could leave work at 4:30 yesterday, then remembered more comp time I had earned earlier in the week so make that 4:00. I would have time to make some more cards and figure out how I would display them. Then Jen suggested I could leave even earlier and you know once someone puts a notion about time off in your head, it's hard to let it go. I realized that yes, I could very easily do that - no meetings or commitments scheduled at work. And that is one of the major perks of our company - we can flex our time and advance notice for time off isn't a big deal either. So I decided to leave at noon. Yay me!

Except then I remembered I had no car - Steve had my car because his car was at the mechanic's, getting the snow tires removed - and he had a mid-day dentist appointment. So I called Dad and he was willing to pick me up at work and give me a ride home. Then he called me right back. Uh-oh, I was afraid he'd remembered a previous commitment and couldn't pick me up. Nope - he asked if we could stop at Steve's Place for lunch on the way home. Sure! And so we did - had a BLT and fries.

I worked my butt off the rest of the day making cards and ended up with about 45 total, including ones I had on hand. No more than 3 of any design but also lots of one of a kind. The organizer called me back and we chatted for a while. We left the consignment thing open because she said she wants to make sure I make money. She said she really just wants to cover her advertising costs. So we'll settle up at the end of the show - I bet she'd be happy with 25%. That's awfully nice of her. She also made a good point, that while she's been holding this show in her home for 8 years now, she welcomes new vendors so her returning customers don't see the same stuff, year after year. She also told me she had space for me in her dining room and extra tables if I need one - so see? I didn't need to worry about display pieces after all - something I was worried about for no reason.

This is the cards all laid out, before I went to bed.

This morning I stamped my logo on the back, printed price tags and put an envelope inside each one. I made a tent sign that says orders and custom work is welcomed. I made sign up sheets for the PTD email newsletter. I printed 30 business cards, punched the pine trees that go on them and assembled them. (Yes, I do get up early, even when I don't have that much to do in the morning. I'm a definite morning person.)

Jen made 5 or 6 cards for me to sell too. When I sold her cards at Celebration Gifts, we had a 25/75 split but I don't think I'll do that anymore. She can keep all the money, less sales tax, which I'll have to pay.

I took them out to Boughton Hill (the road the show is on, her company is called Boughton Hill Studio, I think) - at 9:30 this morning. She was very nice and welcoming, as was another vendor there setting up. There was lots of nice stuff inside and out. It would be wonderful if the weather holds but rain is expected. They usually serve lunch on the patio but cancelled that part this year based on the weather forecast.

She didn't seem to care if I worked at the show or not, but I want to. I'll go out at 9:30 Saturday when it opens. She said she normally runs the cash register but wouldn't mind giving that up. We're using MJ's cash register, which I've used when working for MJ so I'd be happy to do that. I'll stay as long as it looks like I'm needed or I'm having fun.

I'll take pictures tomorrow too. My cards are on a very small table, but I think it's just fine. She gave me this cool hand-painted box to stack the cards in if I wanted - and it worked out perfectly. It's black with flowers painted so it goes well with all my flowery cards. I set cards in both sides of the box, standing on ends so one can sort through them easily. I stood some up around the table and laid out my sign, cards and newsletter sign-up sheet and pen.

As always, I've fluctuated between feeling so confident and happy and wondering what the heck am I thinking? It's weird though because not once in the last 24 hours have I felt truly stressed about this. (Well, except when Simon interrupted me to talk about his car and money. That's a subject I can hardly bare to speak of even when I'm not focused elsewhere!)

Like I said, it's weird to have felt so strongly about not participating in the show, then to turn around and feel so good about it. This is all working so well, that I've got virtually nothing to lose, except 2.75 hours vacation time Thursday - and probably 25% of any money I make. I consider working at the show a positive.