Success!

The craft show is over and I'm very pleased. And surprised. I haven't seen my final figures but I think they might be 3 digits or very close to it. That's not bad for product that sells from 50 cents to $7.99 each.

Figures, the only picture I took of one of the signs has the balloons blowing it front of it. The day dawned nice but right around opening time, a thunderous and lightning-filled storm blew through. Even though the sun came back out, it's been pretty darn windy all day - thus the unpredictable balloons.

I thought my card rack looked the nicest it ever has. I grouped like colors together, (almost) regardless of theme and everything stood out nicely. I worked the cash register area with MJ mostly, so I was able to very easily overhear people's comments. Everyone was extremely complimentary and far more interested than I anticipated. I have to tell you, my favorite comment was this: "These colors are magnificent!" Yep, magnificent. That one word made my whole damn day, I tell you. (She didn't buy anything though!) Either MJ or I would mention my Pine Tree Designs website so a number of people took my card so maybe I'll get some online sales out of this too.

(I'm half relieved some of these cards didn't sell so now I'll have a chance to scan them and update the website.)

I just reread my last few entries and I don't think I mentioned this. After I took my stuff over Tuesday night to set up, I remembered I'd been wanting to ask MJ if I could sell my wholesale purchased product, the stuff I had left over from when I sold it at the store in Fairport. When I set my stuff up, I saw she had hers out so I emailed her the next morning and asked. Doesn't hurt to ask and the answer is either yes or no. The answer was yes! She understands I'm trying to unload, I mean, sell it. So I repriced a bunch of that and took it over Wednesday night.

So I sold my wintery cinnamon sachets at cost - only sold a few of those. I sold a bunch of fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving coasters at the regular price. The middle shelf there, is those Note Quote books - lots of people looked at them, and I sold quite a few.

I'll be eager to see my tickets from what I sold so I can see how many of each of those I sold - and how many cards. Interestingly, I don't think I sold any Christmas cards - and that was going to be 3/4 of my focus! Thank goodness I had so much fun making those pumpkin cards, that I made a bunch of those. I guess because it's mid-October and feeling very fallish outside, that that's what was on people's minds. Now I know. I thought MJ was smart for having her sale in October, to avoid the onslaught of November and December craft sales. I'm pretty sure that November show I'm in will be heavily into the December holidays. For which I'll be prepared.

Debbie Coller of Artistic Ambitionswas there with her polymer clay and silver PMC jewelry. I picked out a necklace that Mom bought and will give me for Christmas. It's gorgeous. Debbie is very nice, told me again to stop by her studio any Tuesday and use any of her 4000 (yep, four thousand) rubber stamps. She has lots of QuicKutz Dies too, she says. When I met her last year, she offered the same and I thought she was just being polite or something. Now I know she is being nice, means it and I'm going to take her up on it.

Nancy Hammond makes slab pottery. This is in MJ's living room - aren't the walls gorgeous? You know how I loves me some wall color.

Connie Stevenson of Boughton Hill Designs had her painted pieces for sale. She does these detailed village scenes as well as designs on pieces of slate too. I always get a big kick out of hanging out with Connie - she's very funny and talented.


Of course, MJ had her lovely painted glassware for sale. That's her living room massive stone fireplace behind those shelves.


Overall, it was a wonderful experience -far better than I anticipated. Admittedly, I had low expectations because I didn't want to feel disappointed if I didn't do well. I was very pleased by the attention and interest people took in my cards, almost as much as the actual sales.

And it was fun, hanging out with my artist friends for my two 4 hour shifts Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.

Like I said, I don't have the breakdown of what I sold but I'm still a bit worried that I can ever sell enough cards at a craft show to make the time and effort worth my while. I spoke with Steve a little bit tonight about continuing to sell wholesale product as well. MJ is very successful and she does it. But I don't know what her future plans are with that. I was going to email her, as my mentor, and ask her for her thoughts. But Steve said to me, "It depends on what you want to get out of all this." That's when I remembered - I want to be an artist. I am an artist.