I'm sorry these pictures aren't better. I took them in a hurry and they look like I didn't have the flash turned on, which is unlikely because auto flash is the default, but whatever. I lightened each one in the camera software the best I could. (Really, Ann, I tried!)
Trust me, everything looked fabulous. :-) (Click on the Flickr photos in the sidebar, that shows them a bit more clearly.)
MJ participated in this show too and came by before it started to see how I was doing. I thanked her for allowing me to work for her over the past year - I've learned so much. I told Steve I bet I've learned stuff I didn't know I knew, stuff that gave me confidence because I've been behind the scenes with her so many times. I wasn't really very nervous (except that I'd forget something important, which I didn't) - I was just mostly excited.
MJ gave my name to the organizer and even though I turned my application in near the deadline, I still had what I considered to be the best space in the house. Luck of the draw I guess. My booth was about the first thing one saw as one entered the gymnasium. Other vendors were in the (smaller) cafeteria, a couple of classrooms and some hallways. I've already emailed the organizer to tell her what a great job she did with the show and to please keep me on her list for next year. I also asked if, when the time comes, I can request that same spot for next year. Most shows allow you to do that.
I knew the booth space came with a table and 2 chairs. While I could have looked it up, I figured the table was 6' or 8' long. That's what I was picturing in my mind anyway. I was worried that I wouldn't have enough room because I wanted to sell my leftover wholesale product too. When I got there and saw how damn long that table was - still don't know - 10 feet? 12 feet? - I was panicked that my tablecloth would be too short and look ridiculous. I bought that table cloth for the times I sold my cards in the lobby at work but haven't looked at the tablecloth in a couple of years. It's huge! It fit perfectly! Crisis averted.
I think the big pins are too big for most people. I'll wear them - but my latest thought, since I want to branch into all kinds of paper products is the use them on top of little decorative gift boxes. Just a germ of an idea - haven't gotten any further than that on it.
MJ has a following and I hope I can develop a loyal customer base too. I had several people ask me what other shows I'd be doing. I explained it was my first show but it was going so well and I was having so much fun that I'd definitely be doing more. I suspect I'm too late to get into any other shows this year. I've been keeping a file on area shows so I'll have to see when the spring shows start. In fact MJ asked me to work for her again in a couple of weeks so I can pick her brain then. She asked me to work for her next weekend too but I have 3 things going on that same day so I told her I'd put her on my calendar for next year for that show. I'm guessing eventually, I'll be doing a lot of the same shows she's doing and won't be available to help her anymore. Until then, I'll continue to learn from her, have fun and earn a little extra money.
This, my friends, is the spinner I made to display the suncatchers. As in I made it at 5:00 am the day of the show! I bought the materials the weekend before but had not gotten to make it yet. I got up at 4:00 the day of the show, took a shower and decided to see if I could get this thing done. If not, I had nothing to lose - and I figured I would just lay the suncatchers on the table - or hang them from nails hammered into the corner supports of the card rack or something.
This thing went together exactly as I had envisioned it. That's a railing spindle that I drilled holes in and pounded the dowels through. I screwed it into a "rosette" (round base, not visible in this picture). The only thing I wasn't sure of was how I was going to attach the rosette to the turntable (one I've had for years, that we never use any more). The turning mechanism is in the way and the only long screw I had to screw the rosette into the spindle didn't screw in flush to the wood. But I was so close to completion - I had to figure this out. So I used foam tape, two layers actually - and it worked like a charm! It's sticky as hell, strong and two layers added enough dimension to account for the screw that stuck out just slightly.
I had decided to go as far as I could with it - and I finished it - it worked perfectly! (I take no credit for the design, by the way - I stole the basic idea from someone else.) And Steve and Simon both slept through all the drilling and pounding in the basement. I was right below Simon's room too! I sort of didn't care - had to do what I had to do - but I was relieved that I didn't disturb either one of them. It was nice enough that both of then were getting up at 6:15 on a Saturday morning to haul my card rack for me - I didn't need to cut their sleep any shorter.
I sold 3 suncatchers but I think they'll catch on too. I worry that I had too much stuff on the table but I'll tell you, I'm desperate to get rid of the rest of that wholesale product. Sold 36 coasters to one customer so have just a smattering of those left. I sold a good number of those $3.00 magnets and cards too - the black & white photos with funny sayings. There's just dribs and drabs left. I need to update the website with remaining quantities.
Which is another thing. I've been working my hiney off so much I haven't scanned hardly any of the new product. I'll get busy with that this week.
Allison's cards did pretty well. I may still sell those as my only non-Stefani items eventually because I just love them, they are handmade and they are priced competitively with my stuff.
Dad asked me what was my best seller but I don't think there was a runaway hit. It was a little of this and a little of that. I'm happy to say I was busy enough that I didn't really keep track of what sold. When I was at the Fairport store, I had product codes on everything and tracked it all in an inventory program. MJ used to do that too but I noticed she doesn't do that at shows. I asked her how she keeps track of what she needs and she said she just eyeballs it. In the last few months, even when I made a run of 20 of the same item, each one is unique. That's not 100% true but almost.
Buying that big card rack from Village Gifts when they were going out of business was one of the best investments I've made. I got more compliments on that thing. A couple of vendors admired it and asked me if it's portable. "Not in the slightest!", I replied. Simon and Steve graciously brought it to the show and took it away at the end. I have no idea what I'll do when Simon leaves home! It just makes such a great presentation. I think my new way of displaying the cards - all same-colored cards together regardless of design - works really well. And what a blessing that I was able to buy those wire card racks from the Victor store when they went out of business. Which reminds me, I need to get in touch with Debbie, another artist who promised me an acrylic tiered card rack. Eventually, I'll be selling all Stefani-made things so that could go on the table with certain specialty cards in them or something. It's good to grab these opportunities when they present themselves. It's a win-win for the buyer and the seller, that's for sure.
I had two people tell me that my booth was the nicest one in the show. I know that's not quite true - but it was nice to hear. I was next to a jewelry artist who just started making jewelry recently and this was her first show too so it was nice being near another newbie. A very nice woman (yet another jewelry artist) was across the way - she bought a card from me. She had the nicest jewelry I've seen, actually. Very earthy stones, not quite so girly as most jewelry that's displayed at these shows. Girly is nice too - just not my personal style.
Otherwise, we were surrounded, in our corner by home shopping party vendors - scrapbooking right behind me, Pampered Chef, Tupperware and Longaberger. The organizer had told me they want the show to eventually be all handcrafted items but for now, this the way it is. I'm pretty anti home shopping party, just in theory, no matter how nice the stuff is. I don't go to or give parties like that. That's just me.
I gave poor Simon my cold a few days ago and he was a hurtin' turkey Saturday. He was able to go back to sleep for a few more hours after taking the card rack to the show around 7:00. And he feels much better today, he said. He sounds better. He's tough like his mama.
We all went out to breakfast at The Log Cabin this morning to celebrate the November birthdays. Dad turned 76 last Thursday and Simon turnes the big one eight next Tuesday. I think it's safe to say that Simon is probably a tad more excited about his birthday than Dad was about his!
Afterwards, Simon went to work and Steve and I finished reading the paper. I couldn't keep my eyes open so I slept for an hour and a half on the bed. Not a quickie power nap on the couch, mind you - a good sleep on the bed, wrapped in one of mom's beautiful hand crocheted afghans. (I don't like to get in bed during the day, makes me feel like I'm sick or it's too hard to get up or something.)
Just before I woke up Steve went to his brother's to watch the Buffalo Bills so I actually had a nice Stefani Day. I thought I had maybe been exaggerating that layabout stuff - because I really wanted to clean up the messes I left in the basement and my studio getting ready for this show. Nope, I was definitely a sloth today.
I counted my money again, worried I'd counted it wrong the night before. I didn't. Mom bought some more cards today because she wanted to buy too many at the show yesterday and I was worried it would deplete my inventory! Plus I had some here I'd set aside for her that she'd asked for and in her favorite colors. So including a check that Gretchen brought back from Florida for an order she took to her friend Helen last week - my deposit is over $400.
And I've already spent it.
Not really - but the one productive thing I did today is something I've been waiting for a year to be able to do. I placed my first wholesale order with Bazzill - for lots of cardstock, some handmade paper, some mulberry paper, vellum and couple of specialty things I'll show you when they arrive. They require a $300 opening order - which is a lot when the paper is discounted to wholesale prices! A few months ago I emailed them to see if they would waive that because I'm not a store, just a starving artist, blah, blah, blah. They wouldn't, which I understand, but no harm in asking. So spent a good deal of time pouring over the sample swatches, figuring out just what I wanted. I will be receiving 2300 sheets of paper in a week or two! Can you stand it?? I'll probably keel over when it arrives.
Their paper is the just the best, most beautiful colors and textures and to be able to buy it wholesale will save me a bundle - plus I'll have it here in massive quantities! No more running to the scrapbook store. This is my idea of heaven, I assure you. Their reorders are only $100 so that should be no problem from here on out.
I finished off the Hawaiian pizza we had last night and managed to get a wee bit of white laundry done so I don't have to go to work commando tomorrow. That wouldn't be good for anyone!
Now I'm going to literally lie on the couch and alternately read and watch TV. You know how I loves me some Extreme Makeover Home Edition, right? Get the hankies ready.
