Schlegel Road Wrap-Up

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I'd call Saturday's craft show a success. I think I had the proper expectations set, considering it was the first show at this location and it was a very cold February day. The show was run beautifully and I'm not just saying that because Ida (the promoter) reads this blog! You can tell that she and her husband are craft show participants because every single detail was covered. I hope I'm lucky enough to participate in future shows by them. <---- Okay, that part was blatant flattery. Hi Ida!

I may have mentioned before that a craft show veteran friend of mine says if her sales are 10 times the entrance fee, she considers the show a success. This is her full-time gig and I'm not at her level of experience so my formula is 7 times the entrance fee, which is one reason I call Saturday's show a success. The other reason is I think I reached a whole new audience on that side of town. And I networked with some other crafters, always a good thing. There really was some nice work at this show.

Sunday was a planned day of rest. We walked Reggi in the morning. I felt warm enough as we walked (it was 17 degrees F) but after breakfast, while reading the paper, my core felt chilly, just couldn't get warm. We even had the fireplace going. I'm just never chilly! I finally took a hot shower to warm up.

I got caught up on some paperwork, then made myself a little nest on the couch. I read for a while, surfed the net for a bit and took a nice nap. I was deep sleeping! Reggi was on the recliner and Verona was on my feet. We all fell asleep in our respective sunbeams. It was heaven.

By the time I went to bed I felt a little "throaty" but I feel better this morning. The woman I share an office with has been sick and Steve was sick last week so I've been pounding the Echinacea like crazy. I asked my massage therapist to use her best mojo last week to make sure I don't get sick. She then told me that massage can actually bring on a low-lying cold with a vengeance - but it will be shorter in duration. I just wanted to get through the craft show feeling good. This happened at another craft show last year. I was fighting a tiny cold all week, running on adrenaline, then the day after the show - kaboom - sick. I love that - how our bodies take care of us (usually).

I had hoped to clean my studio yesterday but the whole vegging on the couch thing worked out nicely, just as I'd hoped. Felt good.

Now I have some orders to fill and time to start replenishing the inventory. I didn't sell a single framed piece but sold a fair number of cards and as usual, the Post-It-Note pads were the hot item. The framed pieces have to grow on people - it's usually something they think about and come back to purchase the next time.

I learned a couple of things. I'm going to make a nice sign that says my products are all hand-stitched. It's a question I hear from time to time and it's so obvious to me - but duh, how would someone else know? They are always amazed and impressed - so think about the people that don't ask and don't know. I need a sign.

I sold a fair number of pins too. I always display them in groups on the table, each in a co-ordinating organza bag with one out of the bag for display and touching. That way people feel like they are getting a "fresh" pin that no one has touched. But I'm thinking of finding some trays or shallow baskets or something to display the various pins in. I was poking around the Pier One website yesterday - I love their stuff. But I didn't really see the right thing. I looked through some display catalogs I have too - I saw a tilted basket set up I kind of liked. I guess I'll know it when I see it.

The next show is March 29, 30, 31 and April 1. No rest for the weary - yay!