I Killed!

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I totally killed at the museum craft show this weekend!

I emailed my family last night bragging about my sales, saying I wasn't as tired as I thought I'd be. That was the counting-my-money-euphoria. It's over. Whew! I'm beat. I'm having a lazy morning, stoked on my Dunkin' Donuts strawberry banana smoothie and bagel sandwich. I'm having a massage at 11:00, then off to the day job for the afternoon. Every once in a while I remember it's a short week - and get happy all over again every time.

That post show euphoria thing reminds me of the day of my gall bladder surgery. Steve's sister called to say hi, she's a physician's assistant - and I was telling her great I felt. She told me that's just the first day, anesthesia hasn't worn off yet feeling - wait until tomorrow. I was sure she was wrong. Next day - whammo! Hit by a truck feeling.

This was my first show with two tables and I loved it. I bought the 2nd table on a whim just a couple of weeks ago because it was half price at Target. Unfortunately I couldn't find the exact same tablecloths as I've been using but I think it turned out just fine. I was able to spread out and feature things nicely, I thought. It's a keeper.

Having the 2 tables also allowed me to use the 2 tabletop card spinners instead of one floor spinner. I think it worked much better - people seemed to look at the cards a lot more because they were more eye level.

And I need lights for my booth. I'll be looking at lights I can clamp onto my black screen that will light up my framed pieces and shine down on the notepads. The room lighting isn't bad but having my own lights will be so much better. I'd shied away from them because I never know if I'll have electricity or not - but most times I do - and I'll use the lights whenever I can. That's how the big dogs roll - and I feel like I joined the big dogs this weekend.

I had a great location, one I'll ask for again. I was in the smaller of the two buildings, in one of the few one-big-room areas - and I was right inside the door so people checked me out coming and going. My friend Pam helped me Friday night but it turned out I could have done it myself. But it was fun working with a friend. My friend Linda helped me Saturday morning - and that was a good thing. I could have handled it myself but it was better having her handle the money so I could talk to customers. Sunday I did by myself, no problem. Gretchen stopped by for a while so I got a couple of breaks - one to grab a bowl of chili and a bathroom break before she left.

My big acrylic rack holds 225 Sticky Notes. I didn't start 100% full but almost. I made 20 new notepads Friday night and 20 on Saturday night. I ended up with EIGHT notepads left at the end of show. I offered 3 styles of Christmas pins, sold out of one (the Christmas tree with crystals) early Saturday. I almost sold out of the snowman pins. I thought the angel pins would be more popular, silly me.

So my biggest fear was realized - that I'd sell out of some stuff. I was afraid of looking ill-prepared and pathetic but I think it made me look successful. Still, overall, my preference would be to always have enough inventory, of course.

Of course this means, inventory-wise, I am totally screwed for my last show of the season, December 1. It's a new show for me, one I've badly wanted to get into. I had a stack of cards on the table that people could take, about the show. So many people took the cards that I had to print more for Sunday. It's a one day show, but very popular.

The fact that it's in December lulled me into a false sense of security - that's right around the corner! I have to work the Friday after Thanksgiving (even I'm bored with my usual rant about that) but I'll probably leave work that day no later than 2:00. I have to work at Enchanted Rose Garden Sunday afternoon. So I'm bummed I don't even have a solid 4 day weekend coming up. Steve and I are going to his brother's for Thanksgiving dinner so I'll be able to stitch every moment I'm not eating. ;-)

I'll work hard and do the best I can. That's all there is.

I would never advise anyone to think this way but I couldn't help myself. This was the biggest weekend of my life this year - one that I was so looking forward to. I set a pretty high goal for myself, financially - and overshot it by $200. That's a whole lot of $4 notepads and $3.50 pins!

It was soooo much fun!

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