Holiday Market Photos

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This is the second time I've used carpeting in my booth. I bought this gray carpet because I was thinking of my black screen. However, I'm not happy with how it looks with my light & dark ivory tablecloths. So for 2 shows now, I've been trying to think what color carpeting would look right.

After seeing my friend Rachel's booth, I noticed she has a lot more (I think) black than she used to. Duh! It's my tablecloths that need changing, not the carpet! So I asked Rachel about the fabric - it's 60" wide gabardine she bought at JoAnn Fabrics. Doesn't fray, doesn't require hemming, she said - perfect!

You can see how nicely my tablecloths fit my tables. Mom very kindly sewed two tablecloths together for me for each table. I needed 2 cloths per table to reach the floor on all sides (it looks better and is required by some shows) and I was forever fiddling with them to get them perfect. Having the tablecloths "tailored" like this is fantastic. (I'm the envy of fellow vendors, Mom!) Rachel said the 60" gabardine doesn't fall to the floor in the back of her tables - so I'm thinking about layering the black on top of these ivory tablecloths - like position a square diagonally or something. I like the layered look and that way the tables are covered plus I have mostly the black showing, to co-ordinate my booth - and show off all my colorful wares.

The other end of this table had 6 more glass plates filled with paper pins. They sold quite well at this show. (At some shows, the pins garner nary a glance. You never know.) People love those sunflower pins you see here. I tried to quit making them once before because they have zero stitching on them. I keep trying to think how I could add stitching to them but maybe I better leave well enough alone.

Seeing this photo reminds me I haven't drawn the winner of the free drawing yet. The giveaway is a sunflower card, Sticky Notes and pin. People like the sunflowers - and I'm trying to get rid of the some of the last of my cards that don't have stitching on them. :-)

I love my framed pieces, if I do say so myself, but I really don't sell that many. I really don't think they are overpriced at all. I do have one "collector" who has bought maybe 10 or so, over time - some for gifts, some for herself. Late Sunday I did sell one of the pink pieces (right).

I bought those lights during last year's show at the Rochester Museum & Science Center. Even though I'm usually in big, well lit rooms, I am surprised at how shadowy it can be. At that show I was next to someone with a very tall booth so that's what prodded me to finally buy lights. I decided at this past show that whenever possible I will pay for electric for my booth - it's worth it to add a little sparkle and brightness.

I wanted to take this sign with me, but then I thought maybe the Junior League wanted to keep them in case they can use them again next year (fingers crossed for me). But then I saw the decorating company taking the curtains down and tossing the signs willy-nilly, so I poked at mine until it finally came down. I'll hang it in my studio somewhere, just for fun. It's my first sign provided by a show like that - the first of many, I should say. ;-)

To be juried for this show, I sent samples of my work, not photos. When the chairperson of the event stopped by to introduce herself, I asked if I was getting those back. (One usually gets photos back so I figured I'd get the actual items back - a card, a notepad and pin, I think.) She said they usually keep them on file but I could have them back if I wanted them. "No! You should keep them, definitely keep them!" I said. And that was before the show, before I knew how hard I rocked the sales. Btw, this was my 2nd highest sales show ever. Not bad for a brand new show.

I looked over the website for the Junior League of Syracuse show - Holiday Shoppes, they call theirs. I did remember correctly - they have over 8500 visitors. So I emailed them to get on their mailing list for next year. Looking over the vendor list for 2007, I saw a handful of names that were at this Rochester show. I wondered how so many out of towners ended up at this show. Apparently there's a lot of cross-pollination between Junior Leagues. Cool.

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