Got Me Some New Drawers

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I bought this set of drawers to use at shows and it worked out spectacularly well. I originally had a cash box that housed separate compartments for each denomination of coin, but the bills were all stacked together. I upgraded to a larger box that I ran across at work, that hasn't been used in decades, I'm sure - that has a separate compartment for each denomination of bill. Larger box being the key words. I sometimes didn't have room in my booth for my little table so I had the cash box sitting on the merchandise table, which I thought looked kind of tacky.

I have to turn the cash box insert sideways in the top drawer but it works perfectly. The rest of the drawers hold supplies that I can store permanently there. I just tape the drawers closed for transportation. Even though it's a bit bulky, I was able to get rid of two other boxes used for transportation so the net effect was zero - with more efficiency!

I also bought this new organizer because I can't resist anything with little compartments. I had a letter sorter type thing that I used to use, to contain the papers I give away but they didn't quite fit right.

My new thing is a put the papers (bio sheet, show schedule, store list) in the bags ahead of time, so it turns out I really don't need to keep them here anymore. I've always had bigger stacks of the same papers on one of my display tables anyway.

Turns out my two styles of bags fit perfectly in the back slots - like I had this made to order. They've always been a minor problem, keeping them corralled neatly. Look at those other spaces - custom fit to my phone, calculator and business cards! And now I can keep the former letter organizer on my desk at home to hold those 3 papers to include with Internet orders.

I finally remembered to buy the black gabardine to layer over my custom fit (thanks Mom!) tablecloths - so the booth is more co-ordinated with the gray carpeting. The fabric is 60" wide so I bought two pieces 60" long and they work perfectly. Looks like I measured or something! I bought the fabric the day before the show so it was a little ravelled in places but Mom is going to serge it up nice for me.

I'm considering stitching my logo on the black fabric but that seems a little ambitious to me. Maybe I'll feel like it once show season is over. I think it would look stunning, that multi-colored thread on the black.

I'm very, very happy with the new black fabric though. My work is so colorful, that everything really stands out nicely. Every day, at this three-day show, I added new pins I finished up the night before. I promise to post them to the Etsy shop soon. (The copper leafy ones in the foreground are new.)

My goal is to offer 20 different pins at all times. They've proven to be really popular and new ideas keep popping into my head. The glass plates have proven to be a winner too. I have a new idea for a way to display more and add some verticality to that display area. (Is verticality a word??)

I bought the glass plates at a dollar store. I wish I could find them again so all 20 would match. Might have to buy 20 of whatever I can find.

This is the new sign I made for the Gro-Moore show. I used to have a multitude of small signs set around and between the glass plates. I tell you, sitting there at shows for hours, I keep thinking up new stuff. Doh! I finally figured out the small signs were stupid - I needed something that people could read from afar. I think this new sign has proven a winner. And when I add verticality to the pin display, I'll make an even bigger sign.

This photo was taken at the beginning of the show when I had those Sticky Notes with the Origami Hearts on the table in front of the big display. I noticed people were looking at them, and not really noticing all my fine stitching, dammit. So I intermixed some in the acrylic display and put the rest away. I went from thinking I didn't want to waste any available real estate to not liking the table looking so cluttered.

I keep meaning to make one or two new signs that suggest the Sticky Notes make good teacher gifts and good gifts for office mates. Those are the two things I hear most often from customers so I want to make sure everyone else thinks of that too. Not everyone has a teacher or office mate in their life - but lots do!

Notice my free drawing set up on the front corner there? Two shows ago, I started the show by putting 3 folded blank slips in the glass bowl (behind the card). That seems to get people interested in entering their name more so than if the bowl is empty! Human nature. Go figure.

I'm very upfront about giving people the opportunity to join my mailing list or just entering their name for the drawing or both. The vast majority of people supply their address for the mailing list. But the unexpected thing is how much fun I have giving something away. The last 3 times, the winner has supplied her address so I just ship the order off without any prior notification that they won. I write a note on the back of the padded envelope so they aren't spooked by getting an unexpected package in the mail. Two people have written me nice thank you notes. The third one I heard about from a friend of hers who attended this recent show and told me how excited her friend was to win. Love that.

There's always a fudge vendor at the Museum show who comes around early the first night to take orders from vendors at a 10% discount - and she'll deliver to your booth. So I bought a wee bit of chocolate walnut fudge, which she delivered Saturday morning. Even though I brought my lunch, I had nothing to cut the fudge with and didn't want to attempt to break off a piece and leave myself with sticky fingers. How attractive would that be - me sitting there stitching away between customers with fudge under my nails??

So the box of fudge sat there and taunted me for hours. Steve and I had some for dessert - delish!

Twelve shows down, two to go!

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November 29, 10:00-4:00

St. Jude's Holiday Craft Sale

4100 Lyell Road, Rochester, NY 14606

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