craft show

Two weeks to go, checking in

| mollyeleen

In two weeks, day one of “the” first craft show will be over. Breath.  Today I have been nervous about this 14 days. Sunday I set up a schedule for myself, I realize now this it was not realistic. This is what makes me nervous,  I wanted to be further along in my inventory.  That being said, I have made huge progress this week, just today I made 8 dresses… don’t beat myself up too much- right?

I am looking forward, I must say, to just being at the show and NOT sewing for awhile.  Today kiddo said “yay yay I know your sewing now” and “are you ever going to be done sewing?”  I sure do hope so- I am dreaming about sewing and frankly I am kind of over it (for tonight).  It’s not that I am not enjoying it while I am sitting at the machine, it’s that it is interfering with daily life.  Our house is a dis-as-ter, home cooked meals- I think I cooked once this week (this is so not the norm for this June Cleaver want-to-be), laundry- “well it’s not that dirty you can wear it again.”

This is one thing that none of the many books I have read about crafting business’ talks about.  How your normal life will be interrupted by “the” show, “the business.”  When to find the time to work?  I guess I could not sleep, but let’s be real that IS NOT going to happen.  So my method: I try and do something fun every day with kiddo and then work the rest of the day.  It’s tough on her I know, she is acting out because of it. She is so freaking sassy lately- only towards me, luckily (I guess).  This sassiness makes me bonkers.  Ignoring the sassy, makes it worse, it’s a loose loose at this point.

My husband got home from work this evening to bitchy me because I could not find a pan to “cook” dinner in.  Granted we have many, but I wanted a specific one.  (Still haven’t found it and our kitchen is tiny- were the hell can it be??) Kiddo was being whiney, sassy and asking 5000 questions in her way to loud for inside voice.  I bet I had that glazed over, bitchy, help me but don’t help me look in my eye. I would not be surprised if he thought about going back to work; one of the many things I love about him, he knows that when I am bitchy me, to just let me be and I will come back to real me quickly. And I did 🙂

Any who…I hope those of you who are in Davis or want to take a nice drive to Davis in two weeks will be attending “the” show and thanks for reading my rant, off to dream land, hopefully not about sewing

(hee hee I am one of those 70 Artisans’ Booths)

“Let’s go shopping in the barn”

| mollyeleen

We are in Sebastopol for the weekend again, it is so relaxing and calm-ish here.  Today we, my mom, John, Kennedy, and I, did a trial run of setting up my booth space for the BIG craft show (27 days away!).  For those of you who are awesome and followed my 31 days to preparing for my first craft show, you saw my sketches for my booth space, for the rest of you, here is a link to the sketches.

“Let’s go shopping in the shed.”  My mom has a collection (yes collection) of shutters.   I would guess there were at least thirty shutter options at my beck and call. We found boards for shelves, baskets, frames for signage, so much stuff.

Being patient lounging on the outside sofa

The cute things were a little tricky, not in finding the cute containers, but deciding which ones to use, this was the tricky part.  My mom has TONS and TONS of super cute vintage baskets, vintage baby doll cradles, vintage satin handkerchief, jewelry and hose organizers, all things vintage, basically.

The most “difficult” part, was trying to find something to use as the “paying” stand.  Some sort of table, bookcase, cabinet that is tall enough to stand at, but small enough to fit into this super tiny booth.

“Let’s go shopping in the van” – laughing so hard I am crying, the van really? – nothing

“Let’s go shopping in the house” – yes! Found it, a small, tall five drawer cabinet, a pink-ish color, perfect. (It’s the piece on the right front, that’s the back side before I painted it- I went shopping in the tool room for paint).

Ta-Da! Here it is, the basics for the “The Vintage Princess by M.E.” booth! Let me tell you, 4 feet by 8 feet is SMALL! Holly cow. The good thing about this, I am feeling way better about my inventory amount, the bad, it’s so freaking small! So small.

close up of the “cute” stuff, vintage handkerchief holder, baby doll cradle and a super cute suitcase with christmas tree. And how fantastic is that chippy pale blue and green!?

Overall, I think the booth turned out exactly like I was hoping, it’s vintage, cute and perfect.  It was a fun day of “shopping,” giggling, cursing, working and sweating (who knew it would be 85 degrees in November!).  Back to sewing for me or maybe a cocktail. Cheers!

day 30: the BIG day check list

| mollyeleen

We are winding down the 31 days to preparing for my first craft show, so today let’s fast forward to the few days before the show.  Your inventory is pretty big, you probally don’t think it is so you are spending long nights making more stuff.  You booth is designed, you have practiced setting it up and it’s ready to go.  You know what you are going to wear.  You are set.

There is one list left to create, The BIG day checklist.  That is, what should you bring with you in your “tool box” for lack of a better word.  Maybe it should be “The BIG day kit” (hmmm maybe an upcoming kit for sale?). I have ask my sources and consulted my favorite books and have complied the list, so here you go:

Oye this is a ton more stuff to shove into the car, but well worth it! Hopefully this collection of stuff will save the day for you or your crafting neighbor.

This is the second to last post in 31 days to preparing for my first craft show, you should read them all