CRAFT FAIR DAY

First off, I want to say a big 'Thank You' to everyone for your sweet words of encouragement from my last post.  I really appreciated those comments.  They gave me that last boost of energy to finish everything.  Sorry it's been so quiet over here, but I'm happy to say that all the craziness is over for a little bit.  Yesterday I packed up all my wares I’d been feverishly working on the past few weeks and laid them out for strangers to peruse.  Craft fairs are really like the grown-up version of a lemonade stand, except now I have more of a vested interest since to make what I’m selling I put in a lot more time and effort and succumb to countless hot glue gun burns.  Maybe it would have been easier (and cheaper) to just throw some crystal light lemonade packets into water and call it a day.

At any rate, I was excited to be at the Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair.  Throwing “Indie” into the title is really what peaked my interest initially.  This wasn't your grandma’s craft fair.  Instead of quilts, there were vendors selling old suitcases that had been turned into speakers and vacuum cleaners that were now lamps.  Who couldn't use a vacuum lamp?  Kill two birds with one stone, right?

The weather had been one of my biggest concerns, since it’s usually 100 degrees with high humidity here at the end of July, but it was beautiful out.  Mid-70s, and the rain held off until long after we had gone home.  This was my first time sharing a tent with another vendor.  It worked out so well, probably since my friend Nicole is so awesome and an experienced craft show expert.  She is a master sewer and makes the coolest pouches, luggage tags, and more.  Check her out on Etsy

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I really couldn't have done it without my parents and Wade, though.  Wade put up with all my nervous (crazy) antics before the show, and my mom was there to help finish the packaging and last minute details the day before and then stayed with me throughout the whole craft fair.  She’s the best craft fair buddy.  Last but not least, my dad printed off all my amazing packaging cards after a handful of revisions and helped set everything up the day of.  What would I do without them?  

Here's a few photos the day before the craft fair when everything was a mess, and my mom was tying tags onto bags.  At least I gave her a pop for all her hard work.

Did I do as well as I thought I would?  No, but overall it was a pretty great day surrounded by fun and talented people.  I really appreciated my friends who stopped by to say hi and support me (check out my friend Jessica's blog about her sweet family).  Boy was I tired last night, though.  Wade and I went to Chipotle for dinner, and I couldn't even finish my burrito bowl!  GASP!  I’m one who normally finishes off a burrito bowl and the chips and guacamole in record time, but I guess I was too worn out to eat.  I came down from my craft fair high pretty quick and still feel brain dead today.  I better take it easy tonight and put off cleaning up everything.  That's what I should do...

How was your weekend?  Check back this week for some thoughts I have on what success means.  I didn't sell as much as I would have liked, but I have been thinking about a different way to view my results.  I’d write it today, but I don’t think I can put together much of a coherent thought.  I need some TV watching time in order to get back to normal.