I did a craft show this weekend....

Ouch, the wedding party jewelry sounds like it was a major nightmare. I've seen sea glass jewelry but know nothing about it. My items are made with plastic canvas. They are inexpensive but time consuming to make. I'll have to post a photo of one of the Christmas items. My items are fun things and not something that can be shown off like jewelry. It's a fun craft but not really profitable. I have loads of patterns in one room along with the samples and go through them once in awhile to see what else I can make. Right now am working on an Elmo bank for our new grandbaby who should arrive in about 4 weeks.

Your experience with sharing a booth sounds like some of the nightmares I've had! It was rather interesting how I got started selling my teddy bears...I'll bore you with the story. I had moved in with my Mom back in 1983 after I had a serious on the job injury and was fired from my job because of it. My dad had just passed away and Mom didn't want to live alone. Since I couldn't work because of the injuries to my right arm and my neck it worked out to be a beautiful opportunity. Well, since I had started a workman's compensation suit, I was without income when the holidays came along. I found a pattern and decided to make my Mom a teddy bear. Then I went to the Neurologist's office and saw that he had a teddy bear dressed as a doctor. The bear looked lonely so I made a bear for his teddy bear for company. He went nuts over the bear and promptly started nagging me unmercifully about my selling my bears. After two years of being nagged I announced to him that I would make some bears and do a show. If I didn't sell any bears he would shut up about my making the bears for sale. I made the bears, scheduled the show and did it. I sold out!!! I've been making and selling bears for 23 years. Rather than having the expense of doing shows, which not only is time consuming but also it is expensive between the space rent and the set up and the necessary stuff to make a good display, why don't you try selling your stuff online? ETSY would be a great choice since the costs to join are minimal. I am planning to list my stuff on ETSY very soon. Once you start selling your stuff, your confidence will grow. People are getting back to appreciating home crafted items. Plus, with the economy the way it is they are looking for less costly ways to give gifts to family and friends. I am sure your items are beautiful so you need to look at your crafts and realize that you are making beautiful items that people would want.

It wasn't a bad day, actually I'm very pleased with outcome. I did this show last year and it's the only one I do that isn't a craft fair. I like the show because I can bring my sons and not need to worry about them being bored. They have so many activities for the children and it's in a very safe enviorment (plus my hubby was there to keep an eye on our 5 yo) Yes, I had a disaster of a wedding party about a 1 1/2 yrs ago. Everything was approved by the bride and then the groom's mother got involved and it turned into a fiasco less than 2 weeks before the wedding (and I was going on vacation the week before the wedding!) After re-working the bride's necklace, her soon-to-be mom-in-law still wasn't happy and thankfully the groom took control. He told his mother that his future wife was very happy with everything and if that wasn't good enough for her, that he would pay for the bridal parties jewelry (thankfully I wasn't there when all of this went down, because it wasn't a pretty scene from what I understand...apparently the groom flipped out on his mother about trying to control everything about the wedding and it was "very uncomfortable" according to the maid of honor) I don't really want to do another wedding, but the girl and her mom really want sea glass jewelry and as long as I can explain that there's no way to expect everything to look the same when it comes to sea glass (she understands, but I need to know her fiance and his mom are on the same page first). It seems like quite a few people are looking to buy handmade items for decorations this year. I guess people are beginning to get into the "go-green" theme and realize that buying a handmade item really is something that can be passed down from generation to generation. I know about the confidence thing. I had the same trepidations about doing Etsy and craft fairs. Once you sell a few items, those fears disappear quickly and you find yourself transforming from a crafter to and artist/saleswoman. I now find that I answer sea glass questions almost all day during a show (and even on my EtsyNJ team, I'm known for my sea glass creations, rather than somone who makes handmade jewelry) I hope we get to see a few of your holiday creations and I'm sure you'll do well if you choose to do a craft show. Thanks for your response!!

I did this show last year and I my sales weren't that great on a warmer, sunnier day as compared to this yr. It was good to see people spending money... the food lines were were very long and a few of the vendors looked like they barely had enough food with them and several commented they didn't expect such a turnout. My last show was ano outdoor show (which went well and so is my next show... in 3 weeks. I do have a tent and I'll be looking to purchase walls that attach for my next show (and a large thermos or two... the end of October can be kind of chilly) I was able to promote a few of my future shows to customers who live in the those areas, along with handing out a lot of my business cards for my Etsy shop. I think it's a good idea to expand your selection also. Customers might not be in the market for a bear, but your ornaments might draw them to your table and upon further examination of your bears... well, you never know when someone will just have to have one! Thanks for your response and best of luck with your shows!

That's a great idea and it certainly makes a great deal of sense! My next show is also an outdoor event and I'm hoping to be situated next to a few other EtsyNJ sellers where we all might be able to place our tents next to one another and only the two end tents will put up their outside "walls" so it will be a row of 4 or 5 sellers that look like one big tent. Rather than people walking in and out of each space, they will have room to wander around and see a group of tables. I sell handmade jewelry and I specialize in sea glass jewelry. I have posted several pictures in the past and the item I'm going to post here is my very first attempt at wire-wrapping a piece of beach glass. Thanks again for commenting!

This show was rather fun. They had many things for children to do, like free minature golf, a dunk tank, pony rides, etc and I was able to have the whole family with me for the fair. My hubby took the photos and stayed with me the whole time, spending some time at the table to give me a few minutes to walk around and check out the other tables and he basically spent the day following our 5 yo, so it wasn't bad. No, there's no hope of recruiting the boys to be models for my jewelry... . Thanks for the response!

Congrats to you on your sale! The one encouraging thing I heard over and over again at the show, was people saying they are looking to buy a lot of handmade items this year for holiday gifts. I know people will be spending money this holiday season. They may cut back in their spending a little, I know I will be. But I want to buy gifts that are different, not the same old boring mass-produced "stuff" that every store sells. I plan on being a little more creative this year and hope to buy at least one handmade item for everyone on my Christmas list this year. I find handmade items are better constructed and very unique. My family, especially my in-laws have always been very appreciative of handmade gifts and they now look to purchase handmade items for gifts also. In my opinion, handmade sure beats mass-produced. Thanks for responding!

I've never had a show at the mall. At least you know the people that show up are there to buy! I don't have a lot of holiday items for craft shows. I make polymer clay ornaments and I'll make a few decorative items, but basically my tables are handmade jewelry, and a a dozen scarves/hat sets. I do like the handmade Christmas items and love going to those tables to look at the decorations (and of course, often buy one or two for the house) Good luck with your show and thanks for responding!

I was so concerned about the economy and how it is affecting shows and sales that I blogged about it earlier this week. But it seems a lot of people are relieved because they think something has been done to help fix the economy. Besides the show I did this weekend, there was a ChowderFest and an OctoberFest in the area and both were very crowded, moreso than last year. You seem to be positioned well to make sales to whomever may come to your display this coming weekend and hopefully the people will already be in the holiday season buying mode. Good luck at the show and thanks for your comments!