So I had my first bad show.  Not just me, everyone.  Though it was even worse for those of us that had booths outside.  It was cold, and very windy.  We spent the entire day chasing down hats, tutus and aprons and picking up the artwork that blew down every few minutes.  Finally when the rain started about 2:30 we figured it was time to call it in.  Lucky we did, apparently the sky really did open up a little while later.  

The show itself didn't have many people, and those that came were grumpy and not really even slowing down enough to browse.  However, I did get my first taker for the handpainted cards.  Really she just wants the painted part, she doesn't care about the cards.  But so what.  It means someone else out there thought they were cute enough to buy.  That makes me feel good.  

So for now I've posted a lot more of my inventory on ETSY and we'll see what happens.

Here are pictures from the show.  There is another show on Saturday that I'm hoping to get into, and trying to get ready for.  It's not as stressful as last weeks, but it still involves a lot of lost sleep!  

I had no idea how hard it would be to get ready for this show.  In the end the products I'm bringing aren't really the products I had originally planned on.  Of course in the beginning I was going to start small with hats only and sell on ETSY for a while.  Suddenly I'm signing up for craft shows and making tutus at 2 AM.  It just goes to show that you never know.  And it's true.  I never know which products will work out and which ones won't, I never know what idea will pop into my head next.  And most importantly I don't know which products people will buy.  I could have 500 people pass by my booth and think it's cute, but if they aren't willing to buy, then it's pointless.  Which is why I keep coming up with new products.  I want to offer as much as possible so I can start to see what's popular and what isn't.  I may love my bunny hat, but if no one else does than it doesn't really matter!  The newest of my products was born out of the desire to find something that people will buy.  And as my sister keeps reminding me, people will buy almost anything if it's personalized.  So out of that comes my Candid Memories Stationary idea.  Basically it's just a set of 12 printed cards.  The twist is, it's based on a photograph of the person's family.  Someone sends me a picture.  I hand paint a simple version of it and then scan and print it onto card stock for use as christmas cards, thank you cards, invitations, whatever.  Then the person receives the original painting as well as the set of 12 cards and envelopes.  Will it sell?  Who knows, you guys tell me.  I did two last night one with just Laurel and one with Luke and Laurel.  (I know, I should have done a Christmas one.  I didn't think about it in time for this show, but I'll be able to have it ready for next week)