Heart of Virginia Festival 2012

This was our 2nd year participating in the Heart of Virginia Festival in Farmville, VA (yes, there really is such a place).  While it is a down home type atmosphere, I love it!  You'll find such an eclectic mix of artisans, crafters, and shoppers.  Being from the surrounding area, it's a great venue for us!  It still humbles and amazes me that people are willing to spend their hard earned money on my creations.  The accolades, gushing, and praise will always embarrass the hell out of me though.


Our booth this year:

If you look really close you'll see Moobie Grace herself!  She was such a trooper!  She was up at 4:45 a.m. (and yes, I did write that down).  Her and I had my van unloaded by ourselves before my oldest or husband even showed up!  Now, maybe she moved so efficiently because of the anticipated "end of the day reward!"  Yes, I bribed her with a treat in exchange for manual labor...WHATEVER...you know you've done it too! :)  I did catch a few looks when I kept calling her "Moobie", and I had to explain more than once...

New photography banners we used instead of the tent side panels.  Worked like a charm!  Love that we still had a little privacy, yet keep the tent from being too dark and HOT!  Also my new suitcase (that still reeks of "oldness" after a week of sitting out in the sun airing out and a can of odor out)...no one complained thankfully.  I wish I would have thought to take a few close ups of the assemblage necklaces I had...they seemed to sell pretty quickly!  I was really surprised as this isn't exactly a shabby/boho/vintage crowd.  I did however get one...

Not the best photograph (I'm guilty of fiddling with Pic Monkey)  Vintage silver plated spoon bowl, hand stamped and stitched on to a shabby, wide fabric cuff, with crocheted trim and vintage buttons/fabrics.  I LOVE making these, and will list the 3 I have left in my Etsy store some time this week!

Just a snapshot of an array of necklaces

Upcycled easel with our store sign...which needs to be updated!

Awesome oval window frame, repurposed in to a LARGE earring display.  It sits on the corner of our booth, and draws people in...mission accomplished!

A few of the antique silverware hooks made by my sweet husband.

All, in all, it was a success!  Granted, there were obstacles to overcome, but despite the all day drizzle, sales were better than I expected, I made a few new contacts, and we all came home exhausted, but happy!  

See you next year Farmville!!!

Kick Off Of Craft Show Season!! (So Much For Having An "In House" Photographer!)

I'm so exhausted I can barely string a coherent sentence together!  Festival was packed despite the all day drizzle!  I was happy that my oldest just received her "I bought it myself" SLR camera, and she was more than willing to snap pictures of the show...although I should have been more specific with my instructions.  I came home, and as she was walking out of the door to go to work, she handed me the SD card.

Here's what I found...

Our dog makes his debut...I'm not even sure when she took these...it was still dark when we left this morning!

Mandatory shot of the notepad, calculator, phone and pen

Obviously, no craft show is complete without a few shots of her Toms...

Vendor assignment tags and sister's foot are required!

Vintage travel sticker on my vintage suitcase...kinda meant for her to photograph the ENTIRE suitcase...

She tends to become a little distracted!

Silly self portraits must pass the time...and EVERYONE must take an upside down shot!

At least this is cute...

"The Mike Tyson"  Yep, that's what the design was titled face painting.

By this point, I've completely forgotten what we actually did today....

Oh...that's right art & craft show...I finally found a few shots!

Finally a shot of the modified suitcase display...whoever G.E.H was I sincerely thank you for the awesome case...complete with travel stickers!

Now it's off to crash for the night!  More on the show tomorrow!

It Was Just One of Those Days...

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....you know, the kind where you should've just stayed in bed?  Yep, that about sums up yesterday's show.  Don't get me wrong, we did well, and I love venturing to new shows, and meeting new people, but everything went wrong...and I mean EVERYTHING...to the point that it would have been hilarious any other day...

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I wake up early...3 a.m. early, but I was ready to go...feeling good about EVERYTHING...that's what I get  for being so cocky! :)  We had a great spot...on the corner, in front of an awesome historic home renovated into The Lake House Restaurant.  So, you're wondering what went wrong?

Well, as quaint as the town of Clarksville, VA is...I failed to take into account possible gale force winds...ok maybe not gale force, but damn close!!

Now, Virginia isn't usually chilly in October...but of course yesterday was freezing and windy!  Because we had to set up in the parallel parking spaces, we had nothing to stake our tent or sides to.  I really wasn't worried, as we have it weighted down pretty well...or so I thought!  Three of us finally got the sides up without getting blown in to the land of Oz, and began setting up.  By this time, I can't feel my hands, and because I'm vain and wanted to look cute...it's not like I brought gloves, wrist warmers, or anything remotely warm!  Dear, sweet, husband walked over to grab me a cup of coffee that I could soak my hand in drink to warm up a little before the crowds flocked.

Disaster #1 for the day?  Our sign easel was blown down the street...in pieces, I might add!

I think it can be repaired.  Actual easel is history, but I think even though the frame is in pieces, it broke at the corners, and came off of the backing.  The actual banner has a few scuffs, but it will survive.  I will not mention how badly a brad through the finger felt later in the day when I picked it up to load back in the van.

Granted, it really doesn't have much weight to it, but it's never been a problem at outdoor show before.  Oh well, I wasn't going to let one hiccup ruin my day before it started!

Day was going beautifully, and had quite a few interesting conversations with customers (my husband says I always attract the "colorful" people wherever I go) but I was constantly on guard, as they left the street open (first I've ever seen where that's done) and I was afraid I was going to get sideswiped a couple of times.

Wind was a problem all day.  Just little things, such as knocked over display busts, etc...nothing major.

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2 p.m.:  Enter gale force winds!  Seriously, It was everything all 3 of us could do to hold on to the tent so that it wouldn't blow into the street and hit cars driving down the road.  I know my tent is cheap crap, but due to four children who think they need to eat three times a day...and every day at that :) ...it's not in the budget right now, so I'll forge on with what I have!

2:30 p.m.:  The good Lord gave me a sign that it was time to pack up before we killed some poor unsuspecting soul with our para sailing tent, when this also took a loss on to the sidewalk...

Our "new" (2nd time out) earring display.  We upcycled a cracked and needing love oval window frame from a Habit For Humanity resale store, and we worked our butts off to put this together.  The easel my husband made and then the oval is screwed to the easel.  I guess it weighs at least 50 + lbs...it's MASSIVE!

Anyway...down it went, earrings to the sidewalk, and we hurried over to access the damage...it wasn't pretty!  I'm not a crier, but I was tempted when I saw that a lot of the more detailed pairs were broken....beyond repair, and I literally had to turn and walk away when I saw that the only artisan lampwork I've ever owned were broken.  I was able to salvage 2 of the best (still chipped) matching beads that I can wear myself.

Here are the victims in their splendid glory:

Both from Modern Trails on Etsy

Again, the damage to the display can be repaired, so it's not a total loss.  But, needless to say, we totally broke down and came home after the sign from above...chapped lips, frozen fingers, windburned skin and all! :)

In the long run, I'll look back on this particular show and laugh...in fact, I can almost chuckle about it now...I'm sad that some of my work was lost, but A LOT of it found new, well-loved homes before the catastrophe!

**Pssttt...my oldest is out for the evening and I snagged her laptop so I could post photos to make me feel a little better!

Round Three...

Because I'm young (don't laugh...it's not funny), because having 4 children leaves me with too much time on my hands, but mainly because I'm just "not right" (I'm a lefty by the way) here I am up at 3:30 a.m. (again) on a Saturday morning!  Yes, I'm aware I probably could be committed on that fact alone...never mind this is show 3 in as many weekends...and the 4th out of 5 weekends...I'm expecting the white-jacket-men to show up any time now!!

Now after the above insanity, I've also been working on some components and I'm hoping to open an Etsy shop in October...just as soon as I catch up on some sleep...I'm exhausted!!

My poor laptop is still dead as a doornail, so no pretty eye candy just yet....bear with me...

Well, short blog, I know, but the alarm is signalling it's time to wake everyone, and get my circus on the road, if the kids don't dollar-me-to-death today maybe we'll have a great day! :)

I'm On My Way

I know, I know...I've been missing in action for the past week.  I had just worked myself in to a frenzy over my show today, that I thought it was best for all of us that I take a little blogging break.  Well, that and I don't think I could have strung a coherent sentence together if I wanted to with only a couple hours of sleep a night, and restless hours at that.  Like everyone else in "the biz", I tend to have "I can't go to the show without these, or the earth will fall off it's axis, and how has anyone lived without these?" design epiphanies the week leading up to the big day! Usually for me, it doesn't work out, and I end up with a two pound ball of scrap clay...I'll save that story for another day.

So...like a kid on Christmas morning, I bounced out of the bed this morning at 5 a.m.  Thankfully my careful (or at least in my mind) planning left only loading tables on the agenda this morning!!  As usual I was a nervous wreck...I'm talking like a sinner (keeping it clean, my friends) heading to confession, wreck.  Set up just rattles my nerves.  What if  I forgot something?  What if something blew off of the truck, and I was too exhausted to notice?  What if I'm abducted by aliens?  All irrational.  All typical me!

It was a beautiful day.  Tons of activities for the pip-squeaks.  There was an impressive eclectic mix of live music all day.   And people out in droves...they just weren't buying...anything! 

It really gave me a complex at first.  We have redesigned all of the signage, displays/layout, I have for the most part stuck to one "genre" of intricate clay work, and we added my husband's upcycled jewelry to the melting pot...something for everyone...to look at! :)

We both received enough compliments, accolades and jaw drops to have us both reaching for a slice of humble pie.  So, regardless of profits, I felt great about what I created, and of the overall aesthetics of our booth.  One sweet lady told my husband "that I looked familiar", and asked if I was the art director at Longwood University (where the show was held)?"  I wish, right? 



Today also made me think long and hard about where I am artistically, what I want to portray, the potential cliential I'd like to reach, and where I need to show, geographically, to pull my plan together.... I have a long journey, that much I know...and let's leave it at that for the day....

Sometimes it's worth the journey...

Hopefully, I'll have pictures edited and blogged tomorrow...but this day has been a long one...eye opening and physically and mentally exhasting! 

Sweet Dreams!

Exhausted Ramblings

First, and foremost....HAPPY EASTER!!!  I hope the Easter Bunny was good to all of you!!

It's been a long day here.  We painted.  No, not Easter Eggs...I wish!!  I despise painting, whether it be walls, or in our case today, new displays.  The little kids are with their Dad, so it was the perfect opportunity to get a few mundane chores out of the way before The Heart of Virginia Festival, May 7th.  After careful consideration, I went with bright colors to coordinate with our newly designed business cards.  Maybe I'm biased, but I absolutely love them!!!  I've got to give kudos to my husband, he was up and out building them by 8 a.m. this morning (I'm sure the neighbors were loving us...karma baby)!!  I'd love to show them to ya, but you'll have to wait until after the show...but only to give you the full effect! :)  To only confirm my color choices were right on target (I'm known for second guessing myself), I happened upon a gorgeous glass bowl that will be to die for with the displays yesterday while out stock piling (hoarding is such a negative term) my favorite Ghirardelli Chocolate Raspberry coffee...fate is a beautiful thing, my friends!

Also while in the big city, we sought out a "new to us" bead store.  If you're ever in the Richmond area check out Fandangle Beads.  They had a great eclectic selection, and both Chris & I had no trouble losing ourselves for an hour or more once inside.  I however was a good girl, and only snagged some sari silk.  But they are on my to-do list for after the show!


The grand opening of trend. last Friday went extremely well!  Yay Kim Moody!!!  She's worked so incredibly hard, and deserves every accolade she receives!  You can find my work, along with many other talented artisans, and an array of trendy (imagine that)boutique items there!! 

Kim is not only a new boutique owner, but also a talented interior designer and an amazing wedding/event coordinator!! 

108 North Main St., Blackstone, VA  23824

434-292-5000



Have The White Jacket Ready

Just a quick post to let everyone know I'm still here, drowning...but still here!   I've been working myself into a frenzy (think Tazmanian Devil on steroids) this week over the the upcoming art show.  I don't know why I do it to myself...ok, ok I'm fully aware why I do it!  Because, while I'm completely non OCD in every other aspect of life (don't listen to the rumors), when it comes to my work and how I present myself I drive myself a little batty (I can't imagine how I come across to everyone else)!  Redesigning, adding new work, organizing, photography, double/triple checking everything, obsessing over minute details that no one will ever notice...except me!  And, don't even get me started on pricing items...definitely not my strong point in this circus/jewelry business endeavor, so I put it off until the last minute!

Then...Wham!  It dawned on me this morning I don't have a single ring made (to fill my new ring displays)...nor do I have any ring blanks.  Which then brought about another maddening check of my entire stock.  Which turned into a dash to order those, and twenty other things I didn't know I needed...darn Etsy!  So, all in all a half of a day wasted!!!

I did have time however to snap a couple of pictures...

Teal blue with pale lime flowers

Jade & porcelain bead accents

This picture drives me insane because the swarovski crystals appear to be an orangey color instead of the identical shade of the red clay in all 80 pictures I took (told ya, I'm a tad anal!)...

Backtracking here.  The corsage I made for my daughter's prom last weekend.  I'd forgotten all about the pictures I had saved until now...

Just a close up of the center of the corsage.

And because I love y'all a sneak peek of something new I've been working on!  Faux wood...I love the combination of dainty flowers and rustic wood...well polymer clay manipulated to vaguely resemble wood like formations.

So, the coffee is hot (yes, @ 10:40 p.m.) and there's work to be done!  Lucky for me the kids are on spring break next week and I can work through the night if needed be....hmmm this seems like deja vu of last year.

Now, should I let my husband know that I've planned for him to build new displays and framework this weekend, or surprise him come Saturday morning?



Did You Make These?

With the upcoming art show season upon us, I'd like to share the top 5 things that people said that made me giggle. Every.  Single.  Time!

5.  "Is this jewelry?" 

4.  "What's polymer clay?"  I explain.  "Oh, you mean like PlayDoh?"  Errr...no.

3.  "Where did you get your art degree?"  I dare not tell them that I wanted to go in to forensic science while in college.  I'd feel like an imposter. :)

2.  "Are your displays for sale?"

1.  "Did you make these?"

I love participating in craft shows, and talking/sharing with people what I love to do, although sometimes I talk too much!  Making new friends and shopping for myself is a plus too!  Besides my makeshift studio, they're the place I feel most "at home."

Stay tuned tomorrow...weather is suppose to cooperate and hopefully I'll be able to get some pics of what came off the work bench in the past few days.