Frustrating Craft Show

Boy, what a weekend.....

We had a craft show yesterday. This is a craft show we've done before so I thought I knew what to expect. I was wrong.

Last weekend we vended at a new Art show that far exceeded my expectations. In sales that is, not size. It was small (26 vendors), set in a church and well planned. I love well planned events. We did really well. It helped that the organizers talked up our alpaca products and yarns, but there was also a decent amount of traffic through the show. I did so well I was able to purchase my studio lights for taking better product photos. Yeah!

Yesterday was another small local craft show. We did pretty well last year and it's local so we get a lot of our local repeat customers wandering by to see us. Um....where were the people this year??

There was no traffic at all. In six hours there may have been 100 people come through. I hate it when things become a waste of time. I'm not really trying to blame the organizers of this event although I heard there was something about the signs along the road being taken away a few days prior. It was just plain painful to sit there all day staring at the booth across from us.

In six hours I sold exactly $43.50 worth of product. I have to wonder if this is a localized economy thing or if it really wasn't advertised as they said. Now I'm left wondering if I should add this craft fair to our schedule again next year. 

One bright spot.....I got several more rows done on my Georgiana shawl.

Wine & Wool Festival

This past Saturday we were vendors at the 2nd annual Wine & Wool Festival at Sandhill Crane Winery in Jackson, MI. This was the first outdoor festival we've done in 2 years that it didn't rain. What a relief! Although it was unbelievably hot.

This was also the first fiber festival that the kids haven't come along with us. They are usually very well behaved at these festivals and most of the vendors know that they belong to us because we see the same vendors over and over again.....I just didn't feel that a winery was the place for them to be running around. It made for some nice mommy and daddy quiet time.

(grape vines)

I saw so many of my favorite local vendors. These are some very, very talented women. I couldn't help but spend some of the days profits on fluffy goodies. I even bought a pattern for a sweater that maybe I'll eventually get the nerve to make. Sweaters scare me, but this one was really pretty.

The highlight of the day though was meeting the queen of Phatfiber herself. Do you remember when I told you about Phat fiber? The lady behind it all lives in Illinois, but drove all the way to Michigan to visit the phatties at Wine & Wool. Considering nearly all the vendors were phat fiber contributors I can understand the visit. So many of us know eachother online, but how many chances do you get to meet online friends?

It really was the best part of the day and I now have a face to put with the hands on the Phat video. If you don't know about Phat fiber you really need to check it out and the video every month is hilarious!

Our next festival is in just a couple weeks and isn't really a festival, but an exhibit at the county fair. It should be fun!

Fiber Arts & Animal Festival

Sorry it's been so quiet here folks. I was so busy getting ready for this festival that everything else got pushed to the side. I'm back though and ready to tell you all about this past weekend at the Fiber Arts & Animal Festival.

Last week was a gorgeous week especially when you consider that it was the end of September. 70's in the end of September is an unusual occurrence, but a welcome one. It allowed me to get a bunch of dyeing done.

We spent last Friday packing everything up into 2 trucks and a trailer. It was sunny and warm with just a light breeze. What great weather!

We got up bright and early Saturday morning and all that wonderful weather had abandoned us. It was 40*, rainy and really breezy. Not the way to start an outdoor fiber festival. Off we went though hoping that the rain would end soon.

It took us an hour or so to set up and then we just sat there trying our best to stay warm. I'm not sure it ever even reached 50 that day and it rained and misted and then rained some more.


Despite all that, there was actually a good crowd that went through on Saturday. They were all excited to see our products and of course the alpacas were a huge hit. They were constantly surrounded by a crowd taking pictures and asking all sorts of questions to learn about these animals. Very curious people. I love that!

I was very happy that we had stocked up on socks, gloves and hats for the weekend because we were nearly sold out by Saturday afternoon. It seems no one really realized how cold it was and they were freezing at the festival. Nothing warms you up better than alpaca socks and gloves!



Next to us was a farm that had brought their llamas and an obstacle course for the kids. You would have thought my kids had never walked a llama before because they just had to do it. I guess it's more fun to walk someone else's animals than it is your own. :o)

Sunday was a better weather day overall even though it was still cold. At least the rain and clouds had left us. The kids stayed with Grandma that day so I was able to visit more of the vendors around us.

I fell completely in love with an angora rabbit that was there and bought some of it's fiber. I also bought some mohair to try.

Overall we had a great weekend and I will definitely go back again. The people were great and the location was awesome! I'll just hope that next year the weatherman cooperates.