Monday, May 14, 2012

My First Show

Hi all.  I participated in my first marketplace on Saturday.  So, first off,  I apologize for the poor iPhone photos.  I didn't want to take the good camera with me.  I have a new appreciation for the folks who do this on a regular basis.  It is hard work.  But I had a little helper, my 9 year old daughter.  Thank goodness for her.  We had fun! 


I always get a little nervous before I do something for the first time.  I awoke at 2am to finish preparing for it.....my first mistake.  Maybe I need to work on the perfectionistic side of my personality. :)  




 I hand stamped each price tag with a gold bee and then inventoried every item in an excel spreadsheet. And heaven forbid I rely on their supplied white tablecloth to do the job.  I had to make an 11 foot linen one with a double ruffle.  What exactly is wrong with me?



 The setting was lovely!  The one thing that was not for sale was my sign below.  I found it a few weeks ago at a flea market.  Do you know what it is?  I didn't when I purchased it.  I thought it would be a great sign for this show and would double as a business card holder.  



 About four people stopped me at the flea to make sure I knew what I had.  It is apparently a pastry board from the mid 1800's.  The lip at the bottom is made to hold a tin rolling pin.  The baker would lay it down and roll out the dough, then hang it up and place the rolling pin in the lip.  I understand that the rolling pins are pretty rare because they did not hold up well.  Don't you love to learn about old things like this and their uses?



I met a decorator who has some customers who like this style and also was commissioned to make grain sack curtains for a barn.  So, although it was a long a rather arduous day (all the schlepping back and forth) it was certainly worth it!

Have a great week

MC

22 comments:

  1. Michele it looks beautiful. If you start doing shows please let me know so I can try and make a drive to attend! I did one show last year at our once a month Artwalk and it was so much work! It didn't help that it was in the triple digits that day. I made so many connections but didn't sell one thing! I decided etsy was best for me, so haven't participated again. It looks like you were in a lovely location.

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  2. Your table looked lovely! Your goods are very pretty. I'm glad your first show went well!

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  3. Beautiful! LOVE the tablecloth! You should sell those too. I find that smaller shows for me are primarily marketing tools. But keep going...you'll find the right blend of show location and customers.

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  4. What beautiful items you had, Michele! Your booth would'ave been the first one I'd headed for if I'd been there! :) I know what you mean about it being so much work. I remember last summer when I did my first Flea. I was exhausted by Sunday night! Made good money and met alot of nice customers...but it WAS a TON of work! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  5. All your stuff looks so beautiful. I love the tags and all your pillows and the beautiful table cloth you made. x

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  6. Where did you do the show at? Everything looks lovely!! XO ~Ashley

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  7. Michele,
    The ruffled linen tablecloth pulled your look together! Good call! Such wonderful attention to detail.
    ~Lynne
    w/L.

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  8. I'm sure people flocked to your table with all those extra details! You care about what you do and it shows! ~ Maureen

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  9. The ruffled tablecloth looks great..everything does!

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  10. You may suffer for your perfectionism but what a fabulous stall you created from it. If I had managed your gorgeous display, I would have been very proud. Your tablecloth just adds to the eye pleasing detail and your labels are divine. Congratulations, wish I could have travelled a few thousand miles to take a look!!!
    Janette

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  11. Your table looks lovely and I love all the attention to detail which makes such a difference like the gorgeous tags and your sign. It all looks so attractive.
    http://missbbobochic.blogspot.co.uk/

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  12. Michelle,
    Your space looks gorgeous! It's all in the details! Shows are a lot of work, but so satisfying, I especially enjoy visiting with all the people. I would "kill" for your french pastry board!! Keep up the good work!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  13. Your set-up is gorgeous and everything you have for sale looks like anything I could ever want! That's so cool that you have a pastry board such as that one, it looks really awesome.

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  14. Michele, shows are definitely a lot of hard work, but you (and your daughter) did a fantastic job! Congratulations on the networking and the commission. Also, on your spectacular pastry board find. WOW!

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  15. I am sooo proud of you Michele!! :) xoxo

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  16. Okay....if I was there....I would've drop my hubby's whole check at your table....lol. I just adore your pillows and aprons and bed linens...you get the idea. It's so hard for me to find vintage french items here in NE...it's just not big here. Oh...and of course you can pin anything from my blog...I'd be honored ;o)

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  17. Ohmygosh! Everything was beautiful!! Although being a type A personality can be tiresome-- it sure makes for a gorgeous show! {I love our stuff, too!}
    xo Becca

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  18. Hi! I'm the girl who commissioned the barn curtains! I also bought several pillows and LOVE them. So excited for my barn!!! Michelle is uniquely talented and visionary.

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  19. Wish I could've gone to your show. It looks like you had some great stuff to sell! I thought your sign was a giant snow shovel at first. Ha! Shows what I know. I like knowing what it really is much better.

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  20. What a great display you put together!

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  21. You are truly talented! I love every single item I see in your booth. I bet you were a hit...just gorgeous stuff!!!
    hugs,
    Linsey

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