tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post7062132324145613135..comments2024-03-28T07:09:03.269-05:00Comments on CraftyHope: Vacation and My First Art Show. . .wrapping upCraftyHopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341033878002504601noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-91545102852489307822015-04-16T08:06:52.013-05:002015-04-16T08:06:52.013-05:00Becky, Thank you! I don't know about there bei...Becky, Thank you! I don't know about there being a difference, but the people I did sell something too were friends of friends. . .so that might have made a difference too. Lots of other people looked, fondled, asked questions, took cards. . .but no takers. Oh well. It was a great experience and I hope to do it again one day. Thanks again! :)CraftyHopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10341033878002504601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-40588485282448595272015-04-16T08:00:55.208-05:002015-04-16T08:00:55.208-05:00Your vacation sounds fabulous, especially with suc...Your vacation sounds fabulous, especially with such a serene view and place to create! Congrats on having your first show! Your table looked very inviting, I know I would have stopped by. Each show will get easier. I am ultra shy around people I do not know, so when I do a show I talk about my process and the materials involved. Most of my beads have a story behind them so that helps kick start aKathleen Lange Klikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06161796067079143054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-7440426534638686002015-04-15T19:25:21.951-05:002015-04-15T19:25:21.951-05:00Kudos to you Hope for putting yourself out there. ...Kudos to you Hope for putting yourself out there. I don't have much advice as I have only done a couple of shows and I only sold 2 pair of earrings at each one. They were craft shows not art shows and I feel that may have been why sales were not good. I have been scared to try again. I like your display. Becky Pancakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08683182644887296641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-86416791490746789942015-04-15T14:04:06.033-05:002015-04-15T14:04:06.033-05:00Bobbie, It was definitely a tiring experience as I...Bobbie, It was definitely a tiring experience as I didn't know what to expect at all. It was nice to see people respond so well to my creations and definitely gave me a confidence boost. Now to figure out how to put myself out there more. Thanks! :)CraftyHopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10341033878002504601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-49054509027077680642015-04-14T17:14:52.884-05:002015-04-14T17:14:52.884-05:00Shows are physically demanding as it is, but putti...Shows are physically demanding as it is, but putting yourself out there, basically opening your heart and soul to people by showing them your creations? That's REALLY draining. It does get easier, because you gain more confidence in yourself each time you're out there. And your work is so lovely and fun, people will respond well to it. Hooray on the contact with the boutique owner!!Bobbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18222000454834798087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-30991903057101647122015-04-14T15:15:11.983-05:002015-04-14T15:15:11.983-05:00Judy, Thank you for the reassurances. I felt like ...Judy, Thank you for the reassurances. I felt like a wreck, but totally tried to hide it. I was stressing about how I priced everything, the display, what I'd worn, everything! Yeah, Pat and I make an exceptional team. Of course, he's the rockstar. I try not to let him get into the jewelry-making too much as he would do so much better than me, it would make me so jealous!<br />I completelyCraftyHopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10341033878002504601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-83311218642030413922015-04-14T10:29:05.822-05:002015-04-14T10:29:05.822-05:00Your first show sounded like it was the perfect le...Your first show sounded like it was the perfect length of time to not be completely overwhelming and to learn a lot and sell some too. Your display is really nicely laid out. I did a bunch of shows a few years back and the displays were ever-changing, trying to find the right fit for my beads. Rice trays (copper trays I filled with rice) seemed to be a big hit. I could display a whole lot of Christine Altmillerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12097437105566740407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-47677407809071514852015-04-14T09:11:04.782-05:002015-04-14T09:11:04.782-05:00I tried to leave you a really LONG comment last ni...I tried to leave you a really LONG comment last night, but the weather had my connection all messed up and it timed out...So, what I said, only not as long this time...<br /><br />Sounds like your show was just as it should have been for a first art show. You came away feeling like it was a good experience, overall. Talking to people as they look at your work is hard for everyone at first, I Judy Pimperlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14984279214339905594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-42727243356637639202015-04-14T08:01:51.365-05:002015-04-14T08:01:51.365-05:00Debbie, It really was pretty awesome. It was an em...Debbie, It really was pretty awesome. It was an emotional roller coaster, but I'm glad I took the chance. Now I have a better idea about what works and doesn't as well as what catches people's eye. Thanks so much for your kind words and popping in!!CraftyHopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10341033878002504601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-38104891269297021002015-04-14T07:59:42.894-05:002015-04-14T07:59:42.894-05:00Jenna, Thank you for that confidence boost and rem...Jenna, Thank you for that confidence boost and reminders. I appreciate it all so much! This all happened so fast but it's been a long time in coming too. Thanks so much for your support.CraftyHopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10341033878002504601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-62706769753039466072015-04-14T06:59:37.981-05:002015-04-14T06:59:37.981-05:00Congratulations! So excited that a boutique owner ...Congratulations! So excited that a boutique owner approached you! I did my first art show last October and asked two of my friends to walk the show and then critique my booth. They both had the same observations - that I needed more color in my displays and more inventory. (There was a year's worth of work on that table!) <br /><br />I think your space is very inviting - love your colorful Karin Slatonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02948121235539250143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-55158178492672736142015-04-13T20:52:55.187-05:002015-04-13T20:52:55.187-05:00So glad you got your first show behind you! Sound ...So glad you got your first show behind you! Sound like it went well, you sold some things, got some practice, got some exposure and learned some things, can't ask for more. Awesome!<br /><br />Peace,<br />DebbieAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10702008767915468269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-89729662971801081572015-04-13T20:29:19.723-05:002015-04-13T20:29:19.723-05:00Congratulations on your first show! I'd be way...Congratulations on your first show! I'd be way to nervous to sign up for one. Hopefully it was just the first of many successful shows to come.Al@PolkaDotsandPaisleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01122452943922065673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-13413335860036988292015-04-13T16:49:00.027-05:002015-04-13T16:49:00.027-05:00Shows are tough, good for you Hope! The next one w...Shows are tough, good for you Hope! The next one will be much easier, but they are always exhausting! My advice is just try to smile and be yourself, and most important of all, try to maintain your confidence always, and not take anything negative too personally...you KNOW your work is awesome, just keep reminding yourself :)<br />Jennathepaintedapron.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01956666284000629194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-71760285049306461852015-04-13T15:49:35.306-05:002015-04-13T15:49:35.306-05:00Lorraine, Yes! Even though I squeezed in some work...Lorraine, Yes! Even though I squeezed in some work for the show, I'm glad we were able to have some time to relax. The porch was the best part. We spent every morning on the porch swing with our coffee before the kids woke up (we took the nieces with us). Fortunately, the show was only a couple hours long (a great first time experience) as I came home sore and exhausted from the amount of CraftyHopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10341033878002504601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-30616399226292180132015-04-13T15:43:30.458-05:002015-04-13T15:43:30.458-05:00Chris, I really appreciate the tip about taking it...Chris, I really appreciate the tip about taking it from a management/behavioral angle. That's right in my wheelhouse. I too was a supervisor of people as well as have a background in psychology. . .I can possibly put all that training and experience into play with these kind of situations (if something like this ever comes up again). Fortunately, I took Pat with me to give me moral support CraftyHopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10341033878002504601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-28876880428312706542015-04-13T15:40:53.551-05:002015-04-13T15:40:53.551-05:00Okay, I could use a week on that porch with that v...Okay, I could use a week on that porch with that view. I'm so glad you did an art show! I know how hard that was for you, but you did it!! It gets easier each time you do it, but it also can be exhausting manning a booth all day. I like Kim's idea of you working in the background while people look at your items.Lorrainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15328674280714013955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-71719086657742814902015-04-13T13:21:05.710-05:002015-04-13T13:21:05.710-05:00So happy your show went well!So happy your show went well!Leslie Anne Tarabellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02196752637270349443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-56955267521351529812015-04-13T12:34:06.494-05:002015-04-13T12:34:06.494-05:00I feel happy for you - this is a great experience ...I feel happy for you - this is a great experience and a logical step forward!bairozanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15480725582668681075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-48456947923507740902015-04-13T10:32:45.355-05:002015-04-13T10:32:45.355-05:00The first few times I was terrified and sure I wou...The first few times I was terrified and sure I would screw up, panic,knock over things and even fall over. I still get un-nerved when a show opens but quickly feel OK. Being a manager in my past of 70 people I learned quickly that each one had to be read and I would have to adjust to them. Some folks walk by and size you up (hate that) some are shy and I would compliment their cloths, jewelry, Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02967702756140056407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041495809860773419.post-88717859373537203762015-04-13T08:15:32.648-05:002015-04-13T08:15:32.648-05:00I used to do shows and talking to people was alway...I used to do shows and talking to people was always the hardest part for me too. If things aren't real hectic, it might be helpful to have a small area behind your table where you can be "working" on a piece of jewelry. Something simple that won't take a lot of supplies. This way people will see you working on something and you aren't "Staring" at them hoping Kim@Snug Harborhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12066749954523201722noreply@blogger.com