Umm, hi?
I said I'd make a longer update on my birthday but I didn't. Sorry 'bout that!
Anyway, like I said before I haven't been around lately because I've been working my butt off. I'm preparing for this huge craft fair/music festival that will last for 3 days from 11:00AM-11:00PM (plus we have to be there at least an hour earlier to set up). And I really really really need to do well at this one, so I'm doing everything I can to get ready. Basically, I am the only income that my family has in the summer since my dad had surgery on his ankle and my mom (a teacher assistant at an elementary school) is going to be on summer vacation. Despite the fact that I've done 3 craft fairs this summer already, I am practically broke. Every single one we JUST made the table fee and had nothing extra. D:
I mentioned the dog walk in a previous entry. There were shitloads of people, but all they were looking for were things for their dogs and not for themselves. I also did one at a church, which 2 years ago we did well at but this year the weather was terrible so barely anybody came. The bad advertising didn't help either! That's one thing I can't stand. If you are hoping to host a craft fair that will do well, just one dinky little sign in the street won't do anything. You'd think after a few years of experience the place would realize that.
The street fair, which I did last Sunday, was the largest disappointment of them all. It was rainy in the morning and slightly windy, but that wasn't the big issue. It was hosted by the chamber of commerce, and they did not close the streets! That is sooo dangerous, especially because there were vendors on both sides too. The people running it actually expected that everybody would just stay on the sidewalk, but y'know, PEOPLE ARE STUPID. Toward the end of the day, there were a lot of people there. I don't think anybody was buying anything though- they were just coming for the free stuff that people were giving out. I understand with the current economy that having a terrible time at a craft fair is expected, but I really do not appreciate people mumbling to eachother about how expensive my stuff is and it shouldn't be worth that much right near me. (Keep in mind that a ton of my stuff is only $5, when I know that it could probably be worth more.)
So I have this idea for the next craft fair. Everything that I sell that is $5 will be 2 for $8. That's quite a variety! I have ribbon hair accessories, beaded candle holders, stretchy bracelets, and non-sterling silver earrings all for that price. People will be able to mix and match what they want! Actually, lately when I haven't been outside, I've been working on stretch bracelets. I believe I've made more than 10 in the past 3 days. I'm finally done with them though- onto the ribbons! I also mean to make a lot more anklets, because they always seem to sell in the summer.
After the Music Festival is over, I have 2 more fairs booked. They're in places where I've done pretty well at in the previous year, and are in some of the wealthier areas of Long Island (hosted by the Cutchogue and Mattituck historical societies, if you're interested). These fairs are only for handmade items, and they've been going on for many years so I SHOULD do well again there, but we'll see.
I really need to get more things on my website as well. I've been working so hard at making more things, that I haven't been paying attention to it! Last time I checked I had less than 30 items on there. I've been feeling terrible when people pick up my business cards saying that they'll look at my stuff online, meanwhile I have barely anything on it. The good thing is that a few days ago I found a bunch of pictures of items that I don't have listed yet on my mom's computer that I must have forgotten about. I probably didn't put them up because I am so goddamn lazy and I hate uploading stuff to Etsy. (Much like I can't stand doing sims-related updates on LJ, but that's another story. :P)
So, wanna see them? Heh, well to bad I'm going to show them anyway!
I really don't know what to name any of these peices, so if you think of anything creative please let me know.
(Sorry that they're so big)
1. Anklet with beadforlife paper beads and bone.
2. Extra long goldtone butterfly earrings with a variety of beads.
3. Earrings that have a mother of pearl "donut-shaped" beads with a pewter leaf dangling in them.
4. This blue lace agate and blue goldstone choker and earring set I've nicknamed "Hell on Wires" but I obviously can't name it that. XD Took me way too damn long to make it!
5. Necklace with Beadforlife, lampwork and (green and red) Aventurine beads.
6. Necklace with crazy lace agate, mother of pearl, and bone beads.
7. Necklace and earring set with beadforlife beads, swarovski crystals, and citrine.
8. Necklace and Earring set with amazonite, mother of pearl, and beadforlife beads.
9. Bracelet and earring set with hematite and swarovski crystals and findings.
10. Handmade lampwork beads (not by me) with Cat's Eye. Might have to re-take the pictures of these since the color is so washed out here. Too bad, the beads are beautiful. :/
11. Turquoise and cherry quartz necklace.
12. Bracelet with rose quartz, hematite, and handmade lampwork beads.
13. Bracelet with lampwork beads, swarovski crystals, and amazonite.
14. Bracelet with wood, garnet, and beadforlife beads.
15. Malachite and Pewter earrings.
16. Copper, wood, and painted shell earrings.
17. Another pain in the neck, tentatively called "High Priestess Necklace #2" because I have an amethyst one just like it. It's made with wrapped wire, lapis lazuli, bone, and rhodonite beads. The necklace originally came with a pair of earrings, but those (and the amethyst ones as well, actually) were sold.
18. Red, white, and blue howlite earrings.
29. Necklace with millefiori (sp?) glass, clay butterflies, citrine, and beadforlife beads.
Anyway, like I said before I haven't been around lately because I've been working my butt off. I'm preparing for this huge craft fair/music festival that will last for 3 days from 11:00AM-11:00PM (plus we have to be there at least an hour earlier to set up). And I really really really need to do well at this one, so I'm doing everything I can to get ready. Basically, I am the only income that my family has in the summer since my dad had surgery on his ankle and my mom (a teacher assistant at an elementary school) is going to be on summer vacation. Despite the fact that I've done 3 craft fairs this summer already, I am practically broke. Every single one we JUST made the table fee and had nothing extra. D:
I mentioned the dog walk in a previous entry. There were shitloads of people, but all they were looking for were things for their dogs and not for themselves. I also did one at a church, which 2 years ago we did well at but this year the weather was terrible so barely anybody came. The bad advertising didn't help either! That's one thing I can't stand. If you are hoping to host a craft fair that will do well, just one dinky little sign in the street won't do anything. You'd think after a few years of experience the place would realize that.
The street fair, which I did last Sunday, was the largest disappointment of them all. It was rainy in the morning and slightly windy, but that wasn't the big issue. It was hosted by the chamber of commerce, and they did not close the streets! That is sooo dangerous, especially because there were vendors on both sides too. The people running it actually expected that everybody would just stay on the sidewalk, but y'know, PEOPLE ARE STUPID. Toward the end of the day, there were a lot of people there. I don't think anybody was buying anything though- they were just coming for the free stuff that people were giving out. I understand with the current economy that having a terrible time at a craft fair is expected, but I really do not appreciate people mumbling to eachother about how expensive my stuff is and it shouldn't be worth that much right near me. (Keep in mind that a ton of my stuff is only $5, when I know that it could probably be worth more.)
So I have this idea for the next craft fair. Everything that I sell that is $5 will be 2 for $8. That's quite a variety! I have ribbon hair accessories, beaded candle holders, stretchy bracelets, and non-sterling silver earrings all for that price. People will be able to mix and match what they want! Actually, lately when I haven't been outside, I've been working on stretch bracelets. I believe I've made more than 10 in the past 3 days. I'm finally done with them though- onto the ribbons! I also mean to make a lot more anklets, because they always seem to sell in the summer.
After the Music Festival is over, I have 2 more fairs booked. They're in places where I've done pretty well at in the previous year, and are in some of the wealthier areas of Long Island (hosted by the Cutchogue and Mattituck historical societies, if you're interested). These fairs are only for handmade items, and they've been going on for many years so I SHOULD do well again there, but we'll see.
I really need to get more things on my website as well. I've been working so hard at making more things, that I haven't been paying attention to it! Last time I checked I had less than 30 items on there. I've been feeling terrible when people pick up my business cards saying that they'll look at my stuff online, meanwhile I have barely anything on it. The good thing is that a few days ago I found a bunch of pictures of items that I don't have listed yet on my mom's computer that I must have forgotten about. I probably didn't put them up because I am so goddamn lazy and I hate uploading stuff to Etsy. (Much like I can't stand doing sims-related updates on LJ, but that's another story. :P)
So, wanna see them? Heh, well to bad I'm going to show them anyway!
I really don't know what to name any of these peices, so if you think of anything creative please let me know.
(Sorry that they're so big)
1. Anklet with beadforlife paper beads and bone.
2. Extra long goldtone butterfly earrings with a variety of beads.
3. Earrings that have a mother of pearl "donut-shaped" beads with a pewter leaf dangling in them.
4. This blue lace agate and blue goldstone choker and earring set I've nicknamed "Hell on Wires" but I obviously can't name it that. XD Took me way too damn long to make it!
5. Necklace with Beadforlife, lampwork and (green and red) Aventurine beads.
6. Necklace with crazy lace agate, mother of pearl, and bone beads.
7. Necklace and earring set with beadforlife beads, swarovski crystals, and citrine.
8. Necklace and Earring set with amazonite, mother of pearl, and beadforlife beads.
9. Bracelet and earring set with hematite and swarovski crystals and findings.
10. Handmade lampwork beads (not by me) with Cat's Eye. Might have to re-take the pictures of these since the color is so washed out here. Too bad, the beads are beautiful. :/
11. Turquoise and cherry quartz necklace.
12. Bracelet with rose quartz, hematite, and handmade lampwork beads.
13. Bracelet with lampwork beads, swarovski crystals, and amazonite.
14. Bracelet with wood, garnet, and beadforlife beads.
15. Malachite and Pewter earrings.
16. Copper, wood, and painted shell earrings.
17. Another pain in the neck, tentatively called "High Priestess Necklace #2" because I have an amethyst one just like it. It's made with wrapped wire, lapis lazuli, bone, and rhodonite beads. The necklace originally came with a pair of earrings, but those (and the amethyst ones as well, actually) were sold.
18. Red, white, and blue howlite earrings.
29. Necklace with millefiori (sp?) glass, clay butterflies, citrine, and beadforlife beads.