Crazy Good

Just finished up a two day craft show. Day one, we set up starting at 6:00 a.m. and the day ended at 8:00 p.m. Day two was from 9:00 to 4:00 and we were loaded up and on the way home by 5:00 p.m. I am totally exhausted, my feet are killing me, I have bruises that I have no idea how I got and I am thoroughly thrilled. This was, hands down, the best show I have ever done. In the first day I sold as much as I normally sell in two days and the second day I made half of the first day's sales. I really thought I had ample inventory made up and would probably have quite a bit left to take to my next show in 3 weeks, but boy was I wrong. I think I started with 26 wreaths and 7 tote boxes full of table arrangements, plus I had at least half a dozen arrangements too big to put into totes. I packed up 8 wreaths and 3 tote boxes to bring back home. As for jewelry, I sold what I normally do as far as necklaces and bracelets, but easily a third of my earring supply is gone, where I usually just sell a few pair to go with whatever necklace or bracelet is sold. I am still in shock from the extent of my sales and wondering how I'm going to get enough inventory built back up for the next show. I've always joked about how it would be too bad if I didn't have anything to pack up when a show was over and today I almost found out what that would be like! I know I'm going to get very little sympathy over this and that's okay cause I'm going to be crying (happy tears) all the way to the bank!!

Oh, What a Feeling!

Usually, when I start to create a piece of jewelry, I have a vague idea in my head and I gather my beads and supplies and start; thinking, what if I used these or tried this, and the piece just sort of evolves. Sometimes, I have to rip out and sometimes I go ahead with some element that may be doubtful but in the end turns out to be right. Sometimes it turns out completely different than I'd imagined when beginnning. But when I started the process of creating Tears of Joy for the September Etsy Beadweavers' Challenge, "Complimentary Contradictions", everything just kind of clicked. First the colors, then the shapes and then the stitches to tie everything together. So from its conception, I had the feeling it was going to be a good one. And a good one, it definitely turned out to be. First it sold and later I learned that the buyer is also an accomplished beadweaver. To me, it is a great compliment that another beadweaver should like my work well enough to purchase it. Then to add to my feeling of artistic accomplishment with this piece, it won the September challenge! Ironically, if it weren't for the challenges, this piece probably would not have been created nor would some of my other "good" designs. This is only the third challenge I've entered, since I've just been in EBW since May 2008, but the challenges do for me exactly what I think they were intended to do - inspire and encourage us to give our best effort. To dig deeper into our creative thinking process and to reach new levels of skill. To bead where no beader has beaded before!! LOL Anyway, it is a thrill for me to have been recognized by my peers and to have had my five minutes of glory! Now it's time to think about the next month's challenge and to try to come up with a theme for November. Thank goodness I have a bit of time yet for each. I had an idea today for "Animal Instincts" so we'll see where it goes.