After the Show

Oh my was it a grueling day yesterday and today.  For those of you who do  shows I wonder if you have the same pre-show (and after show) issues that I have.  The night before I go to bed earlier than normal because I need to get up at 5 a.m. to drive the hour to the show location and set up before the gates open at 9 a.m.  It never fails ~ I woke up at 3:25 a.m. to check on the clock to be sure I hadn't overslept and that the alarm really had not gone off.  My mind was thinking about everything and just couldn't go back to sleep.  And so, I didn't go back to sleep and was awake when the alarm went off at 5 a.m.  Already I'm starting off weary and the day has barely begun.


Let me also say this is and OUTSIDE event.  Needless to say, it is summer, hot, humid and there was a 30% chance of thunderstorms for the day.  So it required that I take precautions and take my canopy.  Yesterday was very close and humid even in the morning so took another set of clothes to change into because I knew I'd be drenched by the time my set up was complete.  I don't care if the canopy is called an E-Z Up or not, for it is not easy for a senior woman to set it up and take it down by herself.


And then the Historical Society put me in a spot from where I'd previously been assigned and where my regulars know to look for me.  Plus it was in a less traveled section, but at least near the eating area where eyes might wander during lunch or snack. And, YES, it DID rain and I scrambled to put up the sides on my canopy.  Was hoping for no rain and didn't put my sides on so that I could get some air flow and relief from the heat.  Many of the familiar faces did find me and while I didn't make quite as much as I did last year was happy with my sales.


My muscles are sore, I'm still tired even tho I slept well last night.  And have finally decided to call it quits for doing shows.  It just takes too much out of me.  Yes, it is wonderful to make extra pin money so the guilt of going to rug camps doesn't bother me, and of course to buy more wool with that cash.  But figure that my not doing these two shows per year will not send me to debtor's prison even if I continue doing what I'm doing.  I say that I not going to do any more shows.  The test will be when I get the Historical Society acceptance letter for the October show.  Sure hope I don't cave.


Here are a couple pictures of my booth.  I sold that cat purse and another purse with a star on it which is in the basket.  That little Annie atop the other box sold, as did two of my bigger primitive black dolls just to the right of the Annie

Here is another view of the left side and back with lattice so you can see the Americana dolls and other things for sale.

I sold the Bumblebee Mat which can barely be seen on the table in the back and sold about 31 flower pins.  I get repeat customers buying them as gifts for friends, red hat society women come to get the purple and red ones and they are very popular.

And I wish I had a better way to display my rugs other than rolled up (as in a previous picture), draped on the table or hanging on this homemade bifold.  But, since I'm not doing shows any more don't really need to concern myself with that.

Well thanks for letting me cavetch  and thanks for the visit.  


Saundra