Counting Down...

My posts are going to be short and sweet this week as we enter the home stretch for my first craft show! Irv and I drove out to Woodstock yesterday to scope out my spot. It's really very nice for having been on the waiting list. The town square is so pretty with cobblestone streets, cute shops and the park right in the middle with a big gazebo. My spot is right across the sidewalk from the gazebo.

I called one of the organizers to ask a couple of questions and found out that people start entering the "staging area" oh, around 2:00 a.m. I had a feeling it was going to be like that. Can you imagine how nuts it must be when you try to get 350 crafters and their vehicles (probably 2 each) into 4 little town blocks? I don't know what time we are going to go sit, but it won't be 2:00 a.m. for sure.

Irv did an awesome job on the hanging dowel rods for my pillows. It's so nice to have a husband that is handy AND supports your efforts. He also made some great hanging foam board displays for my photos and cards.

When I asked the coordinator how busy the park area got during the show...the word "congested" came up. I was more looking for the words "crowded with shoppers."...but congested came up when we were talking about the activities that take place in the gazebo all day. Not sure my spot is going to be the best for sales, but it could be a lot of fun!

It's time to stuff more pillows! Have an awesome evening!

Craft Show 101

I was walking Wrigley this afternoon, and thinking that I should call the people at the craft show I applied to and ask when I would find out if I got in. The show was full and I had been put on a waiting list...plus it's juried and I had to send photos of my work and some photos of a work in progress.

We got back to the house and I opened the mailbox and grabbed the mail. I started leafing though it as we walked to the door and there was the envelope from the craft show. I felt the envelope and I could feel my photos in it. That was not a good sign. They only return the photos if you didn't get accepted. Rats!

I was so bummed because just today I was thinking about what I would make if I got accepted, and I had myself a little psyched.

I put the mail on the kitchen table and took off my coat, gave the dogs a treat and then started opening the mail....leaving the bad news for last. I took the envelope and went and sat in my workshop and opened it up.

I GOT ACCEPTED!!!!!!!! What felt like pictures was just the numbers for our cars!!!!!

Oh my gosh I am just bouncing off the walls. I don't even know where to start or what to do. I have never done this before!!!!!! I am Booth Number 311 and see that little green line on the map? That's me....or what will be me on May 17!

All I know is that I will one busy little crafter during the next two months!!!! Any of you that do craft shows that have any words of wisdom....please pass them on!!!! I'm going to be in a craft fair! Woo hoo!

The show is called "Fair Diddley", and this is it's 41st year. It takes place in Woodstock, Illinois. The town has an awesome town square. The movie "Groundhog Day" with Bill Murray was filmed there.

My booth is not in the best of places, but that's okay. There are over 350 booths and I am in the center area near this gazebo in the grass. You also can't stake a tent into the grass because the sprinkler system is shallow! So, see...we have much to figure out.


Whenever I am doing things and I say to Irv, "We have a lot to do.", or "We will figure it out", or "Don't worry, we can do it", he always replies, "Do you have a mouse in your pocket?" He likes to pretend that he isn't going to help me, but he will...he always does. :)

So what kind of advice can you give me? I am going to need it!