Autumn, Football, and Craft Shows

Hello Fabulous Friends,

I hope you are noticing cooler autumn temps where you live. It does set the pace for enjoyable days and nights when we have cooler weather. The change of seasons can also add spring to our step! Down here in south Louisiana we have noticed our highs are edging out of the 90's and are now only in the (high) 80's. :\ Autumn cannot come soon enough for me! I love opening our windows during the day so our home can air out and we enjoy hearing the wind rustle the leaves.

The fall season also means fall festivals, craft show and fairs and football. My favorite team had an awful showing yesterday. I try to allow only 24 hours of mourning, disappointment, and anger. At this writing it has been about 24 hours since the slaughter began so I am officially moving on! :D If you are a football fan I hope your team had a better showing!

Now on to happier topics, like craft shows. I was a vendor at a craft show this past weekend. We had the opportunity to meet some other wonderful vendors, all of whom had awesome handcrafted items for sale. We got to look over their wares, ooh and aah, and even purchase--or at least we promised to look at their website in coming days. We know we will meet down the road at future crafts shows.

I am looking forward to my next show at Shadows on the Teche in New Iberia, Louisiana. It is a Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. There will be about 100 arts and crafts booths with handcrafted items for sale, kids' games, tours of the plantation home, and concessions. I know we will get to see two fellow vendors that we have worked with before. One of our neighbors this past weekend will be at Shadows, Polished Peacock. Another fellow vendor, Michael’s Pickles, will be there. My dh’s new favorite pickles are the sweet and spicey by Michael’s Pickels.



The hours for the event are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This is a marvelous opportunity to take a day trip. There will be something for everyone. You can even be home in time to watch LSU and Auburn play on Saturday evening. This link gives some pertinent information for those wanting to attend. Click here.

Here is what you need to find Shadows on the Teche:

317 East Main Street
New Iberia, LA
337-369-6446
Shadows on the Teche website
Shadows on the Teche Facebook

I hope to see you down the road!

Blessings,
Cindy

Whistle While You Work

Recently I have been tweeking my website with some addtional information at each product's lisitng. It is not work that is readily and easily noticed. However, when updating each product, it takes time. It is the kind of work that isn't "billable" like selling a set of coasters or a trivet but is just the nature of having a shopping cart/website. Hopefully by week's end I'll have that completed.

Today though, I am working a big order. A customer ordered 16 sets of monogram coasters. I have gotten it started but am taking a break to give my back a rest for a few minutes. While I work on my coasters and trivets, I usually listen to inspirational TV or radio or some music on my ipod. This keeps me, well, inspired and gives my mind a good place to go while working. It would be easy to get lonely while working alone but I feel I am not when I listen to my "friends" while they are at work.

I also have sent an email requesting information on an upcoming craft show. I hope to hear back soon so I can decide if it's something I am able to do. When I am at craft shows I love meeting all the people coming through, whether they actually buy anything or not. We (my dh and dd help me) have met some really interesting people along the way. There are some who are regular craft show attenders and it is good to see their faces again.

The fall craft season down here in south Louisiana is about to get cranked up again. For those who attend as vendors, it is time to get busy making crafts to take to the shows. So after I get this big order out, I'll be cranking up my studio making custom coasters and trivets to take to shows. I already have about half of what I want to take in coasters. And as some of you know from doing crafts yourself, I cannot wait till the day before the show to finish making them. I still have to allow time to pack everything in my vehicle.

This fall will present me a challenge for the shows that have 1000's come through. I will double what I normally bring so I can have an adequate amount to last the day .... I hope! LOL

Well, it's time to get back to work.