Monday, September 27, 2010

Worn Out

This past weekend was the Mt Bruce Sheep & Wool Festival in Bruce Twp, MI.  I've done this show for 8 years now and this was probably the weakest yet.  The temps were low and attendance was worse.  My booth was crowded maybe 5 times all weekend.  I work my butt off to create products and put lots of thought into my booth set up and presentation.  I have plenty of bruises to show for my hard work.  Wanna see my shins?  I didn't think so.

The homestead was nicely decorated though I think not as much as usual:

Here's a straight on shot of my booth (lamb meat for sale way back there):
 My tippy mitten tree was less so with the pipe straps I pounded into the ground on the base.

My coat rack worked out well although I'm not sure about it's position in the tent:

I liked the Cranbrook rack for my hats and I think the clothespins worked well for the shoppers:

Here's Hedy before she was brutally attacked by a manner-less little girl who scratched her face up (little sh~t!):
The Etta Hat that she's sporting was the first hat I sold on Saturday.  That was a lucrative sale -- four hats and a pair of fingerless mittens.  I thought things were going to go well but alas, it was very quiet the rest of the weekend.  My sales were down from last year and I thought that was a bad year.  

I always knit at the shows, unless the temps are down in the 40s, and I sold two hats that I made while I was there.  Woohoo!

I'm going to have to let things simmer for a while but after taking an hour to tear down my booth and another hour to load up the T&C, I was just so doggone tired I thought this would be my last time there.  I think the clincher was that they had a window salesman as a vendor.  I truly don't understand why you'd want to take a wonderful event that showcases farm life and country living and throw in a window salesman.  Is it just me?  I think not.

4 comments:

SusanQuilter said...

So sorry....having done shows for some years awhile ago, I know how hard it is; the making, the marking, packing up, sitting there all day, tearing down after a long day. You work HARD for what you get, and when you do well, it's worth it. You have better shows ahead! You have great stuff, and now those fabulous coats! Next one will be better!!

harriet said...

Where's that little girl? Let me at her!

I agree with SusanQuilter - you have better shows ahead. I'm sure. You have lovely items that you've worked really hard on. Definitely deserve to see rewards for your work.

Suzanne said...

Thank you ladies. I think I was just dejected after last weekend. Hopefully the next show will be a windfall!

Suzanne said...

Uh-oh, I didn't mean windfall literally. You know how crazy the weather can be in Charlevoix in October......