Yes! I’m freshly back from vending at my first big show, and I wanted to share how it went!
Firstly, props to my family who subsisted on popcorn and dried beef and carrot sticks for the week before the show. SO MANY last minute details and you maybe know that I’m not the best at getting things done in advance 😀
Second, ultimate props to my hubs who did so many last minute errands for me, always with a cheery attitude.
So, with that out of the way, how was it? So fun. Just a week before, I received a huge shipment of Outback Wife barkcloth by Gertrude Made. The American distributor of that fabric has been absolutely lovely to work with and I hope there are any more collections to come! I have MANY ideas for samples to make up with this lovely fabric. I noticed a lot of people were buying it for handbags and a LOT of people were saying, “oh, that reminds me of my grandmother…” It made me super happy to bring that to the show.
Also, the rainbow tables of perle cotton… (All arranged by my lovely friend Johanna who came to help!) I loved watching people choose their own color palettes from those. I brought mostly Finca/Presencia, with a little Valdani just as a test. Plenty of people were interested in the Valdani so I’ll be expanding that offering for next time.
EPP Demo!
I demonstrated my Snowflakes Freezer Paper Shapes for a good part of each day. Which means I was working on a fun project the whole time and actually made really good progress. I was making 2″ hexies out of the barkcloth and I do have an exciting idea for putting them together once I get more solids in stock. I glue basted these because they’re such big shapes and I just want this to come together quickly.
People!
Seriously. I met so many interesting people. Friendly customers, guild members, the people working the show. One person who I believe is my long lost twin, we are so similar in so many ways. (Hi Andrea!) My booth neighbors on both sides were super friendly and helpful. And I had time to reconnect with two more friends who came to help, Heather and Mike, and I was so grateful for both their help and the time to get together!
So, I loved this. I think it’s the perfect fit for me. I can work from home, homeschool my kids, have my little web shop, and then dart out and get a few days of total quilt immersion to recharge my quilty soul. I’ll be announcing more show dates soon as I get them confirmed!