It may take me a year or so to update my "Updates" section on this website, but when there's something really good I do get around to it! For instance, the upcoming street fair held in St. Johns, Portland, OR at which I will have a booth... This will be the 9th year of the St. Johns Bizarre and the first that I have applied to participate. I couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of this. It's a great neighborhood with its own character (completely separate from the popularized Portland hyperboles, though may carry a few of its own) in a beautiful part of the area and I am honored to have been accepted as a vendor.
Any of you who follow my Instagram will have seen some pics lately of last-minute inventory additions I am making for this event. I'm bolstering my pot holders, pan handle cozies and coasters for starters.
Can you tell I've been much better about the process shots than finished product shots? Maybe that's something to take into account and try to work on the next couple of weeks? The optimist in me says to wait until after next Saturday in the hopes that there are fewer products to photograph... that could also be the procrastinator talking — she has a much louder voice.
So, short of a few more bindings on pot holders and a bunch of topstitching for the coasters I feel like I've done a decent job of reinforcing my standards. The next step was figuring out if I wanted to offer something more (I mean, I will be taking place mat sets and smaller quilts that were already made). I currently have only 2 table runners in inventory, one of which is decidedly winter/holiday themed, and at the last show I did with Cherie several people asked about runners. And I did start working on one, but as I got further along it felt more like a row for an improv quilt than a stand-alone table topper. That has happened before, so I think table runners just may not be my thing. Not that I won't try again some time!
My next thought was throw pillows. I've made a few, I have fun with them, but I only had one pair in stock. Time to change that!
It's almost down to the 11th hour and there's still a lot to do (do I have enough tags printed out for everything?? Where did I find that skinny ribbon I was using for tying on the tags? I need more of that! I keep forgetting to log into my PayPal app to update the products there...) but I am sure it will come together.
In addition I have some great people in my corner... Cherie has been invaluable and is loaning me several items for a successful booth, including the outdoor canopy (and there may just be a few options available from The Creative Bungalow). Jenny has agreed to come and hang out with me during the day helping at the booth. Then of course there's J who will hopefully be decompressing from a big event that he is hosting tomorrow and has agreed to take care of our pup while I'm off for 12 or so hours. I keep thinking it would be rad to have a booth dog, but dear Atlas just isn't that dog — not chill enough.
I hope to see many of you Portland locals wandering around the booths, food carts, craft tents, listening to the live music and (fingers crossed) enjoying a lovely sunshiny Saturday in May!