The Greatest Show on Earth

I'm back from my furious preparations for the MayDay! show. What a blast!! Mum came and we had a great time doing a dry run of my table setup on Friday afternoon. Then we went to the venue to set up my tables on Friday night. It was my first view of the space and it was a bit of a surprise. It's a very industrial-looking space with all the walls and ceiling painted black and a very dark wood floor. I knew that my lime green table coverings would look great against all the black, but I worried about the dark (and dirty) floor and the black wall, so, the morning of the show, I grabbed the lime rug from the sun porch, a colorful lamp, and the quilt off our bed to use in my display. The rug was a great way to add a feeling of "Welcome to The Quilted House" and the quilt acted as a great backdrop once we'd hung it off the wall - and was the perfect conversation starter with my customers: "Wow! Did you make that? It's beautiful!!" The display was so colorful (and quilt so stunning, if I do say so myself) that it really caught and attracted the eye! Plus, as I did at my first show, I coordinated myself with my shop by dressing in the "company colors" of lime green and yellow and added the GORGEOUS necklace my sister made me (I need to get a better picture of it - it was a bit too dark in there to get a clear one) - it too was a great conversation started as I kept getting compliments on it! What a great sis I have!

Michele made it into town on Friday night, so was there to help us set up and brought us lunch and snacks. It was great having her there! Then, at the end of the day, Michele, Mum, our good friend, Deb, and I packed up and went off for some much-deserved ice cream! The best entourage I could have asked for!


I learned even more great tips doing this show:

1. Rugs really help to add warmth and separate the space from the surroundings.
2. Sheets make great table coverings - thanks, Karen and Carol for the tip! I found flat sheets in lime green for color and used a sheer white curtain on top as a neutral to set off my products - worked like a dream!
3. I can't emphasize enough the importance of a dry run! It makes everything go so smoothly when it's time to set up at the show - even if you have to tweak things a little to adjust for the space.

I really love doing shows - it's such a thrill! The best part is meeting all the other vendors and chatting with them and customers. This show, in particular, was chock full of amazing art and crafts and the nicest, friendliest vendors ever, plus it was such a dream doing this show with Mum - one of my favorite people and just the best mom in the world! Another great part of this show was the ADORABLE crocheted "Quilted House" that my friend Karen of Duncan Creative made me! Isn't it amazing??!! More tomorrow on the talent of Karen and several other vendors at the show and my new mission. You won't want to miss it!!