Still Preparing for This Weekend's Show: Two Days to go and Counting Down!
The good "word to the wise" is that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions!
Once again it was my good intention to create regular updates to chronicle the process of getting ready for the first arts and crafts show of 2023. Once again, I have failed rather miserably because… well… I have been too busy preparing for the show to take time out to write about the show.
Just finished; the shiny coat is now "curing"
Good news is that we're moving along pretty well!
Yesterday I completed putting the last finish coat on the painting work I've done since our last show in early December, and those stones are now sitting in our crafts room upstairs "curing" so they will be ready to sell this weekend.
What remains now is to photograph them all for my own records, and then to put price tags on them and put them into the bins we take to shows.
Two month's worth of work
We went to Costco earlier this week and bought a couple of new 6-foot folding tables that we're going to use as "dedicated furniture" when we do shows in the future. Previously, we have been working with the tables we've had around the house... whenever we needed them. That has always been a rather cumbersome process because those tables are usually in use for something else when a show comes around.
But since we've decided to make 2023 a year where we're definitely going to spend more time and effort on going to events as vendors, we took the plunge and have been slowly acquiring "show specific" furniture and fixtures to make life easier for the future.
We did have quite a few discussions as to whether it was really worth it to do so, but if you consider that a full year of events might involve as many as 12 to 15 shows, it only makes sense to have dedicated furniture for the occasion. It also means we know exactly what we're setting up each time we go, as a result of which the process becomes more like a habit, because we don't have to think and plan too much ahead of time. Saving time is of the essence when you're setting up as a vendor!
Although we are planning to have a full schedule this year, we are far from having finalized our calendar. So far we have this one event we're doing next weekend; then we have another five penciled in because we've done them in the past... but the application process doesn't open until later in the year since they are all fourth quarter events.
New design style
Meanwhile, I've been trying to get people interested in my "10th Anniversary Special" offer that's currently running in the Etsy shop, but it's been really hard to drum up much traffic.
Yesterday I spoke to a fellow artist — she's actually a textile artist and her husband is a woodcarver, but they also local — and she allowed as how the beginning of this year has also been extremely slow for them.
I've been doing a little bit better on my social media efforts, but I realize it's going to take awhile before anything starts making a substantial difference. At least I'm starting to get a small trickle of new followers on Twitter, and I suppose that's something. Still learning how to use Instagram, which a number of artists have been telling me is their best way of promoting their work… time will tell how that goes!
Although my intentions are good, I expect my next update won't come until I do a summary after the show. Or maybe I'll get lucky and actually find the time to take some pictures at the show and put up a brief post with pictures after the first evening. We'll see!
Thanks for stopping by and reading; Do leave me a comment if you feel so inspired — interaction and engagement are always welcome!
If you enjoy painted rocks, do check out The Hive Rocks Project and help spread the word about Hive, while also being creative!
Because I am trying to make some semblance of income — a part time living, even — I now add this footer to all my posts, in the hope that someone, somewhere, might decide to take a further look at my work, and perhaps consider supporting independent art.
Thank you, in advance, for your consideration and support!
My Alchemy Stones Patreon appeal
Alchemy Stones web site and blog
Regardless, your upvotes and comments are always appreciated!
Thank you for supporting independent art!
2023.02.09 AS-TXT-142/110
Nice work that you have presented here. Thanks for sharing.
I hope the fair days bring you much selling of such lovely rocks.
I rebloged this post for safe keeping. ;-)
Have you had a look at the Hivelist shop front end?
I am trying to set up a shop for my artwork here on the Hive.
Did not have much luck with Etsy as there is so many artist that lost of work gets lost, not only mine.
Thanks for sharing your work.