Lessons Learned at a Neighborhood Craft Show (Sweetheart Fest)

1.  Nothing is as it Seems

When I arrived at 8:15 a.m., the temperature for an area that is usually always sunny and hot, was an unseasonably cold 45 degrees.  The wind was making the tents sway so significantly they had to bring in concrete blocks to stabilize them.  My hair was whipping violently across my face as I was standing in the parking lot, waiting for the shuttle to bring me to the set-up area.  At that moment, two thoughts occurred to me:

    1.    I don't know that my light folding table won't just topple over with a strong gust, throwing my jewelry onto the asphalt, as I am trying to set up and,

    2.    Maybe I should blow-off what will, obviously, be a useless day

Lesson Learned:  Although it was so cold that my nose stung with each gust of icy wind, I stuck to my commitment and everything stayed in place. Plus, since it wasn't our usual humid weather, I had an excellent hair day!

2.    It's Nice to be Told that People Like your Work

Selling online is very difficult because if you are not selling regularly, you aren't getting any feedback about your work.  It's hard to stay motivated to create, without that positive feedback.  As I was setting up my jewelry, I had people walking up complimenting my pieces, saying....

    1.    "how pretty"

    2.    "what beautiful stones" 

    3.    "well worth the price"

Lesson Learned:  My jewelry really is beautiful and it feels good to be told how much people like it!

 

3.    How you Measure Success, Determines if You are Successful

Being a part of the event, participating, bringing joy to people through your work, can make a sales experience successful.  Meeting people who fall in love with a piece you have created and choose that piece as their Valentine's Day gift, is a meaningful and significant honor that is very rewarding. 

    1.    Having someone else love my favorite piece feels good and,

    2.    Making a few sales during what seemed like a lost day is very exciting

Lesson Learned:  As good as it feels to make that sale, you do miss the pieces that you have put your heart into...but it still feels real good!

Additional Lesson Learned:  I can't wait to do it again!   PS...ALL 3 OF THESE PIECES SOLD AT SWEETHEART FEST!!!

What lessons have you learned?

I Know It's Been a While

 

Hi, bloggers and followers.  I hope you are still there, waiting for me to write something awe-inspiring and fabulous.  Well, here it comes.  I wrote this next post after my experience at Savannas Preserve State Park and it should give you some insight as to how to make the most of a craft show experience that appears, at first, to be anything but ideal.  Stay tuned....

Undiscovered Etsy Feature

Currently, Etsy is asking for new and undiscovered shops to feature (in some way and some how - we don't yet know).  But, as I am one of those shops, defined as less than 15 sales, I thought it would be nice to do my own Undiscovered Features.  Maybe we will, very soon, become discovered by customers who just LOVE what we design.  Take a good look at these fabulous handbags by http://www.etsy.com/shop/naturalknitsandgems 

            

Aren't they great?

Savannas Preserve Craft Show.....Uncharacteristically Cold!

Unseasonably windy...bitterly cold...OK, so we were only in South Florida, but still, it wasn't just me. Everyone was freezing. Even people from up north...Really (see, I'm all bundled up). And, I didn't have any Starbucks. And, I had to sit in one place, selling my favorite necklace. But, it was Valentine's Day, Sweetheartfest, and, as you can see, it is a beautiful State Park. And I had an amazing hair day. But, it was hard...Really...

OK, I can't wait to do it again!

Featuring Beautiful Bookmarks by Joyous Treasures!

When I saw Johanna's bookmarks, I thought they were beautiful!  For those of you who know my story, I love to read, and so does Johanna!  She also loves to make Crochet Jewelry,Crochet Bookmarks,Crochet Pincushions, and Crochet Hair accessories,
she also plays piano, and, of course, loves to read.  All her bookmarks are so great, but I think these one is my favorites...

 

How touching is it that Johanna carries on the legacy of her grandmother's talents in her own works! She says she likes to crochet flowers and butterflies, and other things that remind her of nature. Her grandmother was a great crocheter, and she left her many things when she passed away.  She says that she is always working on new projects created with her grandmother's supplies to keep and remember her by. ...and she even wears her beads all the time! Keep up the beautiful work! Check her out at her Etsy shop and keep an eye out for new bookmarks coming in March! http://www.etsy.com/shop/joyoustreasures or on her blog http://www.etsytreasurechest.blogspot.com/ 

Check Out My Website: www.mickstonedesigns.com!

Here is a peek at what it looks like. Log on, leave a comment and take my quick survey!

 

My Necklace was Featured in an Etsy Treasury,

Called Lush!

In case you are unfamiliar with Etsy, one of the most coveted places to promote your work is in an Etsy Treasury.  A Treasury is a collection of items, curated by an Etsy Artisan with a keen eye and a heavy dose of patience, and they are very hard to get.  Loveartworks curated this dynamic Treasury, of which I am a featured artist.  See her lovely Repose ceramic bowl below!

Armchairs Worthy of My Studio

In my quest to feature chairs that appealed to my sensibilities and that I felt represented what was important to me, I found these representations, by very talented and generous Etsy artisans.  I hope you like them as much as I do. This Item Has a Very Cute Description and Benefits Cancer Research. 

It is done by loveartworks, and says ahhhhhhhhh...

Take a load off.....Have a seat....Rest your weary bones....Relax and stay awhile...repose.....

This is a unique black, white and 1 color "doodle" bowl, born out of a need to SIMPLIFY.  The artist says it is like a warm little hug that you hold in your hands....ORGANIC COMFORT BOWLS!  The inside of the bowl is a stunning deep reddish/orange with a black curlicue! On the outside is 5 little chairs: a super comfortable recliner, 2 different straight-backed wooden kitchen chairs, a thoroughly modern Eames design, and a caned rocker! Underneath... the word REPOSE and signed and dated. It measures about 6.5" in diameter and is 2 1/4" deep.  All proceeds from the sale of this bowl will be donated to the American Cancer Society for 'etsyprojectembrace' in support of fellow Etsy seller, Laura. Proceeds go to charity, and you know how much that means to me! This is a good sized bowl! I thought it would be great for my Nanny's cabbage soup (if I could ever find the recipe)!  There is nothing more comforting than that!

      

This Print is So Sweet and Benefits a Homeless Shelter! 

This one is a little print that was made to honor the Wellhouse Community and Homeless Shelter in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This cause is near and dear to my heart!  All proceeds from these prints are donated directly to Wellhouse, done by theantibride! It is a limited edition, hand-pulled linocut print. The print comes unframed, measures 4.5 x 5.5", and is run on white archival paper.

These Just Sold!!!

These one-of-a-kind glamorous yellow quartz and sterling silver earrings just sold! Stunning, classic and sure to bring tons of compliments.

Other fabulous earrings are still for sale, or contact me to make you a custom pair!