Holiday Bazaar Edition 2015

Also known as the last time I do this show.  It's not that it's a bad show, it just isn't the right fit for my things, apparently.  And, poor sweet patient Lara who makes the most divine cutest prints EVER - only sold one thing for a grand total of $9.00.  I mean, what the heck?  She did recently score a mess of old biology lab stools which are THE BEST and she made a deal for three of those to be sold this week - so that is good.  But, golly all the work she did and bringing things in.....I just feel AWFUL about it.  She told me not to feel awful.  BUT I DO.  The really weird thing is that The Junk Ranch and both of our booths are only eight miles over in the next town where things fly off the shelves and tables.  This little town - my little town - is full of lines of newer homes and Moms with rhinestone butt jeans and oversized flannel shirts (When did those become THE THING?), knee boots and big jewelry - the all want the same thing on their doors - either those HUGE mesh and burlap wreaths or a wooden cutout of a ball jar that says WELCOME YA'LL.  I mean, let's show some creativity folks and be a little different, m'kay?  (My apologizes to any blog readers that may be wearing rhinestone butt jeans and a flannel shirt.  If you are reading this you are obviously part of the COOL CROWD ans not one of those people.)

The lady that did the promo for the show really did do a good job - there were 61 vendors and lots of things to buy.  Some less than desirable than others - I don't mean our stuff - I mean some severely tacky stuff.  There is one thing that I see at different shows and they are SO TACKY and the sell like tacky little hotcakes.  WHY OH WHY?  It is Razorback themed and just so not cool, but everyone walks by with one.  WHY OH WHY?  There were lots of sales people - Plexis, Advocare, different jewelry companies, Thirty one bags, Avon, Scentsy, a chocolate bar company.  I don't know -  none of those things appeal to me.  Except the chocolate, of course.  But, it was $7.50 a bar.  Uh, I just bought a six pound sack of Halloween candy for $5.00, so no thank you.

Yes, yes, I know - these business are great ways for Moms to make extra money.  And lots of people LOVE these things.  And people were buying these things.  They just aren't me.  (Apologizes to any of you if you are into these things - you are still cool - even if you drink Plexis and wear rhinestone butt jeans and carry a thirty one bag).  

At one point, we were sitting there and the room was abuzz with customers and our spot was void of anyone.  Just then, we noticed coming from the ceiling to one of our tables - a spider - making a web. I mean, if a spider can weave a web in your booth - you might as well call it a day.  This shall be our gauge for all future shows.  "Well, at least a spider didn't weave a web today!"  

So, I sold about $130.00  - nothing to write home about, but at least I did make some money.  I knew it was a crap shoot at best.  It was all left over from the Junk Ranch and it is all going to the booth - so it's like I just had a little yard sale along the way and made $130.00.  Plus, I had photos on Instagram and ended up selling some more things on there afterwards.  I had fun people watching and counting flannel shirt wearers.  Lara was there and that is always fun.  Yay! Lara.  Thank God she still likes me after our second debacle at this same location.  

Here's my side of the booth so you can see it.  I had fun setting up an all Christmas and Christmas colored themed booth.  I hadn't really done that before.  I had lots of looky loo's - and some shoppers. My biggest sale was on the load out when someone offered to buy the Santa blowmold.  I had $50.00 on it, they offered $25 and I took it.  She handed me $15 and said she would get the rest from her husband. When she handed me the rest, I stuck it in my pocket.  When I got home, I saw that it was a $20.00. So I got $35.00 for it.  She was too tired to realize she handed me too much and I was too tired to realize it too.  I feel better about getting $35.00 for it anyway.  Plus, trust me on this.  She can afford it.  TRUST ME.  (Don't hate me for being tacky there....)

I am rather enamored of this funny little elf driving this big Roadster.  I thrifted the car and added the tree, wreath and elf.   

I tell you - buying all those crates was one of my better ideas.  I like the cohesive look that it makes - plus they stack up great in the garage and in the car PLUS I keep all the crap in them in storage and on the way to the shows.  They are truly perfect.  Plus junk in crates just looks cool.

Some of this, and some of that.

There in the center you see the Scrabble words.  I didn't sell any of them and I really only sell them at the College booth with University words.  So, I think that ship has sailed and I am kind of glad.  I have made SO much money making those words - but onward and upward to better things.  

Being inside versus being outside in the middle of a field has it's advantages.  And only having one table to display things on isn't a problem when you can go up and up and UP!  Those wreaths were low enough you could see them, but high enough they couldn't be manhandled.  They are pretty sturdy, but I still hate to see people poke at them. 

Tiered basket full of cookie cutters and Christmas miscellaneous.  

Milk cap magnets and clips.  I want to put these int he booth, but I can't figure out how to price them since they are small and my tags are big - we can't put things in without a tag on them.  

I sold quite a few of my pendants.  I am always happy when people like the things that I make and "get" them.  Now, I am NOT trying to sell to you nice folks. BUT, if you like these pendants  - there are a few on etsy or you can leave a comment.  They are $10.00 each shipped - I scanned in old boxes and Christmas cards for most of the graphics.  A dash of glitter on some too!  (No pressure!)

All in all even though I sound like a terrible grump about it - I did enjoy myself selling some things and seeing lots of people from the school and around town that I know plus a few Instagram followers stopped in to say hi.  So, that was fun.  Being with Lara is always fun too.  I could have been happier selling more and not having a chair war with the lady in the booth behind us (I'm keeping that story to myself - but OH MY God - she was awful, awful, awful.).  

So, onward and upward and all that jazz!  Everything will be in the booth by Thursday and out of my garage.  Yay!  It's all gooooood!